Tyler's POV

"You wanna talk about it?" Josh asked me.

"I can't bear to read another one." I moaned tossing my phone across the floor. It had been a month since we released our debut album, Vessel. Overall we had some good reviews over it, but then there were the criticizing articles over the "dark, depressing themes" we had. I was practically waiting for Blurryface to say 'I told you so' at this point.

I laid back and sprawled across the cool wooden floors of the treehouse. This treehouse was my favorite place to come and think. It was pushed back at the far end of the backyard of my old house. My mom didn't mind I came to visit once in awhile since my other siblings had moved out months ago. She was at work currently, so Josh and I came to hangout.

Josh was just as fond of the treehouse as I was. We used to spend most of our time here back in the good old days coming up with songs.

"They're just reviews Ty. There's bound to be a few bad ones." Josh told me.

"Yeah, but do you think they're right? Was it a little too much?" I asked him wincing a little.

"Don't let them get to you..." Josh tried to reassure me.

"What if people get turned away? Who wants depressing music? What if people lose interest in us? What if one day we wake up, and it'll all be over? What-" Josh grabbed me by the shoulders to end my rambling.

"Tyler! Relax. It's okay, we'll figure it out. Just like we always do." He told me calmly. I looked at him and nodded slowly.

"Yeah. We'll be okay." I repeated. There was no use in freaking out.

"Besides, have you even checked your twitter lately?" Josh asked me. Honestly I hadn't. I shook my head no, and reached across the floor to retrieve my phone. "Just look under all the tweets people have been tagging us in." Josh told me. I scrolled through a few.

"Twenty One Pilots rock! I can't stop listening to the new album!"

"This music really saved my life, I LOVE how they aren't afraid to be themselves."

"This album hit me right in the heart! I love it so much, what a unique sound."

"See?" Josh said peering at the tweets behind me. "There are people out there who really enjoy what we do. They want us to keep going. We have people who will listen." I smiled.

"You're right. I want to keep going for them." I said.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I just don't get it Blurry." I sighed.

"They just don't understand is all."

"I'm not talking about the reviews." I answered. "You usually aren't so persistent. Showing up more frequently, whenever I'm around others."

"Well now your little career is picking up, so I figured you would need some help." Blurryface said.

"I don't need your help. I have Josh." I answered flatly.

"Yes... but you're going to need someone on the inside. I can help you."

I was quiet.

"How are sales?" Blurry asked.

"Good. And rising. But you know I'm not in it for the money. I'm doing what I love, and helping others." I said.

"Looks like your whole real idea flunked." Blurry remarked.

"It didn't flunk. People liked it, they want more. So I don't need your help." I defended myself.

"Listen Ty, -"

"Don't call me Ty. Only Josh calls me that." I snapped.

"Tyler," Blurry continued, "Consider this a false sense of sweetness. Sure you're satisfied now, but you're always going to want more. Your happiness now is only short-lived as they say. I can help you have a better chance to keep rising. I know what people want remember? But I also care what you think."

"If you cared about me at all you would leave me alone!" I yelled.

"You need me Tyler. You need me and you know it. You'll never make it otherwise. Never." Blurryface said calmly.

"Please... just go away." I said softly, and to my amazement I sounded like I was about to have a emotional breakdown. Blurryface was silent after that. Sighing I collapsed onto my apartment bed. Talking via mind always wore me out. I decided I needed some decent sleep, so I flicked off the side lamp and closed my eyes.

I had the dream again. Only this time instead of total darkness, there was some fog circling around my feet. I saw the figure standing there. I could make out a dark hoodie this time, and as it approached I made out a blurred out face. The figure reached it's hand out to me, and I found myself frozen in place.

"No!" I awakened with a shout again. I rubbed a hand over my face and slowly laid back down. I needed some sleep so I curled into a tight ball to hopefully block these nightmares. I was actually falling into a dreamless sleep, when my phone binged.

I squinted my eyes against the phone light and saw it was a text. Dang it Josh. Just when I was finally getting some sleep. I thought to myself.

"Hey Tyler, sorry for disturbing you but our producer wants to meet with us tomorrow. Around 7:00am. I'll text you the place tomorrow." The text read. I sighed.

"Okay. I'll be expecting your text." I answered. I set my alarm, and put away the phone. So much for that decent nights sleep.