Chapter 13 To Hell and Back

Entering the hospital room, Julianna and Marcus were shocked to find it empty. No one was in there. No doctors. No nurses. No Joshua. It was impossible for him to have left without changing into his clothes and being discharged first. Both thought it was strange.

"Where is he Marcus?" Julianna questioned as if expecting him to have all the answers, which he didn't.

"I don't know Julie." He replied, searching his head for an explanation though he knew it was useless because he knew that he would never be able to come up with one.

"You may not....... but I do." A familiar voice spoke from the door way.

Turning around, Marcus almost passed out with relief when it turned out that it was just Eric. He had to admit, he hadn't been feeling too great himself since the conversation with his parents. It was just lucky that he hadn't fallen ill and hopefully he wouldn't.

"What are you doing here? And tell us where he is!" He demanded. Partly because he was shocked to see his half brother again, but also because of the rage that was growing inside him. Rage that was the size of a beast that was ready to attack. Anyone who dared to annoy him would be lucky if he didn't rip their head off.

"Relax brother. I didn't do anything. As for your buddy.... Joshua was it? The shadows have him. They took him and pulled him through to their realm..... oh and before you ask how I know,? let's just say I'm linked to them by a curse that was placed on me by my ex girlfriend who was a witch, meaning I can sense their every move. Feel their every kill. It's truly disturbing." Eric explained, making direct eye contact with Marcus, who was still and silent trying to process what was just said.

It couldn't have come at a worse time either. His head was overloaded as it was and this would most likely be the cherry on top. A rather sour cherry at that.

"Wait... what does he mean by brother?" Julianna asked turning her attention back to Marcus. It was the first she had heard of a brother.

Was he really going to start withholding secrets now that they were just starting to get into something?

"Of all the questions that's the one you choose." Eric half mocked, a slightly cocky smile on his face. He wasn't enjoying their misfortune, but he couldn't help but chuckle at the melodrama. After all, it was only a few years ago that he, himself had been so dramatic. Their communication here stirred treasured memories to the surface of his mind.

"I wasn't asking you!" She snapped in annoyance, giving Eric the dirtiest look she could manage. There was something about the older boy that made her not so fond of him.

"Either way, Marcus here is my brother.... half brother. He didn't know until recently. Anyhow..." Eric explained before the raven haired boy could even get a word out.

Marcus and Julianna looked at each other, both thinking the same thing. This guy sure could be annoying.

"Enough!" Marcus finally interrupted, speaking for the first time since the information they had been given, "Just tell us how we can get Joshua back." He demanded, growing wild with rage.

"He and our sister Layla, are in the Shadow Realm. Though as a living being, to get there, you have die, unless like those two, you get dragged there by one of them." He said, taking a step so he was inside the room.

"But..." Marcus began but was shushed by Eric, who continued to explain.

"You have to die a temporary death. Be in limbo. Like Joshua was. When you're in limbo, you're taken to the Shadow Realm, but you will only have a limited time to get them and get out." Eric finished.

"Wait... how did they end up with Layla?" Marcus asked, a horrible feeling forming in his stomach.

"Our wicked father didn't really send her to grandma's. In fact, when I arrived, he was in the middle of throwing her in your basement." Eric replied, confirming Marcus's horrible feeling.

"You mean she.... she's d.." He tried forming the words, but he just couldn't. There was so much rage inside him and that last blow was the final straw. The rage was just about ready to explode out of him. Eric was in the middle of telling them to go back to his cabin so they could make a plan when Marcus stormed out of the room. Outside in the hospital car park, he was alone. Finally he could release his rage. With every ounce of strength and emotion in his body, his fist came flying into the brick wall beside him.