The first thing Italy noticed when he woke up was that he wasn't in his bedroom. Nor was he in Romano's. Nor Germany's.
He sprung up, scanning the room. It was small with plain, white walls, no decoration. There was a dresser, a mirror, the bed he was lying in and nothing more, in sense of furniture. There were two doors, one which must have lead out into the hall and the other Italy assumed to be a bathroom.
This wasn't right. Italy distinctly remembered falling asleep in Germany's bed, cuddled up next to him.
Knowing he couldn't stay in this strange bed all day, Italy put his feet on the plush carpet that covered the floor. He made his way over to the dresser. There was a note on the mirror.
Open the drawers.
He did as the note told him and pulled open the top drawer of the dresser. Inside were his clothes. Not his uniform, but his usual, everyday clothes. Deciding that it was probably best not to question it, Italy picked out a pair of jeans and a plain blue, short sleeved t-shirt and quickly dressed himself.
Then, he turned away from the dresser, his eyes flicking back and forth between the two doors.
Which one?
Taking a shot in the dark, he walked towards the door adjacent to the dresser, pushing it open and cautiously stepping though it.
A bathroom.
Like the bedroom, it was simplistic. A toilet, a bath, a sink and a medicine cabinet. Like on the mirror in the bedroom, the medicine cabinet also held a note.
Don't forget to brush your teeth.
Italy frowned. Dental hygiene was the last thing on his mind right now. Nevertheless, he opened the medicine cabinet, raising an eyebrow when he found his toothbrush inside. Along with the brand of toothpaste he used, and his half-empty bottle of mouthwash.
Once again, he did as the note told him to. Brushed his teeth and swilled out his mouth with the mouthwash.
He left the bathroom and walked out of the other door, which took him into a long hallway. The entire hallway was made up of doors, seven each side.
Italy stepped away from the door he'd just exited, closing it behind him. He jumped when he heard another door opening and closing.
"Italy?"
Italy turned on the spot at the sound of that voice. "France." He ran up to his friend and hugged him tightly. "Where are we?" he asked, glancing around again.
France hugged him back. "I'm afraid I don't know, mon cher." he replied.
Another door opened and out stepped China.
Within four minutes, someone had stepped out of all fourteen doors.
Altogether, there was Italy, France, China, America, Canada, England, Russia, Belarus, Spain, Romano, Prussia, Germany, Japan and Hungary.
"So, anyone wanna tell me how the hell we got here?" asked America.
Before anyone could reply, a loud voice echoed through the hallway.
Oh, good. You're all awake!
The voice was made up of three individual voices. One of a man, one of a woman and one of a child. It sent shivers down the spines of a few nations.
Allow me to explain. You're all here because you've been chosen to play The Game. But don't worry about that right now. Go, look around, get acquainted with your surroundings. All I ask is that you don't try to leave. Have fun, now.
The group stood in total silence for a few moments, before bitter chuckles were heard from Prussia.
"Don't leave?" He glared upwards. "Is this thing fucking serious? The first thing I'm doing is getting the fuck out of here."
I'm afraid I can't let you do that, Prussia.
Everyone froze. Prussia simply smirked. "So you know who I am."
I know who all of you are. I know your strengths, and I know your weaknesses. And I know that trying to leave won't end happily.
Prussia's eyes darkened into a dangerous glare. He turned and marched towards the staircase, the others following closely.
"Prussia!" Canada caught hold of his arm. "Is it really wise to test this?" he asked.
"Don't worry so much, Birdie." Prussia smiled, freeing his arm from Canada's grasp and ruffling his hair.
He turned and jogged down the rest of the stairs, surveying the room for something he could use. There was a silver candle holder on a small table nearby. He smirked and grabbed hold of it.
"This isn't a good idea, Prussia."
He ignored Canada's warning tone and made his way over to the window, raising the candle holder over his head and bringing it down on the glass.
As soon as the silver touched the window pane, Prussia felt a sharp pain shoot up his arm.
He swore loudly, dropping the candle holder and clutching his arm.
"Prussia!" Canada rushed down the stairs to the Prussian's side. He pried his hand from his injured arm, gasping when he saw thick, red blood seeping through the sleeve of his shirt.
I warned you.
Canada slowly eased the sleeve of Prussia's shirt up, inspecting the damage.
The cut wasn't deep, nor was it wide, but it was bleeding quite a bit.
"How the hell did that even happen?" asked Canada, tearing the bottom of his shirt off to wrap around the Prussian's arm.
Prussia hissed as Canada applied pressure to the wound. The Canadian apologised as he lead Prussia back up the stairs.
Oh, my. How rude of me.
That voice, again.
I seem to have forgotten to introduce myself. I am The Game Master. I control pretty much everything in this house. If I wanted to, I could even control you, but where're the fun in that? I'd much rather watch how you handle what's going to happen yourselves.
"Germany," Italy wound himself around the German's arm, staring up at him with wide eyes. "What does it mean by that?"
Germany frowned. "I don't know, Italy."
Once again, there came the bitter chuckles from Prussia. "Control us?" he shook his head. "So you could kill us if you wanted to?" He looked up at the ceiling, raising his voice. "Prove it!" he bit out, raising his arms.
"Bruder!" Germany hissed. "You're still going to try provoking this thing after what happened to your arm?"
You're brother's a smart one, Prussia.
Lowering his arms, Prussia glared at nothing in particular.
Now, please go and look around. You're going to have to know every little twist and turn of this house if you plan to win The Game.
The group stood in silence for a while, no one knowing quite what to say.
America was the first to speak up. "I think we should do as this thing says." he said.
"This is probably the first time I've ever said these words," said England. "But I agree with America."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"We should split into groups." Germany suggested.
More nodding.
Prussia draped an arm over Canada. "Birdie's coming with me." he stated, leaving no room for argument.
"I'm going with big brother!" Belarus attached herself to Russia's arm, sending a warning glare around the room.
Spain and Romano agreed on going together, as did England and America.
China glanced over at Japan. "Why don't you come with me, aru?" he asked. Japan simply nodded.
Hungary smiled. "Italy, should we—"
"I'm going with Germany!" announced Italy, effectively (and unintentionally) cutting Hungary off as he ran past her and into Germany's arms, who simply sighed. "Ja, ja. Calm down, Italy."
The one's who's been paired off dispersed, leaving only Hungary and France.
Italy...
Why?
Why didn't you want to come with me?
Wasn't I good to you?
I always tried to be the best mama ever.
"Hungary?"
France's voice snapped Hungary out of her daze. "Tessek?" she blinked herself back into reality.
France raised an eyebrow. "Are you alright?"
Hungary chuckled. "Of course."
Sceptically, France accepted her answer. "Let's get going."
There's nothing worse than awkward silence. And right now, the silence was all sorts of awkward.
At least, it was for China. Japan didn't really seem to notice or care.
Finally, China let out a long sigh. "If I knew you were going to be this quiet and awkward, I would have insisted you go with Germany and Italy, aru." he huffed.
Japan looked up at him, but said nothing.
They continued to walk in silence.
After a while, China got irritated and stopped walking. "Don't you have anything to say at all, aru?" he snapped.
Stopping a little in front of him, Japan turned to face his former brother. "No. Not really." he replied, turning back and continuing to walk ahead.
China frowned. Here he thought he may have a chance to repair their broken relationship. Oh, well.
They walked further down the hallway, into a number of rooms and up a winding staircase. Nothing. There was nothing interesting about this house. Every room had the same white walls, the same white carpet and pretty much the same furniture.
After a few more identical rooms, China was ready to give up and go back to the hallway they had originally come from. He opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by Japan.
"Do you hear that?"
China raised an eyebrow. "Hear what?"
Japan looked over at him with a confused expression. "That!" he said. "that whispering."
The two stood in total silence, waiting for any sound at all. The silence was broken by China. "I don't hear a thing." he whispered. He chuckled. "Maybe you're finally losing it, Japan."
Japan frowned. "Hai, maybe."
"Let's just get back to our starting point, aru." said China, turning and walking back the other way.
There he goes again.
Telling you what to do.
Who does he think he is?
Shaking the voice from his head, Japan followed after China.
"There's nothing in here!" called Spain, leaning out of a door.
Romano sighed, emerging from the door to the adjoining room. "Nothing here either." He stretched out, earning a painful sounding snap from his back.
Spain winced. "Don't do that, Roma. I keep thinking you're going to break your back!" he whined.
With a roll of his eyes, Romano marched forward into the next room.
Why did Spain have to worry so much? It wasn't even as if he was his guardian anymore, so why should he care?
Romano shook his head, continuing his search of the room. So far he'd found absolutely nothing.
Except...
It seemed a little strange to him that none of these rooms had windows. And that every room so far was arranged in the exact same way. Right down to the tiniest detail.
He reached out to pull open a drawer, flinching when the brass knob gave him an electric shock.
"Anything in there, Roma?" Spain called from the doorway.
Wrapping his hand in his shirt, Romano yanked open the drawer.
Nothing.
Nothing whatsoever.
"No." he called back. "Absolutely nothing."
All Prussia really wanted to know right now was how in the name of Great Fritz did he wound his arm? He spent the entire time he was supposed to be searching just staring at the covered gash.
"Prussia." Canada frowned, gently placing the very tips of his fingers over the make-shift bandage.
The Prussian looked up, staring straight into Canada's violet eyes. He smirked. "Aww. Are you worried about me, Birdie?" he teased.
Canada's frown deepened. "Of course I am!" he snapped. "I know what you're like! You're far too spontaneous for your own good and you never know when to back down, I..." he trailed off, his eyes falling to the ground. "I don't want to see you get hurt."
"Birdie..." Prussia sighed, pulling Canada into a gentle embrace.
Burying his face in Prussia's shirt, Canada's eyes slipped shut. How could he not worry about this moron? Somebody had to.
"Canada, look at me." said Prussia, giving the Canadian no choice in the matter as he lifted his chin. "I promise that if I get hurt, I won't let you see me."
Canada glared. "That's not the issue, you idiot!" he barked, struggling out of Prussia's hold and stomping off.
Prussia gave his usual cackle, following after his 'Birdie'. "Ah, come on, Birdie! I was just playing!" he called after him.
End Note: So, here's the first chapter. I hope I'm doing as well at this as I am with ATH.
Edit: Fixed some errors.
Translations:
Tessek? - Sorry? (Hungarian)
Sneak Peaks
"Honestly, this place seems all sorts of creepy to me."
"I'm not going to let anything happen to you, Italy."
"I'm sorry, brother."
"Birdie? Who said I was going to die?"
"Hungary, stop!"
Until next time,
~Lolly xXx