Friendship:

They had told him it was only a game; that it was only for fun and for a little while. He had asked if it would hurt and they had laughed and called him a ‘crybaby’. Determined to show that he wasn’t afraid of their taunts or perhaps he had really been that desperate to be friends with them, he had finally agreed to their dare.

He held his hands behind his back obediently enough, trying not to wince as they bound the rough twine around his wrists. He had kept his cool, even smiling though he noticed that their smiles had become a bit sinister.

After all it was only a game.

They blindfolded him with a dirty piece of cloth and he could no longer see. He tried to control his rapidly beating heart, telling himself over and over again that it was only just a game. He tried to call out to them, but something hard was shoved into his mouth and he felt the cloth tied behind his neck. He couldn’t speak and he couldn’t see.

This game was no longer fun anymore.

He struggled and tried to take a step forward, but he was pushed to the ground and warned to be silent. “Don’t worry,” they said. “We’ll come back to rescue you. It will be like you are a prisoner and we are the heroes to save you!”

They began to walk away and he shook his head rapidly, trying to get to his feet as an overwhelming sense of fear took control of his young body. He tried to scream, to tell them to release him now, but he was pushed again to the ground and this time the pain was blinding.

Crybaby! Crybaby! They taunted mercilessly. He’s nothing but a mama’s boy! Albert is a mama’s boy!

He stomped his foot angrily, cursing the hot rush of tears that came to his eyes. The cloth became wet, spittle filling the cloth against his lips as his silent screams went unheard. He listened in horror as their footsteps and laughter became even more distant and faint…until nothing remained but an eerie silence.

He remained in a fetal position on the cold, hard ground, listening to the faint dripping sound of water from a hole in the stone ceiling of his prison. They had led him to this place – a cemetery – a mile or so away from the main school grounds. They had been nice to him and like a fool he had believed their acts of friendship. Of course he had only done that to get back at stupid Franz.

Stupid Franz who wouldn’t follow him to the pier because of his stupid homework. Stupid Franz who was always so serious about everything and didn’t like to play games with him anymore. Stupid, stupid, stupid Franz!

He hiccupped and didn’t bother trying to stop the hot flood of tears that spilled down his cheeks now.

He wished he hadn’t argued with his best friend this morning. Franz had called him a spoiled brat and he had walked away calling him a name he shouldn’t have. He had hurt Franz on purpose and had thought that making friends with other people would even punish the blond further. He had been smug at the pained look on Franz’s face but now…

I’m so sorry…Franz…

He didn’t know how long he would be left here or who would come to rescue him. He wasn’t sure that anyone had seen them come this way either. He was going to be left here to die…or rot…or both! He would never get to see his mother or his father again. But most importantly, he would never see Franz again. He would never be able to apologize to his best friend for being such a jerk and a fool.

Please…Franz…help me…I’m so sorry…forgive me…

~*~

Had he fainted? He couldn’t be sure, but as he ‘opened’ up his eyes again, he realized that he must have indeed passed out or fallen asleep. He struggled to sit up, his arms and legs now numb from the awkward angle he had slept in. He strained his ears to listen to his surroundings, wondering what time it was now. From the chill in the air and the distant hoot of an owl, Albert knew that it was sometime in the night. He moaned softly and swayed a little, trying not to faint again. The green sweater which made up their school uniform wasn’t very warm and he shivered as another light gust of evening breeze blew into his shelter.

He tried to move his wrists and almost cried out as the twine dug even deeper into his flesh. He had to get out of here, but how? He couldn’t just stumble about in the dark! Who knew what waited for him out there. And what could his parents be thinking now? He was sure that they would be worried sick and would have sent for the police to search all over the city for him. That was a little reassuring to his young mind but he still felt miserable and sad.

Where was Franz? Franz would have looked for him. Franz would have been the one to rescue him. But…

You argued with him and hurt him. What makes you think he’ll come for you now?

He raised his knees to his chest and tried to stop the tears from falling again only to lift his head quickly as he heard the sounds of crunching leaves beneath slightly heavy footsteps. Albert’s first instinct was to scream for help, but he remembered that his mouth was gagged and he would not be heard properly but damn it, he had to try.

But what if it’s some criminal or bandit? Or even worse, a ghost!

Don’t be ridiculous Albert de Morcerf! There are no such things as ghosts!

The footsteps seemed to be receding and Albert staggered to his feet, desperation now in his every movement.

HELP! He screamed beneath the cloth. HELP ME! DON’T LEAVE ME HERE!

“Albert?!”

FRANZ!

Never had a voice sounded so sweet to his ears! Never had he felt so grateful and relieved in his life – so relieved that he fell to his knees in unbridled happiness.

“Albert!”

HERE! I AM HERE, FRANZ!

The footsteps came closer and Albert could sense and smell the presence of his one and only true friend.

“Dear god, Albert!”

He could hear Franz’s light steps as he leapt down into the prison and as the strong hand tore away the blindfold, Albert sagged gratefully into his friend’s warmth in pure gratitude.

The rope around his wrists were loosened and the gag around his mouth taken off in rapid succession. For a moment, Albert couldn’t speak, simply content to rest his aching head against Franz’s chest, allowing the tears he had held back all evening to fall again shamelessly.

“Franz…Franz…” he whispered brokenly, clutching tightly to the green sweater. He could feel his friend’s arms engulf him in a tight embrace and the soft soothing words of comfort that were whispered into his hair.

“You idiot,” Franz chided softly. “You had us all worried. Do you know how long I’ve been looking for you?”

Albert finally lifted up his head to stare at Franz for the first time. Even beneath the pale moonlight that streaked into the tomb, Albert could see that the usually neat blond looked dishelved and dirty. There were streaks of dirt on his face and…

“…blood?” Albert asked in bemusement.

“I had to beat the answer out of the boys,” Franz confessed with a dark blush staining his cheeks. “I’m…not usually that violent…”

Albert stared into the flushed face for a long while, trying hard to fight down the giggle that threatened to spill from his lips. The idea of quiet Franz beating up a group of boys was too much to bear but Albert couldn’t be any prouder.

“Thank you,” he finally said in a heartfelt whisper which had the blond turning a bright beet red at the look in his friend’s eyes. He sucked in a harsh breath as he felt Albert curl up against him.

“I…Albert…we…we really should leave…” Franz stuttered weakly.

“Just for a little while,” Albert murmured wearily as he felt his lashes growing heavier. He had finally been rescued and didn’t want this moment to end – not now…not ever. He would make it up to Franz someday but for now --

“Just hold me, Franz,” he pleaded softly. “…and never let me go…”

~The End~