"DON'T USE THAT KIND OF VOICE WITH ME. I AM YOUR FATHER AND YOU WILL SPEAK TO ME WITH A RESPECTIVE TONE," Jeff bellowed at me. I slightly flinched and my temper nearly fizzled itself out "Now own up to what you did otherwise there will be major consequences"

"But I didn't do…" I never had the chance to finish

"THAT'S it; I have had it with you. You are grounded and you can't leave the house, not even to go swimming in the pool"

"But dad…"

"Bottom line, you need to grow up and start acting your age" without a second thought I stood up and rushed out of the door, ignoring the shouts that came from my father. I was met with three of my older brothers as I ran out of the room and down to my own. I blocked out the smart comments that came from Scott and Virgil. The moment I was in my room and slammed the door shut and locked the door with one of my own inventions. The lock was unbreakable and there was no way that you could force it open.

I flopped myself down on top of my bed and started up at the ceiling. Life was so unfair, why couldn't Gordon just own up and say that he did it, instead of blaming it on me

"Alan?" That sounded like Gordon. I didn't bother answering instead I made my way out on to the balcony but I accidently knocked over my bedside table. The noise that followed was so loud that I would be surprised if no one near my room heard it.

First, my phone made contact with the floor and smashed to pieces, then the lamp, which was made entirely out of glass, sent pieces flying everywhere, including into my right shoulder. Slowly I looked down to find a huge piece about the size of my palm lodged into my body. I let out a small painful yelp before I knew what I was doing.

"Alan? Alan are you ok" I didn't answer, instead I grabbed a piece of paper and wrote a note that read

Dear Guys,

I wish I could say that it has been a pleasure knowing you but it hasn't. I know that I could have resolved our differences a better way but there was too much to work through. Like just before when I ran out of Dad's office and all you said was, 'Did you fail another class' or 'Just own up to what you did'. I am not blaming you guys but you are a hard act to follow, especially when no one seems to even notice me until I do something wrong.

Scott, up until the age of 10, I had always looked up to you, you were my idol, my hero and then I was sent away and hardly ever saw you. You then always picked on me whenever you got the chance and never even stopped for a moment to see what you were doing to me.

John, I know that we hardly ever see each other but I know that I can always count on you whenever I need some help studying or if it is just stuff in general. You have always been there for me and I don't want you to blame yourself for what happens to me.

Virgil, I wish there was something I could say about you to make this easy but there isn't. You were never there me or looked after me. The only thing that had really counted up until now was when you found me in the snow and pulled me out, but right now I wished you hadn't because then I wouldn't be in this situation and having to write a good bye note to my 4 older brothers.

Gordon, what happened to us? We use to be so close, the terrible two but after what you did today, I would never have forgiven you. Don't worry I won't tell the others but that was the piece of straw that finally broke the camel's back. Like Scott, I couldn't wait to get home to see you but then the teasing started and then I never wanted to be around you while we ate or went for a swim. You were just as bad as Scott was because you had always been there and then all of a sudden the teasing started and it didn't matter if I was in pain, all that did was give you something else to tease me about.

Despite all of that, I still love you guys and I would gladly give my life just to save all of you but that doesn't change how I feel. I hate you more than I can say but I would take a bullet for you in a heartbeat.

Love Alan

P.S Try not to blame yourselves, despite what I said before about each one of you, I don't blame you and there was nothing I wouldn't do to protect you guys. Yes, even Gordon despite what he did and it doesn't really matter what he did so you don't need to pester him about it.

I folded up the note and put it into an envelope marked 'Brothers' and laid it down on my bed. Remembering my shoulder, I went into my bathroom, pulled it out and quickly covered it with a bandage. By now I could hear banging and shouting on the door

"ALAN! ALAN CAN YOU HEAR ME"

"ALAN OPEN THE DOOR"

"ANSWER US DAMMIT"

"Gordon language"

"Yes Sir"

I glanced at the clock and saw that the time was 5:59pm. I had 1 minute to suite up and get everything into place. The moment my alarm went off, I heard a gunshot that was fired outside my room, in the hallway, where 3 of my older brothers were, jumping onto my laptop I brought up the security camera feed

Scott, Virgil and Gordon were all kneeling on the ground with their hands on their head

"Tell me where Alan Tracy is and no one gets hurt" A guy wearing all black demanded "And don't count on your dad helping you because he is sealed in his office until I get what I came for and the others are locked in the silos. You can either hand over Alan or you will never see your dad again and he will die locked up in his office, alone. So what's it going to be?"

I saw Scott, Virgil and Gordon exchange glances before Scott yelled

"GOT TO HELL"

"You may be there sooner than me if I don't get what I want"

"Why do you want Alan?"

"That is none of your business, but you three are going to lose a family member tonight and I know for a fact that it will be Alan and maybe one other if I don't get my hands on him soon"

"Never" Gordon replied and stood up but the man in black instantly had him in a head lock and aimed his gun at Gordon's head

"Alan I know that you are watching this"

"Don't do it Alan. Stay where you are, we can handle this" Gordon pleaded but before I knew what I was doing, I unlocked my door and stepped out it to hallway. Scott and Virgil were still on their knees behind me while Gordon and the man were in front of me.

"Who are you?" Virgil asked

"You can call me…"