Francis was very angry. His boss was keeping him four whole hours later than he had said. He didn't want to be in Angola, trying to improve diplomatic relations; he wanted to be at home with his husband and his little girl.
Inwardly crying for joy as the meeting was finally dismissed, he shook hands with the others as fast as possible and nearly ran out of the room.
He pulled his phone from his pocket to call Arthur and let him know he would be later than expected to find the device dead.
"Merde," he cursed. "I should have remembered to charge it last night. I hope he will not be too mad at moi. It is not my fault after all."
It was nearly three in the morning when he opened the front door of his and Arthur's quiet home. He slipped his jacket off and hung it on a hook next to the door before tiptoeing his way up the stairs and over to the nursery to check on his daughter.
When he didn't spot her, he shrugged and went across the hall to the bedroom he shared with his husband thinking that the two were in there together.
Silently he made his way into the room and over to the large bed. "Arthur?" he whispered. "Arthur, I am home, cher." Nothing stirred on the bed so he sat on the edge and reached for his husband. Empty sheets met his hand. "Arthur?" He felt around but didn't find another person.
Taking a breath, he slid off the bed and went over to flip on the light switch.
No one was in the bed.
"Maybe they were reading and did not make it to bed," he thought.
He stepped down the hall to the library his beloved spent a great deal of time in.
"Arthur? Mon cher? Are you in here?"
Silence.
The light was turned on but this room was empty too.
Panic started to rise in his chest but he pushed it down saying, "Maybe he had to go somewhere. He probably left a note in the kitchen."
Dashing to the cuisine, he looked around.
No note on the table.
No note on the counter.
No note on the fridge.
"ARTHUR!" he yelled, running through the house. "NOEL!"
He checked every room, every nook and cranny, but not a hair was found of either.
AN: Oh no! Where did Arthur and Noel go? And who was in the room with them? Are they even still alive?
Find out in the next chapter!