THE RUN AND GO : JOSHLER

3 : BEDRIDDEN

"How are you feeling?"

Josh pursed his lips and kept his eyes trained on the grey ceiling above him.

"Fine," he replied, his voice cracking. He licked his dry lips and breathed sharply in through his nose. It hurt to breathe. It hurt to talk. It hurt.

"No, I mean, how do you really feel? Be honest." The voice continued, soft and broken.

Josh rolled over onto his side and looked up at the figure sitting on the side of his bed. Tyler.

"I feel great, you?" Josh asked through gritted teeth.

Tyler sighed and averted his eyes from Josh. He was silent for a moment, absentmindedly running his fingers through his hair.

"Need any more painkillers? I could probably get you some," Tyler murmured quietly. He still couldn't bring himself to look at Josh.

"Why do you like me?" Josh spat, completely ignoring Tyler's question. "Tell me."

"I don't-"

"Don't give me that shit," Josh groaned, rolling back onto his back. He winced in pain as he moved. "You and I both know that if it was anyone else in there you would've let them die."

Tyler shrugged and casually lifted his hands. "Can't argue with ya there."

Josh scoffed and covered his face with his hands.

"Get out of here," Josh whispered, on the verge of tears. His entire body ached. His wounds stung and pulsed with pain. "Just get out."

Tyler's anger suddenly spilt over.

"I fucking saved you, kid. Stop being ungrateful," he snapped.

"Oh, oh!" Josh exclaimed, propping himself up on one elbow so he could face Tyler. "You saved me? By throwing me into a pit filled with crazy people with knifes?! I hardly call that saving, Ty-"

Tyler shut Josh up by grabbing the front of his new black shirt and yanking him toward him.

"What did I say?!" Tyler growled.

Josh wasn't afraid anymore. After his initiation, he was not afraid of anything.

"I don't know," he said sarcastically, tilting his head to the side. "What did you say, Tyler?"

Tyler's chocolate brown eyes flashed red for the quickest moment, but he slowly relaxed and shoved Josh back onto the bed.

"I came in here to ask you how you were, and you treat me like this," Tyler yelled, jumping up to his feet. He glared at Josh before starting to the door. "You need to learn your place."

"I already know my place," Josh quipped. "And it's not here."

Tyler turned on his heel and glared daggers at Josh. "I gave you another, option, ya know-"

"-And I accepted it!" Josh argued. "You wouldn't let me take it!"

Tyler opened his mouth to say something, but quickly closed it. He pursed his lips and looked up, down, sideways, anywhere but at Josh.