Twenty-third of May.
It was a Thursday. With Friday being the last day before the weekend Joseph has to wrap up his scheme by tomorrow. By now he's brought Tyler around everywhere Taylor might have gone to no avail. The only place left was the school. This was also the riskiest. Overcrowding made it easy to lose sight of someone. It was the last place he wanted to try but it was the only option left.
______
Tyler and Joseph were out by a park eating lunch. They had been working all week and just finished an early to late morning job. Tyler was sitting on the edge of a bench waving around a stick. Before him was a small white dog rolling around and biting it. Stumbling upon him a few days ago Tyler gave it something to eat. The poor thing looked hungry. Since then it would find them around town and follow them on breaks. Tyler had fun with it.
Meanwhile there was Joseph barely eating and not saying much of anything anymore. Always in some endless daze. Tyler found that he had been more distracted lately. He was quieter and somehow more difficult to talk to than before.
Eventually he spoke up. Since Joseph hadn't gone to school all week he suggested they check it out. He could show him around. Tyler heavily doubted missing a week was enough to make Joseph drop by. There must be some other reason.
Tyler could only watch as Joseph failed to keep his emotions in check. He figured whatever he was working on was reaching its critical stage and probably stressing him out. He looked worried and reluctant. And yet he refused to budge on his resolve. Even if I didn't want to, he had to.
So transparent. But Tyler played ignorant anyway and nodded, "We can. But first I want to go shopping. I finally have enough for clothes and a new cane. Can you take me to some shops?"
Joseph was quiet for a moment then agreed. A few dreadful thoughts crossed his mind. This might just be their last peaceful outing. Even if Taylor is found and Tyler remains safe, knowing that he used him in such a way.. Tyler would probably despise him.
With that the two finished eating and got up to leave.
_____
Joseph brought them to the shopping district. They visited a few different stores. Joseph already had some money saved so the stuff earned this week was pooled together with Tylers. Still he continued to use his personal earnings to help buy whatever Tyler seemed to like.
Tyler couldn't stop him and guessed it was coming from a guilty conscience. After that, worried Joseph would spend all his money, he was careful not to eye too many items.
At the uniform store connected with the school. Joseph said he could simply use his friend's uniform but Tyler immediately refused. He had his own style, likes and interests.
Outwardly he told Joseph he wanted to match his purchases plus get a matching bag to replace his old one. But deep down he thought it better to distance himself from the mystery friend in Joseph's mind.
With a few more shops Tyler finally found himself with his own clothes, shoes, and accessories. For the first time since coming here, and a little before that, his personal preferences were finally on display.
The canes design was picked out at noon and they picked up the finished product that evening. They ate dinner in town and then Joseph carried Tyler home. His mood was a little better after distracting him with their day out. He was walking slowly and they actually talked a bit as they went.
"You know I have a cane now, you don't actually have to carry me back."
"Cane or not, it's already getting dark. It's faster this way."
Tyler agreed but still felt like messing with him and sighed, "but you move so slowly. Even without a cane I could probably keep up."
Joseph heard the mischievous smile in the voice by his ear. He rolled his eyes but a faint smile crept on his face, "Yeah yeah. Whatever."
It was quiet. The path from town to the orphanage was straight through a field with dense forests on every distant side. The sun had already set leaving only dimly lit lights along the fence beside them. No one else was around. Only the wind rustling the grass and the chirping of crickets was heard.
After a while Joseph spoke with slight hesitation saying, "Tomorrow at the school don't go getting lost or something okay?"
Tyler gave a small hum in response.
He continued, "I'm serious. Don't go wandering off… and if someone wants to talk to you let me know first. Stranger danger and all that."
Tyler responded the same.
This late into spring the days were getting warmer. After a warm day out, the cool night breeze was very relaxing. Surrounded by a comforting darkness along a path lit just enough for a stroll. Joseph tends to walk a very steady pace. Without huffing and puffing from the extra weight. Such stable and consistent breathing and steps in this environment could put anyone to sleep.
Tyler loves this. Dare he say it. Everything right now was good. To forget about everything else and let now go on forever. That's what he wanted. To just pause it all for even a moment. All this time he accepted things as they were. Joseph and him met and lived in peace but eventually they would part. One thing he's learned is nothing lasts forever, especially not anything good, and neither could this. But right now at this moment he really didn't want to let go.
All the information collected over the last week. Every clue found and whispers heard. The looks people gave him. And every single one of Joseph's interactions with those around them and himself. He had purposely forgotten and ignored it all but now he'd use it. Everything from that first look. He pieced it together and planned from there.
His brain was in overdrive but he had already made his decision. It couldn't end tomorrow. Not if he can help it. Help Joseph in his endeavors. It was his only chance to let this life continue. If he could only patch up Joseph's heart then maybe nothing has to end.
Noticing Tyler's grip tighten slightly Joseph asked, "what's wrong?"
Tyler cleared his thoughts and strengthened his resolve, speaking somewhat quietly, "Listen carefully okay cause I'll only say this once so you have to remember. When it's over and you're better." He pulled something from his bag. "You can use this to reach me if needed. No matter how far away I seem." He placed it in Joseph's hand.
"That way things can continue."
Joseph took the item. It was a dark cylinder width and length matching an umbrella handle. It was black in color and covered with faint lines creating a pattern too difficult to make out.
Tyler squeezed Joseph's hand in his own, "Don't lose this. It's as important as my life. Without it I'm as good as dead."
Joseph didn't know what he was on about. His joking tone had turned serious. The first half was confusing but still made him tense for some reason.
When Tyler handed him the item he was even more confused but took it anyway. To hear this thing was as important as his life. He felt strange.
Joseph had seen Tyler with it before but he never asked about it. Now he was sharing its importance and gave it to him to take care of. When Tyler pulled his hand away he tightened his grip.
He didn't dare act reckless with it.
_____
After making it back to the room they washed up and went straight to bed. Tyler fell asleep lost in his thoughts. After that strange seriousness he was back to his usual quirky self poking fun at Joseph's every move. Only after going to bed did Joseph remember his odd demeanor earlier. It got him thinking and soon he was back to his stressful thoughts from before.
Joseph lay awake for a while going through his own plan. Over the week he has been selectively letting everyone talk to or see Tyler at least once as Taylor. He watched each and every one of their reactions. Everyone so far has been checked out. The only few left unchecked were at the school.
Tomorrow would be the last day to decide whether Taylor's disappearance was truly caused by someone else. If the perpetrator sees Tyler how will they react? Even if they can hide their surprise they won't be able to contain their curiosity. They will be forced to make contact. When they do he would either catch them in the act or confront them himself.
This was important because he wasn't looking for a suspect or proof to give to the authorities. He wanted to deal with them himself.
He didn't care about the consequences; he already lost everything. If the situation is as bad as he thinks nothing would bring Taylor back.
Even if he died trying he would get revenge on the person. He wouldn't mind joining Taylor if it meant that he got revenge. This place lost its appeal the moment he vanished.
He made up his mind and he wasn't changing it for anything. Or anyone.
____
Twenty-fourth of May.
It was Friday morning. Tyler and Joseph woke up earlier than usual to get to school on time. They ate breakfast, put on their uniforms and headed out.
Joseph was extremely serious the whole time, constantly reminding Tyler of the schedule so they wouldn't get separated. The closer to the building the larger the crowds got and the more protective Joseph became. This would all have been pointless if he lost sight of him.
Tyler went in under Taylor's name and attended each class. Joseph did his best to keep a clear distance between them and any of the adults. He had considered earlier on whether a student was at fault. He just felt like the chances of Taylor getting involved with anyone their age was unlikely. For it to have been a dispute between him and another kid around here he could have easily handled himself. And fill him in on the whole story. But he kept it to himself.
Taylor only ever played it really safe when something involved the adults. He didn't trust them. And for good reason.
Joseph didn't care for the adults but he didn't share the same level of distrust Taylor had. That's changed over the last few weeks. Now his doubt was probably worse than Taylor's.
Nobody took his disappearance seriously enough. When he thought of this his heart ached. How could these people take teaching and protecting jobs for us and still care so little? It made him a little disappointed but mostly angry. It was Taylor who taught him to take care of himself. No need to involve those who didn't care. He'd often say things like, "We can't spend all our energy hating them. Let's just try to do better."
He didn't deserve this.
_____
Nearing the end of the day Joseph started to wonder if maybe he'd gotten something wrong. There were only a few teachers left they almost never ran into. Would Taylor have really talked to an unknown adult alone? What would make him take such a risk without telling him first?
Joseph was spacing out as the last bell rang. Everyone was either rushing home for the weekend or starting after school activities. He got pushed and only then did he notice Tyler's disappearance.
Joseph immediately started to panic. Right away he found a high place to stand and scanned the crowd. But nothing. He followed the flow and looked around everywhere. He still didn't see him.
He choked on his own quickened breath, coughed and called out to no response. Again and again he tried running all around the school. Checking every classroom, bathroom, storage room, and even the teachers lounge.
There was nothing, not a single sign of him. By now the students had mostly left. The teachers as well and he stood out front alone.
Tyler was gone. And so was Taylor. Had he left or was he taken? Was he hurt? If he looked for help right now would anyone do anything?
He checked everything again then ran back to check the dorm. Maybe Tyler had gone home without him. Joseph ran up the stairs and headed straight for the room.
He remembered that first night they met. At the time he'd forgotten about him and was surprised to find him asleep in the chair.
Joseph opened the door hoping to see that same undisturbed silhouette waiting for him by the window. But the window, the beds, every corner, and the bathroom gave nothing. The room was empty. He was gone.