***Hey everyone! Here's the next update! Hope you enjoy! Special thanks to my beta for her hard work! Reviews are always welcomed, please!

***Warnings: Language, murder, character death, angst

***Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia. I am making no money off of this fic.

'There is no death. There is only a transition to a different sphere of consciousness.'

-Poltergeist

Chapter 4: Redrum

Once they picked up Arthur, Alfred couldn't help but take a few questioning glances at the new man in the backseat. First there was a ghost, and now there was some English goth-guy Euro-trash in his car. He was expecting his car to suddenly turn into a large pumpkin. This case was becoming more like an episode of Scooby-Doo every second. The snow wasn't letting up and he had to slow down, but once they got on the highway it was easier to travel at a decent speed. "So what's the plan once we get to the building?" He asked Ludwig.

Ludwig was staring at the screen on his phone with Feliciano's number above a text message box. The curser kept blinking, waiting for something to be typed. He never looked up from the screen as he answered. "We have to get to room 4B. Your badge will help us to get in past the police and news crews. Arthur will help us contact Ivan's spirit so we can speak to him. Hopefully."

"And Gilbert?" Alfred jutted his thumb to the ghost.

"With any luck, he'll be able to speak to Ivan once we're there." Ludwig turned to meet Arthur's gaze. "Can you help at all with that?"

"I'll try. Like I said, there is other magic involved." Arthur reminded them. "And since when could Inspector Gadget here see Gilbert?" He pointed to Alfred.

Alfred growled. "If it wasn't so snowy out I'd turn around and slap that punk makeup right off you! I didn't ASK to see a ghost! It just happened!"

"Can you hear him speak?" Ludwig asked Alfred. "Or just see him."

'Hello Alfred. Can you hear me?' Gilbert spoke but Alfred didn't respond to it.

"I can't hear him saying anything."

"Look, just focus on the road." Arthur said, pushing through the space between the front seats. "We'll figure everything out once we get there, and for God's sake, Ludwig, just text the guy already!"

Ludwig fumbled with his phone, surprised once again by Arthur's ability to know what he was doing.

'Arthur's right,' Gilbert whispered to Ludwig from over the seat. 'Feliciano's in a dangerous situation right now, if your suspicion is true. You don't want it to be too late. Living with guilt will eat you alive. Don't live your life regretting what you didn't do. You have the chance so do it now.'

"I…I don't…" Ludwig's hand shook with the phone. "I don't know how."

Gilbert smiled at him through the mirror. 'You're helping me, so I'll help you. Just tell him you're sorry and that you want to talk in private when you get a chance. That's all.'

"Do you think that will work?" Ludwig's thumb started typing out 'I'm sorry'.

'I met him for a short bit and he's an open book. Trust me. He still carries a torch for you.' Gilbert smiled as Ludwig wrote out the text. 'He'll dump that doctor once he knows you still care for him.' Ludwig suddenly deleted the message and slammed the phone shut. 'What the hell?'

"No! I can't send it!" Ludwig gripped the phone tightly, refusing to meet anyone's glances.

'Why the hell not?' Gilbert was growing annoyed with him. 'Why can't you tell him how you feel?'

"Because if I do then Feliciano may end up the same way as you!" Ludwig hollered, startling everyone in the car. He lowered his voice quickly. "If he knows I still care for him…then he might try to leave Terrance, which can make Terrance angry. Perhaps you were ready to leave him as well-"

Arthur interrupted. "And Terrance got jealous and killed you so Ivan couldn't have you. That sounds logical to me. You're doing the right thing, Ludwig. Say nothing to him yet until we know more about Terrance."

The rest of the drive was in silence.

When they arrived at the apartment building, many of the news vans and crews had left due to the heavy falling snow. The windows were fogged and frosted over, making whatever image of Ivan there was impossible to see. Alfred flashed his badge to the policeman in charge, gaining them entrance into the building after barreling through news crews and reporters. Immediately, the landlord stopped them as he was coming down the stairs leading to the other floors.

"Why are you here again?" He said to Ludwig in particular.

"To see the ghost in the room 4B." Arthur answered him. "So let us see the room, please."

"I think not." Roger sneered. "Sorry, but I'm in no mood for your snooping around! I'm losing half my tenants and I have police swarming this place! So forgive me if I have a real fucking attitude!"

Alfred flashed his badge. "Detective. Out of our way."

Roger looked at the badge, sneered, then stormed away grumbling under his breath.

Ludwig looked to Gilbert, whose image was beginning to flicker. "Arthur, can you keep Gilbert here for longer? He's fading away!"

"I can't." Arthur answered. "There's different magic at work here. The spiritual barrier will not let Gilbert pass."

Gilbert gave Ludwig a longing look before completely fading away, retreating back into Ludwig's body. Ludwig felt him for only a second before the ghostly presence faded. "Come on, let's not waste time."

Ludwig led them up to the room, which was already open and had a stream of police tape across the entrance. They all stepped over it but saw nothing in the room. Arthur took a deep breath suddenly that startled the other two, especially Alfred, who as already on edge. Ludwig looked over at the warlock who had his eyes closed and his hands crossed over the center of his chest, looking like a corpse but standing up. It was a little unnerving. "What do you feel?" Ludwig asked.

"We have our own Ghost Whisperer." Alfred joked, squashing a roach beneath his shoe.

"Ivan is here." Arthur spoke, opening his eyes. "But he is angry." Green eyes searched the room. "He's angry and confused." He took a few steps further in the room. "There is a barrier…right here." His palm touched the open air. "This barrier was created by another magic, and a darker one at that. I can confirm it now. This barrier is what keeps Gilbert from appearing."

Ludwig stood beside him. "Can you fix it? Or at least…make it easier?" He watched the warlock shuffle through his black checkered messenger bag.

"I think I can make it so that Gilbert can appear in this room, but that's all." Arthur took out a red velvet pouch that contained some different colored chalk.

"Just hurry up, man!" Alfred said, shivering. "This place is freakin' cold and I swear I saw some spider-cockroach hybrid give me the finger!"

Ludwig watched as Arthur crouched on the floor while drawing pagan designs with the chalk. Once the symbols were made, he took out some white sand and sprinkled it around. From his back pocket he pulled out a Zippo lighter.

"Are you going to light the sand stuff on fire?" Alfred asked, suddenly becoming transfixed with the ritual.

"No." Arthur answered flatly while putting a cigarette in his mouth and lighting it. Alfred rolled his eyes. "Now shut up, both of you, and let me concentrate."

Alfred leaned over to whisper in Ludwig's ear. "You owe me much more than Italian dinners."

"I'll buy you an Xbox game after this is over."

He grinned. "Deal!"

Arthur began mouthing some chants with subtle hand movements. Ludwig was expecting the pictures on the floor to start glowing, or for Arthur to begin glowing. But in the end, nothing appeared to have changed, until the movement of something by the window caught their eye. The form, who could only be Ivan, was pacing the window. Slowly, his ghostly body began to take shape, outlining key features to assure them it was indeed Ivan. Ludwig held his breath when Ivan stopped pacing to look at them, remembering what Arthur had said about the ghost being 'angry'. He had seen only one or two horror movies pertaining to ghosts and if he was truly angry, Ludwig was prepared for him to jump at them.

'Ludwig?' Gilbert had suddenly appeared beside him, proving that Arthur's chanting and pictures had worked.

Ludwig couldn't get the words out of his mouth so all he could do was point to where Ivan's form stood. However, Gilbert made no reaction, neither did Ivan. Both ghosts were standing in the same room, yet they still couldn't notice one another? "Gilbert, do you see Ivan over there?"

'Ivan? Ivan's over there?' Gilbert had tears in his eyes as he looked in the direction of the window. 'I…I don't see him!'

'Gilbert?' Ivan looked around at the sound of his lover's voice. 'Gilbert? Where are you?'

Gilbert gasped, hearing the voice. 'Ivan! Ivan, I'm here!'

'Where? I can't see you!'

Ludwig stood watching, heartbroken, as the two ghosts stood no more than a foot apart yet could not see each other, only hear. They tried to find a way, following the other's voice but the barrier continuously kept them apart. Ludwig suddenly thought of Feliciano, how scared and lonely the man would be if he were held back by a spiritual force, unable to see loved ones or rest in peace. The very idea concerned him, for if he was right, Feliciano had Death following him. Ludwig looked to the ghosts again, picturing himself and Feliciano in the same scenario, and wondering how he would feel.

"Gilbert," Arthur started, walking to stand beside him. "Tell Ivan what you wanted to say. Tell him everything now, while we are here. I can't keep this magic up for long, so get in all that you can. Here," Arthur showed him where to stand so that he would be facing Ivan. "You're right in front of him. Go ahead."

Gilbert, with tears pouring down his cheeks, spoke his name softly. 'Ivan?'

'I'm here…where is your hand?'

Gilbert looked to Arthur, who placed his own hand on the barrier wall so that the palm was 'touching' Ivan's. "Right there. Put your hand right here." Arthur smiled as Gilbert's hand went through his own to be pressed against Ivan's.

'I'm right here, Ivan…I can't see you.'

'Just hearing your voice right now is all that I need. I miss you so much.'

Gilbert lowered his head. 'I miss you too. I've been looking for you for so long…I…I have something to tell you.'

'Tell me.'

Gilbert swallowed hard. 'Before I was…murdered…I was trying to get back to you to tell you something. While…while we were together…I was still seeing that doctor…Terrance Weatherwalks.'

Ivan closed his eyes. 'I remember that name now, and his face. I got him away from you.'

'Yes…but I was still…seeing him because I was afraid that…that if I stopped taking all those pills I would revert back to what I was…and I worried that you would hate me. So I had to keep seeing him. I was coming to tell you that I blew it off with him…I…I don't know all the details but…but I was coming to tell you that it was going to be over between the doctor and me. I wanted you to go after him…I wanted you to beat him up or something…I was trying so hard to get to you.' Gilbert wiped away his tears with his other hand. 'Do you hate me for that?'

Ivan shook his head. 'No, I could never hate you, Gilbert. I already had suspicion that you were seeing him. You had to still go to the hospital sometimes. I did that for you. I didn't want you to go, but I knew how much it meant to you and,' he chuckled 'It's very hard for me to tell you 'no'.'

That made Gilbert smile a bit. 'But Ludwig is helping us, and Arthur and Alfred! We have friends, Ivan! I trust Ludwig to figure this out and bring us together!'

"I hate to interrupt," Arthur said "But I have something important to ask Ivan before the magic breaks." He turned to Ivan, who could see him. "That rabbit figurine, the matching one, where is it? What happened to yours?"

'I threw it to the floor when I decided to hang myself.' Ivan replied. 'I couldn't bear to look at it…I was so upset, so angry, that I just…just threw it. I don't know what happened to it.'

Ludwig clenched his fists. "Alfred, come with me. I want you to lean on the landlord Roger. Arthur, stay with Ivan and Gilbert, we won't be long."

Alfred followed quickly behind Ludwig. "Lean on him? What do you think he knows?"

"He knows that Gilbert was with Terrance. He was the one who found Ivan hanging. The figurine was on the floor nearby. Either he picked it up or someone else did! We're going to make him tell us!" He was determined to get everything he could out of that man for it was clear to him that Roger knew more than he was letting on. They found the landlord in one of the sitting rooms at his small desk. "Close the door behind us, Alfred."

Roger stood up from his desk. "What are you doing?"

Ludwig was ready to go over to him but Alfred stopped him. "You're not a cop or a detective. Let me do this." Alfred cracked his knuckles, stormed around the desk to grab Roger by his shirt collar to slam him up against the wall. "Answer this guy's questions or I'll be slappin' handcuffs on you under the suspicion of harboring evidence from the police!"

"Okay! Okay! Don't hurt me! Just don't hurt me!"

"I have just one question for you," started Ludwig. "The rabbit figurine, where is it? Ivan threw it on the floor before he hanged himself. I found a piece of it, the broken ear, but the rest was missing. Where is it? Do you have it?"

"NO! I don't have it! But I…I saw it! I saw it on the floor! I thought it was evidence so I didn't move it!"

"Then who did?" Alfred asked. "The police?"

Roger shook his head. "No. It was that doctor who Gilbert always saw! The doctor took it! Said it was his that they stole!"

Alfred looked back at Ludwig who had grown slightly pale. "We need to go back there."

"Yes. I'll call Feliciano on the way! See if he can find it! I'll go get Gilbert and Arthur!"

Roger fixed his collar once Alfred let him go. "Get Gilbert?" He questioned.

Alfred glared. "He's just overworked. Ignore it."

Upstairs, Arthur was no longer able to hold up the magic and it was beginning to fade away. Gilbert and Ivan were saying their tearful goodbyes.

'You're my snowbunny, Gilbert. I'll never stop loving you.'

'You're my hairy polar bear…and I will see you soon.'

'I want to see you so bad…I want to see your face and that smile.'

'Let's have faith in our friends and we'll be seeing each other soon!'

'I swear it to you, if I can, I will get revenge on that bastard doctor. Leave him to me.'

The magic ended and both Gilbert and Ivan disappeared. Arthur let out a heavy breath, feeling a little weak as Ludwig hurried inside the room.

"Where's Gilbert?"

"The magic wore off." Arthur said, feeling dizzy and lightheaded. He was ready to pass out when Ludwig caught him before he could fall. "That drained me."

Ludwig scooped him up. "You can sleep in the car." He carried Arthur out of the room. "We need to get back to Terrance's house! The landlord said that he's the one who took the figurine!"

Arthur smirked tiredly. "Then we can say our suspicions are right."

They met Alfred in the small lobby ready to leave when the detective held a slightly grave look on his face. "You guys, we have a slight problem." He opened the front door to show that the snow storm had grown worse, forcing the police and news crews to leave. "We can't get anywhere in this snow!"

Ludwig shook his head, putting Arthur down on his feet. "We have to at least try. We have to get to Parkside!"

"No, Ludwig. I think we should wait until most of the storm stops and the plows can get to the streets." Alfred said. "If we get stuck in the snow then that will really mess things up. Parkside is too far away to drive in this."

Ludwig hated to admit it but he knew that Alfred was right. "My apartment is closest. We'll go there."

Ludwig sat by the largest window in the living room staring out at the snow. Alfred was watching the Weather Channel and Arthur was busy in the kitchen making them something to eat. Ludwig hadn't heard from Gilbert since their meeting with Ivan. He could, however, feel Gilbert's emotions within him. Such sorrow and despair was tiring on him, so he could only imagine how it feels to Gilbert. He worried for Feliciano now that he knew Terrance was most likely their culprit. He was so close to ending this that being stuck in this snow storm was threatening to drive him crazy. He was actually getting antsy, and that wasn't like him at all.

"Ludwig," Arthur startled him. "Take your mind off of things. Drink some hot tea and take these." He handed him some sleeping pills.

"I'd rather not. I prefer always having my wits about me."

Arthur shook his head. "You're going to drive yourself nuts. Are you listening to the weather? This storm won't cease until tomorrow evening. Roads are closed, wires are down and emergency vehicles are working overtime. We're pretty much stuck here."

"Damn it!" Ludwig swore.

"Just take the pills and relax. I'll take care of Gilbert and Alfred."

Ludwig took the pills with the herbal tea. "Thank you."

Inside his room, he turned off the lights and laid on his side atop the covers, staring out the window at the raging snow. He still had not heard from Gilbert. Beside him on the end table his phone buzzed twice with a text message. The screen read Feliciano's number. Ludwig read the message. 'Hey. Crazy snow out there!'

Ludwig wasn't sure if he should respond, and that's when Gilbert finally appeared beside him. 'Talk to him, damn it.'

"I don't know what to say." He just typed back, 'Yeah.' It buzzed again and read, 'I miss you'. Ludwig paled.

'I'll tell you what to type.' Gilbert said softly. 'Are you ready?' Ludwig readied his fingers to Swipe the words. 'Tell him, 'I don't really know what to say right now but I have been thinking of you'.'

Ludwig sent it. There was a minute in between the next message. Feliciano's message read, 'I've been thinking about you a lot too! Seeing you recently made me remember just how much I miss you.' Ludwig looked to Gilbert, who smiled.

'Now write back, 'You know I'm not good with words or emotions and I apologize for what happened between us'.' Ludwig sent it.

"He's going to know this isn't me." Ludwig groaned. The phone buzzed.

The message read, 'It's okay. After the snow storm do you want to meet up for some coffee or gelato?'

Ludwig typed his own message this time. 'Yes, I would like that. But don't say anything to Terrance, okay?'

It buzzed back. 'I won't! Lips are sealed!' Another message followed immediately after. 'I love you, Wiggy.'

'He calls you 'Wiggy'?' Gilbert snickered. Ludwig stared at the message. 'You're going to say you love him back, right?' Ludwig swiped the words, 'I know' and sent it. 'Oh for fuck's sake, Ludwig! You're a fucking jerk! Asshole!'

Ludwig wouldn't meet his gaze.

'You selfish bastard! How dare you deny his feelings for you because of your stupid pride or whatever the fuck it is! Right now, you have something that I USED to have! I had someone who loved me! I had someone who I loved back! I've lost Ivan! I can't see him! I'm being tortured emotionally right now because the man I love is no longer with me, and here you are, a selfish bastard, ignoring the one who loves you! I used to be alive! I used to have a body! I used to have my lover beside me! I would let myself burn in Hell five times over to have what you have!' Gilbert was bawling furious tears.

"Gilbert, I'm sorry you feel that way. But this is my life, not yours. I'll take care of my own matters."

'I don't have a life anymore, or did you forget that?'

Ludwig wasn't even thinking when he said those words. "I'm truly sorry. That was wrong of me."

Gilbert crossed his arms, glancing away. 'You never really know what you're missing until you don't have it. You're taking what you have for granted.'

"I know. I said I was sorry." He looked back at his phone and swiped 'goodnight' to Feliciano. The sleeping pills were working their magic so he dressed into his sleepwear. His phone buzzed and the message read, 'Goodnight Ludwig.' He turned to Gilbert while getting into bed. "I'll keep in mind what you said."

'Do that.' Gilbert floated out of the room to join Alfred and Arthur.

"Is Ludwig sleeping?" Arthur asked him.

'Yeah. He pisses me off, though. With the whole Feliciano thing. He still has a chance to hold and kiss Feliciano, while I am kept away from my lover! What doesn't he see? What doesn't he understand?'

Arthur sipped at his tea. "It's hard for him to admit he was wrong. But he's very worried about Feliciano. That's why I gave him the sleeping pills, to calm him down. If he shows Feliciano any interest then we don't know how Terrance would react, if he were to find out. So don't be too hard on him."

Alfred was staring at them. "Dude, it's so weird that I can see you but can't hear you. Arthur, it's like you're talking to yourself!" He snickered.

Arthur glared at him. "No one finds you funny, you git!"

Gilbert ignored their arguing by staring out the window. He thought back to Ivan, closing his eyes and remembering his lover's voice. It had been so long since he had last heard Ivan's voice, and to hear it again only made him ache. They were so close to figuring out his mystery. Soon he can be with Ivan, together forever, and neither one of them will ever be lonely again. But they still had to solve the case. If only he could remember more! He couldn't even picture the doctor's face! Then the idea struck him when he saw Ludwig's laptop. He gasped. 'Arthur! The laptop!'

Arthur put down his teacup. "What about it?"

'Find me a picture of Terrance! Just do it! It has to be on the internet somewhere!'

"I hate computers." Arthur said, getting ready to do it but Alfred jumped in instead.

"Leave it to me!" Alfred opened up the lid and typed in Terrance's name to Google. He clicked on the link for 'Morning Glory Hospital', scrolled to the 'list of doctors', and clicked on the profile. "That's him."

Gilbert looked at the man, in his late forties, early fifties, with very light, almost grayish blonde hair, brown eyes and thin glasses. It took only one look at the man for Gilbert to remember that night; the night of his death.

'It's over between us!' Gilbert shouted at Terrance. 'I'm not going to be your medical toy anymore!'

'Gilbert, you're getting hysterical!' Terrance shouted back. 'I only did what I did because I'm the only one who cares for you!'

'Bullshit! Ivan cares for me! That's REAL love! All my life you've made me believe that you were the only one who loved me but you're nothing but a fucking pedophile! And I was stupid enough to think this was all okay! I know now how you did it! I didn't need all those pills! You were keeping me drugged and hooked on that shit!' He picked up a vase and threw it at Terrance. 'You fucking bastard!' He stormed down the steps with Terry following.

'DON'T YOU LEAVE THIS HOUSE!'

'I'M GOING AWAY FROM YOU! I'M GOING WHERE I AM LOVED BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I DESERVE! JUST WAIT UNTIL IVAN HEARS ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO ME ALL THESE YEARS! YOU'LL END UP IN JAIL, BUT NOT BEFORE HE BASHES YOU FUCKING FACE IN WITH-' he suffered a sudden blow to his cheek by the way of Terrance's fist. He collapsed onto the floor, twitching slightly as he tasted blood in his mouth.

'You still need anger management, Gilbert.' Taunted Terrance. 'You always have such a dirty mouth.'

Gilbert pulled himself away, gaining some distance between the doctor. 'Stay away from me, you dirty fuck!' He could only think of those times in Terry's bed where he had been drugged and raped under the illusion of 'love'. Terrance Weatherwalks played on his insecurities and emotional disability with psychology and drugs to perform all his perverted acts. Gilbert saw through the illusion now; saw through all the smoke and mirrors of Terrance Weatherwalks. All it took was his beloved Ivan to show him what real love and acceptance was, and he found it in Ivan's arms. 'I'll be free of you soon.'

'Free to run off back to your Ivan? You're a very sick boy, Gilbert. I can't let you leave this house.'

Gilbert got up and ran, trying to make it to the front door but Terrance had caught up with him. He struggled violently in Terry's hold, using his elbows and nails to attack him. Terrance was a very strong man for his lean features and his grip was like a vice. Gilbert still would not give up. He had quit taking the pills Terry gave him so now he was mentally able to fight back, as well as physically. He landed his elbow under Terry's chin, momentarily stunning him, giving enough time for him to run. Terrance was right behind him, having recovered quickly from the blow. Gilbert's only other hope was the door through the kitchen, but he slipped on the freshly waxed floor and slammed into the center island bar stools. Two of the stools fell on him, tangling his sneakers in the wooden legs. A second later Terry had him by the hair.

'OWWWW! LET ME GO! GET AWAY FROM ME!'

'We're going to the basement.'

Gilbert's eyes widened at the word. 'No…NO! I'm not going there! NEVER AGAIN!' With all his might he jerked and pulled himself forward, ripping a chunk of his own hair out by the roots, leaving it in Terry's palm. Spinning around he leapt at Terry, using his weight to knock him into the refrigerator. He saw the meat tenderizer hammer on the counter, grabbed it, and struck Terrance in the temple with it. The doctor cried out and fell to the floor, holding his head. Gilbert dropped the hammer to run to the door. The knob wouldn't turn. He cursed at the door having a glitch in its operation where it took a certain amount of proper jiggling the right way to get it to open. It was something that never got fixed. This would be his downfall.

Terrance grabbed him from behind, throwing him into the wall. Gilbert was stunned by the throw, having hit his nose on the wall. He felt the blood running down to his lips, tasting it on his tongue. A door opened in front of him, the basement door. Below, in the dark, flickered the soft glow of candlelight. 'No…!' Terrance pushed him down. Gilbert rolled down the steps, hitting each one with his back and ribs. He landed at the bottom, his whole body twitching, aching and bruised. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest as his mind ran violently with the thought of what Terrance would do to him. Down here was Doctor Weatherwalk's main hobby, his second job, as a Satanist. Gilbert never knew the full details, nor did he care too, but down here in the dark, cold basement was where all the rape took place. He would always been too drugged to fully notice the Satanic objects, statues and candles. The door had always been locked any other time. His heart froze at the footsteps coming down the stairs.

'You've been a bad boy, Gilbert. After all I've done for you…you wish to break my heart by leaving me. Stupid brat.' Terrance's boot kicked him in the mouth, knocking him into darkness.

Due to the lack of drugs, Gilbert woke up quickly on the familiar sticky mattress. It's smell was the first sign that he was still in the basement because the fabric smelt of dark rituals and their many tonics. The second feeling was the heavy pressure in his backside and the naked weight on top of him. Terrance was raping him again. He knew this scene. Terrance would have his way with his painted body and then leave him in the cold shower to bring him back to reality. All of this was a sacrifice to the Dark Lord, to please and honor him. Gilbert knew now that it was all a bunch of horse shit. Terrance was lost in his sex, giving Gilbert the perfect opportunity to get a hit in. He moved his mouth right near Terry's ear and screamed, as loud as he could. Terry roared in pain, pulling out of him and grabbing his ear.

Gilbert spat on him and jumped up from the mattress, pulling up his pants as he tried to run. The room was so dark, it was almost impossible to see.

'GILBERT!' Roared Terrance.

Gilbert screamed at the sudden shout of his name, getting lost in the dark with a madman on his tail. He crashed into something cold, knocking it over. The crash lead Terrance right too him. Gilbert felt the man's weight tackle him to the cement floor. Leather gloved hands wrapped around his neck and began to squeeze, cutting off his air. Gilbert clawed at Terrance's face, gasping and choking for air. It was becoming too much for him so he tried to get the hands off of him, but Terry held like a vice. Gilbert felt himself loosing air. His heart was racing, his mind was clouding over. He was powerless, and quickly was losing strength.

'You will never see your little Russian again! Ivan will never, ever have you! The Dark Lord will see to that! He will honor me with keeping your soul trapped in my world for all eternity!'

Gilbert felt himself start to fade away. The black behind his eyes started to turn white, creeping over his sight like the tentacles of an octopus.

'I curse you, Ivan Braginsky. I curse you, Gilbert Beilschmidt.'

And Gilbert remembered nothing after that.

When the memory ended, both Arthur and Alfred were struck dumb by what they had just witnessed through Gilbert. But it was Gilbert who was the most shocked, his body and mind filling with fear. He couldn't speak but only stare at the wall before him, replaying the memory over and over again.

"That guy's a fucking nut!" Alfred stood up from the computer desk. "You watch how fast I arrest him!"

Arthur rubbed his forehead and growled. "Just how are you going to explain THAT to the FBI? Tell them that you saw a 'vision' of Gilbert's murder so you arrested the guy you saw do it? You'd sound like a loon."

"But we can't let this guy get away with it! We have to expose him and he has to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law!"

Arthur crossed his arms. "And how are you going to do that? With what evidence? Are you going to call Gilbert up to the stand? You're being stupid. You have a brain, use it! We need to confront Terry with what we know and get him to confess."

"Like it will be that easy." Alfred countered. "I was just witness to a murder and I can't let this go unpunished!"

'He kept us apart on purpose.' Gilbert's voice shook as he spoke. 'All I wanted was to be free of him.'

"Hey! I can hear you now!" Alfred said with a surprised smile.

Arthur ignored him and turned his attention to the ghost. "So he has dark powers too. He can connect to the other side, the same as I. That's what I sensed before but now I have an answer. We need to get that figurine. Once I have that in my possession I can break the barrier. When Ludwig wakes up, we'll have him tell Feliciano to look for the figurine."

'Is that safe to have Feliciano do?' Gilbert asked.

"What other choice do we have?"

Alfred pat his fist in his palm. "I have enough evidence on my good word to get a search warrant! I'll call the station tomorrow and get one written up. Once the snow clears, we'll go to Parkside and search the place!" He smiled proudly at Gilbert. "Don't worry, Gilbert! Let me, Alfred F. Jones, the hero, send you on your way to eternal peace in Heaven!"

"Hero?" Arthur snorted. "Please, it'll be my magic that brings Ivan and Gilbert together."

Alfred stood to face Arthur, bending his head slightly to look at the shorter man. "It's my connections with the FBI that will let everyone get where they need to go. AND, I'll get everyone off the hook as well. That makes ME the hero! You couldn't do half the stuff for this case if you didn't have me!"

'Ludwig is the hero.' Gilbert interrupted. 'He brought you two into this. He took up my case when no one else could. If anyone will see this through, it's Ludwig.' He put his ghostly arms around both of them, letting them 'float' above the others' shoulders. 'You're all helping me and Ivan, so you're all my heroes.'

"Love conquers all." Arthur said. "We may have lost one life, but we can keep others from suffering the same fate."

Gilbert lowered his head. 'As much as it hurts to know that my life in this world is over…I feel a little bit of happiness knowing that Terrance is going to be punished for what he's done. Many lives will be saved…from the sacrifice of one.' Gilbert pulled away from them, floating above the floor. 'Excuse me. I actually want to be alone.'

He slowly faded away, leaving an eerie chill in the air all around them.

End Chapter 4 TBC