In Trench I'm Not Alone

Even though he was far away, the image of Dema impossible to see from this distance, Tyler's insides twisted at the thought that he was back. He knew he was in a boat, safe with the Banditos, but everything felt so much like the City. Everything down to the smell, thick like smoke in his lungs.

But he was here for a reason. He had to alert the other citizens of the City of the coming war, of the rebellion.

Josh had pulled some strings and had somehow gotten a crowd of people into the auditorium of the tallest building, the room where almost all of the Vialism sermons took place in, and Tyler was trying not to panic and disappear.

He knew Josh could see what he was doing, was watching his body, but he felt so alone here, in this red room, waiting for the moment he was supposed to perform. He shut his eyes, adjusting his mask over his face so it fit better over his eyes.

Someone was in front of him when he opened his eyes, and he jumped, his stomach lurching, fully expecting either a Glorious Gone or a Bishop in the flesh.

"Hey, it's just me," Josh grinned, pulling up the large collar on his jacket, fixing how it sat anxiously.

"I thought- wait, how are you here?" Clancy hissed.

"I never said I couldn't be here, did I?" Josh said absently. "Are you ready?"

Clancy nodded, smiling under his mask. He wasn't going to admit it, but he was more than relieved that Josh was here, he really hadn't wanted to perform alone without his most reliable band member. As if he had any other band members.

He led the way, feeling Josh just behind him, he felt better. He felt the ground under him sway like a boat on water, and he knew that back in his body, he was approaching land.

"Welcome back to Trench," he muttered to himself, his grin returning, stretching to his ears. Their plan was in action, and no one could do anything to stop them.

The room was crowded with people in gray, sitting on the hard seats that rose from the floor, circling the space like a sunken stage.

Josh ran off, presumably to start the backing track that had been set up to play over the speakers, and Clancy turned to address the crowd.

"I created this world, to feel some control," the lyrics felt light in his chest as he sang, walking across the sunken stage to find his microphone. "Destroy it if I want. So I sing-"

The microphone fit nicely in his hand, and he raised it to his mouth. "Sahlo Folina."

The words echoed around the empty room, reaching ears connected to people who looked as lost as Clancy had felt before he had escaped.

Josh reappeared, finding his seat at the drums set up in the middle of the room. When had those gotten there?

The speakers kicked in, starting the first of many songs that he and Josh had created during their years of free time, and Clancy took in a deep breath.

"Wait what, wait what?"

The steady beat of the drums brough Clancy fully into the song, his breath calming in his chest, his heart beat matching the drums.

Earned my stripes, 300 tracks in my Adidas track jacket.

The song felt natural, strong, his anxiety melting away with each word. At this point, he was hoping that the Bishops would come and see what he was doing, come and see, and hear.

If you can't see, I am Clancy, prodigal son, done running.

The lyrics weren't necessarily meant to be screamed, but Clancy did it anyway, the speakers straining to keep up with his volume, but that's what he wanted. He wanted everyone to hear.

You bow to the masses, get kicked to the curb for passin' the classes.

The crowd was starting to wake up, their eyes glowing and shining with humanity, the realization that they were their own person.

Pounding from the door, almost drowned out by Josh's drumming, but it was audible enough to send a jolt of muted panic through Clancy's nervous system.

Bless your ear holes while you react, acting.

He was so close to the end. The doors bowed and bent, he was running out of time.

They slammed open.

Mm, don't hesitate, to maybe overcompensate.

He took a last breath, then crumpled.

The wood floor of the boat rocked and swayed and nearly knocked him off of his balance from where he sat on his knees, his chest gasping and heaving even though he knew his body hadn't been singing out loud.

The boat jolted as it slid into shallow water, the bottom of it grinding against the dirt and sand of the bottom of the beach.

Josh stood above him, offering him a hand and a smile. "Nice."

Tyler returned the smile, taking Josh's hand, allowing himself to be pulled to his feet. "You too."

"Welcome back to Trench." Josh gestured out at the land in front of them, all yellows and greens of grasses in different stages of life and death.

Tyler nodded, his breath still coming faster than he would have liked. "You too," he said again, his words a breathy laugh.

***

This time with his arrival on land, his legs were far from sore and the hike to camp was as smooth as butter. It was strange to be around others, leading them to the only civilization Trench had to offer other than Dema, and Tyler wasn't sure if he was excited about them being here.

Sure, it was nice to hear voices that weren't Josh's, but he was socially awkward in the best of situations, and interacting with people after years of just being with one person was far from the best.

Tyler stayed near the back of the line, keeping Josh in front of him and in his sights, focusing on walking and eavesdropping in on the others' conversations.

Night drew near, and Tyler found himself trotting to catch up with the group every so often, his heart hammering against his ribs at the notion of the thought of getting lost in the dark forest.

Josh, living up to his name, carried a torch, the light Tyler made sure to keep in his vision at all times, the light he was afraid of losing.

And then there was more light, glowing, flickering, spreading.

The trees fell away, leaving them in a large clearing, a massive fire roaring in the middle, smoke rising from the huge stack of wood.

Tyler stopped next to Josh, taking a moment to absorb everything. The other Banditos had wandered to the fire, basking in its warmth, a welcome relief from the cold night air that fogged with each breath.

There was movement from across the clearing, far enough away and dark enough that Tyler couldn't make out the source of the movement. He turned to Josh, but he was gone. Tyler's stomach sank, he was alone now.

A flicker of light rose from the trees across the clearing, and out of the treeline stepped someone in a green hoodie, yellow tape crossing over their heart, a torch held aloft in their hand.

They reached up and pulled the yellow bandana away from their face, and Tyler's stomach sank even further.

The Torchbearer started towards Tyler, ignoring the fire, the other Banditos, his gaze harsh and unwavering.

Tyler felt a pull in his legs, and he moved towards the Torchbearer, meeting him in the middle, just beside the fire. Light flickered across the Torchbearer's face, the shadow from his hood casting over his eyes, and suddenly he looked unfamiliar.