"Well, after losing both Italy and England we've reached a stalemate as to what to do. Do you have any ideas as to where we need to go next?" Japan asked the four who had just returned.

"Not really, nothing important really happened in the past," Romano shrugged, a little disappointed that he didn't have more to offer.

"Actually," Canada began, "We've made another breach in the annexe."

"Oh?" Japan inquired.

"Yes, you remember the key we couldn't figure out? There was a lock hidden on the wall behind the clock. It opened a passage to a tunnel system."

"Really? I'd considered it before, but. Do you think this tunnel could be an escape point?" Germany asked.

"That's very possible," France mentioned, tunnels like this so far underground were often built as escape exits in case of intrusion, "Unfortunately, the entrance is barred, and requires yet another key."

"A key which we don't have," China put together irritated. He had learned better than to get his hopes up. This place liked to toy with them like that. Giving them just enough to continue and build hope, so it could tear it away all at once. It was time they became more wary. What they really needed was to get the upperhand on it. China eyed Russia watchfully.

"Ve~ Then. Since we don't know where to go. Maybe it's time to do some more searching. We can check all the floors, on all the rooms, and share whatever we can find," Italy suggested, thinking about every time in the past when they had felt lost. They always managed to keep going then, and this time was no different.

"I agree with Italy. When we are out of clues, that's when we need to start searching," England agreed.

"Ja, but if we try to explore all the rooms as one group we'll never get anywhere. We'll have to split into teams," Germany considered.

"In that case, it should be one for each floor?" Japan counted it up, "That would be: the basement, the annexe, the 1st floor, the 2nd floor, the 3rd floor, the 4th floor, and the attic."

"That's a bit too spread out don't you think?" France mentioned, "This many groups would have us between one and two people per group. If the creature decided to attack any one of us..."

"In that case..." Canada sorted, "If we separated it to: the annexe, the basement combined with the first floor, the second and third floor as another group, and then the fourth floor and the attic made up the last group - then that would gives us three people for each group."

"If we go as a group of three we'll at least be able to fend off an attack and retreat to safety," France agreed. Anymore packed together they would spend too many hours outside of safety.

"Well if we're serious about this, then we need to decide who will go with which group," England kept the conversation going.

"Then, if I can, I'd like to see the annexe again. It sounds like you've all found a lot more than I'd seen before," Italy mentioned.

"Then I'll go with you," Romano decided, not wanting to leave his brother's side, even if only for a little while.

"I will as well, I missed chances of seeing it for myself earlier, so now is a good time," Germany added. Romano ignored his impulse to tell Germany he wasn't invited.

"It's been a while since I've had a look at the basement," America offered, it was as good a shot as anywhere else.

"I'm a little curious about the basement myself. I swear I'm forgetting something," England thought. Something about the memories they'd recovered from the dream. There was something important there, but it was just at the tip of his memory.

"If the two of you are going, then I will have to come just to watch your backs," France laughed.

"Then go somewhere else frog," England complained.

"Don't argue mon cher."

"Well... Umm," Canada spoke up to break the tension, "Of the two left, I'm more curious about the attic."

"I have to disagree," Russia chimed in, "The third floor still intrigues me."

"I'll go with Russia, aru," China sighed, someone was going to have to keep an eye on him.

"Nah, the attic has this mysterious feel that sends chills down my spine. There's gotta be something there," Prussia disagreed.

"A choice between these two left? I'll go with Prussia then," Spain decided.

"And that leaves me to China, and Russia's group," Japan summed up.

"Everyone know where they're going?" England checked, "Then let's plan to meet back here within 1 hour."

THE FOLLOWING CAN BE READ IN ANY ORDER:

- Annexe

- Basement

- 2nd + 3rd floor

- Attic

AFTER ALL OF THE ABOVE: Safe room