The next few days were full of solitude. Russia never came down to visit me again after he took me back to my cold cell. I wondered if it was the bosses orders, or if I had something wrong. Whatever the reason, I only enjoyed the silence for so long. I reflected upon myself for a long while, thinking about whether or not I had been useful to big brother, or simply a liability. I lightly touched my pin, just to make sure it was still there and someone suddenly took it.

I was thinking about the traits that I learned and inherited from my big brother most of the time. I knew that my tongue of acid words was probably something I learned from him. Also the fact I always wear men's clothing might be because all Prussia ever had was men's clothes. That was inevitable... But...

The things I've heard have made me uneasy. Russia has tan hair, much like mine, except mine's a little darker. Also, I've seen his sisters run in the prison halls. One was a woman with short silver hair; I only assumed it was Russia's older sister, Ukraine, that I've heard about. She looked flustered, nearly in tears as she searched the corridor, and as she did, I noticed her eyes. They nearly made my skin jump, but not because they were intimidating; because they were the same shade of blue that my eyes were. Was it possible I was really mixed up at birth, like Prussia said...?

I shook my head. First of all, it was probably just a coincidence; I could have gotten recessive traits from Prussia and Germany. Also, since when did I believe every single thing Prussia told me? After all, he's still in denial about how he's so lonely all the time. He's probably just messing with me. Finally, to top it all off, my features are slightly different than those of Russia and his sisters. My hair is slightly darker and my eyes have a green hue to it. But I still found myself doubting myself.

Finally, after a couple of days, I finally found my stomach fiercly growling, begging for food. I slowly crawled to the cage door, clutching the rusty iron bars uncertainly. I was about to call out and ask for a meal, but I caught myself. I wasn't about to give myself up to them. I was either going to show my perseverance and make them finally feed me, or simply starve to death, and rid them of an asset. While neither sounded pleasant, I had resolved.

At least, that was how it initially was for a while, but I started to go into a dazed state. It didn't matter what my resolve was, nor how badly I wanted to keep it, my body had overode my brain, causing me to start yelling out. I wasn't able to listen well, but I yelled for food, for them to set me free. I was eventually shaking the bars, looking and sounding like a lunatic. I begged myself to hold myself together, until I suddenly stopped.

I finally focused on what had caused my insanity to stop, to see Russia looking down at me, keys in hand, as well as the chain and something wrapped on his belt. His face was somber and looked like it lacked sleep. He sighed heavily, holding up his keys and chain.

"My boss..." he said, his voice soft but hoarse, "...told me to bring you somewhere...It's still in the mansion...but he said it was important..." I slowly backed up, trying to collect myself again from my sudden outburst. He unlocked the door and proceeded to fasten the chains on my metal cuffs, urging me to follow him upstairs. I shivered from the wind of outside blowing through the tears of my jacket.

I was now genuinely afraid. I was obviously losing my mind here, and that wasn't acceptable. I had to stay strong and not let these Commies get to me. If they did, Prussia would have lost, as well as I. I just had to keep trucking until they finally lost their moral.

I also wondered what was happening NOW. Probably an execution for "insubordination" or something of the like. I glanced at Russia, who wouldn't look at me at all. He was probably planning my demise the whole time I was alone in that dead basement. I stared at his back, hoping I could burn through his clothes with it.

Ivan led me though parts of the mansion, where I would look around in slight awe. The decor in the rooms looked expensive and refined. Lining the wals were all sorts of artillery, with ammo lining their sides. In one room, I caught a glimpse of 3 boys, all of different heights, stature, and hair colors. They were all trembling, then they caught my eye and started to tremble even more. I wondered what they were doing in this mansion. They didn't look like relatives of Russia as far as I knew.

Russia pulled on the chains, urging me to hurry up. I kept following, feeling a bit of pity for the men in that room. Perhaps they were terrified of my crude appearance or something of the like. I wouldn't be surprised; my jacket, shirt, and pants were all torn and filthy. I looked like a lowly beggar that was arrested for pickpocketing.

Finally, we had arrived at a tall and seemingly thick door. Ivan fumbled with his keys and unlocked it, revealing a large room with large, sturdy walls. Ivan stepped aside, nodding for me to go inside. I slowly walked inside as though the floor was rigged with land mines. When I finally entered, Ivan came in and immediately locked the door behind him.

I turned to him, attempting to glare him down, but knowing it wouldn't do a thing. Ivan slowly walked towards me, a sadistic smile on his face again. I tried to hold up my chains in defence, but Russia simply yanked on them, nearly causing me to stumble. He finally took the strange item off his belt and unwrapped it. It was only then that I realized that it was a whip.

"Ahaha..." Ivan laughed, staring at me with a wide grin. "People in the mansion are not happy by your actions, or rather, the lack of them. I brought you here to fix that." Ivan grinned again, swinging the whip in front of him carefully. "I could either get that clip from you...and your loyalty to the Soviet Union...and all of this pain would go away...Just like THAT..." When he said 'that', he cracked his whip in front of me, making my feet jump out of the way.

I grimaced. He was going to torture me until I gave up and forget Prussia. What was the importance of my clip to them? Because it showed my bond with Prussia? What foolishness. I grinned the grin of someone who had snapped, which was probably who I was, and laughed.

"Hahaha...do what you want with me..." I taunted, speaking with an insane tone. "I don't care anymore...but I will never forget Prussia...whatever you might do to me..." I looked at Ivan, to see that his sadistic smile faltered a bit, revealing disappointment in my answer. He slipped his grin on his face again, like a mask, then cracked the whip again, this time, on my neck. The pain caused me to fall to my knees, even though I was still smiling.

"Are you really sure you want to endure such a fate...?" Russia asked, his voice amused, yet unsteady. "You'll be BEGGING for the pain to stop...and wish just to forget Prussia...Just give up now..." I looked up at him through my mess of hair. I grinned, shaking my head. Ivan, looking frustrated, kept cracking the whip against me. I simply laid there, silently enduring each little slap. I held on only for Prussia.

I wondered...Are you watching, Prussia?

Do you know what I'm doing for you? Even though we fought all the time, and I always scolded, and you thought I was the most ridiculous excuse of land, I know that you were silently proud; at least I'm proud of you. I hope you realize what is happening and what I'm doing for you, or at least know that I didn't give up.

"I will never give you up..." I whispered to myself. It was true, and always will be. Right as I whispered that, I looked up to hear Russia cry out. He looked like he was about to sob as he gave one last crack of the whip.

But this time...it was different.

Even though I was conscious that he whipped me, I didn't hear the firework-like sound it made. Instead, my head was now wet as it was bleeding, and a heard an echoing clatter. I slowly looked to the floor to find my pin, red with my blood, residing on the floor. I stared at it, shocked, as I fell, tears welling up in my eyes. I had lost...I'm sorry big brother...while I didn't give up...fate had something else in mind... I gave one last glance at Russia, to find his face dripping in tears as I hit the ground, blacking out.