Alright, so this is a story about Denmark and Norway, though human names are used.
Lukas is Norway
Emil is Iceland
Mathias is Denmark
Tino is Finland
Berwald is Sweden
Anyways about this story: Once a year a red moon appears and shines down a red light that allows the people of the village to see who their soulmates are by the red string of fate. Norway who had waited six years to finally search for his realizes his soulmate is in the forbidden forest what will happen when he meets a mystery man in the forest?
It's midnight in a small town in the middle of Norway, not many people visit this place because of all the supernatural activity that goes on. Though outsiders fear it, the villagers and natives to the land accept it and celebrate it. They even have a festival every year on the same day, they celebrate all day and then it grows quiet at night as the people wait for the ceremony to begin. Now you may be wondering what this ceremony is, it's the ceremony of the red moon. Once a year the moon turns a bright blood red, and on this day the villagers who have turned eighteen are given the opportunity to finally find their soulmates. Though many do not find their soulmate because the leader of the village does not allow anyone to leave though for a good reason, surrounding the village is a forest this forest is filled with creatures that can kill you the instant they see you. No one can leave, especially not at night, and even more so during the ceremony it's forbidden. There have been some cases in which people have left the village in search for their soul mates because one detail I have not told you yet is, on night of the red moon the light reflects on to the people showing a red string on every person. You may find the other end in the village or deep in to the forest leaving the village. The string does not appear until you are the age of eighteen, it'll continue to show until you have finally made contact with your soulmate. Some find the string taunting, others find it a blessing because they are finally able to find their true loves. Everyone in the village jumps at the chance when they are finally able to find their true love, well almost everyone some people have other things to deal with rather than finding some stranger on the other end of a mysterious red string that no one really knows anything about or how it all started.
"Lukas, Lukas! It's almost time I can't be late will you hurry up!" I hear Emil running upstairs and pounding on my door.
I sigh looking down at my hand, it's bare for now but soon it'll have a thin red string attached, a string that I have yet to follow. "I'm coming, relax you'll have plenty of time. You have the whole night." I remind him as I place my dark blue winter cloak on.
"Yes I know but, I promised Leon I would meet up with him in the center of the town!" he shouts from the other side of the door.
I shook my head smiling slightly, it has been about seven years, since I had started raising my brother since our parents died. Sadly, it was the year before I turned eighteen, I am now twenty-three and taking care of my eighteen-year-old brother. Because of this I have yet to join in the ceremony and follow my red string, I still have no intention of following it because I feel he still needs me. I have been taking care of him even before our parents died though I at least had their help, now it's just us and I have grown a bit more protective of him. I don't want to see him find his soul mate to be honest, I rather he stays with me and stay my baby brother. I sigh once more and stepped towards the door.
though that would be selfish, wouldn't it? I thought to myself as I finally opened the door to see an excited Emil nearly bouncing in place as he glances nervously towards the stairs ready to head out. I nod and motioned him to head out so we could meet his friend in the center of the village, usually were everyone meets up for the ceremony. He grinned excitedly and quickly dashed down the stairs and out the door. I glare at the spot he was standing and wanted to scold him for once again running on the stairs though I didn't want to ruin this night for him. I place my hood over my head and proceeded down the stairs as well. I notice the front door was still open and letting in the cold air which annoyed me even more. He was really testing my patience tonight, wasn't he? Once I made it outside I shut the door louder than I intended. I watched as Emil continued jogging to the center of the village completely forgetting to wait for me like I had instructed him the day before. I was about to call for him when suddenly the dark blue hue of the night turned a dark red. I froze in my spot and stared at the crowd of people cheering rather loudly. I shut my eyes because the moon usually hurt my eyes in the beginning because that was when it was the brightest. Once a few minutes have passed and the cheering grew louder and more chaotic I opened my eyes and looked down at my hand. Once again, the red string was there and it was floating around as usual. I didn't bother to look in what direction it was heading I just went in search for my brother. I grew annoyed at the sight of all those red strings and looked around the crowd calling out for Emil.
I spotted his metallic blonde hair at the edge of the crowd and village, I started to worry wondering if maybe his soulmate wasn't in the village and he'd be upset. Though when I finally made it over to him after pushing through some people I noticed he was with Leon and they were grinning and talking though it didn't seem like their normal conversations. I looked down at their hands and noticed the red string on their fingers, they were connected. I let out a small laugh, I should have known it'd be him they always hung out together and were never apart for long. I frown a bit though realizing he'd probably want to be with him more often though now that they know their soulmates. That got me a bit depressed so I walk away leaving the two alone and pushed through the crowd again. I decided I'd probably head back home I have no need to be out here when I have no plans to go searching for any soulmates. I shook my head in disbelief still unable to believe that my brother still had found his soulmate and in the first half hour too. I sit down on the steps of our house and looked down at my hand, especially the red string wrapped around my pinky finger. I was kind of excited the first year I could go look though, I realized I couldn't not when I had Emil to take care of. I always imagined what it'd be like finding him or her, though all that was soon forgotten when I had to learn how to survive on my own and take care of a kid as well. I was sure with my luck as well, he or she would probably not be in the village and I'd never be able to see them anyways because I can't leave.
I look up at the sky, the bright red moon shining down on us it makes me angry to be honest. I clench my fist and glanced back at the thing red string floating, taunting me, as if begging me to follow it. It looked loose and was flowing in the wind meaning they were far away, they're always far away. I look back at the crowd seeing the happy faces and joyous laughter. I wanted that, though I didn't show it or even admit it I really wanted what those people have right now. I never said anything because I know Emil already blames himself for me not already finding my soulmate because I had to take care of him instead of going out. It's fine though, I never held it against him maybe I'll wait one more year then I'll go searching. I snapped out of my thoughts when suddenly, my string went straight and tugged on my finger. My eyes widen in surprise, they were close? Where they looking for me? I stood up unable to think clearly, what did they look like? Would they mind that I live with my baby brother, are they nice? All these questions popped in to my head and I was still unable to move. I was growing kind of excited and nervous at the save time, was I finally going to be able to meet them? All hope and excitement left me though when the string turned wavy again, my small smile turned in to a frown and I sat back down. Any positive emotions that were flowing inside me have gone and replaced with negative emotions.
They obviously didn't want to be with me if they had retreated without even bothering to continue looking. I look down at the snow and kicked some off my boot, I grew annoyed just thinking about it. At that moment though I decided I was done waiting, I was done sitting here doing nothing. I stood up again and looked around, I slowly look down at my hand then followed where the red string went. I felt my heart pounding as I slowly followed the trail. I felt my hands trembling as I thought about who they could be. With every step I take I hear the snow crunching under my boots, I look down at the line again and looked up I had walked a bit of distance away from my house I was heading towards the forest which made me feel horrible. All this time, and I still can't find them, I'll never be able to find them, I can't leave the village and the forest is off limits. I began arguing with myself trying to figure out what to do. They must be close the string had just went straight a few minutes ago so they couldn't have gone too far. I look back at the house, but I can't leave Emil, what If I never return? I shook my head and glared at the forest, He had Leon now. I know he'd take care of him If I can't. I took a deep breath and stepped closer to the creepy looking trees. I glanced around once I had entered the edge of the forest. It was very dark and I couldn't see a thing other than the red string path which was glowing rather brightly, bright enough I could follow it. I began moving deeper in the forest listening as the sounds of the villagers grew distant until I was unable to hear them anymore. I looked around as I followed the trail, I saw owls, trees with no leaves because of the weather, small animals scurrying around probably taking shelter from the cold. I saw the bright red moon shining down, though not bright enough in the woods where I could see. I could only trust the string to guide me safely through the forest.
I realized later on I probably should have brought a weapon or something in case of trouble, even with my magic it'd be no match against something much more powerful in strength if I cannot see it. I looked down at my hand when I felt a tug, the string had grown tight again they must be close! I began to walk quicker looking around more frequently in hopes I saw them. My eyes widen when I see a dark shadow though it quickly moved and my string moved with it, the sudden tug caused me to almost trip as I am forced to turn. I catch myself before falling and looked around some more, something didn't seem right and I had a terrible feeling. I was tugged around again as they moved once more. I could feel them getting closer as the string grew tighter.
"H-Hey, It'd be a lot easier for both of us if you just showed yourself you know…" I said loud enough hoping they'd hear me.
I was tugged once more this time a bit rougher and my hood of my cloak got caught on a branch and pulled down allowing the cold air to hit my face. I looked around now growing a bit anxious I notice my apparent soulmate was now behind me but with the hood stuck I couldn't really turn around, my arm was wrapped around me as my hand was being tugged in that direction.
"I could use a little help…" I mutter nervously glancing around my eyes darting back and forth trying to see someone, anyone but I couldn't look behind me.
I hear a twig snap then suddenly I was yanked back, the branch that had caught my hood snapped and hit me in the head then fell to the ground. I struggle against the persons grasp though soon realizing they were a lot stronger than I was. "Let go!" I shout kicking and swinging my arms trying to connect with them in hopes to get a decent hit in.
My eyes widen and I stop completely when they grab my neck and tilt my head back, "Enough, continue to struggle and I'll snap your neck like that branch by your feet." I hear a deep voice whisper in my ear causing me to tremble.
I remain still and looked around I still couldn't see him, he was hiding on purpose had he killed my soulmate? Was that why I was being tugged around, did he take them and kill them? I shut my eyes tightly waiting for him to finish me off too though he wasn't doing anything, he just held my neck and continued to stand there. It was silent until he spoke once more.
"Why are you here? Humans aren't allowed in these forests, it's forbidden." He growled, it didn't sound human at all meaning, he wasn't human either.
"I-…I was following the string, you know from the red moon?" I explain looking up at the moon which was setting.
The stranger grew silent, his grip on my neck loosened then he pushed me away. "Go back to your village, there is nothing here for you." I quickly turn to look at the stranger but he was standing in a dark shadow.
"But, there is! I was following the string and it lead me here I can't just leave without finding-" I was cut off when I saw red eyes glaring at me.
"I said there is nothing here for you, leave before I kill you!" I look down at my hand and noticed the string had disappeared, though the moon hadn't set and I never made contact with my….
"I'll leave…If you show me your face, I want to know what my soulmate looks like before I go." I said confidently stepping forward.
He just glared at me but finally he stepped forward as well and finally I could see his face. "Wh-Who are you?"