I have a wonderful little brother. His name is Josh,

and he is the best brother in the world. We play games together, sleep in the same room, have occasional fights. Heck, we do everything together.

Josh is only two years younger then me, making him 12. I do have an older sister who is 22, who is eight years older then me and ten years older then Josh. My sister and I have never bonded like me and Josh have, probably since we’re both boys.

It was a Tuesday night, 6:00, and I was sitting in my room playing on my phone. I heard my door open slightly, and I could feel this person was taking a quick breath of air.

“Peter, where’s Josh?” My mom asked me.

“I thought he was over at Jacobs house,” I answered.

“I called his mother and she said Josh never showed up,” Mom said. “Peter, I’m worried.”

“Don’t panic yet Mom, I’ll just text him real quick,” I told her. I grabbed my phone and went to my messages. I went over to Josh’s number and texted him, Where are you?

“He should be responding any minute now,” I reassured my mother. “He always answers my texts.”

I looked at my message, and noticed it had been delivered. I waited for a couple more seconds. Nothing.

“Has he answered you yet?” Mom asked me, with worry in her voice.

“Not yet. Maybe he’s just thinking of something to say,” I said. I didn’t admit it, but I was slowly becoming worried. This isn’t like Josh. He always answers my texts!

“I’m going to call the cops!” Mom yelled.

“Hold your horses, Mom! Give him time to answer me!” I told her.

She walked back in my room, and sit on my bed. She looked frantic, trying to calm herself now but failing.

Finally, I seen where Josh had read my message. “He read it!”

“Oh thank goodness!” Mom yelled, standing up and clapping her hands.

“He’s typing! Let’s see, he says,” I started. “Don’t worry I’m fine. I’ll be at the house in a couple minutes. Thankfully I lost him.”

“Who’s him?” Mom asked.

“I’m not sure,” I said. “I’ll wait and ask him when he gets home. He said he’ll be here in a minute or so.”

“I guess I better continue with the dishes,” Mom sighed. “It would be nice if you kids helped!”

“I’m a teen Mom, not a kid,” I replied.

“Your still my sweet little Peter,” Mom smiled. She exited my room, and I followed her. I went to the living room, and sit at the seat where I could see the door. Again, I waited. Still, Josh wasn’t home.

Now it was 6:37, and Mom had finished the dishes and swept the kitchen floor. She was starting to get worried once more.

“Did he text you again?” Mom asked.

“Nope, nothing.”

“What should we do?” Mom questioned.

Suddenly, the door burst open, and there was a dirty and sweaty Josh. His pants had rips all over and his hair was all ruffled. He had bruises covering his left arm, and some type of wound on his right. He was huffing and puffing like crazy, like he had seen a frightening sight.

“Oh my baby!” Mom yelled. She ran right to him and gave him a hug.

“Dude, where the heck were you?!” I asked him.

Josh, being at that age, was somewhere between his grown up voice and his baby voice. I’d always tease him about him sounding like a mouse squeaking. That night though, it was different. More, manly.

“He was following me, and I couldn’t shake him off me! Finally, he left. I made a mad dash to here, never looking back,” Josh cried.

“You should’ve came right home, then we would’ve called the police,” Mom told him.

“I didn’t want to put you two in danger, especially with Dad on his business trip,” Josh said.

“Well I don’t care what you say, I’m still going to call the police!” Mom said. She walked into the kitchen to get the phone.

“I think tomorrow we need to ride the bus to and fro from school,” I told my little brother.

“Smart thinking,” Josh said.

Read Part 2 to find out what happens!