The moon hung in the sky with misery, a gloomy mist surrounding its shine. It gave off the only light to the dark-infested city, the city itself looking lifeless. The buildings loomed over a single man walking down the ghostly street, his figure brightened by the flickering streetlights. The man's breath hung in the air, and he shivered under his coat, crumpling the hamburger wrapper in his fist and taking his last gulp. He stuffed his hands in his coat, and shrugged his shoulders to snuggled into the furry rim. His breath once again sparkled as he huffed out, letting another shiver run down his spine. Something didn't feel right.
His eyes darted around as he walked down the deserted street, a chilly breeze once again causing him to reach further into his coat for comfort. His hair brushed on his neck, bothering him. The man shook his head; the hairs on the back of his neck were standing. This aroused a fear that had not been up since he took Japan head on. A flash of the fight strung through his mind and he shuddered. He loved Japan's culture, but when it came to fighting that ninja he would rather take on Germany blindfolded. This thought caused his walking to hasten. He started turning his head now, fear beginning to emanate from him. False thoughts began to rise in his mind… what if Kiku had a grudge on him? What if the same man who created cute kitties and hot anime girls hated him for torturing his people during World War 2? No, that's impossible… was it? His muscles tensed as he started to expect the Japanese to pop out of the dark and slice him with his sword. He felt around in his pocket for his gun, and grabbed the handle and kept on walking.
He heard the sound of a foot scraping the ground, and he turns towards the direction of the noise, gripping the handle tighter. "Who's there?" He yelled loudly, trying to sound tough. He bent his knees in anticipation for a surprise attack, but nothing happened. He stood in silence, his breath sparkling like crystals in the dreaded moonlight. He hesitated before straightening, fixing his coat and heading down the street again. There was nothing but the sound of his footsteps on the wet street as he walked, not uttering another word. Suddenly, a quiet, hushed laugh echoed around his ears, and the man didn't know where the laugh came from. A shiver ran down his spine as her turned in a circle. He shut his eyes tightly and opened them again, blinking away the tiredness of the night. His heart pounded in his chest, and he brought his free hand up to his chest and fisted it, grabbing his coat. He took a deep breath and began to run.
The further he ran the louder the laughter got. His breath began to rasp in short, wispy blasts. He clenched his jaw and brought his hands to his ears and screamed, "GO AWAY!"
He wasn't paying attention to where he was going, and tripped on something. The world around his circled, and he stumbled to the ground, and everything went silent again. He gasped for breath as it left his lungs, and he wrapped his arms around his stomach as he rolled on his back. He blinked again, and sat himself up, the world around him spinning. As he opened his eyes, a pair of feet approached him and he backed up, jumped to his feet and met Russia's eyes. "Uhh… hi Ivan… err…. Uh… what… are you doing here?" Asked the man, pushing his glasses up his nose, his right lens cracked from the fall. Ivan chuckled. "Oh Alfred, you always used to be so gullible." He said in a voice so cracked it didn't even sound like Russia's. Something hung within Russia's eyes as they met with Alfred's, a lingering evil that had refreshed within the man's contempt face. He let out a single laugh and smiled his usual smile. He tilted his head slightly, his face looking so innocent. That's what scared Alfred.
He stared at Ivan and stepped back. "Uhhhhuh… riiight…" He said, staring still at Russia with uncertainty. His innocent glare chilled him and he took another step back. He frowned. "uh… heh… well… I'm gonna… go…" He coughed and started to turn away. He wanted to get as far away from here as possible. "Oh don't turn your back on me Alfred." Alfred froze in his steps, the tension between them rising to high levels.
America turned back around, glaring at Russia. Fear struck his very core, but he pretended like it was nothing. "Is that a threat?" Replied America, slipping his hand into his pocket to search for his gun again. Russia chuckled. His chuckle grew into a cackling laugh. A laugh so twisted, it seemed like a nightmare had unfolded from his mouth, his laugh ended abruptly, leaving echoing whispering ringing in the air. America stepped back and revealed his shotgun. "Stay away from me! I have a bullet and I'm not afraid to blast your head off!"
That threat only seemed to enlighten the deranged man even more. He laughed once more, his lips curling, so twisted. Alfred turned and ran. He didn't look back. He ran and ran. He didn't know where. Ivan's laughs resounded around him. "GAAAH!" America screamed. Why couldn't he escape this terror? I gotta lay off the hamburgers… He thought angrily as his breath grew short, and he ran into an alley to hide. Dead end. "Shit." He whispered to himself. Ivan cackled again behind him, and America turned and pulled out his gun and pointed it at Russia. "Come any closer and I'll shoot!" He screeched defiantly, staring straight into the eyes of the insane man. Ivan chuckled. "Uh uh uhh… I wouldn't do that…" He said in a soft whisper, his smile curling as a man on a cloak appeared, holding Canada by the collar. "Matt!" Alfred yelled, staring his innocent younger brother as he struggled to breathe, on the tips of his toes and being choked by the cuff of his coat hanging by it like a convicted felon strung by a rope. He was grasping the cuff of his coat, his mouth gaping open for air.
"You bastard!" He yelled at Russia and throwing his gun down. "Let him go!" He screeched, glancing back at his brother with fear grazing his eyes. "Wh-what are you going to do to him!" He yelled angrily back at Russia. "Oh nothing…" Alfred didn't believe that. Russia smirked. "…yet…." That one single world, chilled Alfred to the bone. He glanced at Canada and cringed. "Y-you bastard!" He screamed again, fear welling into him. The cloaked man who was holding Matthew threw him to the ground. Matthew landed on the hard, cold floor with a thud, not struggling to get up. He curled into a ball hugging an invisible white bear that wasn't there his time. Tears streaked his dirt encrusted face as he shivered in his frosty misery. He looked like a helpless child, weak and small. His glasses were broken and barely hung on. He dared not to move, for fear of what Russia would do to him. He stared up at America, his hopeless eyes wandering to his brother's and locking on each other. He tried to speak to his brother, but his voice was lost in fear and pain. All he could do was mouth the words, "Help…" and shuddered again, his hands bringing an ex across his chest. The cloaked man began uttering word inaudible, but a slight purple light began emanating from him. Suddenly, an ear piercing shriek came from Alfred's brother, and he squirmed in pain unable to see.
Lightning cracked across the sky, and another shriek rose up from Matthew. Alfred froze in horror. "No… NO!" He screamed as he watched his brother being tortured from the inside out. "What are you doing to him!" He screamed, his voice hoarse as his throat tightened and his eyes watered. He knelt down, hanging his head. Canada shrieked again, writing in pain from the curse laid upon him. A light rain began to fall, and thunder rolled. "You can make this stop…" hummed Russia, his innocent voice ringing in Alfred's ears. He glanced up at Ivan. "How… HOW?" He screamed at Russia, tears staining his eyes. Tears ran down Alfred's cheeks as he stared up at Russia hopelessly, and Canada's cries resided. "Trade me your life… for his." Chuckled Russia evilly, He smirked and stared at Alfred directly into his eyes, staring into his soul. Alfred stared back, shocked. "eheh… what? No!" He blurted out.
Wait… what did he say? Alfred glanced back at his brother and saw the pain in his eyes. Matthew looked away, and closed his eyes. Tears streaked his cheeks again. Russia's laugh cackled again. The cloaked man uncovered his head from the hood, revealing shaggy blonde hair and bushy eyebrows. Unmistakably- Arthur. His face was a misty grey. He was hypnotized, and stared at Alfred expressionless. He glided towards Matthew and knelt down, hovering his hand across his body. "Don't you touch him!" Yelled America, tears streaming down his face. England stared at America mercilessly. "Ignore him.." Russia's voice snacked in, forcing England back to his work.
A ripple of pain ran through Alfred's brother, and America clenched his jaw as Matthew quietly struggled to keep his pain contained for his brother's sake. Shadows erupted from Arthur's outstretched hand, floating above Canada's body as he cringed into a ball of pain, and closed his eyes. Screams escaped Matthew's mouth again and it scared Alfred's eyes open just in time to see what had happened.
The shadows had sharpened into string-like swords and struck into Matthew at all angles on his body. Blood splattered the ground and England's cloak as they struck like bullets. The shadows once again left his body and hovered above his body again. Blood dripped from the shadows and stained them dark red. Canada breathed heavily and coughed, letting blood leave his mouth. A pool of blood accumulated where he laid, His eyes glazed over. Canada was ready to die.
The shadows poised to strike again, but before they hit, America screamed, "Wait!" Everything paused but the rain. Thunder rolled again in the heavens and Alfred's dreadful eyes met Ivan's joyful ones, and locked on each other. "Please, let my brother go… please… take me instead... please!" Said America hopelessly, He glanced at Canada, who was so weak and innocent, Who was probably hanging on to whatever life he had left, whatever energy he had to stay awake. He had to stay conscious. Everyone knew that. Alfred looked back at Russia. "You let my brother go… and I'll come with you. I promise."
Russia's lips curled and he chuckled, his cheeky face tainted with madness. "That's more like it…" Replied Russia, and England stood up and backed away from Canada. America rushed to his brother and held him within his lap. "Matt… het Matt… you still there?" His throat tightened and tears weld in his eyes again. Alfred stroked his brother's face and his hand stained with Matthew's blood. "Bro… dude… s-speak to me! Tell me you're not gone.." His voice ended in a whisper and he touched his forehead to his brother's and his tears fell once again. "Please…" He whispered.
"You... stupid…" Coughed Matthew, his eyes glazed over. "Matt!" Said Alfred, smiling with a smidget of hope. He looked into his brother's barely conscious eyes. "Stay strong bro.." Whispered America, joy welling in his chest that his brother was still alive. "You… stay… strong.." Whispered Matthew, his voice rough with pain. "I…. I will…" Alfred whispered, heartbroken. "I promise."
"Come on." Muttered Russia, and England grabbed America by the cuff, forcing him to let go of Canada. The boy coughed and sputtered up some more blood again, lying on the tiled ground, forcing himself to keep his eyes open. America reached into his pocket and dug out his phone. He dialed 911 and dropped it to the ground next to his brother. Arthur tugged on Alfred's collar and he stumbled forwards, following Ivan. They left the alleyway, walked down the deserted street, only rain breaking the silence. As they turned the block, sirens rang into the sky, ensuring Alfred that is brother was safe.