ON HOLD Casino Lights • Joshler

14

"Oh" Theodore spoke lastly when at the doorway of Josh's room "And don't think the dungeons are just scary. Those who I put in there get a row of tortures as a bonus"

Josh fell backwards onto the bed as Theo shut the door too loudly. Shivers went down his spine. There was no way he could prove to anyone he didn't say 'yes' for the money. He said 'yes' because he loves Tyler, that's all.

"C'mon, c'mon, pick up" Josh whispered rather violently into his phone.

"Yo"

"Brendon I'm scared, come save me" Josh weeped, biting onto his lip shakily.

"Whoa there buddy" Brendon spoke surprisedly "I'm not a prince, I can't save ya"

"Brendon!!!" Josh frowned angrily.

"Okay, man, sorry, I was kidding" Brendon apologized defensively; he probably added an eye roll to that

"Tyler's brother wants to kill me!" Josh accused, a bit too loudly. Hopefully no one will hear him.

"Okay, man, calm down. Get up and out of wherever you are, walk a little" Brendon instructed and Josh had no idea why was he listening to what this idiot was saying in the first place.

Josh stood up and exited his room, starting to pace down a few hallway. He soon reached a foreign one. He wasn't sure if he'd walked down it ever yet. It didn't hold many doors; it only ended with a large, black one.

Brendon was currently describing an entire game of baseball. Not that Josh didn't like baseball, he was just not interested in a game where a club he hates is winning. And, besides, this was really not the time for Brendon's "professional" commentary.

Josh didn't even think (nor did he look, honestly) when he opened the strange black door. He just listened to Brendon's pretty voice as he walked down the stairs. He didn't even notice the darkness and only the few lightly lightened torches along the hallway.

"Wait, Brendon" realization hit him.

"Yeah?"

"I'm a bit lost" Josh cringed, starting to see the walls become bars.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. I think I'm in the dungeons" Josh's pace became careful and scared; he gulped.

"Hello?! Is anyone there?! Please, is anyone there?!" a loud and desperate scream echoed down the hallway. Josh walked to it, having to take two turns to reach it. He didn't know why he was following it, he was just alerted by it.

"Bren, Imma call you back" Josh just hung up without Brendon's reply.

Somewhere, in America, Brendon yelled "Rude!" at his phone.

Josh looked at the man that gripped onto the rusty bars tightly. His face was as scared and desperate as his voice. His face was dirtied and his hair was long; it went down under the man's shoulders and most of it was pretty ruined. He had an uncontrolled beard, probably hadn't seen a mirror in ages.

"Please! Help me!" the man begged, still screaming in hysteria. He was dirty and skinny. Josh saw whip wounds on his arms and legs; the sight made him gasp and mutter a swear word under his breath. The man was shaking uncontrollably "It's all a misunderstanding! Please, I did nothing wrong!"

"Hey, hey! Calm down" Josh blinked, gulping bravely "What's your name? I'm Josh"

The man cringed "Wha- I'm Patrick. Please, let me out. My Mom- My Petey- They must be worried sick"

"Why are you here?" Josh frowned, trying to calm Patrick down by talking. Patrick's words made no sense to him.

"I- What?" Patrick continued to cringe, seeing this Josh guy was just changing the topic while he only wanted out of his prison "It's a mistake! I've done nothing wrong!"

"Calm down" Josh spoke annoyingly calmly "How long have you been here?"

"For a goddamn year! More maybe!" Patrick screamed into Josh's face.

"Why though?" Josh's eyebrows furrowed in thought, he crossed his arms on his chest and rose a hand to hold a finger on his chin like a great thinker "This is a nice an peaceful kingdom for all I know"

"I was just hungry, I just wanted to eat" Patrick basically said that to himself, starting to cry, collapsing weakly on the floor of his dark cell. He looked beaten up in the slightly different light.

"Josh"

Josh's head shot up toward the voice at the end of the hallway; the side he had come from. One of the Princes stood there, leant against the wall. Judging by the cape, it was The Judge himself. Troy.

"Josh, come with me" Troy started to walk to the exit of the dungeons, nodding toward it as well. Josh followed like a damn puppy.

Patrick's sobs echoed through the hallway of the dungeons, but he gave up on screaming when hearing the familiar voice.

Once out and back in the pretty hallway, Josh and Troy eyed each other.

"You have only one prisoner?" Josh asked childishly, snorting as that seemed pretty lame. If they wanted to look badass, they should lock up famous criminals, like rapists and thieves and murderers.

"Josh, the dungeons cover the entire area of under the castle" Troy said with a smirk.

Josh's eyes popped. That definitely means there are more prisoners. Still, he couldn't help but wonder "Why is he here?"

Troy sighed guiltily "He got lost on his boat. He ran out of food and saw this island which is obviously populated. He just wanted to eat, but my brother concluded he wanted to steal our money and kill our parents. Thus, Patrick's been here for six long years now. Sometimes he'd call for his friend Pete in his sleep, he'd mumble about how Pete will come and save him. I've seen Pete back in the States. He's still looking for Patrick. Neither of them have lost hope. But my brother keeps on torturing Patrick, to get the 'information' out of him. Everybody's an enemy in my brother's eyes. Sometimes, we come down here without Theo to bring the poor guy some real food. The only food he's given are dead rats"

Josh's jaw dropped. He didn't even know what to say. How does one react to such story anyways?

"I know Theodore is very disliking of you" Troy continued "Josh, I'd be wary. My brother is not somebody to joke around with. I do not agree with his actions, but there's not much I can do. Theodore is the best warrior amongst the five of us. He's granted the ability of judgement"

"Josh!" Tyler approached them urgently and he was pretty angry this time "How many times do I have to tell you to stay in place?! You're worse than a baby!"

Tyler grabbed Josh's wrist and started to pull him back to his room. Troy nodded at Josh as they went away.

Once in the room, Josh sat down on a chair near a desk and a mirror.

"I'll stay this time, I promise" Josh said, smiling innocently.

Do you really think he'll keep that promise?

Of course n-

"Oh, no, I'm not buying that. No, we're gonna get kinky" Tyler smirked.