I got too excited and decided to post the next chapter. n_n;;;
War was hell. Absolute and utter hell. Alfred didn't know how else to describe it.
After Arthur had left, things just went downhill. Alfred's father, and even Francis, enlisted to fight for America's freedom. Alfred tried joining himself, but he was not permitted to enlist. Although he was of age, the men thought Alfred was still too young and scrawny to enlist. The young teen tried arguing with the men but in the end they convinced Alfred that he would be more helpful staying in the town than going off into battle.
Alfred felt useless at home. He couldn't do a single damn thing to help his homeland. All he could do was help his mother and brother with the chores and assist the occasional passing Rebel soldier.
Every so often they would get a letter from Pa or Francis… this is how they received the news that Alfred's father had died in battle.
Alfred's mother did not stop crying for weeks after they heard the terrible news. She clutched tightly to Francis' letter and would reread it every so often as if hoping she read it wrong the first thousand times and that her husband was still alive and well. Unfortunately, the letter only served as an ugly reminder for the terrible traumatic truth brought on by the blood spill of war.
It didn't help that Red Coats soon made their way into town. They stripped the town of nearly all it's goods and even raided their farm.
So desperately Alfred wanted to fight these men that caused so much grief and mayhem to his land, but alas he could do nothing. He knew he was terribly outnumbered and would certainly die at their hands, leaving Matthew and his mother to fend for themselves. He couldn't do that to them, so he remained silent as the Red Coats destroyed their town and left their farmland barren.
By the time Alfred turned a more suitable age to join the army, he was unable to do so. His mother grew deathly ill and he had to remain by her side to tend to her. Alfred and Matthew did all that they could for their mother, but having no medicines and no food she grew weak. It didn't take long for her to also pass away and join their father in the afterlife…
Now, it was just Alfred and Matthew. Alone in a ruined town with no food. It had been nearly two years since anyone had passed through their land.
Alfred looked up from the table to glance at his brother who was sitting by the window. Matthew's face was pale and gaunt giving him the appearance of a dead corpse. Anyone who looked at him would have indeed already thought he wasdead if the boy did blink or sigh every so often.
The older brother knew he didn't look any better. His once short blond hair had grown to be just as long and shaggy looking as Matthew's and his sky blue eyes didn't hold the same light that they once had.
Matthew clutched his stomach as a loud gurgling noise erupted from it. His face became contorted in anguish as another hunger pain racked through his body.
Alfred stumbled towards his brother as fast as he could in his weakened state. "Are you ok?" He asked as he wrapped his arms around the younger sibling. It was a stupid question because Alfred already knew the answer but he still asked all the same.
Matthew's eyes remained screwed shut as he shook his head. "H-hungry…" he gasped painfully.
Alfred frowned. He wished he could take his brother far away from this barren place to somewhere there was food and warmth, but they were stuck here. They had nothing to protect themselves from dangerous animals lurking in the woods. They had never had problem with wild animals before, but when food became scarce the animals took to preying on townspeople and any other traveler who tried to pass through the woods.
"I know…" Alfred said miserably as he patted his brother's head. "Lemme check the cabinets. There has to besomething in there we can eat."
Alfred left Matthew's side and made his way into the kitchen. He opened cabinets he knew would be empty but he prayed that some sort if miracle would happen and good would magically appear.
As Alfred opened the last cabinet, he let out a startled yelp and stumbled backwards into the floor.
"What is it?!" Matthew inquired worriedly. He arose from his seat to help Alfred stand and looked into the cabinet.
Inside was an infestation of roaches that had made a nest in their pantry. Dozens of them scattered around in the small space as light came into the previously dark cramped space.
"Yuck. How long have these bastards been in here." Alfred inquired in disgust.
"Not sure."Matthew answered sadly, obviously disappointed that there wasn't any food. "The weather is starting to get colder. They're probably trying to find shelter and food."
"Well they aren't gonna find any foodhere that's for sure. Right Mattie?"
Matthew didn't answer. The younger sibling stared oddly at the cabinet.
"Right Mattie?" Alfred tried asking again thinking the brother didn't hear him the first time.
"Alfred…" Matthew said hesitantly and faced his brother. "We have to eat something soon or we're going to starve to death."
Alfred looked at his brother sadly. "I know, Mattie. I wish there was something I could do, but there's nothing here we can eat."
Matthew fiddled with the hem of his shirt, which was now much too baggy for the younger males bony frame. "There's something here that we can eat." He replied eyeing the cabinet hesitantly.
Alfred's eyes widened. "Oh no… No, Mattie. No no no! Oh God, please don't tell me you're suggesting what Ithink you're suggesting!"
"Look… I don't like the thought of eating cockroaches either. But right now, it's either that or starving to death. Which do you choose?" Matthew insisted.
Alfred didn't reply. He knew his brother was right. So he simply nodded to show his agreement to do something he never thought he would do in a million years.
Matthew was the first to move. Alfred watched his brother warily as the younger tentatively grabbed a roach. He stared at the struggling insect for a moment before screwing his eyes shut and popping it into his mouth.
Alfred gagged at the loud crunching and sound and would have vomited if tree was anything in his stomach to be emptied.
Matthew swallowed and shuddered distastefully. He opened his eyes and looked expectantly at Alfred. When the older sibling made no move, Matthew reached forward and grabbed another roach.
"I know you don't want to do this but it has to be done." Matthew said as he held up a particularly large roach before his brother. "If it makes you feel any better… it doesn't taste that bad."
It didn't make Alfred feel better. Matthew paused and he always paused when he was telling a lie, but Alfred didn't point it out. Instead, he screwed his eyes shut, just as Matthew had done, and opened his mouth wide so he couldn't watch as his brother lowered the bug into his awaiting mouth.
Alfred shuffled about his family's barren farmland. He looked around the dried up wheat fields with a miserable expression. He remembered how the wheat would gleam like gold in the sunlight. If only they had some of those luscious grains now. He would've treated it as the golden treasure it really was.
Now the American, who had just passed his 23rd birthday, was searching the fields in hope that something, anything, could be growing even though this land had not produced any crops in the past 3 years.
Alfred gave a heavy sigh and was about to join Matthew inside when he was stopped by a low eerie moan.
Alfred stood stock still at the sound. It was hard to see much in the twilight. The American could barely make out the surrounding trees billowing in the wind… The wind! He sighed in relief.
"It's probably just the wind." Alfred muttered to himself. He started to relaxed but immediately tensed when he heard the moan again. This time it sounded much clearer.
"Alfred…" a strangled voice called.
Painstakingly slow, Alfred turned to face the direction he heard the voice coming from. On the opposite side of the field was a dark figure. Alfred stared at it wide eyed as it limped towards him.
Alfred wanted to scream and yell for help at the sight of this creature but he couldn't find his voice.
"Is it a ghost?!" Alfred wondered wildly to himself. "Is it some evil spirit intent on harvesting my soul?!"
"Alfred." It called sounding even clearer.
Alfred paused. He knew that voice!
"Francis?!" Alfred called back.
The figure didn't answer after that. Instead it fell in a heap onto the earth.
"Francis!" Alfred called again. This time frantically. He ran hurriedly over to his cousin. He fell to his knees next to Francis and rolled him over to see his face. The sight Alfred was met with made his stomach turn.
Francis' body was covered in deep gashes and numerous bullet wounds. His eyes were screwed shut and pain was evident on the man's face. Alfred wondered how it was possible for the Frenchman to still be alive and breathing (even if it was a bit ragged).
"O-oh my god." Alfred's hands hovered over Francis. He was afraid to touch him in fear that he might do more damage. Tears welled in his eyes as a feeling of helplessness overtook him. "Lemme go get Matthew. He will know what to do."
Alfred tried to stand but his cousin's hand shot out to tightly grab his wrist and stop him.
"Alfred…" Francis' spoke brokenly. He opened his eyes, which looked dull and lifeless, to stare at Alfred intently. "D-don't go… I have… something urgent to tell you…"
Alfred tried to pry the man's hand off of his wrist. "That can wait, but I need you to let go of me so I can get you some help!"
"No!" Francis tried to shout, but it came out as a horrid gurgling sound. Blood spewed forth from the man's mouth and pooled onto the ground as he began to cough. "Please…" he gasped desperately. "Not much time… have to warn… Alfred…"
Alfred finally succeeded in pulling himself free from Francis' death grip. And sighed in relief. "You can warn me later. I'll be right back with Matthew."
Alfred ran back to the house ignoring his cousin's protests. He barged into the house, startling Matthew, and hurriedly explained to his brother about their injured cousin. Matthew wasted no time in following Alfred outside to help Francis.
As they approached the place Alfred left Francis, the older sibling's eyes doubled and then tripled in size.
"W-where did he go?!" Alfred exclaimed. The spot where Francis had been lying just minutes ago was empty. Alfred walked around frantically looking every which way for his injured cousin. "H-he was just here! He couldn't have moved on his own. He was too wounded to go anywhere else."
"Alfred…" Matthew spoke softly.
"Maybe someone came and took him! He said he had something to tell me!"
"Alfred…" Mathew said a little louder.
"Or maybe he did move on his own! Maybe he tried crawling back to the house and we ran right pass him!"
"Alfred!" Matthew grabbed hold of his frantic brother and lookedsternly into the other's wild eyes. "Francis was never here."
"But he was!" Alfred insisted as he stared back at his brother. "He talked to me and even grabbed me and-"
"No!" Matthew said more firmly. His hold on his brother tightened. "You need to stop doing this to yourself. Francis wasn't here. He's probably still off fighting in the war. You were probably just hallucinating from lack of food."
Tears filled Alfred's eyes as his brother's words slowly sank in. The American fell to his knees on the hard ground. He let the tears silently slip down his face as the reality set in.
Francis wasn't here. They were still alone and no one was coming back for them.
Matthew carefully patted his brother's head. "I'm sorry Alfred. I know you want to see Francis come back for us but he can't do that yet. There's a war going on and he won't be able to come until it's over."
Alfred didn't answer. He continued I stare at the dry ground below him.
Matthew sighed heavily and shivered in the wind. "It's getting cold out. I'm going to try and light a fire inside. Come in when you feel up to it."
Alfred nodded as his brother made his way back inside. He remained were he was a few moments thinking over the hallucination he had just had. It all seemed so vivid and real but he knew his brother was right. Francis couldn't be anywhere near here. He probably wasn't even wounded. He was most likely still fighting for America's freedom.
Alfred shivered as a cold wind hit his face. Deciding it was time to join his brother inside, Alfred placed his hand on the ground to heft himself up but paused when his hand felt something wet.
He raised his hand to see bright red liquid on it. Alfred quickly looked down and could barely make out drops of blood left where Francis had been lying.
Alfred became slightly paranoid after the night he had that hallucination of Francis. Although now, he didn't think it was a hallucination at all. No matter how often Matthew tried to say otherwise, Alfred was convinced it was real.
The American would go outside everyday just to look out into the woods. He hoped to catch some glimpse of his cousin coming back, even though he knew it was unlikely. If what he saw wasn't an hallucination then his cousin was most likely dead. Probably dragged off by hungry wolves.
The air around Alfred was still and quiet but the sun was luckily shining down and giving him warmth. Matthew stayed indoors. He never wished to accompany Alfred outside and it often made the man feel lonely.
On lonely days like these, Alfred's mind would always drift and think of Arthur. The thought of Arthur was the only thing keeping Alfred's sanity. He would think of and miss the Brit's lovely green eyes that reminded Alfred of spring. He missed the way Arthur would make a silly face when arguing with his cousin. He missed the way Arthur would come out in the morning with his bushy eyebrows all mussed up. And (most of all) Alfred missed the feeling of having those arms wrapped tightly around him.
Just like everything else he had lost, Alfred desperately wished he had cherished the man more while he had him…
Alfred figured war had that effect on you. You come to realize how short a time you have on this planet and an even shorter time to appreciate the good things life gives you.
Although Alfred didn't regret his decision to not join Arthur, he regretted that he didn't try hard enough to make the Brit stay. He should have held on tight to the man and never let him go. He should have tried to express his feelings towards the man better to try an convince him to stay… but no… All Alfred was left with was the memory of him staying rooted to the spot as he watched the love of his life walk away.
Alfred was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't notice the sound of footsteps on dry earth. He didn't even notice that someone was approaching him until the figure halted right in front of where Alfred was sitting.
The American blinked slowly when he finally noticed the figure and looked up to meet the persons gaze. The figure smiled down sadly at the American.
"… Hello Alfred" a soft accented voice greeted him.
Alfred took in a shuddering breath and tears filled his eyes as he looked at the beautiful being in front of him.
"A-Arthur?…"
Dun dun duuun! Arthur's back?! What does that mean?! You'll all just have to find out next chapter. ;D
Also, I felt soo terrible writing this chapter. I just want to take Alfred and Matthew and give them a warm blanket and some soup and comfort them. DX
I hope you all still enjoyed this chapter though. Please review to let me know what you think of the story. (Reviews fuel me to write more ;D)
