"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Tyler heard Josh ask for what seemed like the millionth time as he tied the laces up his Doc Martens. Tyler watched the chain on his pants move back and forth ever so slightly as he did so.

"Yeah," Tyler replied quietly. "I'll be alright. Just a little spooked," he forced a small smile on his face as he looked at Josh.

Josh had a guilty look on his own face. "I'm sorry, babe," he frowned.

"It's okay. Zack was probably just trying to trick us," Tyler spoke, trying to convince himself more than Josh.

"Are you mad at me?" Josh asked in a whisper.

"No," Tyler shook his head. "I love you."

Josh gave him a lopsided smile. "I love you too," he pressed a quick peck to Tyler's lips before grasping the doorknob. "I'll see you tomorrow morning?"

"Yeah," Tyler let his hand fall on the door to get ready to shut it behind Josh. "Bye, J."

"Bye, babe."

Once Josh made it to his car, Tyler closed the door and locked it. He leaned against it and let a small breath escape his lips. It was okay. Everything was going to be okay.

He saw Maddy appear at the end of the stairs. "Everything alright?" She asked.

Tyler nodded. "Uh yeah," he tugged the sleeves of his (Maddy's) sweater down to his hands and held onto them tightly. "Zack left this fake ouija board and Josh and I tried it out," he forced a laugh. "He really got us."

Maddy let out a small laugh, unaware Tyler was still freaked out. "Mom texted me and said she was on her way home. She said you weren't answering her texts but she was making chicken alfredo for dinner but was going to leave the chicken out of yours."

Tyler nodded. "Okay. Thanks. Is Jay alright?"

"Yeah. He's just playing Legos by himself in his room."

"Okay," he repeated.

Maddy offered him one more small smile before going back up the stairs. Tyler was sort of scared to be alone in his room so he sat on the couch.

Moments later, Gracie let out a meow and hopped up on the couch next to him. She purred loudly and walked circles on his lap before plopping down and tucking her head in the crook of his arm.

Instantly, Tyler felt ten time safer and let his dainty fingers card through her soft, white fur. He admired the way his yellow nail polish stood out against the pale color that adorned his cat.

He let out a small breath and Gracie looked up at him, almost worried. "Aren't animals supposed to feel weird spiritual things? Do you feel anything weird?"

Obviously she didn't give an actual answer, but she did meow and nudge Tyler's hand with her nose to get him to start petting her again.

He giggled and went back to petting her, kissing her forehead as he did so. "Guess not," he shrugged. "If you notice anything's wrong you better come tell me," he told her in a faux stern voice. He let out another giggle at his tone.

Not realizing the front door opened, he jumped when he heard a voice. "Talking to the cat again?" It teased.

Tyler looked up and let out a breath when he saw it was his mom. "Yeah..." he nervously smiled

"What's got you so jumpy?" She asked as she walked into the kitchen, setting grocery bags on the kitchen table.

Tyler held Gracie in his arms as he followed her in. "Uh, n-nothing," he replied, swallowing.

His mom turned to look at him. "Are you sure?"

Tyler thought about how to word his sentence in his head. "Do things ever feel... off to you?"

"What do you mean?" She replied, beginning to our groceries away.

"In this house."

She gave him a pointed look as she opened the fridge. "Look, I know this isn't our old house and it needs a little love but-"

"That's not what I'm talking about," Tyler cut her off. He then realized he did. "I'm sorry for interrupting."

"It's okay, honey," she laughed gently. "What are you talking about?"

"Things just feel... off. I can't explain it."

"Do you have any examples of why you feel off?"

"No..."

His mom closed the fridge and locked eyes with him. "Honey, I know it's hard to see your parents split up. I know it is. I grew up with divorced parents too. That's probably why things feel different right now- because your father isn't here. Everything will get back to normal and you'll feel alright again, okay?"

Tyler wanted to believe those words, but he couldn't. Despite that, he nodded and held Gracie a little tighter. "Okay."

His mom smiled and ruffled his hair. "Is your homework done?"

"Mostly."

"Why don't you go finish that up while I make dinner? Did Maddy tell you I wasn't putting meat in yours?"

Tyler nodded. "Yeah, she did. Thank you, Mom. I appreciate it."

"Of course. Can you send Jay down? He can help me make dinner while he talks about his day."

Tyler nodded and held onto Gracie as he ascended the stairs.

He really hoped his mom was right.

---

Tyler let out a gasp as he sat upright in bed.

He had had another nightmare again. One that seriously freaked him out.

It would maybe help if he didn't forget what they were about the second he woke up.

Tears pricked his eyes as he saw Gracie sitting on the edge of the bed, staring up at him with her wide, brown eyes. He must've woken her up. "I'm sorry, baby," he sobbed out, letting the tears spill over. Maybe if he knew what he was crying over he wouldn't be as confused. All he knew were that these nightmares were horrifying- and not because Tyler was a scaredy cat.

He heard the sound of heavy rain hitting his roof and realized it must've been storming again. His assumptions were proven correct when a big crack of thunder went off and Gracie jumped, letting out a loud meow and running and crawling under the blankets next to Tyler.

He let out a shaky sigh and grabbed his phone to check the time. It was just a few minutes from three in the morning.

He really couldn't take getting up in the middle of the night like this anymore.

There was another crack of thunder as Tyler contemplated calling Josh. It wasn't fair to wake him up. If his boyfriend asked, he could just say he didn't have any nightmares and the storm kept him up.

He decided not to call Josh and let out a sigh as he got out of bed. Maybe splashing some cold water on his face would help.

Tyler made his way to his bathroom and shut the door. He went to turn both of the lights on but instantly the main one that lit up most of the room blew out. He let out another sigh and rubbed his temples. The small, dim one above the sink would have to do.

Tyler turned the water on and hissed when he forgot it only emitted hot water and no cold.

"So much for splashing my face," he sighed, turning the water off and drying his hands on the hand towel hanging next to him.

Suddenly, the light above the sink began flickering. He glanced up at it. "You too?" He whispered in a frustrated tone.

He let out a huff and threw his arms down next to him in an exasperated manner.

Tyler stopped, however, when through the reflection of the mirror he saw a shadow. And not a shadow of an object casted by light.

It was moving towards him.

Tyler spun around and he could see it.

However, the shadow moving towards him at the speed of light, him gasping, and him clutching the doorframe as he stumbled were the last things he remembered.