Yet again Feliciano had woken up not knowing what day it was. As he lazily tossed and turned in his bed to examine evidence of the date he noticed it was morning, and that Gilbert and Ludwig were standing by the door. They were discussing something intently and glancing over to Feliciano now and again. It seemed to be serious as even Gilbert looked grave. Feliciano rolled onto his back and closed his eyes, sighing heavily. Opening them again, it was suddenly darker than before. Ludwig had somehow teleported back to the desk and was now working by candlelight. It had seemed he'd fallen asleep for the whole day without realising it. That had been happening a lot lately. He shifted his weight onto his side to face Ludwig full on and realised just how cold it was. He had been shivering since before he woke up and only just cognised it. It also felt as if there was a huge weight on his chest, and that something was scratching at the inside of his lungs every time he inhaled. It was immeasurably painful and not the first time he had felt that way.

"Ludwig, I'm cold." He whined. Ludwig looked over at the Italian from where he sat.

"Well there's not much I can do about that." This was the first time Feliciano had spoken in a few weeks. He'd spent most of whatever little waking time he had coughing his lungs out.

"Yes you can," Feliciano insisted. "You could get into bed with me." Ludwig was taken aback by how nonchalantly this statement was said. "Grandpa always said if you feel cold and lonely you should get into bed with someone."

"And where is your Grandpa now?"

There was a brief pause before Feliciano answered. "He's dead."

"Oh, I'm sorry." Ludwig stood up. He picked up the candle and set it on the bedside table next to Feliciano.

"It's okay, I'm sure he's looking out for me with a smile." Feliciano moved out the way so there was room for Ludwig and patted the space in front of him. Ludwig sat on the bed and made sure the duvet was covering Feliciano. Heat was radiating off of him, even though he was shivering violently, and his voice shook with it as well.

Feliciano chuckled a little. "I didn't think you'd actually get in with me."

Ludwig simpered. "I'm not actually in the bed. Do you feel better now?"

"Yeah, thanks." Feliciano was growing more lethargic. "I think you're very nice, Ludwig." He closed his eyes and his breathing became slower. It seemed he had fallen asleep. He was still shivering though. His forehead was glistening with sweat and when Ludwig lay a hand on it, it was burning to the touch. Although he looked peaceful, his breath came out hoarsely and painfully. Ludwig tried to pry himself away and continue with his paperwork, but he was just putting it off. It wasn't like him to procrastinate, but he didn't particularly want to continue with this specific paperwork. It was about Feliciano, and his death. Feliciano wasn't dead yet, but this morning Ludwig had received the order to be rid of him. To kill him. They didn't have enough resources to keep Feliciano going, and it was really frustrating since Ludwig knew how to cure him, but since nothing was allowed in from the outside he couldn't. That was exactly why he had gone to the General in the first place, to ask. Instead he was met with an order to end an innocent life. Ludwig still didn't know if he could go through with it. He had asked Gilbert this morning but Gilbert said he couldn't bring his heart to do it, and that Ludwig was tough enough. As he looked down again at Feliciano, then to the gun resting on his desk, he knew he couldn't do it. But he would have to tonight, those were the orders after all. The news spread quickly throughout the camp, and during the day several prisoners came to petition, to argue, to beg against the order. It seems Feliciano is a popular guy. Was popular. Two other prisoners also came separate from the rest, the same two who had brought Feliciano to him in the first place. They didn't say anything though, just 'goodbye'. It seemed they had already accepted it.

Ludwig couldn't, though. He could never accept it. But it was an order, and Ludwig had never gone against an order before. What would be the consequences if he went against it? Would he go against it? No. It was an order given for him to carry out. He stood up quickly and grabbed the gun from the desk. He marched back into the middle of the room so he was facing Feliciano and pointed the gun right at his head. All Ludwig could hear was his own breath heavy against the still air. Feliciano rolled into a more comfortable position and muttered something in his sleep. Ludwig lowered the gun and started pacing. He couldn't go through with this. Would it be too late to go to the General and ask for another route? No, the General always stuck with the original plan and saw things through until the very end. If Ludwig went to him now, he would take the gun and shoot Feliciano himself. Ludwig levelled the gun again at Feliciano's head. Ludwig knew Feliciano wouldn't like being murdered by some guy he didn't even know the name of. He clicked the safety off. Ludwig knew Feliciano wouldn't want to be murdered in the first place. He put his finger on the trigger. The power of authority wanted him to see it through, but the ever strong inhumane feeling of killing an innocent person kept Ludwig from squeezing that trigger. Feliciano sighed in his sleep. Ludwig swallowed hard. He squeezed the trigger, the sound was deafening. It didn't wake up Feliciano though. A bullet hole was now visible in the wall next to Feliciano's bed. Ludwig dropped the gun as if were hot steel. Now what? The whole camp would think Feliciano was dead. What would they think if two shots were fired? Ludwig raked a hand through his hair. Well, there was no turning back now. He had been given a body bag to put Feliciano in, then he was supposed to drop him off at the morgue. That wouldn't be happening. Since Feliciano was out cold anyway, and wouldn't be waking up anytime soon, Ludwig decided to slip him into the body bag. Slumping him over his shoulder, Ludwig marched out of the camp carrying Feliciano.

To be continued...