Russia was humming to himself as he and Lithuania walked through the corridors. They'd gotten out of what Lithuania could only call a dungeon and now he was surprised by his contrasting surroundings. Everything was bright and calm. The walls were painted white and cream with ornamental tables, covered in lace with a vase of flowers or matryoshka dolls on top of each, were dotted around the building for decoration. What'd he'd considered to be a prison looked more like a mansion with a prison below.
Russia kept a brisk pace through the mansion, however, so Lithuania didn't have much time to admire the beauty. Russia was actually making such a racket between his jolly humming and thunderous footsteps that Lithuania was amazed the guards weren't swarming them. For the briefest of moments Lithuania toyed with the idea of sneaking off and leaving Russia but he knew it would be pointless, even if he escaped from this place by himself, Russia would just come and see him later to ask where he went.
After a few minutes Russia paused and gave a confused 'hmm' sound.
"Is-is something the matter, Mr Russia, sir?" Lithuania asked him.
Russia tilted his head slightly. "I am sure we have been past this door before," he said whilst pointing at one of the many doors.
"Well, I-I'm not sure," Lithuania glanced back to see at least three identical doors behind them.
Russia nodded confidently, "Yes we did. Now we must go back."
Lithuania groaned as Russia led him in the opposite direction. Russia gave him a puzzled glance. Lithuania gave some panicked response which Russia happily accepted without question and they continued.
Lithuania was beginning to notice how quiet it was, aside from Russia. "Where is everyone?" He asked the taller nation as they found themselves on a landing.
"Down there," Russia pointed at a collection of guards in mid conversation. There were around seven or eight of them all tightly packed together.
One of them caught sight of the pair and did a double take in surprise. He blinked once or twice before tapping his colleague on the shoulder, who had the exact same reaction. The conversation died as one by one the guards looked up at them.
Lithuania was now very aware he was still in the same rags he'd been wearing for quite some time. He wanted to run but as long as Russia just stood there it felt like it was all he could do as well.
One the guards reached for his radio and yelled something. In a blur the group sprang into action and simultaneously the alarm bells rang throughout the building.
"Oh dear," Russia said, still not taking the smile off his face.
"Check is out, dudes. I think this is the boss man's room," America chuckled as he walked across the room.
It was a rather dark room compared to the brightness of the rest of the mansion. It wasn't even a particularly large room but its tone felt different to the other rooms the allies had been in. On the walls were various filing cabinets. The floor was covered in a luxurious purple carpet, in far better condition than anywhere else. In the centre of the room was a single black desk covered in papers, pens, a stamp, a laptop and a lamp with an empty paper bin at the side but the dominant feature of the room was a large portrait of the president of Belarus himself in a dramatic, handsome pose.
"Douche thinks a lot of himself, doesn't he?" America pointed at the portrait.
"Don't your leaders have pictures of themselves?" England asked him.
"Kinda but not like that, you know?"
"Uh-huh…"
"Alright everyone pay attention!" Germany ordered the group. "We can leave no trace we were ever here. Do not touch anything, no finger prints. Don't scratch yourself, especially not your head, it could leave skin flakes or worse, hair, lying around they could track us to. Are any of you listening to me?!"
Germany sighed as he watched his companions shift through all the stuff in the room, leaving their messy finger prints everywhere.
France squinted at a piece of paper then gave it to England. "Can you read this man's name?"
England squinted. "Mr Nawaka….nisk…opinsk…apidosky…."
"We mustn't leave a trace!" Germany repeated as the others tossed paper all over the place.
"Ha, guys!" America shouted from the desk, triumphantly pointing at the laptop. "His password was 'password'."
"Forget it…" Germany mumbled.
"Hey this is labelled 'top secret'!" France waved a sheet of paper in the air.
"Let me see that!" England snatched it from him.
"Hey, I had it first!"
"Well I'm the one reading it now. It could be about my journalist, that was the affair which started this whole mess off." England's eyes scanned the paper and gradually narrowed.
"Haha, this guy is lame. He's got World of Warcraft on here," America snorted.
"France, please read this," England shook the paper at the Frenchman's nose.
"Give me just one moment, you stole it before I had the chance," France grumbled as he took the paper.
"Why what does it say?" Germany asked as he marched over.
France gaped and wordlessly handed the paper to Germany. "Blah, blah, blah, yadda, yadda, yadda…" Germany scanned it until he hit those critical words.
…upon retrieval of Belarus, she is to be reprimand for her betrayal. Such treatment might be unpleasant but it is for the best as it will ensure she will never try such foolish behaviour again.
This was followed by a list of torture methods, some of which had ticks of approval next to them. At the bottom was the president's signature.
"Even worse, he's an undead with the horde!" America was saying, gesturing at the computer.
England ignored him. "She's in trouble… what should we do? I mean, I don't particularly want to risk my safety for that psychopath but we can't just sit on this information… Can we?"
"Wait trouble?" America pounced up from the desk. "Who? Where?"
"Read this," Germany passed the sheet over to America who keenly began to look over it.
"Wow," he said once he finished. "Lucky the Belarusian's have been writing to each other in English."
"It is," England agreed. "But I'm still at a loss what to do."
"Is there any question? We rescue her of course!" America said before France or Germany could respond.
"But I don't like her," England grumbled.
"Superman has saved Lex Luthor. Batman has saved the Joker. Spiderman has saved Venom. Wonder Woman has probably saved whoever it is Wonder Woman fights. True heroes save anyone in trouble."
Suddenly an alarm shattered the conversation. "They're onto us!" Germany yelled.
Belarus smiled slightly at the sight of the entrance hall. She was home and her people were welcoming her back. The whole time she'd been at Lithuania's place she'd been in fear of what the people here would do but as she looked around all the faces who met hers were smiling. She took care not to get emotionally attached to anything besides her brother but now it was one of those rare moments when she was happy.
"We are so pleased to have you back, Miss Belarus," a nearby woman was saying.
Belarus graced her with a nod of acknowledgment. In the middle of the entrance hall was a large marble staircase. She could hear the steps of someone descending towards her. A suited figure with slick black hair walked into view. Her boss. He looked her up and down for a moment, neither one daring to speak, until a grin like the Cheshire cat passed his lips.
"You came back to us," he said quietly. "I knew you would."
"I'm sorry I left." She truly meant it. She'd panicked and thought her boss would hate her for failing yet here he stood with welcoming arms. Perhaps she should have more faith in them.
"I was so worried. I apologise if you caught my broadcast. I was angry and overreacted. I am just so glad you are safe." His words soothed whatever worries she had left. "Now, come with me," he gestured with his finger and she joined him on the staircase.
The staff below dispersed the moment she put her foot on the first step. "Glad to have you back," she heard a man shout to her.
Her boss had a strange look in his eyes as he examined her. He plucked a leaf out of her hair, a souvenir from her trip into the park. "Where have you been?"
Belarus glanced at her dress. It was covered in dirt and twigs. "I… had some problems at a park," she explained.
Her boss nodded and put his arm over her shoulder. He gently led her up the staircase. "I heard that Britain and America were there."
She nodded and allowed herself to be led. "Germany and France too."
He shook his head. "This is grave news. It seems that the West may be making a move on us all. They must believe that this recent… disagreement with Russia makes us weak and open for their exploitation. We must prove them wrong."
Belarus felt her chest tighten at 'disagreement with Russia' but her boss didn't seem to notice. She suddenly remembered something very important. "Poland," she said as they reached the second floor.
"Hmm?" Her boss looked confused as they walked down the corridor.
"This problem with Lithuania, whatever it is. It was Poland's idea. Lithuania was just his follower," she explained.
"And you know this how?"
"I found Poland and I made him talk," she shrugged.
"I'll look into that, I require more than your word." He paused outside of a door and gestured for her to go inside.
Belarus entered feeling slightly disappointed in his reaction. She'd worked hard for that information, it'd gotten her attacked by the allies for her trouble and yet her boss had shrugged it off.
It was only after a few moments she realised how odd the room was. It clashed horribly with the rest of the house. The darker shades of the room were just the start. It had little light, making the corners pitch black. A single chair stood in the middle of the room, a chair with straps on the armrest. Even the smell was starting to overwhelm her now. It was like the iron in blood. This was a bad place.
She turned to leave but two strong hand grasped her on either side. "What the hell are you doing?" She demanded.
"There must always be a price for abandoning us, Belarus. I hope you understand that this is just as much about setting an example to others as it is about you," her boss was saying but Belarus was too busy thrashing around in the men's arms, men she'd foolishly let go unnoticed until they'd grabbed her, to listen.
A well placed kick in one man's shin caused him to let go of her arm, allowing her to punch the other man in the throat. As the two staggered, she hissed and kicked the first man in the chest, making him collapse. The second man, startled by her strength, paused to give her enough time to come around for a second attack. It didn't take long until both men were down. But her 'boss' was gone.
She stepped out of the room to find the corridors deserted. The coward had ran. Before she'd feared failing him but now she was wondering why she'd feared him at all. All that fear had turned to anger. She'd been betrayed again.
"Where are you?" She cooed softly as she tip toed through the corridors. "Oh my dear president, are you afraid of me ripping your own balls off and stuffing them-" Belarus's threat was cut off by the ringing of the alarms. Soon they'd be swarming her, her own people. It was tragic really but as long as she got to tear someone's insides out she didn't really care. She was ready.
(A/N): Sooo sorry this took I while. Two reasons 1. Exam season is upon me and a lot of free time is going towards revision (little story Freud's study in my psychology class was set in Austria and I was not able to resist putting "You suck Austria - from Prussia with love" at the bottom of that question. Wonder what the examiner will think of that one...) and 2. My internet is gone. I have to use the connection at my Grandparents to upload this.
Anyway good? Bad? Neutral? Review?