Chapter Three: Enter The Allies
"What's this?" Japan mumbled to himself, seeing a scrap of paper stick out from under a chair, picking it up he recognised strange, coloured symbols and pocketed it. "Ah…" Japan's heart gave a tiny flutter, of… excitement, anxiety? Swallowing back an uncomfortable weight that had migrated from the pits of his soul to weigh heavily and uncomfortably on his tongue, He couldn't help but feel as though it was somehow very important.
On further inspection, he discovered a strange little lever sticking out of the wall, and blindly, he moved it up.
…
Blood.
…There is only blood here…
…Hope does not exist…
…We are all destined to roll again…
…Roll again, role again, role again….
…Until this existence has been erased…
…
"Ah…" Japan's heart gave a tiny flutter, of… excitement, anxiety? Swallowing back an uncomfortable weight that had migrated from the pits of his soul to weigh heavily and uncomfortably on his tongue, Japan slipped the paper into his pocket, feeling as though that somehow, it was very important.
On further inspection, Japan discovered a strange little lever sticking out of the wall, hesitantly, he reached out, touching it's icy cold surface and shivers erupted in his spine, unadulterated panic flittered though his core, screaming at him, begging him. Japan bit down heavily enough on his lip to make a trail of bright, rose red blood dribble down his chin from his mouth, balance for half a second and drip staining his uniform.
Gently, Japan eased it down, wincing as it jarred; Japan turned around and gasped in surprise, to see that it had slid away a table to display a trap door in the floor.
Gingerly, heart twisted in apprehension, Japan approached it.
""
"Hah… it looks like this is the floor below," Japan breathed, walking up to a piano in the centre of the room, that was displayed like a trophy. Japan's fingers ghosted over the keys, the instrument begging him to play it; gently, Japan sat himself down, and just let his fingers move on their own, playing a melody that tugged at the back of his minds, trying to bring out memories.
Disturbing memories.
Stop!
Disturbed, Japan jumped up and feebly backed away from the strange piano, heart fluttering off wildly, refusing to be tamed.
""
Blood, there's so much blood. And Italy…? Why is little, precious Italy lying on the ground, surrounded by so much ruby red, glistening, fresh blood…? …And… Why is he being so still…?
Strange shadows crowded around him, blocking sweet Italy from his view.
Give him space! Give him room! Give him to breath!
… To breath…
…Not… breathing…?
How… could that be?!
Red.
Red Blood.
Who's screaming?
"Italy! Snap out of it! Your eyes are open!
Yes! Your eyes are open! So please, baby, get up!
…
… such pitiful emptiness…
""
""
Head spinning in a tsunami of choking emotions, Japan sunk to the ground to hug his knees. All he could see was a dark, faded red. Wearily, he hoisted himself back up, throat and eyes burning and feeling as though he suddenly weighed a ton. "What just happened?" he asked no one in a choked off whisper, shadows of terrifyingly hopelessly sad memories already disappearing. Japan raised his fingers to his cheeks, dimly surprised to find them soaked with his own tears, head feeling as though it was being hit with a sledgehammer repeatedly, he heard his own tears splatter on the ground as the wind slowly picked up outside.
"Hah.. I… I must find Italy!" Japan vowed, seeing a small key lying by the piano foot.
""
Entering the library Japan surveyed the rows of books, not seeing anything even remotely suspicious. Untill…
Was that…?
Could that… be?
"Italy!" Japan burst out in uncontainable excitement, heedless to the danger of attracting the creature, almost unable to believe what his eyes were telling him.
Italy… I've finally found Italy.
Italy's head perked up from the books he had been inspecting, hazel eyes focused on him, simultaneously glistening in surprise and relief. "Japan!" Italy hollered, jumping up, as graceful as ever, "You're okay!" Italy glomped him, hugging Japan tight into his body, giving Japan his first chance in ages to feel the warmth of the Italian and breathe in his scent.
"Y-yes! You are fine as well, I take it?" Japan questioned in the middle of the strangulation-hug, struggling to breathe but lacking the heart to get himself out of the hug.
"Yes, when the creature appeared, I was surprised to hear Germany scream first. You did… hear him, right?" Italy asked, nuzzling softly into Japan's neck.
"No, not at all," Japan replied, "You… seem to be taking this rather well, you're even walking around…" in all honesty, Japan had expected to find him terrified beyond belief and shaking.
Italy cocked his head to the side and explained with a well-rehearsed answer, "Well, when I saw everyone freaking out, I felt strangely calm, and wanted to find a way out as soon as possible."
"Ah, yes," Japan could understand that perfectly, "It was the exact same for me; seeing everyone so panicked help me keep my cool." Japan intertwined his fingers with Italy's, "Let's go back to Germany and Prussia."
With Japan leading him by his hand, Italy couldn't help but wonder how much longer he would get to keep this warmth with him.
""
"Ack! Japan! It's the thing, it's the thing!" Italy screamed unnecessarily, the gently squeeze of his hand turning iron tight as he clung on to Japan, whole body rigid with fear.
Prussia took his attention away from the beast in front of him, spitting on the ground before talking to them. "Tsk, you came too soon, Japan, take Italy and run." He allowed a wicked smile to consume his features as he darted forward to attack the nightmarish thing.
"Italy, you're alright!" Germany startled out at the same time, relief written all over his features.
"G-Germany, ve~ your face looks weird." Italy muttered mainly to himself, seeing a snarl a mixture of fear, pain and hatred that didn't quite fit the German on his face.
"West and I will take care of this! Just go, quickly! Prussia sidestepped the thing, earning a glancing blow to his side. Just in time.
Japan made no response, partly glaring at the humungous, greyscale fiend that attacked his friend with absolute hatred, and partly mesmerised in fear at those six inch long claws that could rip somebody in two.
"Japan!" Prussia called out again, desperately this time.
That snapped Japan out of it, in one fluid movement he whipped out his sword and leaped towards the thing, aiming to spear it just like he imagined those long claws could. He missed, the creature was too fast.
"My, my… I must be losing my hearing in my old age; I can't hear you at all." Japan rose from his crouching position to stand strongly beside Prussia.
"Wha-?! Hey, Italy!" Prussia whipped his head back and forth between Italy and Japan in semi-confusion.
"Oh, um… I suddenly got deaf, too." Italy squeaked, not wanting to abandon his friends in this time of need.
"Italy, you!" Germany let out a roar that caused the huge thing to turn its attention to him.
Hurriedly he leaped back as the thing matched his movements step for step and suffered a hit to the side that caused him to fall down gasping, painful star points searing like acid in his eyes.
"Now that you mention it, we've been in peace for a while now, I'd almost forgotten about it." Italy whispered silently to himself, unable to fight the feeling of nostalgia that rose up in his chest as a bittersweet cloud of trial and pain as memories of all the years he fought alongside Japan and Germany in the Second World War surfaced unbidden in his mind's eye.
"Italy, Japan…" Germany breathed, recognising the stubborn looks in his friends eyes and knew that nothing could change their minds.
"It is my honourable duty to fight beside you. Let's go, Italy." Japan tightened his grip on his sword.
"Y-Yeah!" Italy drew one of his throwing knives from his belt, familiar with the feeling of steal bitting into his hand as he gripped it extra tight and threw so that it imbedded itself in the creature's shoulder.
The monstrosity let out a shriek of hate as its huge, silver eyes fixated on Italy, as it pulled out the long knife and dropped it to the floor out of reach of the nations. Quickly, Italy drew more in each hand, using it to block clashing claws that tried to tear his face to shreds. With the thing so close Italy could see the wrinkles in its face, how those ghastly eyes widened in delight to see him, and worse of all Italy could smell it- that mixture of blood, filth and rotting flesh that made bile rise up in his throat, gagging slightly. Italy leaped away from it with all of the strength he could muster, reminded himself not to breathe and dug his blade into the thing's arm. Blood splattered out as Italy withdrew his weapon and knew that he had hit a major artery. He felt the blood smear on his face and could taste the rich copper that had in the past always spelt loss, but this time tasted of victory.
Prussia threw everything he had at the creature, quickly learning that its hide was tougher than a rhinoceros's, and started at its legs. Aghast at the sight of the terrible thing Germany lashed out his whip across the thing eyes. Screaming it raised a blood soaked arm to its face, covering its face. When it lowered its arm Germany saw that his whip had dealt terrible to its eyes- they were now mutilated and bleeding, red mixing in with the previous perfect silver of his eyes.
Gasping for breath Japan sliced down on it, catching it in the chest, but not deep enough to kill it. The thing knocked Japan aside, causing it him to crash into a wall; clumsily, it picked up Japan's own sword and aimed to throw it through Japan's chest. Italy threw the last of his knives just before the creature had the chance to murder him, striking lucky in the thing's forehead.
Its image flickered before them. Fading in and out of being. And then, as quickly as the fight began it ended.
It's gone." Japan wheezed struggling to get up.
Italy sunk to his knees.
"Italy!" Germany hollered seeing the weakness behind Italy's eyes and entire being.
"Are you hurt?" Japan struggled on his knees, slowly gaining ground towards him.
"The hell?! You totally ignored what I said!" Prussia shrieked in his turn.
"I thought the two of us alone could do something about it. I'm sorry, you really helped. Are you okay, too?" This time Germany directed his words towards Japan, who just gave a tight nod.
"Yeah, let's find somewhere to rest." He wheezed, still struggling to get enough air in to fill his lungs.
"But first, there is something I must check."
""
Back in the room with the trap door, Japan moved the lever midway, it gave a crack and Japan snatched his hand back like it had been stung. Something hit him, hard, "Wh-Wha… Ow!" Japan's hands flew up to his head, protecting it too late. Nursing his sore head, he picked up a small key that had fallen from a little trap on the roof.
F, 2
"Ve~ looks like a key to some room." Italy said, inspecting the small shape.
"Indeed, the second floor, too, if I'm not mistaken." Japan replied.
"Whatever, can we just go?" Prussia pouted.
"Brother…" Germany sighed.
""
The nations rummaged through the room, searching for anything that could be of the slightest help. Draws were left open, papers strewn around haphazardly by panicky nations. Prussia overturned a table and Germany wondered why that was necessary for their search.
"Aha!" everyone paused in their frantic search at Prussia's yell of victory.
"What did you find, Brother?" Germany asked.
"A matchbox." Prussia's smirk rivalled any evil conspirator the others had ever had the pleasure of meeting.
The others turned back to their search, leaving Prussia pouting at their lack of attention.
"Germany, I don't think we'll find anything of aid here…" Japan trailed off, looking at the mess they had caused… like a miniature tornado had gone off in the small room.
"Ja, let's go." Prussia said with a deep yawn; they were all bone weary.
After much searching the four found a medium sized room with beds and a fireplace with a small stack of wood next to it along with some old newspapers to use as kindling.
"We can't get too careless, but I think we're safe here for now. We have the key and the door if firmly locked from the inside." Prussia surveyed the room, taking in the position of the door and fireplace as well as any possible hiding places.
"It is only temporary, but it should do for one night, I suppose…" Japan murmured, leg's like iron and unable to bear his own weight for much longer.
"One night is good enough for me~ I'm really tired from running around." Italy sat down on a chair, staring at the empty fireplace distantly.
Germany felt a twinge of pity for the weaker country, "You're right, we ran a lot for one day. It makes me feel like having a beer."
"I'm a little cold, too, I wonder if it's because of this house." Italy continued to muse, now picking up a stick from the pile of firewood and poked the ash inside the fireplace with it, drawing tiny little stick figures.
"If I am not mistaken, we have some matches, there is also enough fire wood for one night" Japan honestly didn't feel the cold, maybe he was still simply hyped up from the previous events, his skin prickled at the thought of the monster… Something- something wasn't right.
Germany trudged over to the fireplace and began setting up the kindling to light a fire, soon a steady light glowed from the brick and wrought-iron fireplace, emitting a heat that filled every corner of the room.
"Ooh, that's nice." Prussia mentioned needlessly, a calmness entering him, not minding the sour smell of burning wood.
"Yes, I feel much better now that we have some light, and now that I'm not alone, either." Japan, too, suddenly found himself a lot more peaceable. Tired too, like he could lie down and never wake. Just forget all the trouble they were in.
Italy smiled, "Yeah~ but it was really scary at first, even though Germany was the first to run away it was me the creature ran after!"
"Yeah, I remember thinking, 'No, not my precious little Italy!' and then Italy and the monster ran away, and Germany was gone too!" Prussia remembered, hating the look of desperation he remembered seeing in his friend's faces.
"I hate supernatural things!" Germany flustered, wanting to protect his honour, "I- It's not like I just ran and hid-! Well… never mind now, as long as we're all okay now it doesn't matter." Germany gave up, deciding to just let it be.
"Yes, exactly. Besides, rather than think about how we acted in the past, we should discuss what to do from now on." Japan still hadn't completely forgiven Germany for not aiding him in is search for Italy straight away, but he recognised Germany was right, so long as they were all okay now it didn't matter.
"I see, we can only conclude that the monster has really made us prisoners here, though, not having any way out is what truly bothers me." Germany nodded gratefully at Japan, happy that he agreed.
"Indeed I really wish I could go home, I have been waiting for many games that are to be released soon." Japan smiled softy to himself, wanting to lighten the atmosphere, if only slightly.
"Me, too, I can't eat pizza or pasta like this!" Italy ve'd, though the others couldn't be sure just how serious he was being about it.
"Um, hey," Prussia spoke up, "you're all talking about a way out, if all the exits are locked, why don't we just make one ourselves? Didn't you do that when you were prisoners of war? Well, it's time to put that to practise now!"
"Huhu, that brings back memories, too. All those times I kept on trying to commit seppuku." Japan chuckled to himself and a long silence enveloped the room
"Germany worked hard to make a way out for us, but this time I'll do everything I can, too." Italy was the first to break the awkward silence.
"All right, all right. So the plan for tomorrow is to find a way out, we can't forget about that." Germany decided to just ignore the grisly reminder of suicide.
"Right, well, I don't know what the time is right now but we should sleep here for the night." Japan seemed unaffected by the others reaction to his words, that or he just was too tired to notice.
"My watch broke when I wasn't looking, too!" Italy noticed, holding un his left arm to prove it.
"Wait, won't it be dangerous if we all got to sleep? Shouldn't someone stay up and keep watch." Germany pointed out, impatient for some rest.
"You have a point, so shall we play janken to fairly decide who will keep watch for tonight?" Japan asked.
"Ja- ke? What are the rules?" Italy frowned at the strange name, wondering why it was familiar.
"Well, er… it's a very simple game; you play by showing three types of hand-signs." Japan attempted to explain to the Italian.
"Whatever, let's do it already! I'm really tired! I want to sleep!" Prussia complained, happy if Italy didn't know the rules, it was a bit more likely he wouldn't lose.
"Prussia, just wait a little." Germany scolded in a motherly tone, causing Prussia to glare at him.
"- And rock beats scissors, you can throw rock, paper or scissors." Japan finished explaining to Italy with a slight smile
"Ah, it's a little like 'la morra', okay, let's do it then."
"Okay… "The four gathered in a tight circle, "ja… ken…"
""
"Ah, seriously, it's so fun being alone." Prussia pouted, arms wrapped around himself for warmth and weariness making his face sore, "But those three really sound asleep… Haa, if only I had my computer, then I could update my blog, for now all I can do is take pictures of their sleeping faces,." Prussia had taken about five pictures of the sleeping trio, "It's just… their serious faces when playing jaken…. They looked awesome; I couldn't resist them…"
Prussia wiped away a few tears that had fallen to his cheek, tired as he was, he couldn't abandon his post.
The cold crept in under his skin like ice, Prussia turned to put more wood on the fire, expecting it to be dying. The flames were as bright as ever, the wood crackled merrily. It really shouldn't be so cold.
The door banged and threatened to give way, on the other side something clawed with razor sharp talons, desperate to get inside. Maddened with desire to destroy everything that sought refuge in that tiny room, to rip apart those that dared defy it.
Prussia shot up, pulling his old sword out of its sheath in one fluid moment, the banging intensified and the door frame shuddered. Prussia glanced at his comrades, expecting them to jump up and be ready to fight. They continued to lay there, looking like angels, breath not stirring a single hair that lay across their face. The Hell?! Prussia growled, if they couldn't be awoken by this, nothing he would do could help.
"Can't they hear anything?!" Prussia cried out, which turned out to be a very bad mood as the creature behind the door roared; a voice full of loathing and desire to kill.
Panic coursing through him, Prussia took a few steps back, deciding a bit late stay quiet.
A huge weight slammed against the door, and a big crack appeared. Prussia glanced at Italy, Japan and his little brother one more time, seeing them so peaceful made up his mind. He wanted to preserve that beauty. Like a man to his death, Prussia walked up to the door, exhaustion forgotten.
Prussia braced himself, and looked at his baby brother's face one last time. "Forgive me. It's tough being alone."
He flung the door open and slashed down with his slightly rusty sword. "Shit no! I won't die yet!"
You cannot easily step foot into that 'mysterious mansion' in your town. Because if you anger its former occupant you will not get away lightly… especially when there are no people there…
~**enter FACCE**~
"It's really here!" China exclaimed, shielding his eyes against the bright afternoon sun, gazing up at the impressive mansion.
"The desolate feel gives it a rather… nice touch, vous ne trouvez pas?" France agreed, glancing sidelong at China
"I don't think it's very interesting, though…" Canada murmured even more quietly than usual, hugging Kumajirou closer to him.
"Did you just hear a voice now?!" America started, swinging around in surprise and searching the dense bushland around them.
"Oh America, you tease, we didn't hear anything, did we~!" Russia smiled lightly at America, gripping his pipe tighter and even raising it a little.
"…Hosers." Canada muttered.
"Still…" America bit his lip, "it doesn't really look like a fun place..."
"…Well, why don't we take a little look and then go back? I reckon we can leave before nightfall." Russia smiled to himself at Britain's words.
"Yeah! I don't want to stay too long, either." China said.
"Eh bien, alors, shall we go in?" France started walking towards the front door, not even checking behind him that everyone was following.
""
"The rumours say that there are ghosts here, da? That's why no one comes near this place…" Russia asked, knowing the answer but wanting to hear it none the less.
"No wonder… It's such an eerie place…" America muttered.
"Huh? How unusual of you, America, are you scared?" Canada couldn't resist the urge to tease his supposedly brave and strong brother.
"No. But it's a little… hey where is everyone?" America noticed for the first time that Britain, France and China had disappeared.
"Um, they said they would leave the first floor to us and then they went right up to the second floor." Canada informed him, "Try to listen, won't you?"
America was just about to snap back when he was thrown backward and crashed into a wall. Pain shot up his spine and everything went black, he could hear Canada screaming at him and begging him to get up.
""
"It's cleaner than one would expect, isn't it?" France mentioned, taking in the quality of a single painting on a wall, "quite high class, too. But then again it is a manor"
"Y- yeah, but can we, go now?" Britain spoke up, bravado all but completely shattered. He was tired, he was sore from the three hour trek through the woods and was getting the worse headache, and just wanted to leave.
"What's the matter England, are you scared?" France smirked at his old rival, daring him to try and pick a fight
"O- Of course not, you idiot! That's not it! It's just that this place is sort of…" Britain couldn't bring himself to explain it, as though doing so would make it more real.
China frowned at them both, sighed, and wondered why they couldn't at least get along for five or so minutes. "Haa, it's silly, there are no ghosts here or anything. You can go back." He stalked off, deciding to leave them to their pitiful arguments.
"Hé hé, are you going to look around on your own?" France asked in concern, slightly worried for the other's safety.
"I'll just poke into this room over here, it smells a little bad." China said, feeling compelled to enter the room, like something was tugging him.
"What? Isn't that a little risky?" England asked.