.:WFAF:. Chapter 58

.:When Fallen Angels Fly:.

Chapter 58
Why does one deserve to live, why does the other deserve to die? If only I knew, then maybe, just maybe, the pain inside my heart would be softened. From the moment I stepped out of that hospital I realized something. I am nothing, but how insignificant I may be, I am alive. One day I'll vanish, I'll be gone, but while I'm still here I've got one task to fulfil. No matter the cost, there will be a day I can hold Arthur in my arms again.
"Look who we have here!" a familiar voice suddenly says from behind me.
Just as I am about to turn around to speak to him face to face, Gilbert gives me a brotherly slap on my back.
"Haven't seen you around here for a while. Tell me, what brought you to the most awesome pub in town?"
The smile which I had lost for months returns as I am greeted as an old friend, though my reasons for coming here are not as pleasant as they could be.
"Long time no see, Gilbert. It seems you are as joyful as ever." My lips form a straight line again as I remind myself of the reason I am here. "I would like to talk about something with you, if you don't mind."
Gilbert keeps smiling his brotherly big smile, but I can see his eyes started to look worried.
"You haven't come here to drink your pain away again, have you? I won't allow that a second time."
"No worries, I only came here to talk to you. And not to mention, after what happen last time I don't think I'll touch any alcoholic drinks ever again."
"Don't say things like that kid. Alcohol is awesome! It makes you feel all good inside, you know? It's just that you shouldn't be drinking too much. As long as you don't do that it's cool."
"I don't want to hear that from someone who gets drunk in his own pub."
Gilbert breaks eye contact as I found out his biggest secret and he can't help but feel ashamed.
"Well... That was only once, you know."
I laugh when seeing how a grown adult like Gilbert can still be so childish.
"Yeah, sure Gilbert. Anyways, that thing I wanted to talk with you about, it's a bit private."
Gilbert quickly recovers and takes his role as brotherly pub owner once again.
"Sure, I understand. Let's sit at the end of the bar. It's not like there are many customers around this time anyways."
After we have taken a seat and Gilbert ordered something to drink for us (we decided ordering two cokes would be best for both of us) I start my story.
"What I've been wanting to ask you is if you had seen a certain person around your pub."
Gilbert eyes widened in surprise. This was clearly not what he had expected me to ask.
"A person? Oh, that's a hard thing to ask of me. I'm not that good and remembering people's faces, you know? Oh well, I could give it a try. Could you describe the person?"
"Sure. It's a man with blond hair, green eyes and..."
Lost for words to describe what Arthur looks like without praising him into heaven I look around the pub nervously. As I see a photo of Gilbert and his brother – Ludwig, I thought his name was – hanging on the wall I remember something.
"Oh, I just remembered. I've got a photo of him with me."
I carefully take the little photo of Arthur I took with me this morning out of my wallet and hand it over to Gilbert. His lips form a smile as his eyes seem to recognize Arthur.
"Oh, I remember that guy. He used to come here a lot a few years ago. He would always get aggressive after just one beer, so I always made sure to keep an eye on him. Never asked for the fellow his name though. No, it's better to leave types like that alone. He didn't seem much of a talker either. He was always mumbling some nasty words under his breath though. What about him?"
I figured as much. I figured as much because, like his mother, Arthur had a drinking problem. He told me that once.
"Did he ever come with someone or was he always by himself?"  
"Poor fellow was always by himself. I tried to keep him company once but it didn't end so well. I guess some people just want to be by themselves."
"I see," I mumble softly, lost in thought.
We both stay silent for a while. I'm trying to think of more questions to ask him but nothing comes to mind. Gilbert almost drops his glass of cola when he suddenly remembers something.
"Wait, there was one time... If I remember correctly there was one time when a man came to pick him up. I suppose it was a friend of his. That was... I think around 3 months ago. I thought I had lost him as a customer so I was surprised to see him. That must be why I remembered it just now."
I begin to feel enthusiastic as I finally seem to have gotten onto something.  
"What did this man look like?" I ask while taking back Arthur's photo.
"Really, more faces to remember?" Gilbert asks while rubbing his temples. "He was... blond... Yes, he had blond hair. I remember thinking his hair looked a bit girly. Furthermore... well... he seemed to be really mad about his friend. I asked them to leave. If those two had started a fight I would have been in big trouble. You know what they say, one fight starts another. As you can understand I don't want to end up with all of my customers fighting each other, you know? That's all I remember."
Only one man comes to mind. It had to be Francis, though I have no proof of that. The question now is why Francis was so mad at Arthur. I've also got to figure out what happened before and after their little scene at the pub.
"Thank you, Gilbert. You've been a great help."   
"What, are you leaving already? You haven't even finished your coke yet."
"Yes, there's something I need to find out as soon as possible."
"Then at least tell me what this is all about," Gilbert says while grabbing my arm to prevent me from leaving.
"Okay... Well, you see... a friend of mine was murder around 3 months ago. The detectives asked me for my help. Normally they would never do that but... there is something very wrong with this case. The thing is... there are no clues. They have a small list with suspects but without any proof the detectives can do nothing. The case was closed 1 month ago. The murderer is still walking around. That's why I started looking for the murder myself. I doubt if I'll ever find proof for his crimes, but I've got to try."
The look on Gilbert's face is no other then pure despair. Never I could have imagined Gilbert with that look.
"Are you trying to say that that photo you gave me... was your friend who got killed?"
I swallow my upcoming sadness away and try my best to answers Gilbert's question without a shaking voice.
"Yes... You're not angry at me for getting you into this mess, are you?"
Gilbert shakes his head and seems to have calmed down a bit.
"No, it's okay. But that's tough kid. If you ever need my help again just ask. You can also always ask my brother for help. My friends are his friends, too."
I can't help but feel touched by Gilbert's kindness. There is one more thing which I feel I have to say before leaving.
"Thank you for everything. It means a lot."
"You're welcome kid." He gives me his brotherly smile and pats me on my shoulder.
"Don't forget to keep smiling."