Dan

"What do you mean you 'can't leave'?" Dan growled. Holding his sheets in a fists.

Phil unfolded a non-solid paper and held it in front of Dan. The letters were clear bold and easy to read, just something only Phil could touch or any other spirit. Dan read it slowly.

'Philip Lester is assigned to Daniel Howell, not to leave his side until fixed.. To ensure this, once meeting Daniel Howell, a barrier will be put up for distance meter. Meter will be over 100 feet away from the person.

If mission fai-'

Dan could not read the last part, as it was ripped. Dan assumed Phil ripped it. Phil gave an crooked smile and shrugged.

"You're kidding.. right?" Dan slouched over.

Phil shook his head, "As serious as a dog wanting his treats,"

Dan raised his eyebrow and shook his head, sighing deeply and putting his head in his hands. He rubbed his eyes and groaned.

This wasn't happening. Irritated, Dan decided just to ask questions about him. If he was going to be truly stuck with this spirit, might as well get some education about it out of it.

"Whatever.. I have some questions," Dan said, bluntly.

Phil adjusted himself and pulls his legs up to float. He rested his hands on his cheeks for his head to lean on.

"Ask away, Danny Boi.." Phil smiled.

(A/n: o shit waddup)

"How can you change forms with your hands? Can't you just be full human or, I guess, living?" Dan crossed his arms, sitting up slightly.

Phil laughed and held his stomach. Dan was confused. How was that even funny?

"What's so funny?" Dan asked, eyebrows furrowed.

"Haha, you're incompetence about all of this.. It's quite amusing, really,"

Dan scoffed, "Excuse me for not knowing about your 'spirit' form or whatever the hell it is.. I didn't take a class on that shit. I don't just know these things. I'm not Google,"

Phil giggled some more and floated over to Dan, sitting next to him.

"I'm just pulling your leg, Danny Boy. I get asked that a lot," Phil started, but Dan cut him off.

"You've had other people besides me?" He asked, curious, and a feeling a bit silly for asking the question. He didn't want to have Phil think he was special in any way. In all honesty, Dan never did think that. He just thought he was a broken boy that will never be fixed and still won't be.

"Well, yeah. Are you forgetting that it's my job?" Phil replied.

Dan stayed silent as Phil continued.

"I, and most spirits, have the power to change a part of our bodies, mine happens to be my hands!" Phil raised his hands and flashed them around in human form.

Dan knitted his eyebrows. This was a lot to take in.

"So, others could, like, have the power to have legs, or.." Dan paused and didn't finish his sentence. It'd be better if he didn't.

"Well, kinda sorta, it's complicated. Mostly it's either arms and hands, or legs and feet. And if you're lucky, and your soul gets big enough with a lot of power, you get to be fully human!" Phil emphasized everything with his hands, motioning here and there, his face lighting up with excitement.

It was almost adorable to Dan, but staying unsure of his ways, he just stayed silent.

"That's what my tasks do, the facility can help grow your soul. It takes longer than finding it on your own, but it's much harder finding it on your own than doing this."

"That's so.. odd.." Dan muttered.

"Thanks!" Phil giggled.

"Do others have one of you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Like, secretly have a spirit and they are just that good at hiding it?" Dan detailed his question.

Phil nodded his head, "Yeah, that is if they were assigned close by. We can all track each other. And now that you have me, only you, and other owners of spirits can see me, as well as you can see theirs. That is, unless they don't make themselves visible,"

Dan placed a finger on his chin. This was absolute madness. Though, each detail made Dan think about it more.

Maybe..it's not as bad as I reckon, Dan thought, no, no this is bad, bad things will happen. Kick him out.

"You look in deep thought, Danny Boy," Phil said, interrupting Dan's argument with himself in his head.

Dan sighed and shook his head, getting up quickly and rushing to the door.

"Thank you for everything so far, but really, leave," Dan said, trying his hardest to hope for it to be a dream.

"I already told you," Phil got up, "I can't leave, Danny,"

Dan put his hands up to his face, covering his eyes. He walked forward, blind and bumped into his bed, falling on it. Phil raised an eyebrow. Dan re-adjusted himself and laid flat on his bed, his hands to his side, on his stomach and his head on his side, staring aimlessly. He was practically planking on his bed. Phil floating upside down in Dan's face and snorted.

"What are you doing?" Phil questioned.

Dan suddenly blurted out, "What does death feel like?"

"Huh?" Phil hummed and paused for a second, "Um, I wouldn't know since I haven't necessarily died," Phil answered and shrugged.

"Damn it.." Dan muttered, "if only I knew. What's even the point anymore?"

"Point of what?"

"Life. Can't I just die? I'm gonna die at some point anyway, so why not now?" Dan rambled.

Phil was about to speak, but Dan continued to ramble.

"I mean, knowing what would happen after death would be a blessing to me. It's inevitable just like I am to my parents. As if they are really concerned about me, of all shit. My parents wouldn't care if I died, would they? How would my friends feel? Do they even like me? Is it just pity? I'm trash. I'm already dead inside, why not physically? I'm too much of pussy to even kill myself, anyway.."

"Um, Dan..?" Phil poked Dan's shoulder. Dan jumped and blinked a few times, recollecting himself and realizing where he was.

"Oh, shit, sorry," Dan answered, sitting up.

"What happened there, Danny ol' buddy?" Phil asked.

"Don't call me that," Dan started, "it was none of your concern.."

Phil stayed silent as Dan started to get up. He searched through his drawers, Phil's eyes following him. Dan got out some pajama pants and a t-shirt. Dan stood there and stared at Phil, who didn't move.

"Are you gonna stand there and watch me change or wait outside for me?" Dan asked, his voice groggy from stress and being tired.

Dan had truly given up on trying to push this problem out the door. People say that you're a coward if you run away from your problems. Though, in this case, Dan's sure those other people would have a different opinion on this one.

Phil's cheeks turned light blue.

"O-Oh, right.. Sorry, yeah. Um sure.." Phil stuttered as he exited Dan's room.

Dan closed his door. As he changed, he realized Phil could just phase through at any moment. He knew this because on their way home Phil didn't bother to used the front door. So he was definitely one of those spirits.

Dan didn't bother to let Phil know he was done. Dan turned off the lights and collapsed on his bed, his eyes instantly shutting.

Please.. Let this be a dream..

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