Phan Cliffs

Part 2 | Below the cliffs

WARNING: *sad content*

Dans POV:

I walked along the beach towards the crowds, wondering what all the commotion was about.

I guess part of me tensed up a bit, but I wasn't majorly worried. Just part of me was wary.

I sped up a bit and reached the back of the crowd. I gently nudged my way through until I was at the police tape which was sectioning off the area. There were police scattered in small groups.

To say at this point that I wasn't worried....would be a lie. I felt a knot in my stomach and crossed my fingers tightly.

It was then that I caught my first glimpse of the incident. My heart started to pound ferociously and part of me started to panic.

"PHIL!" I yelled extremely loudly, not realising I had actually said anything.

I dived underneath the tape and ran towards some policemen who were observing a body. A body that looked so familiar.

"OH-MY..PHIL!" I yelled again.

Two policemen grabbed a hold of me and attempted to drag me away. I kicked and screamed, as if I was some sort of protesting child. I was being dragged across the sand as I struggled to use my legs.

"PH-PHI-" I tried to yell again, begging someone to tell me it wasn't him.

The policemen tried to console me as I looked at them blankly.

"We cannot give out information about the incident yet. write your number down and we will contact you as soon as we can clarify anything." The policeman handed me a piece of paper and a pen.

I looked at him as if he was kidding. I stood for a minute before taking it and shakily writing down our home number and my mobile number.

I felt fear as my face paled. I could feel many people staring at me, but I didn't care for once.

"I will take you to your house, Mr.....Howell" The policeman squinted as he tried to read my writing on the sheet. He then pointed to one of the police cars.

He then began to walk over to the car, and I slowly followed. We both got in the car and the policeman turned to face me.

"What is your address sir?" He asked with a half-friendly smile.

"41 CliffView road" I replied quietly, a nauseous feeling rising in my body.

The policeman nodded in return and began to drive away from the beach. I glanced back once and stared out the window for the rest of the short journey.

We parked outside of Phil and I's new house. The policeman got out of the car and then so did I. I walked up to the door and took out my key from the pocket of my black skinny jeans. I stepped inside the bare house and the policeman stood in the doorway. I turned to look at him.

"Is there anything you wish to report or tell us Mr Howell?" The policeman raised an eyebrow and nodded towards me.

"I-I." I looked around, unsure of what to say. "My friend wasn't where he was supposed to be, I went to look for him and then I stumble upon this on the beach. It looked very much like him but I would die for someone to tell me it wasn't." I look at him with wide, hopeful eyes.

"I promise we will contact you if we identify the-the body or have anything clarified. If there is anything further you wish to tell us, don't be hesitant to call us." The policeman nodded and forced a smile.

"Th-thanks" I mumbled and nodded back.

The policeman began to walk back to his car and then drove away. I could feel something rising in my body as I ran to the bathroom and leaned over the toilet, throwing up. I leaned against the toilet for a few seconds before getting up and washing my face at the sink.

Walking through to the lounge, I took my phone out of my pocket and laid it down on the coffee table. I sat down and stared between my mobile and the house phone which sat on a table in the corner of the room.

A half hour had passed and I impatiently picked up my mobile. I was panicking and unsure of what to do. So, I phoned Louise. It rang for a while and eventually Louise picked up.

"Hello!" Louise said in her usual loud cheery tone.

"Louise, it's me..Dan. There's- there.." I mumbled, not quite sure of what to say. Not being able to form a functional sentence.

"Dan, are you okay?" Louise asked, her tone changing slightly.

"It's Phil. Louise, he was just lying there" I say, trying to fight away my emotions.

"What about Phil? Lying where? Dan, tell me what's going on. Is everything okay?" Louise said with an unusually serious tone for her.

"I was meant to meet him and he wasn't there and I went to the beach and there was police. It was phil, it looked like phil. What if it's phil? Lying there on the sand. Lifeless!" I rambled on to Louise, trying to figure things out.

"Dan, I'm sure it wasn't Phil. Are you sure it wasn't just someone who looked like him? Have you tried his mobile and everything?" Louise was trying to work it all out but failing.

"He didn't answer. I couldn't find him anywhere. It was him-it was.." I say, tears slowly forming in my eyes.

"Dan, stay calm. Nothing's been announced has it? Okay. I'm going to come down to yours." Louise said reassuringly.

"You don't have to. You prob-probably missed the train for-" I mumbled weakly, Louise cutting me off.

"I will drive. See you soon." She replied before hanging up.