The three of them started to walk out of the mall; Alfred making sure he was in between the Canadian and Gilbert. He wasn't very happy that this stranger was with them, and he was walking the same way they were.

"When are you leaving dude?"

"We're only in the parking lot?"

"Alfred, just calm down. I don't get why you're so mad."

Alfred stopped, turning towards his older brother, "I'm mad because you don't even know him."

"Al, he's just walking home. I know I don't know him, but you're here too. Plus he's the one who helped me at the store."

Alfred opened his mouth as if to say something, but quickly closed it again, "Fine."

The walk was quiet after that. No one said a word and the only sound heard was their footsteps against the pavement. Matthew was looking around aimlessly, occasionally glancing over at Gilbert who had his hands tucked into his pockets. The sun was starting to set now, and they were turning into their neighborhood; Gilbert stopping and Matthew looked back at him. "So this is where I leave."

"Good." Alfred hissed so that only he could hear, and Matthew nodded a little sadly.

"Oh, alright. Nice to meet you."

"Yeah.." The albino paused, shuffling his feet, "See you around I guess."

"Sure."

The two looked at each other awkwardly before Gilbert turned to leave, and Matthew watched him walked off before Alfred had to physically pry him away from the spot he was standing in.

"Come on. Your mom will kill you if you aren't in your room."

"Alfred, please don't say things like that. She honestly would, which scares me."

Gilbert stopped, hearing the sentence from down the road linger in the air. Wait, is he serious? He wondered, not wanting to turn around and stalk them but... No, that's exactly what he wanted to do.

"O-Oh fuck, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like-"

"It's fine... Just take me home.."

Gilbert blinked his crimson eyes in confusion. What was he going to do? What was Alfred going to do? There was no way he was just going to leave him to get killed..Right?

"This has to be a joke." Gilbert told himself, shaking his head, but that doubt still lingered. He stood there for a good couple of minutes, when he realized he would lose sight of the brothers.

"I-I guess I could take the long way.." He decided, turning around and being quiet as he followed Matthew and Alfred down the street. Sure, it was creepy but.. He didn't want anyone to get hurt. Especially not this innocent Canadian who wouldn't hurt a fly.

After several blocks and several turns, Matthew came back towards the side of his house, looking up at the still open window. Alfred looked over towards his older brother, smiling sadly, and reached out his arms. "Good luck buddy." He said, pulling Matthew in for a hug, and quite frankly Matthew didn't want to let go.

"D-Don't let me stay here Alfie.. I hate it here so much.."

"I know you do. We'll get you out of here soon, I promise."

Alfred handed his brother the new clothes and crouched on the ground as a pedestal to help him back up into his room. Carefully, Matthew scaled the wall which wasn't too high from the yard, and slipped back inside the window, giving Alfred a thumbs-up as if everything was alright. When, in reality, it wasn't.

Gilbert was squatting behind a large bush, peering through an opening, and noticed Alfred beginning to leave; looking back towards the house now and then. "What exactly is going on..?" He thought aloud, creeping closer to the house, but trying not to be seen.

With a sigh, Matthew hid the new clothes he had gotten in his closet, and as if on cue, footsteps pounded up the stairs. He panicked, slamming his closet door shut and he ran for the bed, collapsing onto it and the headboard banged into the wall harshly. Gilbert flinched, hearing this loud noise, and immediately looked upwards; wondering what was going on.

"Have you learned your lesson?" His mother spat at him, nearing closer, and Matthew just stayed silent. He didn't budge, he didn't blink, and he tried not to breathe as well. He usually would have said yes in this situation, but his body was paralyzed.

"Answer me!"

"Y-y-yes mother!" He screeched, hiding his face and turning away. That obviously was not the best choice. Showing fear is the worst decision in his scenario.

"Scared, are we?" She cooed eerily, nearing his face, "Why are you scared Mattie~?"

"I-I'm not."

"Prove it. Look at me." He was shaking now, "Look at me!"

Before he had any chance to try, her hands were grabbing his neck, forcing him into the wooden headboard and the impact caused his head to spin. Gilbert could hear the yelling, the anger, the fear; all of it. He was terrified of what was happening in there, and he was the only one who could hear it. Not knowing what to do, he stood up and looked through the window, trying to see if there was any sign of the Canadian he had only just met.

"Let m-me go!" Matthew wailed, trying to scratch at her clammy hands, and finally she pulled away as his vision began to close in. With no explanation, she turned around and slammed the door once more; the sound of the lock clicking in his small room. Once again he was locked inside.


Okay, this chapter is soooooo much better than the last couple. So sorry about that.

And, also, THIS IS NOT AMECAN. *clears throat* Sorry, just had to get that off of my chest. This is PruCan and strictly PruCan. I just think Alfie is a great brother, that's all.

Thank you for reading~

-Feli