Ashford P. O. V

“Brother, are you in there?” I called out, knocking on the door again.

No response

I sighed, leaning against the wooden frame. “Brother, if you can hear me, please say something”.

Silence.

I frowned, my anxiety growing. “Brother, you've been locked up in your room for days now. Everyone's worried about you. Please open up”.

More silence.

I jiggled the handle, but it was locked, of course. Ryan had always been one to isolate himself when things got tough… and sometimes, I just wished he acted a little less like himself.

“If you don't open the door this instant, then I'm going to break it down...