CHAPTER 4

"Maybe he wasn't dead?" Japan said evenly.

Everyone was still standing in the door way. Stunned in shock and confusion, nobody else said a word. The body of a murdered Prussia had just disappeared and with no evidence left behind they didn't know who or what had happened.

"But 'e was!" France said in a harsh whisper.

"We should have made sure…" Japan said.

"By cutting his head off, I suppose," China said ideally.

"That was uncalled for," Japan said slightly narrowing his eyes.

"Well, where is he," England said pushing into the room.

"We better look for him," Germany said.

Forgetting about Belarus's body in the door, everyone shuffled into the room. They all searched the room, looking under every table and chair. After a moment of frustration, Russia spoke up, "Well, he couldn't have been dead."

"'e was," France said standing up. He had been by the mantle checking the fireplace. "At least I 'zought 'e was…"he loosened his purple tie, "What difference does it make now."

"It's a difference to Mr. Prussia," England said checking the curtains that were behind the desk with Japan.

"Maybe…" America said standing there. He rushed up to Germany, "Prussia killed the cook Belarus!"

Everyone nodded. "Yes!"

Germany stared at America before raising and eyebrow, "How?"

America opened his mouth then shut it. Everybody else looked to be in thought as well. After a moment, America frowned and went back to where he was standing before. They all sat in the room silently until China leaned over to Italy, who was standing next to him.

"Do you know where the bathroom is?" he whispered.

Italy nodded before getting up and letting China follow him. They stepped over the body carefully then continued down the hall.

England, now finished with searching behind the desk, glanced at the papers on top of it. "Now what's this Mr. Germany?" England said holding up a strip of film.

"I believe those are the negatives to which America had earlier referred to," Germany said, making no movement to take away the photos.

"Oh my god, dude!" America said running over to snatched the negatives away. His face was extremely red including his ears. England quickly pulled back. He laughed and moved around the desk avoiding America's hands.

"Were you going to going to black mail him as well?"

"Of course not," Germany countered. "I was going to give them back after this evening was over!"

"Very lovely," England said teasingly.

"What sort of pictures are 'zey?" France asked.

"They're my pictures and want them back!" America said reaching around England who slapped his hand away.

"Oh no," England said, "There is something in them that concerns me too."

"Let me see," France said swiping the negatives away from England.

"Oh my," Japan said leaning in next to him, "Not many people can get into that position…"

Both France and Japan turned and stared at the red America and the laughing England. America kept trying to reach over England who was blocking his hands, when screaming could be heard. Distracted, England snatched the photos back, and proceeded to have them snatched away by America, who placed them back on the desk before running after the others to see where the screaming was coming from. Everyone ran out the room to find China and Italy stuck in a frozen scream.

On the floor in front of them lay the body of Prussia. From the way he was laying he had fallen out of the bathroom. Before he had been unmarked but now blood dripped from the back of his head and onto the front of his forehead as it continued to pool onto the floor.

"He's dead…" Japan said slightly confused.

"Again?" Germany said staring at the bodies.

"Ai yaaaa" China said swaying. Both Italy and China were about to faint. Germany quickly caught Italy and when America tried to catch China he fell through his hands and flopped onto the floor.

"Oops," He muttered before picking him up.

Japan eyes widen a fraction as he stared at Russia. He slowly pointed, "You've got blood on your hands…."

Russia gave a shocked look to his palms before quickly whipping them off. "Well, I didn't do it!" he said quickly.

Everybody stared at him for a moment before France caught their attention.

"Well 'e's certainly dead now…" France said moving the Prussia wrist, "And 'e 'as new injuries. Who would want to kill 'im twice!?"

England frowned. "That seems so unnecessary."

America shrugged. "From where I'm from that what we call over kill…"

"It's what we call psychotic," France said.

Russia spoke up. "Unless he wasn't dead before…"

America sneered. "What's the difference?!"

"That's what we are trying to find out!" Germany said his voice rising in volume, "We are trying to figure out who killed him? Where? And with what!?"

"Stop shouting!" America said half plugging on of his ears.

"I'm not shouting!" Germany said standing up quickly. Everyone gave him an incredulous look, "Alright I'm shouting!" He said a little angrily, "I'm shouting! I'm shouting! I'm…" In the middle of his frustrated rant a large candle stick from on top of the bathroom door frame fell and hit Germany on the top of his head. There was a loud thud and Germany fell to knees then fell forward.

It took a couple of moment for Germany to recover, but once he was awake and had an ice pack applied to his head, the guest began dragging the body of Prussia into the room with the body of the cook. Italy, Japan and England dragged the cook's body over to the couch while the rest of them dragged Prussia's body over.

"Well," America said casually, "Ladies first."

England gave him a noticeable eye-roll as he bent down with Japan to lift up Belarus from the floor. With a bit of struggle, and help from Italy, they got her to sit on the couch.

"Careful," Germany said treating his head, "Don't get blood on the sofa."

"How do we do this?" Italy said gesturing toward the knife, "The knife will just go further into her back…"

America gestured with his hands. "Just drape over the side." They nodded in agreement and moved the body. "Okay time for Prussia."

America reached down with France and pulled the body onto the couch in a slightly sitting position. In the attempt France slipped and ending up in the middle of the two bodies. Not seeing any reason to stand he just sat there.

America walked up behind the couch now that the bodies were placed. "Now who-" he glanced down to see the staring eyes for Prussia. Feeling a little freaked out he closed the eyelids. "Now who had access to the candlestick?"

"All of us," England responded evenly.

"I was given to you," Japan said raising an eyebrow.

England sent Japan a glare. "Yeah, but I dropped it on the table," He sneered, "Anybody could have picked it up."

"Look we still have all these weapons," Germany interrupted. He went around the room picking up as he named them aloud, "the gun, the rope, the wrench and the lead pipe." He moved over to the side of the room. "Let's put them all in this cupboard and lock it. Since there is a homicidal maniac about…"

Everyone nodded in agreement and watched as in a slightly hazard way, Germany piled all of the things into the cupboard closed and pulled a key from his pocket. With an audible click, it was locked.

"What are you doing with the key?" Russia said watching as Germany put it back in his pocket.

"I'm putting in my pocket…" he responded.

"Why?"

"To keep it safe obviously," Germany said raising an eyebrow.

China had been sitting in the chair trying to get a hold of the situation, but he quickly stood up at this news. "That means you can open it whenever you want!" he countered.

"But it also means that you can't," Germany said.

"But what if YOU'RE the murder!" China said hysterically.

"I'm not," Germany said taken back.

"But what if you are!?" America defended with an inquisitive finger point.

"Well it's got to be put somewhere!" Germany exasperated, "If I have it, I know I'm safe."

"But we don't know that we are!" China said angrily.

Germany frowned slightly in thought; then he clapped his hands together in a moment of realization. "I have an idea! Let's throw it away!"

Everybody shouted in agreement as they rushed out the study, down the hall and towards the front door. Germany threw his arm back and opened the door, but stopped in mid-throw. The stranger in front of them ducked at the scene. The man stood up as he noticed the crowd of people gathered behind the butler. He brushed a brown hair from his face; the rest of his hair tied back in a ponytail for convince of the weather. He had a timid look as he gave the man a guilty face.

"I'm sorry," He said with a small smile, "I didn't mean to disturb the whole house hold…"

"Oh …ah…"Germany lowered his hand. "Sorry, how can we help?"

"My car…" The brunette said gesturing back, "it broke down and I was wondering if I could use your phone?"

Germany gave a paused and stared at the man. He opened his mouth but it took a moment for him to actually say something. "Give us one moment," He finally let out.

He turned around and everybody behind him huddled together. The man watched with slight confusion as the guest whispered together in hushed manic tones. He leaned forward a bit to try and listen but Germany turned back around.

"Very well sir. Would you care to come in?" Germany said opening the door wider so the man could pass through.

Once inside the man removed his hood and glanced around in awe at the large open household.

"Well," He said looking around, "Where is it?"

"The body?" Germany blurted out.

"The phone," the man said completely shocked and confused, "What body?"

Everyone gave a quick glare at Germany who let out a cough. "Well there's no body. I mean there is nobody," He said correcting himself, "There is nobody in the study." Everybody laughed it off, even nodded in agreement at the conditions of the said study. Germany quickly saved the situation, "But I believe there is a phone in the lounge."

The man smiled. "Thank you," he said as he followed Germany down the hallway to the door.

Germany extended his hand and the man walked in through the two doors. He expected Germany to follow him in, but turned around to find Germany closing the door. There was a brief moment of silence before the soft sound of clicking as the door was being locked.

Outside the door, Germany twisted the lock and checked the handle one more time. He was about done when an arm reached out and clasped his shoulder. He turned around with a loud manly gasp. He let out a sigh of relief when he was faced with the American.

"Where's the key?" he asked simply.

"In my pocket," Germany said still a little frazzled.

"No 'zat key!" France yelled from where everybody had been standing; which was still by the front door, "'Ze key to cupboard! Where 'ze weapons are!"

"You still want me to throw it away?" Germany said exhausted.

With even a second of hesitation everyone yelled. "Yes!"

Once again opening the front door, Germany readied his hand. This time nobody was there to get in the way. With a thrust of his hand he sent the key sailing past the cars; almost making it to the brush of the trees that surrounded the estate. Satisfied he walked back into the house and locked the front door.

"Well," he said now with the job done, "What now?"

"Germany I demand to be let out," Japan said holding out his hand for the key.

"No," Germany said stiffly.

"Why not?" Japan asked almost hysterically.

"We have to know who did it," Germany said, his manner unchanged, "We are all in this together now."

China clenched his fist. "If you don't let us out," he started, "I'll say that you killed them both."

The other guest seemed to find that fitting and nodded in agreement. Germany still didn't cave. Completely at a wits end, America exclaimed, "Well I could use a drink."

Everybody nodded and followed into the library. Before heading over to the room, America peaked inside of the study. Chine gave him a weary look. "Just checking," America said idly.

"Everything alright?" he questioned back.

"Yup," He said closing the door, "Two corpses; everything's fine."

China nodded as they made their way into the library. America lazily uncorked the whiskey. "Anybody else?" Some people raised their hands, and still in the mood of laziness, he drenched the glasses in an attempt to fill four at once. Everyone seemed frazzled. France pulled out a cigarette, and kindly offer one to England, who took it with mercy. Taking their respective drinks, America nodded his head as he voiced one of his thought.

"Alright listen up," He voiced loudly, "Germany, am I right thinking that there's no other dudes in this house?"

Germany stood to the side. He gave a moment thought then replied, "Uhn, no."

America brightened up. "So there is someone else in this house!"

Germany looked at him with a raised eyebrow, "Sorry, I think I meant no meaning yes."

America looked at him as he lowered his drink. "No meaning yes?" he repeated. He shook his head to try and clear it. "Look dude, I want a straight answer. Is there anybody else in the house? Yes or no?"

Germany looked at him again with a pause. "No…"

"No there is? Or no there isn't?" America said getting confused causing his voice to rise.

Germany seemed just as confused. "Yes…?"

"Please!" shouted Japan as he looked at them through his hands. "Do you think we should get rid of that man before he realizes there is something going on her," he stressed.

"Thank you!" England said withdrawing another cigarette.

France frowned. "How can we 'zrow 'im outside in the middle of a storm!"

"If we let him stay in the house he may get suspicious!" England counter argued.

France yelled right back, "If we 'zrow 'im out 'e might get even more suspicious!"

America threw up his hands. "If I were him I would suspicious already."

China broke the argument, his yelling being heard over all of them. "Oh, who cares!? That guy doesn't matter!" he shrieked, "Let him stay, locked up for another half an hour! The police will be here by then and there are two dead bodies in the study!"

"Shhh," Everyone mimicked together.

"Well there is still some confusion as to whether or not there is somebody else in the house," America said gesturing towards Germany.

Germany looked frustrated. "I told you, there isn't."

"There isn't any confusion or there isn't anybody else!" America questioned.

"Either!" Germany said then looked confused for a second. He retracted his statement. "or both…"

"Will you just give me a clear answer?!" America said with a sigh.

"Certainly," Germany said disgruntled, "…What was the question again?"

"Is there anybody else in the house!?" America yelled.

"No!" the rest of the guest and Italy yelled back at him.

America laughed. "Ah ha! That's what he says, but I say," he gave a confident smile, "We spilt up and search the house. Just to make sure!"

"Split up!?" China said.

"Yeah!" America said confirming it with a nod. He pulled his sleeve up and checked his watch. "We have little time left, and if we split up into pairs we get more ground covered."

"Pairs?" France questioned.

"Yup."

"Wait a minuted," France countered, "Suppose that one of us is the murderer, if we split up into pairs the person who is paired with the killer might get killed!"

America face brightened. "Then we'd know who the murderer is!"

China frowned, "but one half of the pair would be dead!"

"This is war!" America explained, "You can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs! Ask every cook and they'll tell ya so!"

"But the cook is dead!"

America grimaced at his own choice of words. There was silence throughout the room, before Russia spoke up. "I say we give it a try."

England nodded. "We don't have much of a choice do we…"

Italy spoke up gripping his hands lightly. "But it is dark upstairs in the attic," He said slowly and a little shaken, "Will anyone go with me?"

Germany interrupted before the calling of rooms could begin. "I suggest we all draw locks for partners." He pulled out some long match sticks and made everybody follow him into the kitchen. Using one of the spare knives Germany cut into each pair of matches. The room as silent except for the sound of the cutting. Germany finished quickly and put the matches in his hands. He turned his back to the others and shuffled them around to make them look different heights. He then turned back around his hands covering the sticks.

"Ready?" he said letting out a sigh, " The two shortest together then the next two shortest, agreed?" He paused for a moment as everybody nodded to the rules. "And I suggest the shortest two sticks search in the cellar and so on up."

Everyone warily took their match from Germany's hand. All of them hoping not to have the cellar.

Oh my goodness. Sorry this chapter isn't written as well as the others. I'm so close to finals and it takes a while to edit these because there so long and sorry for the long wait. I'm almost done with the semester though so you might not have to wait as long for the next one… Thank you to all those who review! It's so very nice to know people like my writing since I'm not always confident with it UvU

If you can't tell who that character was that they locked up... it was Lithuania... like I said... sorry this chapter isn't as well written