Chapter
4
"HOWIE!
AJ!" Kevin bellowed."YOU OPEN THIS DOOR NOW!"
Nick wathced nervously as Kevin continued to bang on the door. Neither Howie or
AJ had answered the door yet. Nick knew Kevin was nervous but he was hiding it
with anger.
"GUYS, WE ARE GOING TO BE LATE! OPEN THIS DOOR."
Brian came running towards them producing a card key."I got the spare
key."He panted.
"They better have a good reason for not answering the door."Kevin
growled.
"Maybe something happened?" Nick's fifthteen year old voice was
quiet.
Kevin turned on him. "Nothing happened to those two. Do you hear me?NOTHING!"
Nick cowarded away from Kevin's hard stare. When he was angry he was scary.
Nick hung back after Kevin plowed into Howie and AJ's room.
"Howie? AJ?" Brian took the more calm aproach."Are you guys
okay?"
That's when they noticed AJ still lying in bed. Howie's bed was empty and there
was something unrecognizable on the headboard. Kevin walked up to it. Instantly
his blood went cold.
"What is it?" Brian asked, afraid of the answer.
"Blood."Kevin whispered.
Brian felt his knees go weak.He flopped down on the edge of AJ's bed. He
groaned and rolled over.
"Brian?" He rasped. His voice was weak.
"Aje?"Brian was worried by the weakness in his voice."You okay
buddy?"
"No"He whispered."My head hurts real bad."
"Hang over?"Kevin interrupted eyeing the empty beer bottle on the
night stand.
"No.I only had one-AHHHH!"
Kevin jumped when AJ screamed out in pain.He watched as his eyes rolled back in
his head and his whole body stiffened. Convulsions began to rack AJ's small
frame.
"Seziures!" Kevin screamed. "Why on earth is he having
seziures!? Brian, go call for help!"
Without anymore questions Brian bolted past a terrorfied Nick. Nick looked back
at Kevin but avoided AJ's bed. Finally he managed a quick glance at his
convulsing body. He gasped in horror.
"He's bleeding!" He shouted at Kevin.
"Oh god!" He screamed."He bit his toungue! Nick, go get a
towel."
Nick ran and grabbed a towel from the bathroom. By the time he got back AJ's
seziure had stopped. Kevin ignored Nick when he stuck the towel in his face. He
was focused on getting AJ to respond but having no luck.
Brian came running back into the room.He had to take a few seconds before he
caught his breath.
"Ten minutes." He panted. "They are going to be here in ten
minutes."
"Good." Kevin sighed."Come on AJ, buddy. Answer me little
guy."
He still got no response. Sagging in defeat, Kevin slumped to the floor.
"What's that?" Nick suddenly asked.
Kevin followed Nick's gaze to the envolpe that laid on Howie's pillow. Brian
held his breath when his cousin reached for it. Opening it they found the same
picture was in it as the night before.
To their horror Howie's face had a large 'X' scratched on it. This time AJ's
face had a deep circle scratched around it. A message was scrawled on the back.
Kevin read it to the three of them.
"One down, four to go.
Who is next? You already know.
Will he die within our hands?
Or will he be safe from angry fans?"
Brian looked at Kevin for reassurance, but Kevin looked just as stunned as
he felt. Nick had tears forming in his eyes and his attempts to hide them were
proving futile. Brian glanced back at Kevin.
"Does that mean Howie's dea-"
"NO!" Kevin stated, startling Brain with his loud interruption.
"Howie is not dead and AJ will be fine!"
As if to inforce Kevin's words, the wail of the approaching siren filled the
quiet hotel room. The boys sat in silence for the paramedics to come and help
AJ.
Kevin clutched the picture tight. He would find whoever took Howie and make
them pay. No one would hurt his friends.
***
