Justin carelessly flicked through his Captain Jim Bob comic book as he lay back on the orange couch, he yawned loudly as he turned to the next page before rubbing his heavy eyes. Footsteps emerged from down the metal staircase and over to the nearby futon, although Justin continued to read, he could hear the cushions on the futon squash as they were sat on.

"Captain Jimbo again? You're such a nerd," cackled Alex, "how old are you, twelve?"

Justin slammed down his comic, "It's Captain Jim Bob Sherwood and as it points out in the small print, he is suitable for anyone above the age of five."

"Who are you trying to impress with that?" She cackled hysterically, "you're so lame!"

"Am not!"

"Are too!"

"I am not lame!" Justin declared, he scrunched his face and grunted loudly before burying his head back into his comic as Alex howled in laughter. He intensely read the small script, putting all of his focus into the story instead of retaliating to Alex's torment all whilst ignoring the new set of footsteps ascending down the spiral staircase.

"Who are you talking to honey?" Asked Theresa as reached the final step and carefully hopped off in her black stilettoes.

Justin peered over his comic and immediately threw it on to the floor when he noticed Alex had gone, he propped himself up and continued to look over at the empty space where Alex once sat. He felt a mixture of sadness and disappointment, but he gave a weak smile in an effort to protect his pride, "just reading," he mumbled.

Theresa chuckled and walked over to the refrigerator shaking her head in amusement, "I'm going up," she announced whilst grabbing a bottle of cooled water, "it's gone ten thirty and I've been working in the sub shop since seven this morning. I am beat!" She lovingly watched Justin who lay back down on the couch and turned on the TV before mindlessly flicking through the different channels. "You okay?" She asked sensitively, "you look tired, why don't you go to bed too?"

"Nah I'm fine," Justin yawned, "I'm just going to watch some TV and then I'll go up."

Theresa lingered nearby for several minutes without speaking a word as Justin continued to search for something to watch. She attempted to walk away but rapidly turned back blurting out, "have you heard back from Harper and Mason?"

Justin gave a heavy sigh whilst turning to face his mother, who twirled her caramel locks nervously. "I called them both, but neither of them answered. So, I left voicemails and so far I've heard nothing from Harper but I got a text from Mason saying speak soon."

Theresa quickly became teary eyed, she bit her lip holding back the tears but soon let them fall from her eyes when Justin leapt up and quickly pulled her into a tight embrace. "I just want everything to go back to how it used to be, they're still our family. I just hope they know that."

"I'm sure they do, I think they just need time," Justin reassured her while rubbing her back comfortingly.

"It's all just happened so quickly! We lost Alex, Harper chose to move out and Mason has locked himself away somewhere! Everything's just falling apart and there's nothing I can do to stop it." Theresa sobbed into Justin's shoulder and there was nothing he could do but hold her, he felt his own eyes begin to fill but he held them in, despite how hard it became when more tears began to appear.

Max wondered up the stairs leading in from the substation but he soon hesitated when he heard his mother's wails. After making eye contact with Justin, he gestured to his mother only for Justin to respond by sadly shaking his head. Max wearily made his way over to his mom and then cuddled her from behind, she reached up and softly stroked his cheek while pulling both her son's tighter into the hug.

"Do you want me to get Dad?" Max asked quietly, almost in a whisper.

Theresa shook her head, "he's already asleep," she chuckled, "typical Jerry!" She removed herself from the huddle, gently removing both her sons from her body and wiped her eyes smudging her mascara and leaving black trails under her eyes and on the side of her hand. "I'm fine, I just need to sleep. Goodnight boys."

She climbed up the mustard steps and both Justin and Max watched her disappear up the steps, "mom are you sure you're okay?" Justin called up to her.

"I'll be fine, thanks honey. Goodnight!"

Justin remained at the bottom of the stairs and listened intently as Theresa walked across her landing and shut her bedroom door with a loud thud. Justin rested his head on the handrail and gave a mournful sigh in defeat as he clenched his eyes shut. The cold metal lay against his warm skin and soon he could feel the coldness spreading across his forehead. A heavy hand then dropped on to his shoulder and bit by bit Justin reopened his eyes.

"You alright bro?" Max asked him.

Justin returned to his upright position and rubbed his chilled forehead, "yeah thanks. I just feel useless."

"I know the feeling…"

"All she wants is the family back together, but if anything, we're all falling apart even more. Can you even remember the last time we seen Harper or Mason?"

Max paused in thought, "I think we last saw Harper was when she moved out a couple of months ago and I haven't seen Mason since the funeral, I think…"

"This is crazy, Alex would have hated this."

"Yeah, she would."

Justin turned to his younger brother and was soon startled by his appearance. His rosy tanned face was a sickly white and a cold sweat had settled on his forehead, Justin examined Max's physique, once bold and confident in that very moment Max seemed scared. He dithered and trembled, often glancing behind him to look at the top of the black metal steps.

"Are you ok?" Justin asked him, "you don't look to good…"

"Fine," Max spat, "I'm fine." He began to let his eyes wonder around the room as he felt Justin's eyes remain fixated upon him. "Want to come to a party tomorrow night?" Max quickly asked, changing the subject, "we need to get out of here for a while and have some fun. It'll help take our minds off everything."

"Thanks, but I'm not in the mood, I'd rather stay here."

"Your loss. Actually, how long are you staying here like, when are you going back to WizTech?"

Justin shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know but what I do know it won't be anytime soon. So, why don't we watch some TV, and you can tell me what's bothering you."

"Nothing's bothering me," Max interjected defensively, "I'm just tired." He rushed up the staircase and yelled down as he ran, "goodnight!"

Justin remained at the bottom of the stairs, loneliness quickly consumed him and he felt the dread of trying to get through the long night creeping back in.

When suddenly the crackles and white noise from the TV set roared across the room. Justin leapt in fright and spun around to face the screen only to see the channels frantically change over, he stared in disbelief as they continued to change, flicking constantly back and to between channels before the noise drowned out and the screen turned black…