Dan stormed around his room. How dare Amy come home and assume she knows everything. He threw himself down onto his pillow and screamed as loud into it as he could. He felt tears rolling down. He wanted to just have someone there to tell him everything was going to be ok. Tell him things will get better. But they aren't, He thought, they'll only get worse. They always get worse.

He punched the wall, and when that didn't help, he did the only other thing that made sense.

He lay down and cried as hard as he could.

….

Ian got out of the car and could tell instantly something was wrong. The front door to him and his sister's apartment was wide open, and off its hinges.

He ran inside and began to frantically scream for his sister. He searched the whole apartment, until he eventually found a note. It read:

Ian,

Congratulations on losing the Clue Hunt. You truthfully disappointed me. Then letting them arrest me? I thought you were better than that. Guess I raised a failure. This time you're going to make your mom proud. Bring me the Clues, and if you fail, I don't think you or your sister will like the outcome.

Sincerely,

Isabel Kabra

Ian felt his heart stop. His mother had Natalie. He knew that this meant Natalie's life was on the line. That wasn't something he wanted to bargain with. He pretended like he didn't like his sister, but secretly, she meant everything to him.

He had to get those clues. No matter what the cost.

….

Amy heard Dan punch the wall. Thoughts flew around in her head, but only one could form. It was happening again. Something big was coming. She could feel it. And that thought scared her. Last time there were moments when she thought she was going to lose her brother. If that ever happened, she would have nothing.

She had already lost too much, she wouldn't lose Dan too.

….

Dan picked up his phone as soon as the text came in.

You ok, Dan? You could've easily won our game earlier. It was Atticus.

Dan quickly typed back, Yeah, I'm fine. He knew that was a lie. He felt his breath growing shorter, as he felt a pain spread in his chest. His phone vibrated in his pocket. He reached into his pocket expecting another text from Atticus.

He wasn't expecting a text from Ian.

….

Ian regretted sending the text almost as fast as he'd sent it. Was he really willing to use Dan to get the Clues? He felt so conflicted inside. His brain screamed at him to, but his heart told him it was wrong. He was never good at choosing which to listen to.

Dan, we need to talk. It's important. Come to my apartment. Preferably alone. The text reread itself in his head. He stared at his phone, waiting for a reply. Anything, even a no, would at least signify that Isabel hadn't done anything to Dan.

His heart skipped a beat when the text came back. On my way, he read. Ian's mind raced. How was he going to play this? Why am I having so much trouble with this? He wondered. I'm usually a great liar.

The doorbell rang and Ian ran to answer it. Standing there was Dan Cahill, the one person he loved, and would always love. I have to stop letting my feelings get in the way, I have to save Natalie.

"So why did you want me to come over?" Dan questioned.

Ian was about to say the lie he had settled on, but found himself at a loss for words. "I love you." He heard someone say. But it wasn't Dan's voice. It was his own.

….

Dan stood in shock. Did Ian just say he loved me?! Suddenly he felt himself pulled forward, and before he knew it, he kissed Ian.

Dan saw a look of shock pass over Ian's face, but this quickly faded, as both Ian and his eyes closed. Then, Ian pulled back.

"What the hell, Dan?!" He yelled. "I can't deal with this right now!"

Dan thought he saw a look of worry pass over Ian's face. "Why? What's wrong?"

Ian didn't even bother to lie to Dan. He told him that his mother had Natalie and was holding her ransom for the Clues, and if he didn't hand them over, then she would likely kill Natalie.

Dan didn't know what to say. He stood there feeling conflicted. "Ian, you know we can't give her the Clues…"

Ian's face turned cold. "So what? You just want me to let her kill my sister?!"

"No, that's not what I said."

"Dan, you have to understand, she's all I have left" When he said this, Dan instantly thought of Amy.

"We'll find a way out of this, I promise." He felt his phone go off. "Amy's calling, I have to get home. Text me."

….

Ian walked Dan out, then realized how overcome with feelings he was. He felt guilty over letting his mom get his sister, scared that he might lose her, and happy that he and Dan were together, all at the same time.

What he didn't expect to feel was the pain of a fist hitting him in the face. But that's exactly what he felt as he entered his house. He felt himself fall back and hit his head on the ground, then the blood trickling down his face.

No, please, don't let Dan get dragged into this. This isn't about him. He thought. That was his last thought, before everything went black.

….

Dan stared at his phone and waited for his text from Ian. When a text from an unknown number came in, he was surprised. He opened it anyway.

I have Ian. If you don't tell me the clues by the end of the week, then I will kill him. –Isabel.

Dan shuddered. He couldn't get Amy's help with this one. She'd try to talk him out of it. She would never understand how much Ian meant to him.

He was on his own this time.