Hey, guys. I'm back with the first official chapter of JOTN. This will feature a flashback to when Albert learns of his friend's disappearance. Especially after they head for home. And we'll get to see Harold and how he's doing. I hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 1: How it Began

As Albert sat and watched Russell eat, he couldn't help but think of everything that led to this unfortunate incident. The worst part is that it was a normal day as usual...

A normal day for the Junkyard Gang. They hung out together, watched the Brown Hornet, Rudy showing the gang his new headphones, and as usual, having a good time. Soon, the sun began to set, so the boys headed to their respective homes for the night.

When Albert returned home, he was greeted with dinner, as usual. He sat and ate with his parents, as they engaged in conversation about their day. After dinner, Albert joined his folks for a little television, and after that, getting ready for bed.

He remembered it rather vividly. He was in the bathroom, washing his face when the phone began to ring. He listened as he heard his mother answer it.

"Hello? Oh, good evening, Rochelle... no, Rudy isn't here. He didn't come home...? How odd? Well, we'll let you know if we hear anything. Okay, goodbye."

Albert looked towards the door. Rudy didn't go home? That was unusual. But before he could think about it, the phone rung again, and his mom answered it.

"Hello? Anna, good to hear from you... Bill and Russell? No, I haven't seen them. Funny, Rochelle says that Rudy didn't come home either. Well, we'll keep a lookout. Goodbye."

Bill and Russell too? Albert frowned deeply. This was strange. Once again, the phone rang.

"Yes? Donna. I haven't heard from Donald."

Donald is missing too?!

Another phone call...

"I'm sorry, Iris, Harold isn't here."

And another...

"James hasn't been by here at all, Mary."

And another...

"I haven't seen Bucky, Helen."

After that call, Albert stepped out of the bathroom and approached his parents, "Mom. Dad. Is everything okay?" He asked with worry in his tone. His mom and dad looked at one another, before his mother spoke, "Albert... I just call a few calls from your friend's mothers. They're saying that their sons haven't come home. Do you know where they might be?"

Albert shook his head, "No. We all went our separate ways when it started getting dark."

"It's rather strange that they all disappeared like that." Mr. Robertson thought."It is..." Mrs. Robertson agreed, "The authorities should be contacted. We may have a missing child case on our hands..."

"You have a fair point, Alice."

Albert wasn't liking any of this one bit. His friends all seemed to have gone missing... on the same night. He wondered what could have happened. Well, he hoped that they would be found and brought home safely...

"Aw, dudes. Where are you...?" He asked quietly.

Albert remembered the day afterward when he went to school. It was the last day for them, so they should be here. He patiently waited for them to arrive, but their other classmates came in instead. He looked at the clock, and the class was to start soon...

And still... they didn't come.

When the bell rang, Miss Wucher walked in, carrying some bags, "Good morning class. It's the last day of school, and I was thinking we could celebrate instead of having a lecture. But first, let me take roll call."

She picked up her roaster and began calling names... but discovered something, "Odd. Bill, Russell, Rudy, Donald, Harold, Bucky, and James aren't here. Albert, do you know where they might be?" She asked the large boy.

Albert shook his head, "No. I don't. The last time I saw them was yesterday before we went home for the night. Their moms called our house, saying that they hadn't come home. We think they might be missing."

Miss Wucher was shocked, "Oh my. Let's hope they're found soon..."

"I sure hope so..."

The gang didn't show up for the rest of the day. While the End of Year party went on, Albert wished they were here to celebrate with the rest of the class. By 1:00 PM, it was time for everyone to go home (They got out early on the last day).

"Have a wonderful summer, everyone!" Miss Wucher bid everyone a farewell, "And keep the missing ones in your prayers. I'll see you all in the fall!"

With that, the class left, with Albert trailing behind rather slowly.

And then there was when he was walking home. When he discovered something in an alleyway...

As Albert walked by, he happened to look down an alleyway and noticed something on the ground. Curious, he walked up to it and picked it up... it was bright purple headphones... with a red substance on them...

He quickly recognized them as the headphones that Rudy showed the boys the day before. And that red stuff... was possibly blood. Now with a clue, Albert rushed home, to inform his folks. Once he reached it, he opened the door and ran inside, "Mom! Dad! I found something!"

"Albert? I'm in here, sweetie."

The boy walked into the kitchen, to see his mother sitting at the table... with his friend's mothers, "What's all the excitement?" His mother asked.

"I found Rudy's headphones. They were just lying in an alley. And I think there's blood on 'em..." He explained, showing the women the evidence.

Rudy's mother gasped as she took the headphones and held them close, "My God... my baby. My precious baby... could he...?"

"I think all of our babies might have been taken..." Donald's mother replied.

"But who would do such a thing?" Harold's mother asked.

"And why?" Bucky's mother added.

Albert frowned, "I just don't know... if that's what really happened, then maybe we should..."

"Set up a search." His mother answered for him, "The authorities have already been contacted, and a search is already underway. We should take the headphones to the department as evidence. It could be a lead as to where the boys may be..."

Albert sure hoped that it would help...

And... in a way, it did. Rudy's headphones alone determined that the boys were kidnapped. Then it was a matter of finding them, rescuing them, and bringing the kidnappers to justice... the latter of which is still in progress.

"Um... Fat Albert?"

The large boy looked back at Russell, who about finished his tray of food, "What is it, Russell?" He asked.

"I... will things really go back to normal... do you really think so...?" The child asked.

"Well... maybe not all the way. But once you dudes are better, and those people are caught, everything will be okay. I don't know what happened when they took you, and I'm sure you don't wanna talk about it, but I know it had to be bad..."

Russell frowned, "It was... it really was... I might lose my big brother... he won't wake up..."

"I'm sure he will... we just gotta be hopeful..."

To be honest, aside from Russell, Albert had no idea of the other boy's conditions right now. All he knew was that some of them were in surgery, or not ready to see anybody. Hopefully, he wouldn't have to wait too long...

And... well, he didn't.

"Hey! Fat Albert!"

The two boys turned to the door, to see Harold being wheeled in by a nurse. He had a cast on his left leg, a bandaged wrapped around his right arm, and forehead. The tall boy smiled to see his friends... well, two of them at least.

"Hey, hey, hey, Harold. How're you feeling?" Albert greeted.

"Eh. Could be better... but at least I'm still alive..." Harold shrugged, "Those guys really messed up my leg, but not bad enough to amputate it or where I can't walk again. I'll have to be in this wheelchair for a while, which kinda sucks, though."

"Well, I'm glad you're feeling okay... Russell, on the other hand..."

Harold looked down at the small boy, and nodded, "Yeah... I know he's not doing so good..." he whispered to Albert, "He's really worried 'bout Bill..."

"I noticed. What happened to him, anyway?"

The tall boy rubbed his head, "It's kinda hard to remember... the past few days have been a bit of a blur since the police came for us... but from what I can remember... Bill got hit in the head pretty hard by the dude, and knocked him out... from what I heard, he hasn't woken up yet, and is in a coma..."

"Oh..."

"And the doctors aren't sure if he'll wake up. It's been some hours."

"Have you been to see him?"

"No. They aren't letting anybody but his family visit him right now."

Russell sniffled again, "I did... I saw him... earlier... you guys don't know how it feels to see your brother depending on a MACHINE to breathe! He may NEVER come out of this! He could DIE!"

With that, the little boy started crying again, and Albert resumed trying to comfort him. Harold looked at him in sympathy, thinking about how all of this escalated so quickly. Here they were, eight boys, after having a good day, going home... only for them to get ambushed and taken away, and be subjected to brutal treatment for almost a week and a half.

He wondered where everything went wrong...

And that's it for this chapter. So, aside from a broken leg and some other injuries, Harold's doing fine. Well, better than the others mentally wise. And we learn that Bill's in a coma, and that's why Russell's so distraught. Next chapter, we'll catch up with the parents, and how they're dealing with their boys getting hurt. Until then, I'll see you guys later, and don't forget to review, please. Thank you!