-Chapter inspired by 'Demons' by Imagine Dragons, and 'Wings' by Little Mix-


Time seemed to drag on. After two days of visiting, recovery, and barely avoiding media, the boys still had not woken up. After the first day, the boys had enough blood to get off of the IV's with the blood bags. They were put back on to being fed fluids via tube, but now the families didn't have to worry about reliving the gross amount of blood lost. Both boys' stats were perfectly fine, solid and steady. They just wouldn't wake up from a comatose state they had forced themselves into. Iryna kept telling them that their bodies have recovered, but their minds are still trying to collect themselves. Both she and Elizabeta check in with them a couple times a day, both not noticing any change. Iryna though claimed once that Ludwig had moved a bit, but no one who had visited him had seen him moved even a centimeter. The families were slowly starting to believe that they would never wake up.

Today, Lili was the only one to visit the bedded duo. The others were too tired or mentally done for to visit them anymore. They would wait for the call when they woke up and then visit. No standing by their bedside to wait out for the moment they opened their eyes. Maybe because the emotional downfall had begun. The families had begun to become depressed, almost reclusive in a few instances. They had gone off of their happy high from when the family finally settled their differences, and grew friendly. Although Arminius and Romulus still fought, it was relatively fun and happy. Now they entered the time of failing happiness, and dark realization. Lili somehow kept her head high through the reigning sadness at home. She walked into the side entrance once more, fingering the insides of her little brown satchel.

This time the young Liechtensteinian was dressed in a cute tan and white colored dress, sleeveless, with small gold scents and brown tights, paired with a cute pair of white flats. She wore gold bracelets and a small gold necklace, and at the end was tied a small bird with its wings outspread. She waved at the nurse on duty at the desk, and they let her in. She was a regular now, seeing that she visited them every day. As she passed the main lobby once more, she noticed the lack of media. She asked an assistant standing by the main desk.

"We don't know. They all jumped up and left early in the night yesterday" the man said. A passing nurse nodded in agreement.

"I've never seen the media rush out so swiftly. Maybe the story finally dropped" the nurse said, and continued on her way. Lili looked at the doors for a moment, pondering the reasons why they would bolt away from this story. Before she could figure it out, Elizabeta and Iryna ganged up behind her, and scared her, almost letting her satchel fly away from her.

"Don't do that you guys!" Lili playfully yelled at them, girly slapping them. Eliza and Iryna laughed lightly, shushing her to make sure they didn't wake up anyone. Elizabeta gave the assistants the thumbs up sign, and was given one in response. The three girls slowly made their way down the hallway. Elizabeta chatted in a low voice about the boy's progress. Feli had gained back most of the color in his face, and the cut on his neck was starting to scar up nicely. Lili though expressed worry on the scar, seeing that it could bring up a more fitful bullying streak. This time around, Iryna informed the younger girl, they could remove it, but the patient in this rare case could decide to; not the family or friends. So until they woke up or gain some sort of consciousness, the issue on their scars was a bit of null and void. Elizabeta continued talking about the improvements. Ludwig was also progressing well too. His skin was catching full color; yes, everywhere, well besides the obvious because the nurses weren't that evasive, they knew the limits. The scar on his leg was healing well too, and the wrists were fully sealed. Iryna commented that they soon would be able to remove the bandages fully, to let them air permanently, but it could be delayed until they woke up.

"Miss Héderváry, please report to the 2nd floor operation room" the PA system blared above them. Eliza cursed underneath her breath and turned on her heel, running down the hall to get to the elevator as a doctor started to enter it as well. The duo waved and yelled their goodbyes, which were almost missed as Eliza barely turned and noticed them. She waved goodbye as the doors closed and she ascended up to the second floor.

"Well, come on Lili," Iryna said, tugging Lili's arm lightly. As they walked slowly down the hall, Lili caught the upcoming doors quickly. She sighed as they grew ever closer. Iryna rubbed her shoulder affectionately, hoping to calm the young girl.

"It's ok Lili. They'll wake up soon, right?" she said. Lili nodded as took a deep breath. She bid Iryna goodbye as she turned down another hallway as a voice called out for her. It sounded familiar, but Lili couldn't pinpoint it. She took another breath, gripped her satchel and walked up to Ludwig's hospital room. The door opened with no problem.

Ludwig was still laying on his bed, but now barely covered up by the sheet; his hospital clothes were whitish-blue, almost like everything else, except one pant leg was pulled up to his hip to expose the bandaged up cut on his leg. His wrists were still bound in white, contrasting with the new light, pasty tan skin. Lili smiled; she really was glad that the color had returned to his entire body. She ran her hand over his right hand, gripping the hand tightly. She squeezed it again, hoping again for a response. Nothing came to her as she squeezed multiple times. She sighed, completely resigned, and pulled up a chair to his side, resting her hands on top of his propped up hands. She watched Ludwig's chest slowly rise and fall for a few moments before starting to talk.

"I came again, Ludwig…" she said, softly, wrapping her hands around his hand, "I just hope you wake up soon, because everyone misses you. I'm pretty sure if Feliciano was awake, he would miss you too"

She was met with silence, but she continued on. Tears slowly built up in her eyes.

"I brought something today again. I...I had to clean it off, b-because your blood…it was still on it but…" she tugged the object up from the bag and set it in his open palm.

"It's your Iron Cross" she said, tears starting to fall as she looked at the necklace. It glinted with the sunlight flowing through the window. It didn't even look like it was ever coated and covered in blood, darkened and dried and crusted on the edges. She sniffled, the tears falling down with virtually no noise. A few dropped onto Ludwig's hand.

"I remember when I and Gil found you in your bathroom. I thought I was going to puke…" she recalled. She closed her eyes, and dove once more head first into the grotesque memory.

Gilbert was in hysterics, trying to keep pressure on the cut on his leg. Gilbert was shouting at Ludwig in random and spastic German, trying to get his attention if he was still awake. The cut was spilling out crimson ribbons of his blood like rivers. Lili tried as well to keep the blood from flowing hard, keeping pressure on his wrists. She could barely hold her stomach down as she gripped them, feeling the blood seep through her fingers. It was starting to pool up around them again. She shook as she looked at Ludwig's face. She bolted up suddenly, and ran out.

"Lili, where are you going!?" Gilbert yelled out as she ran. She stomped down the stairs, gaining the others attention as she reached the last step. Arminius and Basch stared impossibly at her.

"It…..It's Ludwig…he…" she said breathlessly, raising a hand. Arminius launched off his feet and ran upstairs, calling out for Gilbert. The house had turned into chaos. She was about to run after them, but was pulled back by Basch.

"Let them handle it!" he yelled at her. She snapped her hand away from him and stared hard and coldly at him. She gripped her wrist as if it were burnt by his touch.

"I just kept his wrists from water falling blood, bruder, I'm going up there!" she screamed and ran fast to the second floor room of Ludwig's. Arminius was tossing a phone as she peeked around the door frame. She caught it and barely caught over the chaos and yelling and frantic action that Arminius instructed her call to call 911. She pressed the buttons quickly, calling for an ambulance for her brother's suicide attempt. She watched in fear as Arminius carried Ludwig in the princess hold, pressed up to his chest, out of the bathroom and walked with hurried pace down the stairs. Gilbert caught her arm and they walked-ran down the stairs and watched from the steps as the ambulance pulled up outside and the stretcher was pulled open for Ludwig. Gil rushed outside to their Großvater, tears building in the corner of his eyes. She watched in immense pain as Ludwig was set on the gurney, and paramedic jumped on him. She walked up to Gilbert, who had fallen to his knees next to Arminius. He was sobbing silently into his hands, and their father figure was knelt beside him, trying to keep his own tears back. Lili let her own slide down in fast rivers.

The ambulance sped off, siren blaring like a nuclear warning. The red warning lights lit up the air even in the bright sunlight. Their neighbors gathered outside, some gasping and murmuring, while others slowly made their way to their home. Lili looked up at the families congregating around them. Arminius slowly rose from his kneel, and disappeared inside. Basch came out, and he didn't look good. He was starting to look green; so close to releasing his stomach of its contents. Arminius came out again, keys in one hand.

"Come on, we're going to that hospital" he ordered. Gilbert held a cold expression as he rose off his own knees, the tears still clinging to his chin and cheeks and followed him to the car. The families backed off, returning to their homes. A boy from across the street sneered at Lili, as if the torture for Ludwig continued. Lili took a step forward, following Basch as he seemed to numbly wander to the other, and flipped the young boy the finger in defiance of his hate. The boy staggered back a bit, as if taken by surprise. He growled at her as he turned on his heel and left them. She climbed into the car, and closed the door. The car roared to a start and pulled away from the home in silence.

Lili sobbed in silence, tears pooling in her loose shirt. It hurt to look anywhere. His blood fermented almost everything in her sight.

She let a small sob escape her throat, the tears falling faster onto his hand. She sat there sobbing, the vivid memories replaying. She gripped his hand hard, willing it to do anything; she just needed a sign that he was okay. As she looked up at his face, she felt something tickle her hands. She looked down at the hands. His fingers were moving. They were curling around her hands! She looked up at Ludwig's face, wrapping her hand firmly once more around his, and felt another response. As she stared at his face, his eye lids started to flicker, and then slowly opened, revealing his beautiful cerulean eyes. They watched her for a moment, then widened in complete doubt and disbelief.

"Lili?" his voice was just a whisper, rough but easy to hear. Lili let out a sob-filled gasp, and smiled wide. Ludwig's fingers on his right hand started to rub silently on his Iron Cross.

"Yes.." she said, sobbing. "Yes, and thank goodness you're awake!"

She launched a hug around him, crying into his shoulder. He winced as he raised his arms, noting that they felt like lead, and hugged her back, running a hand through her hair. She smelled sweet, like strawberries. He smiled into her hair and slowly both drew back, while Lili wiped away tears.

"We were all worried, Luddy. Th-they would be here, but they're dealing with a lot. I've come around every day, hoping you would wake up…"

Ludwig smiled sadly, and then looked down at his wrists. They were bound by white bandages. He could see his bound leg as well. The memory of that day, after the Facebook fiasco…It had plagued him in terrors, his mind fractured and hurt. He tried to sit up, but winced as his wrists protested against the movement. He slowly sat up fully, back propped up by his movable bed. He held his hands up, and rotated them, keeping his eyes on his wrist. Tears collected and fell down as he looked at them. He had really done it.

"Ludwig…" Lili's fingers brushed under his eyes, wiping away tears. He set his hands down, one propped by his injured leg. He barely remembered the wound on his leg, but the way it radiated heat under his palm, he knew it was there. He rubbed it with two fingers. Lili watched as he did so, perplexed.

"I don't remember cutting my leg" Ludwig whispered, ghosting his fingers over the leg he nearly killed himself with. Lili lifted his hand away from it.

"The cut you put into it almost killed you. It almost hit an artery" Lili whispered, "and honestly, now it won't matter for long"

"Why not?"

Lili smiled. "Because the scar…the scar can be removed, it you want it to"

Ludwig smiled very lightly, and then looked around.

"Where's Feli?" Lili froze as the word's passed Ludwig's lips. Did he not know that Feli committed the act as well? She had checked his phone. Maybe he thought it meant running away in Feli's case? She did not know, and it scared her. She knew and feared that he would ask for him. She let out a small breath, unsure how to tell him.

"Lili…"

She turned to Ludwig.

"Where's Feli?"

She looked down, entwining her thumbs. She spoke barely in a whisper.

"…."

"Was?"

"Feliciano tried to commit suicide, same as you. He was hospitalized the same time you were. The nurses told us all that if his family had found him any later, he would have died" she said, tears falling. She covered her mouth afterword, and watched Ludwig's face go from serious to disbelieving and then to heartbreak, sinking back to his bed. He shook hard, tears falling faster then she thought physically possible. He covered his mouth as sobs racked his entire body. Lili went to put a hand on him, but she was swatted away.

"H-he…he tried…" was all he could say, overtaken by grief, "Oh my gott…..

"He's in the room across the hall" she added silently. "He hasn't woken up. His family, I believe, is about to give up even though physically he's okay"

A hiccup escaped Ludwig. He sobbed hard behind the guard of his hand. Lili broke down as well, and caught Luddy's head as it started to droop. He cried into her shoulder, gripping her side with a tight grip. He was falling apart. He sobbed out Feli's name into the shoulder as well. Lili rubbed silent circles into his back; she didn't know what else to do. She couldn't exactly take him across the hall.

The door creaked open, and a sharp gasp made both of them look up. Elizabeta stood in the hallway.

"L-ludwig, you're awake" Eliza said in disbelief, rushing up to meet them until she caught sight of the tears. Her own tears silenced, and she walked up to him.

"F-feli…is he…" was what he mumbled, pressing his face into his step-sister's shoulder. He looked up coyly, eyes already rimmed red from tears. Eliza tapped the top of his head twice, and it rose silently, looking up at the assistant nurse.

"He's isn't awake. He barely survived, like you." Elizabeta said. "Y-you didn't know he did it?"

Ludwig shook his head. "I thought he would run. We had discussed once about it a bit, just in case. We never expected it to be so bad. He agreed to run, while I would find him. I never knew he would…h-he…" he broke down in tears again, immediately caught by the two girls, who tried to calm his cries.

"Why didn't you run to find him, Luddy?" Lili asked in his ear. He sobbed out an answer.

"Because the thought of running meant nothing then"

Eliza bit back a sob, but then tugged the sheets covering Ludwig. She gripped his arm, and started to pull him to the edge of the bed.

"Come on, Ludwig. We're going to see Feli. You need to, alright?"

The Germans worked with Elizabeta and her plan easily, and soon Ludwig had his feet hovering over the ground. This would be the hard part; no one knew if he could even walk on his leg, and if he couldn't, they wouldn't have time to get a wheelchair to help transport him. He wiggled his toes, feeling the coolness of the ground nip at the digits. His leg started to burn a bit as he planted his uninjured leg on the ground, and then the other. He hissed as a lightning bolt of pain shot up his leg and into his spine. Eliza huffed about being careful with how much weight he put on it. He slowly stood, bracing himself with his arms on the medical bed. He could support his weight by standing and keeping hold of something. Now the challenge was to walk without falling or tripping.

He let go of the bed. For a moment it felt like he was falling, or flying, or maybe both. The girls held their breath, waiting for him to curse as his legs collapsed underneath him, sending him to the ground. The moment never came. He stayed on his feet. He let a little celebratory chuckle leave his lips. He took one step, and another, and soon he was practicing his pace in circles. Elizabeta was taking photos, storing them for later. Lili smiled and lightly clapped; she didn't want to alert the hospital of his status of being out of comatose just yet. As soon as he got a good pace up, Elizabeta and Lili flanked him and they pushed the door open. Eliza scouted the hall, sticking her head out of the door. She stepped out and opened Feliciano's door, and ushered them over. Ludwig stepped out, taking careful steps even though he knew he could do it. His thigh was starting to burn just a bit. Lili kept up the rear and the trio stepped into the room.

Ludwig gasped as he saw Feli, still out like a light. The bandage on his neck seemed like an omen to him. He walked up to his side, and brushed his hand over the neck bandage. Feli did not react to the touch, but he could feel his pulse under the sensitive fingertips. Feliciano had sliced his neck, along with his wrists, to commit the act? He let his hand linger downward, and curled his hand into one of Feli's, feeling the soft rub of the bandages against his own wrist.

"Come on, Feli. I'm right here…" he whispered, bringing his face right up to his, resting his forehead against his. "I'm so sorry, liebe"

Silence surrounded them. Lili let out a soft sigh, and Elizabeth followed. They went to Ludwig's side.

"It hasn't been any use, Luddy. Nothing had worked…" Elizabeth said, until Ludwig seemed to shake and gasp out something unintelligible. Instantly, as if they knew, they all locked their eyes with the boy's joined hands.

Feli's hand had started to curl around Ludwig's fingers.