"Okay, I want to know right now who the Hell is behind all this!" Alfred glared around the room at his fellow countries, his eyes still red from crying. A wound in his chest was bandaged, but the blood still soaked his shirt.

Germany stood up, shaking with rage and shock. "As do I, friend. Who has done this?"

"Please, understand," China pleaded, "all of us have had attacks in our biggest city. Friends and enemies alike have suffered our fate."

"You don't understand!" Alfred cried, "My president was in there! In the White House, when—" his voice choked with tears, and he did not finish that sentence. "My people are in a panic. The terrorists have bested us, and we don't know how to handle this."

"With all due respect, I don't think this is the work of a terrorist organization," Britain offered, bandages covering his left eye and most of his forehead. "Honestly, I don't think one exists that could cause this much damage to the whole world without being caught or killed."

"He's right," Canada affirmed in a whisper. "All of the things that happened seemed at least somewhat natural."

Germany's hands balled into fists. "Mine was fire. Fire raining down from the sky into Berlin. I wouldn't call that natural."

"Same here," China agreed. "In Beijing, it was as though the sky itself was falling."

America fought to hold back tears. "D.C. was taken by a series of small explosions."

Britain began to cough and gag, falling to his knees and clutching his chest. France rubbed his back, a concerned look on his face. Britain regained his breath and gasped out, "It's the sea. It's rising into my land…"

"We have to do something," said Japan, who spoke for the first time in the entire meeting. "We cannot let this keep happening."

"But what is there to do?" America asked. "If it's not a terrorist group, and it's not one of us, then who is doing this?"

Italy had said nothing throughout the meeting. He and Romano were simply on their knees before a window, rosaries in hand, mouths murmuring unheard prayers. Germany and Spain caught sight of the two and, with an exchange of worried glances, went to comfort their friends.

"What now?" America asked everybody. "Do we just wait for the next attacks?"

"I think that is the only option we have," France said glumly.

"We've already lost so many!" America called. "Greece, all of Africa, Switzerland… did none of them matter to you guys?"

"We have no other option!" Britain yelled, and fell into another coughing fit.

Germany, holding Italy in his arms, nodded. "There is nothing else do but wait and see if we can catch who is doing this."

America, defeated, ran out of the room, throwing open the doors as he let the tears fall.

And then there were eleven.