Silent.
In..
The.
Trees.

--||---------------------->>

"Josh? How do you feel?"

"... Like what?"

"How are you? That's what I meant..."

"Like, bleeding at whitewater."

--||---------------------->>

Tyler was screaming his head off in the last show.

Though it was not anything unusual, it was rather strange. Odd. It was not just Tyler screaming to his own lyrics, but he was screaming, crying, and his voice was cracking. When the camera zoomed in on him, everyone could have seen the lines of stained tears on his now very pale complexion. They could tell that he wasn't doing well. And they could tell that he has not been eating well either, they have all noticed the boniness of Tyler's arms and cheekbones. Some had even got together after the show and talked about how they thought that their favorite singer was about to fall down for one moment, when the song was not Heavydirtysoul.

The weather was dead dry, too. It never rained, the stage was not slippery, but people saw Tyler as he tripped over himself and fell face first onto the floor, struggling to get up afterwards. They all were screaming, more in panic than in joy, when they witnessed it. So therefore, Tyler could say that the show was not exactly of what he expected in any shows. But who could be blamed? He might've been just very sick that night. Besides, it is hard to play a show, not to mention doing it all on your own.

"Tyler, honey?" Tyler looked up and saw his wife, Jenna, looking down at him. Her eyes were blue, very blue, tinted with fear and worries. She lowered herself down, until she was sitting on the floor and gazing up at the depressed man in his sharp red suit. Her hand found his, and laced their fingers together, squeezing a little before Tyler shrugged hers away. It cannot be said that he was rude or made her upset, she kind of expected it, especially with Tyler in this kind of mood. "Are you okay? You were pretty limp back there." Silence.

"Please, just... leave me alone..." Tyler managed to whisper.

"Tyler, come on, you have to talk to me. You can't stay quiet for a week straight." Jenna said and went to hug him, and has almost shed a tear when she felt him tense up beneath her. She then sat down next to him on the leather sofa, more cocerned than ever. "Ty, please, I beg you, babe. Speak to me. Is it about Josh?"

Jenna should have thought twice, because as soon as those words left her pretty little mouth, Tyler bursted into a cry and buried his face into his black painted hands. It hurt a lot, for Jenna to see him like this. He had never stopped being like this since the day Josh took his life. He never stopped crying at night when they were in bed together, or spent time for a meal, or got up from his desk or stopped staring at a blank piece of paper for days when he didn't have a show. Instead, Tyler had began to put black paint on his fingertips and draw it all the way to his elbows, he had grown his hair and never cut it (but dyed it a dirty blond color), and he had gotten another tattoo.

Josh wished to be alone, but Tyler never thought that it would be this way. He remembered so vi-vidly how they found his best friend. He remembered, every second of it, the day when Josh had a walk in the forest in LA all by himself, the text message that told him so. He wished could forget the minute that Josh texted him "I'm tired" and "Help", and how later that day, he had gotten a call from the police that they found Joshua William Dun in the forest, swaying about from a tightened rope. He was underneath a treehouse, and they found suicide notes in it, all of which were written by Josh himself.

Tyler wasn't at Josh's funeral, but he stopped by his gravestone in Ohio. Nobody was there but him, and nobody saw him crying all to himself, kneeling before the gravestone and pleading desperately for Josh to be put back where he was supposed to be. Tyler was terrified at that cemetry, at the truth that his best friend has taken his own life. Where was Tyler when Josh needed him? And why?

"Jenna, I want to go back." Tyler croaked. "I want to go back to Ohio."

--||---------------------->>

The forest was dead silent as Josh walked through it, not even birds were chirping. His only noise to accompany him was the sound of his booted feet, crunching on dead leaves beneath his soles. It was warm, pretty warm, but Josh had a hoodie on because he felt cold for some reason. It was as if the winter chill from December was still in him, just seeping onto his skin and causing him to feel a bit freezy. Nonetheless, it felt quite nice, just a little walk through the huge forest. It would be even better, if Josh had his morning cup of coffee or tea with him. A book would also be nice. And he felt like he should've brought Jim, but maybe it was better if he didn't.

"Down in the forest," Josh quietly sang. "We'll sing a chorus. One that everybody knows..." And he walked along the tall trees, trying to look for one specific one that had the largest crown and also had a treehouse. It wasn't his, but he had a feeling that it belonged to nobody, and he could claim it as his without committing anything illegal.

"Hands held higher, we'll be on fire." Josh continued, adjusting his gray beanie. "Singing songs that nobody wrote." He felt happier that he was still singing his best friend's song, even more than the fact that he actually remembered the lyrics. This could be the last song he will be singing. Oh yes, he could be singing this song as he commits, as the environment fits perfectly. Even though he had no one to sing it with, he think he'd do fine.

He had done this before, just didn't succeed. But he will this time.

He had found it.

Josh climbed up the rope ladder, rolling into the treehouse.

Immediately, he reached for the lighter in his pocket and searched for the cigarettes in one of the old damp drawers. Then he lit one, sticking it between his soft pink lips and inhaled. Smoke was then blown out, as he sat with his back against the wall.

"Quickly moving towards the storm, moving forward, torn." Josh muttered to himself, pressing the butt of his cigarette onto the floor even though he didn't even make it halfway through.

Josh dug into the drawer, and pulled out a long sturdy rope, and took the stool, too.

He threw both things onto the ground, before climbing out of the treehouse.

"Lord, forgive me for what I'm about to do. Take me to heaven with you, erase me of my sins, and clear me." He prayed as he climbed down the ladder. "Amen."

Setting the stool underneath one branch, he stood atop and tied the rope around that branch.

'Remember me not for what I have done
But for what I have created'

The wind blew from outside the window, and snuck inside for a look at Josh's leavings. There was his notebook, laying on the floor opened, and the pages the blown by that same cool breath of air, revealing rows and rows of words in Josh's handwriting.

'I am one to belong with the stars
Space, aliens
The spaceship is my home
But I shall lie down
This hometown will contain of my corpse'

Josh tied a tight knot and took a deep breath. He was exhausted.

'My death will be forgotten
Don't let me be forgotten
I am blood
At whitewater
Gone and will never be noticed'

Josh stepped onto the stool and put the noose around his neck, closing his eyes.

'I have created this music
Won't tell you of my tactics
Remember me for what we've created
I'm Josh Dun
I bleed at whitewater...'

And stepped off.

--||---------------------->>

Yet, no specific reason as to why Josh has killed himself was ever written in his notebook. People found his suicide notes, filled with his dreamy little thoughts, but they found none of which mentioned why has Josh feeling so down, to the point where he was that devastated. Maybe Josh wanted to keep it to his own, and for people to only focus on who he was, and not what he had commited. The chance is high, but unless someone were to find Josh Dun in either heaven's cloud nine or the fiery depths of hell and ask the man himself, people may never know the real reason for this.

His death was annouced on the internet, and was then confirmed when Tyler walked onstage for the show that night. People couldn't believe in their eyes, they wished to have seen otherwise. The sight of Tyler Joseph, now a dull man with his elbow length paint, walked out on stage with his friend Blurry was ruining. And he had started off the show, saying: "The other day, I lost my best friend to a black dog called Depression. He was in Los Angeles in he did it. I don't know why I wasn't there for him, I wish that I was.

"I should've known better. I should've called him and talked to him, I should've have Facetimed him more. Maybe then I'll know how was he doing. I should have called Debby, but I didn't. I should have paid him a visit when I had free time. I should've known when I received that text message, one that he said he was tired. I should have helped him. He's taken his own life. No, he has not commited a sin, it is his own choice. But he will never, never be forgotten. Remember, he still belongs in Twenty One Pilots! He lives in all of us... Josh..." He looked up. "We'll miss you."

And the first song he sang, wasn't Heavydirtysoul. It was Friend, Please.

Right after, it was The End of All Things by Brendon. Tyler was tearing up at this point, pausing the song several times because he was on the very edge of breaking down, before he had started it all over. And he sung, with his damaged voice, tears rolling down his face when he emphasized 'Lay us down. We're in love'. The song must have meant something to him. Something special.

But the next and the last time Tyler sung it, he was walking silently through the forest. The same one Josh had walked through. It was the same kind of sad, chilly and empty atmosphere. The trees were big and filled up the forest beautifully, but there was just something that was so voidish to it. And just for a quick moment, Tyler thought that he heard his best friend singing a tune. At first, he couldn't quite make a guess for it, but as he trailed along and danced atop the snowy ground, he finally heard his own song - Forrest - and stopped dancing.

"This is not what I have planned." Tyler murmured. "My treehouse is on fire and for some reason I smell gas on my hand."

He stopped in front of the treehouse, glaring upwards. Anger fumed. Adrenaline was rushing in his blood vessels, as he pulled out his lighter and grabbed the rope ladder, beginning to climb on it. He didn't take long, considering the amount of practice he had had in many of his concerts. A small grunt was heard when he crawled inside, looking at the treehouse and the view outside in such awe. Then making his way to the center, Tyler pulled out from his jacket Josh's notebook that the police has given him and put it on the floor.

Tyler has selected beforehand a bottle of gas, very good quality, and began pouring it all over the wooden floor (very flammable). He stared at the clear liquid, which was pooling up at the tip of his shoes, before he knelt down and brought the lighter towards it. A void built up in him, as he lit the whole thing on fire and stepped back. Yellow and red and orange sparked alive before his eyes, fueling a strange energy in him.

But before the fire has gotten any bigger, Tyler got out and climbed down the treehouse. He took his phone and dialed 911, reporting an emergency before throwing it a couple feet away before the receiver had any chance to ask him a question. And so, only so, did he run to the biggest branch of the tree, grabbing the stool and the same old noose that Josh hung himself with and said a prayer. Tyler, too, closed his eyes and felt the rope tighten.

The fire spread quickly, and eventually reached him.

--||---------------------->>

Tyler

Strangely, I don't remember that there was water when it happened, but I was floating. Surrounding me was this ocean-like environment, except that I was able to move freely and breath normally. Ahead of me was a wide space, colored pastel pink with a tint of baby blue here and there, and there were tiny spots of clouds. I couldn't touch it though, my hands went right through when I tried to hold it. Below me was a blanket of clear and cool water, quite fun to watch. I wished that I could have touched it, too, but my feet weren't able to reach it. And lastly, just above me was a strangely bright light, like a halo. I could almost see through it.

"Hello?" I called out, reaching up and surprised myself when my arm went through it. My voice echoed, far away and then back to me. Almost instinctively, I called again. "Josh?"

I could have sworn that I saw his eyes staring back at me from the other side of the halo, before his blurry figure probably leaned forwards and dug his arm through. I have almost burst into tears of joy, seeing his tattooed sleeve after such a long time. He was so close to me, I could almost feel him. His hands reached for mine, and he pulled me. It was quite a struggle, as I did not have anything to support myself onto. My legs kicked in all directions, trying to push myself up. It felt like I was swimming, except that the water was underneath and not around me.

And when we made it through, I took a huge gasp of air and coughed, falling down on whatever surface there was. I knelt on the ground, hands pressed up against it while I continued to pant. One of his hands patted my back reassuringly, and the other rubbed my chest. Truly, it felt like I haven't breathed in so long, despite the moment back there was only so short.

"Tyler, you idiot." Josh said. "You're crazy."

"I'm not crazy, just missed you a lot." I said, once I have gathered myself together.

"That's not a worthy reason to commit suicide, Tyler." Josh mumbled.

"Well I'm sorry if you didn't want to see me here, but I just missed you a lot, okay?" I snapped at him, but looked away when he seemed so hurt. I've forgotten how sensitive Josh is. "Jish, i-it's hard being a one-man-band. It's been so lonely. You've never said why you did it. I was depressed. I j-just really wanted to quit, Josh. It's been really hard, the past few months, without you. Everyone's falling apart, it's not just me. Without you, it just doesn't feel like... like what it's supposed to feel like... like before. It's not the same anymore..."

"I know..." Josh replied, sitting down next to me. "I'm sorry."

"Me, too." I said. "But you're far too young to die."

"As if you're any different." Josh laughed bitterly, but immediately fell sad right after. He bit his lip gently, and looked far ahead. "About six months ago, after our last show together, I went back to LA and... something happened. Spooky Jim was there again. He greeted me at my front door with a big smile and a lighter. Ever since, he followed me all around, never leaving my side. He made me feel awful, Tyler, but I couldn't escape him. I planned on getting rid of him myself, but he knows all of my plans. It just gets worse and worse and I can't call you because you were dealing with dema, too. I tried to drown myself in the bathtub, but little Jim Dun found me."

Little Jim Dun. Ouch.

"Then I found the treehouse one day when I was jogging. I just happened to have taken another route that day, going deep into the forest. It just caught my eye out of nowhere: the largest tree withthe largest crown with a creepy-looking wooden house. It seemed abandoned, so I climbed up and got inside. I found a notebook that belonged to the previous owner who killed herself, too. Her words inspired me positively, but Spooky Jim turned it into dark words of hell. It finally comes to the time where I had enough, I started cutting and I started drinking more, even smoking, too. I took my life after like, a month of thinking it over and over again. I found myself here."

I looked around, there was not anything much, except for the same pastel pink and teal blue. And there were clouds. I asked Josh. "Is this what heaven looks like? I thought I was gonna end up in hell, not this place."

"Because we don't count it as a sin, we end up here." Josh said. "The place that you woke up in, that's the area between Earth and heaven. I liked it while it lasted."

"What do you mean?"

"This heaven is made just for us. Since you're here now, too, the gate to that place is closed."

"Oh."

"I know, it's pretty fascinating." He smiled, before leaning over and kissing me on the lips.

I was taken by surprise, even though we've done this once before. But his lips were surprisingly so soft and warm and sweet. They tasted a bit like sugary cotton candy. He put his hands on both sides of my face, pulling me closer as I put mine on his hips. And when we pulled away, he had this incredibly cute shade of pink on his cheeks and ears. Other than that, he was practically the same exact Josh I have known: a bean, mocha eyes, and floofy coral hair with his black roots.

"Say, Josh, how do you feel?"

He smiled at me, blushing even more. "I wanna say bleeding at whitewater, but I can't now that you're here with me."

"Do you love me?"

"Yeah. Like a lot. It feels like dreaming on a bed of roses."