Lost Souls

Chapter One

Francis was the first to notice something was up. He was in the living room and didn't know how he got there. Matthew was lying on the couch, his stuffed polar bear in his arms and a blanket over his body. Francis sat down beside his younger brother and smiled fondly.
But when he tried to pick up the blanket, to slide it further up the boy's shoulder, his hand moved right through it. He jumped back in surprise, trying again and again to move the blanket with no avail.
Fear pulled at his gut. What was this? Was he dreaming?
He pinched his arm, feeling no pain. Good. This wasn't real.
"What are you in here griping about?" Arthur stepped into the room, eyeing Matthew and then Francis who was still a little shaken.
Wow. Dream Arthur looked kind of sparkly...
"You look a little pale..." The Brit pointed out. "Maybe your frog skin isn't getting enough sun..."
"What?!" Francis scowled.
"You heard me, bloody idjit."
Francis hissed just as Alfred stepped into the room. He seemed a bit tired and was holding a glass of water. He sat down next to Matthew and Francis and started petting the younger boy's hair until he woke up.
"Al?" He blinked at his friend, eyes rimmed in red.
"Matthieu? 'Ave you been crying? What's wrong?" Francis jumped forward, trying to grab at his little brother, but his entire body flew through the couch, leaving chills up his body.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?" Arthur fell to the floor, startled.
"I don't know...I..." Francis got up, looking at Matthew and Alfred. The two of them hadn't even noticed.
What was going on?
"They're...gone...aren't they?" Matthew asked weakly. Alfred nodded once, eyes sombre. Matthew took a deep breath, standing up on shaky legs and picking up his blanket which he wrapped around his body.
"Hey, dude, relax, alright?" Alfred stood up too, letting his friend lean into him. "We need to stay calm."
"Gone? Who's gone? Matthieu?!" Francis scrambled to his brothers side, trying to poke at him. But his hand was going through him. And Matthew didn't even look his way.
"I don't think I can..." Matthew's voice shook and sputtered. Alfred looked nervous.
"You have to try."
"I want to go to bed."
"Need help getting there?"
"I'll be fine." Matthew brushed Alfred off and made his way up the stairs.
"Alfred, what the hell is going on? Is this another prank?" Arthur demanded right to his sibling's face. But Alfred looked right through him. Arthur stepped back, startled.
"Alfred, stop messing around." Francis joined Arthur's side, anger and fear pooling in his gut. Alfred stepped forward, walking right through them. But they didn't feel a thing.
The two looked at each other, surprise in their eyes. They followed Alfred out of the room and to the kitchen, watching as he lifted the phone from its charger and dialling a number.
"Hey, Gilbert?"
"Why is 'e calling Gilbert?"
"Shuttup frog." Arthur hissed.
"Yeah...uh...I have bad news..."
Alfred paused, taking a shaky breath. "Arthur and Francis...are gone..."