They didn't know how long they'd been in that cramped, dark alleyway for. It might have been hours, or maybe just minutes. No one spoke once, nor did anyone move – all anyone could do was think. It wasn't safe for any of them anymore. They had always known how dangerous life would be since the epidemic, but no one had expected to lose so many…. Maybe this really was the end, and they really would all fall eventually. It was a grim, harrowing thought that distressed them all, many of them tried to shove it to the back of their minds, yet there was no escape from the truth and the appalling reality. Russia was proof of what they were so terrified of – lying just a few metres away from them in the darkness.
Eventually, it was America who stood up and broke the eerie silence that had fallen over everyone.
"We're leaving the city."

Heads snapped up from all directions at the same time, all of them in the direction of the young blond who had dared to order them about. For a moment, no one said anything, and then-
"Are you crazy?" Switzerland croaked. "Where would we go?"

"Anywhere but here," was the response, "somewhere quiet and out of the way, where it will be safer."

"And how exactly do you plan on getting us there? The roads are all clogged up! It took you hours to get out to look for Italy, and it'll be dark before we even get out to look for somewhere to set up camp."
America had frowned, for the Swiss man's voice was harsh all of a sudden. In reality, all Switzerland could think about was a flash of short blonde locks, sparkling malachite eyes much like his own and her happy giggle. It had been a week since he had last seen his younger adoptive sister, and just over a day since Estonia had delivered some… news. The blond had returned from a foraging trip with Latvia and Lithuania to find America in the middle of a heated argument with Switzerland and Spain over their plans to move on the next day. Spain and Switzerland had argued that they didn't know if Romano and Liechtenstein were truly gone and they couldn't just get up and move without knowing…

"Vash." America said softly. "You have to realise the chances of Lili-"

"Don't you dare!" The green-eyed nation snapped furiously. "Don't you dare try and talk to me about her! I know her, she's tougher than she seems! She might still be… there's a chance and you know it."

"A chance," America repeated, "exactly, only a chance. I can't risk the group's safety for a slim possibility… surely you understand."

"No!" Switzerland shook his head. "No, I don't! All of you are so… so selfish and hypocritical. You use the same reasons whenever one of the larger countries is missing, you risk the safety of the group then! But as soon as it's Lili or… or Feliks or anyone even slightly less significant you don't want to know."

"Lili and Lovi have been gone for less than a week!" Spain interjected. "You went after Feliciano after a week and he didn't even have anyone with him when he went missing. You took the risk though, and it turned out he was alive and well. What if Lovi's the same? You're just going to… move on as if he and Lili don't exist?"

"They don't," came a murmur, "not anymore."

Slowly, with wide and confused eyes, Spain and Switzerland turned to face Estonia, who had just stood up. He swallowed slightly before continuing. "I saw them earlier, on the trip. They were already gone, I couldn't do anything. Toris and Raivis saw them as well." And then Estonia shot Latvia a look, and the smaller country quivered slightly as he looked into his friend's eyes.

"Y-yes." He stuttered, his face having paled of what little colour that was in his cheeks. "We d-did. It was… horrible." He shuddered, and then retreated behind the older Baltic as if terrified of Switzerland or Spain attacking him. From beside them both, Lithuania also hesitantly nodded in agreement.

"You saw them both?" Spain squeaked, his voice going unnaturally high and what sparkle had remained in his eyes throughout the weeks of this nightmare dulled instantly. "A-are you sure?"

"I'm sure." Estonia replied in a monotone voice, his face remaining devoid of emotion as he stared at the two men. "I'm sorry."

Switzerland shuddered at the memory, trying to shake it from his mind. His eyes burned with tears, though he forced them down as he had when he had been told the news. His throat constricted painfully with the effort of keeping the hot tears brimming over his eyes – he refused to let the rest of the group see him in such a weak, vulnerable state as he always got into when he cried. Others, such as Japan, had been through a lot more than him and if they could deal with it so could he… couldn't he? He was strong – stronger than Spain at least, who had broken down shortly after being told the news about Romano and had cried often since for his 'tomate' – and he was going to keep it that way, even if he was extremely reluctant to accept that his little sister was well and truly gone. When Estonia had told him his whole body had screamed 'liar! You're lying to me', yet he couldn't deny that the idea of her being gone had been niggling at him for a while. Maybe it was better that she was no longer in the world that had come to be, and soon he'd see her on the other side – wherever that was. She had to be in a better place….

"We'll go on foot until we get out of the city, and then we'll find a car." America finally answered after a considerable pause, interrupting Switzerland's train of thought.

"But we need to stock up on supplies." Seborga added, frowning. "There won't be nearly as much food out of the city as there is in it."

"Ah…" America frowned, obviously not having considered this problem. With 15 members in the group and Germany still recovering from his injuries they had needed a lot of food and medical supplies that they could only get a lot of in the city. "Well, maybe a group of three could go for supplies and stop back at the flat for the night and we'll come get them in the morning. That way we don't have to spend all day tomorrow looking for supplies when we could be building protection and resting."

"It's as good a plan as any." Poland said happily, "But who's gonna stay behind and, like, get the stuff?"

"I will." Belgium volunteered, raising her hand.

"Me too." Came the soft voice of Canada, startling almost everyone who hadn't noticed him standing in the group. America nodded, if a little hesitantly – he didn't want his brother getting hurt at all, but he felt as though Canada could take care of himself. The blond looked around for another member of the group to step forwards, but was met only with shuffles and averted eyes.

"I will." Finally came the determined, if not a little nervous, voice of the red-headed Italian. Germany looked about to protest, but Italy interrupted whatever he was about to say. "I haven't been of much use to the group apart from cooking, and I want to do something to help you guys. Let me go, please?"

"Alright then," America smiled at the smaller man. "You deserve a chance, Feli. Are you two cool with that?" He directed the question to Belgium and Canada, who both nodded. "Meet up tomorrow morning in the flat, 'kay?"

"Right, boss." Italy chirped ecstatically, before bending over to gently hug Germany. "Ve~ I'll see you tomorrow, Doitsu."

"Keep safe, Feli." He croaked, before America gently helped him to his feet. Led by Belgium and Canada, Italy soon disappeared around a corner of the alleyway with a new weapon in his hands – a large pipe that Russia had possessed previously.

"We should probably be going, then." Estonia said loudly, and the rest of the group clambered to their feet obediently.

"What about Ivan?" Lithuania whispered, and Poland stopped dead in his tracks, turning back to the brunette in confusion.

"What about him?" He demanded.

"We're… we're not going to just leave him here, are we?"

"What do you expect us to do with him, like, bury him?" Poland forced out a laugh, but it sounded almost mocking and Lithuania winced.

"I want to bury him, yes." He breathed, but he said it in such a small, scared voice that Poland struggled to hear it. However, his eyes narrowed and anger touched his features.

"You want to bury that scum?!" He growled, stepping menacingly towards his boyfriend. "After, like, everything he did to you? After he gave you all those scars? He treated you, Raivis and Eduard, like, as if you were shit and you totally still want to bury him like you would a loved one?!"

"No one deserves to die, Feliks. I know he was a monster and he was cruel, but he was one of us too and he had his nice times. No matter what he did, I can't just leave him here for those… those things to get him." Lithuania trembled, fighting down tears as he looked at the blond. For a moment Poland stared, open-mouthed, and then a small sigh escaped his lips.

"Do whatever you want, but I'm totally not helping you bury him."

"I wouldn't expect you to." Lithuania nodded, and looked down on the dead Russian.

"Just where do you plan on burying him?" Switzerland questioned. "And what if he comes back as one of the infected while you're doing it?"

"I'll bury him when we find a new place to stay. We can find a wheelbarrow or something to pull him along in. As for whether he comes back…" The brunette bit his lip, looking down at the gun in his hand and back to Russia.

"Not with a gun." The blond shook his head. "Too much noise will attract the infected and then we'll all be dead. Use this." And then Switzerland passed Lithuania a large, yet thin, silver blade. The Lithuanian's eyes widened slightly as he gripped the handle of the knife, his hand shaking. He was prepared to shoot someone if it meant that they wouldn't be turned into one of the creatures, but to stab someone in the head? Sure, he'd killed people in Wars in much more brutal ways, but this was someone he had known for Centuries… how could he possibly manage such a task? Estonia, seeing Lithuania's pause, silently took the dagger from his grip.
"I'll do it." He murmured, and Lithuania gave him a weak, grateful smile. Latvia looked terrified as Estonia stepped into the darkness, out of their view, and he made up for it by grabbing onto Lithuania's sleeve and gripping it tightly. All they heard was a slicing, then a slight squelching, sound and a murmur of Estonia's words of farewell. Then, the blond stepped back out in the light. He was relatively clean still, though his hand was splattered from Russia's blood and there were a few drops of red on his face. Latvia whimpered, though he still removed his jacket and started dabbing Estonia's face clean from the blood of the Russian.
"Thank you, Raivis." He said quietly, before throwing Switzerland his knife back and turning away from the darkness he had just been in.

"Right then." America said, frowning in slight disgust and uncertainty. "Where are we going to get a wheelbarrow from?"

I'm so, so sorry for not updating this sooner, guys! I've had major writer's block on this chapter and couldn't think of anything to say. I'll try and get the next chapter, as I know exactly what's happening in it, out within the next few days. I don't say this enough, but thank you for the reviews that you give me, they really do make my day. Hope you enjoyed!