I was actually very tempted to finish the story last chapter.
But we're gonna finish it the way I originally planned to!
They sat there in silence, letting the reality of what had happened sink in.
"What the HECK, Race?" Albert cried.
"What?" Race asked, confused.
"Why the heck are you here?!" Albert continued.
"I was trying to find you and bring you home!"
"Yeah, well now you're gonna die!" Albert snapped.
"You're gonna die, too, genius!" Race shot back.
"YEAH, WELL, MAYBE I WANTED MY BROTHERS TO ONLY LOSE ONE SIBLING INSTEAD OF TWO!" Albert shouted.
"MAYBE I WANTED TO KEEP THE PROMISE TO WATCH YOUR BACK!"
"MAYBE I WANTED MY BEST FRIEND TO LOOK AFTER JOJO!"
"AND MAYBE I WANTED MY BEST FRIEND TO BE BACK AT HOME SO JOJO WOULD SPEAK AGAIN!" Tears were streaming down Race's face.
Albert paused, "Wha-what?"
"You heard me. Jojo's gone mute."
"Like, he's not talking?"
"What do you think mute means?!"
"Race, I," Albert sighed, "How bad have you guys missed me?"
"Really bad, Albert! Jack's really stressed, Specs is awfully quiet-"
"Specs has always been quiet." Albert interrupted.
"He's even quieter than normal! Crutchie is a bit reclusive, Buttons and Romeo aren't as energetic as they used to be, Jojo's been having nightmares weekly, and you haven't been there for him! And, and," Race paused and bit his lip.
"And you?"
"I've really missed ya, Al. More than anything in the world." Race's voice cracked, "And the first conversation we had with each other after the incident was us screaming our heads of at each other, an-"
Albert hugged him. Well, he hugged him as best as could, given that they were in a coffin. "I missed you too."
"I'm glad I found ya before you died."
Albert let out a chuckle, "And I'm glad the crash didn't kill ya."
Race sighed, "I'm sorry that happened. The crash led to this, and had I been paying attention to that car none of this would have happened."
"It's not your fault, I saw the car coming, and I didn't stop you."
"It's really the driver's fault. He was the one speeding."
"Yeah, how are the injuries holding up?"
"I have physical therapy weekly and my left leg aches every once and awhile. How are your injuries?"
"How'dya know I was hurt?" Albert questioned.
"I saw Jojo. It'd be stupid of me not to think that you suffered the same stuff."
"Racetrack Higgins-Kelly not thinking something stupid? That's unheard of!"
"Shut up you idiot! Just, go to sleep! It's the middle of the night!" Race laughed.
"We are literally going to die, and we're laughing. What the heck is wrong with us?'
"I don't know."
"I love you Race."
"I love you, too, Al."
Bill almost had a heart attack when Albert's line cut off. He was so close to getting this boy home in time for Christmas. Heck, he was so close to getting this boy to his family.
His boss sent him home. He wouldn't have left if that wasn't the case. He would have waited, eyes glued to the phone, for Albert to call back.
He didn't sleep that night. He just lay there in his bed, wide awake.
Albert said there was a coffin.
They were going to kill the boy.
And Bill wasn't able to stop them.
He had never felt so helpless and pathetic.
Helpless, because there was nothing he could do.
Pathetic, because there was nothing he could do.
He thought about Albert's family. All of his brothers.
How would they react when they received the news of Albert's death? When they found the boy's body?
Bill couldn't bear thinking about that.
He thought about the little boy that ran away with Albert from the evil foster home. How would he feel about losing the brother that he had so desperately depended on?
These thoughts plauged him all night, tearing him apart.
It didn't get better the next morning.
While he was getting ready for work, he saw that he had a notification on his phone.
There was an amber alert for an 'Anthony Higgins-Kelly,' and he assumed that it was Albert's brother.
He felt nothing but pain for the family.
And guilt that he didn't get Albert home.
Race had dozed off. Albert didn't know how long they had been down here. He didn't know if he had fallen asleep or not.
They both lay there, hugging each other, in silence. The only sound was Race's breathing.
Something vibrated.
"Race, past, Race." Albert gently shook him awake, "Something buzzed."
"Something...buzzed!" Race tried to sit up, and rammed his head on the coffin roof.
"Woah, Race, are you okay?"
Rubbing his head, Race said, "Something buzzed! Albert I entirely forgot!"
"Forgot what?" Albert felt his brother wiggle around in the coffin.
"I have our ticket out of this place!"
Light filled some of the coffin.
"Race, how did you forget that you had your phone?"
"I honestly don't know."
"Why'd it buzz?"
Race paused, "An amber alert."
"For who?"
"Me."
Albert paused, "Jack must know you're gone."
"Yeah."
Albert could see Race's face clearly now, there was a decent sized gash on his forehead.
"Race, you're bleeding."
"I'm fine," Race said.
"No, you're not, there's a lot of blood."
"I'm fine, Albert." Race snapped. He brushed his fingers against his forehead, and his eyes grew wide at the sight of the blood.
"Here," Albert removed Race's hat and wrapped a scarf around his brother's head, "It's not ideal, but it's better than it was."
"Thanks, Al."
"Should I call Jack or 911?"
"911," Albert paused, "How much battery is left?"
"Three percent... That's not good." Race whispered.
"Call them quickly...they might be able to get a location..."
Race dialed 911, and the phone rang for a few seconds.
"911, what's your emergency?"
"My brother and I have been buried alive!"
"Okay...what are your names?"
"Um, I'm Anthony Higgins-Kelly, and my brother is Albert Dasilva-Kelly."
The phone was at two percent.
"Okay, where are you boys?"
"We're in Central Park."
"Okay, where in Central Park?'
"Um...we don't know..."
"Okay... Hang on..."
One percent.
"Okay boys, we have been able to find your location via satellite," both boys breathed out a sigh of relief, "and we have units on their way."
"Okay...um...can you see if Jack can get here?"
"Jack Kelly?"
"Yeah, our brother."
"Of course, just stay on the li-" The phone died.
"And now we wait." Albert said. The two huddled closer together.
Jack was a mess. Two of his boys were missing. Again.
All Race had said was that he was going to find Albert. That was it. He didn't give any clues to were he was, or what his plan of action was.
And Jack was scared out of his mind.
"Jack?" Romeo asked, "Where's Race?"
Jack inhaled sharply, "Race isn't here right now."
"Is Race coming back?" Jack's heart stung. The youngest of his boys was too little to understand all this, and it broke Jack's heart to not be able to explain.
"I don't know."
"Why not?"
"Because I don't know!" Jack snapped. Romeo's eyes shot open. Jack instantly regretted it. "Romeo,"
Romeo had run off.
Jack plopped down onto the couch, running his hands through his hair.
He was scared.
He was scared for Albert and Race.
He was scared that the foster system was going to take his boys away, again.
He was scared when he saw that the police department was calling him.
"Hello?"
"Hi, this is Brian Denton, Chief of Police. Is this Jack Kelly?"
"Um, yes?"
"And you are the current legal guardian of Anthony Higgins-Kelly and Albert Dasilva-Kelly, correct?"
"Yes."
"Jack, I'm calling you because both of the boys were able to get in contact with 911, and they asked to see you.'
"Well, where are they?! I want to see them too!'
"Jack, the boys have been located in Central Park via satellite, and, well, they were buried alive."
Jack froze.
"We have sent units to find them, and I'm asking you to be there for the boys."
Jack paused, "I will be there as soon as I can. Thank you for calling me."
"No problem." Jack hung up.
"Specs!" He called, "You're in charge. I'll be back as soon as I can."
Jack put on shoes and bundled up before running out to the car.
"I'm coming boys."
Ta Da!
A/N
This story is not realistic in any way, shape, or form.
I never planned on making it super realistic. I just wanted to have a fun time writing something, and this was the result.
I hope you have enjoyed it so far.
Luv,
Pegz(✯ᴗ✯)