Three: "William J. Smith"
Matt,
Dude! Remember how when we were kids we'd get so freaked out that the plantation was haunted. You never actually saw a ghost? Right!? Tell me now Mattie! TELL ME! Because I just heard this crazy story and I'm freaked out!
Cue music and Hetalia title card.
Alfred was walking in from cleaning the stables and it was nearing lunch. He pulled off his work gloves and wiped his brow with his wrist when he stopped noticing that although Gilbert was in his usual place on the living room couch he wasn't playing video games. No, instead the pale caretaker was staring intently at the television watching the news.
"Dude, what's up?" he asked crossing his arms. "Is it that interesting?"
"Oh hey Alfred," Gilbert said not taking his eyes from the screen. "It looks like we'll be getting out first hurricane of the season this year."
"Huh, really? That's no big deal. I'll lock the barn up good and make sure the horses have plenty of hay," replied the youth.
That was when Feliciano and Ludwig came in.
"A hurricane?" Feliciano said worry evident in his voice. "Wah,Ludwig! I'm scared! I never been in a hurricane before."
"It's no big deal," Alfred said. "We get em all the time."
"In a house like this we'll be fine," added Ludwig, shaking Feliciano off of his arm.
"I suppose... but sometimes it isn't the weather we should be concerned about," said Gilbert cryptically.
Ludwig knew better than to take the bait. Unfortunately Feliciano and Alfred didn't.
"Concerned? What do you mean?" asked the Italian.
"Yeah dude, come on. Tell us."
"Well, I don't know. Your Grandmother said you might be sensitive to this information seeing as it concerns your family history and all," Gilbert said looking away to hide his massive grin.
"My family? Now you have to tell me!" Alfred said playing into Gilbert's hand easily.
Gilbert theatrically sighed, "Fine I suppose I have no choice but to tell you about..."
Dramatic pause.
"The ghost."
"G,ghost!" Alfred had a look of sheer mortification.
"Yes a ghost. And now sit here children. Come, gather around and let old Gilbert tell you the awesome tale."
"Do we have to?" Ludwig asked unimpressed as the other two slightly older tenants obediently flocked to Gilbert's side.
"Come, Ludwig!" Gilbert beckoned him.
With a resigned sigh Ludwig went and joined the other three on the couch.
"OK, so now let me tell you. It was 1765 in the midst of the civil war..."
"We weren't even independent then," pointed out Alfred.
"1865! Whatever it was that time! Anyway back in that time Alfred, your family was in the Confederate States of America and in this town many a young man enlisted to fight for the confederacy, donning that sad gray uniform to battle against their northern brother. One such young man was William J. Smith. He wasn't older than you are today Alfred. In fact he was the same age of 18."
"A year younger than me!" Feliciano smiled.
"Yes, and he was in love with a girl, a bright girl, Stella Faye Jones, a true southern belle who lived right here on this Plantation. He promised her that after the war he would return and he would marry her and they would live happily ever after."
"Aw, what a nice story!" Feliciano cooed.
"I'm not finished yet! There's more," Gilbert said. "Because there was no happily ever after... only death and sadness. Our poor William J. Smith didn't die a noble death in combat. No, instead he went missing during a routine drill off the Chesapeake Bay, tossed over board like he was a straw dummy."
Alfred commented, "Dude, that sucks."
"It did suck," agreed Gilbert. "But it sucked even more for Miss Stella for it is said that the summer after his death a hurricane hit the area and it blew his soul from the sea to the shore. And where was the first place did the poor soul of William J. Smith go?"
"Uh... the post office?" guessed Alfred.
"No! It was here! To his dear Miss Stella. But she wasn't to be found. She had married one of the other soldiers in his regimen and thus was gone from the house. Confused and lovesick the ghost tried every entrance of the house banging, knocking and wailing in each door and window throughout the entirety of the night but nobody answered."
"Of course they didn't! It's a ghost!" Alfred said, voice up an octave as he clutched a throw pillow to his chest.
"Yes, and every single year since, during every hurricane the poor soul of William J. Smith is brought to shore and here to the plantation he comes knocking on every window... and every door, moaning and wailing... 'Let me in... llllet meee innnn'."
Alfred shrieked and covered his face with the pillow.
"So now don't you see... this hurricane is more than just a storm it's a test from beyond!"
"NOOOOOO!" Alfred ran out of the room and up the stairs leaving behind the pillow.
Prussia's voice: "Hetalia"
Fierce winds were blowing outside. Hurricane Edwin was scheduled to hit their tiny burg and the hour was approaching. The entire county was shut down, including the university which meant that all of the tenants had nowhere to be except home. The three youngest members of the household sat together in the kitchen having their breakfast of Fruit Loops and bacon observing the way the wind moved from a nearby window.
"I bet the horses are scared," lamented Feliciano.
Ludwig tried to comfort him, "They have enough food and water in the barn. They'll be safe."
"Dudes!" he interjected startling them with his loud voice. "We should totally build a fort. Me and my bro Matt used to do it all the time when we were kids."
"A fort? How would we do that?" Ludwig asked. "The weather is horrible."
"No outside! Inside. We can make a fort of blankets and pillows! Then we can spend the storm inside of it," suggested the American.
"That sounds fun!" said Feliciano. "Where would we put it?"
"The living room. Let's go get our blankets and pillows and meet back down!" Alfred suggested.
"OK!" chirped the Italian.
The three went to gather their things. Ludwig was more reluctant that the other two but joined in regardless. After a few minutes the three were in the living room with their blankets and pillows. Ludwig had a gray pillow and dark army green blanket. Feliciano's pillow was white and the blanket was as well with blue dots. Alfred had a space themed pillow with a plain blue blanket. What was of interest though was the extra thing he brought down. A stuffed alien toy.
"What's that?" Feliciano asked.
"This is Tony!" Alfred said holding up his toy. "I take him everywhere with me."
"Cute!" Feliciano cooed.
Alfred also brought down the spare blankets that his Granny had on hand and the boys then began to build their fort. Every once in a while someone else from the house would come in and see what they were doing but merely walked away dismissing it as some kid thing. At once point Ivan came and asked to join in but Alfred told him no so the big guy sulked away.
Finally their fort was complete! Alfred, Ludwig and Feliciano stood in front of the TV to admire their creation.
"Wow that looks so cool!" Feliciano said.
"Yeah, I should take a picture to send to my bro!" Alfred said digging out his phone.
He snapped a picture and so did Ludwig and Feliciano.
"Ve, My fratello would like this too!"
After the pictures were taken the three entered their fort situating themselves on the blankets and pillows.
"This is the perfect place to spend a storm," Ludwig said once they were comfortable.
The three were laying stomach down in the fort with their arms crossed over their pillow. Feliciano was in the middle of the two blonds.
"Ain't it!" beamed Alfred. "And we can play video games from here too. We have a perfect view of the TV."
As soon as he said that there was a loud clap of thunder and a brilliant flash of lightening before the house lights flickered a bit and then shut off. The power was out and the place was completely dark. It wasn't night time yet but the storm made the place seem like it. Alfred hugged Tony to his chest and Feliciano clung to Ludwig.
"Wah! The storm is here!" said Feliciano.
"Don't worry! I have it covered," Alfred said producing a flashlight.
He turned it on and flashed it towards the window where they could see the rain falling like sheets.
"I guess that we can't play video games then," said Feliciano letting go of Ludwig.
"I always come prepared."
Alfred proceeded to pull out a PSP from under his pillow. He handed Feliciano the flashlight and turned on the hand held device. It was then that there was a knocking on the door.
"I'll get it!"
Feliciano went to leave the fort but Alfred grabbed him by the back of his shirt pulling him back.
"No! You can't!" Alfred said.
"Why not?"
"I can't let you die! I'm the HERO!"
"Die?" Feliciano looked confused.
"R,remember Gilbert's story... about the... g,ghost?"
"There is no ghost," Ludwig said. "Sorry my brother has a tendency to tell tales."
"No," Alfred shook his head. "I remember when we were young during the storms there would always be a scratching at m window. It was him, William J. Smith."
The door sounded again, louder this time.
"It was probably a branch," said Ludwig reasonably. "And outside right now is probably one of our housemates."
The doorbell began to chime.
"No, because everyone's home. School's canceled today and stores have closed too," rejoined Alfred.
Ludwig sighed and got out of the fort disregarding what Alfred said.
"Coming," he called.
"Ludwig, no!" Feliciano and Alfred called out and ran after him.
Ludwig walked towards the door and the other two scurried after him pleading for him not to answer. The German teen would not have any of it though but before he could get there the ringing stopped.
"They're gone now. You don't have to open it anymore," tried Alfred.
"Ridiculous," Ludwig said and he swung open the door.
There was no one there and for a few seconds the trio peered out into the bleakness of the storm. The winds were blowing branches in the yard and the rain was pelting the ground harshly. Ludwig closed the door. Alfred followed up by locking it, even applying the chain.
"Dude!" Alfred said. "It was the ghost."
"Just because no one was there doesn't mean it was a ghost," Ludwig sighed.
"Then what was it?" Alfred asked.
"Maybe they gave up because we took so long to answer the door," suggested Ludwig.
Alfred shook his head looking pale, "No, it was William J. Smith and you almost let him in."
Suddenly Alfred's eyes widened behind his glasses.
"The back door!"
He ran to the kitchen using his flashlight to guide him. He arrived in time to lock the door. By the time Feliciano and Ludwig arrived inside Alfred was already walking away from it.
"Someone's outside," Feliciano pointed out raising a thin finger.
"Huh?" Alfred turned to look and jumped in the air about three feet at the sound of knocking coming from the door. From the tiny window the grayness of a figure was indeed visible. "I,it's the ghost!"
"But it looks like-" Ludwig began walking towards the back door.
"Ludwig you idiot!" Alfred whisper-screamed.
He grabbed the German by the arm and lugged him out of the room as the knocking began to get louder.
"Let me in!" said a voice that was hard to distinguish as it was distorted by the wind.
"William J. Smith!" Alfred screamed in a high pitch squeal of terror.
He ran back to the living room with Ludwig and Feliciano trailing behind him. He dived back into the fort and didn't speak until the others were back in with him.
"That was a close one! We were almost goners," he said.
"Ve, that ghost looked familiar," noted Feliciano.
"He sounded familiar too," said Ludwig.
"Don't be fooled by his tricks! It's the ghost," Alfred hushed them both.
A tapping sound was suddenly heard and the boys looked towards the source of the sound. The living room window and in it was silhouette cloaked in dark gray and face obscured by a curtain of dark hair. It hit the window again.
"Ghost!" Alfred hopped up and closed the blinds causing an indignant shout to spill out of the figure's mouth.
"Aiyah!"
"It's Yao!" Ludwig said, recognition dawning across his facial features.
"No! It's the ghost pretending to be Yao!" said Alfred.
"You're irrational," Ludwig said. "And illogical. If Yao is here all we have to do is go to his room and we'd find him."
"Everyone is home!" Alfred retorted.
"Then let's go find Yao," offered Ludwig. "So we can prove the ghost isn't him."
"Fine!"
The friends began their journey up the stairs to check on Yao. Alfred was scared and even though he wanted to be the hero he let Ludwig take the flashlight and lead. Ludwig merely shook his head and accepted the flashlight. They went up the creaky stairs that on a normal day weren't creaky but somehow became so just for the storm apparently. When they reached the top the hall was long and dark. The only light was from the flashlight and the tiny grayed window at the end of the wall that was being thrashed by the rain and wind.
Feliciano clung to Ludwig's back and Alfred also walked closely as they walked down the hall in small steps. It felt like the entire place was deserted even though people were home. Yao's room was the last door on the left and the walk felt like it took forever. Finally they knocked on the door.
"Yao?" called Ludwig.
No answer.
"Dude, answer! You're freaking us out," Alfred joined.
Ludwig tried the door knob and the door opened revealing a dark shadowy room. The curtains were drawn pitching the room in black. Ludwig pointed the flashlight in and swept it across the room revealing the place was devoid of any human life.
"He's not here," Feliciano said.
"The ghost got him," Alfred said.
"Alfred," sighed Ludwig. "There is no ghost. The person knocking on the door was Yao."
Suddenly there was a tapping from behind the three in the hall. Alfred's blood ran cold as three words were heard over the howl of the storm.
"Let me in!"
They turned to the window and Alfred screamed as there was the figure rapping on the 2nd story window.
"The ghost can fly!" Alfred shrieked.
"It's just Yao!" Ludwig yelled at the American for the umpteenth time.
"All Chinese people can fly!" said Feliciano. "I saw it on Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon."
He skipped up to the window and opened it up letting in a gush of wind and rain.
"Finally!" came Yao's voice and he crawled into the window.
Apparently he was using a ladder and not flying.
"Dude! What are you doing out now? Don't you know there is a ghost on the loose?"
Ludwig just gave up trying to reason with Alfred any longer.
"I forgot my key and had to work today. The Panda Buffet is open every day including days like this. I brought back food," he held up a water logged plastic bag.
Ludwig took the bag from the Chinese man's cold hands.
"We'll take this down stairs. Sorry we didn't open the door sooner," Ludwig apologized.
"The power's out. This sucks. I wanted a hot bath," said Yao. "I'll change and meet you down there."
He went into his room and the young trio ventured back down the stairs. This time Alfred held the flashlight.
"Man, that was anti-climatic," said the youth with a pout. "I thought there would be a ghost for sure."
All of his original fear seemed to have vanished.
"Really? You seemed scared," Ludwig said.
"Naw, I was just pretending," blushed Alfred.
"Really? You must be an awful good pretender!" noted Feliciano.
"Are you kidding? No ghost couldn't get me. I'm the HERO!"
Ludwig sighed and shook his head but couldn't help the slight smile that came to his lips. Alfred was a strange guy. He was so afraid just moments ago but he bounced back so quickly. Perhaps it was an admirable trait.
"Alfred's really fun isn't he?" said Feliciano as he and Ludwig descended the stairs.
Alfred had already run ahead of them and was bouncing around in the atrium.
"Come on guys! You're so slow!" he shouted up at the two.
Ludwig just chuckled lowly smile still on his lips, "Yeah. I guess he is."
-to be continued-
AN: thanks everyone for reading. this kind of story is pretty new for me to write so I hope it's fun for everyone. i am trying to slowly but surely develop everyone's character so there will be a chance for all of the boys to get close to alfred. don't worry if you're favs haven't popped up yet. please review! it would be loved