On a quiet morning in the great kingdom of Q5U4EX7YY2E9N, the Addison household on Bainau Lane was empty. This alone was not abnormal; the three Addison brothers would likely be out at their jobs, serving as the primary vendors for the Dark World's commodities. As all good Darkners did, they served their Queen with dignity and honor, refusing to tarnish her good (albeit controlling) name with any misfortunes or accidents.

The tea stand, run by Addison Orange, was occupied, and he offered thousands of flavors for only a hundred Dark Dollars. Addison Rose ran the clothing shop, selling the finest apparel west of the Farys Wiil Carnival. Even Addison Gold, who was usually at home, was out in the open peddling for advertisements. But the cobbler's workshop was emptier than the stomach of a famished Darkner.

The dusty streets of Cyber City dirtied the uniform of Addison Blue as he walked along the red carpet road toward Queen's mansion. As the eldest in the family, he was under no obligation to tell his siblings where he was going; together, the four of them raked in more than enough money to keep themselves afloat. But they didn't need to know – not unless Blue wanted them to.

"We should go to one of the banquets at Queen's mansion!" Blue said as he nailed the last leather bolt of a shoe into place. "We should congratulate him on his success."

"Why would we do that?" Gold asked bitterly. "He doesn't need us anymore, remember? He's a big shot now."

Blue looked to Rose, who sighed. "I'm sorry, Blue, but we can't. It might bankrupt us, and..."

He was cut off, choked by tears. Orange rested a hand on his shoulder and avoided eye contact. One by one, Blue's brothers turned away.

Blue knocked on the heavy door to Queen's mansion. The entrance to the palace opened, and a red-suited Swatchling greeted him. "State your business."

Addison Blue swallowed; the Swatchling was almost twice his height. "I'm here to see my brother," he said. "Addison Spamton?"

"Evicted," the Swatchling said, beginning to close the doors.

Blue winced. "Wait! Please, sir. Let me in – I came to help him move – he's lost everything."

The Swatchling eyed him for a long moment. "Fine," he grumbled, opening the door again. "You may help that creature out of our luxurious mansion if it will get him off our backs."

Addison Blue nodded quickly, entering the main room. Inhaling deeply, he took the shortcut to the fourth floor of the mansion, where Spamton would be there in despair. It was strange, really, how far the youngest Addison had fallen after making it so big.

He was just like the rest of them, only a little unlucky. Though his chest stung, Blue knocked on the door. "Spamton? This is Blue. Are you in there?"

No reply. "You can't ignore your favorite brother forever. Open the door."

Silence.

"Where is Gray?" Orange called. "He was supposed to help me with measurements for this new design." He held up a frilly blue gown with white lace at the throat. "It's so small, a child could wear it!"

Blue frowned. It wasn't like Gray to be late for dinner – he wasn't at work, after all. Despite lacking any notable skills, he made more than the other four combined.

Blue sighed. "He's probably on one of his campaigns."

"Figures," Gold chimed in. "Ever since he took that new name, he's not had time for his family anymore."

Rose entered the house and handed Blue a letter, addressed from Spamton G. Spamton to the Addisons.

"Great news, everybody! I've become a ((big shot)) and have moved into Queen's ((mansion))! My ((inventorium)) is filled to the canoodles with ((half-priced sallamy)) and I'm making it ((BIG))!"

Rose whimpered, and Gold snatched the letter from Blue's hand, eyes scanning the page in an instant. Then, without bothering to share it with Orange, he tore the paper in half and left the room.

Blue sank near the door, despair settling in. "We don't have to be enemies," he said softly. "Or even competitors. Come home. You can live with me – the others don't understand, but I do. I'll do my best to take care of you...I'll work even harder so you'll be well-fed. It's okay that...that you couldn't be a big shot."

No answer. Addison Blue's stomach grew cold. It was his fault, wasn't it? His fault Spamton hadn't replied...his fault he abandoned the family...

Blue stood again, clenching his jaw. Finally, he wrapped his hand around the doorknob and turned it, finding it unlocked.

He walked into the dark room. "Spamton?" Blue called, tripping over fancy easels, radios, and even a plate of caviar. "I know you're in here – you can't hide forever. You're getting evicted today."

The silence screamed in his ears. Addison Blue heard a noise – a slow, steady beep. Beep. Beep.

The air grew icy around him.

Eyes bore into his back.

And suddenly, Blue's knees kocked together. He stepped tentatively across the room, searching for the source of the noise.

Every TV flickered on. Snowscreens. A fanged grin stretched across each panel. Blue gasped, trembling, sweat dripping down his cheek. The door slammed behind him.

Then...a child's lullaby.

"Think it's coming for me, answer the phone

Can't wait 'til you're all alone

It pulls the strings and makes them ring.

I'll tell you how much it's ringing...

Think it's coming for me, answer the phone

Can't wait 'til you're all alone."

Blue froze, his mouth emaciated. But the beeping persisted until it was so loud he couldn't focus on anything else – the song, the grimaces, the mysterious demon. Slowly, he stepped across the room and found the receiver. His brother must have been in the middle of a call when he'd left.

Blue swallowed. "Hello?"

He waited in the dark for a voice on the other end. Spamton, the stalker, the smile, anyone.

Yet on the other end, there was nothing but garbage noise.

(1000 words)