Tyler is alone in the city of Dema. He can't remember who he was before then. All he knows now is trying to survive in this world. He sees others around him who are struggling too, and he wants to help them. But he can't. He can't even seem to help...
The only thing that gives him strength to walk after the imposing red-hooded figures is the memory of what he had done before they came for him.
He had picked up that yellow notebook that Josh gave him, wondered what use the words inside were.
The temptation to get rid of them, they're worthless was strong.
So strong.
But he didn't.
The strangest feeling came over him. He knew he couldn't get rid of it. Not now. Not ever. So he didn't.
He tucked that little notebook away, thinking of all the pieces of himself he'd preserved within those pages. [Potterhead me is now freaking out because ERRRRRR MERRRRR GERRRRSSSSSHH Tyler made a horcrux!!!!!!! Ha. No. Tell me that wouldn't be interesting, though, a Harry Potter meets twenty one pilots fanfiction. It would be interesting. But the part of me that made HP fanfiction was like 8...actually wait, that was also me about a year and a bit ago...okay, bye. Back to writing the story!].
They were too [I almost wrote "two," wow. My brain is just *so* helpful today. FYI, "Two" is also a twenty one pilots song. You should look it up. It has like three words but it's quite interesting.] important to be lost for good.
So when he followed the bishops, there was a tiny spark [ooh, ooh! okay, sorry, I'm interrupting a lot. But there's this quote I saw that's pretty inspiring that I just remembered. Check it out below] of rebellion inside of him that was almost enough to counteract the despair being around the bishops made him feel.
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Almost.
But...there were nine of them. And only one of him.
The odds were [NOOOO! NO Hunger Games references, brain! The odds were not ever in his favor!!! I don't even like the Hunger Games that much! Okay. I'm good] always going to be stacked against him.
So as Tyler followed the bishops, he felt the despair grow and the rebellion fade.
Where are they taking me? he wonders.
His hands are shaking.
Somehow he knows that this time, the bishops' only target is himself.
No one else.
And he's right.
He's grateful no one else will be hurt by the nine this time, but he's afraid of what they might do.
Or, possibly, what they will convince him to do.
He isn't paying attention to his surroundings, but he's immediately jolted back to reality when Nico's cold hands touch his face possesively.
The other bishops are gathered in a circle.
They are completely quiet for a moment, his heart is beating so loud he's certain they can hear it.
"You don't want to end up like that fool Clancy, do you?" Nico whispers.
The answer is ripped out from the dark place in Tyler's mind that feels at home here and he can't stop it.
"No," he hears himself say.
Nico laughs. It's a terrible sound.
"I didn't think so," Nico says.
His words echo around Tyler's mind for a moment.
I didn't think so I didn't think so I didn't think so...
He feels a tear trickling down his face. This isn't right. Part of him knows this isn't right.
But that part of him has been all but swallowed up by the darkness of Dema.
"Don't you want to take your place among the rest?" Nico asks.
No. He doesn't.
He knows what the bishop means and he most definitely does not want that.
He remembers what Clancy had said before he had died.
"Life should be celebrated. Not death. Not in that way."
And he knows Clancy is right. He knows.
But he is so afraid.
And the bishops are convincing.
They prey on the fear and doubt that is already present in his mind, in all their victims' minds.
So he finds himself nodding, even as he screams at himself.
"Good," Nico says. "Very good."
Nico might just be the creepiest character I've ever written about, honestly. He's pretty scary...
