The Lost Brother

Chapter 2: Ghosts of the Past

The mansion was a monument to the life Alex's brothers had built without him-towering walls of polished stone, a grand staircase that spiraled into an open gallery, and floor-to-ceiling windows that bathed every surface in soft, golden light. It felt more like a museum than a home, pristine and cold, with none of the chaos Alex remembered from their old house.

Alex sat on the edge of the couch in the living room, his hands clenched tightly together. He could hear the distant hum of voices, his brothers gathered somewhere in another part of the house, undoubtedly talking about him. Every second stretched unbearably long as he tried to process everything.

Ten years.

He leaned forward, his mind racing. His memories felt like they had been frozen, preserved in amber, yet the world had hurtled forward without him. The brothers he had left behind-young, vulnerable, needing him-were now strangers. Strangers who towered over him, who looked at him like he was a ghost come to haunt their carefully rebuilt lives.

The door to the room opened, and Alex tensed. Will stepped in, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp, assessing. Behind him were Simon and Ethan, their faces unreadable.

"Comfortable?" Will asked, his tone light, but there was an edge to it that Alex couldn't miss.

"Not really," Alex admitted, meeting Will's gaze. "This doesn't exactly feel like home."

Will chuckled dryly, leaning against the doorframe. "It's not. Not the one you remember, anyway."

Simon sat down on one of the sleek armchairs, his arms resting on his knees as he studied Alex. "You look the same," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "Exactly the same as the day you left."

Alex shrugged, unsure of what to say. "It doesn't feel like I've been gone. To me, it's just been... a few hours. A flight. That's all."

Will's jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing. "But it wasn't just a flight, was it? You disappeared, Alex. For ten years. And now you just walk back in like nothing happened."

Alex flinched at the accusation in his voice. "You think I wanted this? You think I wanted to disappear?"

Ethan stepped forward, his hands shoved into his pockets. "We're not saying that. But you can't expect us to just... pick up where we left off."

Alex's heart sank. "I'm not asking for that. I'm just trying to understand what happened."

Will exchanged a glance with Simon before speaking, his voice quieter this time. "We all are."

Later That Night

The brothers drifted back to their routines, leaving Alex alone in the living room. He wandered through the mansion, his footsteps echoing on the polished floors. Every corner of the house screamed of their success-ornate furniture, artwork worth more than their old house, and subtle signs of their influence.

Alex paused at a side table, his gaze falling on a framed photograph. It showed his brothers standing together, dressed in sharp suits, their expressions composed and confident. They looked... untouchable. And in the space where he should have been, there was nothing.

His chest tightened as he placed the frame back down, his reflection staring back at him in the glass. He had always been the one they relied on, the one who took care of them. Now, they didn't need him at all.

The Next Morning

Alex woke to the smell of coffee and the faint sound of voices. He followed the noise to the kitchen, where most of his brothers were gathered around the massive island counter. The atmosphere shifted as he entered the room, conversation halting mid-sentence.

"Morning," Alex said awkwardly, hovering in the doorway.

Theo, who had grown into a tall, sharp-featured young man, glanced at him but didn't speak. Benji, sitting beside him, gave Alex a quick nod before looking away. The tension in the room was palpable.

"You eat yet?" Will asked, breaking the silence.

Alex shook his head. "No. Not hungry."

"You should eat," Simon said, his tone clipped as he poured himself a cup of coffee. "Skipping meals isn't a good idea."

Alex bristled at the comment. "I'm fine."

Will set his mug down with a sharp clink, his expression hardening. "You're not fine, Alex. None of this is fine. Stop acting like it is."

Alex's jaw tightened as he met Will's gaze. "What do you want me to say? That I'm sorry I disappeared? That I'm sorry I put you through hell? Because I am. But I don't know what happened, and I don't know how to fix it."

The room fell silent, the weight of his words hanging in the air.

"We're not asking for an apology," Ethan said finally, his voice quieter than usual. "But you can't just walk back into our lives and expect things to be the same."

"I don't expect anything," Alex said, his voice rising. "I just-" He stopped, his frustration bubbling over. "I just don't know where I fit anymore."

Will sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You don't. Not yet. But we'll figure it out."

Alex stared at him, unsure whether to take the words as a promise or a warning.

That Afternoon

The day passed in a blur of awkward silences and fleeting glances. Alex tried to help out around the house, but his brothers waved him off at every turn. He offered to cook, but Theo muttered something about not needing help. He tried to clean, but Simon told him to "just take it easy."

By evening, Alex felt like a guest in his own family.

As the sun set, he wandered into the backyard, a sprawling expanse of manicured lawns and glittering pool water. Benji was sitting on one of the lounge chairs, staring at his phone. He glanced up as Alex approached but didn't say anything.

"Mind if I sit?" Alex asked.

Benji shrugged, not looking at him. "Free country."

Alex sat down, his gaze drifting to the horizon. "You've grown up a lot," he said quietly. "I barely recognize you."

Benji snorted. "Yeah, well, ten years will do that."

Alex winced at the bitterness in his voice. "I missed a lot, didn't I?"

Benji turned to him, his eyes narrowing. "You missed everything."

The words hit Alex like a blow, and he struggled to find a response. "I didn't mean to," he said finally, his voice barely audible.

"I know," Benji said, standing up. "But that doesn't change anything."

Alex watched him walk away, his chest tight with guilt and regret. He had thought returning would mean picking up the pieces, but now he wasn't sure there was anything left to pick up.

As the sky darkened, Alex sat alone, the weight of the years pressing down on him. His brothers had built a life without him, one that he didn't know how to be part of. And as much as he wanted to find his place again, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was still lost.

End of Chapter 2