Wait to start the song.

Tyler was shaken awake on Sunday night by Josh. His groggy mind struggled to figure out what was going on as Josh sat him up, helping him into a pair of shoes.

"It's dark outside," he mumbled sleepily, wiping tiredly at his eyes.

Josh nodded. "I know. You can't be seen."

Ashley was pulling on a pair of Josh's sweatpants, which was a struggle given that she still had trouble standing. Tyler blinked tiredly before looking to his husband again. The tear stains on Josh's cheeks were what brought his memory back up to speed.

"We're going home," he whispered, the realisation making his heart leap in his chest.

Josh smiled slightly as he helped Tyler's arms into the sleeves of a sweatshirt. "Yes, you are."

A smile spread across Tyler's face as he clutched the amulet hanging around his neck. He looked over his shoulder at Ashley, whose eyes were bright for the first time since he'd met her. Anxiety still dribbled through Tyler's veins, but he trusted Josh to get them out safely.

"What's the plan then?" Ashley asked quietly.

Josh sighed as he walked over to her, picking her up carefully. She winced, but wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist anyways. "I just have to get you to the fence and Dallon will take you. It isn't far. We'll have to be careful, though, when we pass the temple. This is when it's busiest. We also can't wake up my family."

"What happens if we get caught?" Tyler asked nervously.

Josh hesitated before looking seriously at Tyler. "Honestly?" Tyler nodded. "We all die."

The sinking feeling in Tyler's chest intensified, but he couldn't give up now. Staying here was worse than dying. Either way, he'd be in danger. He'd rather take the chance of seeing his family again. Ashley yawned and rested her head on Josh's shoulder.

There was no way Josh was going to let her walk on her own tonight, and Tyler understood why. She was healing immensely, but her body was still weak and sore. Besides, she'd lost a lot of weight since she got here. She was practically nothing but bones. Josh would carry her. She was more likely to make it out that way.

"Ready?" Josh asked them quietly. His anxiety was thinly veiled, but Tyler didn't blame him for that either. Releasing someone was the worst thing a cult member could do, and Josh was releasing two.

"Ready," they both replied.

Josh nodded, taking a deep breath before walking to the door. He unlocked it while Tyler climbed off of the bed and followed. The hallway was dark, as well as the rest of the house. It seemed as though everyone was sleeping, or at least not home. The only light on was Ash's, but her door was closed. Josh eyed the door carefully before leading Tyler down the stairs.

He skipped certain stairs, so Tyler watched his feet and copied the movements. Thankfully, not a single sound was made. Josh looked over his shoulder at Tyler and pointed towards the kitchen. Tyler's gaze followed where Josh's finger pointed, finding Abigail asleep on the kitchen counter. He smiled slightly, realising how much he'd miss her. Abigail was the strangest child he'd ever met, but her heart was in the right place.

The screen door creaked slightly when Josh opened it, making them all freeze. Ashley hid her face against Josh's shoulder. Tyler wished he had that luxury. Instead, he gripped the back of Josh's shirt tightly. He didn't allow himself to so much as breathe until they were on the porch.

As they descended the wooden steps, Tyler became aware of how uncertain he was of how long they'd been here. The air was frigid and the leaves were all nearly completely gone from the trees.

"Josh?" He whispered.

Josh looked over his shoulder at him again, shifting Ashley onto his hip so he could free one hand to hold Tyler's. "You okay?" Josh whispered back.

Tyler nodded, taking Josh's hand in his gratefully. "What's the date?"

"It's the seventeenth of October," Josh whispered back.

"It was the second when I got here." The realisation made Tyler's stomach hurt. He'd been here for a little over two weeks. His family must be worried sick.

"It was the first of June when I was taken," Ashley whispered, turning her head to look at Tyler. "It's been so long."

They all froze when a scream echoed through the air. "The sanctuary," Josh mumbled, holding Tyler's hand tighter. "Keep moving. Come on."

Walking along the dirt roads when they were empty was eerie. Usually these streets were packed with strange people, and The Family was always watching. Right now, however, it was dark. There was hardly any moon tonight to illuminate their path, but that also meant they'd be harder to see.

A loud laugh emitted from one of the houses, but all of the shutters were drawn. No one had seen them. The hair on the back of Tyler's neck was standing up as he clung to Josh. Even with no one around, he didn't feel safe. His excitement was rapidly being swallowed up by his fear.

Light was flickering in the windows of the temple. Voices could be heard from within, as well as screams and animal sounds. Candles sat in the windows, making the spaces outside of the windows brighter as well.

Josh led Tyler to the other side of the road, keeping him out of the light. The door to the temple opened, and Josh yanked Tyler into the shadows so quickly that he lost his breath. An old woman came out and sat on the steps. Blood was splattered across her face as she lifted a pipe to her lips and lit it.

"Lamia," Josh breathed out. "Her brain is destroyed from whatever's in that pipe, but she'll still turn us in."

Tyler nodded fearfully, keeping his back pressed against the wall of the rickety wooden building they were hiding by. "What do we do then?" His voice was so quiet that even he barely heard it.

Josh shook his head slightly, looking behind them carefully before looking back to the old woman. She was inhaling the smoke deeply, making her eyes roll into the back of her head slightly. Just as Josh opened his mouth to whisper their new plan, the door opened again. This time, it was the prophet who stepped out. Mr. Dun looked aggravated when his eyes fell upon Lamia.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" He demanded of her.

The old woman shrugged lazily. "Taking a break."

A fire ignited in Josh's father's eyes. "A break? From what? Sitting on your ass while everyone else builds the altar? This is an important ritual, Lamia. If you can't take it seriously, maybe you aren't equipped to be a part of The Family anymore."

Tyler's eyes widened in surprise. Josh looked just as shocked. Neither of them said anything. Ashley kept her face hidden.

"You can't excommunicate me, Bill. I was born into this religion." Lamia seemed very confident in that assumption.

The prophet's voice grew lower and far more intimidating as he spoke his next words. "Maybe not, but I can sure as hell keep you from waking up tomorrow morning. Get your ass up and help with the altar. You're a disgrace to this church and everything we stand for. Satan will punish you in his own time, and you'll regret this disrespect."

Lamia glared at him, but stood anyways. She kept her head up proudly as she walked back into the temple. The prophet followed her, closing the door a bit too harshly behind himself.

Before Tyler even had time to catch his breath, he was being pulled out of the shadows by Josh. He had to run to keep up with his husband as they shot past the temple and several other dilapidated buildings.

As soon as the fence was in his sights, Tyler's excitement returned. He was almost there. He was almost home. They could do this. Waiting for Josh to unlock the fence, which had a large combination lock, was painful. A car was parked outside of the fence, and a man hurried out of it.

"Is the combination still the same?" He asked Josh quickly. "I wrote down what it was when I left, but they might have-"

The lock clicked, falling open. "It's the same," Josh breathed out.

The man pulled the gate open hurriedly, allowing the three of them to scamper out of it. Brendon climbed out of the car with wide eyes, immediately going to Josh. Ashley sobbed when she saw him, but didn't release her grip on Josh. Tyler was squeezing his hand so hard that he was worried it might break, but he couldn't bring himself to loosen his grip.

"They're both wearing black," the man whispered. "Josh, tell me you didn't-"

"He didn't have a choice," Ashley whimpered out as she allowed Brendon to hold her hand. Tears were streaming down his cheeks now too.

The man nodded his understanding solemnly. "We should've come sooner."

"I thought everyone wore black," Brendon said quietly.

The man shook his head. "Those who are kidnapped can't wear black until their virginity is taken, Brendon."

Brendon's eyes widened before he glared at Josh. "But you said virginity had to be stolen." His tone was harsh, making Josh take a step backward. "You asshole! How could you-"

"Don't talk to him like that!" Tyler snapped protectively. "You have no idea what it's like in there."

"Dallon, just get them out of here," Josh said suddenly, carrying Ashley over to the car and helping her in.

Brendon's eyes widened in shock when she pulled Josh down and kissed him as he tried to buckle her in. It was brief, but Tyler knew what she was telling him. She wouldn't forget what he'd done for her, and she didn't blame him for any of this. He kissed her forehead when she was strapped in.

"You're going to be okay," he whispered to her. His voice shook slightly.

Ashley nodded, holding his face in her hands gently. She let out another sob. "So are you," she whispered back. "I love you so much."

"I love you too," he replied, hugging her again. "I'm so sorry for everything, Ashley. I'm so sorry."

"I forgive you," she replied instantly. "It wasn't your fault. Besides, you're sending us home. That makes up for everything."

Start the song. It's The Last Pale Light in the West by Ben Nichols.

Josh smiled slightly, kissing her one more time before backing away from the car. Tyler was shaking as he tried to hold in his sobs. The dam broke as soon as he made eye contact with Josh. His husband's face fell as he hurried over to him, pulling him into a tight hug. Tyler hid his face against his shoulder, breathing him in deeply.

"You aren't coming, are you?" Tyler whispered brokenly.

"No," Josh replied quietly, holding Tyler tightly.

Every ounce of strength in Tyler's body was fading away as he clung to Josh. "I'm scared," he admitted to his husband.

"So am I," Josh replied shakily. "It'll be okay though. I'll still see you at school, and you'll be safe out there. They can't take you twice."

Tyler pulled Josh down and kissed him deeply, sobbing against his lips. Josh pulled him in close, kissing him back just as fiercely. There were tears in Josh's eyes when the kiss broke. Tyler rested their foreheads together, aware that this was time they didn't have.

"Please come with us," he whimpered out. "What if they hurt you?"

"I'll be okay," Josh promised.

The sentence wasn't convincing, and even Josh seemed to realise how hollow the statement was. If Lamia could be killed for smoking, if Ash could lose her fingers for pointing them at Tyler, Josh could be punished severely for what he was doing tonight.

"I love you so much," Tyler reminded him. He tried, and failed, to hold in a sob. "So much."

Josh was barely holding his tears in now as he tried to smile at Tyler. "I love you too. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

Tyler hugged him again, squeezing his eyes shut as he held him. He could feel Josh's heart beating against his chest, smell the scent of incense and patchouli that always clung to him, and taste the residual touch of his lips. This boy had been his only safety for over two weeks, and now he was leaving him.

"Maybe I should stay," Tyler sobbed out.

Although everyone protested at that, Tyler only registered Josh's words. "You aren't safe here. I won't let you stay."

"Then come with me. Please, Josh. You can't do this. You can't let me fall in love with you and then push me away. I can't handle that," Tyler sobbed out. Although every argument he had for staying was empty, he couldn't hold them in anymore. "Your mom will protect me here. She promised. Your dad said I'm family, and Ash likes me now. Abigail loves me, and the elders are protective of me now. I could stay, Josh. I could."

"No," Josh replied firmly. "Get in the car, Tyler."

Tyler sobbed. "Josh, please."

Biting his lip to keep from crying, Josh picked Tyler up and carried him over to the car. Tyler sobbed as he tried to get loose from Josh's arms. He couldn't leave him. Not when he wasn't sure if Josh was going to be okay in the morning. He couldn't leave him. They were married. They were a family. Despite his protests, his body was weakened from his stay. Josh buckled him into the car with little difficulty, tears running down his cheeks as he did so.

"Please, Josh. I can't go without you. Don't do this. Josh-" Tyler rambled out before he was cut off by Josh kissing him again.

His eyes fell shut as he tangled his fingers in Josh's hair as he kissed him desperately. He could hear Ashley crying beside him and the screams of the Sanctuary not too far away. In this moment, he could easily justify everything that had happened to him here if it meant staying with Josh. However, he knew deep down that Josh wasn't going to allow him to stay. Whether he was ready or not, he was going home tonight.

"I love you. I love you. I love you," Josh whispered against Tyler's lips. He kissed Tyler's nose before releasing him.

Panic filled Tyler when he realised this could be the last time he saw Josh. Against all better judgment, he hurriedly removed his seatbelt and shot out of the car, hugging Josh again tightly. Josh sobbed against his shoulder.

"Tyler, please. Just get in the car before someone realizes we're gone," Josh sobbed out.

Finally, Dallon pulled Tyler away from Josh. His will to fight disappeared as Dallon eased him back into the car. His voice was gentle as he spoke to him. "You'll be okay, Tyler. I promise you."

Tyler watched Josh miserably as his husband stumbled backwards towards the fence. He wiped tears off of his cheeks with his sleeves as his eyes flicked from Tyler to Ashley and back again. Ashley took Tyler's hand as she cried.

"Thank you," Tyler whispered to Josh.

Josh nodded, wiping at his eyes again. "I'll see you at school," he promised. His voice was small and strangled.

Tyler's bottom lip trembled as he nodded. "Okay."

Then the door was closed, and Tyler could only see Josh. His breathing was unsteady as he clung to Ashley. She buried her face against his shoulder and sobbed. Brendon climbed into the passenger seat shakily as Dallon started the car. The man smiled sadly at Josh, who attempted to smile back. He sighed before nodding to Josh.

"You'll be okay," he whispered, although Josh couldn't hear him anymore. "You will."

-----

Josh wrapped his arms protectively around himself as he walked back into the fenced off community. He didn't dare look over his shoulder as he heard the car drive off. He pulled the gate shut, locking it once again with shaky hands.

He wasn't sure how he made it home without getting caught. His mind was elsewhere the whole time, replaying Tyler's sobs over and over again in a torturous loop. Yet here he was, standing in front of Ash's door instead of his own. Light was still streaming out into the hallway from beneath the door as he knocked on it lightly.

There was a little bit of shuffling before the door opened. His little sister's eyes widened when she saw the state he was in, but her face softened quickly.

"You let them go," she whispered softly. "Didn't you?"

He nodded, sniffling and chewing on his bottom lip to keep from sobbing. Ash pulled her door open fully and took his hand, leading him inside. Tears were gathering in her eyes as well as she closed the door behind them. She smiled at him.

"I'm so proud of you," she whispered. "You did the right thing."

That was all it took for Josh to fall apart again. Those were the words he'd needed tonight. He'd just broken the most important rule of The Family twice in one night, but at least someone was on his side.

They were safe now. Whatever consequences Josh faced were completely worth it when he knew that. They'd wake up tomorrow morning in their own beds, in their own houses, with their families close by. For Josh, that made this worth the agony.