Walking Up The Gardens Path | Creepypasta

Eyes

While it wasn't as soon as Tim expected, they eventually went back on the road. Brian had insisted that it was his day to drive, and Tim honestly couldn't find it in himself to argue against that. Toby was still dressed in Brian's pajamas, stating that they were more comfortable than the tough jeans he'd worn before and actually preferred the loose pants for the seemingly long ride ahead.

Tim, once again, couldn't blame him. He would've stayed in his own pajamas if it weren't for the fact he's usually the one going in and out of stores.

Brian might be the better one at talking, but he hated the bright lights and obnoxious sounds that came with stores and fast food places. In fact, he wouldn't be surprised if he managed to convince Toby to get burgers for them last night. It seemed entirely on brand.

Toby sighed through his nose, crossing his arms as he stared out the window. Tim glanced at him through the mirror, and shook his head. Toby had been annoyed ever since they got in the car. While he hadn't openly expressed the issue, Tim felt it was obvious: he wanted to stay for a while longer. He didn't understand why he would, frankly. When Tim was in this situation, he wanted to leave the scene as quickly as humanly possible.

Though, it wasn't exactly clear whether Toby even had a bed to sleep in at night before the hotel, so he would understand if it was more-so craving a comfortable place to sleep rather than any real connection to the town. He took a deep breath and looked over at Brian in the driver's seat.

"We're probably going to have to take the course through Texas." Brian said once he had Tim's attention. "We could go up through Arkansas, but it'd be longer."

Tim thought for a moment before shrugging. It didn't really matter as long as they made it by the time limit they had. Five days is plenty. He didn't express this, but Brian nodded nonetheless as if he had heard.

Sometimes, he wonders if he did.

Shifting focus from such an odd thought, he smiled and turned away towards the window. He felt silly whenever he thought about it - Brian? Reading minds? He knew it was completely and entirely unlikely and outright impractical but it was still a thought that came once in a while.

"Have you ever been to Texas, Toby?" Brian asked. Tim hoped it was to turn the tension away from him, and shift the mood. Brian didn't care about Toby otherwise, that much was obvious.

Toby looked as surprised by the question as Tim felt. He shook his head and ran a hand through his hair.

"No." He mumbled, faltering. "I've never been out of state until now."

Really? Brian was surprised to hear that, and Tim turned to him with a look. They picked him up right near the border of Mississippi, it wasn't a leap in assumption to assume he had at the very least been to a neighboring state.

Toby tilted his head, clearly confused by the looks he was being given. "What?" He asked, shrugging. "It's true. I've never been out of Colorado until now."

A pause. Tim and Brian looked at each other for a moment before Brian shifted his attention back to the road.

Colorado?

They weren't anywhere close to Colorado. How'd he get here?

Tim's stomach churned, a familiar headache forming behind his eyes. He didn't know whether to ask. Toby didn't say anything else, instead turning his attention to the window. What actually happened to him?

It must've been at least an hour before Brian mumbled something vague about running out of gas, and pulled into a truck stop along the highway. Tim looked down at the gas gauge, noticing the blinking red E and sighed. Maybe it was good to stop now, anyways. He needed some fresh air, and the sick churning in his stomach could die down with a cigarette.