"Lay your head down child
I won't let the boogeyman come
Counting bodies like sheep
To the rhythm of the war drums
Pay no mind to the rabble
Pay no mind to the rabble
Head down, go to sleep
To the rhythm of the war drums"

A voice sang softly to the sleeping nation, smiling and forgetting about all his worries the nation fell into a deeper sleep. The voice continued on though, carrying through to his subconscious, the voice seemed to get deeper as it drew near. Who are you? Matthew thought as his inner self opened his eyes in his dream, nothing but darkness..

"Just stay with me, safe and ignorant, Go back to sleep
I won't let the boogeyman come
Count the bodies like sheep
To the rhythm of the war drums"

Whimpering now Matthew drew back, away from the voice as the darkness pressed harder down on him, just who was speaking to him and why can't he wake up!?

Closer and closer something or someone was approaching the smaller, invisible to world, and timid nation, closer.

"Darkness... Darkness. ..Darkness envelopes me. But it's only you... I desire... I desire you!"

Just who exactly are you though!?

"Show me those eyes. That day, those eyes. Those eyes that longed only for me, Matthew."

Stumbling back into the darkest pits of the nightmare Matthew fell down for what seemed like to be forever, nothing but darkness and fear. The two things that seem to continuously shroud Matthew everywhere he goes, even if his smiles and words were dripping with maple syrup, his world is full of darkness.

"The boogeymen are coming"

A branch breaking in the background snapped Matthew into reality, but those words echoed in his mind, his eyes refused to focus. The veil of sleep held him within its vice like grasp, his body fighting to get into action against the noise he heard but something else kept him at bay.

"The boogeymen are coming!"

A voice now yelled from outside, making Matthew jump out of his skin and his hands automatically went towards his phone, to speed dial his papa France. Not the best choice considering the time it would take to get from Francis's house to Matthew's. No, maybe Alfred would be a better choice, he was right beside Matthew, geographically wise but the other country was probably too loud and would wake up the neighborhood. Without another thought Matthew pressed 911, which deserved a facepalm at how long it took for Matthew to think of the officials. As the operator answered in a dull tone, Matthew tentatively stepped towards the window, someone was outside, someone the size of a bear! Second thought maybe it was just a bear, but what about the voice he heard as he woke up? Explaining the situation to the operator, Matthew slid down the wall and curled up waiting for the officials to show up, he prayed that they would show up quickly.

Crash!

The bear broke inside! Matthew yelped out in fear and ran into his closet, stuttering and shaking as the operator asked what the problem was, nothing could get Matthew to speak now. Mentally kicking himself for the foolish behaviour during the little fiasco, the small nation closed his eyes from the terror, he didn't faint of course. He was a man, a strong country who didn't faint, he was simply resting his eyes...

"Mister. Williams? Mister Williams please wake up!" someone shook Matthew's shoulder, the smell of something burning filled the countries nose, instantly waking him up.

"What!? Umm .. Mhh?" was Matthew's lame response, looking towards the person above him, eyes unfocused. The person who spoke to Matthew was a police officer who signalled for a doctor to meet the little group at the police station.

"We found a strange man wandering around your house this morning, he claimed to know you but he would not give us his name. We took him to the station, if you would please come with us, we just need you to identify the trespasser." The officer spoke to the dazed nation, who nodded and stood up, falling over the nation shuddered as he was stopped by two sets of arms.

"Sorry..." Matthew mumbled as he regained his composure, following the officers to their car. Something weighed down his heart as he entered the vehicle, the figure clouded in darkness seemed familiar. Kumajirou did not seem to be fazed by the trespasser, so maybe it was someone he knew? Which would have fuelled Matthew's bear theory but the officers confirmed that it was a man, a man who knew Matthew. Not a stranger like he originally thought, could it be another country for an early morning visit? No he would have had a phone call, even if the others remembered his existence.

The drive was long as the roads were dimly lit or there was something blocking their path causing them to go the long way around. Growing uneasy Matthew laid down and curled up into a little ball, wanting his papa France or his big brother America to be with him right now. He could not deal with this problem alone but that's what he always found himself in. Loneliness. Dark loneliness..

xx

What Matthew did not know was that Ivan was following him for a long time, the voices and the trespassing where the Russian's doing, but the Canadian was not aware until last night. He wouldn't have been aware if only Russia hadn't slipped up and made a grave mistake...