Hey! Sorry for the wait. I had to edit soooo much of this chapter and then along with family stuff and other responsibilities it just got pushed back even further. I originally wrote this story about 2 years ago and the writing was ridiculous. For example, the first sentence said "When I woke up, it was morning." I'm not kidding. It took Fayre Amore and I at least 2 days to fix that because we couldn't stop laughing.

I hope you enjoy this chapter! I'm not promising a quick update. Life is getting complicated and in all honesty, I don't have the next chapter written. I have the ending, I just need to get there first and hopefully I will write more later. For those who have read Lifeless, yes, I am working on the next chapter. You have convinced me, so congrats!

I think that is it... I do not own characters, only plot.

Enjoy!

When I woke up the next morning, I could feel the heat from the sun on my skin, letting me know that the sun had already risen. One positive side of being blind and mute was that my other senses had grown much more sensitive to compensate. I dragged myself out of bed and threw on the clothes Romano had laid out for me the night before. I felt the other bed in the room but to my surprise it was empty, and cold. It felt like no one had even slept there… I shook that thought out of my mind. He must have just gone downstairs for breakfast.

I went downstairs to look for him. I bumped into Russia, literally bumped into him, and I swear I could feel him give me that creepy smile. I shivered as soon as I left his cold and menacing presence. I found all of the nations. I ran into Poland, who was complaining about not having enough time to get ready, "I like couldn't even put on eyeliner! Without it, I will look like completely uncool! Do you know like how much time it takes to like be as fabulous as me like all the time?" I simply shrugged and he left to go complain to Lithuania.

I found Germany, who proceeded to tell me that if I do not hurry, I will not be able to get a ride from him and I will have to walk the whole eight blocks down the street. I just rolled my eyes at him.

I found every single nation... Except for the one nation I was looking for.

Everyone started to go to the meeting, but I stayed in the lobby to wait for him, just in case he was just exploring or doing a weird "Can you survive this situation without me?" test.

When we were in Naples, he would randomly 'leave' to test to see if I could handle the situation by myself. He wouldn't really leave and if I messed up he would be there in a heartbeat to correct me and fix whatever mess I made.

I knew this time was different because, even after about fifteen minutes of standing there, he never came. Something was wrong.

I quickly ran to the meeting and slammed open the doors, panting.

'Germany! Did you knock on Romano and my door last night?'

There was silence. I mentally slapped myself. No one understands sign language. The only two... MEGAN! I hope she's still at work... I tapped my wrist where a watch would be with two fingers. Everyone knows what that means, it's an universal signal.

"It's 11:30." My eyes widened and I fist pumped the air. I waved at them to follow me, another universal signal, thank you, Romano.

I followed the steps that we took yesterday to get to the Ice cream shop. The nations followed me and kept asking me where we were going. I rolled my eyes at them. They became even more confused when I entered the shop, but they crowded in after me anyway.

"Buonasera, what... Hey, Gilbert! Wow… That's a lot of people. Who are they?"

'Friends. I need you to translate everything I say to them.'

"Where's Lovino?"

'That's why I need to translate! He might be in trouble!'

"What happened?"

'Megan! I need you to translate for me! Now!'

"Okay, Okay." I signed to her, "He asks 'West, did you go to our door last night?'"

"No, there was nothing new to tell you."

"'That's what I feared, Romano has been kidnapped by the Italian Mafia and I need your help to get him back.'" The nations gasped, some because the Mafia was a big deal. Every single nation has had some scuffle, good or bad, with a mafia group. Some of the nations gasped from the surprise of me actually asking people for help. "The Italian mafia! That's a big deal, Gilbert. Who's Romano?"

'Yes, I know that. Romano is Lovino's other name. I'll explain later.'

"How do you know it was the Mafia?" America asked.

"He says that Romano told him last night when he had realized why the two people following him looked familiar. You had Italian Mafia members following you?! What? How...? What? Huh?"

'I'll explain later!'

"Okay! He says that last night there were four knocks at their door and Romano went to answer it. They thought it was Germany, but Germany never went to the door. When he couldn't find Romano this morning he realized what must have happened. Italy, do you know where the Mafia base is?"

"Sì. Romano told me years ago." The nations huddled together and started to plan. After all, the Italian Mafia was the head honchos, so if they fall then the rest might not be far behind.

"Italy? Gilbert, you have a LOT of explaining to do."

'I know that! Okay?! You're the first person I thought of going to! If you are going to cause so many problems then I should've gone to someone else!'

"I'm just trying to help! There's no reason to snap at me!"

I froze, 'I'm sorry. I just want Romano back, safe and sound. I'm worried about him.'

"I'm sorry, too. This is dangerous and I shouldn't be asking questions." She hugged me. I smiled as I hugged her back.

"Prussia, let's go." Germany said.

"Good luck, Gilbert! I expect a full explanation when you get back!" I waved as we left. Germany called a taxi, "All of the nations have left to the hotel to Switzerland's and America's or their own rooms to get weapons. I will be joining them then we are going to the base. You, however, are not going." I glared at him. "Prussia, you are blind and mute, you will be more of a liability than a help. You are staying at the hotel." I crossed my arms and glared at the floor. I couldn't argue with him. He wouldn't understand anything that I signed.

I stayed in the same position for the rest of the ride.

Romano woke up tied up to a chair and a gag in his mouth. He struggled but the knots were really well done. He was in a white room. Everything was white, blinding white, except for the weapons on the wall. There were knives and whips, chains and lighters. There was also some guns and ammo.

How did he get here? Where was he? What happened?

Then he remembered. He had gone to get the door, thinking it was Germany.

It wasn't. The next thing he knew there was a gun to his face and a hand on his mouth.

"If you don't come with us and silently, il cieco (the blind one) will pay." The woman said.

The Mafia had done their research about him. Romano would do anything for the people he cares about; even risk his own life by going with the Italian Mafia, which is what he did. When they got outside the hotel, the man hit Romano with the butt of his gun and knocked him out.

This brings us to the present.

Romano heard shouting from outside the room, "Why didn't you bring him too?! We need his cooperation! Any leverage we have above him, we need! The man was blind and mute! He would have been easy to capture!" A man yelled in Italian.

They were going to use Prussia against him.

He felt his eyes sting, 'Please protect him, Germany. Him and my brother, please.' He prayed to God, for the first time in centuries, that the two of them would be safe. His country may be Catholic, but he lost his faith in God long ago. He didn't believe in anything, except that life was a cruel, hard thing to live.

A couple hours later, the door opened and he found himself looking at the head honcho himself, Roberto Gonzalez. He smirked at Romano. "Lovino Romano Vargas or Italy Romano. The personification of South Italy, raised by Antonio Fernandez Carriedo or Spain, older brother of Feliciano Veneciano Vargas or Italy Veneciano or North Italy."

Romano glared at him, 'Yup, they did their research.'

He walked closer to Romano, "It was kind of you to sacrifice yourself for your friend, but it was in vain." The door opened and someone was thrown in. He had white hair and cloudy red eyes. 'Prussia!' Romano struggled in his seat more, trying to get out and help him, but his hands were bound behind his back and his legs were tied together and to the chair legs. He only succeeded in giving himself rope burns.

"We won't hurt him, if you cooperate. Or we can get that pretty little brother of yours. He would be a fun time, huh, boys?"

I heard chuckling. I tried to turn on to my back but someone stepped on my back and prevented me from doing so. It hurt badly. The foot was right on my spine. One wrong move and he could potentially injure something important.

"Lasciatelo alzarcsi." the foot was removed from my back and someone pulled me upright and into a chair.