Chapter 1

After all it might seem clear

Rather than it come undone

It wasn't the wind that made the cold, but the soft drizzle of rain that fell down on the mountainous terrain. The sky was clouded in a soft grey, and only lone birds made any attempt to venture outside the warmth. Except for the blond head hurrying down the country path, ducking to avoid stray branches that obstructed his progress. The rain softened the mud underfoot, and gave the atmosphere a blurry edge to it, making the whole scene the blond encountered something like a dreary painting that had gathered dust.

It was definitely a depressing town, more of a village really, but still exceptionally remote. To this day, Alfred still couldn't figure out why on earth his brother would choose to hide away in a place like this. Especially when he could have easily lived with or near his brother, but Alfred refused to believe that was why Mathew went so far away. He wasn't overprotective or anything, though he supposed he was quite overbearing at times, but after all he was the louder twin.

He descended the path towards the town, his head covered by his hood against the uncomfortable sheet of soft rain. Pulling out a small scrap of paper, Alfred double checked the address written across it. Twisting his head up, he tried to check the name of the street he was entering, but the letters were scratched and worn and he couldn't make them out. He sighed and realised he'd have to ask for directions, until he noticed there was no one on the streets. He put this down to the weather. After all, it was cold and wet.

Instead he walked until he found a shop with a sign entitled 'Edelstein's Music Store', and decided to enter. A small bell rang, and he pulled his hood down as he entered the dusty shop. It was cramped and pianos were lined up in rows all the way to the back, with acoustic guitars adorning the walls. There was a counter to the right with a small bell, and Alfred immediately rang it, hoping to leave as soon as humanly possible. The air here was especially thick and it almost seemed like the corners of the room darkened and faded away.

After a few seconds, a young man walked briskly out from the door behind the counter to meet him. His dated jacket and clothes perfectly matched the eccentricity of the store, almost as if time had forgotten this man entirely and aged his surroundings rather than his body.

"Can I help you?" He was Austrian.

"Er, oh yeah. I was just looking for this inn my brother owns? I think it's-" He started awkwardly, the man had fixed him with a hostile and searching stare.

"I know. That's at the end of the road, on the left corner. Good day," then abruptly left back through the door with a slam.

Alfred stood there and blinked. "Rude." He muttered. Jeez, he could stand to be a little polite at least. He knew he could be a bit brusque himself, but the hero always is, right?

He left the shop disgruntled, and continued off in the direction the Austrian man had advised. Coming up at the end of the dank road, he pulled his phone out, debating whether or not to warn Matthew he was coming. He knew to expect Alfred roughly this time of the year, but maybe he should have been a bit more specific on the date. The time read 18:36. Alfred decided he should just go in.

The inside of the inn was a lot brighter than the Music store, but still held some of it's eccentricity like the house designs outside. He approached the small front desk, about to ask for his brother when the man seated there raised his head and exclaimed; "Oh! Mattie's brother!" The thick French accent drawled from the smiling man, and his wavy blond hair almost quivered with his enthusiasm.

"Um, right." He was put off again. Was everyone here like that? He wasn't usually so disturbed, but the town had it's own…unique, sort of atmosphere.

"Good, good. Wait right here, I'll be back~!" He sauntered away and ascended the stairs adjacent to the desk, while Alfred took a seat. There was only two chairs, both worn and the fabric frayed. He supposed a small town like this wouldn't have much need for a inn, and Alfred vaguely wondered how Mattie actually made his money here. He stared down at the greying tiles, until the front door opened suddenly, and the Austrian man from before stormed in, apparently livid with anger.

He stopped to look around, perhaps for the French man, and spotted Alfred. It looked like he deliberated speaking with him, but then decided against it and rushed up the steps, shouting "Kirkland! Where are you, Kirkland!"

Alfred had no idea who Kirkland was, but he sincerely hoped the man wasn't here.

Several more minutes passed in silence, with a few shuffling thumps from upstairs. Alfred grew impatient fast, curiosity getting the better of him, until he finally got up and went to look for his brother. A quick glance at the kitchen located downstairs told Alfred that Mathew wasn't there, and he decided he check upstairs. He thudded up the moulded pink carpet, reaching a landing and a corridor. Behind him, doors lined the walls where a walkway went all around the stairs, and it was from the furthest room in the middle where he heard the scream of a young man, then the sound of glass smashing.

Immediately, Alfred ran around the stairs and approached the white painted door. He threw it open without thinking, probably not realising the dangers of approaching the sound of screams, then almost screamed himself.

The scene was horrific.

The window at the far side of the room was broken, which explained the smashing sound, and glass was littered and thrown everywhere. Blood literally plastered the walls, sprayed in random directions and dripping into pools on the carpet and desk. A body was sprawled across the floor, ungracefully lain in it's- his, own blood. The Austrian man; his eyes wide with shock, even in death. It was only then he noticed a blond man standing over the mess, his once neat clothes stained almost entirely red, and a large knife clutched hard in his left hand. His green eyes were wide, and his knuckles white from gripping the weapon so tightly.

Alfred was rooted to the spot. He couldn't move, breathe, think. He knew he should run, but everything in his mind was located right in this room, and he couldn't even begin to persuade himself to move.

The man croaked, "Don't- scream. I wont- I didn't ki-"

A gasp sounded from Alfred's left, and a crash as a tray was dropped. Mathew.

He stuttered, "…Arthur?"

Thanks for reading.

My first Hetalia fic, so I really would appreciate your thoughts. It's all human names by the way. I've planned out this fic from start to finish, so updates shouldn't be too sporadic, though I really need to update my other stuff.

I really hope you review and tell me if I should continue, as I'm still not really sure.