Headspace // Joshler

ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴇʏᴇs

Tyler slowly walks downstairs, not mentioning the shadowy figure lurking in the bushes in the boy's backyard. He doesn't want to freak the boy out even more so he keeps denying that there ever was someone. Tyler kept assuring the boy that it's probably his imagination, since the younger boy is still half asleep, sitting on the couch with Tyler's knife in his soft hands. Josh kept denying every possible explanation other than that there was someone walking outside his house.

Tyler kisses the top of Josh's head before heading outside, of course, grabbing the bat before stepping through the front door.

"Be careful," Josh whispers, voice muffled by the comforter clutched tightly against his chest

"I'm always am, sunshine," Tyler smirks, hand gripping the door handle "You sure you wanna stay here and not your room?"

"Yeah," Josh nods, bringing a displeased look on Tyler's face for a second but the man doesn't say anything else. He smiles again and walks out the door into the cool night air.

Tyler walks out onto the porch, his left arm with the bat in it hanging loosely near his hip. As the man walks down the small steps, the bat drags across the ground creating three distinctive thunks. Tyler breathes out deeply, a small cloud of fog rises above his head. The streetlights illuminate the street with an orange glow but the light isn't enough to light Josh's entire yard. The front porch is well lit but around the corner, it's nearly pitch black, the further into the yard, the darker it gets.

Tyler shuffles in his pocket reaching for a lighter, the flame ignites with a click, lighting Tyler's cigarette. The man lets it hang loosely down from his lips, a thin stream of smoke rising slowly into the air. Tyler squints his eyes, there was movement at the far end of Josh's yard almost masked by the fence further down. The light of the following streetlamp manages to reach a corner of the backyard, bathing it in warm yellow. Just enough of light for Tyler to see.

The man walks into the darkness slowly, with barely any sound. Soft grass bows under his feet, reminding the man to mow the grass when he has time. He isn't sure if Josh had a properly working lawnmower but it isn't of the most importance right now. The bat drags behind Tyler, leaving a dent in the grass. Tyler adjusts his grip a few times, making sure he's got it right. He wouldn't want to miss.

Tyler's feet reach the moon-bleached stone path that leads around the house and into the backyard. The bat rises from the ground, there is no need for unnecessary noise. Tyler tilts is head upwards to make sure Josh isn't staring out the window. Things might get ugly.

The full moon peeks out the sheen of clouds, bathing the ground in silver. There is an eerie stillness in the air, it's almost sinister. Tyler becomes one with the night, dragging his body into the shadows away from anyone's eyes. He's done this way too many times. He stops at the small gate separating the backyard and the front yard. The man's skilled fingers quickly reach for the hook on the other side, clicking it out of place in seconds. A silent rattle leaves the bushes on Tyler's left, the man points directly at it. The gate closes timidly, leaving Tyler and whoever was in the backyard enclosed. The fence is pretty high up, Tyler can easily climb that considering his legs. But so can the intruder who appears taller than the man. The shadowy figure wobbles across the yard, oblivious with Tyler approaching them with a bat. It's a silhouette of a man, taller than Tyler but the older man doesn't feel threatened. Not one bit. He never is.

The figure is missing its steps, swaying from side to side like an inflated balloon dummy. Tyler feels a weak scent of alcohol in the breeze as it reaches his nostrils. The man's face shifts with disgust, he snickers soundlessly. A few more rapid but quiet steps and the man reaches the unknown figure, pinning it against the fence.