Fleurs Captives (Joshler)

26. Foxglove

Foxglove:
meaning- insecurity

***Trigger warnings for suicidal thoughts, dysphoria, PTSD, and mentions of abuse.***

Start the song. It's Dorian by Agnes Obel.

When Josh woke up again, he was in a bed. Looking around, he wasn't sure if he'd ever left the house in Castlebrook. Everything looked the same, but the pain in Josh's body told him he hadn't imagined it.

Every part of Josh's body protested when he climbed out of bed, finding himself to be in fresh pajamas, which made sense given that his other clothes had been covered in blood and dirt. His legs trembled as he walked out of his new bedroom, wincing with every step as he descended a set of carpeted stairs. It was dark outside, but Josh still tried to open every door on the main level in the hopes of finding the basement. When he found a door with a keypad on it, he knew he was in the right place.

Josh sat down in front of the door, pressing his ear against it as he listened for his boyfriend or Maddy. He could hear Maddy crying, which made his stomach hurt. He pulled his knees up against his chest as he pressed his ear more firmly against the door, closing his eyes. He would stay down here until Tyler got out. He wouldn't let him suffer in the basement while Josh slept upstairs in a soft bed.

The pain in Josh's ribs made him feel like he was going to pass out, yet he remained resolute. He wouldn't leave Tyler. If he couldn't get Tyler out of here, he'd make sure Tyler wasn't alone.

Josh didn't know how long he'd been down there when he heard feet rushing down the stairs. All he knew was that he was in so much pain, his entire body was sweating.

The moment Jenna saw Josh, she was running to him. She sat down across from him, her eyes wide and fearful. "What happened?" She asked anxiously.

"Zack took Nicole out of the garden and ran away, so Papa made us move. He took Tyler and Maddy too. He left Jay in the garden," Josh reported weakly.

She had tears in her eyes as she gently touched Josh's broken nose, making him recoil in pain. "Did Papa do this?"

Josh nodded, feeling tears burn his eyes too. "It's my fault."

His sister shook her head adamantly, hushing him gently. "No, Josh. This isn't your fault. There is nothing you could ever do that would make it okay for him to do this to you. Every single inch of you is bruised, and your nose is definitely broken."

"Why won't he just kill me?" Josh whispered to Jenna, his voice breaking.

Her bottom lip trembled, and she shook her head. "You don't want that."

A pathetic whimper escaped Josh's lips. "I want to die so badly, Jenna. I can't do this anymore."

She shook her head again before pulling him into a hug that made pain shoot through his entire body. She didn't let go. "I love you so much. You're my little brother, and I wouldn't survive this place without you. I need you here with me. I'll help you protect Tyler and Maddy, and I'll start deflecting your punishments onto myself again, but please don't leave me."

"You can't do that. You aren't strong enough, and you're pregnant," Josh whimpered out. "I need to take your punishments now, or you're going to lose that baby, and we'll have to start all over again."

Jenna's arms wrapped around her stomach as she sat down directly next to Josh. She let him rest his head on her shoulder as they both stared at the basement door with tears in their hazy eyes.

"I hate this baby, Josh," Jenna whispered almost inaudibly.

Josh looked up at his sister, who had absolute agony in her eyes as she stared at the wall in front of herself. He tangled his fingers with hers despite the stitches in his palm.