For Flash Fiction Friday's prompt Clandestine Closet.

495 words

Alan was the most curious child in the world.

Normally this wouldn't be a problem, because the kid was at boarding school 70% of the year. It was the remaining 30% that was a problem.

You see, Alan's brothers had a joint secret. One that Alan was not privy to because he was too young. Sure, they would bring him on board once he was 18, but he needed to learn to mature a bit more first, show some responsibility instead of being the obnoxious brat he currently was.

Sally could have told his brothers that he acted that way because he was bright and knew they were holding back something.

One day Alan would find out, and it would either be fantastic or it would be the end of the world.

Of course, it was Gordon's fault.

Every brother had a secret closet where they kept their uniform and accessories. It had been John that had dubbed them the Clandestine Closets. Their father refused to call them that, but the name stuck with the eldest three, a play on words.

Yes, they each had a Clandestine Closet.

Each one had a secret place where they hid their alternate lives.

Only Alan hadn't.

So, on the one day when the eldest three were out doing their thing, Gordon and Alan were watching a movie when the call came in.

Beep Beep Beep.

Beep Beep Beep.

'Your phone is making a funny noise, Gordon.' Alan glanced across, curious in the extreme. He'd never heard Gordon's phone do that before. And he watched as Gordon hid the message as he read it, flushing red, before mumbling an excuse that he had to go and shooting out the room.

Alan sighed. It was nothing unusual for his brothers. But his curiosity got the better of him when he realised he hadn't heard Gordon leave.

Entering Gordon's room – and god, what a tip! – there was no sign of his brother. Weird. He hadn't gone out the door. And that was when Alan noticed the rug. The corner was rucked up and was the only clear area of the room.

Alan looked at the wall, pressing his hands down the area corresponding to where the rug was, and suddenly there was a click.

The wall swung open to reveal a secret room. A closet full of a very familiar costume. Alan gaped. Gordon was…a superhero?

His idiotic brother, who couldn't even open a jar of pickles, was a superhero?

…

Wait, were all his brothers superheroes?

Quickly Alan turned on the news. Sure enough, the four superheroes the world knew as International Rescue were up, battling the elements to rescue people from what looked like flash flooding.

What the hell?

Alan went to his own room and examined the doors closely. Eventually he found what he was looking for, and with a click the wall swung back to reveal a blue uniform with red highlights.

OMG he was a superhero too!