Thanks to Alans, Zaaze, Kattie, Olivia Kirkland, Elizaveta Hedervary – Hungary, ScandinavianTrash and ToolboxHDR for reviewing.

Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia.

Chapter 13

Lovino scrunched his eyes before opening them. He had a splitting headache, and he brought his hands to his eyes to shield them from the light.

It took him a while to try to uncover his eyes, and he noted dully that he was in his room. It didn't occur to him that he should have been curious about the location. He turned to his alarm clock, and bolted upright.

He should have been at school an hour ago! He was so late. His grandfather would kill him!

And what about Feliks?

He couldn't allow him to go to school alone! Those bastards would tear him apart! He needed to save his friend.

He got dressed in record time and bolted towards the front door.

"Where are you going?"

Lovino stopped dead, turning to face his grandfather. Instead of the angry look he had expected, there was an unreadable expression on his face that he thought was another form of expressing his anger.

"I'm going to school," Lovino said. "Sorry I overslept."

Romulus sighed.

"Go back to bed, Lovino," Romulus said.

Lovino was startled, and he must have looked so, because Romulus approached him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. Lovino unintentionally flinched, and he had a feeling his grandfather was aware of it, though didn't comment on it.

"Your friend Vlad called me last night," Romulus explained. "He said that you got sick when you were with him, and passed out."

Lovino was surprised for a bunch of reasons. First, his grandfather acknowledged that he had a friend. Second, he passed out. Third, he wasn't at his own home when it happened.

Romulus started to lead Lovino to his bedroom, and the younger Italian snapped out of his stupor enough to think of one pressing question.

"H-how did I get in my pyjamas?" Lovino asked.

"I changed you," Romulus said. "Just like old times."

Lovino paled at the revelation, and he forced his body to a stop. Romulus turned to him with another unreadable look. After staring for a moment, the older Italian sighed.

"Si," Romulus said. "I saw them. That's what you're worried about, isn't it?"

Lovino averted his eyes, and Romulus threw his arm around his shoulders.

"Lovino, I am so sorry," Romulus said.

Out of all the things he expected his grandfather to say, that wasn't it.

"W-what?" Lovino stuttered.

Romulus sighed, wrapping his arm around his grandson's shoulders in a hug.

"Lovino, if I ever made you feel that you're unloved, I'm really sorry," Romulus said.

Lovino bowed his head.

"Vlad told you, didn't he?" Lovino asked.

"Si," Romulus said. "Don't be mad at him."

"I'm not. Vlad was just trying to help."

Romulus sighed.

"I see that I was wrong about a lot of things," Romulus said. "It's just… sometimes when I look at you, I see your uncle Luciano. I'm scared that I'm making the same mistakes again. I also thought… You were so strong. Feliciano and Marcello still need my protection. I thought that you were strong enough that you didn't. But last night, when I saw those scars, I realised that I've been leaving you to fend for yourself. That I didn't protect you when you needed it."

Lovino closed his eyes, swallowing thickly. He didn't want the tears to fall. He didn't want to look so weak. However, his grandpa managed to see right through him, since he was actually looking this time, and hugged his grandson tightly, and the dam broke loose.

"Shh," Romulus shushed, stroking his grandson's back. "It's okay. You don't have to hide anymore."

For the first time in years, Lovino cried into his grandfather's chest, a tight grip on his shirt. And those arms wrapped around him… It's been a long time since he felt them. And he could feel their desire to protect him.

Lovino didn't know how long they stayed like that, but eventually he pulled away. The arms loosened their hold, not pulling away and allowing Lovino to be the one to break the contact. He recognised the subtle message: that they would be there to hold him again when he needed it.

"Come on," Romulus said. "Let's get you to bed."

Lovino nodded, and this time he didn't fight when his grandfather led him to his room. Once inside, Romulus pulled back.

"I'll let you change," Romulus said. "And then I expect you to get back into bed. I'll come to check your temperature in an hour."

Lovino nodded his head, and Romulus left, closing the door behind him. He sighed, before he started to remove the uniform in favour of changing back into his pyjamas.

He did climb back into bed, but he didn't attempt to go back to sleep, like his grandfather probably expected him to do. Instead, he cradled his cell phone, before calling Vlad's number.

He waited impatiently while the phone was ringing, and sighed in relief when it was picked up.

"Salut Lovino," Vlad said. "Are you feeling better?"

"Ciao Vampire Jerk," Lovino said. "I guess. And what about you?"

"I… I'm alright."

Lovino could hear the hesitance in Vlad's voice, but didn't comment on it.

"You told my nonno about what I told you, didn't you?" Lovino asked.

"Da. I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it. I wanted to say… grazie. I think, for the first time… We might be able to have a healthy relationship. Or at least better than this crap one we've had all this time."

"I'm happy to hear that. Um, listen… There's something I want to talk to you about. Feliks and Matthew too."

"Si?"

"Um… I would prefer not to talk about it over the phone. If possible, could you come to my house?"

"I… don't think it's possible right now. My nonno is actually trying to pay attention to me. And I don't think he's going to let me go outside."

"…Lovino, you're Catholic, right?"

"Si, why?"

"Do you have a rosary?"

"Of course."

"Could you grab it?"

"Why?"

"I want to test something."

Lovino was surprised, but he went to his dresser where he kept the rosary. For some reason he felt a feeling of foreboding, and he didn't want to touch it, before he shook his head. It was ridiculous. Why should he be scared?

He grabbed hold of the rosary, and for a second nothing happened. He cried out in pain as his palm was suddenly burned, and he dropped the rosary.

"Lovino?" Vlad asked over the phone. "What happened?"

Lovino didn't answer at first. He was staring at his hand, which had a cross-shaped burn. He saw the burn heal itself, and his hand started to tremble.

"Lovino?"

"What's happening?" Lovino asked.

"That's what I want to talk about. I can't say over the phone. Please, if possible, come to my house."

Lovino hesitated for a moment, looking at the rosary on the dresser.

"I'll try," Lovino said.

…

Vlad cradled the phone in his hand. He didn't exactly know what happened to Lovino, but he had a feeling. If there was a demon inside him, then contact with a holy object – like a rosary – would have hurt Lovino.

And if that was the case, then that was confirmation that Lovino was also possessed. And he would have to apologise to his friend for using him as a guinea pig.

Now he just needed to get Feliks and Matthew to his house. He was thinking about trying to call Arthur or Lukas again, but school was still in session, and it wouldn't be easy to reach them, let alone get them to come.

He would wait, and hopefully he was able to call them.

For now, though, he would focus on calling Feliks. Since he lived alone, and since he wasn't sick at the moment, it would be easier for him to come to Vlad's house. And so he started scrolling through his contacts until he found Feliks's number.

"Like, hey," Feliks greeted. "What's up? Are you feeling better?"

"Da," Vlad said. "Listen, is it possible for you to come to my house? As soon as possible?"

"Like, no problem. I wanted to come check in with you guys anyway. Like, I'll be right over."

"Thanks. And… be careful."

"Like, yeah. There's a killer out there. You totally don't have to worry about me."

"Right…"

Vlad hung up, and he sighed in frustration. He actually had reason to worry about Feliks, but not for the reason that the blond thought. There were four killers, and Feliks was one of them. And Vlad didn't want Feliks to have any more blood on his hands.

They had to fix this. Before more lives were lost.

…

Arthur glared at Alfred's table. More rumours had spread about Vlad and his friends since none of them were at school, and Alfred was the ringleader.

His word was more 'credible', since he was the brother of one of the 'freaks'.

Arthur knew that Alfred was jealous of Matthew. It was Matthew that was invited to the school, after all. Matthew was the one that the girls considered to be cute. And Matthew was the one with more talent. Matthew was athletic, though he didn't appear so, and he was smart, with a bit of an artistic streak. Alfred had enough reason to be jealous.

But he had no reason to destroy his brother like that.

Before Matthew could try out for the hockey team – his favourite sport – Alfred sabotaged him, resulting in a missed opportunity. Alfred had started treating Matthew as though he didn't exist, and would occasionally humiliate the boy. Others saw this, and some of them joined in. Arthur didn't see it at first, but when he found out, he ignored it as sibling rivalry. He had brothers of his own. He could relate. But none of them would take it so far.

And then Matthew managed to befriend Lovino. Lovino had moved there after his grandfather had secured a place for him and his brothers. Lovino became Matthew's first friend, and Alfred at first attempted to destroy that friendship. It didn't work. Lovino was defiant.

And then Matthew's bullying became worse, and Lovino was sucked into it as well.

Alfred had made it clear to Lovino that he was the reason that Matthew suffered more. And others started to follow his example, even making up a few other instances where Lovino 'ruined' someone's life. And Lovino started to take it to heart. But Matthew didn't want to leave his new friend, and Lovino couldn't stand the thought of leaving Matthew alone.

A lot of the taunts directed at Lovino was because his name somehow translated to 'to ruin'.

And then, when Feliks arrived… It became clear to everyone that he was a bit… odd. It wasn't long before Feliks was completely ostracised, with only Matthew and Lovino trying to befriend him. Out of the three, Feliks was the one that was called 'freak' the most.

And now Vlad had joined their ranks, as the 'vampire'.

"Ignore them," Lukas said.

Since Arthur had broken off his friendship with Alfred, he had opted to spend more time with Lukas. Lukas in general was a loner, with only his cousin Mathias occasionally joining (bothering) him. Though Emil, Lukas's half-brother, was sometimes present as well.

"I'm just thinking about how it all started," Arthur sighed. "Just because Alfred was jealous of his brother, the four of them are the victims of a lot of cruelty."

"I see," Lukas said. "I'll admit, it is unfair."

"But do you know what the worst part is?"

"What?"

"All of the people that just allow it to happen."

"Are you feeling guilty?"

Arthur nodded.

"Me too," Lukas said. "I just hope it could end."

"Perhaps it will," Arthur said. "Did you happen to stop by the scene of the latest murders?"

"I couldn't get too close. But I sensed it too."

"The fact that it already killed three of them… I can't help but think that there's a connection."

"Are you thinking that there wouldn't be any more deaths if the four of them are left alone?"

"It's hard to say. It might be a coincidence. But you know as well as I do that there are creatures like that."

"Yes. However, trying to convince them…"

"We'll have better luck trying to stop the creature ourselves."

"And we don't even know what we're up against."

…

"He hasn't contacted you at all?" Ludwig asked.

Kiku shook his head.

"It's not like him at all," Kiku said. "He would at least call me. And now he isn't at school either. I'm worried about him."

"I understand," Ludwig said. "If my brother decided to disappear after three murders…"

"Ve, I'm sure he'll be okay," Feliciano reassured his Japanese friend.

"Arigato, Feli-kun," Kiku said, smiling.

"Speaking of brothers," Ludwig said, "where is Lovino today?"

"He's sick," Feliciano said, smile falling. "He looked really bad when Nonno brought him back last night. And he wouldn't wake up at all this morning."

"And the others?" Kiku asked.

"Ve, I don't know."

"And trying to ask Alfred would be pointless," Ludwig sighed. "I swear, how Matthew puts up with that…"

"But they're just harmless pranks, right?"

"Feliciano, you need to pay more attention," Kiku sighed.

"I agree," Ludwig said. "What they do to your brother and his friends are by no means 'harmless' or 'pranks'."

Feliciano frowned, and the other two were both grateful and disturbed by his sudden silence.

…

Feliks took a deep breath before stepping out of his house. He didn't live too far away from Vlad – only about three blocks – but there was still the possibility of running into the officers.

Most of the town's police officers usually worked as truant officers. The school would call the parents of those whose parents had come along, but for those that lived alone they would often send the officers. There were those that were truant enough times that the officers no longer felt the need to bother.

The officers hadn't come by his house yet, but that could always change. So it was probably a good idea to get to Vlad's house as fast as possible.

It was after one block that Feliks ran into a group of truants. And he froze in fear.

"Hey, isn't that the Polish freak?" one of the boys asked.

"Yeah," another said. "The queer that likes to wear dresses."

Feliks took a nervous step back.

"W-who are you?" he asked.

"What does it matter?" the third boy asked.

"You know," the first one said, "if you think of him as a girl, he's actually pretty cute."

"Now that you mention it…" the second said, leering at Feliks.

Feliks gasped, taking another step back. He could clearly see the bottles and cigarette stumps. He knew that he wouldn't be able to talk his way out of this. He also knew that they would most likely be violent, and they would hurt him far worse than Allen ever did.

Why did these things have to happen to him?

"Why don't we have some fun?" the third said. "After all, we've heard quite a lot about you. We want to see for ourselves."

Feliks was prepared to run away, but just when he turned and took a few steps one of them caught his arm. He started to scream, but it was cut off by a hand on his mouth.

"Where do you think you're going?" the third asked. "We just want to get to know you better."

Feliks tried to struggle, but the guy that held him started pulling him towards the nearest house, which he assumed was one of theirs, since they were loitering outside.

And judging by the fact that they were loitering outside, the officers no longer even bothered with them.

They dragged him into the house, and immediately pinned him against the wall. The guy that had grabbed him had released his mouth, but was pinning him by the shoulder.

Feliks stared with wide eyes as the three leered at him.

"Let's have some fun, shall we?" the first one said.

Feliks closed his eyes as one of them started to lift up his skirt. He started to feel dizzy and numb, and he could feel his facial features relax.

The three snickered when Feliks went lax, and the three hesitated when the Pole opened his eyes again. Instead of green, they were red.

"What the…?" the second one whispered.

Feliks narrowed his eyes, and the three were pushed away by an invisible force. Feliks stared down at them with an emotionless expression.

"You pathetic fools," Feliks said. "You should have gone to school like good little boys. Maybe then you would have heard about the three murders. One of which I'm responsible for."

"W-what?" the second asked.

Feliks smirked, and the second's hands wrapped around his throat. His eyes widened as he started to squeeze. Feliks turned his attention to the third, and the guy started to pound his head against the wall, crying out in pain with each impact.

"W-what's going on?" the first asked.

"My name is Insanity," Feliks said. "I think you can guess what I can do."

"W-what are you?"

"Take a wild guess."

The guy looked panicked, and he tried to run to the back of the house. He was brought to a stop and thrown to the ground, again by something invisible.

"Pathetic," Feliks said, before he glanced towards one of the discarded bottles. "Your parents must be disappointed that they're wasting so much money on you. So why don't we make it so that they don't have to waste any more money?"

"N-no, please," the guy said.

"What were you going to do to me?" Feliks asked calmly. "Well?"

The guy swallowed nervously.

"We… We were just playing around," the guy said. "It wasn't serious."

"Oh really? Then I guess I'm not serious either."

Feliks glanced towards a discarded bottle again, and the guy grabbed it. He shakily held it, before slamming it against the ground, breaking the bottle in the process.

"No," the guy whispered. "Please…"

"Forget it."

The broken bottle found its way in the guy's throat, and he let out a slight garbled sound. The broken bottle was lodged in deeper, and the guy fell back, spread-eagled, unable to staunch the bleeding.

Feliks glanced towards the other two. The one strangling himself was twitching, and the one slamming his head against the wall had become bloody. Feliks chuckled, and he waited until all three of them were dead before he left the house.

So, if Decay can turn a person to dust, Insanity can turn their minds against them. And force them to kill themselves, completely aware of what they're doing but unable to stop themselves. Among other things.