Wait to start the song.

This was the first time in Josh's life that his entire family seemed to be waiting for them to get home from school. He led his younger siblings inside, warily eyeing his parents and Abigail where they sat at the kitchen table. His mother's eyes were cast downward, and it was clear she'd been crying, yet she remained silent. Abigail was brushing Batibat's hair calmly. His father smiled at him.

"Just the man we've been waiting for!" He announced when he saw Josh.

Josh and Ash made nervous eye contact as he slowly set his backpack down on one of the dining room chairs. "Am I late, sir?" Josh asked quietly.

They all jumped when his father laughed. "No, son. You're right on time. I'm the one who's late. This should've happened years ago, but I wanted to be sure you were ready," his father told him with a grin.

"Ready for what?" Josh's heart was thudding violently against his ribcage as he tried to keep his hands from shaking. What the hell was happening?

"You turned sixteen months ago, Joshua," his father told him. "You're already three years older than I was, so I figured it's time. Jordan, you'll have the office for your bedroom now. Joshua needs his own."

Josh and Jordan looked anxiously at each other. This had to be something big then. They'd shared a room since Jordan was born. Even though they'd begged for years to have their own rooms, they knew this couldn't be anything good. Something big was happening.

Their father held out a small key to Josh. "In case you choose to use this, it's yours. Your present is in your room."

"Thank you, sir," Josh replied quietly despite not having any idea what was awaiting him in his bedroom.

Picking up his backpack in a shaky hand, Josh awaited dismissal. His mother looked at him sadly, and he wondered why. Fear was stinging at his veins as it dripped into his bloodstream. His father stood and left the house, and Josh knew he'd been dismissed. None of his siblings followed him as he went upstairs. They were scared too. He didn't blame them.

Josh turned the key over in his hand, not knowing what the hell it even unlocked. That is, until he went to open his bedroom door and found that he couldn't. With shaking hands, Josh used the key to unlock his bedroom door. His heart stopped when it opened.

The girl who always tried to get him to talk at school was tied up on his bed, tear tracks visible on her cheeks. How long had she been here? Her mouth was gagged and her wrists and ankles were tied together behind her back. Whoever had brought her in here had left her on her stomach. Her eyes widened when she saw Josh, hiding her face against his duvet.

Quickly, Josh closed his door and locked it behind himself. "Hey, it's okay. I'm not going to hurt you. Shit. I'm sorry."

She flinched when he started to untie her, but relaxed slightly when she realized he wasn't trying to hurt her. She sobbed into the gag once again, looking over her shoulder at Josh. Never in his life had he seen someone look this terrified.

"I'll get you out of here. I promise," Josh whispered to her as he finally freed her legs. "Shit. I told you not to talk to me. Fuck."

The girl tried to say something, but the gag muffled it. Josh hurried to untie that too before going back to her arms. She let out a sob.

"What's happening?" She asked him shakily. Her words were slurred, but Josh attributed that to the gash on her forehead. Mathias was never gentle.

"Mathias took you. He's...he's not a good guy. I'll get you out of here, okay?" Josh told her as he finally freed her arms.

Instantly, she collapsed against the mattress. His stomach lurched. How long had she been tied up like this? Her wrists and ankles were bleeding from struggling against her restraints. It had to have been a while.

"I want to go home," she sobbed out.

Josh nodded, backing away from her. It would only scare her more if he was close to her. How had this happened? Surely this wasn't what he thought it was. Then he saw her arms.

"No no no no," he whispered as he crouched down next to her, picking up the arm he could see. The Satanic cross had been seared into her flesh. He hurried around to her other side. "Fuck. Please no," he sobbed out as he picked that one up too. J.D. She'd been branded.

"What's happening?" She asked again.

Her pupils were blown wide from being hit in the head. "Your arms," he whispered, trying to force his tears to stop.

Looking confused, she lifted her arm and examined his initials. "What is this?" She asked, beginning to tremble.

"Don't freak out...but I think we're married now," Josh said quietly.

As soon as the words left his lips, he knew they were true. It was obvious. Josh should've seen this coming, but he had still been clinging uselessly to the hope that he'd be allowed to choose his spouse.

He'd have picked someone from inside the fence-Someone who was already adjusted to this life. He'd pick Miaya, the girl Lilith was training. Or maybe he'd choose Colin, who was one of the few people in The Family that didn't treat Josh like some sort of royalty. At one point he would've picked Debby, but she was already promised Asag, just like Abigail, so that was unrealistic.

There was no one else. No, this girl was stuck with him. Unless he could convince his dad to take her back, this was his wife. The weight of this responsibility was overbearing, and Josh would give anything to not be in this position. He'd give anything to still be avoiding her at school. She was in danger now though, and it was his responsibility to get her out of it.

-----
Start the song. It's Heavy Games by Portugal, the Man.

Josh was both sweating and shivering when he woke up. He wasn't exactly sure what had pulled him out of his nightmare, but he was glad something had. His bed was empty, and he immediately longed for Tyler to be right here beside him once again. With a shaking hand, he wiped away the sweat on his forehead. His skin was clammy and scorching beneath his hand.

"You have a fever," a voice told him.

He blinked his tired eyes, only now realizing how disoriented he felt. "What?" He asked tiredly.

"A fever, Joshua. Your body temperature is too high. There's an infection in your wrists causing your immune system to work overtime. It's overheating," The voice informed him.

"They won't tell you that here though. They know you already don't trust them. You know what they're doing isn't natural," a second voice added.

Josh's eyes still had yet to adjust to the darkness, and his mind was muddled from the fever. He jumped in fear when someone nudged his side.

"Scoot over," the first voice told him. "We can fix it. Trust us?"

Josh blinked in confusion, his body scooting over to make room for the intruder instinctually. It took a second for his eyes to focus on the face before him as hands touched his face. Tears stung his eyes when he realized who it was.

"Pete?" He asked quietly.

Pete smiled slightly, taking the small bottle the other visitor-Patrick-handed him. "You didn't think I'd abandon you, did you? We're blood brothers. I just didn't know where you were."

"You made it out," Josh whispered as Pete opened the bottle, dipping his fingers into it.

"You really think I'd let Patrick die in there? Hell no. Even inside of the fence, the first rule of marriage was to protect your spouse at all costs. Nobody touches my husband," Pete told Josh, his usual fire still laced into his tone.

Josh glanced at Patrick when he sat down on the edge of the bed, slowly unwrapping Josh's bandage on his right wrist. A solemn expression graced his lips when he saw the row of stitches holding the gash shut. His fingertips slid gently across them, making Josh flinch. Patrick was right. His stitches were inflamed like they had been when he'd first escaped the cult.

"Oh, honey," Patrick said quietly, pulling another bottle out of his pocket and unscrewing the lid. "Don't worry. I can fix you up."

"Thank you," Josh said quietly, almost shivering with relief when Patrick smeared a thick paste on top of his stitches. It was the same one used to heal brandings inside of the fence. It drew the pain out instantly, causing his head to drop forward onto Pete's shoulder.

Pete rubbed his back softly. "I got you, little brother. Don't worry," Pete assured him. "I got you."

"This should draw out the pain and the infection," Patrick explained to Josh quietly. "The fever should leave with the infection, but if not, that oil should at least comfort you until you cool off. Keep your covers on, okay? You're going to have to sweat this out."

Josh nodded, watching as Pete eased the IV out of his hand, which nipped at his skin slightly. His hand itched at the release, but other than that, he was relieved. Having strangers pump mysterious substances into his bloodstream terrified him, even if Tyler said it was okay.

The bandage was removed from his other hand just as carefully as the first. Pete kissed Josh's sweaty forehead softly, soothing his fingers through his tangled pink hair. "What the hell did you do to your head?"

Hearing Pete's usual banter calmed Josh more than anything else had since leaving the cult. His best friend was back. Even if he'd been hesitant to fully trust the older boy inside of the fence, he needed him. He was family, and that was rare for Josh nowadays. He'd take whatever he could get in that department.

"It looks great," Patrick assured Josh. "What I'm more concerned about is that you used a knife used to slaughter goats to make these cuts."

"How did you-" Josh began.

"The news," Pete interrupted. "We have to watch that now. It's not really safe not to."

Once again, Josh was confused. "The Family is gone. We're always safe now."

Pete smiled. "You need to go back to school as soon as possible, okay? Same school as before."

"But-"

"It's important, Joshua," Patrick assured him distractedly as he smeared the paste onto his stitches. "Trust us."

As much as it scared him, Josh nodded. "Okay. I just...they're going to kill me."

Pete rolled his eyes. "Dallon will protect you. He always does. You're his favourite. Tyler will too. Congrats on the baby, by the way."

The mention of JJ made Josh smile. "Thanks. How did you know about him?"

"She went to school knocked up, Joshua. I know people. They saw her, and kept an eye out for her until it was born. Him? He's a boy?" Pete grinned.

Josh nodded proudly. "She named him after me."

"Wow! Congratulations," Patrick replied with a grin before wrapping the bandages around his wrists again. "Okay. You should be healed up and ready to go home by morning. This stuff works fast, but you knew that. Get some rest, and get back to school."

"Okay," Josh yawned out, too exhausted to ask for justification. He relaxed against the pillow again. Only one more question was burning his mind. "How did you get in here?"

Pete laughed. "What makes you so sure we're really here, fever boy?"

Josh's eyebrows drew together in confusion. "I can see you."

Pete grinned. "You're the prophet, Joshua. I don't have to be in the same room as you for you to see me. Satan will bring you whatever help you need in any way possible. Get some rest. Big things are coming."

"But-"

"Goodnight, Joshua," Patrick said quietly, pressing a kiss to each of the bandages on Josh's wrists before standing up from the bed. "Be brave."

"You're leaving?" Josh asked, hearing his heart monitor speed up beside him.

"You'll see us again soon," Pete promised.

Josh's heart rate was going crazy. "When? How will I find you? Pete, you can't leave. I need you. Everything is so confusing out here and I-"

"Follow the shadows," Pete told him simply. "We were built to find our way in the dark. You'll understand, Joshua. I promise. Good luck at school."

"Pete," Josh sobbed out as Pete opened the door to his room, holding it open as Patrick disappeared through the doorframe. "Pete, please don't leave me again."

The door thudded shut behind Pete, and Josh hurried out of his bed, yanking the wires connecting the heart monitor to him off of his skin. He didn't register the pain as he ran to the door, pulling it open. The hallway was empty. A sinking feeling formed in the pit of Josh's stomach.

His father's voice whispered in the back of his mind, "Congratulations, Joshua. The Family is yours."

His fear paralyzed him, keeping him from fighting back when a nurse came in, leading him back to his bed. He was shaking, staring at the door with wide eyes. Pete had been here, hadn't he? The fever wouldn't bring Pete back just to take him away, would it? No, it had all been so real, hadn't it? Josh felt like he was going to throw up, but he couldn't stop rambling, begging the nurse to tell him where Pete was.

"There's no one here, Joshua. You're safe," she assured him repeatedly as she guided him back into the bed.

Josh shook his head adamantly. "No, he was here. I saw him. Patrick too. They were here. They fixed my wrists. I saw them. Where are they?" His words were panicky and jumbled.

The nurse pushed a red button beside the bed as she continued to speak to him in a gentle voice. "You're safe. Just breathe. Did you pull out your IV?"

"Pete did. It's not natural. He said-"

The nurse stuck the needle back into his hand. "You've gotta keep it in. Your body is very dehydrated."

"No. I don't know what's in there. I have to go find him. Where is he?" Josh's mind was spinning as his father's voice echoed in his ears over and over.

More nurses came in along with Josh's mother. She looked exhausted. "Joshua? Honey, breathe. It's okay. They're not going to hurt you."

A sob tore through Josh's chest. "He was here, Mama. I saw him."

Mrs. Dun's expression softened. Ignoring the nurses who warned her to keep her distance, she sat down on the bed beside Josh. She held his cheeks softly in her hands. "You've got a fever, baby. That can affect your thoughts. I believe that you saw Pete. I do. I just know that fevers play tricks. You saw a lot of things after you swallowed mistletoe too."

Josh sobbed again as he allowed his mother to collect him into her arms. "I want to go home," he whimpered out.

"Soon, okay?" Mrs. Dun said said, holding him tightly.

"No. Not that home. I want to go home. I want Pete and Patrick and Dad and Lilith and my own bed. This isn't working. I'm not...I hate it out here. I want to go home," Josh told her, sobs breaking his words apart in places.

The nurses in the room were silent as Mrs. Dun hushed Josh. Mrs. Dun kissed the top of Josh's head. "Call Tyler. I'm sure he can help remind you of why you don't want to be living inside of that fence."

Josh's eyelids fell shut with exhaustion, but his mind was reeling. Pete had been here. He'd been in this room. Bringing Tyler here wouldn't change that. It wouldn't take away the homesickness clawing at his insides. It definitely wouldn't make him want to stay outside of the fence. He'd wound up in this terrible place less than twenty-four hours after getting Tyler back.

No, there was one person who could make Josh want to stay out. There was one person who could prove to him that there was hope for him outside of the fence, and Josh needed that comfort more than anything.

He swallowed down the lump in his throat and nodded.

"Okay," he told his mom.

She nodded, kissing his forehead once again before standing. "I love you."

"I love you too," he replied quietly.

Mrs. Dun led the baffled nurses out of the room, not allowing them to stay any longer. Josh picked his phone up off of the tray by his bed, calling the number of the person he needed the most although the clock on his phone said it was past two in the morning. After a few rings, she picked up.

"Josh! For fuck's sake. You scared the shit out of me. Are you okay? What's going on? Do you-"

"Hayley, I need your help," Josh said quietly, hating saying those words out loud.

Hayley paused on the other line for a moment. "I'm here. Anything you need."

Josh chewed at the nail on his thumb as tears burned his eyes again. "I know it's really late and you're probably mad at me and you don't really know me and visiting hours are over but is there any way you could like...come here?"

He was surprised when he heard Hayley laugh. "Josh, I already have one shoe on. I was coming whether you asked me to or not. I'm your best friend, remember? We don't have to be sleeping together for me to give a shit about you. Text me your room number."

Relief washed over him, yet at the same time, he found himself realizing that he wasn't surprised by her response. Of course she wouldn't hesitate to come. She'd seen him in this situation before, but there'd been no hospital last time. She'd stitched him up herself. Regardless of how their friendship came to be, she really was his best friend.

"Hayley?" Josh asked quietly.

"What's up?" She asked, and he heard her keys jingling in the background.

"I wish I'd known you sooner," he told her honestly.

Hayley sighed. "What matters is that you're stuck with me now. Even if you try to push me away, I'll fight back. I love you, but like, not in the way you love Tyler. I'd say like a brother, but we've had sex, so that's weird."

A chuckle escaped Josh as he buried his face in his free hand. "I love you too. Be fast, okay? I think I'm losing my mind here."

"Can't lose what you never had, sweetheart. I'll be there in five. I'm bringing video games. Nothing bloody or whatever. It's just Donkey Kong," Hayley told him.

"What's a Donkey Kong?" Josh asked.

He heard Hayley laugh. "Oh, Joshua. It's so cute when you're clueless. It's got monkeys. You'll love it."

"What's a monkey?" Josh asked curiously.

"I'm hanging up on you," Hayley told him, and he could hear the smirk in her voice. "I'll be there in a minute though to kick your ass in Donkey Kong and to educate you on the cutest animal in existence."

"Thank you," Josh told her, and he really meant it. He'd never had anyone willing to drop everything and help like this without even asking why. Hayley was unreal.

"Don't thank me yet. Thank me after I've stopped to buy you chicken nuggets."

Josh couldn't fight the smile that tugged at his lips. "Now I really love you."

"Yeah, well, I have a girlfriend now and you're married to two people, so let's not get ahead of ourselves," Hayley replied.

"A girlfriend?" Josh asked with a smirk. "Did she grow up in a Satanic cult too?"

Hayley snickered. "I hate you. I'll tell you about her when I get there."

"Love you too. See ya."