Child • Jøshler

chapter thirty seven

"Pete? You okay?"

Pete was panting, looking up from where his face was buried into his hands. He was sitting on Mrs Kacey's toilet, crying into his hands. He looked a little sick, perhaps he threw up.

"Yeah, I-" Pete paused, thinking and looking everywhere but Dallon's face. Blinking rapidly as tears threatened again, he looked up, misty-eyed, and spoke "If I said I was better, I'd lie"

"I- I am better" Dallon said, leaning again the doorframe "I didn't think something like this would wound me so much"

Pete let out an airy laugh "Yeah, me neither. I think it's because I never thought it could happen"

"Yeah"

Pete scanned the bathroom with his eyes, having seen every inch of it while being here for the past half an hour. He threw up twice, cried all the time. His fingers were still shaking, he didn't know what to think.

"We should go home" Dallon proposed.

Pete nodded, standing up but stopping with furrowed brows "Where are the other guys?"

Dallon sighed, moving away from the doorway to let Pete out "Tyler, Brendon and Patrick ran out - Brendon flew out - you already know about Andy-"

"Josh?"

"I'm not sure" Dallon squinted his eyes in thought as they walked back into Brendon's room "I think he slipped out when Brendon did, perhaps he just went home"

Pete nodded, opening the door and walking over to the bed. He took his phone and Patrick's too. Dallon picked his up from the ground, searching for anything else that might be there. Once they took all of their stuff (Pete gathered Patrick's things as well), they walked down the stairs and exited the house, not seeing Mr nor Mrs Kacey. They walked together for a short while before they reached Pete's house and Dallon proceeded alone.

...

Tyler stopped running when he rose his hand to wipe the tears off his face.

Well, he didn't really stop. He didn't see a branch on the ground, tripped and fell. "Stopping" was a cool way of saying he tripped. Yeah.

He pushed himself off the ground and decided agains getting up. He just rolled over to his back and stared at the many clouds.

Stupid band. Why the hell do people obsess and care about bands, if they're gonna leave them? Tyler shouldn't be so judging though, he doesn't even know the reason yet.

He heard some silent laughs behind him, somebody was walking between forest flowers. He frowned, unable to figure out what the people were doing or talking about; he was gonna have to take a look. He rolled back onto his front, peaking from underneath he large branch he had tripped over.

There were two men in black uniforms standing there, rifles in hands. The same men who attacked the boys months ago. Tyler's eyes widened and he managed to stop himself from gasping. Doing his best to stay calm, he realized the men were pointing their rifles up at the sky. Thus, he looked up as well.

In the sky, Brendon was flying. He was flying slowly, relaxing. Tyler could hear him sobbing, thanks to his sensitive ears. With how slowly he was flying, he was an easy target.

Tyler started to panic, panting and standing up quickly to scream "Go Brendon! Hide! Brendon!"

Brendon was alerted, looking around himself until he noticed Tyler waving at him on the ground. Only a few feet away were two black-dressed men, pointing deadly weapons at him. His eyes widened and he cursed out loud, flying forward and away.

Tyler sighed in relief, sighing. He was proud of himself for saving Brendon's life. He looked behind himself to find the men were pretty pissed.

And there was more of them approaching him.

Tyler cursed under his breath, realizing he was soon to be completely surrounded. He spun around himself, not going to make the classic movie mistake of just standing and watching. No, he ran as fast as he could. He ran through the neighborhoods, finding Josh's street and running to the side of the house. Right next to the ground was a small window; a window that was actually close to the ceiling if watched from inside Josh's room. Josh was letting his emotions out on his boxing bag.

Panting still, Tyler knocked on the window so hard he almost broke it. Josh's attention was thus caught and he cringed at the panicking face of his cr- I mean, fren.

Figuring the window would be too small for Tyler to come in through it, Josh jogged upstairs and opened the front door for the vampire boy. They were soon standing in Josh's room, Josh watched the younger boy patiently as he caught his breath.

"They're back" Tyler said, gulping "They tried too shoot Bren down, but he escaped in time. They tried to catch me, but I ran"

Josh pulled his hair, letting out multiple curses through his gritted teeth and kicking his boxing bag violently. Tyler blinked twice at the sight.

Tyler's phone then rang "It's Brendon"

"Answer it, put it on speaker" Josh demanded.

Tyler did as told.

"Hey man, you safe?" Brendon's voice came from the phone's speakers, the wind making it slightly harder to understand what Brendon was saying.

"Yeah, I'm here with Josh" Tyler replied, rubbing the back of his neck with his palm "You're on speaker"

"Hey, Jo"

"Bren"

"Wait a second, I gotta land" Brendon said.

Tyler and Josh waited indeed a second.

"They're back, man" Brendon started "I could see their vehicle from the sky. They've got nets and rifles and-"

"Wait" Josh cut him off "You saw their vehicle - where were they going?"

"Oh, toward-" Brendon suddenly paused, cursed out loud and spat "Goddammit Patrick!"