Once school was over, Viktor drove Amelia back home. Bean was in the backseat of the turquoise truck. "I'll go check out his friend's places, alright? And I'll be back with Camilo before you know it." Viktor assured his little sister. He still assumed there was no reason to worry. Amelia watched Bean climb into the front passenger's seat, and then the boys were off.

"Alright, the first stop is Ludwig's place." Viktor explained, and took the road he knew was quickest. He didn't believe his sister, of course, but... getting his brother back as quickly as possible would still be really nice. Soon after, the boys parked in front of a small bungalow with a worn-down fence. Viktor stepped out of the truck, and stepped along the ruined cement path toward the house. This place had history. The shutters were scratched up, with some splatters of a strange color Viktor couldn't describe. The door had been carved with multiple knives. The doormat smelled permanently like urine. Even so, it was homey to those who dwelled within.

Viktor drew in a deep breath. His eyes focused on the door. What if his brother wasn't here? That off-chance sent a chill down his spine. The faintest breeze could've lifted him up and away from the earth, or so it felt. It shouldn't have taken courage to knock on the door, but it felt like it did. Viktor considered himself brave, and knocked.

"Ludwig? It's Camilo's brother." He called at the solid block of wood in front of him. There wasn't any answer other than the thunderous shouts of angry dogs, coming at him in waves. They were ready to take down and maul any intruder on their property.

Moments later, there was a man shouting, and then a bearded face emerged from a crack in the door. "Yeah?" He asked. There was no malice, no upset, just confusion. "Hey dude. Is Camilo here? We figured he came here last night." Viktor asked. A polite smile choked down his insecurities. Speaking with adults by oneself was still nerve-wracking, even though he was seventeen. But hey, that was part of being a man. At least he'd seen this dude a few times before.

"No? He never called, texted, or showed up. Sorry, man." Ludwig's nonchalant words sent a bullet of fear through Viktor's chest. His heart picked up its pace. That pill was hard to swallow. Where else could his brother have gone? Ludwig was his pal. "I'll help you guys look for him if you want. I've got work, but I'll keep you posted if I see him. Later." Ludwig shrugged, and closed the door. He didn't appear too adamant about helping.

Viktor faced the truck again, but it felt like cement weighed his feet down. How timely, his breath had left his lungs, so it felt like he was going to drown. Fear was a blanket shoved down his throat, blocking his esophagus, and never allowing a squeak to be released.

From the truck, Bean noticed his friend's color flush from his face, and rolled down the window. "Vik! C'mon, man. We'll find him! He has another friend, right? That one woman who works at the pound?" Bean asked in a friendly tone. "I bet he's there, catching up and preparing a pup for Amelia's birthday later! She always wanted one of the little fluffy ones, right?" Bean suggested. He didn't really believe it. But as long as hope was alive, fear couldn't crush anybody. He refused to allow it to crush the radiant boy standing outside the truck.

Viktor's breath immediately returned to his lungs. He soaked in a gasp, standing long enough to allow dizziness to fade away. He hated it when Amelia was right about horrible things. "Yeah, dude. The pound it is! Here we come." He announced, and trotted to the truck. He hopped in, and moments later, the tires screeched on the road.

"Vik, you're speeding." Bean noted once they reached the highway, anxiety causing sweat to trickle down his face. "Tsk, you're paranoid." Viktor answered, then glanced down at his speedometer. Yeah, he was going sixty in a fifty. Whoopsy-daisy, big deal. Family emergency.

Fortunately for Bean's nerves, they took an exit not far from where they were now. Viktor entered the small parking lot of the pound, and hopped out of the car without even parking properly. "Hey, I'm looking for a young woman who works here? I think my brother might be here visiting her?" He asked the worker sweeping by the door. The stranger perked up, and looked around the room. "Well, Cindy and Maria are taking care of the new arrivals. Beatrice is cleaning up the bombs out back for service hours. Kat's working in euthanization right now," The man's face scrunched up as he tried to think of anyone else. "Kat. That's her. Thanks!" Viktor turned tail and sped off in the direction of the room of death. A young woman had just finished wrapping a small animal of some sort in a bag when Viktor busted in. "I'm sorry sir, but you can't just barge in here an-"

"I'm Camilo's brother. I know you're friends with him. Please tell me you've seen him around? At work? At home? At the store?" Viktor asked, his final hope gleaming in his bright eyes. The woman shook her head, and frowned at him. "Sorry, kiddo. Camilo and I haven't even spoken in three weeks. He's been ignoring me since I said I couldn't hold onto a dying dog and wait for him to come pick it up." She explained quietly. That tiny fire in Viktor's eye burned out. Her words were a pouring rain on the flame of his hope. And fear was the thunder and lightning to crash down after the storm had destroyed what used to be serenity.

"Thanks anyway." Viktor muttered. He turned, and dragged himself out the door. Once inside the truck, he just sat there, and stared at the wheel. "Vik?" Bean asked, and stretched a hand out toward him. "You okay, man?" His tone was cautious. Tentatively, he rested his palm on his friend's shoulder. It was the most physical comfort he'd provide. "He's gone. Disappeared." Viktor whispered, and lifted his head. His eyes were overcome, and already reddened. "I'll drive, we can take you home. I have my permit." Bean offered.

He was both trying to help clear his friend's mind, and also scared of driving with someone who was heavily distracted by internal emotions. "No. This is my brother's truck. I'm driving it." Viktor grumbled in response. At least now he buckled up, and drove. He was much slower now. Moseying along. It seemed dangerous. To an officer, he may have appeared high on the road. Fortunately, however, the boys weren't pulled over.

They arrived home just in time to see Amelia running out into the front lawn. And when they stepped out without Camilo, they were just in time to see the terror emanating across her face, and her own light fading away into the shadows of destruction. It seemed nobody had a head on their shoulders yet. Silent screams reflected between the brother and sister. Screams of pain, and of terror. The silence was more deafening than real screams would've been.

(Looking back at this stuff so far, I'm glad my writing has developed so far [this is an old-ish story. I won't officially publish it, and hence, it is being published here]. I must apologize to you for all the extra adjectives and run-on sentences everywhere. Thanks for reading anyway, and have a blessed day!)