"I just got discharged. I was in the hospital for a bit, but I'm alright now." Alex told mom as I slowly approached them.
"You've been gone to long." Mom stated as she wouldn't look him in the eye.
At least, it didn't look like it.
"Yeah." Alex said simply as he looked away for a moment to look at me.
I shrugged in response.
"She's been like this for a while now." I told him as he sighed.
"Where is everybody? Where's Josh?" Alex asked mom as I looked around.
"I don't know. Your father went to look for him. But now he's gone. Everybody's gone. Except for Jane." Mom said as I walked on the other side of her and put a hand on her shoulder as her frail hand patted mine.
That's when I spotted the gun on mom's lap.
"A-Alex..." I said as he nodded.
"I-I see it, Janie." Alex said as he took a slight step back as mom removed her hand from my own.
"Mom? What's going on here?" I asked her but she didn't respond.
She always would respond to me.
"Mom!" Alex said as she looked at Alex.
"I miss your brother, Alex." Mom told him as I gave Alex a sad look.
Alex crouched down and put his hand on the gun.
"Look, I'll find him." Alex told her as he removed the gun from her lap.
Just in case she tried to hurt herself.
"I had this dream that... I just have this feeling he's in trouble." Alex said as I could see mom's blank stare.
She's had that look for a very long time.
"Don't worry about it. I'll find Joshua." Alex said as I nodded.
"I'll help!" I said as Alex gave me a look.
"We'll talk about that later." Alex said as he looked at mom's dress.
"Mom, your dress is-" Alex started when we heard a noise and we looked towards the basement door.
"What was that?" Alex asked mom before looking at me as I shook my head.
"Don't look at me." I said as I looked to mom.
"The basement." Mom said as Alex nodded.
"I'll go check it out. You two just stay here." Alex said as I shook my head.
"I'm coming too!" I said as Alex shook his head.
"No way. Something's going on around here. You stay here with mom." Alex told me as I crossed my arms.
"I am old enough to handle myself, Alex. " I challenged as he sighed.
"Fine. Stay close." Alex said as I nodded.
"I will!" I promised before we headed towards the basement.