Protect (For Phil maybe? Seems appropriate.)
PROTECT: My character keeps yours safe from harm.
He had a feeling of deja vu: finding Riley out in the forest, looking half dead, and smelling like complete shit. He brushed that feeling aside, because in the wake of what happened, some stupid feeling did not take precedence over Rileyâs overall well being.
Fighting back tears, Phil struggled to haul the sniper upright, fighting back the urge to gag as he could now taste what had been done to the sniper. âIâve got you,â Phil whispered, holding tightly so he didnât drop Riley.
Step by step, practically at a crawl, Phil forced Riley inside the base, looking over his shoulder in case Spencer came back. Phil did not want to deal with Spencer right now, since he was sure next time Spencer came back, heâd have a gun in his hand and fresh orders to kill on sight.
âWeâre in the locker room,â Phil continued to whisper. Since they were alone, Phil could let his guard down. It helped that the locker room was brightly lit compared to the ominous dusk of the forest theyâd just been out in. Setting Riley down in one of the shower stalls, Phil cranked the temparature to high, trying to get Riley clean, and as fast as possible.Â
Kneeling down, Phil helped strip the sniper of his clothes, tossing them aside. He helped Riley clean up, adjusting the water temparature as needed. It brought some measure of relief to see some life coming back to the sniperâs blue gaze, and he was smelling better.
âDo you want to stay with me tonight?â Phil asked. He could see the look of panic, the wide-eyed and childlike terror. Spencer was still Philâs roommate, and there was always the chance heâd try to come back.
âSpencer wonât be there,â Phil said. âI promise. Heâs not going to lay another one of his dirty, fucking rotten hands on you. Iâll kill him if he tries.â Phil could lock the bedroom door too, as well as keep his boston basher at the ready.
ââŚnot his fault,â Riley managed to whisper. ââŚhe doesnât know wot heâs doinââŚ..â Rileyâs eyes closed as he curled in on himself, weeping silently.
âI know,â Phil whispered. âHeâs her puppet.â He shut the water  off and wrapped a clean towel around Riley, trying to hoist him back to his feet. âCome on,â Phil urged. âWe gotta get you back so I can treat you. We canât stay here, itâs not safe.â
He started to urge Riley on, keeping his own emotions, fear and terror just below the surface. Protecting Riley was his primary goal, and not even Rileyâs own fiance would stop himâŚ..
Phil jerked awake, immediately rolling over and fishing for his bat. He had to force himself to relax. It wasnât really working though, since he was actually having a panic attack. Sitting up, he looked over at Kyle, thankfully still sound asleep and not awake to ask Phil what was wrong.
Alice was dead. Phil had killed her himself. Spencer was no longer her brainwashed puppet, and Riley was utterly safe. So why, after all this time, was Phil dreaming about her again? Especially a -twist- on him finding and rescuing Riley? It had felt so vivid, so real. Real enough, that Phil was holding his throat and trying to keep himself from hyperventilating.
He had to go check on Riley. Phil couldnât go the rest of the night without making sure the sniper was okay. Sneaking out of the room, Phil plodded down the hall, testing to see if Rileyâs door was unlocked â it was. Pushing the door open, Phil let the light of the moon show him what he wanted to see: Riley asleep, with Spencer half on top of him. All three of their dogs were at the foot of the bed, and Phil could see Thor lifting his head to see the intruder, immediately going right back to sleep.
Riley was safe. He was about as safe as he could possibly be now. Closing the door softly, Phil turned back toward his own room. As long as he lived, he was never going to let Riley get hurt again. Heâd made that promise to the sniper years ago, and it was a promise Phil intended to permanently keep.