AN: Ah~ Weekend finally! That means chapters more quickly! :D
Thank you to everyone who reviewed.
I know all of you are wondering where Germany and N. Italy are. Truthfully, no one wanted to write for them. XD We finally have people writing for them and they probably won't appear for a good many chapters. Sorry about that.
A great question was brought up in a review. No, this was not inspired by High School of the Dead. It was inspired by a random comment in an OOC thread on a site. |D
/"A...America? Is...is that you?"/
A grin grew steadily across Alfred's face when Mexico's and his own doubts dissolved.
"Norway!" America dashed through the house, following the trail of Norway's soft spoken voice. It wasn't long until the two discovered the Norwegian's hiding place.
"Thank god, you're alive!" Alfred grabbed Norway around the wrist. America's eyes were full of desperate hope, much in contrast to Norway's.
"We have to go! It's not safe here- I'll call HQ and they'll come pick us up. We can get out of here alive! Go back to my place and wait until we get this thing cleaned up, okay?"
Alfred tugged at Norway's sleeve.
"We don't have much time."
"I...I can't go." the Norwegian replied, not even bothering to fight against the American's grip. It was a useless struggle; however, as he knew that it had to be done. He knew fully well that their time was up, and that the Norwegian would definitely die within the next few days. It was too late for him, but the least he could do was humor the American and follow him out of the once beautiful nation. Oslo, his cherished capital, had suffered worst of all, and it had seemed to spread from there. From his heart. "My people...they...I...I let them down...this is all my fault..."
America was stunned. Something about Norway's dialog made it extremely similar to Arthur's when he spoke to the American on the phone. "N-Norway..."
Alfred lifted the fallen country to his feet. He clenched his hands around the Norwegian's shoulders, and with his glinting eyes, he glared deep into Norway's blank ones.
"Don't talk like that! So many people have come to help. We came because we still have faith in you! We can help you... we can make it, only if you let us, please. Your people will live only if you live!"
An awkward silence resumed as America let his words sink in. He released his grip. It was getting dark. Norway's house had never been so depressing.
"America..." the Norwegian replied, not caring about the fact that the American had lifted him to his feet with ease. What he was focused on was the fact that people still had faith in the hopeless nation. It was inevitable, he knew that. He knew he was going to die. The worst part is he never even got a chance to say goodbye. His brothers...Denmark...the others...he never got to say goodbye. And he never would. "I'm...I'm going to die⦠It's completely inevitable at this point." Norway started, looking back into the American's eyes with his monochromatic ones. "To be honest...I'm...I'm surprised I lasted this long."
"No..." America shook his head slowly. "No, Norway... weren't you listening to me? Don't say stuff like that. I'll call HQ right now and they'll send a helicopter for us. We can hold up until then! If we stay quiet, the zombies won't attack us."
He smiled weakly, feeling persuaded by his own words.
"We can go up to the rooftop and wait until help arrives."
The Norwegian couldn't help but let out a sigh at the American's hopeless ideals. Surely even he knew that the Norwegian's time was up, and yet he found a way to smile. Maybe...maybe there was hope, after all... No. It was useless. The Norwegian knew that the American was just saying this to persuade him to leave his once promising country, which was now nothing more than a landmass of high octane nightmare fuel. That's when the Norwegian glanced at the axe hanging on his wall. "...No. I can't go. My country is suffering. I can't...I can't leave."
Norway's words left America speechless once again. If Alfred had been in Norway's situation, he would have stayed to protect his country no matter what anyone said. He tried to piece together another argument, but the American found a sudden increase in difficulty. He adverted his eyes once or twice in thought.
Norway was right, wasn't he? He stifled a dry chuckle before addressing the Norwegian once again. "Norway... If you really want to, then I guess I can't stop you... But you can't stop me from helping."
A newfound determination surged through America. Preparing the gun that rested on his back, he looked at his Mexican companion, wondering if he was okay with this decision.
"Takk, Amerika," the Norwegian replied, glancing at the Mexican by his side. He knew that while America may be cocky and quite annoying at times, he was also willing to help in almost anybody's time of need. Despite the fact that he knew his death would come quickly, Norway couldn't help but be thankful that he wouldn't be completely alone. There was absolutely no way to prevent the Norwegian's death at this point, sadly, so they could only do so much to help him. "...Is your companion up to it?
The stillness of the house was picking away at America's confidence. On Mexico's word, they'd all rush out of the house and attack the monsters that had converted millions of innocents. He had seen it all before; one bite and they were goners. Once the bloody and unknown toxic made its way into their bloodstream, everything would be lost.
It was frightening. America, to his horror, found himself considering actually leaving Norway behind and heading for HQ along with Mexico. He'd tell the Norwegian commander about the unfortunate news... so then what would happen after that? There would be no faith. Norway would cease to exist. Just like that, he'd crumble into dust. The Norwegian would be remembered as the first during the end.
No... Everyone will remember Norway for much more than that. Norway was a soldier, and he and his allies would fight for his country. Norway's death wasn't absolute, so the American hoped.
Arthur stood on a nearby hill, overlooking the city of London. Fires raged and the stench of burning limbs reached him. Bodies of many zombies were being burned, but the numbers did not seem to decrease. England was no longer battling; no longer smiling. The energy that had once filled and dominated his being had disappeared. His emerald green eyes were no longer ablaze; now only showing fear and exhaustion. He sighed heavily.
"It seems they've broken through." The zombies had gotten through the defenses, and were roaming the land freely, while the British soldiers kept trying to hold them back, knowing there was no longer any point.
England chuckled a little bit; a chuckle full of self-pity and sorrow. "I guess I'll never get the chance..." A soft smile managed to find its way to his lips.
"To say sorry..."
England bowed his head, keeping his gaze on the ground he stood upon, letting his thoughts run unaccounted for.
'I'm sorry...'
'I'm sorry, Norway, for dragging you into this. I'm sorry Ireland, Wales, Scotland, for being a rotten little brother. I don't know if it was true, or if you were just saying those things. And I guess I'll never know. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Russia, that we couldn't be friends, and that we hated each other. I'm sorry, Japan, that we couldn't be better friends. I'm sorry, France, that I'm leaving you alone, and that we fought all those years. I'm also sorry we never cared for each other. I'm sorry, Spain, for torturing you all those years. I'm sorry, China, for making you suffer during the Opium Wars. I'm sorry, Canada, I never paid much attention to you, and liked America better. I'm sorry, America, for not being a better brother and ally; sorry for everything. But what I'm especially sorry for, is that none of you are able to hear my apology right now.'
A single tear ran down his face, dripping off his chin and falling to the ground, disappearing into the blood-soaked soil beneath him, just like his country.
'And I'm sorry none of you ever will.'
And now I bet you all hate me for ending this with the nastiest cliffhanger possible. I'll be hiding if you need me, working on the next chapter.
Please review! :D
