Mr. Misty-Eyed | Josh Dun

dream sequence | thirteen

Eyes. There were so many eyes. Staring, taunting me as I crouched down in the dirt.

The sticks and twigs that littered the ground pressed roughly against my knees, the pressure surely causing indentations, but I ignored the feeling. My gaze never left the ground - my head bowed as short gasps of air left my lungs. It was the only sound that could be heard in the dead forest. It was like a whisper of my own doing, reminding me that I would never have control.

My back hunched over, my fingertips pressing into the soft earth as I tried to keep myself from collapsing altogether. I shut my eyes and my face contorted into a painful grimace as I realized that my dreams had been telling the truth. I was a coward.

A branch snapped and instantly my shaking body tensed, my breathing hitched and complete silence took over the surrounding area. He was here, but this time he was not alone.

I could feel their stares as they burned my skin from every angle, like my shadow wasn't enough to do the job of shaming me.

"Don't go," he had said. I should have listened. I never should have gone out on that stage. I never should have trusted Bryce to be there to help me. I couldn't count on anyone. I couldn't even count on myself.

I sat back on my knees as I blinked away the tears that had formed in my eyes involuntarily. My shoulders slumped as I felt my insides empty into nothing. I felt numb as I let the glowing eyes drain me of whatever power I thought I had left.

My eyes turned upward to where my shadow now stood. His black shape swaying with the light breeze that moved through the trees.

"Don't go," He said.

My chest tightened and my eyelids fluttered as I looked away unable to hold his heavy gaze.

"I won't," I whispered to myself, though I know the entirety of the forest had heard me. "I won't do it again."

.