ON HOLD Casino Lights • Joshler

16

"Free me" Josh demanded.

Tyler sighed, shaking his head at the floor. He loved Josh so much, it made him so weak. He took the key to the cuffs and got behind Josh's chair. He freed his fiancé and someone gasped at the door. Taylor had returned to the room, alongside Troy.

Tyler looked up at them, standing up and putting away the handcuffs.

"Why are you freeing him?!" Taylor angrily shouted in a firm British accent "The idiot 'came across' the dungeons, next thing you know he's trying on Father's crown!"

"I'll keep an eye on him" Tyler assured.

But Josh was already exiting the door behind Troy and the oldest quintuplet just laughed, facepalming. Taylor let out an angry groan when Tyler and him realized Josh had left the room. Tyler sighed, running to the door and managing to catch Josh right there.

"Where are you going?" Tyler asked, his hold firm on Josh's left bicep "You can't go running around the castle, Josh. You don't even know where you are"

"This is Teelhia" Taylor appeared behind Tyler threateningly "You can't just walk into someone's house to use their phone. You can't go on the street and order yourself a coffee. There are no casinos, no fun stuff like that. This is the pith of a kingdom. And you do not belong"

Josh pursed his lips. He was very offended. He didn't take Taylor's words as a warning, he took them as insults. He actually kinda liked Taylor at first. But he seemed like a complete jerk now.

Tyler sighed and repeated his question "Where are you going?"

"To save Patrick, it'd help if you went with" Josh answered proudly and Taylor was on the verge of pulling all of his hair out.

"You can't save him, Josh" Troy took slow steps to approach the three men "That's on Theodore. And you're nowhere near Theo's level"

"Exactly" Tyler nodded in confirmation of his brother's words.

Josh looked from one identical face to another. They were all insulting him at this point. Theo isn't nearly as smart as Josh is. Theo's just special because of his royal blood or whatever. Josh was becoming angry now "I'll be way above his level once Tyler and I marry"

"If you do" Taylor spat through gritted teeth, doing a half-spin on his heel and stomping off. Josh stuck his tongue out at the Prince who could no longer see him.

"Now you have two Princes against you, good job" Troy commented sarcastically, patting Josh's shoulder as he paced by him and down the hallway.

Tyler exhaled heavily, letting go of Josh's hand and rubbing his eyes with his fingertips, asking a pretty rhetorical question "Why are you causing me trouble ever since the plane"

"It's not me!" Josh argued, pointing to his chest "It's your brothers! They're being rude assholes! And, frankly, you're not much different"

Tyler hands dropped from his face, eyes wide "What?"

"You're all insulting me!" Josh accused, pacing backwards a little "Only Thomas is fine, y'know? He's the only person that has no problem with me. Theo's an arrogant ass, just like Tay, Troy is very full of himself and I'm apparently 'causing you trouble'"

"But you are, Josh!" Tyler rose his voice, even though he hoped he wouldn't have to "You have to listen to me! I was born here, for God's sake!"

Josh rolled his eyes and turned around in a split second. He started running down the hallway and heard Tyler call after him. He took turns wherever he could and once he reached an oddly familiar hallway, he hid underneath a golden desk set up by the wall. He waited for a while and made sure Tyler wasn't near him nor following him. The poor Prince was probably running around the castle somewhere in worry. But Josh didn't really care.

He got up from his hiding spot and made his way to the black door at the end of the hallway. He was glad he ended up in the correct hallway. He really wanted to go down to Patrick. He wanted to save the poor man. Once Patrick's out, Josh will be a savior - a hero - and everyone will give him the respect he deserves.

Josh had the full plan in his head. He checked his phone. 58%.

He opened the door just enough for him to enter and closed it behind himself. That was probably how Troy found him last time. He went down the dark stairs and found himself in the familiar hallways.

He heard some coughing and sniffling, concluding it's Patrick. He jogged toward the sounds. Soon, he came saw the small hairy man, lying on the floor of his cell. Just as skinny as last time, just as dirty.

"Hey" Josh whisper-shouted. He fast gained Patrick's attention and the man weakly sat up. He blinked himself awake. Josh waved at him "Do you remember me?"

Patrick sniffled, ruffling his hair absentmindedly "Wait, I can't see you"

Josh cringed at the words but waited and watched the broken man stand up. Patrick gave all his strength into his legs and reached the bars. He held the bars ever so tightly with his dirty, bony hands. He first narrowed his eyes, but then fully opened them and looked at Josh. Josh shot him a smile.

"I'm Josh, remember? We met earlier?"

Patrick seemed sleepy, tired, exhausted. He coughed a little and Josh grimaced only slightly. Patrick then spoke in a hoarse, morning voice "I remember"

"Alright, so" Josh began, quickly pulling his shirt down "I'm here to save you"

Patrick's eyes widened and he seemed to be instantly awake. He choked on air and coughed again, a wide grin spreading on his face; Josh could swear his eyes even teared up a little.

"Wh- I- Thank y- Thank you" Patrick was in short - shook.

"You mentioned a friend. Pete? Can you tell me his last name? I have a plan"