Chapter 1:

The boy ran as fast as his legs would allow. Heart racing. Adrenaline pumping. Exhaustion crept up on him, threatening to cease all movement. Heavy footsteps were creeping up on him. He wished so badly to be able to turn around and face his attacker. Doing so however, would result in his demise. Gradually losing speed, he knew he would have to think of something to save his life, and it would have to be soon. Their shadows, cast upon the ground, raced each other under the glow of the pale moonlight. Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain course through the back of his head. Falling to the ground he tried to gather the strength to fight back. Head throbbing, he turned and faced the man who had been chasing him. Warm blood slowly trickled down his neck, his vision blurred. Forcing his eyes to focus, he could vaguely make out his attacker's profile. The man was fairly tall with light blonde hair, slicked back. He wore a green jacket and had chilling blue eyes compared to the boy's light brown ones. An aluminum bat was in his right hand. With his vision slowly fading, the boy desperately cried out,

"Please... y-you don't have to do this!"

Hot tears fell down his face. His predator raised the bat in the air, swung, and the boy faded into the darkness...

Italy woke up in a dead sweat. His hands were clammy and his heart was about to jump out of his chest. Looking at his surroundings he noted that he was indeed in his bedroom. Breathing a sigh of relief he looked at the clock on his bedside table. The time read 3:25 a.m. Outside a chilly November gust howled, rattling his windows. It had been ages since he had experienced a night terror quite like the one he awoke from. The back of his head tingled from where his fictional attacker had hit him with an aluminum bat. He could still envision the man's icy blue eyes looking into his. Italy shuddered, not only from fear... but from something even more primal... could it be...desire?