Antonio paced the kitchen nervously, scratching the back of his hand as he thought. His anxious sigh hung frozen in the air as a chill crawled up his back.

Alright... I'm going to do it. I'm going to tell him tonight. It can't be that hard.

A bitter laugh escaped his lips as the Spaniard shook his head. Not hard? Even he laughed at himself for that. Telling someone you love them for the first time was extremely hard- well, in his case it was.

Sitting down on one of the table stools around, Antonio looked around the kitchen. Snow flew past the windows nearby as frost slowly crept along the window frame. The soft moonlight casted slightly haunting shadows outside from the slim pine trees that surrounded. Very faintly, an owl silhouette drifted over the window pane.

"Toni? What are you doing sitting by yourself?" A silky voice dipped in a think French accent slowly made it to his ears as Antonio let out another sigh.

"Oh, hey Francis." The man said as the blonde haired Frenchman took the seat beside him. "I was just thinking of something."

Francis, one of Antonio's best friends, had come along with him and their group of friends to spend the night in Alfred's family's cabin. The Jones's always were very wealthy among the social classes. Alfred, being so adventurous and social, had invited all his friends to come along and stay the night here. So commenced his yearly overnight cabin stay with his friends: Feliciano and Romano Vargas, Francis Bonnefoy, Arthur Kirkland, Kiku Honda, Antonio Carriedo, Gilbert Beilschmidt, and his brother Matthew.

The cabin was pretty big so it fit everyone perfectly. Being three stories high with just a little bit over a dozen rooms, it was quite a hangout place. Alfred's friends would usually refer to it as 'the mansion' since it was so big and too large to be seen as a mere cabin. Around the cabin was an old mine and an abandoned sanatorium. Alfred's parents warned them to not explore the mines and whatever else was there around the cabin. They said it was too dangerous and they didn't know what was there. So, they obeyed. No one lived up in these mountains nor did anyone travel up here often. The only constant travels made were the ones Alfred and his friends did every year. So, to them, they thought of their part of the mountain all theirs and theirs alone.

At the moment, Alfred, Arthur, and Kiku were hanging out in the parlor and talking near the fireplace. Feliciano and Romano were unpacking their stuff in their rooms. Gilbert was already sleeping in his.

"Thinking? Is there anything I can do that can help your thinking?" Francis questioned, reaching over to pour some wine into a cup. Yes, they all were underage still when it came to drinking, but that logic didn't matter to Francis. He was 20 and out of school so in his mind he didn't need to wait another year to drink.

Antonio bowed his head, rubbing the back of his neck. "Ah... you know how Romano and I have been dating for two weeks now, right?" Francis nodded. "Well, I want to... I want to tell Romano that I love him."

The French male gasped and let out a little teasing laugh. "Mon Dieu, my little Spanish child really has fallen in love."

"Child? You're only a year older than me." Antonio cracked a tiny smile at that as Francis swung an arm around his friend.

"Listen," he said with a little sip of wine, "what you have to do is speak from your heart. Don't plan anything, don't stress over it. Just breathe and empty everything out before him. Let your heart do the talking and your mouth simply project the words. That's not too hard, non?"

This only earned another exasperated sigh from the Spaniard. "Yes, it is hard, Francis. You see, I'm not like you. I know how to woo ladies and gentlemen, yes. I'm flirtatious and all like you, but there's one thing I can't do that you can: say 'I love you'... I want to tell him but I fear that I may mess up. You know, I've never been so in love before... Romano has taken over my heart and I wish to express what he has taken in the best way possible."

Francis smiled warmly, his eyes coated in happiness as he watched his friend speak so highly about his beloved. Yes, he was only a year older but he still saw Antonio as his younger friend. Ever since they were 6th grade together they've been best friends.

"Oh Antonio," The blonde cooed as he looked at his friend like a proud mother, "You've found the one. Oh I'm so happy to see you so happy."

Antonio chuckled, looking over at him. "Gracias, mi amigo."

He rested his chin on his hand as he stared out the window once more to think.

What do I say? Romano, I love you- No, no. I can't do that. It's too straight forward and quick. I want to lead up to it... Those three words are special and should be said for the first time in a special way. But how? I really wish I was Francis right now... He says it so easily yet means it with all his heart with whoever he tells it to.

That's when a neat idea came into his mind.

"Francis," Antonio said through the silence that was starting to settle between them, "can I ask you for a favor?"

"What is it, mon ami?" Francis questioned, finishing the last of his wine.

"Can I practice with you?" Antonio requested, looking over at the other desperately. "I want to run over some things before I go tell him."

Francis let out a little laugh, his breath already inheriting the scent of red wine. "Okay, okay. Have at it."

Antonio stood up from his stool, walking around to face where Francis sat. Francis turned his body towards him, holding his newly filled wine glass.

Taking a deep breath, Antonio began. "Romano... I know we've been dating for a while. It hasn't even been a whole month, but the time I've spent with you has been nothing but wonderful. Sometimes I wake up and have to stop to realize that being with you was true... Never in my years of living would I think I'd finally get to date someone as great as you. You're so beautiful and charming. I could get lost in your eyes if I stared at them for too long. It's strange since its been such a short time to say this but... I love you. I love you very much. I love you with all my heart. Te amo con todo mi corazón."

Francis smiled brightly, his cheeks glowing a faint pink. "Oh Toni, I never knew you could say such loving things..."

Antonio chuckled, opening his mouth to respond to him. However, the words of thanks never came out for a pair of eyes stopped his words. The Spaniard turned towards the door of the kitchen as the view of a confused and hurt Italian stood in the entrance.

"You..." Romano narrowed his eyes at Francis then at Antonio. Antonio felt his face pale as he realized what the other must be implying.

"R-Romano, no... No this isn't what you think.." He quickly said, stepping over to the disbelieving other. Romano stepped back, shaking his head. His eyes were filled with hurt and brokenness as they stared back at the other's green ones. This couldn't be true. Antonio was... cheating on him?

Romano scoffed as tears began to blur his vision. "Fuck you! I never want to speak with you again!"

Before Antonio could say anything else, the other turned on his heels and fled from the room.

No no this couldn't be happening. He was supposed to gain loving words from Romano not words of hate. This wasn't at all what Antonio wanted out of tonight. This was the complete opposite and exactly what he was fearing. He screwed up, didn't he? Now Romano thinks he's confessing to Francis.

"R-Romano! Wait!" Antonio suddenly snapped out of his thoughts, running after his boyfriend. Francis followed behind as well.

The trail of the Italian led them all the way to the ajar front door. Sleet and snow blew in from the open entrance as fresh footprints were stamped upon the snow outside. They grew smaller to the eye as it disappeared into the trees outside.

"Huh? What's going on, guys?"

"Where did Romano go?"

"The bloody hell are you doing opening the door?! It's freezing!"

Antonio was just about to run outside when three voices stopped his path. Turning, he saw Alfred, Arthur, and Kiku stopping before him. Each of them had the same concerned and confused look as each other as they looked out into the trees then back at Antonio.

"I-I did something." The Spaniard said, stumbling over his words. He had to get out there. He had to get Romano. "I screwed something up and I-I have to go fix it."

Fear and worry dripped off his words; his face was painted in utter regret. Why did he have to be so nervous about this whole thing? If only he didn't practice with Francis. If only he just winged it and said it as if no big deal. If only...

"Screwed up? Ah, did you forget to put on a condo-" The American's joking words didn't make it to Antonio's attention for the other instantly began running into the forest of trees to find Romano.

Immediately running out there the Spaniard felt frozen air smack him in the face. Blinking through the falling snow, he peered down at the floor to follow the Italian's footprints. Thankfully it wasn't snowing heavily since they were still new on the floor.

"Romano! Romano!" Antonio cried out into the dark shadows of the pine trees. No answer was received, causing a lump to form in his throat.

More trudging as he drove deeper into the forest, feeling his body tremble beneath the low temperatures. Where could he be? He couldn't have gotten that far. Green eyes scanned the sides of the faint pathway, snapping back to the footprints every couple of seconds. Where could he be?

"R-Romano! Answer me, please!" Antonio shouted through his chattering teeth. Sprinting now, he followed the footsteps all the way to a small clearing. When he entered, he heard the faintest sob as a hunched over figure could be seen in the middle. It was Romano.

"G-Get away from me!" The Italian cried out through his tears. "Go back to y-your French tramp!"

Antonio ran over to him, dropping to his side quickly. "N-No, Romano, you got it all wrong! I don't love Francis! I-I love-"

"Don't lie to me! I saw you! I heard everything you said! You told him you think he's beautiful and charming! You told him you love him with all your heart!"

"Romano, please listen!" Antonio spoke desperately, trying to connect eyes with the other who held his head down. "I don't love Francis! I was just saying those things to him because I was practicing on saying it to you! Romano, I love you! Not Francis! You!"

The Italian sniffed, his warm tears still falling onto the snow beneath him. "Wh-What?" Slowly, looked over at the man beside him.

"I love you." Antonio sighed, relieved he finally got it out. Of course, he didn't want it to be in these circumstances with Romano doubting him and both of them freezing on a mountain. But that didn't matter now. He got it out. He said those precious words.

The two stared at each other for just a moment before Romano's saddened expression turned into his signature frown. Yet, now there was the slightest touch of happiness in his eyes as he did so. "I love you to-"

Snap

The breaking of a tree branch ceased any more words between the two lovers. Antonio quickly turned his head to see where the sound coming from but found nothing. The winter wind was the only noise he could hear and the millions of snow particles falling were all he could see.

Suddenly, a loud hissing sound echoed all around them. It was like the hiss of a vicious snake and pissed off cat were combined as one to make a louder and much more chilling hiss. It sent chills down the two's spines as they stared wide eyes at the forest around them. Almost instantly after the hiss, a large flame erupted from the pathway. Following the flame was the blurry outline of a man walking towards them.

"Romano... run." Antonio whispered urgently, grasping the other's hand in his. "Run!"

In a second, the two jumped up from where they were and dashed away from the unknown figure. They passed through trees, ducking under any branches, and striding over any rocks that came across their path. Their labored breaths were the only thing drumming against their ears as they ran. Where do they go? They were way off the pathway now and the cabin was towards the danger.

Romano held tightly to Antonio, silently praying that everything will be alright. Antonio held back as well as he tried find some place to take them to safety. There was no where.

After what seemed life forever, they reached the edge of a mountain ledge. End of the road. Antonio suddenly halted to his steps as he pulled Romano close to him.

"This is it. W-We're trapped!" Romano exclaimed, fresh tears tracing over his already existing frozen tear streaks.

Antonio panted where he was, turning from left to right as he tried to find some place to go. He was about to lead them back into the forest from the ledge but stopped when that monstrous hiss pushed him back.

He intertwined his fingers with Romano as he slowly walked backwards from the forest. "R-Romano... I don't know wh-what to do."

Romano walked backwards as well beside him, frequently looking back to make sure they didn't fall off the ledge. He shook his head vigorously, cries breaking through his words. "W-We have to do something! W-We can't die out here!"

Antonio gulped, not even paying attention behind him. What was out there? He squinted as he tried to figure out what was there. Just barely he could see what looked like a large, white skeleton hanging on a branch of a tree. We're those claws or hands? What the hell was that?

"A-Antonio!"

Romano's foot slipped as he stepped on the very edge, suddenly sending them down off the ledge. Antonio was pulled down as well but quickly managed to grab hold of a tree root that poked out from the bottom part of the ledge. Now, he was holding on for both his and Romano's life.

Screams came from the Italian below him as he frantically held onto the Spaniard's hand. He stared up at the other as Antonio tried all he could to pull him up. It was no use. The cold air made his bones and muscles freeze up and become numb. He simply could not pull Romano or himself up.

"Help! Help! Someone please help us!" Antonio screamed into the night. Cries and screams boomed from the both of them as they desperately tried to hang on for another day. They couldn't die here. They couldn't die here. They were supposed to be with their friends! They were supposed to be in the warm cabin and hanging out! They were supposed to have a memorable night with another yearly tradition in the cabin! They weren't supposed to die out here.

One slip up. That's all it took. One slip up.

Antonio's grasp on the tree root released against his will. The two men suddenly began falling down from the mountain, their screams descending with them.

Romano watched the world around him fly upward as he fell. He stared up at the moon above him as if it was silently wishing him a forever goodnight. This was it, wasn't it? This was it.

The last thing the Italian saw was darkness engulfing him and Antonio as they fell into what seemed like a dark cave. Maybe it was the mines Alfred spoke about. Whatever it was, he never got to see what it was.

Romano fell directly onto a damp rock, instantly shattering his back. Antonio fell harshly beside him. Both lied on the mine floor in silence as blood began to pool beneath them. Their still, cold hands still held on strong as the color in them began to drain. No more hissing. No more cries. No more screams. No more tears. They were no more...

_
Author's Note:

Hey guys! I hope you liked this prologue. If you guys didn't know, this is going to be a crossover with Hetalia and the game Until Dawn. It's not an exact crossover that'll follow the exact storyline of the original game because I'm adding my own little twist to it. :)

I'm actually really excited for this story and I hope to update this weekly or at least every two weeks! This story is going to be (hopefully) really packed and one of those stories with long chapters. The more the merrier, right? Haha.

Anyways, I really hope you liked this introduction! Please please leave me your feedback and thoughts in the comments/reviews! I want to hear what you guys think of this idea!