Dark, cold, scary.
No food, no water, nothing and no one to comfort him.
He was trapped here.
Locked in this place.
He couldn't escape.
He-
A light flickered to life, revealing that blond haired boy from before.
Cole.
"The door is unlocked. Do you want to go get them back and leave this place?" He asked, his voice like a balm to Dakota's fear.
He came back.
A grin spread across Dakota's face, and his eyes lit up.
He jumped to his feet.
"I know where she keeps them. Come on, let's go!" He urged, grabbing the blonde's hand.
It was much larger than his own, and had calluses.
It was also colder than his hand, which was something that certainly surprised him.
Granted, not as much as grabbing the boy's hand surprised Cole.
He didn't pull away, though.
Merely gave a weak grin before letting himself be tugged along by Dakota.
They had to be sneaky- easy for a rouge who can turn himself invisible and a person who's used to sneaking about.
"Hopefully the door isn't too squeaky." Dakota whispered.
"Even if it is, we could probably outrun her." Cole whispered back.
The two shared a somewhat mischievous and playful grin before opening the basement door and dashing out silently.
She was coming.
The two quickly hid, and waited for her shadow to pass and her footsteps to fade.
She was gone now, and now, they could make a mad dash for the closet, grab Dakota's things, and escape.
"You ready?" Cole asked, turning to his companion, his large hat hiding his eyes.
"You know it. Let's get out of here." Dakota replied before quietly making his way to the closet.
He had long enough legs, and he used them sort of like a spring to leap to the closet quickly and quietly.
Of course, it took Cole less time, given that he was taller, with longer legs.
Nonetheless, he waited for Dakota to do the honors, and open the closet door.
At the back of the closet, placed high, was a box filled with all of the toys and treats that woman took from Dakota.
"Cole, I can't reach it, I'm too short! Could you grab it for me?" Dakota asked after he tried in vain to reach the box.
5'5 and he was still too short to reach it.
It was peculiar, since it wasn't so much that he wasn't tall enough, but it seemed as if the shelf would raise itself higher every time he got close to reaching it.
"You can reach it, Dakota. Try once more." Cole encouraged, looking back and forth from him to the hall.
"Okay."
And with that, Dakota braced himself for his final attempt.
He reached as far as he could, his fingertips grazing the bottom of the box.
Nails scratched into it, finding a bit to pull towards the edge of the shelf.
Gingerly, he coaxed the box off, and then down.
"Got it, let's run!"
"I'll race you out the door!" Cole teased before breaking out into a run.
"Hey, no fair!" Dakota called out after him, laughing as he did so.
Their elevated voices called the woman's attention, and they both flew like bats straight out of hell out the back door, and onward, until they were a safe distance away.
"Finally, I have all my stuff back from that witch!" Dakota exclaimed happily, raising the box in victory.
He brought it back down again, and urged his companion to sit down on the dry grass with him, and the two looked through the box's contents together.
It was so nice.
It wasn't too cold or too hot outside, the sky was as blue as can be, and there was a pleasant breeze that flirted with the long, dark locks of Dakota's hair.
It was so peaceful, he was so content.
He was so happy to be here, and so was Cole, it seemed.
However, all good things must come to an end.
Cole stood up, bringing Dakota with him.
Dakota's smile lessened.
"You have to leave?"
"Yes, but I'll be back. I should, that is."
It was enough.
Besides, he probably would be back.
No, he will be.
Dakota awoke, much like he did last time, with his heart trying in vain to leap from his chest.
He checked the time-
6:58PM
A two hour long nap.
He was still a bit tired, but he felt refreshed.
That dream had given him strength.
