Francis ran in a daze back towards the lodge, his cracking sobs and frozen air trailing behind him. Despite the unbearable twinge in his side and feet, he continued to push his way through the demented trees and wildlife that lurked off the path. His eyes stayed straight on the pathway before him, never daring to even turn his head in case of catching a glimpse of something he was praying was not there.

I left Arthur... I left Arthur.

That single thought echoed around his head, pressing guilty weight down onto his shoulders. He shouldn't have left. He could've helped him! Yet, that look in his eyes... the force in his voice... Fuck. Why did he let Arthur make such a 'heroic' decision? Why did he have to play the role of a coward?

Miraclously, Francis reached his destination and threw himself down on the wooden steps that led up to the lodge. He lifted his buzzing head, seeing the insides to be quiet and dark. It looked like no one got the power up in the end. Maybe that would be an advantage to them... Those monsters could be attracted by the light.

God, he hoped everyone else was safe. Hopefully regretfully leaving Arthur will have some positive outcome.

Staggering up the steps with difficulty, Francis forced his battered body towards the lodge. His fingers trembled as he grabbed the door knob, shoving it open before slamming it shut behind him.

The sudden silence and stillness from the world outside was deafening, almost overwhelming. Francis found himself tripping into the parlor, vision distorted and constantly shifting in and out of focus like a camera not knowing what needed its attention. In snippets, he got a glimpse of the new things that met his eyes in the lodge: a broken picture frame, a ouji board in the kitchen, the hand pillows on the couch on the floor in a messy manner.

Suddenly, Francis felt two hands grab him by his shoulders, instinctively making him to flinch and move away. His foot hit the small table before the couch, causing him to fall onto the floor. The hand touched him again, forcing Francis to face whoever was before him.

"...happened?"

Francis blinked, quickly realizing Kiku was standing above him, his hand on his shoulder in a friendly manner. Behind him was Gilbert with Feliciano standing before him, mirroring Kiku's concerned look. Matthew stood close beside Kiku with his hands tied tightly in rope. Alfred stood right beside Gilbert, staring at Francis blankly.

"Francis, are you okay?"

Francis flickered his attention from each individual to the next, not knowing what to think or say first. He needed to warn them. Those monsters could be right on his tail and show up at the door any time now. God, he can't let his abandonment on Arthur be in vain for not being able to spit out the words in time.

With a shaky breath, he responded, "Dangerous- We, We have to go. We have to go help Arthur. There's monsters- They're going to kill us! We're all vunerable... They- fuck, we have to leave. Arthur is in danger. We-"

All of the words that fell from Francis's quivering lips were shoved on top on each other without any pause in between. He knew he probably sounded like a mad man but that didn't matter. No matter how he did it, he needed to warn them. Before it was too late.

To his surprise, Kiku sighed and took his hand to help him stand up.

"Francis, relax, you're fine." He said calmly, perplexing Francis even further. "This was all a prank. Matthew was just being a dick and freaking us out." He frowned, looking over the blonde's battered body before shooting a glare at Matthew. "You're fucking sick, Matthew."

Feliciano stepped forward, giving a reassuring smile, "It's okay, Francis. We're not in danger. Matthew was just playing a joke on us. We're all fine."

"Wh-What? No, no. This isn't a prank!" Francis exclaimed, his heart hammering in against his chest. Every second wasted here could determine Arthur's current living status. And the fact that no one believed him was frustrating. "You guys have to believe me! We- We have to go out there and get Arthur! He's in trouble!"

Feliciano sighed, pulling Francis into a pitiful hug. "Francis... it's all fake. It's not real. You're okay."

Kiku crossed his arms, facing Matthew, "What else did you do, huh? Where did you put Arthur? Is he drugged in another broken freezer too?""

Matthew, the only one mirroring Francis's distress, shook his head. "Look, I didn't do anything to Arthur or Francis! I have no idea what he's talking about!"

"Oh yeah? And why should we believe what you say! After all of this you put on us!" Kiku snapped, truly fed up with everything that's happened tonight. "Just quit it with your lies."

Francis felt his breathing quicken as anxiety started clawing at his heart. "No! He's right! He didn't do anything! We really are in danger! There's these- these monsters out there! They're going to kill us!"

Feliciano took Francis hand, gently tugging him to go sit on the couch. "Take deep breathes, okay? Please, calm down. We aren't in any danger. Those were just fake props and probably speakers like the ones around the rest of the house. None of it was real!"

"Yeah, just sit down," Gilbert spoke up to say, giving Francis a pity stare.

He couldn't believe it... They all thought this was a lie. They thought he was delusional and all of this was some sort of elaborate prank. Personally, he could care less about whatever Matthew apparently did because he knew for a fact these events didn't correlate whatsoever. That monster was real. His wounds were real. Arthur's life threatening situation was real.

Francis began to shake as his friends' constant words of reassurance echoed around him. They morphed along with Arthur's terrified voice. He was running out of time. He was running out of time. He was running out of time. He was-

"LISTEN TO ME!" Francis screamed, eyes wide with terror. His body shook violently as he stared at his friends with tears in his eyes. "This is not a fucking game! I don't care about what Matthew did! Arthur can be dying as we speak! He's being held down in the mines from a vicious monster and is in terrible danger! Every second you guys spend not believing me is another second Arthur could be dying or dead! So, if you could, fucking listen to me!"

An uneasy silence spread over the room as everyone simply stared at Francis in utter disbelief. Could this be true? Is there more horrors on this mountain than Matthew's sick prank? Feliciano felt his fear from before creep back as his face fell in terror. Kiku's eyes widened in shock, now, truly, believing in Francis's horror stricken words of plea.

"...What?" Alfred was the first speak up, his voice hushed.

Francis broke down in strained cries as everything he's been holding in since leaving the mines came flooding into him. He dug his fingers in his messy blond hair, shaking his head through his cries. "I-I had to leave Arthur to get to you guys... I left him to warn you all and-and now he could be dead. He could be dead! He told me to go and- fuck, I didn't want to! I should've stayed there! I shouldn't have left him! I should've... I should've..."

Quickly, Feliciano embraced Francis in a hug, which the other male accepted wholeheartedly, burying his face into the smaller boy's shoulder.

"I'm glad you came to tell us." Gilbert said, stepping up to Francis. "We're sorry we didn't listen before- it's been a really rough night. Listen, we'll all go down to those mines and get Arthur, okay?"

"But how?" Kiku questioned, "If there really are monsters down there just like Francis said, how will we make down there? What if we have to fight the monster?"

No one responded right away. Even Francis had no answer on how to do so. That skeleton like freak back there seemed too powerful and capable of staying on its feet. He couldn't think of anything that could possibly do it any harm. It was too strong and inhuman to be hurt by some measly objects they had here in the lodge.

Suddenly, there was a hard knock at the front door, causing everyone to tense up. Francis turned pale as his eyes stared at the door in fear. Was that the monster? Had it finally caught up with him? Shit, was he too late?

Being braver than anyone else, Gilbert approached the door, cautiously putting his hand to the handle. Out of the frosted window on the front door, the tall figure of a man was all that could be seen. Francis relaxed just a tad. That wasn't the shape of a Wendigo. So then, who was this...?

Slowly, Gilbert opened the door, revealing the figure who stood before them all.

A tall man in a really thick coat and scarf stood before him. He had a stuffed-to-the-brim backpack on his back with various weapons poking out from within it. A flask hung from clip on his pants, occasionally clinking together with the knife that also hung there when he shifted on his feet. He brushed his beige hair out of his face, revealing his very light skin and stoic facade. The man stared at the group of teenagers with soft violet eyes, narrowing them when he saw Francis.

"I am taking it that you are Francis." The man spoke with the quirk of his brow. His voice was laced in an authentic Russian accent, taking everyone by surprise.

Francis's eyes widened, now being able to put a face to the name.

"Are you... Ivan?" Francis inquired hopefully.

Ivan cracked a small smile with a nod. "Da."

A/N:

I did not pre-read any of this so I'm posting this without any revisions so excuse any mistakes or miswordings. I just want to get this chapter out there. I'll revise it later when I have time.

Enjoy.

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