The Pros: Those Above Us

Chapter 14:Family Matters

"Joseph are you feeling a little better now?" Josie asked. "Please just shut up, I'm fine" He replied entering the house. He headed straight for the fridge. "Happy birthday!" James, Beth and Josie shouted. "Is it though?" He asked. "Honestly though, A birthday is a pointless reminder that I get closer to dying" He said. "So I give up on celebrating them" He grabbed a can of beer and began chugging it. "We are here!" more voices came through the door. "Demi, Charlie, Ryan, Jay!" Josie said excited to see her family again. "Woohoo the addicts" Joseph said to himself moving on to his 2nd can. "Where's James?" Bethany asked. "He went back to bed" Josie replied. "How long was Joseph up on that ship?" Jay asked. "He went up at ten to midnight and its seven AM now so about seven hours" Josie told him. "Its 4 AM you prick" Joseph said moving on to his fourth. "Go easy at the cans kid" Ryan said. Joseph ignored him finishing his 4th. "Ignore him the anger of the shadow is still lingering in him it should wear off" Beth reassured them. "Its not the shadow you mong I'm sick of being protected like a child!" Joseph said outraged. "I stopped her on my own!, All by myself!" "U killed her!" Josie Shouted back. Joseph began chugging his 5th can. "I'm done with this shit" Joseph pressed his badge and walked past the others. Josie grabbed his arm. "You don't have to do anything alone Joseph" She said. "please just stay" "If I do stuff alone you and James won't die" Joseph stated. "Lately that moment has been trapped on a loop in my head, The moment that bomb hit that car" He said. "I don't have a life, I have a wandering shadow of regret, guilt and Sorrow especially after Leah broke up with me" "So please just let me get away and think ok?" He asked calmly. "Can you do that after Joseph, Please" She asked. "Your fucking lucky I drank, I'm feeling a bit dizzy" Joseph said unamused "I'll take it I guess?" Josie responded. "Its been a while how are things going Josie?" Demi asked. "Well Joseph has made a lot of gadgets lately" Josie said hinting to him about something she saw earlier. "I clearly haven't had enough to drink" He said walking towards the fridge. "Why does he drink so much now he is fifteen!?" Charlie asked. "I don't really know" She said honestly. "I'd take drugs but I wasn't raised that way so I drink" He retorted. "It still ain't good for you though" Demi said. "Oh well, I've got more important things to worry about than my health" He replied arrogantly. "Speaking of gadgets Josie" He said reaching into the kitchen draw. He pulled out a pair of orange spiked gloves. "These are your new gloves for your fire ability" He said. "Oh what do they do?" She asked. "Well the spikes absorb excess heat and transfer it the fingers to make more durable fire beams" He replied enthusiastically. He took a four pack out of the fridge and re-entered the front room. A phone alarm went off. "Oh my husband is calling let me just go out side real quick" She said. She left the house. "Could I have a can mate?" Jay asked. "Yeah, No" Joseph replied spitefully. "Whats all the racket?" James asked coming down the stairs. "Oh the Fam is here" He noticed. "Yeah, space noticed James!" Joseph said. Suddenly the awkwardness broke with an angry and desperate Bethany. The room began to grow cold and uninviting. "Something feels wrong with what we just heard" Josie said disturbed. "I'll check for fuck sa..." Joseph began to blank. "Never mind the world is spinning right now" He said. "This is why you don't fucking drink!" James shouted concerned. Josie went outside to find a desperate Bethany being held captive by... "Joseph!"