The Bandito Chronicles

Dear Diary....

Tyler sat in his tent of the encampment with a worn book out in front of him, and a pen between his aching fingers. He's been having memory lapses recently, possibly due to the brainwashing of the bishops... or at least that's what josh told him. Josh gave him that book and pen to write down anything important to him so that if he ever forgot, he could look back and jog his memory. Tyler honestly thought this idea was stupid, but he didn't say anything to his friend since he looked so worried and stressed. Being a leader seemed to be taking a very harsh toll him, losing sleep and even forgetting to eat something.

Tyler returned the favor of josh giving him the book by splitting his food with his friend if he ever forgot to eat. He gently tapped the pen against his stained thumb, rubbing an eye with his free hand. All he had written was 'dear diary,' in the top corner of the paper. He scribbled it out quickly, shaking his head with a sigh. "stupid." he grumbled, before placing the nib against the paper to write 'josh had given me this journal to write down my thoughts, but what the hell is there to write? about what they did to me? about the blank pages in my head? this place feels as empty as Dema..' he sat back slightly, furrowing his brows and slowly drawing a small flower on the side of the page before getting back to writing. 'but.. this place has cleared my head of some of the fog. not that i believe it'll ever go away as long as the bishops live, but i'm working on it. josh should be getting back from patrol soon, so i guess this is goodbye for now.' he gives a half-hearted smile, before signing 'past Tyler' with double lines underneath them.

He set the pen down, closing the book right before he heard footsteps outside, stomping in the mud. He turned right as the tent opened, revealing a soaked josh. "hey Tyler, you write in your book yet?" Josh asked with a smile, bandana hanging around his neck. "...yeah.. but probably not as much as you'd like me to." Tyler replied tiredly, leaning back in his chair. "did you fall into the river or something dude? you're totally soaked." Josh blinked a few times, putting a hand to his yellow hair. "oh- right, that.. it started randomly pouring out near the boarder while we were on patrol, and then i took a dive roll into the river." he laughed, shaking out the water from his hair and splashing Tyler. Tyler put his hands up to block the splash, a little laugh coming from him. "hey, not cool!!" he cried,  picking up and throwing a towel at the other.

It smacked josh in the face, causing him to laugh softly. "whew okay I'm dizzy, I'll stop!" he pulled the towel up onto his head, rubbing his hair and sitting down on Tyler's bed. "do you mind if i look at what you wrote?" he asked, reaching for the journal. Tyler shrugged. "knock yourself out." Josh nodded and picked it up, flipping it open to the first page and reading it. The silence felt deafening, josh's smile fading a little. Tyler didn't like it when josh didn't smile. It didn't suit him. "....Ty, do you even remember anything from Dema?" Josh suddenly asked, brows furrowed as he lifted his gaze to the other. Tyler felt a sharp stab in the back of his head, but he ignored it. "..all i really remember is your face when you came to save me." Everything that happened was a blur. Faces, names, sounds, smells... you get the point. Everything except josh was gone. Whenever tyler closed his eyes to try to remember, all he could see was Josh in a pitch black void....

and a dark hooded figure standing behind him.

Another sharp pain happened, and this time it was stronger, which caused him to wince. Josh noticed it, closing the book quickly and getting up. "Ty?" he asked softly, reaching out a little towards the other. Tyler quickly said "I'm fine." as he opened his drawer, taking out pain relievers and popping two in his mouth before swallowing. The dryness made him shudder in disgust, but he hated whenever migraines reared their ugly heads. "..could you do me a favor and get me some more pain medication? I'm running low again." he spoke softly, a hand still on his head. He didn't want to tell josh about the stabbing and how it was getting.. worse.. somehow.

"yeah, of course! I'll get us something to eat too." Josh replied, perking up now as he quickly went out to get the items Tyler requested.

"I know you're there. what the hell do you want now?" he whispered once Josh left, turning to the corner of his tent. A large black mass 'stood' there, deep red eyes piercing through the dark shadows. "I should stop asking why the hell you won't answer me. not that you ever will, you stupid mass of smoke." he scoffed, picking up his pen and messing with the mechanism. "if josh knew you existed, he'd kick your ass. I don't even know if you're real or not." he threw the pen, and the creatures body divided to dodge it, the pen hitting the wall with a soft thunk. Soon enough Josh had returned, brows furrowed slightly. "why'd you throw your pen?" Tyler turned, brows raising. "oh,, i thought i saw a little critter or something, sorry. thank you for the food and the meds, i really appreciate it." he smiled, feeling the creatures presence still.

"do you want me to stay and eat, or are you good on your own?" Josh asked as he set the stuff on the desk, taking his own food and awaiting Tyler's answer.. who seemed slightly distracted. "well.. if you don't mind, i don't mind." Tyler replied wearily,  Josh glancing at where he was staring. His brows furrowed with worry, cautiously replying "okay.. let me get settled." he sat on the bed, taking up a corner of Tyler's desk so he could eat his food. But Tyler was no longer focused on Josh, no.. he was focused on the creature, who moved to josh now, sitting behind him. "Josh... uh...." Tyler was going to tell him... "i think there's something you should know." Josh looked up, brows raised. "yeah? whats up?" Tyler took a breath, but then chickened out last second. "actually.. never mind. I'll tell you some other time." he went to start eating, glancing at the creature now and again to see if was doing anything or going to talk, but...

It kept silent, not uttering a single word. Nothing.

As silent as Tyler's own brain was.

And maybe.. this creature was here to stay.