Greetings fellow FanFiction dwellers! I'm so glad you're still hangin' around. Just wanted to let you know that there's a good chance I won't be able to update this weekend. I have the SAT's on Saturday and then I'm going to my mom's. I do have access to a computer but I seldom see her, and her mom just died so… Yeah, we're gonna be busy… Anyway, thank you so much for sticking with me during this crazy time! I'll do my best to update at least once a week. If I can't, I'll probably make that specific chapter longer. But seeing as how that's normal for this site, I know you probably already knew that… ALSO, I apologize for rambling or if anyone is out of character. I normally only have to play America, so this is really different for me. ^^" Carry on~ The third chapter awaits~!

Chapter Three

Take My Hand

Arthur could have slapped himself. He should have been given an award for how to treat people as if they were the dirt they walked on, because he was clearly the best at it. The young ghost had a right to be upset at him though… He'd been rude, and he knew that if someone said that to him he'd be furious. "Alfred? ALFRED! Alfred please… I'm sorry I said what I said… I didn't know it'd make you cry…"

A mangled stuffed rabbit prize was thrown at his head, making him spin around in a circle, trying to spot the teenaged ghost. "Go away!" The wind yelled, making the English student flinch. "I don't want to see your stupid face anymore!" Another stuffed prize was thrown at him, his vision going slightly askew.

"Alfred, please… I just want to talk to you…" Arthur pleaded. His only reply was the wind picking up, forcing the green eyed male deeper into the dark park. From where he was, he could see the paint peeling on the sign for one of the concession stands, the wood sagging with the effort of keeping the rain out. The structure was obviously failing if the mildew was any indication. He sighed deeply. This park was truly a depressing place to visit at night, and most likely during the day as well. Why would Alfred want to stay here…? Or maybe he didn't want to, but was forced to. If that was the case, than Arthur wanted to free the lively spirit. He seemed young… To be left to age in such a place like this with no company must be truly awful. No wonder he'd been so eager to try and talk to him. He was most likely the most company he'd seen in years.

"No you don't, you just want to laugh at me like everybody else! Get out! I don't want you here anymore if all you're gonna do is be a bully. All I ever deal with here is bullies. Just leave me alone." How had Alfred made it this long all by himself with what he was describing? Had he simply lost the will to care about what happened around him? Perhaps that was why the park was so forlorn looking…

"I didn't come here to laugh at you, Alfred. I came to learn something new about the world, and to prove a certain frog wrong. It appears like he was right however. It's a good thing I didn't bet any money on the matter… He'd never leave me alone about it." He scoffed, scowling at a crow that squawked at him.

"…Prove who wrong about what?" The ghost asked hesitantly, slowly rematerializing on one of the rotting concession stands, a pile of plushies in his transparent hands.

"An acquaintance of mine was telling me about the local ghost that haunted this amusement park. That was earlier today, and here I am, proven wrong. Ghosts do exist… Not that I'll tell him that… Bloody frog." Arthur scoffed, tsking under his breath. No, he'd tell Francis come morning that the rumors he'd heard were a lie and that there was no ghost in the deserted amusement park. Yes, hopefully that would let Alfred be at peace. Arthur wasn't really sure why he suddenly cared, but he dismissed it. Those were trivial matters. All Arthur wanted was for this teenager to be able to live his afterlife in peace. He would question himself later when he wasn't in the spirit's friendly company.

"…Oh… He sounds cool I guess? Can I meet him?" Alfred asked hesitantly, slowly putting down his stuffed ammunition.

"Absolutely not, Alfred; you wouldn't like him." The ghost blinked at the green eyed male as they did a mini staring contest. Alfred shrugged, jumping down from atop the platform he'd been standing on, landing on the ground without a sound. Arthur watched the whole thing curiously. Why had his landing not made a sound? Was that yet another side effect of being dead?

"Oh well~ I still have you, right? You won't leave me like everybody else did? I don't wanna be alone anymore… It's scary here when I'm all by myself… It's like it's all a nightmare and I'm too far gone to wake up. Like I'm in a horror movie maybe? Yeah. This is all like nightmare in a horror movie. I'm the only one here, and I'm waiting for someone to rescue me from myself. Inside I know that no one's coming though. The only one that's ever here is me, and the birds. They aren't much for company though. Not like you are. So please don't leave me all alone, Arthur. Promise me. Promise me that you'll be the one to stay." Alfred was barely a foot away from Arthur now, giving him a clear view of the young ghost. He had dirt streaked on his cherub face while he could see dried blood matting the wheat blond hair down to the blue eyed ghosts head. His outfit was tattered and covered in holes, just as dirty as the rest of him. Whatever had happened after The Soaring Eagle had derailed must have done this. There was no way to make him this dirty otherwise. Arthur offered Alfred his hand, curious to see what the dirty spirit would do. Alfred blinked at his hand, and then at him, a questioning glisten in his eyes.

"I promise Alfred. Just take my hand, I want to test something." Arthur stated earnestly, his confidence waning the longer Alfred made him stand there with his hand out stretched. Was he going to take his hand or not?

"…Okay. I trust you." The American ghost stated before taking Arthur's hand, his touch cold and surprisingly light. It was almost like the ghost was simply the wind. Arthur suddenly wondered what it would feel like to kiss the ghost, but he quickly dismissed it. It'd be cold and airy, just like how they were holding hands.

"I half expected your hand to go through mine…" Arthur mumbled dumbly, right before Alfred fazed his hand through the English students.

"Like that?" Alfred laughed, an amused smile on his face. "I can control it, ya know? S'kinda a pain sometimes, but oh well. It can be really helpful too!"

I would just like to remind you about reviewing. It means a lot to me for all of your feedback, and makes me want to update me. You don't have to, but it would definitely brighten my day. Thank you~! See you soon!