They were walking down a hallway now, an uneasy feeling stirring within Ryan. Bryce seems nervous, if the way he fidgets and bounces around is any kind of clue.

"Are you okay, Bryce?" Ryan gives his friend a worried look, not at all liking the way he seemed so tense for some reason.

"I'm just cold and tired and kinda hungry," Bryce laughs. "You know, the usual."

Ryan chuckles half-heartedly and pulls Bryce down the hall. They had done some searching, and this is where the address was. Right here, in this boring apartment building, was where this address lead them.

Ryan sighs to himself, quietly walking up to an apartment door.

The door.

It wasn't anything special- a boring old wooden door against a beige colored wall. The door had 419 on it, in dull gold print. He looks over at Bryce, who is quietly standing behind Ryan, a nervous look on his face. He smiles, anyways, and despite the blatant panic hidden behind it, the smile makes Ryan a little calmer.

He knocks, then steps back a bit in case the door comes swinging open at his face. The door opens, revealing a curly haired, tall-ish man looking at them both curiously.

"Hello? Can I help you guys?" The man gives them a bright smile, relaxing Ryan a little.

He awkwardly holds out the photo to the man. "Um... Do- do you know where we can find this guy, perhaps?" It was probably the stupidest way possible for Ryan to ask that question, but he didn't know how else to do it.

The man's eyes widen as he laughs softly, shaking his head. "Luke? Oh, god, that crazy bastard showed up here a week or two ago. He said something about people coming after him. Was this what he meant?"

"Uh... Maybe? I don't know," Ryan admits. He looks over his shoulder to Bryce, who looks like he's about to pass out on the floor.

"Oh! I'm being so stupid, come on in! Are you guys hungry? You both look exhausted, do you have a place to stay? What's your names?" The man quickly ushers both of them in, shutting the door behind them.

"I'm Ryan, and this is Bryce," Ryan says, pointing over at Bryce who has now flopped down into a chair. "What's yours?"

The man smiles at them. "My name is Brock! Do you guys want anything to eat? I'm assuming you guys came from North Carolina, and that's super far. Please, eat something," Brock insists, a stern, motherly tone in his voice.

Bryce is the first to give in, a tired, grateful smile on his face as he sits at the table, grabbing an apple that had been sitting in a bag.

Brock gestures for Ryan to sit as well, moving into the kitchen to make something for them to eat. "I'll give you some answers if you sit down and eat, okay Ryan? You guys look like you haven't eaten all day."

Ryan just nods and does as asked, sitting next to Bryce and waiting patiently. If he was to be honest, Brock's behavior kinda reminded him of Luke. They both worried just the same, both of them were pretty much mother hens, always fussing and worrying over their friends.

Only, Luke was more of an aggressive soccer mom than anything else. He was the kind of friend to scream your name from the sidelines so loud you'd think he brought a microphone. Luke was the kind of friend to support people to no end and take zero bullshit.

And god, what Ryan would give to see Luke again.

"Here. Eat up," Brock says, sliding two plates onto the table. "I hope you guys like chicken, because that's really all I have. That and some rice, I mean."

Ryan and Bryce both thank Brock for the food before digging in. While he eats, Ryan can't help but feel a bit amused. For someone who's a literal toothpick, Bryce sure did eat a lot.

It wasn't until they had both finished their food that Brock smiles warmly, leans back in his chair, and chuckles. "So what did you guys need to know about Luke?"

-
*cackling* I have returned from the abyss ;)