Lost Souls

Chapter Fifteen

"Mattie! Zhank gött, jou're avake!" Gilbert jumped up the moment Matthew opened his eyes. The blond had bandages all around his head. The injury wasn't bad enough that he needed stitches, but he had needed glue. Francis watched him every second until he was up. Worry was etched into his features as deeply as a mother with a sick child.
"Why am I in a hospital?" Matthew asked as Alfred sat on the bed and took his hand.
"You fell off my bed..." The blue eyed boy answered calmly.
"Why is Gilbert here?" Matthew's face was peppered a light pink.
"Because I'm jour boyfriend, Birdie!" Gilbert chuckled as if it was obvious.
"No really...why is he here?"
Gilbert and Alfred exchanged a look.
"Mattie...what's the last thing you remember?" The blond asked.
"Going to bed after graduation...why?"
Gilbert burst into tears and Alfred whimpered.
"Why? What's happening?" Matthew started to panic. The beeping on the heart rate monitor increased. Francis let out a shrill cry and Arthur took his hand.
"Mattie..." Alfred quivered. "It's August."
"What?? No...it's June...it's..."
Francis collapsed onto the ground and Arthur knelt beside him.
"Hey, it will be alright." He whispered soothingly.
"'e still zhinks I'm alive." Francis whimpered. "'E will 'ave to go through all zhat pain all over again."
"Francis, it'll be okay. I promise. He's a tough child." Arthur pulled Francis into his arms. "Shhhh."
Francis continued to cry, clinging onto Arthur like a spider onto its web.
"I'm sorry." He panted.
"It's alright. I forgive you." Arthur soothed. "I love you..."
"Quoi?!" Francis pulled away, wiping his eyes.
"I said I love you."
"Arthur...I..." Francis took a deep breath. He leaned in close and pressed his lips against Arthur's, not feeling the warmth that he craved. Instead all he felt was a chill, like his lips were numb. "I can't do zhis."
"What?"
"Zhis isn't zhe same. I'm sorry." Francis picked himself up off the floor and stormed out of the room.
"Francis! Wait up!" Arthur started to follow but a bunch of nurses came in and he didn't get to see which way the Frenchman went.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Francis ran as far away as he could get without Matthew pulling him back. He didn't know much, but he did know that he didn't want to be dead anymore.