Hurray, finally got another chapter for this~ Been wanting to work on it for a while. Finals are done so I have a small break~

The lyrics in this chapter (and which will show up probably a couple more times) are from a song called The Dove which was popular in England and the U.S. in the early 1900s. It's a pretty song, though the lyrics I took were from more than one version.

Gilbert began to fidget restlessly. He wasn't afraid, not like he knew Ludwig secretly was and not like Matthew and Alfred definitely were. He was too arrogant. He was also impatient. "When is Kiku getting back? He's taking forever."

Arthur finally seemed to have either gotten all the splinters out or given up on the task. His look of annoyance couldn't be more clear. "It hasn't even been that long. Just relax."

Alfred let out a hysterical laugh. "How is anyone supposed to relax in a haunted house? Especially when a ghost is after us!"

A slow smirk came to Gilbert's lips. "I thought she was just after the two of you."

Matthew glared at Gilbert and rubbed his brother's back when he whimpered. "Just shut up Gilbert! You're making it worse!"

Ludwig sighed softly. His brother always had to escalate tension, even in a situation like this. "Brother, just wait. I'm sure-" He suddenly froze, eyes jumping back to the space where Kiku had disappeared. "Kiku?"

There was the sound of footsteps, creaking, the soft hiss of static, and then Kiku appeared in the soft glow of the flashlight. "Yes, it's me. Sorry for taking so long."

He held out the fourth protection charm and Gilbert quickly snatched it from his hand, throwing it around his neck. "Awesome! So now I'm pretty much safe right?"

"Mm," was Kiku's only response. He turned to Matthew and Alfred, holding out their cellphones. They crackled with white noise and the two shrank away from them. "I think it would be useful for the two of you to have these. I tried making a call but it would not go through. Until we get out it may serve as a way for us to know what Josephine is up to."

Matthew gave them a wary look. "Do we have to hold onto them?"

Arthur spoke again. "It would make sense, as you are the ones she's interested in communicating with."

Alfred whimpered again as Matthew nodded grimly. He took both of them and only with much soft encouraging would Alfred take his. There was an uneasy moment and the six of them stared at one another.

Ludwig finally cleared his throat. "This is ridiculous! Let's get out of here. In an hour we'll all be talking about how idiotic this whole thing was."

He grabbed the flashlight from Alfred's trembling hands and took the lead. Gilbert followed, snickering softly. Kiku encouraged Alfred and Matthew to go next, the two clinging to one another. Kiku and Arthur followed after that. Their combined weight made the stairs groan alarmingly loud. With more confidence than he actually felt, Ludwig strode to the front door and grabbed the handle, turning it sharply. It didn't budge. He frowned severely and shoved the flashlight into Gilbert's hands, tugging at it until the veins stood out in his arms. He kicked it, anger pushing down the feeling of panic. "What the hell is wrong with this door!"

Alfred's and Matthew's cellphones crackled loudly and then Josephine's voice began again. Her soft voice was singing mournfully, "Oh, yonder do sit, a little turtle dove, He do sit on yonder high tree..."

The twins jumped. Ludwig stiffened then tried to ignore it, now trying to press into the door like he had upstairs. It was made of a much harder wood and even after all this time of neglect held firmly.

"He's a making a moan for the loss of his love. As I will do for thee, my dear, As I will do for thee..."

Alfred whimpered softly and looked from Kiku to Arthur as combined they were the ones who seemed to have some understanding of what was going on. "Why is she singing?"

Gilbert cut in before either could answer. "Who cares why she's doing it, just tell her to shut up! Tell that bitch we aren't interested in hearing any show tunes."

The cellphones went abruptly silent and there was a sudden tension in the air. Arthur raised an eyebrow. "I wouldn't say things like that. She's a bit temperamental. And that was hardly a show tune."

"Look, just because you almost died doesn't mean I have anything to worry about. I got the protection thing! And if I want to call this ghost a stupid bitch, which she is, then I shall gladly do so! Even if it isn't a show tune!"

Ludwig turned abruptly, patience thoroughly gone, to tell him to kindly shut up himself. His eyes widened as he noticed a broken chair sailing through the air right for his brother. Taking only a fraction of a second to think he grabbed Gilbert's shoulder and pulled him out of the way just as it went sailing past where his head had been.

Gilbert grabbed onto his brother, nearly jumping into his arms as the chair clattered against the floor. "What the hell!"

Alfred hugged Matthew so hard he thought he would choke him. "Oh God, oh God, oh God!"

Matthew tightened his grip around Alfred, just as frightened. "Oh please no..."

Arthur grumbled, "Oh, look what you've done now, you git."

Before Gilbert could recover enough to come up with a retort the cellphones crackled to life with overly loud static. There was a loud groan and multiple objects shuddered then rose up into the air: broken furniture, abandoned objects, dusty books, broken glass, sharp splinters of wood. There was a moment of silence and then a heavy desk drawer went hurtling towards them.

They all cried out or gasped. Ludwig threw himself and his brother to the floor, the flashlight going out as it hit the ground. The desk drawer crashed loudly as it smashed against the floor. A sharp wooden board sailed through the air and nearly hit Kiku, who felt it brush past his cheek as he fell to the ground as well. Alfred was yelling, the words running together into something unintelligible. More objects were flung towards the group, breaking them up as they tried to dodge in a panic, almost blind in the dark. Someone cried out and the feeling of panic intensified—Who had it been, were they hurt, and if so how badly?

Somewhere in the mix Alfred found himself separated from Matthew and blindly groped for him. Something loud banged in front of him and the next thing he knew a grandfather clock was advancing towards him. He scrambled to his feet, struggling to get away. He felt it come down hard on the ground nearly at his heels and ran faster, his heart pounding so hard he thought it would burst, tears running silently down his cheeks. He fell hard as he hit the stairs, knees stinging sharply. He thought he heard someone calling his name but couldn't respond, the clock coming down close behind him again. He all but crawled up the stairs, breath ragged. Every time it made contact there was the broken sound of chiming. He found his way to the top of the stairs, the clock still pursuing him with vicious persistence. No, please no, oh god no, please!

The clock suddenly moved in sharply on Alfred's right and he changed direction, nearly falling again. he barely got to his feet then threw himself into the first available room. The door slammed loudly behind him and then all went quiet for Alfred.

Downstairs things were still banging around so loudly one could barely think, everyone doing their best to get out of the way in the dark. Arthur's voice cut through the chaos. "Matthew or Alfred! One of you try talking to her before we end up a bloody mess!"

Matthew, still trying to figure out where Alfred had gotten to, reached for his cellphone, tears prominent in the corners of his eyes. He flipped it open and spoke into the chaotic noise that was erupting from it. "J-Josephine, please stop, Josephine!"

There was a pause and then all of the objects fell to the floor with a clatter. The crackle of the cellphone eased and Josephine spoke. "Oh Jonathon... Please, beloved. I don't want to make this harder than it has to be... Please Jonathon, won't you please come to me? I miss you... I just miss you so much."

There was soft weeping and then the sound ceased altogether. Silence hung heavily, accompanied by the sound of all of them panting. A moment later the flashlight was turned on, held by a very ruffled Ludwig. "I-is everyone alright? I want to hear from all of you!"

Gilbert groaned and sat up, still close to Ludwig's side. "That crazy–!"

"Are you fine or not, brother?"

"...Ja, ja, fine enough."

Arthur spoke next and Ludwig located him with the light a few feet away. "I'm perfectly fine. Just a few more slivers."

When Kiku spoke his voice was strained. "I...I am here. Something hit my arm but I think I am alright."

Ludwig quickly located him with the flashlight. He was clutching his upper arm, face looking more pale than usual. "Come over here and I'll take a closer look at you. What about you, Matthew?"

Matthew's voice was watery. "I-I'm fine, too. Nothing hit me. B-but I lost Alfred. Alfred? Alfred where are you?"

There was silence and a layer of unease was added. Ludwig began to sweep the flashlight along the room, searching for Alfred's body among the rubbish. "Alfred?"

Matthew felt a cold sort of hysteria come over him and he stood up. "Alfred!"

Loud banging from upstairs made them all jump, and then Alfred's muffled voice yelling, "Help!"

Barely able to see farther than the small flashlight provided, Matthew all but sprinted up the stairs, nearly tripping as he crossed into darkness. "I'm coming, Al! Just hold on, I'm coming!"

The rest stood. Ludwig was torn for a moment, trying to keep calm even in this situation. Which was more critical, checking on Kiku or Alfred? Both, do both at once. In a no-nonsense fashion, truly admirable considering the intensity of panic he was pushing down, Ludwig hurried over to Kiku. "Come on, let me see your arm, we'll walk as I look at it."

Gilbert hurled himself up the stairs, eager to see what was going on up there. Arthur walked briskly a few paces before Ludwig and Kiku but still remaining in the light.

Matthew stood at the door that Alfred was banging on, the grandfather clock now leaned precariously on the wall beside it. "Al? Alfred are you okay?"

"Oh God, Mattie, please get me out! Help me, please!" The thin panic was painfully audible in his voice.

Matthew pressed his cheek to the door, hands flat against the surface. "I'm here, it's going to be alright, we'll get you out! I promise, I promise. You'll be just f-fine."

On the other side of the door Alfred mirrored Matthew's gesture, fingers raking against the wood. He sobbed softly. "Please Mattie, I'm so scared! Please?"

Gilbert arrived at the door. "Oi, Al, what the hell did you go and get yourself stuck in a room for?"

Matthew turned his head, practically hissing at him. "This is your fault! If you hadn't gone and insulted Josephine this never would have happened!"

Ludwig's voice cut in sharply, still trying to keep order. "Stop it, both of you! We have one person injured and another stuck! We don't have time to argue. Alfred, you are absolutely sure the door won't open?"

Alfred sniffled softly. "I-I tried, it won't!"

"Will you try again, just in case?"

The doorknob rattled but refused to turn properly and Alfred groaned.

Gilbert hummed. "Must be like earlier. Think you can bust the door open again?"

Ludwig walked up to the door and frowned. "The problem is these doors open outwards. It was one thing when I was opening it from the inside. It would be much harder to open it from the opposite way. I suppose Alfred could try breaking it open."

Arthur tsked behind them. "He might hurt himself. It would be better to find some sort of tool to get him out. We need to look for another way out anyway. I don't know if any of you noticed but quite a few of those objects that almost hit us earlier ended up stacked in front of the door down there. If we find something like a crowbar for the door, we could probably use it to get some of the boards off the windows too. Worth a shot anyway."

Alfred's voice came through, desperate and panicked. "You're going to leave me here by myself?"

Matthew was quick to reassure him. "Of course not, I'll stay with you."

"No," Arthur interjected sharply. "Someone will stay with you but it should either be Gilbert or Ludwig."

"Arthur," Kiku began.

Arthur walked over to Kiku and spoke against his ear in as soft a murmur as he could manage. "It's not a good idea to have these two alone and vulnerable together if Josephine is after them. Matthew should go with the search party. So should you, as you've been injured. If we manage to find a way out then the two of you are the ones who need to get out the most. I've... I've scouted the house so I know my way around, so it only makes sense I go. Ludwig and Gilbert are both uninjured and don't particularly know where to look. One or both of them can stay with Alfred."

Kiku listened to this and saw the truth in it. He didn't necessarily like it but he was sensible. However, out of the two Bieldschmidt brothers, Ludwig was definitely a more reliable guardian. "Mm, Ludwig, you should stay with Alfred while the rest of us search for a way to get him out."

Ludwig stiffened then nodded. "If you think that's for the best."

Gilbert raised his eyebrows. "What about me? Oh I get it, you've decided you need my awesomeness too much to have me stay behind!"

No one felt like telling him that he couldn't be more wrong. Matthew didn't like it, though. "No, I should stay with him!"

Alfred spoke, his voice wavering slightly as he gathered up what scraps remained of his bravery. "N-no, it's alright Mattie. If they think you should go... Ol' Ludwig can watch me j-just fine. You guys should hurry though. I don't like being in here by myself, okay?"

Matthew opened his mouth to protest then closed it for a moment. He finally nodded. "Right... I- I promise we'll be right back, okay? Really soon. So fast you... you'll hardly notice, eh?"

"Right... I trust you guys. Just don't g-get hurt, alright?"

"We'll be safe, promise."

Gilbert elbowed Ludwig. "Sure you don't need your big brother to stay with you and keep you safe and sound from the ghosty whosty?"

Ludwig glowered at him. "Of course not! Admittedly this has become rather odd but I have complete faith that...that there's some logical reason at the heart of this. I'll be fine, so you four just hurry up and get back as soon as possible. I'll stay with Alfred."

Gilbert snorted. "Suit yourself. Okay, let's get going!"

Kiku frowned softly at the flashlight. "The only problem is there is only one light source between us and I am sorry to say we will need it to search for things."

Ludwig was quick to hand it over to Arthur. Perhaps some of it was to save a certain amount of bravado but he kept telling himself there was nothing to be afraid of. "My eyes will adjust."

"Are you sure you don't want Gilbert to stay with you?" Matthew asked, but by the look on his face it was hard to determine if it was for Ludwig's sake or because he was still annoyed at the other.

"I will be fine." Ludwig's stance was becoming more and more defensive. Gilbert couldn't help but smirk a bit.

Kiku pursed his lips uncertainly. "Perhaps Gilbert should at least hand over the necklace to you."

Gilbert clutched at it tightly. "Hey! That's not fair, I dibsed it!"

Before anyone could argue what an idiot he was being, Ludwig spoke again. "I think he needs it more than I do. He has hardly endeared himself to...the presence in the house. If you wish to believe that is what it is. Just go and hurry back and there will be nothing to worry about."

There was a moment of hesitation then Arthur stood up straighter. "Right. We'll start downstairs. Be careful Ludwig. If something starts happening to Alfred, yell for us."

"We'll probably hear Alfred first," Gilbert said only partially under his breath. Matthew threw him a death glare and he couldn't help but grin.

"No fighting, please! This is difficult enough as it is. No matter to what degree each of us are taking the events of tonight seriously, we all must acknowledge that whatever is going on has put us in serious danger. Arthur and Gilbert have already been purposefully attacked in such a way as to critically wound if not kill. This is not the time to be arguing. We must work together." Kiku gave each of them a hard look, flat eyes more serious than usual. The way he held his arm was a sobering reminder that one of their own had been hurt already.

Arthur nodded once at Kiku. "Right, let's get going then. The faster we get everyone together again the better. Remember Ludwig, don't wander off for any reason."

Ludwig crossed his arms, looking insulted by the words. "I have no intention to."

"Right, come along then everyone. Stick closer together, no wandering off, and try not to let yourself get separated like..." Arthur paused and looked at the door before softly muttering to himself, "She isolated him on purpose."

Shaking his head quickly he started towards the stairs, flashlight pointed unwaveringly in front of him. Matthew stared at the door uncertainly and only went when Kiku gently took his arm and started to tug him forward. Gilbert punched Ludwig in the arm. "You take care of yourself, idiot. Don't want to embarrass yourself by having to be rescued by big brother, right?"

"Oh no, I'd never live it down." Ludwig gave him an irritated look but it finally melted into a nervous smile. "I'll be fine."

Gilbert nodded then banged his fist on the door once. "You hold on in there, Alfie! You'll be just fine!"

With that he went bounding after the fading light. Ludwig closed his eyes for a long moment, leaning against the door. When he opened them the light was almost completely out of sight. His eyes slowly started to adjust to the darkness.

There was a soft scratching at the door then Alfred's voice, more afraid than Ludwig had ever heard it, murmured, "You're still there, right Ludwig?"

"Of course. I won't leave you, I promise. If anything starts to happen just let me know. I'll try breaking this door down if I have to."

"Thanks..." There was the sound of sniffling. "W-we're all going to be okay, aren't we?"

Ludwig sighed. "Of course we are. Just imagine it's like a movie."

"...Usually at least one person dies in a scary movie, if not everyone. Except for maybe the main character."

"And who would you say is the main character?" Ludwig thought it might be good to distract Alfred, but he wasn't really sure if this was the best topic to do so.

"Mm, well... Kiku is so calm and collected he's got a huge chance of dying. Your brother is the over cocky guy so he'll definitely die. Arthur is the one who brought us into the situation but I guess it depends. He might live till the very end then die in a dramatic way trying to save us. You're the skeptic so you'll probably die in an ironic way. Mattie and I are the ones she's after so I guess we actually have the best chances of living. Though I supposes one or both of us might die depending on if it's like, a super depressing movie or if it's more like one of those 90s horror films where we have to live to make a sequel."

"...I see." No wonder he was terrified of ghosts, he had obviously seen way too many movies. "Alright then, let's say this is like a young teen movie. It's allowed to be scary but no one is allowed to die."

Alfred gave a nervous little laugh. "Yeah... yeah alright. Sounds good. We'll be okay."

"Of course we will." Ludwig made his voice as matter-of-fact as he could.

The reassurance had just started to make Alfred relax when his cellphone crackled to life again. He let out a low, miserable moan. "Stoooop, please make it stop!"

Josephine's voice, melancholy and faded, sang another verse of the song she had been singing earlier. "So far you dwell from me my love, and farther your heart will be. But your home is here and 'til you return, The more I wait for thee, my dear. The more I wait for thee..."

Ludwig listened, body tense. Alfred was sobbing softly again. "J-just please...please won't you stop?"

"Oh Jonathon, I've waited so long... so very long. But now I don't have to wait anymore. You have returned to me, Johnathon... The two of us will be together forever, just like you promised. Just like you promised. You promised!"

The last word was drawn out and distorted into something like a scream before the phone went silent again. A shiver went down Ludwig's spine and Alfred began to sob harder. Ludwig spoke through the door, voice barely wavering. "It will be alright, don't worry. We're all going to be just fine."

Ludwig wasn't completely sure which of them he was trying to reassure anymore.