Three

Chapter eight - Where's Tommy?

Philza and Tommy walked into the house, hushed laughter and squeaky shoes filling the sleepy silence of the house.  Normally the house would be waking in a few hours, but for the two blondes, it was just about time to go to bed. Although Tommy felt energised after his 'flying' lessons, the constant moving all day was tiring him out.

"Ok-ok, shhhh" Philza giggled, grabbing Tommy's shoulders and kneeling down to the boys height. "I think it's time you head to bed, even for a few hours, I'll wake you for lunch" he said looking the blonde in the eyes. "Aren't you going to sleep?" Tommy asked, not trying to sound worried for the man. "I'll get a few hours in before I get up for breakfast, I got sleep before anyway" he smiled warmly. "How about you head up to bed now?" Tommy softly nodded his head and walked up the stairs. His shoes being quite loud in the silent environment.

He opened his room door and walked in, closing the door behind him and collapsing on his bed. He kicked his shoes off and buried himself under the blankets, resting his head comfortably in the pillow and feeling relaxed for the first time in a long time.

Although Tommy felt relaxed, his mind was uneasy as he drifted away to sleep. Instead of the blank time skips he felt during the night, where he'd wake with no memory of when he was asleep, he found himself walking down a house hallway.

It wasn't a hallway he'd seen before. Shadows on the walls showed where photos had hung, broken glass was piled in the corners and a rat ran past Tommy's feet. The rat frightened the young boy and he jumped to the side, stepping into the glass and whining as his heels were cut open, almost as if the pain were real.

A loud muffled voice boomed down the hall making the boy turn around to find the source. His light blue eyes landed on an average height older male, he stood slouched at the end of the hall. A bottle of alcohol in one hand, the other tightly gripping the belt holding his pants up. Without warning the bottle fell to the ground, shattering into pieces and Tommy soon realised the bottle was empty when he found no liquid seeping through the carpet. The man yanked his belt off, folding it in his hands and taking a step towards the boy.

His steps seemed to shake the ground as he stalked his way over. Like how movies portrayed giants. Tommy turned and ran. He ran into the nearest room and smiled seeing a lock on the door. He barely had time to click it into place before the door was rammed into. Tommy fell to the floor, feeling a stinging sensation as he did. When he looked down at his hands, he was shocked. He examined the rest of his body to find the same result. His usually light skin was covering in ugly patches of purple tender skin, red rotting scabs and big bleeding cuts that he was sure would scar.

Even if he was in danger himself, only one thought came to mind. Where were his brothers?

The door continued to stay shut as the man behind it rammed his body against it, over and over and over again. Tommy could see the weakness in the lock, the bend in the wooden door. He knew the door would swing open soon enough and he'd be face to face with the man.

He tried to get to his feet, but his body refused. His palms stayed glued to the floor and his feet felt heavy. He sat defenceless as the lock came lose from the door, letting it swing open and expose the young blonde. Tommy watched the man storm over, he raised his hand with the belt but before it could make contact with his skin Tommy shot up.

His body shook and his heavy blankets he felt comfort in earlier felt like thick, smothering clouds of smoke taking the air from his lungs. He kicked the blankets off and fell to the floor, grabbing at his arms and hair to try and comfort himself. It wasn't working though.

Tommy knew it was a dream, but it felt so real. The bruises and the glass felt so realistic to the boy. The more he thought about it the worse his breathing got. The dark hall and the gloomy shadows on the hall consumed his mind. But yet, only one question still remained in his head. Where were his brothers?

Tommy used the bedside table next to him and pulled himself to his feet. He stumbled to the door and yanked on the door handle until it swung open. The door rammed into him and Tommy fell to the ground, not wasting anytime he got to his feet and ran down the hall. Swinging his brothers door open and falling to his knees as he entered. The room was empty. Tubbo wasn't swinging from his top bunk, or sleeping, or colouring at his desk. Tommy began to panic further, he ran to the next room over, swinging the door open. He froze as his eyes darted around the room. Again, his brother wasn't there.

Heavy tears fell from his eyes as he frantically looked around the room. He tried to call out to his brothers, but his throat was tight and dry, seeming to only give him a restricted amount of air at a time. Tommy ran down the hall even though his blurry vision made it hard, he didn't care if he bumped into something or someone, he wanted his brothers. The young boy didn't see the stairs quick enough and tripped down them, falling to his knees and sliding the rest of the way down on his stomach.

—

Wilbur heard the small blondes steps above stairs, but he couldn't care less. It was probably just a burst of energy or some trick to worry him. His father, older brother and his two new brothers went out for grocery shopping, but of course with the last boy still in bed, Wilbur was told to stay home and babysit.

A loud thud was heard at the stairs and Wilbur spun around on his stool. The brunets eyes landed on the small blonde who tumbled down the stair case and eventually stopped at the end. At first Wilbur shook his head with a smile, thinking he was just clumsy. But he soon realised the tear stained cheeks and small gasps of air. "Tommy?" Wilbur asked, eyes squinted, still sure this was some huge joke.

"T..t-t..Tub-b-b-bo?" The crying boy chocked out. Wilbur jumped from his seat, dropping his glass of water as he did so, and ran to the blonde. "Ran...r-r-ran-b-b-boo?" He sobbed trying to get to his feet again. "Tommy?" Wilbur spoke again, slowing down slightly now seeing the blonde boy standing up. "Tommy.. Tubbo and Ranboo aren't here right now.." he tried to comfort the boy. "G-g-gone?" Tommy gasped, looking at Wilbur with wide eyes. "No-no-no, not gone, just...-" Tommy broke down, he fell to his knees and more tears fell. His breathing got heavier and Wilbur wasn't sure what to do.

He tried to approach the blonde but Tommy didn't like that. He moved backwards, giving the two more distance between them, continuing to cry helplessly. When he moved again, Tommy jumped to his feet and awkwardly ran up the stairs, tripping every now and then. Wilbur heard the door upstairs slam shut, he sighed, ran a hand through his hair and rushed over to the counter where he left his phone.

Quickly, he picked it up and called his dad. He explained what happened briefly and asked if they could come back as soon as possible. Once the line ended Wilbur didn't waste anymore time and hurried upstairs to check on the boy. When he opened the bedroom door, he was stunned to find the bedroom window open and no boy in sight.

Panic slowly settled in and he rushed around the house, swinging doors open and checking rooms. He checked under beds, and in cupboards. Wilbur walked back downstairs and checked the bathroom, nothing. He checked the basement, nothing.

"Wilbur?" The brunet turned around and faced the 4 males walking through the front door. "Oh uh.. hey? Um, why don't you two go up to your room? I need to talk to dad and uh techno" Wilbur smiled as wide as he could, rushing the two youngest up the stairs. When he heard the door close he turned to his family. "I lost him!" He whisper yelled. Panic filling his voice. "What do you mean you lost him?" Techno groaned. "I lost him!" He repeats, slower. "I can't find him!"

Philza groaned. "Wilbur go distract the boys, Techno help me look for him." The boys nodded and set off. Techno running upstairs after his brother and beginning in Tommy's room. Philza starting the search downstairs. Techno looked under the bed, in the cupboard and even in the only draw he could think they boy would fit in, he wasn't in here.

Philza searched the lounge room and was about to check the bathroom when he heard the bang of a pot. Turning back on his heels he walked over to the kitchen. It was silent now. He opened a few draws and cupboards until it came down to one. Only when he opened the cupboard, Tommy wasn't there either. He sighed and left the kitchen, returning his search around the house.