Hey guys! ChristianWriter316, here.

This is my first time posting a BTR fic...

Make sure to let me know what you think. Reviews welcomed!

I wrote it a while back, so any feedback is good...plus whether or not I should continue!

Thanks for reading!

Chapter 1: Risk

Sometimes the risk

is worth the safety

that comes after. ~ Me

Kendall's POV

I woke up to the sound of scuffling outside my room. Instantly I shot up in bed, my heart pounding in my chest as my eyes wildly searched the dark room. Curled up against my side, fast asleep still, was my little brother Logan. His eyelashes laid peacefully against his fair cheeks, and his dark hair flopped down on his forehead. My heart melted at the sight. My littlest brother was safe and sleeping soundly. Then why had I waken up?

I glanced across the room to the other three beds, only to panic for a half second when I noticed my other little brother, Carlos, was gone. He wasn't in his twin size bed two beds over...oh, wait. He was in James' bed, the last bed on the right. It was a full-size bed and Carlos was curled under the pile of blankets, sleeping just as soundly as Logan. Another sigh of relief.

I was about to lie back down to sleep, when another thump sounded and this time a yelp resounded through the house. That was James' yell. How could I have been so stupid? I guess my tired brain hadn't made the connection until now. The thumps, the missing James...I threw off the covers and jumped out of bed as another yell rippled through the house.

This time, the yell was loud enough to wake both of my little brothers, who instantly sat up and either started crying or asking what was wrong. Carlos was frantically searching for James and calling his name.

"James? Kendall, is that you? Where's James?!" Carlos cried, alarmed.

He slid from the bed and ran to me, pulling on my pant leg to get my attention. I put a comforting hand on the top of his head and was about to kneel down so I could comfort him, but then I felt two more smaller hands, clinging to my right leg.

I looked down and saw Logan looking up at me with innocent fear shining in his big brown eyes. His lip quivered, but he stayed silent. He pointed to the door as if knowing what I was thinking. James needed my help. I quickly knelt down and pulled my brothers close. They clung to me, as I whispered to them.

"I'm gonna go help James, okay? Stay here and don't worry. Carlos, be brave, okay? Take Logie and go sit on James' bed."

I gently took Logan's shoulders and guided him to Carlos' awaiting arms. The slightly older boy started talking soothingly to Logan, who was now shaking from fright. He looked back at me one more time with those fearful puppy eyes, and my heart constricted in my chest. I didn't want to leave them. But James needed me. My brother needed me.

The sound of thumps and yelling got louder the closer I got to the stairs. My feet pounded on the wooden steps as I raced to my brother's aid. I could see the faint light from the kitchen, the one that was always left on plus another, the main light. It was as if someone had come to the kitchen for a late night snack and forgotten to turn the light back off. Except, there were still people in the kitchen. Two people. My brother...and our abusive stepfather.

Technically, he wasn't even our true stepfather. He was our deceased mother's brother, who was apparently the only family member that agreed to take all four of us in. At first, we were grateful that my three brothers and I didn't have to be separated by the foster system. Now, it was a bittersweet thing. How do you balance keeping your family together versus keeping them safe?

"Hey!" I shouted, at the sight of my mom's brother David beating the crap out of my brother.

He threw James against the countertop, as James tried to stop himself from slamming so hard. It seemed like he got the wind knocked out of him, but he looked up slightly at the sound of my voice. His eyes were full of two things I could read plainly. We were brothers, after all. Those two things were pain...and shame. James was in physical pain from the beating, and felt ashamed that I had to see him looking so weak, vulnerable, like he couldn't fight his own battle at all. I didn't think James was weak for a second, but I didn't have time to tell him that just now.

I slammed into David's side without a second thought. The older man went sprawling across the tile and slammed his head into the cabinet doors. Had he been prepared for impact, I wouldn't have knocked him over so easily. The element of surprise really helped me here.

I stood up breathlessly and waited to see if David would follow. He didn't. I hadn't meant to knock him out, especially since that would only make him more angry when he came to, but now at least we had time to get away. I helped James to his feet, noting the way he shook and flinched at the touch of my hand. My guess was I touched a tender spot that had been recently kicked or punched. We both had the same idea, though. Run.

We sprinted for the steps and ran up them almost two at a time. We didn't look back as we headed straight for the door at the end of the hall. I threw open the door, pulled James inside, then closed and locked it behind me. The moonlight through the window was enough to reveal the two terrified little boys huddled in the corner of James' bed, hugging each other tightly. It was actually more of a one-sided hug. Carlos held Logan's head to his chest, as the little boy clung to his shirt with frightened tears steaming down his cheeks.

The moonlight still made it easy to see their faces, and I couldn't bear how scared they both looked. Especially little Logie. No 5-year-old boy should have to be so scared in his own home.

"Guys, what's happening?" Carlos asked, only letting go of Logan when I took the youngest boy in my own arms.

"We have to go, Carlitos," I said simply. I was still out of breath from running and adrenaline. I had to get my family out of here...if David woke up and remembered what we had done to him...I shuddered to think what would happen if he got his hands on one of the little boys.

I handed Logan over to James as quickly yet gently as I possibly could, then lifted Carlos into my arms. Footsteps pounded on the stairs (apparently David wasn't as out of it as I thought). James and I stepped backwards to the window and each used one hand to slide it open (a cold draft blew through the dimly lit room). The doorknob to our room was jingling now, and I nearly had a heart attack from panic. My little brothers...I had to get them away from him, I...

"James, go! Give me Logan, I'll throw them down." I knew it was a crazy idea. If James couldn't catch the little boys, then they could get seriously hurt, or worse. But I couldn't let them stay. David was still banging on the door.

James, without question, climbed out the window and slid towards the ground below. We were in a two story home, with a tree right next to our window. We'd used it a lot to sneak out of the house, but never with both little boys at the same time, or when flat out running from the crazed man that we lived with.

I turned and lowered Carlos as far down as I could, before dropping him down into James awaiting arms. I sighed in relief as the seven-year-old was safely placed on the ground next to James.

Next was Logan. He gripped my arm, as if he knew what I was about to do with him. He was scared, I could see it all over his face and in how tense his little body was. He gripped my hand so tight and looked up at me with pleading eyes. Logie was terrified. Absolutely terrified.

"Hey, Logie, it'll be okay. Jamsies will catch you, and then..."

The doorknob rattled and the entire house shook from the way David yelled and pounded on the door. There was a sickening crack from behind me, and I turned in time to see the metallic silver butt of a gun peeking through the wooden door. David was using a gun to break through to us. Which meant if he succeeded in getting to us...oh my gosh.

"Logie, we have to go, okay? C'm here."

I reached for the boy who still clung to my arm but he shook his head side to side. I sighed in frustration and sympathy. I didn't want to make Logan do this, but I had no choice. Finally, I just had to forcibly pick Logan up in my arms. He shrieked and thrashed, trying to wriggle from my grasp as I leaned over the window. It broke my heart. Logan had never before tried to get away from my grasp. He usually melted into my embrace. I knew it wasn't personal. He was scared and I was making him do something that terrified him. If only he could see-it was to protect him.

I was just about to let go of Logan's little body, into James' awaiting arms below, when David burst through the door. A look over my shoulder told me all I needed to know. The crazed look in David's eyes, the shining weapon in his hands pointed right at us (my back), between these two things there was only one option left.

I jumped.

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