THE RUN AND GO : JOSHLER

TWENTY ONE : MINE

Tyler woke up first.

Yes. This time, Tyler woke up first.

Usually it was Josh, who woke up kicking and screaming and desperately clawing at his own skin. Tyler would then wake up afterwards and stay a good distance away until Josh calmed down. Night terrors, especially for Josh, were dangerous for both him and anyone else around.

But this time, Tyler woke up before Josh did.

He heard voices.

They were distant, but they were definitely there. Someone was talking. He couldn't make out any of the words, as the voices were too quiet. It was just inaudible, incoherent mumbling.

Tyler thought it was the voices again.

It surprised him. It worried him. The voices had slowly disappeared after he met Josh. And as long as Josh was with him, the voices stayed away.

The voices couldn't be coming back. They just couldn't.

Tyler's eyes slowly pried open. He sat up in his bed, rubbing his sleepy eyes and letting out a yawn. He blinked a few times as his eyes adjusted to the darkness.

He simply stared blankly in front of him for a few moments as he listened to the whisperings.

He turned his head and looked down at his side.

Josh was there, lying on the bed next to him, curled up in the fetal position. His eyes were squeezed shut so tightly there were wrinkles around them. His chest rose and fell with his heavy breathing.

All Tyler could do was watch. He couldn't wake Josh up; it would be too dangerous. Like waking up a sleepwalker. Even saying his name could set him off.

The voice was his.

"D-Don't," Josh whispered, his lips barely moving. Tyler had to lean closer to even hear what he was saying. "Please, don't. I'll take his place. Don't hurt him."

Tyler leaned closer to Josh, carefully reaching out his hand toward him, but Josh suddenly rolled over onto his other side, and Tyler scooted back.

"I'll talk, I'll talk," Josh continued, his whispering getting louder. His body started moving, shifting and rolling back and forth under the sheets.

"I said I'll talk!" Josh said, his voice almost at full volume. With every move, he shifted closer to the edge of the bed. "Stop it! You're hurting him! Stop! Stop, please!"

Tyler reached out for Josh, but it was too late. He rolled right off the side of the bed and hit the floor with a thud.

"Josh!" Tyler exclaimed, suddenly shaken out of his grogginess. He quickly threw back the sheets and jumped out of bed.

Josh was awake now. Awake and screaming. He pushed himself up onto all fours and scrambled over to the wall.

When Tyler rushed around the bed to the other side, he found Josh hyperventilating, cowering in the corner, looking completely scared out of his mind.

He had his hands pushed against the walls on either side of him, like he was trying to stop the walls from closing in. Tears poured down his cheeks. His breathing was coming out in choking sobs and hiccups.

"Josh!" Tyler reached out for him as he rushed over to him, but Josh pushed himself further against the wall.

"Get the fuck away from me!" He screamed at the top of his lungs. He began clawing at his bare chest, a habit he's done every single time he has a night terror. "Don't touch me Brendon, don't touch me! I'll kill you if you fucking touch me again!"