Alfred peered through the small crack he had left in the door. He could see Francis, being held by the most likely very dangerous people that resembled his fellow nations, and the ridiculously pink colored man that seemed to be in charge. He wasn't sure why he hadn't gotten out to go rescue Francis or Mattie, or done anything at all really, but something about the way the gun was being held to Francis's head made him think that perhaps the Frenchman was really in actual danger of... dying.
"C'mon... speak a little louder." He whispered to himself. He could hear absolutely nothing of the conversation that was going on down the hall, and it made him even more nervous, almost like they knew he was there and wanted to make sure he couldn't hear them. Well, at least he felt that way until the supposed leader raised his voice as he turned away from where Francis was kneeling on the floor.
"Well, if I can't make Francois useful, then next on that list is dear Allen." He sneered, directing his voice at the sniveling Frenchman holding the pistol. "Matthieu, in a moment I want to to go look for that yankee. He must be around here somewhere."
Alfred held his breath. Great, now they were coming after him again?
...
"And what about me, Oliver? What do you want me to do?" Francois asked, trying to push the obvious internal misery he was feeling out of his voice, and sound at least a bit more intimidating.
Oliver laughed. "Oh, poppet, you really think I have any use for you now? You're essentially useless."
"What?" Francois lowered his weapon.
"I couldn't care less what you do now. You can't do anything I need you to, not anymore."
"But I thought-"
"What, that I loved you? You must have realized by now I never really felt that way, Francois." Oliver said, as meanly as he possibly could - which was extremely.
"You... I..."
Francis's eyes darted rapidly between Francois and Oliver. One, apparently heartbroken, the other, doing the heart breaking. Was this really happening? And was he really feeling sorry Francois? It occurred to him that Matthew's little overheard speech had gotten to him, too.
"Francois, listen to me. You are lazy, and worthless, and to be honest, quite stupid. In fact..." Oliver turned away from them and casually put a hand on his hip. "I don't see any real reason for you to still exist."
At that point, any of Francois's remaining feeble ego crumbled. "Oliver..."
"Enough if zis." Francis spoke up. "'ow can you be so cruel to 'im?"
Oliver raised an over-sized eyebrow, as if he had been waiting for Francis to intercede. But he pretended to ignore the Frenchman. "Why, Francois, I just thought of a way you could be useful to me again." He smiled sweetly, though his eyes were still as angry as they had been, and he stretched his arm the pistol to Francis's head. "Surely you're smart enough to figure out just what I mean."
Francis swallowed and Francois continued to fiddle with the gun.
Frowning again, Oliver only turned away again and beckoned for Matthieu to let go of Francis and follow.
"Since only one of my family is actually of any use to me, I guess I will take him and leave. Come along, Matthieu, dear."
Francis felt himself drop to the floor, and he looked up, expectantly, and saw the barrel of the gun.
Francois looked down at him. Then when Oliver and Matthieu were out of range, he lowered the pistol to his side, and then said something quietly, so that only Francis would hear, and smiled sadly, the only time he had done so the way he was now. Francis looked at him, carefully as Francois again raised the gun.
He obviously wasn't blood thirsty or anything, and Francis could not honestly say he thought he would pull the trigger.
He was wrong.
I am terrible scum of the earth that doesn't update for days and then leaves you with awful (and tbh cliche) cliffhangers. But you know what? I like it that way.
Sooooo guess who just started college? Which means I have even more limited internet time than before. But do not worry, as I have said before, I will finish this story, though probably not in as timely a fashion as I (and y'all) would like. Well tough noogies. Life ain't fair. XP
THANKS FOR ALL THE SUPPORT! Every favorite, review, and follow means the world to me! I love you guys ;)
