Oh, my lovelies! Look at what Misery has for you!
Yes, another chapter! Happy dance!
Okay, so remember how stuff has been going down in the last couple of chapters? Well, here's some more stuff for you!
Enjoy!~
Hetalia © Hidekaz Himaruya
Don't Lean On Me © Bringmemisery
Chapter 13 - Ist das vorbei?
Gil threw up what felt like a gallon of water onto the sand below him. His head spun and his lungs ached. He looked up and Eliza's glossy green eyes met his. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she threw herself onto him.
Gil felt her tears slide down his neck, so he wrapped his arms around her.
"Hey," his voice felt raw, "What did I tell you about crying?"
"Shut it," Lizzie tapped her hand a few times against his chest.
Gil laughed as he looked up.
Arthur and Allistor both were staring at him.
"Hey," he said to them, "sorry about throwing you guys around."
Arthur smiled, "no need for an apology, Gil. It wasn't your doing."
"Oi," Allistor said, "how are ye fellin'?"
Gil shrugged, "Besides being soaked and my throat hurting, I think I'm awesome."
"Great to hear," Arthur held out his hand, "let's get you dried up."
Gil took Arthur's hand, and he stood up – Lizzie still clung onto him.
"Where did it go?" Gil asked.
"According to Allistor," Arthur started, "he disposed of it inside of the lake."
"Sure did," Allistor beamed, "damned beasty didn't know what hit 'im!"
Gil turned back to the dark water, then back to Arthur, "So, it's gone?"
Both Allistor and Arthur nodded, but there was still something that didn't quiet settle right in the pit of Gil's stomach.
It seemed too easy. . .
Gil looked past Arthur and noticed Francis, Lovino, and Antonio exit from the forest. All three of them looked a bit roughed up, but they didn't seem too injured. Gil couldn't help but feel as if he had betrayed his friends. He knew it was not his fault to begin with, but it was still his own body that had brought harm to them all.
Images of his friends' bodies being thrown around were flashing in his mind. Butterflies formed in his bosom as the trio approached the group. All three of them had their eyes on him. His own eyes toggled over each one of them, the knot grew tighter.
He wanted to say something to them, but was 'sorry' enough?
It felt like hours had passed before Francis spoke.
". . . Gil?" he tilted his head, "are you alright?"
Gil took in a burning breath, "Yeah, totes."
"Amigo," Antonio smiled, "that's great to hear. We all got really worried. Don't see this kind of stuff every day, you know?"
Gil tried to force a laugh, and he felt Lizzie's grip tighten. He looked to her, but noticed her eyes were fixed somewhere past the trio. He followed her gaze and noticed what seemed to be a dark black cloud between a few trees. His heart skipped.
It was the same as the one they'd seen earlier.
Gil braced himself for another wave of loud shrieks, yet there came none.
The cloud remained in that spot as if it were watching them.
"Gil?" Arthur asked, "Is something the matter?"
Gil looked to him, "that cloud thing that was in the house – it's out here."
Then Gil looked back to where the cloud stood, but it has vanished. He scanned amongst the trees while he heard Arthur question him about the notion.
"Hmmm," Gil furrowed his eyebrows, "it was over there. . ."
"Oi," Allistor said, "maybe yer imagination's gettin' the better of ye?"
"No," Arthur stated, "I feel something out here. Wait . . . there are more."
"More what?" Gil turned to the Englishman.
Then Gil felt another tug on his arm, but this time it was much more forceful. He heard Lizzie's scream before he had finished turning his head. His eyes locked on her as he watched her body pull away from them as if she were being dragged. Not a moment later he ran after her.
His lungs were on fire as he tried to reach her. He watched her legs kick out, her arms seemed to be tied to her sides. Her screams were what made him push harder even though the sand tripped him a few times. He extended his hand out to her as he ran, but he could not catch up.
She called to him once more, and with another push he picked up speed and stretched his arm out again. Then a moment later a wooden door flashed before his eyes, and Gil felt himself slam right into it. He fell backwards down a quick flight of hard stairs. Once at the bottom he stared up to the black, spinning sky. Someone's blurred face blocked his view as he felt his body being lifted.
He shook his head, and his vision sharped. He looked at Antonio who was saying something, but he couldn't figure out what. His eyes looked ahead and fell onto what appeared to be a large, old wooden cabin. Arthur and Allistor were pulling at its front door.
Gil felt fire course through his veins as he pulled away from the Spaniard. He ran up to the window at the front of cabin. He pounded his fists against the glass, but it would not crack. He looked around the sand and found a decent sized rock. After he picked it up he pounded the glass once again, but no damage seemed to be done. He tried to look inside, but the entire structure seemed filled with shadows.
"Gil!' He heard Arthur shout, "Get out of the way."
Gil stepped away and watched bolts of green and blue strike the structure. As the lights continued, he walked around the side.
There had to be another way in.
He passed another dark window as he continued to walk, but he still couldn't see in there. A few more steps and he reached the back of the cabin, and found a wooden deck that rested above the edge of the lake. He climbed over the short rail before him and peaked though one of the windows. Though it was still dark, he could almost make out a table and a few chairs. He stepped away from the window and scratched his neck as he looked up toward the roof. His eyes fell onto the top of a stone chimney – a grin spread on his face.
He reached up to the roof, and heaved himself up. He walked along the slick tiles until he reached the chimney. He peaked inside the dark hole before he sat onto the edge. He threw his legs over and with one deep breath he dropped inside. The fall was quick, but he landed hard onto his rear. He winced as he rubbed his behind, then he looked around the darkness. Before him he noticed what looked like a couch and a low coffee table.
He crawled forward, but his forehead pressed against glass. He pulled back and placed his hand onto the glass. He gave a hard shove, and the glass pushed out. He crept out of from the chimney, and stood up. He noticed that couch and table, as well as the table and chairs in a different room towards the back.
He walked around the room and noticed stairs against the far wall. He made his way to them and glanced up to the top. His heart beat skipped as the first step squeaked below his foot. He forced a laugh as he climbed the steps. Once he had reached the top, he noticed a few doors on either side of the walls.
He took in a breath as he approached the one to his right. His hand wrapped around its knob, then he turned it. He pushed open the door and found an empty bed as well as a few crumpled up papers that littered the floor. He walked inside, then checked under the bed.
Nothing was there, so he stood up and made his way to the closet beside the bed. He pulled open its doors, and found clothes hung up before him. He sighed as he closed the doors, and left the room. He couldn't help but feel he was wasting time.
He scanned the doors once more when his eyes caught hold of an orange glow below a door on the far side of the other wall. He paced over to the door and placed his hand on the knob. The surface burned his skin, and he pulled his hand away. He flicked his hand a few times before he kicked in the door.
A wave of heat engulfed him, and his lungs filled with thick smoke. He coughed a few times as he squinted through the bright flames before him. It was then that he heard another cough in the room – it sounded like a woman's.
He drew his sleeve up to his nose as he entered the room. He coughed more the deeper he walked in. His body started to sweat as he reached the back of the room. There he found Lizzie in the corner of the room; her body was bound by thick ropes.
"Lizzie," Gil called out to her, and she looked up.
"Gil," she coughed again.
Gil walked over to her and tugged onto the ropes. He coughed as he looked around the room for anything sharp. To his surprise he found a pocket knife below a desk against the wall. He ran to it, and snatched it up. Then he ran back to Lizzie and cut away at the ropes.
It wasn't too long before he tore through them all. He shoved the knife into his pocket as he lifted Lizzie up to her feet, and then he helped pull her out of the room. As they both stepped into the hallway, the door slammed behind them. They both exchanged looks before Gil forced a laugh.
"Guess it didn't like us," he said before he coughed again.
"Let's get out of here," Lizzie said as she pulled onto his hand.
Gil held onto her hand as he led her down the stairs. Once they reached the bottom, Gil searched for the front door. He managed to find it after a moment, and the two of them approached it. As they walked he could see their friends outside from the window.
They still couldn't get in?
They were a few feet from it when a creak from behind made him stop in his tracks. He looked over his shoulder and saw someone standing at the foot of the stairs. Judging the physique Gil could tell this person was male. He seemed tall, his skin looked dark, and he was clothed in all black. The thing that concerned him, though, was that fact that he couldn't make out the face – the man's entire face had been covered by a large black mask.
Gil pulled Lizzie beside him.
"Open the door," he said as he tried to push her closer to the door.
"And leave you? That's not going to happen."
"Liz," he said as he continued to watch the man.
Then he heard a low laugh come from the man, which caused Gil's anger to rise. He pulled out the knife from his pocket, and the man laughed again.
"What's up?" Gil gave a nod, "need something, buddy?"
The man laughed once more, but this time he took a step closer.
"Oh," Gil smiled, "Not much of a talker, I see."
The man took another step forward, but so did Gil. His heart raced as the man continued to inch closer. He notice the man pull something out from behind him, and soon Gil's eyes fell onto a much larger knife before him.
"Okay," Gil laughed, "gonna play like that, huh? Didn't anyone ever teach you how to play fair?"
Then the man launched at Gil who managed to dodge out of the way.
"Liz," He yelled as the ducked from another swing, "the door would be nice!"
"Hang on!" she yelled back as Gil plunged his knife towards the man.
The blade slid across the man's right hand between his thumb and index finger. The man's knife fell from his hand, and Gil used the time to plant a quick kick straight into the guy's stomach. The man hunched over, but he caught hold of Gil's leg.
The man spun around and Gil was slammed onto the staircase. His back throbbed as he lifted his head up. The man walked over to him. Gil then noticed that his knife was still in his hand, so he decided to fling it at the guy.
The man tried to dodge it, but the knife penetrated his inner thigh. He wailed as Gil rushed to his feet. Gil landed another kick, and the man crashed to the ground. Gil looked down at him as he shook his head.
"Bro, not to be an ass, but your footwork needs some work."
Once again the man laughed.
Gil furrowed his brows, and then a sudden pain shot through his left shoulder. He brought his hand up, but he hit something that felt like wood. His eyes then trailed down the massive arrow that had now been buried into his flesh. He blinked a few times before he felt himself slam to the ground.
The man stood above him and he stepped onto Gil's stomach. He then grabbed the end of the arrow, and pushed it farther into Gil's shoulder.
Gil yelled as he felt the tip dig through his muscles. He reached up for the arrow, and he tried to push it the other way. Soon the two of them pushed onto it, which caused Gil to wince more and more.
Then Gil heard a loud thud and the man grabbed the back of his head. The man turned around and Gil could see Lizzie standing there, one of those iron chimney pokers in her hands.
Lizzie smiled, "What's wrong, big guy? Did you get a little booboo?"
The man growled as he launched at Lizzie, but she swing at him.
Then the front door burst open, and Gil watched as a flash of green struck the side of the man.
The man growled again, and then bolted for the back door – Lizzie, as well as Arthur, ran after him.
Gil tried to prop himself up as he noticed Lovino run over to him.
"Holy crap," the Italian yelled, "are you alright?"
"Could be better," Gil tried to laugh, but flinched instead.
"Be careful," Lovino said, "you're bleeding all over the damn floor."
Francis and Antonio walked in, and they looked right at Gil. They ran to him and soon they all helped Gil to his feet.
"Amigo," Antonio said, "let's take you out to Allistor. See if he can get that thing out of you."
"Bro," Gil replied, "is this what is was like back in the olden times?"
"Ah, great," Lovino groaned, "we're freaking losing him."
"Hang on, mon cher," Francis said, "you'll be fine."
The four of them walked outside and found Allistor, as well as Arthur and Lizzie, standing a few feet away from the cabin. Arthur looked over to them and his eyes widened.
"Good lord," he yelled, "That damned thing hit you?"
"Pretty cool, huh?" Gil smiled, "I'm like a freakin' knight."
Arthur ran over to him and placed his hand on the arrow, which caused Gil to tense up.
"Gil," Arthur muttered, "We have to pull this out."
"But it's my awesome souvenir!"
"You can't be serious," Arthur looked over his shoulder, "Allistor. Assistance, please."
Allistor walked over to them and smiled, "Ah, boy. This'll be fun."
Both of the Kirklands grabbed hold of the arrow and heaved. Gil held in a shout as the arrow slid from his shoulder. Once it was out Gil could feel his arm and chest grow warm and moist.
Arthur mumbled something and placed his hand upon Gil's shoulder.
A tingling sensation filled Gil's arm for a moment, then all of the pain vanished.
"There we are," Arthur smiled, "good as new."
Gil rotated his arm, still surprised how fast he was healed.
"Gil?" Arthur then asked, "what in the blazes where you doing in there by yourself? You could have had the decency as to inform at least one of us that you were going in there!"
Gil shrugged, "I had to save Prinzessin."
"You could have been killed!" Arthur crossed his arms, "Good lord, we had only just saved you from a possession and then from drowning, and then you're off trying to be a hero!"
Gil laughed, "Hey, I'm the awesome knight in shining armor, bro."
"Take this serious, you git!" Arthur shook his head, "and who was that man inside of there?"
"Beats me. Found him after I got Lizzie."
"Strange," Arthur pressed his finger to mouth, "He was obviously human—"
Gil tilted his head, "Weren't you two following him?"
"We were, but we lost him somehow."
Gil opened his mouth when smoked filled his nostrils. He looked over to the cabin and could see flames of orange and red dance in one of the upstairs windows - His gut knotted again.
Get out of there.
"Guys," Gil said, "I think we should leave."
The group all threw questions at him which made his knot tighter.
"Just trust me," Gil said as he tried to pull on a few of them.
Though they still questioned, the entire group walked farther from the cabin. Not a moment later there was a loud crash, and Gil glanced over his shoulder to find the cabin engulfed in flames. He looked back to the group, all them stood in disbelief.
Gil gave a quick smile, "and you all didn't want to go."
Arthur shook his head, "Let's head back."
The walk back to the house seemed to take forever. Arthur continued to rant on about how 'dangerous' Gil had been and how he needed to be 'more careful.' His brother and Francis tried to silence the Englishman a few times to no avail. Antonio laughed at their bickering, and Lovino remained silent.
Gil turned over to Lizzie. He noticed black ash smudged onto her face. He reached out to her, and tried to rub it off.
She turned to him and smiled, "what are you doing?"
"Cleaning you up."
"You should clean yourself up. Your hair is black."
He laughed, "Hey, think I can be a guitarist in a punk band now?"
"You're stupid," she rolled her eyes, "how are you feeling?"
He shrugged, "today has just been one of those days."
"Tell me about it," she inched her way closer to him, "but it's over now, right?"
Gil put his arm around her shoulder, "I sure hope so. I'm getting too old for this crap."
"Oh, please. If you're old what am I?"
"Ancient!"
"You're a jackass," she laughed, and Gil did too.
Not long after Gil could see the back of Arthur's house. Arthur mentioned something about them all staying since it was very late as the group made their way to the front. Once to the front, Gil caught sight of a car across the street. At first he wanted to shrug it off, but then he noticed something.
For one, in front of Arthur's house was an open field. The closest neighbor he had was a few miles away due to the huge property line.
The other thing was that though the lights were off, he could still tell that the car was on. He could even see someone in the driver's seat.
It wasn't until the group reached the door that Gil watched as the car drove off.