Chapter 6

 

Howie frowned. Kevin wasn’t acting right. His face looked pale and he seemed very aloof lately. He was worried that Kevin had a worse concussion, then he had thought.

 

“Kev,” are you okay man, you don’t look so good.

 

 Kevin didn’t reply, instead he lowered himself to the ground.

 

“My head, God it hurts so bad!”

 

“I know man, just stay strong for us, okay,” Howie replied, his voice full of concern.

 

Nick awoke to Brian’s soft whimpers. He sat up quickly watching his friend. Brian moaned once again. Nick gently ran his fingers through Brian’s hair, in an attempt to soothe him.

 

“It’s alright Bri, it’s gonna be alright,” Nick soothed.

           

Brian’s eyes fluttered open. He looked straight up at Nick.

 

“Brian, you okay?”

 

“No…my head, my mouth…my jaw, and my throat. It hurts Nick,” Brian spoke in a pained voice. Trying his best to keep from crying. The pain in his head was unbearable.

 

 Nick looked at him sympathetically before speaking, “Why’d you do that Brian! Why! You could have gotten yourself killed,” Nick yelled.

 

 Brian looked up at him, shocked at his outburst. “I…I just couldn’t stand the way he was talking about you Nick,” Brian said, his voice wavering as the pain in his head intensified. “You looked so…so scared. I couldn’t take it.”

           

Nick closed his eyes briefly. Then looked over at his friend. “I’m sorry Brian I didn’t mean to be so harsh. I just feel so bad. I mean if I wouldn’t have been so stupid, trying to run away and all we wouldn’t be here. You wouldn’t be in so much pain,” Nick said sadly.

 

“Nick, no don’t go blaming this on yourself. It was my decision to attack Rob not yours! You just tried to get away from this place. You weren’t thinking straight, it’s not your fault.”

             

After several seconds of silence passed, Brian attempted to sit up. Nick was immediately at his side helping him up.

 

“Thanks.”

           

“When are they gonna let us go back with Howie, Kev, and A.J.?”

           

“I don’t know Bri.”

             

Brian placed his head in his hands, rubbing his eyes. “What about food. I haven’t ate in a while I’m starving!”

             

Before Nick could respond, Craig and Jack walked in.

           

“Lets go boys!”

           

“Wait, wait where are you taking us?”

 

Nick decided not to push for an answer, remembering what Kevin had done.

             

Nick pulled himself up, into a standing position. He then bent down to help Brian. Brian looked up at him. Nick could see how unconfident he was in standing. “It’s alright Bri.” Brian slowly stood up. He then stumbled backward as a wave of vertigo hit him. Nick grabbed him quickly, before he fell. Glancing down, to meet Brian’s gaze he saw that Brian’s hands were shaking. “I can’t walk, I feel to dizzy.”

             

Craig and Jack looked at them, obviously agitated. “We don’t have all day! You either come now, or you can be punished.

             

Brian slowly took a few steps. Nick steadied him, afraid that he would fall. They both walked towards the door. Jack and Craig pulled Brian and Nick’s arms back behind them. They gripped their wrists tightly, tying them. They then guided them back to the others.

             

The two of them sighed in relief as they entered the basement. Kevin, Howie and A.J. were all sprawled out on the floor, sleeping. Each wrapped up in a sheet.

           

 Brian and Nick quietly laid down on the cold ground. It only took them a matter of minutes to fall asleep.

             

 

The next morning Howie, A.J. and Nick sat awake. Kevin and Brian were still fast asleep.

             

Nick explained quietly everything that had happened to him and Brian. The other two couldn’t stand to hear it all. The thought of Brian being so brutally beaten was a terrible thought. Thankful though, that Brian had survived.

             

An hour later Brian awoke followed by Kevin. The four of them could tell easily that Brian had a concussion. Just by the way his pupils were dilated.

           

“I’m hungry,” Howie said, breaking the silence.

           

“Yeah,” they all agreed.

             

Within four hours they were back outside working. The heat taking it’s toll on all of them.

             

Rob became angry when he saw how slow the five men were working. Out of pure vindictiveness, Rob had them take out all of the wood in the shed and put it back in the yard. “If y’all aren’t done in fifteen minutes you’ll be punished, all five of ya!”

             

Upon hearing this they worked quicker. It was no use though there was so much wood and with only fifteen minutes, in their weakened state, it was impossible.

           

“Times up boys!”

 

They looked over at Rob waiting to hear what their punishment would be.

 

They watched silently as Rob whispered something in Craig and Jack’s ears.

 

It made the five of them sick as the Craig, Jack and Rob, laughed and smiled evilly.

 

After Craig and Jack went in, Charlie and another large man, Chris came out. Both, once again carrying guns.

 

Rob, Charlie and Chris ordered them inside. Tying up their wrists behind their backs. They walked inside the very large broken-down house. Instead of going down stairs they walked up several flights. Leading up to an attic. Rob and Craig stood in the room, their backs turned. Rob slammed the door shut. Brian, Howie, A.J., Nick, and Kevin watched nervously as Craig turned around, a whip in his hands. Causing all five Backstreet boys to gasp.