TYLER

I got up around midnight, tossing around and kicking the sheets before I realized I couldn't go to sleep no more. Lying right next to me, asleep on his stomach and snoring with his mouth slightly open, was Josh. Man, I wish I could sleep as deep as that fool, there were just so many things that go on in my head at night. They started out as little dreams or thoughts that felt fun and creative, until they turned into little mental beasts and nightmares and chills that keep me up at night, too terrified to go to bed.

I glanced at Josh quickly, and walked out of his room. Funny to think that it was only Christmas yesterday, it was supposed to be joyful, with gifts and stuff, and then there is a man who's too afraid to even sleep, that being me.

As I took small, ginger steps down the hallway, I felt cold to the bones and incredibly paranoid. There was something at the back of my head that was telling me, if I squinted my eyes hard enough I might be able to see the tall figure at the other end of the hallway, dressed in black and red. Hate to say it, but he's not welcomed. He was never welcomed, he broke into my head once, and now in Josh's house, too.

Blurryface sat there on the ground as I walked up to him, staring up at me. His neck and hands were darker than I expected, maybe it was because there wasn't any lights, but I could swear that the black on his neck and hands were darker than before. As I approached him, he silently fixed his shirt and brushed off his shorts, pulling the red beanie from his head and handing it to me: You look cold.

"No thanks," I said shortly, and walked past him into the bathroom. I tried to lock the door, but Blurry was quicker than I am, and managed to slip inside. And while I was already getting quite uncomfortable with his existence and feeling as my heart rate picked up and adrenaline being pumped into my bloodstream, I stayed quiet anyways.

You need sleep. - Blurry said as he turned on the light.

"I know, but I can't sleep." I said, opening the tap and cupping my hands together under the running water. The color of it looked kind of strange, sort of dark and warmer than usual. But really, you can't judge anything at all if you haven't gotten any good sleep for the past week, which was my situation. I couldn't tell if it was just my brain messing with me or if Josh's family really had a problem with their waterworks, I haven't stayed overnight that many times.

Tyler, you look upset. - Blurry said, looking at me through our reflections in the mirror. Cheer up, it's Christmas.

"No, it's not, Christmas was yesterday." I told him, grumpier than I usually would be.

Some people likes to open presents on the 25th. - He continued, not at all seeming to notice that he's annoying me. Instead, Blurry gave a small smile and reached out to touch my hand. I winced, and tensed up, at his touch. It was strangely cold and hard, and it was something I didn't expect. I barely moved, even though I wanted to so badly. I just stared at him as if he'd grown another head, getting another creepy smile in return.

I want you dead. - Blurry blurted out, and all I wanted to do was to give him a big applause.

"Well, you're straightforward." I replied. "But not at Josh's place, not today. Maybe some other days, but not today."

Josh probably has his razor layin' around here somewhere. - He said, very bluntly, and pretended to looked for something in the cupboard. I swear I just saw it.

"Blurry," I snarled, grabbing him by the shoulder. "Don't mess with me today. I haven't had any sleep because of your little shits, and I'm feeling very tired. So do me a favor and shut your little potmouth up, please." And I shoved him away, causing him to almost fall back against the bathroom wall.

You're feisty, I guess Josh is influencing you. - He frowned at me, lifting his chin up and scoffed. He then shook his head. I knew I was right all along, Josh isn't a good friend. He's a bad friend, in fact, he's the worst you've ever got.

"Blurry, don't." I warned him.

But does he understand you like I do? No, he don't. - Blurry continued, leaning back onto the sink. I've been with you for longer, of course I'd know you better. I know every single one of your thoughts, your dreams, your fantasies that you may have of your crush, even how your heart is acting. He laughed, but not at all sounding very kind. I know you better than you'd think, Joseph. I know you wanna die, you want yourself dead no less than I do.

"Yes, Blurry, I know." I said, exhausted of his daily lectures. "But I told you, not today. I'm tired and I'm at Josh's house. I can't leave him to deal with my business, he's a puppy, he'd be too confused and heartbroken. I can't hurt him."

Alright then, - Blurry scoffed again. Do whatever the hell you want, I'm leaving. See you back at home. And he got up, straightened the somehow bloody sleeves of his shirt and walked right past me, opening the bathroom door and unbothered to close it back. I watched as he marched down the stairs, his ego obviously being hurt, and listened as his faint footsteps got quieter by the minute.

"Such a jerk." I thought to myself, not really knowing what else to do now. I stood there by myself and stared down at the sink, feeling a bit afraid as I noticed that there was this black dot of a strange liquid on it. Blurry did have a point. I do want myself dead, as much as he does. But how many times have I promised to take my life and then chicken out and not do it? He must be losing his mind, he'd been waiting for my death since I was fucking eighteen.

He's right about knowing me better than Josh does. He knew how I felt when sat by the dinner table, keeping my head low as people talked and ate foods. I couldn't indulge in that sort of food, I don't deserve it, and no one else but Blurry knows that. He knew more than anyone else that I was always lying to everyone about me being fine, he knew that I was lying to Josh when I said that Blurry was only messing with me. He knew, for sure, that I never told the whole story.

I rested my palms against the sink, and looked up at my reflection in the mirror. I saw my face being distorted the more I focused on it, I saw how my eyes stretched and black was pooling up at the corner of my mouth. I heard the tap water running, and jumped back.

The water came out dark and pitch black, almost like ink. It kept pouring into the sinkhole, as I froze and stared.

There was this urge, forcing me to go look at it. I mean, it was probably Blurry fooling around again (which by the way was no funny joke) but I was terrified. I was tensing up and my heart was playing Beethoven. Until, my feet dragged themselves forwards and I hit my stomach into the sink.

A groan left my lips, faintly and vaguely, and I closed my eyes shut as pain, out of nowhere, shot through my spine. It hurt like hell, but it was only for a moment.

The water, I swear - real or not - I saw it switching its direction and shooting straight into my face. It felt almost as if darkness consumed me, as I stood there unble to move, petrified and not knowing what to do besides shielding my face with my hands.

But when it was over, and I opened my eyes again, I saw that my hands were covered in black.