"Evening! How is everyone?" Harry asked as he walked into the music store. Tom looked up from a Superman comic book he was reading, again. He noted that it was dark outside and probably time to lock up, and the clock confirmed it.

"Hey, alright, and you?" Tom asked.

"Not too bad at all," Harry smiled. "Dougie in?"

"Sure is, he's just out the back," Tom replied. Harry took a step forward before Dougie came bolting out of the store room.

"Harry!" Dougie beamed as he ran over and jumped into Harry's arms, wrapping his legs around the older man's waist to keep him up. He kissed Harry roughly before spreading small kisses across his jaw line.

"Enough of the porno Dougs," Tom groaned. He knew how easily his friend fell in love, so when he'd set him up with Harry he'd been pretty worried. To his relief Harry had seemed to genuinely be in love with Dougie and had proved himself to Tom, and so, six months later here they were. As Tom's two loved up friends made their way into the staff room to collect Dougie's things Tom stood up. He walked out into the store room and locked the back roller door. When he walked back into the store Dougie and Harry were waiting.

"You two head off, I'll just finish locking up," Tom said.

"You sure?' Dougie asked, his arms wrapped around Harry's waist. Tom nodded and after saying their goodnights Dougie and Harry left. Tom doubled checked everything was in its place then activated the security alarm. He swung his backpack over one shoulder, shoving the comic book into it as he went, and stepped out into the bitterness. He locked the front door of the shop and turned to walk the short distance to the taxicab rank. In the summertime he would walk home, seeing as it wasn't really all that far, but in the winter he opted for the taxicab. He gave the address of his home to a happy and polite, slightly larger, man. As the taxicab driver started the drive to Tom's home he made polite conversation. Tom was happy to have the conversation, because that was the sort of person he was. Soon he saw the familiar street that held his home. After paying the fare Tom walked up the garden path to his front porch. He rummaged through his backpack until he felt the cool metal of his house key. He pulled it out and unlocked the front door. As he went to step inside the house something caught his eye. He turned to his left and saw that there was a grey coat hanging off the arm of the wicker chair that sat at the end of the porch. He walked over and picked it up, realising it was his own grey coat.

I didn't leave this outside...I'm sure of it...

With the coat in his hands Tom walked into the house, taking the key from the lock. He walked into the kitchen, flicking the light on as he went. After hanging the key on the key rack that his sister had made him he threw the coat onto the table and opened the fridge. He pulled out a beer, something he told himself he'd earned today. He took a long sip of the liquid and rejoiced as it slid down his throat. He placed the beer on the counter top and opened the cupboard but as he started into the expanse of not a lot he found he didn't want to cook. He reached up to a shelf and pulled out a handful of pamphlets, and after shuffling through them he picked up the phone and dialled the number to one of his favourite Thai restaurants. He ordered several dishes before been informed his food would be delivered to his door in about half an hour. Satisfied that he didn't have to cook Tom grabbed his beer and left the kitchen. But as he reached the living room doorway and his fingers found the light switch he heard a crash from upstairs.

"Bloody Marv," Tom sighed to himself as he turned away from the living room. He ducked up the stairs and looked up and down the hallway. The door to his bedroom was slightly open and he shook his head. His ginger cat, Marvin, had a way of getting into anywhere, and Tom was amazed. "Marvin..." he called for the cat but he was met with silence. He walked into his bedroom and looked around, no cat. He rolled his eyes assuming Marvin was under the bed. He put his beer on the bedside table and lay down on the bed. He groaned as he felt the urge to use the toilet. He jumped up and went into the bathroom. Moments later he emerged.

What the? A sock...Geez, I must be going mad...First my coat on the front porch and now a sock under my bed.,..Hmm, unless Marv has developed superpowers, now there's a thought!

Tom walked over and bent down at the bottom of the bed. He grabbed the sock but it jerked back under the bed. With a terrified scream he jumped away from the bed. Then he heard it, a whimpering noise, and it was coming from under the bed. Tom knew it definitely wasn't Marvin, for seconds later Marvin wandered into the room. Tom quickly snatched Marvin into his arms and edged towards the door.

"Wh-who or what are you?" Tom asked in a shaky voice. Thoughts started running through his head, some rational, but most absurd.

What do you think? It's an idea I've been thinking about for a while. I know this chapter doesn't tell you much but if you wanna read more I will post more. xx