"Where is he?!"

"I don't know where he–"

"You damn well know where he is! You bloody took him you fucking–"

"Listen to me! Please! I have no idea where he is."

Arthur struggled as the mysterious man dragged him roughly by the arm out of the huge mine area. Anger and sorrow boiled within him, causing his nerves to stand on end.

"Please, stop struggling. I'm not going to hurt you." The man said, a bit irritated at the other's opposing actions. Although, he could kind of understand why.

Arthur opened his mouth to yell again and jerk away but felt himself being shoved into a chair. It was a simple wooden chair next to what appeared to be an oil barrel. They were in a secluded area of the mine, apparently a dead end cave. There were a few candles lit that gave the area an eerie glow.

The man took a seat next to the other, keeping a hand up to motion for Arthur to stay seated. Arthur, surprisingly did as he was told, simply too overwhelmed to even make a move of his own.

"Who are you?" The Brit spat, body trembling. Now that his adrenaline had subsided, the cold from the snow and lack of clothes upon his top half was felt in full. "Tell me. Tell me what happened to Francis. Tell me where he is! What the hell is going on?! Who are you?! Why should I trust you and even sit here idly beside you?!"

The man sighed, listening but frequently shifting his eyes to the little cave opening. Violet hues gleamed from the faint moonlight that shined down into the mines. His pale skin was scarred and, in some places, had burnt marks etched across him. He was a rather tall man, thick as well due to his large coat and scarf around his neck. The man didn't seem mean but he didn't seem trustworthy either. He was simply neutral.

"My name is Ivan Braginsky." The man introduced himself, taking a cigarette from his pocket. Lighting it up, he continued. "I'm the one who supervises this mountain—"

"You don't supervise this mountain. The Jones's do." Arthur interjected shortly, gripping the sides of his bare arms for warmth.

Ivan chuckled, putting the cigarette to his mouth. "Ah, yes. The Jones family. No, they don't own nor supervise this mountain. They simply own a settlement placed here. They watch over their property but not the rest. That is my doing."

Arthur blinked, furrowing his brows. None of this made sense to him. Who was this guy? What did he mean by 'the rest'? What else was there on this mountain? Alfred often explained how his family owned this area on the mountain. He knew they owned the lodge and some other places around it, but what about the rest? These mines? Did they have sovereignty over that?

A long silence passed between the two. Ivan blew a puff of smoke to the side, eyes dulling a bit as they drifted down at the life draining object between his fingers. He glanced back up at Arthur, noticing the older teen was shivering rather extensively. Arthur returned the gaze with narrowed eyes.

"Cover up, will you?" Ivan sighed, walking over and picking up a backpack from beside the oil barrel.

Unzipping it, he took out a ragged looking t-shirt. It was dark green and had the image of what looked like a small turtle on the right side of the chest. There was a dark stain on the back side of it, the exact color of the stain faded away due to time and various contact.

The Russian handed the shirt over to Arthur. Arthur hesitantly took the shirt and slipped it on. It warmed him up only slightly but he was incredibly grateful to not be bare anymore.

"You must be really stupid to run around in the snow shirtless." Ivan said bluntly, merely looking at the other now. It'd been months since he'd last saw anyone on these mountains.

Arthur furrowed his brow, about to make a witty and rude comment towards the man but felt his words run dry. The flashing image of Francis crossed his mind, immediately softening his expression to a saddened one.

Francis... Arthur yearned for the other. He hadn't accepted any notion nor possibility that the other might be dead. He was still alive and breathing the last time he saw him. There was no signs of death grasping him. However, the fall and snap of that mine shaft shattered his heart. That fall could've killed anyone, especially an already wounded man. But, Arthur didn't accept that. He couldn't. There had to be–

"... Is he dead?" The Brit asked suddenly, voice quiet yet desperate. He lowered his head, not wanting to see Ivan's expression before hearing his answer.

Ivan looked down at the other, unsure what to answer. It was unclear to him just as it was with Arthur. Although, he had a better understanding and prediction.

"Considering his condition and everything, most likely yes." Arthur flinched at the answer, feeling his eyes sting with tears. "Your friend has fallen into one of the lowest levels of these mines— one I don't even try to venture into if I can help it. He's been beaten pretty badly from what I saw. Hopefully his inability to move will serve him well and give him an advantage. But, being alone, it's only a matter of time before he either rots or–"

The man's words ceased when he was interrupted by very quiet, choppy sobs. Arthur's shoulders shook as he watched his tears drip onto his knees. Everything was catching up with him. The adrenaline had subsided. His confused and chaotic thoughts were settling, making way for the clear present.

Pain flourished within him at the constant thought of Francis's dead body. If only he'd run faster. If only he'd held the other back from answering the door. If only they hadn't of went to go to the tool shed. If only they hadn't returned to this mountain.

Arthur felt his breathing hitch when a large, but surprisingly gentle hand patted his shoulder. Teary emerald eyes looked up at pitiful amethyst ones.

"I'm sorry about your friend." Ivan said solemnly. "There's nothing much we can do now. He's down in the mines and in their take now. It'll be pointless even making the attempt to go find his body."

"Wh-What's going on?" Arthur inquired shakily, looking towards Ivan now with a sense of lost and confusion. "Why was he taken away? What took him away? Tell me what the hell is going on in these mines."

Victims within the mines rarely ever got the chance to speak, nonetheless escape danger. They were dragged down in screams and killed immediately in horrific ways. Ivan saw them all. He witnessed every victim and every death. Most of the time, he couldn't save them. There was only one time he made the attempt to but failed. Now was a chance to actually do some good rather than give in to the bad.

The Russian took a seat once more, propping his elbows up on his knees to lean towards Arthur.

"Please..." Arthur mumbled, "... What kind of nightmare have we fallen into?"

...

Screams fell on top of screams, making Kiku tremble in an unbearable amount of fear and stress. He couldn't simply choose who to kill. Both Matthew and Alfred were his friends. He wanted to save both of them and leave without any harm done. That's all he wanted. That's all he desired.

"So, are you ready to play?"

The low, nerve shattering voice echoed around the room once again. Alfred sobbed and cried out where he was tied up, eyes wide with fear. Never had the American looked so terrified. Sure, during horror movie marathons he was pretty scared but not once was it ever to this extent. He squirmed from where his hands were tied as a flood of tears drenched his cheeks.

"K-Kiku! Don't do this, please! Please!" Alfred wailed, voice strained from his pitiful cries.

Matthew was the same, although seemingly more petrified than his brother. He shook uncontrollably where he was tied, purple eyes wide with terror. His mouth moved quickly as incomprehensible words slipped past his lips. The occasional "No" and "Please" were heard. The Canadian was scared beyond belief to the point where he couldn't even function properly.

Kiku felt his hands shake as he stared at the agonizing scene before him. What to do? What to do?

"Here is your question—"

The Japanese male gave a short gasp, his face paling a bit. The mention of the question just heightened the cries from the two brothers.

"...Who do you want to save?"

Kiku's hand twitched at the question given to him. The buttons before him lit up— red for Matthew and green for Alfred. Their faint glow was almost haunting. To press one was to take a life. The question asked wasn't one that could easily been said than done.

Cold sweat began to drip down Kiku's forehead as he stared at the buttons before him. His heart hammered against his chest, adding on to the massive amount of noise in the room already.

"N-No.. No.. Please.. Kiku, please.." Matthew begged, never taking his eyes off the other. "D-Don't kill me.. Please.. P-Please, don't do it.. Don't kill us..!"

Alfred struggled even harder now where he was, voice cracking and straining from his loud cries. "K-Kiku! I'm your best f-friend! We've been friends since forever! P-Please! Don't kill me! Don't kill me! Please! I'm b-begging you..! Please...!"

Kiku shook his head, feeling his own stream of tears fall down his cheeks. The buttons before him seemed to swirl and blur in his vision. Everything was moving. The voices and shouts piercing through his ears warped in volume. The faint light from the buttons seemed to pulsate and send him into a horrifying trance. He had to push one... He had to save someone.

"Who will you save?"

The voice questioned again, monotonous. It was as if the bearer of whoever said it wasn't even fazed about sending an innocent teenager to their death. They had to be unfazed. They initiated this whole thing.

Kiku reached out for the buttons, eyes darting between Alfred's and Matthew's.

Oh God... Who do I choose? I can't do this. I can't do this... I can't kill Alfred, he's my best friend. I can't kill Matthew because he's my friend too. Please, don't make me do this... Don't make me do this.

"Kiku, please! Please don't do it! Don't kill me! Don't kill us! P-Please... Don't do this...!"

If I don't choose one, then both will die. How can I spare one without hurting the other? There's nothing I can do to prevent that.

"I don't want to die..! I don't want to die..! I-I'm too young to die! There's s-so much I haven't done y-yet! Please don't k-kill me! Please! I-I don't want to die..!"

Alfred... Matthew... I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry. But, I have to do this. I have to kill one of you.

Kiku bit his lip, reaching further. This was it. This was who he was going to save. His hand reached out and slowly turned and began going towards... the red button. Matthew.

He chose to kill Matthew and save Alfred.

Click

Kiku pressed down on the button, flinching instinctively at what was going to come next. Surprisingly, there wasn't anything yet. He looked up at the axes above. None had moved. Was this all a bluff?

"I see..." The voice said, breaking his thoughts. "You chose to save Matthew."

Alfred's eyes widened, his face paling. More tears rushed down his face as he let out a scream. "N-No! No! No! No! Please! No! Oh God, Oh God, Oh God. Stop, please stop!"

Kiku, too, felt his face pale, staring down at the buttons. This wasn't what he chose. He chose Matthew's button to kill him and not Alfred. Alfred was supposed to live! This isn't what he chose!

"N-No! Wait!" He exclaimed, voice trembling at the threatening cries. "I-I didn't mean to! I meant to save Alfre—!"

Hiss

Snap

There was a quick hiss in the room before the snapping of a rope could be heard. All three boys felt their breathing hitch as they looked up towards the ceiling.

The ax before Alfred suddenly came swinging down before him. The American stared wide eyed and mouth agape as he watched it come towards him. He was speechless and breathless, pure despair painted across his facial features.

Suddenly, the ax made contact with Alfred, impaling the other in the stomach. Blood gushed from the other's torso as a painful gasp came from the other. It poured down his front, wetting the concrete floor beneath him. He doubled over as much as he could from where he was tied up. Sea blue eyes cracked and broken as the light in them flickered.

Kiku froze where he was, unable to take his eyes off of his dying friend. His mouth was open as well, unable to speak. All he could do was listen to the other's raspy gasps and broken cries. This wasn't supposed to happen... This wasn't supposed to happen. Alfred wasn't supposed to die. He chose to send the ax to Matthew- as morbid as that may sound it was true.

He chose to save his best friend yet it was his best friend that fell into their grave.

Matthew screamed bloody murder as he shut his eyes tightly. Tears seeped through them and dripped from his chin as he shook his head vigorously. He couldn't bare it. His brother's deathly screams. His brother's cries and begging to stay alive. His brother's gasps of breath. His brother's overflowing blood that began to spread on the floor, creeping up to his feet. He couldn't bare any of this.

Alfred shakily lifted his head up to look at Kiku, eyes filled with betrayal. His face was pale and blood tricked from the corners of his mouth. Every inch and crease in his face was purely hurt and fear.

"H-How... you..." The American choked out, brows furrowing together as he began to choke. He coughed and spluttered with immense pain, trying his best to stay alive. He took one last shuddering intake of air before going limp where he was tied up.

Alfred was dead.

...

"No.. No.. No.. No.. No.. No.." Matthew cried, hanging his head. His body trembled as he refused to look over at Alfred. "H-He's alive.. He's alive... He's alive.. He's not.. He can't be.."

Alfred hung limply where he was, arms still over his head. They weren't struggling anymore. They were pale and lifeless, just like the rest of him. His eyes were closed, the expression of pure distraught forever engraved upon his face. Blood continued to seep out of him, pooling at his feet.

Matthew shuddered where he us, flinching a bit when he heard something click. The soft creaking of a gate or entrance was made, soon followed by the shuffle of footsteps.

He opened his eyes reluctantly when he felt someone fiddling the ties on his wrists. It was Kiku.

Kiku was ghostly white, eyes wide and empty. His movements were shaky and jumpy as he undid Matthew's restraints.

No words were stated from the other. Just messy movements and a broken expression.

Matthew gasped when he felt his wrists being set free. He let his arms fall to his sides, the blood flowing back into them.

"W-We have to go." Kiku muttered, breathing quickly. There was no need for a doctor or any words to explain what the other was going through. He was going through shock, immense shock.

The voice of whoever the maniac was didn't speak anymore. There were no more haunting laughs or morbid games or anything. It was simply silent. This silent was more chilling than how it was before.

Matthew looked over at Alfred, his his body trembling at the sight.

"A-Alfred..." The Canadian mumbled, eyes watering as he took a step close to the other. He reached out a hand towards the bloody American, "Hey... W-Wake up... The maniac isn't h-here anymore, Al... Alfie?"

Kiku closed his eyes when Matthew continued to speak and pry at Alfred. Denial.

So many horrors unfolded that night. So many questions and surprises at every turn. So much in such a little time. This was supposed to be an innocent hang out together between friends. Simply harmless and fun and optimistic to move past what happened the year prior. That is how it was supposed to turn out.

Yet, here were two of the friends, looking at the corpse of one of their own.

Matthew sobbed uncontrollably, wrapping his arms around the lifeless American. Alfred's blood began to drench the other's front but Matthew didn't seem to care. He simply clung onto his brother, holding the other's cold body to his chest.

"A-Alfred... No.. Please w-wake up! You can't be dead.. please!" The Canadian cried out, fists tightening as they gripped Alfred's sleeves. "Come back.. Alfie... P-Please.. Stop scaring me.."

"Matthew... We have to go. We can't stay here." Kiku mumbled, hesitantly putting his hand on the other's shoulder. Matthew flinched a bit and shook his head, burying his face into Alfred's shoulder.

There was no way he was going to leave his brother. No way.

Thud

Kiku jumped a bit at the random thud, looking around frighteningly as to where it came from. His mind was buzzing and he felt as if he was going to be sick.

"M-Matthew, we have to go." The black haired male pried on, gripping the Canadian's sleeve to pull him.

Reluctantly, Matthew let go of Alfred's body and stumbled over to Kiku. Kiku shakily gripped Matthew's sleeve tightly as he stumbled back outside with the other. There was no way he was going to risk facing or having to bring someone else to more harm.

Alfred... Alfred was dead. He was dead on his hand. His best friend. He was dead. He was gone. He was—

Kiku winced when he and Matthew stepped outside. The cold, snowy breeze slapped him across the face. The vast blankets of white that draped over the mountain blinded him. He killed Alfred. Alfred was dead. The moon above him seemed to swirl and dance in the sky. He killed Alfred. Alfred was dead. There were two figures coming towards the both of them soon followed by the muffle of shouts. He killed Alfred. Alfred was dead.

"Kiku! Matthew!"

Through his distorted vision, Kiku saw a pale face with white hair come rushing towards him. A pair of hands grabbed his shoulders, shaking him. Brown eyes flickered to the face, slowly distinguishing it as Gilbert's.

"M-Matthew?! Why are you bloody?! What happened?!" Feliciano's frantic voice questioned as he stared at the whimpering Canadian. Kiku merely looked at the two others, not having the energy nor ability to respond.

"Kiku? Can you hear me? Kiku?"

Everything was happening too fast. There was no way he could keep up with the current time. Seconds slipped past his fingers as he tried to grasp onto it. Everything was falling apart.

"K-Kiku? Hey, look at me, Kiku?"

Gilbert's worrisome dark red eyes came in and out of focus before Kiku.

"Alfred is dead." Kiku mumbled, causing Feliciano and Gilbert's excessive chatter to cease. "He's dead and I killed him."

...

Did it go as you planned? Are you happy with the result? I have to applaud you on your acting... It certainly was splendid.

Who are you?

Well, who are you?

A/N:

Writer's block can suck my ass.
Sorry if this chapter was horrible and rushed.
A lots been going on.
Next one will be more informative on Arthur's part.