Shinigami-cat: GAH! It's been forever since I've written anything for this! I'm so sorry! As always… I OWN NOTHING!

Welcome to the lake

It was lunch time and Francis was sitting alone under a tree in the playground. He still hadn't come to terms with the death and disappearance of his best friends. He drew patterns in the dirt with his finger and sighed sadly. "They're all gone." He muttered.

Suddenly Arthur sat next to him and sighed. "Bloody hell." He muttered. "What's going to happen next?"

"What do you mean?" Asked Francis.

Arthur rolled his eyes. "I mean everyone here is dying and going missing! I don't understand any of it. Why don't the police just do something?"

Francis shrugged. "They do what they can… which isn't a lot. We just have to keep going on. With our heads hanging low and becoming numb to the rest of the world. We should just be happy that we are still alive. We are never going to see anyone else again."

Arthur frowned. "What are you on about Francis?"

Francis chuckled darkly and looked at Arthur. "Death is all too common here Arthur Kirkland. It's best to keep your head down and not ask questions or say things that you shouldn't or you might just lose your head." He emphasized his point by dragging his finger across his neck. "But who cares. We are all going to die someday anyway. They just went before us."

Arthur frowned. "You sound like Matthew."

Francis raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about? Matthew is one of the nicest and most level headed one here. His brother disappeared and he's just rolling with the punches. You just have to admire him for that."

"Admire him?" Growled Arthur. "That little shit is fucking insane! I swear by the end of this I wouldn't be surprised if he was the one killing everyone!"

"But Arthur…" Said Francis. "You've seen firsthand what this town does to people. It drives everyone insane." He sighed and looked up at the clear blue sky. "Sorry. I shouldn't be talking like that."

Arthur waved him off. "I don't mind. It's actually quite refreshing to hear someone else voice what they really feel about this place. Instead of how bloody fucking happy they are."

Francis shrugged. "Funny isn't it? How everyone just got on with their lives when someone died? Almost tragic really."

"It was tragic." Said Arthur. "Everyone here… You're all so distant… It's unnerving."

Francis shrugged. "As Ned Kelly said before he died 'Such is life'… Hey Arthur have you had any weird dreams lately?"

Arthur froze for a second. "Yeah… But I ate something weird that night. What about you."

Francis frowned and scratched his head. "I don't know… It's more like déjà vu really. I don't know why. I just keep hearing my sister calling out to me from the bushlands and every time I try to follow her voice I get lot in the bushlands and get killed by an invisible force. It's messed up."

Arthur nodded. "Yeah… How long have you been dreaming that?"

"Ever since I killed Elizaveta and Roderich." Said Francis. "But now the dreams are stronger."

"Really that long?" Asked Arthur.

Francis nodded and looked into Arthur's eyes. "Strange…"

"What?"

"Your eyes." Said Francis. "They just seem… brighter. Brighter than anything I've seen here for a while."

Arthur looked away and growled. "Fuck off Francis. The last person who said something like that tried to rape me."

"What?" Asked Francis with wide eyes. "Who would do such a thing?"

Arthur rolled his eyes and stood up. "You wouldn't believe me even if I told you… I'm going back inside. It's too hot."

XoXoXo page brake oXoXoX

Francis sighed as he sat on his bed. It was about nine at night. He just couldn't get to sleep. He wanted to but he just couldn't. All he could think about was Arthur's frustration and his friends. 'Why is this happening to us? Why did it happen to them? What did they do to deserve all that? No one here deserved to die. No one deserves to die like how so many of us have… Kiku disembowelled… Feliciano fell from a roof… Gilbert stabbed to death… Ludwig hung himself… And all the other bodies that are unaccounted for… That we will never find… ' He shook his head and crawled under the covers of his bed and tried to get to sleep.

All too soon he was awoken by the sound of fingers tapping on his window. He sighed and sat up. This was how his dreams always started. Monica would be tapping at his window getting his attention only to lure him outside to his doom.

Francis sighed and walked over to the window. He could see Monica standing at the edge of the bushlands that made up the back fence of the backyard. Monica was standing there waving and smiling; her long black hair done up in red ribbon pigtails flying around in the wind, her blue night gown fluttered in the breeze and her dark skin seemed to blend into the night. She was waiting for him like she always did.

Francis opened the window and landed bare foot on the soft grass. He slowly walked over to her with a mournful expression on his face. When he was about a meter away from her Monica giggled and quickly darted off into the trees.

Francis slowly followed her. He was in a dreamlike state really, walking but not really feeling like he was there, feeling everything that was around him but completely numb to everything. He kept walking with Monica just in sight at all times.

After several minutes of this Monica started to run. This was new. Francis quickly ran after her in an attempt to keep up with her. "WAIT!" He yelled. "I can't keep up Monica! Wait for me please!"

But Monica ran faster if that was even possible for such a small girl. She darted around the trees, over logs, under branches, faster and faster until she was just a blur. Then she was gone and Francis was left walking blind in the bushlands. He cursed and kept walking. The stumbled around in the dark occasionally bumping into a rock or something few into him making him jump and curse again.

After wandering around for what seemed like several hours Francis came to a clearing. In the clearing was Fever Lake. This was definitely new. He walked over to the Lake and frowned. This dream was definitely stranger than the other ones he had been having.

Out on the lake was Monica. She was just standing there right in the middle waving him over, almost like she was calling out to him. Come on Francis! She seemed to be saying with her smile. Come out onto the lake. It's just a dream right? Come follow me Francis. Trust your baby sister. Trust the sister that trusted you. The one you promised nothing bad would happen. The one you let die all those years ago.

Francis just looked out at her and felt incredible guilt sweep over him. Because of him Monica died. It was all because of him. "I'm sorry." He whispered. "If I'd known then what I know now… I'm sorry."

Slowly Monica walked over to him. Her face so happy and full of life. Soon she was standing in front of him with a huge smile on her face. She held out her hand to him, urging him to take it. Francis hesitated but reluctantly took her hand. Monica smiled and pulled him into the lake.

Francis cried out as he was pulled underwater. He tried to swim back to the surface but Monica was weighing him down; her innocent smile quickly turning into a sinister, venomous grin, the colour of her skin, clothes and hair melted away revealing a sleek, black shapeless figure. Its eyes were large, white and soulless, its mouth was wide and reached from ear to ear.

Francis thrashed and struggled to get out of the creatures grip but the creature just smiled and dragged Francis further down into the lake. All the air was gone from his lungs and the burned for air. He couldn't take it anymore, against his better judgement Francis breathed in a lung full of water. His vision blurred and he went limp. The creature giggled happily and dragged Francis's body further into the dark, murky depths.

This was not a dream Francis would ever wake up from.

TBC

Shinigami-cat: And there… Please review?