an ode to you//joshler

four: forest

Tyler's POV

I sat in a dark room, the walls seeming to close in around me. I couldn't move or speak. My heart thumped in my chest, picking up pace with every passing second. Out of the darkness, a figure with rotting skin and a jaw unhinged to a inhuman extent appeared. It was faceless and had bones sticking out of places where bones shouldn't be. A gaping hole opened where it's face should be, revealing razor sharp teeth. My limbs were heavy, holding me down. I tried to yell, but no words came out. It came closer, reaching out and gripping my face roughly.

"Tyler Joseph." It hissed. It grabbed my collar and pulled, but I couldn't move. It hurt, but it wouldn't stop.

"Why do you deserve to live? People die every day, people that actually do good for the world. And what do you do? Nothing. And yet every day you're alive. Ungrateful little bastard." Another one whispered in the darkness, coming closer. I tried to call out, but I couldn't make a sound.

"Oh yes. Tyler Joseph, scared of the dark." Another one cackled. More and more of them appeared, swarming me. My claustrophobia kicked in, my heart rate spiking. They all let out maniac laughs, pulling on my clothes and hair, hitting me with their sharp fists and yelling cruel things. They seemed to suck all the light out of the room, all darkness. They gripped my limbs, pulling and yanking.

After a long few minutes of torture, a glowing spot showed up in the distance. It came closer, and I began to recognize the figure in the light. It was Josh, his hair and clothes rustled and messy. Anger sparked in his eyes as he shot out a leg, kicking one of them in the stomach. It recoiled but attempted to scratch his leg with one of its long nails. Josh dodged it easily and continued beat the others into the ground. Slowly, he killed them. They were piled at his feet in a heap of limp, lifeless bodies. As if they had a life before. Soon, they all faded, leaving only Josh and I. He smiled down at me.

"You know you could've asked for help. You can always ask for help, Ty." He whispered. He sat down next to me and held me as we faded into the darkness.

I awoke in my bedroom, sweaty and exhausted. I looked up, and noticed another presence. Josh was on top of me, straddling me. He looked at me, his eyes wide and worried.

"Tyler!" He gasped. I tried to open my mouth, but just like in my dream, I couldn't talk.

"Tyler!" He cried again, shaking me. I made an incoherent sound, and then he noticed.

"Oh my god," He whispered, then jumped off the bed and running to the bathroom. He rushed back with a glass of water, giving it to my shaking hands. I gulped it down quickly. I finally found my somewhat normal voice.

"Josh?" I rasped. He was holding my shoulders and staring at me, making sure I was completely okay.

"Ty! What happened?" He asked.

"I... I don't know." I answered. Sobs racked my entire body, big ugly sobs that shook my frame. I gasped and tears poured out my eyes.

"Holy shit." He mumbled as he pulled me into a tight hug. I hugged back weakly. He was so close I could feel the muscles in his arms move as he tightened his hold on me. Without letting go, I told him everything.

"I was dreaming... Almost the same as a few nights ago. But it was worse. The things were there again... faceless. They all crowded around me. They pulled and... reached at me. They grabbed my clothes and hair and... told me things. They told me I don't deserve to live. And maybe- maybe they're right." I explained, tears washing out in waves.

"No! No they aren't. Tyler... You better not even think about it." He said, still holding me.
"And then.. you showed up. You punched and kicked and basically just killed them all. And then you said I didn't have to do this alone." I finished.