The door to the safe room creaked open as the group returned from their search for the book. Japan held the book high in the air as they entered, to show they were victorious, which was an interesting sight since their faces didn't resemble the same joy.
Italy pulled himself together after they heard that voice in the room under the annexe. It was clearly forced, but France explained regardless. The tiny corpse they had found stuffed in that compartment, had belonged to the Holy Roman Empire.
Italy had insisted on carrying the bones himself, which he now kept tucked away. He had also asked them not to say anything to the others, remembering his promise to Prussia. Because of how upset he was, no one wanted to argue. Including Japan.
Japan was certainly very wary of the situation, but this still wasn't the moment of his premonition. He would give Italy until at least that time. He owed them that, after all the trouble he had caused them.
"Dude! Seriously? You found it?" America asked welcoming them back.
The group gathered in a circle around the tables where they had been gathering information. "Good. Now maybe we can make some progress with this place," Canada sighe with relief.
"Where did you find it?" Russia asked, a bit curious since he thought he had searched everywhere down there.
Italy forced a smile, looking up at the group, even though his thoughts were elsewhere, "I-It was in the study next door..."
Spain caught the hitch in Italy's voice when everyone else was preoccupied with the discovery of the book, "Hmm? Did something else happen down there?... You seem a bit, shaken."
Italy stared at his feet, inching away from them as he felt the weight of the secret, and what had happened baring down on him, "No... Nothing happened," He shook his head, taking a step back from the group, "I'm just a bit-"
"I'm sorry Italy," Japan interrupted. He then spoke to the group as a whole, "but this is what I saw in my premonition. If I don't say something now, we might face a cruel outcome."
Italy suddenly looked frightened. How? How could keeping this lead to a disaster? He shook his head, it was better he didn't know. Better to keep everyone safe. "W-what? but this isn't-"
Japan shook his head, "You need to tell them what we found...and what you saw in that room."
Italy's eyes widened, Japan knew about that room? But how? He thought his facade had been believable. He'd had a long time to practice those now... Perhaps these short days had made him forget some of those harsh years of lies. "I-I," Italy sighed, and stared at Prussia for a moment. Prussia looked nervously to Germany and then avoided eye contact entirely.
"I'm sorry Prussia," Italy apologized.
Prussia avoided looking at anyone, particularly Germany, "Yeah, well it can't be helped I guess."
Italy fidgeted nervously as he tried to explain, "It started when Prussia told me he had seen Holy Rome's ghost."
Germany stiffened.
"A-And then later, when I found this book, I-I saw him myself. A-And I heard how he had died here," Italy tried not to start sobbing all over again.
He pulled out the bones wrapped in Holy Rome's cloak, and began furiously wiping away tears. This wasn't the time. He'd had this cry a long time ago. He'd known for a few centuries now that Holy Rome was dead. He knew that. So why was it still so sad? Why did it hurt so much?
Prussia came in closer and clutched the tattered fabric as he tried not to cry. Germany, had not made an expression the entire time, now stood up and started to walk away.
Germany couldn't look. He couldn't think about it. He hated it. This was why he hated supernatural things! They reminded him too much of his brother. He couldn't even properly respond to this. What should he do? Cry, like his brother? It certainly hurt enough, but he felt no tears waiting for him. He wanted to punch something. To scream, to yell. How was it, that everyone had now seen his brother, except him? How was that fair? ... When they used to be so close...
It wasn't right to blame them. He knew that. That's why he needed to get out of that room...
The door slammed as Germany stormed out.
Italy looked up frightened as he heard the door slam. "Germany? Oh no, he shouldn't go out alone," Italy tried to follow him. He was torn up emotionally, and he was forgetting himself. He needed to stay focus so things like this didn't happen.
France stopped him, "He's merely blowing off steam. He'll be back soon."
Italy shook his head. No. This was important, no one should go anywhere alone, "Get out of my way. I have to go get Germany..." Italy trailed off as more tears spilled over for reasons he couldn't explain to himself.
Prussia composed himself, "Listen, Italy. My brother will be fine. He's strong. He probably needs some time alone to deal with this. Which is the reason I didn't want him to know in the first place. But he won't go far, and I'm certain he'll be back soon."
/\
Germany paced the bedroom outside of their fort. It was quieter out here. and a better place to think. Only he didn't really want to think. Or maybe he couldn't. His head was racing, all about things he didn't want to think about. Things he thought he had left in the past.
There was a creak as the door to the room opened. "Not now. Just give me some space," Germany groaned expecting it to be one of the others trying to bring him back in.
...Only... Then he realized he was facing the door back to the safe room, and the sound had come from behind him.
He turned around in time to hear a warning screech of, "YoU...WiLL...nOT...ESc...aPe..."
Germany ducked as he avoided the jagged claws of the monstrous creature. He glanced back at the iron door to safety. Shit. If he retreated now, it would know where they were hiding. He was going to have to fight it.
NEXT: Safe Room 2
*I apologize because this part is formatted a bit oddly. I will try and correct this in the future, but basically it made more sense to me to switch "parts" here, rather than have extra (very small) "parts" with Germany. I am once again using /\ for sudden / minor perspective shifts.
