Chapter 14

Hong Kong – Leon
Canada – Matthew
USA – Alfred
Seychelles – Shelly
Australia – Kyle
England – Arthur /Artie
France – Fran / Francis
Denmark –Mathias Norman
Norway – Lukas Norman
Sweden – Berwald Oxenstierna
Finland – Tino Väinämöinen

The kitchen is filled with cheery voices, demands of more orange juice and the smell of freshly made pancakes. The kids are sitting around the table, Kyle stealing Matthew's glasses, Leon hungrily eating his own portion of pancake and Alfred reaching over half the table to grab the jar filled with jam. Officer Väinämöinen too sits at the table and digs in the hearty breakfast and smiles at the kids and should they get too loud or if there be a glass on verge of falling over, he is quick to set the kids back in place with a reminding voice but a soft smile on his lips. Berwald, who is sitting at the head of the table, watches the scene with soft eyes and drinks his black coffee which provides its scent all around the kitchen.
"Who wants to get some Ice cream later?" asks Arthur into the room while he is standing at the stove to bake the pancakes. The boys and Shelly cheer and shout yes and Arthur turns to his husband:
"Do you want to join us?" His voice is gentle and Francis hears of course the light worry in it. He offers Arthur a tired smile.
"Maybe not this time. I'm tired. The late nights get to me," answers Francis as he sets a milk carton on the table.
"That's probably a good idea," interjects Mathias. "Why don't you get some rest and Lukas and I look over things for a bit?" Lukas, who is standing at Mathias' side nods and studies Francis. Francis looks at them both.
"You'd do that?"
Mathias smiles at him.
"Yes. We're here to help you after all."
"Then I accept that offer gladly," Francis answers and smiles thankfully at them before hurrying off to meet the demands of his kids.
Shelly walks with careful steps towards Mathias and balances a plate with a couple of pancakes for him and flashes a smile. Francis looks down at his daughter who has her hair neatly combed and tied up with red ribbons. He looks up again at Mathias.
"I think the kids feel a lot safer with you guys around here."
Mathias takes the offered plate and thanks the little girl before nodding in agreement. Lukas only takes a sip of his coffee and watches the scene in front of him thoughtful.

Later that day, Lukas is outside the house and taking down double sheets with a flower pattern. A soft breeze let the sheets flow in the wind and it plays softly with Lukas pale blond hair. The sun lets his golden cross in his hair shine and he got his sleeves folded up, revealing his pale but muscular arms. He just wants to fold the sheet as he hears heavy steps coming closer and a very familiar voice:
"I could get used to this."
Lukas turns his head lightly as his husband steps behind him and wraps his arms around Lukas' waist, letting him feel the warmth of his body and smell the well-known scent of him and his soap. Lukas replies instantly:
"To what? Me doing laundry?"
He earns a chuckle and a kiss to his cheek. Lukas continues his work and folds the sheet in half.
"It's a nice place," continues Mathias. Lukas hums in agreement as he folds the sheet quickly in a quarter so it won't get messed up again by the wind.
"Nice, fresh country air. Exactly what we're missing." Lukas stops for a moment and turns his head again in order to look Mathias in the face.
"They have such a nice family. Did you see the little girl? Shelly? How she brought me pancakes?" Mathias smiles softly at the thought and looks into Lukas eyes and his expression turns slowly into a serious one.
"We have to help them, Lukas." Lukas lets the sheet fall down into the basket so it lands perfectly without getting unfolded. He turns around with his full body now and wraps his arms around Mathias' neck.
"We do our best Mathias. Trust me…" He looks into the other's eyes, trying to show him reassurance.
"…We will help them get out of this misery."
A smile forms again on Mathias' lips and he nods.
"I will start with their broken car."
Lukas rolls his eyes but chuckles. He pats the other's cheek and turns his head softly away.
"Go then and do your duty."
Mathias walks off with a laugh and Lukas turns back to his bed sheets.

The wind picks up and Kyle's wind chimes are dangling softly in the distance. The clouds are moving faster and getting denser. They move in front of the sun, darkening the world down in several shades. The leaves on the ground rustle and start dancing in the wind. Lukas looks up, wrinkles of worry appear on his face and he turns quickly back to his work, wanting to get finished as soon as possible. Just as he wants to take off the next two clothespins a blast of air runs through the sheets and his hair and picks up the white sheet. Lukas lifts his hand quickly to grab it but it already flies several metres away from him until it gets stuck. Lukas eyes widen as the white sheet seems to have been blown against a transparent human figure, still flapping in the now strong wind. The ghostly figure stands there for a second before the sheet suddenly continues to fly, the obstacle miraculously removed. The wind picks it up and carries the white sheet towards the house and to the second floor. With a soft smack it hits one of many windows of the house before flying upwards, towards the sky and off to who knows where.

Lukas watches the spectacle, frozen in place. Now he squints towards the window as something seems to move behind it. He steps forward, hols his breath and the wind continues to blow his hair in all possible directions. As the figure disappears behind the curtains, Lukas doesn't hesitate and runs into the house.

Francis is laying in his bed, covers aside and face snuggled up into the soft pillow. His chest raises and falls in a regular movement and his breath goes soft but sometimes disrupted by a light snore. His shoulder long hair is covering half is face and his face wears a three-day stubble. But his peaceful sleep gets disrupted as deep red and violet bruises start to slowly appear on his forearm, looking like a big and too strong hand took a violent hold onto his arm.

Suddenly his whole body gets jerked upwards going out from his chest and an abnormal screech erupts out of his widely open mouth. A figure slowly moves above him. A disfigured old woman with sickeningly yellow eyes and white hair erupting out of her scalp as if tugged and pulled at it in pure craziness and through her abnormal age. The ancient nightgown, torn, yellow and brown taches on it, is falling on Francis lifted body. The old hag slowly opens her mouth, eyes fixed on her prey. Francis eyes fly open and he stares at the witch above him in pure horror, the inhuman scream coming from him only getting stronger through his pure fright. The hag screams now too and out of her mouth comes a black and dark brown mass and it shoots right into Francis until the old hag dissolves. Francis sits up, choking and coughing and his lungs are burning in his chest.

Lukas takes the stairs, three steps at the time, getting support from the handrail. He jumps to the door of the parent's bedroom and bursts in. He takes a second to scan the empty bedroom. He jerks his head to the side as he hears choking noises out of the bathroom. He rushes to the door and tries to open it but the wooden door doesn't budge. He bangs on it with his fist, whilst still holding the handle down and pressing against it.
"Francis! Are you in there? Are you alright?"
But the only thing he receives are choking noises, muffled through the door.
"Francis, open up!" He demands but nothing happens.

Lukas' head is quickly thinking of a way to get in, as he remembers the second door in the hallway. He quickly runs out of the room again and makes the two steps in the hallway. He just wants to pull down the handle of the bathroom door as it opens. A very messy Francis is standing in the door, head tilted, sweaty forehead and the hair standing out in different directions. He got a semi reassuring smile and his eyes don't focus on Lukas in front of him but past him, on the hallway.
"Are you okay?!" Lukas asks him troubled and studies him closely. Francis only nods absently.
"Yeah, yeah. Just woke up a bit nauseous, that's all."
Lukas just wants to object but Francis quickly looks up and lifts a finger towards his ear.
"Hey, I think I just hear Arthur and the kids returning." And without leaving Lukas time to hold him back, he walks down the stairs.