Hounded

5. A nightmare fueled by memories.

It was late, or early rather, three in the morning when Tyler jumped awake. Josh was beside him, looking concerned. Tyler had been freaking out in his slumber for the last half hour and he finally got the boy to wake.

Tyler was still freaking out, going up in one of the corners of Josh's room and looking around in a panic. "Tyler hey, hey calm down." Josh said. Tyler dropped down and practically jumped on Josh, whimpering.

"What's wrong?" He asked, holding him. Tyler started crying and Josh didnt know what to do. "I need you to communicate with me. I cant help if you dont." He said. Tyler responded with a sob.

"Did you have a bad dream?" Josh asked. Tyler nodded, trying to get a hold of himself. "About what? What happened in it?" Josh asked. Tyler sniffled and thought for a moment. He looked down at his arms before shoving them at Josh.

Josh gently grabbed it, running his fingers over the scars and scabs. "The experiments?" He asked. Tyler nodded, sniffling. Josh sighed softly. "They're not gonna hurt you anymore. I promise." He whispered. Tyler sniffled again and cuddled up closer to Josh, rubbing his head on Josh's chest.

Josh reached up and started playing with the boys hair, holding him tightly. Tyler started purring, his eyes closing. Josh realized Tyler didnt know that this isnt something friends do, he would never tell Tyler that though. He didnt mind the boy being cuddly, its probably the only affection Tyler's ever received.

Carefully, he picked Tyler up and laid back down on the bed. "Fren." Tyler whispered. "Yes ty?" Josh asked. "Fren." Tyler repeated, cuddling impossibly closer. Josh smiled softly, scratching at the boys head slightly. Tyler hummed happily his nightmare forgotten for the time being.

When the sun rose Tyler was up again, roaming around Josh's room quietly. He heard Josh groan as he woke and quickly hid himself on the ceiling. Josh stretched and got up, looking around in confusion. "Tyler?" He asked.

Tyler stayed quiet, watching Josh like he was prey. Everytime josh would turn to look for him he'd go to an opposite corner. Josh sighed and Tyler decided that it was time to make his move. He jumped on Josh, giggling like a little kid and knocking him over. Josh gasped. They landed on the bed, Tyler still giggling.

Josh smiled, he never heard Tyler laugh before, he loved it, it was so pure sounding. "What are you doing?" Josh asked through a laugh, turning to start tickling the boy. Tyler made a startled squeak at the new sensation before laughing again.

He was squirming around, trying to get away. "You're ticklish huh?" Josh grinned, tickling the boys ribs. Tyler was trying to catch his breath, gasping and giggling, wiggling about the bed. He never knew he was until now. When he couldnt get away he whined slightly.

"Want me to stop?" Josh asked. Tyler nodded, squeaking when Josh tickled his armpits. Josh grinned and finally pulled his hands away. Tyler laid panting, still giggling softly. His arms tucked tight into his sides so josh couldnt tickle him again.

When he could breathe properly he sat up and hugged Josh. He was safe now. Josh was safe.  The only way Tyler was safe is if josh was here, josh keeps him safe. "Are you hungry?" Josh asked softly.

Tyler tilted his head. "Food?" Josh asked. "Food." Tyler repeated. "Food?" Josh asked again a little louder. "Food!" Tyler yelled excitedly, bouncing on his knees slightly. "Okay come on." Josh sat getting up. Tyler stood on the bed, bouncing a bit before jumping on Josh's back.

Josh chuckled and continued to walk out of the room, holding Tyler's legs that were wrapped around his waist. He felt Tyler nuzzle his head into his back and smiled to himself. Tyler was cute. His face was cute, his smile was cute, his nose was cute, his laugh was cute. Tyler was just cute.

Downstairs Josh's mom was making breakfast, bacon and eggs and toast. "Morning mom." He said as he set Tyler down. "Good morning! morning Tyler." She replied. Tyler froze, not knowing what to do. He looked at Josh who smiled softly.

"M-mor-.... mor-morn-" he tried but couldnt fully get the word out. He furrowed his eyebrows. "Morning." Josh whispered, setting his hands on Tyler's tense shoulders. Tyler nodded, letting his shoulders drop.

Momma dun smiled. "breakfasts almost ready, get you and Tyler something to drink." She said. Josh nodded and took the over to the fridge, giving him an option of either milk, chocolate milk, water or orange juice. Tyler only shrugged.

Josh decided for him and got him some chocolate milk, figuring he would like that best. They sat down at the kitchen table with Josh's family. When the food was ready they started eating. Tyler didnt though. His nightmare from earlier flooded to his memory.

He sat staring at his plate for a good five minutes before Josh nudged his arm. "You okay?" He whispered, after he noticed how distraught Tyler looked. Tyler looked at him and sniffled. "What's wrong?" Josh asked. Tyler looked away, scratching at the scabs on his arms.

Josh looked down and grabbed his wrists with one hand to get him to stop. "What's wrong?" He asked again. Tyler was hyperventilating now, everyone at the table staring at him. He didnt feel safe right now. He needed to be safe.

"Okay come on." Josh said, leading Tyler away from the table and upstairs. Tyler was completely freaking out by then. Hundreds of memories flooding to his mind. His arms were bleeding from where the scabs had been scratched off, the blood staining under his fingernails.

"What's wrong? Tell me, show me, help me out here." Josh said. Tyler only scratched at his arms some more, sobbing loudly. Josh grabbed his hands, watching as the boy fell to the ground, gasping for air. "Hey, hey, Hey shhhh shhh you're fine I got you. You're safe. Shh, shhh." Josh whispered, kneeling on the floor and hugging Tyler tightly.

"No, nonononononononononono." Tyler repeated over and over, shaking violently. Josh did his best to calm him, rocking him, holding him, whispering to him. Nothing seemed to help. Josh pushed Tyler back a bit to look at him. "You're fine.. hey look at me, you're okay." Josh whispered.

Tyler freaked even more, wanting to be back pressed agaisnt josh. Josh grabbed his arm, shushing him. His eyes widened and he quickly pushed away, panicking, thinking josh grabbed his arm to do an experiment.

He went up in a corner, crying so loud and so hard that the rest of Josh's family had to come upstairs to see what was going on. Tyler's panic rose and he teleported from corner to corner before falling to the floor and using his feet to back up into the wall still trying to go further back but having no luck.

He couldn't breathe and he was sure he would pass out soon from lack of oxygen. Tears flowed down his cheeks like a waterfall, his sobs loud and scared. He wasnt safe. He needed safe.

Josh walked towards him and he screeched. "No!!!" He yelled not wanting to go through another experiment. He was too far into his panic to realise Josh's wasnt going to hurt him. Josh grabbed him gently and tried to talk to him but he wouldnt listen, squirming in Josh's grip. He still sobbed and screamed until Josh let his grip loose. Then he was gone.

Josh filled with panic, Tyler could have gone anywhere. He searched the house and the front yard, having no luck. His family joined in on the hunt, calling it tylers name.

Tyler landed at the gravestone mansion, up in the bedroom where he had broken the mirror. He huddled in the corner opposite from the door, finally starting to calm down. He sniffled ever minute or two. It only took ten minutes for him to pass out, balled uo in the corner with tear stained cheeks and a sore throat.