A Thin Line Between Love & Hate (Love Conquers All series) ORIGINAL VERSION

Chapter 25: "Brotherly Love"

Uriah didn't come out of his room all evening. When everyone was gone to bed and the house was quiet, Josh slipped from his room and tiptoed into the kitchen. He quietly gathered some leftovers and made a sandwich, put it on a plate, and crept down the hall to Uriah's room. Nervousness knotted his gut as he glanced toward his parents' room at the end of the hallway. Had his father told Uriah he couldn't have dinner? Or did Uriah just not want to eat? If it had been his father's decision, he would get in trouble if caught bringing him food. But Josh had gone to bed hungry before and it was miserable having to wait till morning to eat.

He knocked lightly on the door. "Uriah?" he whispered. "Are you awake? I...I made you a sandwich, if you're hungry?" No one answered him, just silence. He leaned closer to the door, a knot forming in his throat. "Are you okay?" His vision blurred and he touched his brow to the door. "I hope you're okay."

"Joshua."

"Huh?" Josh jumped and almost dropped the plate. His dad seemed to appear in the hallway out of nowhere. He swallowed and the plate trembled in his hand.

"What are you doing?"

"I..." Josh glanced at the bedroom. "I-I thought Uriah might be hungry since he didn't have dinner."

"Uriah is fasting until morning," he said stiffly. "He isn't allowed food or drink until dawn."

Josh frowned in confusion. "But...but why?"

The cold look that came into father's eyes made Josh realize his mistake. To his shock, though, the man answered. "He is purifying his soul. Now, don't question me any further. This is not your business."

Josh wanted to ask why Uriah needed to "purify" his soul—what had he done wrong?—but he kept silent.

"Put the sandwich away and go to bed," his father ordered. "Don't let me catch you back here tonight."

"Yes, sir," Josh mumbled and returned to the kitchen. He wrapped the sandwich in tin foil, put it in the fridge, then went back to his room.

Sleep wouldn't come as his mind remained on Uriah. What could he have done that would require purification of his soul? Uriah did everything their father told him. He was practically an extension of Abraham Waylon. He would never step out of line. Not Uriah.

Not everything is as it appears.

Josh trembled. Did this have something to do with what Uriah had said to him last night? What wasn't as it appeared? He didn't know why he felt sad for Uriah, but since he'd spoken to him in the hall the previous night, he saw his brother differently. Before then, he just felt like a clone of their father, seeming to take every opportunity to reprimand Josh...always so harsh and unfeeling. Maybe it was all just...a mask?

Knowing he should stay in bed, and fearing another encounter with his father, Josh nevertheless crept out of his room a second time and moved quietly down the hall to Elijah's room and knocked softly.

He heard Elijah stir then clear his throat. "Yeah?" he mumbled tiredly.

"Can I come in?" Josh whispered through the door.

"Enter."

Josh slipped inside and squinted when Elijah turned on the bedside lamp. "I'm sorry for waking you up."

Elijah rubbed his face and propped on one elbow. "Is something wrong?"

"Can I stay in here for a while?" Josh asked quietly.

"Why?"

"I...I don't know. I just don't feel very good."

"You sick?"