Sleep Paralysis - Josh Franchesci, You Me At Six AU (COMPLETED)

1.7

R O S E ' S  P O V

By the time I got to my apartment it was dark outside. Although the night breeze was light, it sent a shiver down my spine like a gust of wind would, and gave me a sense of paranoia. I cautiously investigated my surroundings as I crept towards the doors of the lobby before a snap of a twig sent me leaping into the comforting safety of my building. God knows this building isn't anywhere near safe with Josh always lurking in the shadows. Shrugging off my nerves, I boarded the elevator and selected my level, watching the dodgy doors shut with a delay before the final shake. The usual. Within a minute or two, I arrived at my level and scurried into the hallway, my body pumping with adrenaline as I thought of Timothy's promises. The man himself was pacing in front of my door, looking up as I came closer to him.

"Good, you're here. Let's move quickly - we don't know what Josh might be doing at the moment," he warned. I nodded in agreement and opened my door, watching the supply decked man practically fly into my apartment. I closed my door and locked it as Timothy selected my dining room table as his desk. I made my way to the table and joined him.

"Okay, based off all of my research, I think I've got the solution," Timothy announced, placing a stack of books and files on my dining room table. I furrowed my eyebrows and looked at him with a bit of concern.

"Is it that detailed?" I questioned. He shook his head.

"I'm just holding on to my sources. You never know when you're going to need them," he explained. He pulled out a small file from the stack and opened it up. "This is it. If we can't get rid of Josh with this... I don't know what to do," he whispered. I grabbed his hand and gazed into his eyes intently.

"No matter the outcome, I'll always appreciate all you've done for me." Timothy gave me a soft smile and chuckled softly to himself.

"You really are like Angela..." he mused. A tense silence filled the room before Tim gave out a small cough and pushed his hair back with his hand. "Anyways, let's get back on track. We need to find a couple of things," he awkwardly instructed.

---

"Okay, we've got the sage, herbs, pure salt and matches. We need an item that has some relation to Josh. I've brought this as an example," he informed me, picking up his bag and pulling out a weathered, deflated football.

"How does Josh relate to your football? I saw the team picture in your office, but Josh wasn't in it..." I mentioned. Timothy placed the ball on the table and turned to me.

"Josh and I were actually best friends prior to... his crimes. We were on the football team, but he was sick of it and left. That picture was after the finals, which Josh didn't partake in." I nodded in understanding. They were best friends? No wonder Josh was so pissed off at him. God, I can't imagine what Timothy is feeling right now. I made my way to the bathroom, fishing around my drawers before pulling out the lipstick from Dan and I's first date. I felt sick as I uncapped it and gazed at the smushed, blunt end, being reminded of when Josh had returned and left his message on the mirror.

"Rose?" Timothy called out. I placed the cap back on and looked at myself in the mirror. A tired and cold face stared back. You can do this, Rose. End it. I exited the bathroom and returned to Timothy, placing the lipstick on the table.

"I wore this lipstick on Dan and I's first date, and when I saw Josh for the first time after he disappeared, he left a message on my bathroom mirror with the lipstick," I explained, shuddering at the memories. Timothy gave me a look of empathy before taking a moment to read his notes.

"Alright, we need to place some salt around your home before we move onto you. If he's attached to you, there's a good chance that he might be attached to your home as well," Timothy directed. So, with a bag of salt each, Timothy and I made our way around my apartment, lining where the wall met the ground with a generous amount of salt. This part of the process didn't take long and we soon found ourselves back in my living room drawing symbols on the floor with white sage. Tim compared his information to our work, explaining what each symbol meant and how it would combat against Josh.