lost ~completed~

chapter 28

Antonio had easily located the basement as Feliciano had ordered him to do. Unlike what he had though, the door looked completely normal. He had been expecting a big metal door with a skull and crossbones on the front. He opened the door and peered down the dark flight of stairs descending into a pitch black room. Antonio gulped and carefully descended the stairs. He was terrified at what he might find but it frightened him to think that Francis was down here, all alone and possibly wounded. He was horrified of what condition he might find his friend in. He was afraid of the basement already and he wasn't even the one who was captured. He knew that if he was in Francis' position, he would be petrified.

He reached the bottom of the stairs. At last, the eerie creaks stopped and silence filled the cold room. The Spaniard's heart was hammering in his throat. He felt sick to his stomach with dread and fear. Despite the damp, cool temperatures, sweat rolled down his forehead. He stuck his arms out and felt around the wall for a light switch, as his eyes have not yet adjusted to the choking darkness. He flipped the switch and a single light bulb in the middle of the large room, lit up. The dim light spread across the room, the edges of the room still hidden by shadows. Antonio gulped yet again at the atmosphere of the room. He stepped into the room, looking for his friend.

Whoever had owned this house must have used the basement as a spare room. The bucket that Feliciano had mentioned earlier stood on the floor idly by a sink and cabinet. Antonio bent to pick the bucket up and quickly covered his mouth as a rank stench filled his nose. He remembered what his task was and he suddenly dreaded it. He was supposed to fill the bucket with water and make Francis drink from it. He decided he could try washing it out and see if that would eliminate some of the stench. He brought the bucket over to the sink and washed it out a couple times. When he was finished, the bucket still stank but compared to earlier, it was much cleaner.

Antonio filled part of the bucket with water and looked around for Francis. He had heard no noises other than the noises he had made. He was starting to doubt that Francis was in the room. The single bulb didn't provide enough light to reach the sides so Francis was probably on the outside of the room. Putting the bucket down, Antonio went to search for Francis, not held down by the buckets.

When the Spaniard finally found the Frenchman, he was horrified to see him. His friend was chained to the wall with his arms above his head like a person in a medieval dungeon. His head hung down over his chest and his blond locks covered his eyes limply. Everything about the Frenchman suggested that he was weak and had no hope. Antonio's heart broke to see his friend in such a condition. He gently crouched down in front of Francis. He hesitated for a moment, looking at his face, half hidden by his hair. Gentle hands cupped both of the Frenchman's face gently and tilted his head up.

"Francis?" Antonio asked softly. He patted his cheek softly, not wanting to startle him awake. The Frenchman's eyes cracked open. His usual bright blue eyes looked dull and empty. He blinked them a few times before his gaze rested on Antonio. His eyebrows furrowed together slightly in confusion. He had been expecting to see Feliciano or one of the guards in front of them; smirking at God knows what they were going to do to him. He was surprised to see Antonio and wondered what he was doing in this God forsaken place.

"Toni?" he croaked, his throat dry. Antonio smiled gently and nodded at the man.

"Si, Francis. It's me." Antonio murmured quietly. He removed his hands from his friend's face who smiled slightly at him. "I'm pretending to be on their side."

Francis frowned lightly. "Why ? Isn't Romano already doing that ?" he asked confused. Part of him was suddenly concerned for the older Italian but then the other part of him knew that if anything had happened to him, Antonio would not be so calm. Antonio nodded wholeheartedly.