ON HOLD Casino Lights • Joshler

18

Trigger warning: death, blood

"Found him"

"Already?!" Josh jumped onto his bed; Tyler had just exited the room when Josh's phone rang, to give him privacy.

"Well, not him in person" Brendon explained; there was some noise in the background "I'm on a bus for Malibu right now"

"That's awesome!" Josh exclaimed excitedly, running his hand through his hair fast and absentmindedly "Did you contact him?"

"Nah, I'll surprise him" Brendon replied.

"Is he like rich?" Josh questioned, playing with a curl of his dyed hair "I mean, Malibu"

"I don't know man" the foreheaded fella answered "I'll tell you when I find him"

"How much until then?"

"Like five minutes; ten tops"

"Call me" Josh said finally and hung up. He jumped off his bed and reached the door of his room. He peeked outside, seeing Tyler a few feet away, in the right hallway, studying a large painting. Josh was trying to remember the pattern of hallways and actually came up with something. If he leaves through the left hallway, there will be two right ones to lead him down the path toward the dungeons. Tyler won't know.

He squeezed himself out of the room extremely quietly and Tyler didn't even flinch. Happy with his success, Josh turned the sound on his phone off and travelled down the many hallways.

"Where are you going?" a voice of the quintuplets asked a hallway Josh had just passed by.

Josh froze in place, his breathing speeding up due to running and due to fear. It was a thick British accent; either Taylor or Theodore. Maybe even Thomas, if he was playing a game.

"N- N- Nowhere" Josh replied, too scared of turning around and facing the Prince.

And then, the Prince was standing right in front of him. His uniform was different than the black ones Josh was used to. It was Theo.

"Where were you going?" Theodore repeated his question "Answer me. Now"

"I- I was looking for T- Tyler" Josh stammered.

"Let's look together then, shall we?" Theo said and grabbed Josh's arm.

Then, a loud noise was heard only a few feet from where they were standing. Both their heads shot in the direction and saw the maid, Melanie, had knocked down many things off a table; a vase, some ornaments and small chests.

"What are you doing, you idiot?!" Theo let go of Josh and marched toward her, yelling at her because of the mess she's made.

She looked past him and at Josh, winking.

Josh's jaw dropped slightly in realization and he mouther her a 'thank you'. She smiled and picked things up from the floor, listening to the insults and yells coming from the Prince. Josh ran off toward the dungeons.

Once he was inside, he made his way to Patrick who was sitting on the floor. He greeted Josh with a wide smile. Josh believed smiling probably hurt him because he was so weak; Patrick was just too much of a good person.

Right then, Josh's phone vibrated in his pocket. He whispered to himself "Perfect timing, Bee"

"Listen to me" Josh warned as Patrick stood up on his feet and grabbed the bars "Don't make any sounds until I ask you to, okay?"

Patrick nodded.

"Hello?" Josh answered the call, hearing no bus noise in the background anymore.

"Hey, Josh" Brendon said, from a small distance from the phone's microphone "I'm here with Pete, he knows Patrick. You're on speaker"

"Okay, thanks" Josh exhaled shakily; Patrick's eyes lit up beside him. Josh took the phone off his ear and turned the speaker on too.

"Is Patrick really there with you?" an unsure, doubtful voice asked. Patrick gasped and his hands flew fast to cover his mouth at the sound.

"Yeah, he is" Josh confirmed, looking at Patrick and nodding.

"Petey?" Patrick said softly.

"Patty?!" the man on the other side asked loudly "Where are you baby? Oh my God"

"I don't know, Pete, I didn't do anything wrong, I swear!" Patrick started talking fast and crying, so Josh went to quiet him down.

"Where is he?" Pete demanded.

"It's an island called Teelhia, spelled T-E-E-L-H-I-A" Josh said "It's a very rich kingdom and Patrick is one of their prisoners"

"What for?" Pete protested "Patty wouldn't hurt a goddamn fly"

"One of the Princes thought Patrick came to rob them" Josh explained, but was cut off by Patrick

"I was just hungry! I was just hungry, Petey!"

"Hey, shut up" Josh warned.

"Don't tell him what to do" Pete threatened "Who even are you?"

Josh sighed, rolling his eyes at the threat "I'm one of the Princes' fiancé"

"Are you calling me to threaten me?" Pete asked carefully and Brendon let out a small 'no'. It was of course not enough for Pete, he needed to hear it from Josh.

"No, I'm calling you because I want to save Patrick" Josh said, offended by Pete's speculation.

"How can I trust you?"

"You'll just have to trust me, I guess" Josh shrugged and Patrick bit his lip.

"Did you think I wasn't going to find you?! This is my castle! My home! You will not interfere with my life!" Theo was suddenly next to Josh, causing to drop and shatter his phone. He spat into Josh's face and stuck a long shiny sword in between the bars and through Patrick. Patrick fell down onto the ground, blood pooling beneath him.