I can't find the original chapter so I'm gonna write the abbreviated version here and I'll add something to it. If you have a copy of my previous work, please let me know. It's cringey I know, but what first works aren't?
Modern
It's the middle of the night. Czechia is sound asleep in her bedroom. She dreams of taking a group of wealthy tourists through her capital. "So as you can see..." she talks as we notice a scrappy young man who sticks out of this group like a sore thumb. He is unshaven, in ripped jeans and a faded out T-shirt. Czechia finds his presence extremely annoying. She looks for someone to take him away but it seems like no one notices him but her.
He acts extra weird when, in the Red district he only seems interested in the plaque where Tesla used to live. Finally irritated enough, she steps towards him only to find herself in one of her monasteries. Confused Czechia looks around and sees the scrappy man praying.
"Who are you?" she says keeping her distance. The man, in a state of a complete tranquillity, turns to her and says: "My name would mean nothing to you." He then looks up at the ceiling. "This is a beautiful and Godly place. Reminds me of home" he says with a serene smile.
Czechia feels strange. As if his tranquillity is contagious. Approaching him freely, she does not feel anger any more. "What must I do" she says as if the words are not hers.
"I think you already know" the man says and looks at her calmly. With the sign of the cross, he disappears and the nation wakes up in shock.
Next scene: An old rock wall is being sledgehammers. Quickly and with abnormal strength, Czechia enters the opening she herself made. Her assistant looks at her baffled.
"May I know the reason you are doing this?" he cautiously asks too scared to look inside.
Still slightly out of breath, she turns to him flustered and says: "Trust me. You don't want to know."
Current
Flashback: (12. June 1999) In her office in Belgrade, Serbia sits solemn at her desk. Despite the sunny weather, she is depressed and judging by the bottle next to her slightly tipsy. Russia enters in his military uniform with a smug on his face. He looks at her surprised face as he opens his arms to hug his friend.
"Bet you didn't think you'd see me any time soon" he says in a good mood. Her still cold expression surprises the large nation. He stutters: "Did you hear? A few of my mad soldiers occupied the Priština airport...NATO units are still circling around them unable to kick them out" he says with a chuckle. Serbia slightly nods but keeps her head low.
Confused, Russia continues: "Of course, the whole operation is still hush hush but it's good leverage. I'm sure the USA and his allies won't stand for another embarrassing..."
"Try to negotiate a deal with them. They have to accept your forces now as part of the peace keeping mission" she finally speaks.
"Peace keeping mission?" he says astounded. "After all of...Why? Are you planning to evacuate the Kosovo area?"
A bitter ball forms in the back of her throat. "I have to take my military out" she utters defeated.
Slapping his arms on his upper thighs he stares at her: "Unbelievable! And what about your people there?!"
"Well...it's not like I'm gonna give the territory to the extremists. They will be under the jurisdiction of the UN...Hopefully, their troops will protect them" she says not convinced herself. Her friend shakes his head and looks at her. Serbia turns away avoiding his gaze.
"They broke you, didn't they?" he says disappointed. Her silence confirms this.
Russia keeps staring at her. "I'm sorry. I just...It's like I'm fighting the whole world" she says with a shaky voice.
He folds his arms. A telephone rings. Russia recognises the phone number on the display. Serbia knows who it is, but still lets it ring. As we watch her depressed face, we hear Russia talking: "It must be the representative of Serbs in BiH. Are you gonna leave them hanging as well?" The phone relentlessly keeps ringing.
End of flashback: We see the main protagonist's solemn expression as she watches TV on her couch. "What's wrong?" Srpska asks. He is still in Bosnia's body. As the frame zooms out we see them siting next to each other enjoying some beer. "Nothing, I was just thinking about the past" she says and takes a seep from her bottle.
"You have to be a little more specific" he adds with a chuckle.
Her lips curl into a quick smile. "Actually, I've been thinking what a coward I was during the 90s" she says with an overwhelming sense of guilt. Srpska looks at her compassionately. "I get that it was very stressful for you back then."
"Still, I should have been smarter, I should have gathered more information. I should have prepared better...I should have done things differently" she continues.
Srpska puts his hand on her shoulder. "Hey...I didn't come here for a pity party. What happened happened. It's important that you are doing the right thing now" he replies wholeheartedly.
She nods relieved. "Still, I can't believe I let you suffer sharing a body with..."
"I'm still here, aren't I" he says nonchalantly.
"Yes, you are" Serbia says amused. "The way you persevered despite it all is kind of amazing. I never really realised what a determined bada** you are."
Honored by the compliment, Srpska lifts his chest. "All in a days work" he says smug.
The quick news is on. In the world news segment Srpska turns to her: "So what do you think about the USA elections?"
Nearly spiting her sip, she turns away nervous. "Well, it's not like I'm an expert or anything? I only know how it will affect some countries."
"It's okay. It's just us" he says.
With a sigh she continues: "Well, I'm afraid that if the Democrats win, Ukraine's conflicts will suddenly flare up and there will be a surprising number of extremist groups inside the EU. The US military budget will increase a bazillion times as well as the number of human rights violations in countries that only American army can solve. And all of them will coincidentally be countries the American government doesn't like. And the worst part is we will never really know who is calling the shots because the speeches recited will sound... kind of off."
Srpska nods: "Yeah. Are you certain of it?"
"How else are they going to get the money to fix the economy?"
Srpska presses his lips to process this. "I can only imagine what that will mean for me" he says and lets out a frustrated moan. "If only I didn't have to share a body with this..."
Serbia notices and adds: "Look, I might be wrong. And if I am, I'm willing to apologise...But I promise you. Whatever happens, I will be there for you" she says with a sad smile. Her friend observes her eyes. He nods and puts on his best brave face.
The two look at the TV again and watch the program in silence.
