ANATHEMA

chapter sixteen: trapdoor

We found a tattoo parlor close to where we had to meet back up, which seemed like a good place to get stuff for our two friends.

I got Josh a new nose ring and Ashley some white hair dye.

Tyler got Ashley a journal made specifically for writing songs he found at a bookstore across the street. He said he got Josh a new pair of drum sticks at the music store, which must have been what he was shoving into his coat pocket.

We found Dr. Urie in the town's square after we had made our purchases. He asked us if we found anything to send to anybody, but we shook our heads. We couldn't let him know we bought things that were going to stay in the hospital for a while.

As people started filing into the square, Ashley and Josh ran in, out of breath, but smiling like idiots. They spotted us and jogged over.

"You'll never believe what we just did, we-" Ashley started, but realized Dr. Urie was too close for comfort. "We'll tell you all about it at breakfast tomorrow, alright?" I just nodded, laughing at the two of them.

We piled into the van, going on the second trip again. Tyler was strangely quiet the entire time. He was staring at nothing in particular, but it seemed he had a permanent smile glued on his lips.

When we got back to the hospital, Tyler walked with me back to my room. I told him he didn't have to, that he should get some sleep, but he just responded with, "Oh, I won't be sleeping. I'm fine. Goodnight, Ophelia."

He turned and walked back to his own room, his eyes on the floor. I was slightly worried, but I was too tired to worry too much.

The next day, Ashley and Josh were waiting for me at breakfast.

"Okay, okay," Ashley started. "As soon as we got off the van, we fuckin' ran, man, we ran so far. I thought we got lost more than once, but Josh knew where we were goin' apparently."

She continued telling their tale, with Josh popping in every now and then to add a detail that Ashley forgot about.

"And that's why you should never buy weed from a guy in an eye patch, in my opinion," she finished. I was crying with laughter, tears rolling down my cheeks. Josh himself was giggling like a little kid, remembering last night's events too well.

Once everyone had calmed down, Josh asked, "Hey, where's Tyler?" I looked over to see that he never had made it down to the cafeteria.

However, I knew where he was. I don't think he'd be anywhere else.

"I think I know," I said. "I'll go see if he's okay." Ashley's face was filled with worry, and, as I walked away, she turned to Josh and started rambling about something that seemingly concerned her.

I walked the familiar path to the music room, and, sure enough, I could hear sounds coming from it.

Standing at the doorway, I found Tyler bustling about the room. He would go to the piano and play a few chords, then go to a desk to write something down, then he'd go over to a set of bells, shake them a bit, then go back to the desk.

"You shouldn't skip breakfast, you know," I said eventually. He jumped and spun to face me. He looked disheveled, to say the least. I always figured he didn't get enough sleep at night, but he looked like he didn't didn't even close his eyes last night.

"I-I was working on something," he said. His voice was hoarse, raspier and deeper than usual.

"Were you now?" I teased him, walking over to my spot on the piano bench.

"Y-Yeah, actually, I was," he stuttered, running his hand through his hair. He saw pieces of paper scattered across the top of the piano, so he scrambled to pick them all up before I could read them.

"Do I not get to hear it?" I asked.

"W-Well, no, you will," Tyler said, his voice shaking. "But, not until it's finished. It has to be perfect."

I smiled, then muttered, "You should take a break, eat something. Josh and Ashley were worried about you."

"You weren't?"

"I knew you'd be here. This seems to be your safe haven."

Tyler just looked down at his papers and smiled to himself.

"Meet me here at dinner, okay?" he said, looking up at me again.

I nodded simply, standing from the bench.

"I'll be there, Tyler."

/~/

It was about half an hour before dinner when it happened.

I entered my room, not knowing what to do. I was kind of nervous to go see Tyler, but I didn't know why. He made it sound so important. Whatever he was working on meant a lot to him, and I didn't know why he was letting me read it (even though I practically beg him to let me read his work (he's a lyrical genius, can you blame me??)).

I looked up and screamed.

There, sitting on my bed, was the medical ward girl.

She started giggling like a little girl, finding my panic humorous.

"Who are you!?" I ask her.

Her laughing increased in volume. She was doubling over.

"Why do you keep following me? What did I do!?"

"Don't you understand, Lia?"

The girl's mouth opened and closed with the words, but she wasn't speaking them.

But, I knew who it was.

"H-How?" I stuttered, falling back against my door.

"Don't you ever listen to me? I'm always there. Just because you can't see me doesn't mean I'm not watching." The girl stood, her eyes becoming dark.

"B-But...I thought...T-Tyler..."

"You thought a silly boy could keep me away? Aw, that's sweet. No, really, that's adorable. You two are so messed up, you're perfect for each other."

The girl inched closer to me. Her hands were behind her back, holding something.

"P-Please, leave me alone."

"But, why? I have so much fun seeing that look on your face."

Bringing her hand to her front, I saw she was holding a sharp butcher's knife, light glinting off of it. I felt like I was in a nightmare.

I decided to stop trying to reason with the girl in front of me. I turned and tried turning the door's handle, but found it to be locked.

"Help! Please, help me!!" I cried, banging on the metal. The sound resonated in my room, but no response came.

I looked over my shoulder to see the girl was gone. My heartbeat only elevated, knowing she was hiding somewhere.

"Miss Jones?" I heard Kenny's voice from outside. "Are you alright?"

"No!" I exclaimed. "She's in here, she's gonna get me!"

"Stay calm, Miss Jones, I'm getting help right now."

The last thing I remembered before everything went dark was hearing laughter from above me. I looked up and saw her, hanging from the ceiling by puppet strings. She dropped, the knife in her hand becoming as big and sharp as a sword.

Then everything went black.

/lmao sorry this took so long, i had the worst writer's block. maybe hopefully i can actually get my ideas down now, but idfk!! thanks for waiting<333