Contain Your Heads

Prologue

     " Are you okay, Tyler? " Josh asked, knocking lightly on his best friends hotel room. He could hear the not so silent sobs coming from Tyler. Those sounds hurt him. The only thing he wanted was for him to be happy.
     There was no answer besides a sniff and rustling in the sheets of the hotel bed. Josh sighed, trying again. " Can I come in Tyler? " he asked, twirling a drumstick in one of his hands. As he expected, Tyler didn't answer. " Okay well...I'm coming in. " He muttered, slowly turning the golden door knob that led to Tyler's room.
" Josh. "
" Tyler? " he repeated staring at his friend who was barely sticking out from under the covers of the bed. But Josh could see enough of him. " What's that on your neck? "
Tyler closed his eyes, taking his arm out from the blankets, which was also covered in black. He grabbed the collar of his white shirt, wiping his neck and opening his eyes to look. That had left a smudge of black on his shirt. He signed. " Blurry. "
Josh nodded. Blurry Face. Not this again, Tyler...
" Want to...go out? Get your mind of things? " he asked, hoping that it would help. He didn't want this to happen. Tyler went through to much shit already. It radiated off of his voice, the way he walked, the way he dressed, the way his face falls when he's forced to deal with what he feels.
" Go away. " Tyler sat up suddenly, although awkwardly leaving his right arm under the covers. Josh looked down, wondering what to do.
Tyler might get mad if Josh didn't leave, but he would be upset if Josh did. He looked to the ugly mix of brown and green on the carpet, biting his lip and making it turn white.
" Leave me alone. " Tyler said again, the muscles in his right arm tensing, as if he was gripping something.
" Ty- "
" GO AWAY! " Tyler screamed, rising from his bed and pushing the covers off of him. He tripped and stumbled when he stood, like the room was spinning. He raised his hand, holding the black grip of a sharp, silvery weapon, he touched the top to his stomach, and again, his face falling. " Don't leave me alone, Josh..."
" I won't Tyler. " Josh winced, staring at the knife. " Please put that down. "
Tyler bit his tongue, looking down at the blade. Josh watched him, standing there. The room seemed to turn black around Tyler. There was nothing but him, and the salty tears racing each other down his face.
" Come on, Tyler. " he pleaded, taking a step forward even though his vision had begun to blur the second he saw the black makeup. " We have a band, right? We have to get..big, right? Play at things bigger than small venues. "
Tyler glanced up, his arm falling back by his side. Thank God, Josh thought. He smiled at his best friend, his tongue poking out from his teeth.
Tyler looked back at the floor, breathing heavily and grunting as Josh jumped at him and encased him in a hug. " Please...please don't do that again Tyler. I'm here for you... " Josh sobbed into Tyler's shoulder. " I need you Tyler. "
Tyler felt his tears sink through his shirt, and the drum sticks graze across his back. Let go Josh, he tried to say. Josh get off, he tried again. It wouldn't come out of his mouth.
" Don't scare me like that. " Josh smiled, letting go of Tyler and wiping his tears. He took a step back, slowly leaning forward and uncurling Tyler's fingers from the knife. He took it, fastening his hat to his head. " Call me if you need me, Tyler. I'm right there. " he pointed to the next room.
He turned, walking to the door and turning the knob. " Goodnight. "
" Goodbye. "
Tyler's lungs filled with fire as his vision pulsed and tipped forward. Every inch of him burned as his body hit the floor and every color surrounding him turned black. The cold dead feeling hands that grabbed his wrists were families but at the same time they weren't.
Blurryface.
" Don't touch me! " Tyler screamed, pulling away from the monster.
" Don't you understand that you're worthless, Tyler!? Tyler? Tyler?! " it yelled, screamed. " Tyler?! Tyler?! TyLER? TYLER? Tyler wake up! "
His eyes hurt from being shut so tightly. The pain rang through his head, until he felt the black grip in his hands.
" TYLER? "
" LEAVE ME ALONE! " he roared, swinging the knife at it. The cold hands released him as the voice they belonged to screamed in agony.
" GODDAMNIT TYLER! " Josh yelled, jumping away. Tyler's eyes shot open and he stared at the luckily unharmed Josh. " Give me that! "
" No. " Tyler muttered, shaking, trying to pull himself up. He held the knife up to him, unwilling to put it down. His feet were finally able to lift him, and Josh stared at him. " I'm sorry, Josh. "
" Please give me the knife. " Josh asked for the weapon again, glancing down to it and keeping his eyes glued on it.
" Josh I'm sorry. I didn't..." Tyler whined, inhaling and letting out a noise that sounded like a mouse being stepped on. " I didn't mean to Josh, I'm sorry! "
Josh took a step back, weary of his friend. " Please just give me it, Tyler. "
" Josh I'm sorry, stop saying that! " he weeped, chewing on the inside of his mouth. " Come on Josh! I'm sorry! IM SORRY JOSH! "
" Tyler! "
" JOSH PLEASE! "
" Tyler stay! Give me the knife! "
" JOSH JUST LISTEN, IM SORRY! "
" TYLER STAY AWAY! "
Josh let go of his drumsticks and Tyler dropped, grabbing ahold to the bed and grunting in pain as he held his face in his hands. Josh could see blood running through his friends fingers.
" Oh Jesus, Tyler I'm sorry. "Josh asked through his gritted teeth and shaky breath.
" I said I was sorry, Josh. " Tyler cried through his hands, still gripping the knife tightly. He opened his eyes, once again bringing the knife up to his chest.
He was going to do it this time.
" Tyler stop! " Josh screeched, lunging forward as Tyler turned the knife.
No.
" Josh!? " Tyler wailed, " Josh no! Josh wake up! JOSH WAKE UP! "
" JOSH! "