What better way to spend a rainy evening than by posting another chapter for you all?
Enjoy!
Hetalia (c) Hima
Don't Lean On Me (c) Bringmemisery
Chapter 23 – Rencontre
"Well, what do you want me to do?" Francis pulled his fingers through his hair.
"Actually listen would be nice!" Arthur snapped as he folded his arms.
"I am listening," Francis tried to lower his tone, "and I already told you that there is nothing we can do!"
"Do you hear yourself?" Arthur snorted, "Do you hear how much of a bloody coward you are?"
"Coward!" Francis chuckled, "Yes, because letting the authorities handle it makes me a coward! Do you not understand that there is nothing we can do about this? We don't have any leads!"
"Then maybe you should have went after him when I told you to!"
"You have legs don't you?" Francis could feel his blood boil.
Arthur grunted as he rolled his eyes, "at least I know how to use them. Unlike the lot of you that let him off and go alone."
"How were we supposed to know this would happen, Arthur? We're not like you are! We can't 'see' things before they happen. We don't all get hunches that something is wrong, so how are we supposed to know?"
"Common sense, maybe?" Arthur took a step forward, "Oh, that's right. More than half of you are lacking in that department!"
"You are ridiculous!" Francis stood his ground as the Englishman stepped once again.
"And you're an imbecile!"
"Why don't the both of you shut up already?" Lovino interrupted, "okay, we made a mistake. Tough shit. We'll find them both, but you two arguing about it isn't making anything better."
"What do you know?" Arthur barked, "Didn't see your sorry arse go after him either."
"Why the hell would I?" Lovino's tone dropped.
"Thought you were his 'friend'?" Arthur mocked.
"Well excuse me for not having his fucking dick up my ass!" Lovino snapped.
"Enough!" Ludwig's voice boomed from his kitchen, "All of you are sounding like idiots. Arguing isn't getting you anywhere, so shut up! The more you fight, the more whoever did this is winning – don't you all understand that?"
The room went silent for a moment before Feliciano's voice sounded, ". . .he's right. The more you fight, the more you all pull away from each other. What if that's what they want? To tear everyone apart so that we don't trust anyone but ourselves. In a time like this don't you think we should all try to work as a team? Even if it is just this once? Antonio and Gil are all of our friends, they need us and we're not going to help them if we all act like animals. . ."
Francis looked over to the Italian before he once more ran his fingers through his hair. He felt awful about this. Arthur had a point – he shouldn't have let Gil go; none of them should have. They all were to blame, yet no one wanted to own up to it.
"You're right," he spoke after a moment, "we need to keep our heads clear about this, even if we don't all see eye-to-eye."
He turned over to Arthur who avoided his gaze. Arthur's stubbornness wasn't ever easy to handle, so the possibility of an apology almost seemed pointless.
"Here's an idea!" Feli said, "Let's come up with something—"
"About what?" Lovino sighed, "Who the next target will be?"
"No. . ." Feli frowned, "there's a connection somewhere in this mess. What does Gil and Tonio have in common?"
"They're both morons," Arthur replied.
Feli looked over to him, "I'm being serious."
"And you think I'm not?" Arthur laughed, "the only reason Gil has anything to do with this is because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Antonio, on the other hand, has friends as well as enemies. There is no correlation between them."
"But what if there is?" Francis looked to the Englishman.
"Good god," Arthur muttered, "what is it?"
"Gil – wrong place, wrong time. Antonio – obviously this José guy was jealous, or something. What if Gil ticked off José at some point?"
"Sounds like something he'd do," Ludwig replied as he took a seat on the couch, "Gil seemed to recognize him at Antonio's party. Maybe the two have some history that even I don't know about. Gil has been keeping a lot of things from me lately."
"But how?" Lovino questioned, "I've met up with José much more than Gil has. Why the hell would those two have problems?"
Francis pondered for a moment when he heard a gasp. He turned and looked over to Arthur, a wide-eyed expression on his face.
"I've got it!" Arthur yelled, "Francis. Lovino."
Francis rose an eyebrow, "what is it, Sherlock?"
Arthur rolled his eyes then replied, "Do the two of you remember the night Gil was possessed by that creature in my house?"
"How the hell could I forget?" Lovino grumbled, "damn thing was freaky as shit."
"Think about it!" Arthur looked to Francis, "what happened later that night?"
Francis blinked a few times, ". . . Gil almost drowned?"
"No, after that!"
"The cabin?" Lovino asked.
"Precisely!" Arthur nodded, "did we not find someone inside that cabin with Gil and Eliza? What if that man was in fact José?"
Francis' eyebrows rose, "Wait, but why would he be in there in the first place? And why attack Gil?"
"Maybe he is working for someone," Arthur brought his finger to his lips, "Maybe he was instructed to be there at that exact moment!"
"But how would Gil recognize him?" Francis couldn't help but ask, "He was wearing a huge mask and was completely covered up."
"Perhaps Gil spoke to him?" Arthur cocked his head, "Recognized his voice? Or maybe Gil just recognized his physic? Gil isn't a complete idiot – he pays attention to the smallest details when he wants to."
Francis sighed, "This sounds like nonsense."
"The past few days have been just that!" Arthur snapped, "Just shut up and listen to me, dammit."
"I am," Francis huffed, "But this doesn't make sense!"
Arthur groaned as he turned his face the opposite way.
Francis couldn't help but do the same.
The amounts of times they argued almost made as much sense as their current discussion.
"Are you children done now?" Ludwig asked, "Neither of you listen, okay? There, now shut up and listen! Connections with Gil and Antonio – Arthur, I think you might be onto something, as much as I hate to admit it. It is the only lead we've got, so I'm sticking with it. Only problem is that if Gil did come in contact with this guy before, what reason would there be to actually take Gil?"
"Jealousy?" Lovino questioned, "I mean, the guy is obviously pissed at Antonio."
"But why jealous of Gil?" Feli pitched in.
"Perhaps dominancy," Arthur suggested as Francis looked to him, "Perhaps José found his demeanor as a threat. The man fits the alfa stereotype. I could tell the day we met him at Antonio's. He hated my own challenge towards him, as well as towards Antonio."
"So he wants to come on top?" Feli asked.
"Possibly," Arthur shrugged, "now if my speculations of him having a leader are true he either wants said leader to reign over all, or he wants to do it himself. Either way anyone who challenges him could be a threat to him or this leader."
"If that's the connection," Francis wondered, "would that not mean that you could also be in trouble, Arthur?"
"Who knows," Arthur looked off, "if that is the factor that ties them then it is possible. Like I stated, he doesn't like me. He's made that obvious a few times now."
"Then you should be careful," Lovino responded.
"We all should be," Arthur sighed, "we don't know if there will be another victim or not, but we should all be cautious."
The room filled with silence as Francis leaned against the wall behind him. The idea of another kidnapping made his stomach lurch. He considered calling the detective again, but he didn't want to bother her all day long. She could do so much anyways.
"Hey," Lovino's voice broke the silence, "so let's say José does work under someone else . . . any ideas of who that might be?"
Francis shook his head as the room returned to silence.
How could anyone know the answer to that?
José betraying Antonio was shocking enough!
A moment later there came a knock at the door. Francis looked up, then turned his gaze to Ludwig – the German exchanged a glace with Feli before he stood up and went to the door.
Unexpected guests at a time like this?
Francis felt the butterflies again as he watched Ludwig peer through the peephole upon the door. As the door was pulled open Francis noticed Eliza standing on the other side.
Of course she found out about this.
He watched as Lizzie stepped inside; they exchanged looks and she gave him a weak smiled. Francis did the same as the Hungarian approached the rest of the group.
"What happened now?" She asked in a low tone.
Arthur sighed, "Lizzie, you really should not be getting involved with this."
"Well, I am. Answer my question: what happened?"
Arthur looked over to Francis – a pained look in the Englishman's eyes.
Francis pulled away from the wall, "Did Roderich tell you?"
"Basch," she looked over her shoulder, "Roderich told him Gil is missing, so he told me. What happened?"
"Hard to say," Francis scratched his chin, "Gil was with us earlier, and we told him . . ."
Did she know about what happened to Antonio?
Lizzie furrowed her eyebrows, "Told him what?"
"Antonio's missing," Lovino groaned, "Gil went to find him, but now he's gone too."
"What do you mean Antonio's missing?" She turned her head.
Lovino frowned, "We can't find him, and now we can't find Gil. We don't know where either of them are."
"When did this happen?" She looked back over to Francis.
"Earlier this morning Antoni disappeared – Gil not even an hour ago. We told Gil what happened with Antoni, so he went off to go find him. But because he was going alone Arthur followed after him and found his car parked on the side of the street. And like Lovino said we can't find either of them. We called the authorities not too long ago, but that's about it."
"If it's not one thing it's another," Lizzie shook her head, "does Gil have his phone on him?"
"Not anymore," Arthur responded, "I followed after him when he suddenly called my cell. He didn't answer, but I could hear someone on the line. Though I wasn't sure at first whether he called by mistake, as clear as day I could hear what sounded like gagging. So I left and found his vacant car parked on the side of the road. His phone was under the driver's seat."
Francis looked over to him. Arthur didn't say that ealier – he didn't know Gil called.
Though he wanted to say something Francis held his tongue. He didn't want to bicker in the presence of a lady – that was too barbaric. Instead he shifted his eyes to Eliza whose eyes were fixed on the carpet below her feet.
"I should have stayed with him," she spoke to the ground, "I was with him this morning – I shouldn't have left him."
"Lizzie," Francis took a step forward, "this isn't your fault. It's none of ours."
"What can we do, then?" she looked up at him, "we have to find them."
"And we will," Arthur assured, "I promise you that. I don't know how, but we will even if it's the last thing we do."
"THAT CAN BE ARRANGED!" a voice boomed.
Francis' heart skipped as he searched for whatever spoke.
It didn't sound human, but it did sound familiar.
As he searched he shot his head to Arthur. Behind the Englishman stood that demon that took control of Gil a few nights ago.
"Arthur!" Francis shouted, "Behind you!"
Arthur spun around, but Francis noticed that creature vanish before their eyes. Once again he scanned the room.
"Behind you," He felt that voice breathe down his neck.
Before he could turn around he felt a sharp back in the back of his head and everything went dark.
†††††
When Francis managed to open his eyes he found his hands chained above his head. He yanked at the chains, but his efforts were useless. He looked around the space he was, but other than himself and those chains there wasn't much else around. The walls and floor were both made of large cold stones, and there was a large metal door on the far wall. He couldn't help but feel like he was in a medieval cell of sorts.
As he stared at the door he noticed it push open. He held his breath as he watched a man walk inside; however, his face was unfamiliar. He had straight platinum blond hair – almost the same length as Francis'. His black leather jacket remained unzipped on top of a clean white t-shirt. His ripped black jeans were faded shades of gray here and there, and his sneakers squeaked with each step. His complexion was rather pale, and his deep gray eyes were locked on Francis. He flashed a quick smile before he shut the door behind him.
"Hi, there," he spoke, "glad to see you finally wake up."
Francis furrowed his eyebrows, "Who are you?"
The man grinned, "Name's Damien. Pleasure to formally meet ya."
Francis cocked his head, "We've met before?"
"Sure have," Damien smile grew, "But of course you don't recognize me like this!"
With one hand Damien shielded his face. As he pulled his hand away his facial features started to shift. His pale skin turned into various shades of gray until it was a deep black – a long beak protruded from where his nose once was.
Francis grit his teeth as Damien's face reverted back to its more "natural" look.
"Now do you recognize me?" He smiled again.
"What do you want?" Francis spat.
"A few things," Damien took a step closer, "Look, I feel for you, and I want to help you out. This stuff your friends are stuck in, it's unfair really. But I think I can help."
"Why?" Francis snorted, "What would you be gaining in helping us when you've been the one terrorizing us?"
Damien laughed, "Hey, I'm only doing my job. You think I want to do it? You think I want to hurt people that don't deserve it all because some jackass thinks he's God?"
Francis furrowed his eyebrows as he watched Damien take another step forward and lift his pale hand. With a quick snap Francis felt the chains that bound him to the wall vanish. He rubbed his wrists as he continued to stare at the man before him. Whether the man was telling the truth was anyone's guess, but there was a little voice in the back of Francis' head that kept his guard up.
"I can help you out of here," Damien smiled, "they won't even know it happened."
"Why do you want to help so badly?"
Damien sighed, "Let's just say that I'm tired of people being trapped here."
"What does that mean?" Francis' suspicion rose.
He didn't mean to be so judgmental, but he couldn't shake the feeling he had towards this guy. Something about what he said compared to how much of a nuisance he has been didn't add up one hundred percent. Then Francis realized something. This man before him was not a human being – he was a demon.
"What I mean," Damien started as he gave a small smile "this place isn't what you're used to. It's an alternate universe of the subconscious; almost even a spiritual domain to a point. You and your friends are stuck metaphysically, and I mean, someone's gotta help you out. The things here that are actually from here have more power over anything the outside world throws in. Which means your little boyfriend—"
Francis lowered his eyebrows as Damien continued, "he can't do shit here. His magic is blocked here – only the magic that already existed here can remain. Which means on his own, he probably won't stand a chance."
"Don't underestimate him," Francis smirked, "give him a challenge, and he'll find a way around it. He's very adaptable. If he is here like you say, I'm sure he's got this place figured out by now."
"Sure about that?" Damien laughed, "last I saw him he was lying unconscious within a barrier those guys locked him into. Where he's at, if he stays too long, that barrier will eventually drain him of all his energy. Give him another hour and he'll be nothing more than a broken doll—"
Francis sprang to his feet, "You're lying!"
"Oh, but I'm not! You see," Damien took a step forward, "they don't like him. None of them do. He's about as much of a threat as that dumb German."
Francis scrunched his eyebrows with that remark.
So Gil was a threat after all!
"But," Damien spoke, "I can help you find him—"
"And what are you really gaining in helping?" Francis crossed his arms, "What, just to help us out? Forgive me, but I can't help but feel that's a bit too farfetched for my liking."
For a moment Damien's face fell, but then he laughed, "Okay, I see. You don't trust me, I get that. But what other choice do you really have?"
Francis shrugged, "could just stay here, or you could let me go and I figure this place out myself."
"You won't last here alone," Damien's eyes darkened, "Stay here too long without guidance and you'll lose yourself."
"I'll take my chances," Francis smiled.
Where the cockiness came from, Francis knew not. All he did know was that he had a better chance being alone than with this guy, even if he would get lost on the way. If Damien was being true his friends were stuck here – the sooner he could leave his current spot the sooner he could try to find them.
"Fine," Damien said after a moment, "suit yourself. You can leave through the door behind me. I won't stop you, but I do warn you. You might not reach them in time."
Francis proceeded towards the door, "I have faith."
†††††
How long he had been walking for was anyone's guess. Every corner turned somewhere else, and every familiar place one minute changed into some unrecognizable one the next. There were too many times that Francis wanted to pull his hair out.
Maybe Damien was right. . .
Francis shook his head.
Now was not the time for regrets – besides, that guy was an oddball anyways.
As he paced by a few abandoned structures to his left he rounded the nearest corner and was slammed down to the ground. Francis looked up to the man that was seated on top of him. His familiar chocolate brown curls send a wave of relief over Francis.
"Frankie?" Antonio's voice cracked, "W-what are you doing here?"
"I should be asking the same about you," Francis laughed as his friend helped him to his feet.
Before Francis released the Spaniard's hand, he noticed something peculiar. There was some sort of marking on his friend's forearm. As strange as it seemed it looked almost like a tattoo, and it looked nauseatingly fresh.
"Antoni," Francis questioned, "what is that?"
Antonio looked down at his arm and his jaw clenched, "That, yeah. Thank José for that."
"He's here?" Francis almost shouted, "Where? Did he hurt you? When was this?"
"Frankie," Antonio laughed, "Calm down, I'm fine. It was a while ago – he's not here. But hey, are you alright? This place isn't really safe."
"I'm fine, I think," Francis scratched his cheek, "Have you seen Arthur anywhere?"
"Arthur?" Antonio tilted his head, "dammit, he's here too?"
"That's what I've been told. . ."
Antonio gave a concerned looked, "who told you?"
"That damned thing that started all this," Francis sighed, "he told me our friends were here, but he only acknowledged Arthur by name. I'm still trying to figure out if he was lying or not."
"He was probably telling the truth," Antonio glanced off into the distance then back to Francis, "Hey, we need to get out of here. I know of a place – follow me."
As the two went Francis noticed their surrounds shift once more into another setting he didn't know. But it seemed like Antonio wasn't fazed by the change since he pressed on like nothing happened.
"Antoni?" He asked, "How long have you been here?"
"A while," Antonio looked at him, "this place doesn't really follow a normal time schedule."
"Where exactly are we?"
"Some weird dimension, I guess. Supposedly people's souls get sucked here, and get stuck."
"Wait," Francis almost stopped walking, "we're not dead, are we?"
Antonio laughed, "No, don't be silly! It's more like we're having one of those out-of-body experiences people have on T.V. There's this guy I met here and told me all about this place! He's trying to help people get out of here—"
"Antoni, who is this guy? The creature I was with told me he was doing the same thing. You shouldn't believe everything that you're told."
"Frankie," Antonio's eyebrows drew together, "Damien is a liar. He'll do all he can to trick us and get us to do his dirty work."
"But how are you so sure that whoever you're talking about isn't doing the same thing?"
"You've just got to trust me," Antonio smiled, "I can tell the difference between them – between everything I see here. Can't you tell?"
Francis shook his head, "I've never been more confused in my life. I think I've ran in circles about a hundred times by now."
Antonio laughed once more as the two approached a small deserted neighborhood.
"I did the same when I got here," Antonio said as he started towards a single-story house at to their right, "If Cain didn't find me, Damien probably would have eaten me or something."
"Cain? Is this the man you were telling me about?"
"Sure is!" Antonio tapped on the wooden door before them, "he saved me from falling to my death."
It was then that the door was pulled open, and Francis saw this black-haired man stand on the other side. His deep blue eyes illuminated when they met with Francis.
"Welcome," he smiled as he moved away from the door, "Please, come inside."
Francis followed after the Spaniard, and heard the door close behind them. The inside of the house seemed much more normal compared to the chaotic air outside. There were two small couches placed in a fairly small living area. Beside that rested the kitchen, and down the hall seemed to be a few bedroom.
He watched as Antonio plopped onto one of the couches and patted the cushion beside him, "Sentarse, Frankie."
Though reluctant Francis complied and took a seat next to his friend. It was then that he noticed that man walk over to the two.
"Hi," He smiled, "I'm Cain. Sure you're friend told you about me."
"Partially," Francis crossed his legs, "Tell me, who is this Cain?"
Cain laughed as he took a seat on the other couch, "There isn't too much about me. For starters I'm sure that you've realized I'm not human. I used to be, but am no longer. Don't be too alarmed when I say this, but I am a demon. I'm nothing like the others here, I assure you."
"And why is that? Most think of a demon as those who steal your souls and wreak havoc upon men."
"The name sucks, I know. But why I am different is because I'm trying to fix my past. When I was human I committed a terrible sin – the first of its kind. To this day I pay for it, but by changing myself I might get a second chance."
"Second chance to what?" Francis' curiosity heightened.
"To heaven," Cain looked to the floor, "though as a human I was punished, I was never able to fully receive grace. Now don't think I help people out to solely enter The Kingdom – when you've been damned longer than any human being that has ever walked this earth, you start seeing things. Your mindset changes, and you see the world for what it truly is."
"Pardon my interruption," Francis put his hand on his kneecap, "may I ask what exactly it was that you did?"
Cain sighed, "I committed murder. I was the first to ever do it."
Francis' eyebrows rose, "Now your story is making some sense. The man you killed. . ."
Cain nodded, "My own brother? Yes, yes he was. Envy is one of the worst sins that exist – let him not tempt you for if he does, the consequences can be quite dire."
"See, Frankie," Antonio spoke, "Cain's a good guy – he's not here to trick you."
"Perhaps," Francis pushed his bangs from his eyes, "but how am I really supposed to trust you, Monsieur?"
"That's up to you," Cain smiled, "I helped Gil out of here once, and I'm showing Antonio how to do it himself. Next step is, once again, find where Gil is as well as help your other friends."
Francis rose his eyebrow, "who else is here?"
Cain started naming his fingers, "Gil, Arthur, Lovino . . . Ludwig, Feliciano, aaaaand Elizabeta. Antonio, am I missing anyone?"
Antonio looked up to the ceiling, "With Frankie here that should be all of them."
Antonio's confidence in his reply boggled Francis a bit. His coolness since they met up until they arrived here was troubling. If he didn't know better Francis would think Antonio was someone else.
But that was a dumb idea . . . wasn't it?