a/n: This story is so odd and dark and twisted and weird and I know it is and yeah. Whoops. Still hope you guys like it though. I hope this story helps you.
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People gathered around at a sight that was all too rare to see. It barely happened in Dema, in the public anyway. But on that night, it happened in the public, for all eyes to see. As a lesson to show what would happen if you attempted to escape Dema but weren't to be killed. Tyler's hands and neck were painted black, squirming in the rope he was being held in. The main courtyard of Dema, where he and Josh sang in with banditos months ago. He saw a heatless fire being lit at the top of the tower he was in, vultures circling and guards trying to calm them.
It wasn't an execution, but a purposeless warning.
"To those gathered, this is the punishment you receive after attempting to run from our grounds but aren't to be killed. Public humiliation, and a lack of neon to your grave." A hierarchy said. Nico stood beside him, hands crossed in front of him, looking straight ahead, scaring anyone who looked at him.
"Tyler of Nico, anything to add?" The guard asked, looking down and up at the boy, their eyes meeting for a split second before Tyler looked up.
"Sahlo Folina." Is all he said, a few people laughed at the remark, unable to know what it really meant.
"English, squire." The guard said angrily.
"They're lying to you. All of them." Tyler said, not translating what the two words really said, but to something to help those questioning their placement there. Some people laughed, looking to the guard for an explanation.
"Your truth differs from reality, Tyler. Don't listen to him, he is merely brainwashed by the valleys outside!" The guard said, some children sank into their parents, who held them tight. Teenagers waking past stopped in their tracks, recognizing the man. They looked to each other, smiling subtly.
"Really? I think you're brainwashed by the walls inside." Tyler said, the crowd looked at him scared, unable to perceive the words and understanding.
"How so? You bandito!" He said, ready to kick Tyler, Nico put his hand up, signaling to stop, signaling that he'd punish him later. The guard stopped, straightening himself out.
"Well I mean, they teach you ridiculous ridicule as a child about the outside, force you into a society that is torn and needs fixing, and make a dystopia out of a life you could make better by leaving." Tyler said, the people looked to each other confused, then to him as if he were mad.
"He's lying to you all! Don't worry!" The guard assured, the teenagers in the back smirked, leaving to run off to the others of their kind. Skeletons, they were. They were skeletons.
"We hope this shows you the outcome of what happens if you decide to leave, and not to do so." Nico started, the people looked to him with a different gaze, one of pure fear and nodding.
"All, go home." He ordered, everyone surrounding nodded as they left. The guard was shooed away as Nico untied Tyler from the ropes in the courtyard.
"Why must you tell lies not only to yourself but them too?" Nico asked, Tyler chuckled.
"If you believe they are lies, then learn that you're lying to yourself too." He said, Nico shook his head.
"Impossible." He said simply, untying the last rope on Tyler's left wrist.
"Nothing is impossible, it's just what you believe in." Tyler corrected, standing up straight and looking up to the bishop seriously.
"Go home Tyler." Nico said, Tyler shook his head.
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Taking Route East, Not Calling "Home" • Twenty One Pilots
Fanfiction"'We're not machines, not here.' He said, turning back, his torch the only light source in the pitch black valley. 'Then what are we, Josh?' Tyler asked, the silence echoing between them. 'Whatever we want to be.'" - Overdue Trench story, hope you...
