A.N. Oops. I forgot this... Went to do chapter 4, and found that I hadn't uploaded this yet. Expect 4 later today if I get really bored, or some time in the net few days. Proof reading is annoying.
Sorry!
Some dodgey accentless-foriegn names, but nothing worse than that... This chapter. Next includes a small amount of blood... Reasonably large amounts of blood... Um... Yeah... And, it's sort of sort.
Oh! And if anyone knows the TIME that Austro-Hungary declared war on Serbia (as in, hours and minutes), the information would be gratefully recieved.
Thanks.
Chapter 3 - In Which We Watch The Characters Attempt To Keep Calm And Carry On
At 0600 hours, M115227 will awaken again. He will wash and dress, then make his way to the dining area. However, he will pause as he collects his designated dish. He will look at the server - Ch359087 will be back from his illness.
Artur will remember Aelfred's game. "Francoise," he will mutter under his breath, naming the other. He will not know why he chooses this name, only that it matches the way the other walks.
He will drink his coffee and eat his dish in silence, although his nose will wrinkle as he eats.
At 0632, he will leave his designated building.
"'Morning Artur!" Aelfred will call as he passes them, and the other children will turn to look, "good morning Aelfred. I am continuing to work, but I may speak to you this evening."
Aelfred laughed at the response, before turning to where one of the other boys had collected and bought forth food. Artur continued to the grey building in which he worked, and unlocked thde door.
At 0700, Artur will be ready to begin the day's work.
At 1159, he will go for lunch. He will eat stewed cabbage and mustard seeds, and he will not enjoy it.
He will continue to do more work, fixing engines and turbines and hulls. Then, to his block for dinner. He will bore, for the first time in his life, and he will have to work hard not to spit out his coffee.
And, at 2000 hours, he will go to bed.
Two days passed with neither response nor change. Fel and Lud barely saw the Count as they went about their duties. However, they often heard him on the piano. He would begin the same piece every time, but never finish it.
It was at 0902 that the doorbell rang. Fel was busy cleaning the hallway, so Lud went to the door.
"Guten Morgen?" The child opened it, peering up at the hooded figure infront of him.
"Mister Ardeleanu asked us to come ahead of him," the man's German left a lot to be desired, having a thick accent.
"I will find the Count for you."
The hooded figure waited on the doorstep until Roderick arrived.
"I need you to find my wife," was what he said to the cloaked man.
"I know; show me," came the reply.
At 1000 the strange man was led to the bedroom. The two children followed, and the room had obviously not been touched the past two days.
The hooded man moved straight to where the Countess had disappeared from, and screamed.
At 1037 he stopped screaming, and turned to the Count, "you ask the impossible of me."
The hooded man stormed away. Roderick sighed, but ignored the questions of his servants as he left the room once more.
This continued for just under a month, with strange men and women appearing. Not all screamed - some chanted or shouted - but all replied that the request was impossible.
Then, at 0530 hours on 28th July 1914, two men appeared on his doorstep. One ash blonde, and the other strawberry.
"Good afternoon," the strawberry blonde was the more vocal of the two, "you requested some assistance?"
