So, Hi guy's. Harrypotter gleek97 here! :D Erm, I don't have much to say that Mrs. Cookieeater hasn't already said. Sorry this chapter is so short; I'm drowning in school work! I'll try and make them a lot longer in the future. Anyway, I hope you enjoy!
Dan sidled out the room, swallowing nervously as he made his way to where he had left Norm. He walked quietly. Even if Phil seemed to have been living here for a while, that didn't mean they were safe. He was always aware of the danger surrounding him. The danger that had become his world. He entered the wide expanse of the room, glancing around. Norm was nowhere to be seen. There was nowhere to hide, the room was completely bare. Where the hell could he be? Dan turned quickly, wincing at the faint creak of the floorboards. He froze for a moment and then left the room. He wandered down the corridor, poking his head into rooms, holding his breath as the panicked thoughts began to run through his head.
What if the dead had caught him? No. He would have heard them. He would have heard Norm as they… No. But where could he be? He wouldn't leave without Dan, would he? He heard another creak, this time not caused by him. He snapped his neck to the side, a sharp intake of breath. Norm was approaching a room. The one Phil was hidden in.
"Norm" he hissed quickly, before clamping his hand over his mouth. Norms head turned slowly, his eyebrows furrowed. Dan motioned for him to wait, and he crept slowly towards him. Then, with a quick nod towards the door and a lowly muttered "don't", Dan lead him back to the large and eerily empty room. When they were there, Norm raised his eyes questioningly, and Dan's shoulder relaxed slightly. "There are only two exits here" he muttered "Easier to keep a look out". Of course, Norm knew this. He had taught Dan everything he knew about survival. Dan just didn't want Norm running into Phil before he had the chance to explain. Norm wasn't exactly the most trusting of people, and who could blame him? A lot of the time, trust got you killed.
Norm was staring at him, his eyes piercing right through Dan. He rubbed his thumb along the rough material of his shirt and asked quickly "What were you doing? I came back and you weren't here!". Norm sniggered quietly before replying "Looking for you. What took you so bloody long?". Dan shook his head, wondering how he was going to explain. How was he going to convince Norm to trust some random stranger, to stay with them? He'd think he was crazy. Maybe he was. Why else would he feel such a strong need, feel like it was so important to convince him?
He chewed the inside of his cheek for a moment before mumbling "I think we've caught a break." Norm raised an eyebrow, interested, before motioning to his nearly empty backpack. "Doesn't look like you got much there" he commented, confusion tinging his voice. Dan shook his head, and heart pounding, the words tumbled out his mouth. "There's a man here. He says we can stay." Norm walked quickly away, and paused at the doorway, a deep frown on his face. He tilted his head outside before hissing "Out. Now."
Dan stumbled a few steps, before stopping. He took a shallow, ragged breath before telling him "He's around my age, and he's alone. I think we can trust him." Norm tilted his head inquisitively before asking "why?" Dan shrugged his shoulders, and Norm chuckled. "Exactly! I thought I'd taught you better. Where does trusting every Tom, Dick and Harry you meet get you? In a shallow grave, that's where. Or in the middle of a barren wasteland, being devoured by vultures." Dan winced at the mental image that both of them had seen too many times. No shallow grave, not when there was no-one round to bury you.
"His names Phil. He's just scared, like the rest of us. He could have killed me"-"Norm interrupted him quickly. "I hope you didn't give him the opportunity!" he scolded. Dan's eyes fell to the floor, and when he looked back up, Norm was stood in front of him. "For god's sake boy!" he growled, eyes flashing. He opened his mouth to continue speaking, but Dan continued voice slightly louder "He could have killed me, but he didn't! I think that should stand for something." Norm shook his head, exasperated an d reminded him "Not when he would know the slightest hint of blood would bring about his own death!". Dan sighed, and they both fell silent for a minute. Eventually, he spoke again. "Well, I'm staying" he muttered, not meeting Norm's eyes. His mind screamed at him. Why would he leave the man that had kept him alive all these years, prepared him to be able to go out on his own, all for some stranger? What was wrong with him?
After a few minutes of shocked silence, Norm rolled his eyes and sighed. "Fine." Dan opened his mouth, but Norm continued quickly. "I'll consider it. We can stay with him for a while at least, but the minute I say it, we're gone." Dan nodded slowly, knowing that was the best he was going to get. He turned around slowly without another word, and started leading him back to the room, a smile spreading across his face. He heard Norm mutter "You'll be the death of me boy" and he chuckled slightly before replying "Probably".