The Furnace: Roderich
Laying on the hard floor, I kept my eyes closed, as soon as I had woken up I knew that I wasn't in my house anymore, but I was hoping that if just relaxed, I would remember going to another Nations house. Maybe Prussia and Germany's? Possibly, though most likely not, could I be at Switzerland's, not one of the places I visit the most but, a possibility right? Slowly I opened my eyes, waiting for my sight to clear up before I started looking around, a grey concrete ceiling came into focus above me. Sitting up, my heart started to race as I realized the whole room was made out of concrete, with a big iron door, which just by looking at it I could tell it wouldn't open without a key. Now the question is, how do I find the key? Climbing to my feet, I rubbed my head and groaned, not noticing the pain before now. Lightly touching my forehead, I flinched, pulling my hand away, there was blood on my fingers, as if someone had hit me with something. Hungary maybe, but she's never hit me before, why would she now? Ignoring the pain for now, I turned my gaze to the ground, searching for anything that might be able to help me, finally my attention was grabbed by a tape player laying on the ground, with a tape next to it that had 'Play Me' written on it. Picking them both up, I placed the tape into the player, hesitantly hitting play, shortly after an altered voice came from the speakers, sending shivers down my spine.
"Hello Roderich. I want to play a game. You always burn people by acting so much better than them, spending money on expensive things, when in reality you're cheap. Like your life. The key to the room is in the furnace next to you. If you're not afraid to bet a little burnt yourself, you might survive... Might." As the tape stopped, I turned, for the first time I saw the furnace, looking through the little window, I could see a key hanging on a chain, glancing around, I set the tape player down. Moving closer to the furnace, I opened the door, seeing the chain move up, at first, I just tried to reach it with my arm, hoping that I would be able to grab it, but it was to far. Taking a deep breath to relax my racing heart, I started to crawl into the furnace, by the time I could reach the key, I was completely inside the machine. Reaching up, my hand encased the cool metal of the key, but as I pulled it down, the door of the furnace closed, and I could hear the sound of gas entering the chamber. Moments later, flames sprung up around me, pulling the key off the hook it was on, I turned, looking behind me, there was a wall of fire blocking the door, and slowly the flames were creeping towards me. Frantically looking around for something, anything to get me out, I noticed a handle on the wall in front of me, then saw through the window, seeing now that it was another door. Crawling closer to it, I grabbed the handle, turning it, only to have the door not open, with no time to dwell on that, I started looking around again, seeing a nozzle on the other side of the flames. Ignoring that my eyes scanned the inside of the chamber again, as the flames reached my shoes, pulling my legs closer, flames sprung up on both sides and in front of me, moving closer as well. Starting to panic, I looking once more towards the nozzle, quickly I reached for it, but as soon ad my hand made contact, I pulled back, crying out from the pain of how hot the metal had been. Covering my hand with the sleeve of my coat, I once more reached for the nozzle, as the flames around me caught my pant leg, without thinking, I turned the nozzle to right, making the flames spring up more. Pulling my arm back quickly, I tried putting the flames that were growing on my clothes out, only to be engulfed by more fire as I squirmed around. Not even concerned with what would happen, I moved to start kicking the door to the furnace, screaming as the fire finally made it's way to my skin. Feeling my skin start to peel away I reached for the nozzle again, not even bothering to protect my hand, I grabbed it and turned it to the left as quickly as I could. The flames around me died, but the fire that had caught on my clothes did not. Kicking the door one last time, I flung open, but I wasn't able to push myself out, and the fresh air made the fire worse, tilting my head back as I screamed again, the last thing I saw, was a little girl watching me through the other door window with a grin.
Looking back to make sure Romano was still behind me, I stopped as we came to a four way intersection in the halls, oh God, which way do we go? Where would Gilbert be? Romano tapped my shoulder, and when I looked back at him, he was staring at the ground, turning my gaze to floor, where there was a trail of blood, as if a body had been dragged. Following the trail with my eyes, it turned to the left, glancing over at Romano, he nodded then followed me down the left hallway, where the trail lead to a door that was cracked open. Pushing the door open the rest of the way, Romano's hands flew to his mouth to stifle a yelp, two bodies lay on the floor, one was Gilbert, who's lower jaw was almost completely disconnected from his head. Moving closer, I pulled the cover off the second body, then turned to Romano who wasn't looking.
"...Found Germany..." The Italian turned, then shook his head, slowly walking over he looked up at me, trembling slightly.
"Fuck... We can't let fratello see him... He'll have another breakdown..." He gently took my head, pulling me towards the door. "Come on... I'm sure there are others here, we might still be able to help them." Glancing back at my lost friend once more, I shook my head as tears pooled in my eyes, realizing what his task must have been.
His key must have been in Germany... What brother could do that?
Statistics So Far
Dead: 6
Alive: 14
Characters still to be brought it: 4
Chance There will be a sequel: 50%