(A/N: Okie there's a mild "mild" gore scene...? In this part so. Yeah.)
Josh wrapped his arms around Tyler, conforting him the best he could.
He heard a twig snap a fair distance away from them and shot his head in the direction. Tyler pulled away from Josh and looked at him, fear clouding his eyes.
Josh shook his head, signifying he didn't know what it was. Tyler began to breathe unevenly again, panicking.
They remained still and silent, just waiting for something to happen. The suspense was taking over and was stuck in the air, unlikely to go away. Josh felt Tyler hold onto his arms, gripping onto him tightly to know he was safe.
Josh ignored the slight pain as Tyler dug his fingernails into Josh's skin as they heard another twig snap. Josh looked at Tyler and let go of his shoulders. Tyler gripped onto Josh's arms even tighter as he stepped to the side, grabbing the flashlight on the ground.
Tyler lay against the tree where Josh was and watched him, shaking. Josh flicked the flashlight on and pointed it to where the noises were coming from. He saw something move and he directed the flashlight to it, but as soon as he did it was gone.
He heard Tyler behind him scream for just a second, but it was muffled shortly after. He spun around and pointed the flashlight to where Tyler was.
Nothing. Josh widened his eyes and spun around, looking for Tyler. "Tyler?" He said, his voice cracking in fear.
Josh heard Tylers screams from the distance. He was being dragged by something. Josh could tell.
Tylers voice was getting fainter and fainter by the second. Josh dropped the flashlight and ran towards Tylers voice.
He stopped as he stood in front on a forest that he never knew was there. It was almost as if it had just appeared there. Josh shook the thought off and ran into the forest, tripping over roots.
He heard Tylers voice getting closer. Josh began to pant, slowing down his pace slightly. He saw something up ahead.
It was Tyler.
But there was something leaning over him. A figure that resembled the man Josh kept running into earlier that night. Josh tensed up as Tyler let out an ear piercing scream.
The man lifted something above his head. A knife. The blade shimmered in the dim moonlight before he forced it down into Tylers ribcage. Josh snapped back to reality and clenched his fists, his breathing stopping as he fell to the ground.
No, he thought, get up. Get. Up. Tyler needs you. Josh stood up and ran over to the man, tackling him and dragging him off of Tyler.
"What do you want?! You stupid" Josh paused, lifting his fist and punching the man on the side of the face. "Stupid" he lifted his other fist and punched the other side of his face, repeadetly.
The eerie man grinned, blood trickling down his face. Josh stopped, panting as his body filled with rage. "Son of a bitch."
He stood up and lifted his foot, kicking the man on the side over and over again. Josh clenched his teeth, lifting his foot up and slamming it onto the man's face, making blood spatter in all directions, followed by a strange crunch sound.
The forest went quiet, the only sounds remaining was Josh's uneven breath and Tylers sobs.
Tyler.
Josh ran over to him and kneeled down beside him, rolling him over and holding him. Tyler winced as Josh pulled him away and looked into his eyes which were filled with tears. "Tyler. Stay with me..." he whispered faintly, laying Tyler back down and placing his hand on his stomach, avoiding the wound by Tylers rib cage.
Josh winced as he glanced at the blood, covering his hands and the ground below them. Tyler coughed, blood spattering out of his mouth. Josh couldn't help it. He began crying. A lot.
The tears flowed down his face quickly as his sobs matched with his unsteady breathing. Tylers eyes slowly began to close, but Josh wouldn't let them. He shook Tyler and held him up, helping him sit up.
"Tyler. Tyler, come on. You've gotta stay with me... be strong, Ty." It's been a while since Josh had last called Tyler "Ty". It made Tyler feel warm inside.
Aside from the sharp pains on his side, the warmness filled him and made his smile.
