warning // after this chapter, stuff in this story will be getting heavier. read with caution

Josh's long eyelashes flutter against his cheek as he gains consciousness once again, a groan escaping his chapped lips when he registers the ache in his neck is worse than before. He can't remember much, though he tries his hardest nothing comes back.

Josh manages to lift his heavy head up, rolling it to the sides to take in his surroundings. He squints, the room is bright and smells of fresh paint. The bright white walls make his head spin, everything in the room seems freshly white. So, so bright. The few shades of pastel pink stands out; the bedsheets and decorations. He notices an outline of a bed in the corner of his eye, he can't turn his head much, it hurts so bad. The boy stares at the door a few feet in front of him, a mesh basket hangs from it, separate compartments filled with different kinds of stuffies, varying in shapes and sizes. It reminds Josh when he was a kid and used to have those in his room. They didn't really serve any purpose to him.

The boy's head drops forward out of exhaustion. Josh lets out a fearful squeak at the sight of a pastel pink blouse resting snuggly against his skin. It appears flawlessly ironed, not a single wrinkle in the fabric. A delicate pink bow lays flat against his chest, lace lining the sleeves. The fabric feels kinda tight around the boy, he assumes it's meant to be that way. Josh shuffles his legs, moving around in his sheer pastel pink skirt that the blouse is tucked into; both the same colour. Roses lined the skirt, giving it a bit of volume. The white knee-length socks rub against Josh's delicate skin creating a faint rustle as the boy struggles.

Josh's head snaps up at the sound of a light tapping a few feet in front of him. It takes his eyes a minute to focus as he was still recovering from whatever made him go to sleep so suddenly. The boy's honey eyes stop on a small paintbrush in a man's large hand, lightly tapping it against an old cracked wooden pallet.

"I-Wh-" Josh roughly sputters out, his mind moving too fast for any words to form properly.

Josh's fearful eyes grow in size when he looks upward at the face of a man who had stolen him

"T-Tyler..?" The boy violently shakes his head in misunderstanding, "No, no, no,"

Josh's mouth is dry, he wants to smile but at the same time tears roll down his cheeks. Tyler, out of all people. Tyler, the man who he loved the most. Him. His kidnapper.

"Ty-" He cuts himself off of repeating, still dazed. "What-"

"Shush," Tyler gently smiles, resting his palm on the side of the boy's face "You're okay,"

"N-no," Josh tries to scoot back, figuring out his wrists had been bound to the side of the chair using a pretty white lace. "Get away from me!"

The man falters for a second, eyes showing something behind them as Josh yanks his head away from Tyler's hand. He silently watches the boy struggle to get free, waiting for him to calm down.

What Tyler was not expecting though, was for Josh's wooden chair to tilt back from his attempts. Before he could get a hold on it, Josh is sent falling backward. The tight lace bow around his waist keeps him bound as he falls, slamming his fragile head down on the tile floor when it hits. Josh yells out in pain when the back of his head hits something else on the way down, presumably the metal frame of the bed just feet behind the boy.

The man doesn't say anything or show any hint of remorse as he leans down and lifts the back of the chair, not untying the injured boy

"S-stop," Josh weakly mumbles, wanting to get away from his captor. He doesn't want to fall again, though.

"Do you not want help?" Tyler laughs as Josh lets out a strangled sound when he pretends to drop the chair again. He rests his hand on Josh's shoulder and sets the chair where it originally was.

"Not from you," Josh whispers, too out of it to notice how in danger he could be putting himself. His head hurts so bad and everything's so blurry.

"Say that a little louder?" Tyler's grip on Josh's shoulder tightens as the boy shakes his head, He doesn't look at Tyler to know how his facial features show anger and disapproval. Tyler's voice seems deeper; menacing.

"Why am I here?" Josh starts, trying to distract Tyler from his slip up.

"That is not of importance," Tyler removes his hand from Josh's shoulder, taking a few steps back. The man walks across the room looking for something.

"Where am I?" Josh doesn't expect an answer when Tyler quickly turns around, glaring at him as if telling the boy to knock it off. Josh has a few more questions, but he settles for one.

"Are you going to kill me?"

"No more questions." He gets cut off as Tyler plops down in his chair and scoots closer. The chair makes an obnoxious scraping sound against the floor.

"But-"

"I said no," Tyler growls, fingers delicately placing his fingertips upon Josh's jawline, turning his head to the side a bit.

Josh hadn't even noticed the trail of blood dripping down the back of his neck until Tyler presses a wet cloth to it. He gently washes the wound, sighing in relief when he notices none of the blood had stained Josh's blouse. Josh tries to pull away further when he feels the man press on a bruise around his neck.

___

The wet paint is cold as it slides across the boy's smooth, clean skin in delicate strokes. It drips in the slightest bit as the layers applied in are too thick, not nearly having enough time to dry. Josh shivers as Tyler's gentle eyes lock with his confused ones, before turning away to his pallet. He stays still out of fear and pain, not wanting the man to snap. There's no explanation given as to what's happening.

"You're so, so pretty," Tyler whispers as he mixes various shades of paint, not bothering to clean his brush between colours

Josh's eyes widen when a stream of black paint drips down his neck onto his puffy pink skirt. He expects Tyler's anger levels to rise immediately. The younger boy sighs in relief when the man's eyes hold the same gentle look to them.

"It's okay, doll." Tyler stares at the mark for a little too long. His eyes seem as if they're going to burn a hole in the cloth.

"It just better wash out." There is the hint of anger Josh had been sensing

"It-" Josh barely moves his mouth in fear of cracking the layers of paint.

"Shush," Tyler smiles softly, slowly holding his pointer finger to Josh's soft pink lips, dragging it down on them. "Dolls aren't supposed to talk,"

Josh swallows the tacky lump in his throat but it forms again and again, suffocating him. He flinches just a bit when Tyler's voice rises.

"It doesn't wash out-" Tyler cuts him off, anger showing through when his facade snaps.

"Pl-please, why are you-" Josh utters through his sobs

"Shut up!" Tyler's wooden chair clatters to the floor as he stands. Josh's eyes widen in fear when he sees the man turn around with a roll of solid black duct tape. It wraps tightly around the boys head, covering his mouth. It becomes hard to breathe, and the pressure on the back of his head is sure to give him some kind of a headache.

Josh whimpers when Tyler's hands tug his freshly cut hair a bit, causing him to sit up properly, like a porcelain doll.

"There we go," Tyler claims as he roughly picks up the oak chair, scooting it forwards. The man gently brushes off Josh's blouse, adjusting the sleeves so they rest perfectly upon his delicate shoulders.

He wraps his fingers around his cracked pallet and continues mixing the vibrant colours.

"Doesn't he just look beautiful?" Tyler whispers, but Josh isn't fully sure who it's to. The man gently nods to himself, eyes fluttering shut for half a second.

Just as he's about to press his brush on the freckled skin of Josh's cheek, a tear slowly slides down. The boy had tried so hard to hold them in but it just wasn't possible. Tyler gives him a warning glance before touching up the paint that had been destroyed in the crystal tears path.

"This is all wrong," Josh hears the man faintly whisper to himself.

While Tyler's distracted with tugging up the boy's knee-high socks higher on his shaven legs, more tears roll down Josh's face. He holds back a whimper and prays they dry up before the man looks back up at him. As Tyler moves to slip small black boots on the boy's sock-covered feet, a small strangled sound comes from Josh's throat.

"What was that?" Tyler slowly lifts his eyes to examine his doll's face, eyes growing darker by the second. He runs his fingertips along Josh's lightly painted cheekbone.

"No, no, no," Josh sobs repeatedly against the tape, completely muffled by how tight it is. Larger tears escape his eyes as he begins crying harder, begging himself to stop.

"You're ruining it!" Tyler exclaims as he angrily drops his messy pallet face-first on the wood floor, paint splattering around it. The man turns around, taking his anger out on a random bottle of open paint, hurling it at the wall with all his force. The substance goes everywhere, but neither pay attention as there are much bigger problems. The paint on Josh's face had smeared and dissolved from the many tears.

"No... No, It's not ruined.." Tyler's face softens, he strides forward clutching the boy's delicate shoulders "It's okay dollface, we're gonna fix this-"

Josh lets out a harsh breath seeing how Tyler's face changes in seconds. He's an entirely different person now, cold and heartless. The boy can see it in his eyes.

"Yes, it is!" Tyler's mumbling to himself grows louder, Josh looking at him with pure fear.

"I'm sorry, I'm s-" Josh shakingly repeats, trying to wipe his tears. He tugs at his hands that had been bound to the chair with white lace, adding to the whole doll idea.

"Stop!" Tyler hisses as his hands shake, gripping the edge of Josh's skirt as he tries his hardest to calm himself. Tyler brings one hand to his own forehead, lightly rubbing as if it aches.

Josh screams are muffled as he sees Tyler grab a few items off the small foldable table sitting to the right of them. The spool of thread fits perfectly around Tyler's middle finger, spinning as he waves them around.

The man shakily raises his hand in front of his face, a rather thick needle propped between his pointer finger and thumb. The boy's fearful eyes lose focus on the sharp object as they find place on Tyler's sickening smile and dark eyes. Josh feels gross, wanting to vomit all over the floor right there.

"Are you sure you want to keep crying, Joshua?" Tyler grins, crooked teeth showing. "Because I will make you stop,"

"No!" Josh screams against the tape, not processing the man's words fully. The boy vigorously shakes his head, tilting his chair again in an attempt to get free. His wrists burn as the lace digs into them, rubbing the skin raw.

The curly-haired boy yelps out in pain when the man suddenly grips the edge of the tape around his mouth, ripping it off the front half. He didn't bother to try and remove it from the boy's hair.

"I'll stop!" Josh's voice is harsh, words broken up as he panics.

"Good boy," Tyler slams the few items on the small table, a clink forming as they hit together. The two sit there for a while, simply staring at each other. Tyler's expression softens, not seemingly as scary as before.

Josh breathing picks up faster again as Tyler reaches for a larger metal item without taking his eyes off Tyler. Josh hears a small click, watching the man flip the sharp object out of the corner of his eye.

Josh lets out a shaky breath as Tyler leans closer to him, knife unfolded and tightly in his grip. He lets out a sigh of relief when the thin white ribbons around his dainty, raw wrists begin to loosen.

"W-what?" Josh questions at his sudden ability to move his arms. Without a single thought, the boy raises his shaky hand and wipes it down the side of his face, collecting the tears. His eyes widen once again as he feels a slimy substance, quickly pulling his hand away.

Josh lightly gasps when his hand is coated in smeared paint, eyes immediately shooting up to Tyler who had, apparently, already left the room.

Josh sits down on his smoothly made bed, resting his head against his palms, sighing deeply. He almost lets a few tears escape but quickly retreats when Tyler's terrifying words play through his head.

Would the man have really sewed his lips shut, or was it an empty threat to scare the boy?

That's what Josh is having trouble figuring out.

Josh begins shifting his eyes around the room for a distraction from the previous event. The last thing he needs is for the man to walk back into the room while he was sobbing helplessly. It isn't until Josh's eyes meet the familiar unfolded butterfly knife. He slowly rises off the soft bed, sneaking across the room on shaking legs as if Tyler knows his exact movements. Perhaps the man does.

Josh wraps his fingers around the handle, slowly lifting it. He doesn't know why the brunet had left his second most important item behind, but it also doesn't go through in his clouded mind how it might be a dangerous trap.

Josh gently folds the sharp object, sliding it into the waistband of the skirt. Several possibilities fly through his mind. He's startled back when the door gently opens, yet it's enough for Josh to feel like he's going to have a heart attack. In a hurry, he makes his skirt look like it hadn't been messed with.

"How are you?" Tyler cheerfully says, causing the boy to be taken back. The man sets a cup down on Josh's dresser, leaning against the furniture. His face seems light, features raised up a bit. Josh doesn't miss the light smile curving his lips.

"I'm fine..." Josh lies, breathing uneven as he can feel the metal against his hip. He sees Tyler's eyes scanning the room, assessing the damage.

"Could... Could I have some new clothes.. please?"

"Do you not like your current ones?" The brunet's eyes narrow, grip on the dresser tightening. His eyebrows furrow together as he takes a deep breath

"I love them! But, they've got paint on them." Josh lies and gestures to the spot on his skirt as he forms a plan.

Tyler's eyes squint for a moment but soon the wrinkles on his forehead smooth down as a joyful glint appears in the man's brown eyes.

"Sure thing, love," Tyler almost chirps, Josh is beyond confused because of Tyler's sudden shift in moods.

The man struts to the closet, shuffling through with his quick hands. Josh's breathing calms down, there's still a faint tremor in his heart. Seeing Tyler snap this hard is terrifying. Josh fears the calm Tyler more than the angry one.

"He always wants to throw these out but I hid them," Tyler shows Josh a pair of dangling diamond earrings proudly "He'll never find these."

The man sets a blouse on the bed, it's a beautiful white with similar ruffles around the collar. It doesn't have pink details or ribbons on it.

"Up, up," Tyler gestures with his hands, telling the boy to stand up so that he can take off his blouse

Josh slowly rises up, jolts of panic and fears rippling through his body. He feels the weight of the knife against his hip. If he takes off the shirt Tyler will instantly see the object tucked away into his waistband. Josh wraps his shaking hands around himself and shakes his head. Tyler's head tilts to the side. He smiles sweetly.

"Ah, It's okay, I won't look," he mumbles, already turned around

Josh's fingers trace over the outline of the knife under his clothes. He unzips and slides off the blouse, leaving his torso exposed. Goosebumps form on his milky skin as the knife rests cool on his palm, Tyler's back still turned to him. Josh inhales deeply, Tyler is humming a soft melody, right foot tapping to the beat.

The humming stops when the man hears a click. Tyler slowly turns around, eyes shifting cold once he sees the blade gleaming in Josh's fragile grasp. Josh stands with the knife extended forwards, gripping it with both hands. Tyler smiles, expecting the boy to put the weapon down. Josh doesn't even think about it.

"Joshie," Tyler's voice as sweet as honey as the little names slide off his tongue "Joshua, Josh... Put the knife down."

Tyler's voice drops at the last four words, there is no longer warmth in the man's dark eyes. Josh's head shakes, he steps backward, nearly tripping over the chair. Tyler frowns, oh how he doesn't like when things don't go as planned.

"Don't-" Josh exhales seeing Tyler step forward

"Baby, no need for violence, okay?" Tyler tries to smile but it just turns into a creepy grimace "We can sort this out, put the knife down, we don't want you cutting yourself, now, do we?"

"Stay away from me," the younger boy utters, still creeping back to the nearest door. He doesn't know where it leads but all he wants is to get away from the man as far as possible.

"I won't say this twice, " Tyler's posture straightens up, he tilts his chin upwards

Tyler steps back to avoid the blade. Josh wiggles it in a sloppy way, threatening the older man in front of him. The older man has a cocky grin on his face, Josh doesn't know how to handle a knife. Tyler stays a nice distance away just in case.

"I want to go home! " Josh snaps, blade coming closer to Tyler's stomach

The man's Adam's apple slowly bobs up and down as he swallows. There's no sight of fear on his face, only a mysterious shadow.

"I'm going home, " Josh states, his hand ghosting over the doorknob

"No!" Tyler seethes

Josh feels pressure against the blade for a second before it gives in, warmth drips on his fingers making him nearly drop the knife. Tyler staggers back, clutching the side of his stomach. Crimson slides through his fingertips and drips into the floor. Josh's own hands shake seeing the blood on his hands and on the blade.

"Josh-" Tyler's weak arm reaches out, Josh sticks the knife forward without even thinking

Tyler retracts his hand with a hiss, a dark gash opens across his palm. Josh jiggles the doorknob, the door finally opens. He slips through it, shoving Tyler aside in the process. The boy hears a faint slump noise on the other side of the door.

Josh hears his blood rush in his veins, heart beating painfully against his ribs. He waits, patiently. He waits for the door to open.

Silence. The clock ticks loudly on the wall.

The boy's feet tap quickly against the wooden floor as he makes his way across the unfamiliar house.