CHAPTER 2

Josh was looking to and fro in the room, but all exits were cut off by Ryan, who was still slowly approaching him with the knife in his hand. Scanning his surroundings with a darting glance Josh could quickly determine that there was absolutely nothing in here that would do any good as a weapon... And he was wondering like crazy what he had done to anger Ryan so much that he apparently was about to murder him. His heart was racing and his breathing was raspy and ragged.

"Ryan...!" Josh pleadingly burst out, gaining eye contact with his brother. All he saw in his eyes was a weird mix of determination and something dark that he couldn't put his finger on. Ryan was still approaching him, soon he would be only an arm's length away.

"What is it, butter tart?" Ryan asked in a wispy voice, piercing him with his stare. The light from the lamp in the kitchen reflected itself in the knife's blade, throwing a dot of light onto the dim wall of the living room. Josh shook his head frantically at his brother's comment as he continued backing up towards the corner in the sitting area. He bumped his bare heels into the bottom of one of the dust green couches and almost fell down, but he managed to keep his balance.

"Put the knife down...!" Josh burst out as Ryan was about to enter his personal space, only two feet away. To his surprise, Ryan stopped dead in his tracks and looked at the knife in his hand. A few seconds passed and the only thing that could be heard in the living room was Josh's fast breathing as he watched his brother.

"Fair enough..." Ryan then said and casually threw the knife over his shoulder. With a metallic 'clunk' it hit the wall by the glass door behind him and fell onto the carpeted floor. Swallowing Josh followed the knife with his glance and then looked perplexed at Ryan. However his brother slowly raised his fists and took the position of a boxer ready to deliver his first blow. Frowning Josh looked at him.

"Why are you doing this...?" Josh asked, trying to stall a little. He needed time to think. How was he going to get around Ryan? Not to mention get out of the house now when the codes were apparently changed? However Ryan didn't answer - instead he took a step closer and Josh blinked as a fist whistled past his head.

"Wow...!" Josh burst out and stumbled on the couch behind him again, falling onto the broad pillows. Looking up at Ryan his eyes were wide open and sparkling with fear and confusion.

"Are you freakin' kidding me...?" he managed to spit out in shock and a smile appeared on Ryan's face.

"Does it look like it?" Ryan merely said as he shortened the distance between them, now towering above his little brother in the couch. Terrified Josh quickly turned around to crawl past Ryan, but a strong hand grabbed a hold of the waistband in his knickers, pulling him back. Before Josh knew it, Ryan had grabbed a hold of his left arm and forced him to roll over on his back. With a gasp Josh pulled his arm free and instinctively blocked his face and lifted up his knees to block any punches that might come. However silence fell and nothing happened. Carefully Josh lowered his crossed arms a bit and looked at Ryan, who was bent over him and sending him a serious stare.

"Aren't you gonna defend yourself, baby bird?" he said almost melodically, clearly awaiting an answer. Josh blinked, unsure if this was a nightmare.

"No...?" he said insecurely, which was accompanied by a slight snort from his brother.

"Okay then... Makes it easier I guess," Ryan murmured almost as if he was disappointed. With a sigh Ryan took half a step back and Josh followed him with his glance.

"Makes what...?" Josh started, but was abruptly cut off when a hard punch hit him in the side, knocking the air out of him. With a yelp he tried to curl up on the couch as the pain shot through him, but immediately Ryan was on top of him, locking down his arms. Squeezing his eyes shut Josh was desperately trying to breathe while a chuckle could be heard from Ryan. Coughing slightly Josh started squirming as the air slowly began returning to his system, but he couldn't move with his heavier brother on top of him.

"Did that hurt, baby bird?" Ryan smiled as he patted Josh's cheek with his hand - then he raised it to punch him again. Josh immediately used his now free hand to push Ryan hard in the chest, almost knocking him over backwards. The few seconds where Ryan was off balance Josh squirmed and managed to get out from under his brother, and fell onto the floor. Quickly he got up on all fours, eyeing the knife by the door, but with a furious roar Ryan tumbled forwards from the couch and crashed into Josh, making both of them fall down on the grey carpet. A groan escaped Josh and he turned around just as Ryan closed his hands around his neck, placing himself on top of him again. Kicking Josh tried to free himself, but Ryan's strength was more than impressive. In vain Josh hammered his knees into Ryan's back, but he didn't even twitch. Unable to breathe he tried to pull at Ryan's fingers, but he wasn't strong enough and he could feel his vision starting to blacken.

"Need air, little brother?" Ryan laughed with a crooked smile, and almost as an act of mercy he let go of Josh's throat just as he began to stop fighting. With a raspy cough Josh inhaled frantically. Heaving for air, Josh turned over on his side as Ryan finally got off of him... His vision was still blurry, but he was able to breathe - however it felt like his entire body had been turned into jelly. Trying to focus Josh felt Ryan grab his wrists and pull at him. As his vision slowly corrected itself he discovered that he was being dragged across the floor, past the knife by the door and into the kitchen. Unable to do anything the knife passed him and he found himself being dragged across the kitchen floor. Then he remembered his cell, which had to be at the kitchen counter still, next to the laptop. As his strength started to return, Josh began squirming lightly.

"Aww, so cute..." Ryan mumbled as he continued to drag him towards the hallway. Breathing rapidly Josh suddenly kicked up one of his legs to try and hit Ryan, but he missed - instead he only knocked over a kitchen chair. Again Ryan laughed, but he let out a hiss as Josh dug his fingernails into his fingers around his wrists.

"You little...!" Ryan started and kicked at Josh lightly.

"Let go of me...!" Josh managed to let out in a raspy voice, but Ryan pretended he hadn't heard a thing. With great effort, Josh finally managed to get up on his knees by twisting himself around, almost causing Ryan to lose his grip. However they were already halfway down the hall, and to Josh's surprise Ryan opened the door to the studio with his foot. It was completely dark in there. Trying to tear himself free as they made their way into the studio, Josh finally was able to kick Ryan over the shin. With a howl Ryan let go of Josh's wrists, but quickly he had grabbed a hold of his T-shirt, throwing him across the studio. In the dark room Josh hit the wall with a groan, but in a split second he was up again, this time with his fists readied. The only thing he could see was the light from the hallway... Ryan was somewhere in the complete darkness. Before he could make a run for it, the door was slammed shut and all light disappeared.