.

Of course, when the bandits came back the next day, both Jylan and Sebastian were safely snoring on top of each other. The bandits, who had never had their captives peacefully sleeping before, exchanged glances. Something was wrong with this duo - or maybe it was something else. One of the bandits dared to raise his voice. 

"Maybe they're so happy to simply be with each other that they don't care what happens." 

All the bandits paused to let this revelation sink it, and then one broke the silence with a scoff. More followed, and soon there was a group of bandits laughing. The bandit who had originally spoken up was playfully hit on the back multiple times, and he was now nervously chuckling and scratching the back of his head. Then, he said, 

"Yes, you're right. That's ridiculous. No one would love another that much."

But what they couldn't see was Jylan and Sebastian, who were holding hands even through the ropes, still desperately holding onto each other as the ropes made marks on their wrists. 

This was true love. 

Soon, Sebastian and Jylan had hoods thrown over their heads, and they were led into what seemed like a dark dungeon. The only way Sebastian could tell this was because the small holes that had been allowing a small amount of sunlight to peek through had dimmed. There was no more light anymore - and even if there was, they weren't outside at least. 

Sebastian was thrown into a prison cell. His hood was left on, so after he heard the door close, he instantly sat up and shook the hood off. He couldn't feel Jylan's palm in his anymore, but there was a faint outline of warmth in his hand he was desperate not to lose. He staggered up and ran over to the bars. He didn't know where he was and he didn't care. He needed to find Jylan. Where had they taken him?

"Jylan!"

Nothing. Nothing but silence. 

"Jylan!"

A rat skittered across the dirty floor. Dirt stained Sebastian's knees, and a layer of dust settled on Sebastian's hands, which were gripping the bars so hard they turned white.

"Jylan! Where are you?!"

There was no answer as a leaky faucet dripped water onto a puddle.

Drip, drip, drip…