Disclaimer: Not mine
Canada watched, helpless with terror, as the monster approached him. Up close, it was even more frightening than he could have imagined. Even worse, a limp Kumading was clutched in its foul claws. Canada knew he couldn't leave his bear in the monster's horrible clutches, but he was helpless to do otherwise. And Prussia and China had run off god-knows-where, leaving him all alone.
"Move out of the way, Canada."
Oh, that's right. He wasn't all alone. Russia was still here. Canada stepped to the side as Russia unleashed an attack on the creature. The monster wasn't destroyed, but it did drop Kumalive. Canada rushed forward to grab his friend.
"Canada, run," Russia ordered.
"But you-" Canada began.
"I'll be right behind you," Russia promised. "Get moving."
Canada looked up at Russia's deadly serious face and ran. He wasn't sure where he was going or how he was going to get there. He just ran. A minute or so later, Russia caught up with him, a grim smile gracing his face.
"Did you kill it?" Canada asked nervously.
Russia shook his head.
"You can't kill those things," he said. "They can only be banished back to that room we saw."
"How do you know that?" Canada asked.
Russia didn't answer. Canada's sense of unease heightened.
"Your bear's bleeding," Russia suddenly pointed out.
Canada skidded to a halt and held Kumajim up for inspection. Russia was right. The bear's pure white fur was stained red in several places.
"Kumalin!" Canada shrieked. "You're hurt!"
His mind raced. What should he do? Bandages, right? But where was he going to find them? And he wasn't even exactly sure how to treat a polar bear's wounds, anyway. Did you need some sort of medicine or something?
Canada was brought back to reality as Kumadojo's weight disappeared suddenly from his arms. He took in the scene in front of him, decided his eyes were lying, held them shut for several moments, and opened them again. The scene hadn't changed. Russia was standing in front of him, holding Kumaking and bandaging the bear's wounds with his scarf. Wait, no, he was wearing his scarf.
"Belarus gave me a new scarf, remember?" Russia explained. "I figured I could put this old one to good use."
"T-thank you," Canada stammered.
"We should get out of the hall," Russia muttered. "I think I can sense another creature approaching."
Canada nodded. Russia tried the nearest door and, finding it unlocked, stepped into the room. Canada followed. He recognized this room. It was the library on the first floor. Russia carried Kumaplink towards the back of the room and Canada followed nervously. He wanted his bear back in his own arms and away from Russia.
Russia casually stopped by one of the tables in the room and picked up a sheet of paper, skimming it carefully. Canada took the opportunity to take back Kumalingo, whom Russia had finished bandaging. He felt a little more confident with his friend in his arms.
"What's going on?" he asked. "You've been acting really weird. I want to know what you're up to."
"Everyone's acting weird," Russia pointed out. "Our situation is rather stressful."
"That's not it," Canada replied. "A lot of things don't add up. The notes you keep looking at, for example. How you seem to know too much about this place. And those calls. Your phone is turned off, so how are you talking to people on it?"
Russia glared at Canada.
"I don't know what you're talking about," he insisted.
Canada refused to allow himself to be cowed by Russia's impressive size and cruel stare. He hugged Kumathing tightly, until the small bear yelped in pain as Canada accidentally put pressure on his wounds.
"I noticed that your phone was off a little while ago," Canada explained. "I thought it was kind of odd, especially when people started calling and no one could reach your phone. And then I started noticing all sorts of things. So, I want to know what you're up to."
Russia smirked.
"Do you really?"
Liechtenstein tried to hold her brother's gun steady and fired at the monster. Once again, her aim was off and the bullet barely even hit the target. She was starting to wish that Switzerland had given her weapons training along with all that safety stuff he drilled into her head. The gun worked well enough, but she had no clue how to aim it. The monster continued approaching. Hungary swooped in and hit it with her frying pan, but the creature swatted her away in annoyance.
"I hate to say this, but I don't think we'll be able to hold out much longer," Hungary remarked bitterly.
She was wounded in several places. Most of the wounds had been sustained when Hungary tried to protect her. Liechtenstein felt incredibly guilty. She wanted to help her friends, but she felt so useless. She had no skill for fighting.
"Liechtenstein, get out of the way," Hungary ordered. "If you get hurt, your brother will kill me."
"But I want to help," Liechtenstein insisted.
"You can help by getting out of the way," Hungary told her coldly. "I can handle this on my own."
"You can't!" Liechtenstein cried out. "You'll get hurt more."
Hungary growled and shoved Liechtenstein to the side, taking another hit that had been meant for the fragile smaller nation.
"That all you've got?" she taunted the monster, wiping blood from the corner of her mouth.
Liechtenstein winced. Even Hungary couldn't win this on her own.
Suddenly, a knife flew through the air and imbedded itself in the monster's head. Liechtenstein turned to find where it had come from.
Belarus stood there, murder glinting in her dark eyes, already reaching for another knife. Ukraine stood behind her, looking scared but determined.
"Leave my friends alone," Belarus ordered.
Even the monster wasn't foolish enough to disobey her. It slowly faded away, leaving her knife to fall to the ground. Belarus unflinchingly approached the spot where it had stood and retrieved the weapon.
"Are you two okay?" she asked.
"We'll be fine," Hungary told her. "Thank you for saving us."
Belarus nodded stiffly, clearly unaccustomed to thanks.
"Hey! It's the girls!" a voice called out.
"Thank God," replied a second voice.
Liechtenstein turned to see Poland and Lithuania running towards them.
"Are you two okay?" Hungary asked.
"We're fine," Lithuania assured her. "Listen, have you seen Latvia and Estonia?"
Hungary shook her head.
"We haven't," she said. "Did you see them, Belarus?"
"No."
"Do you think they're in trouble?" Ukraine asked nervously.
"Well, like, last time I saw them, they were in, like, huge danger," Poland explained. "But when I brought Liet back to help, they were, like, gone. Is that totally weird or what?"
"There weren't any signs of a struggle," Lithuania added. "I didn't even see any blood."
"Are you sure you were in the right place?" Hungary asked.
"Just because your ex-husband is, like, hopeless with directions doesn't mean I am," Poland retorted angrily.
The two stared each other down for a minute. Liechtenstein expected Poland to look away quickly- Hungary's glare was scary- but he held his own pretty well.
"We're wasting time," Belarus pointed out bluntly. "If Latvia and Estonia are lost, we should go find them."
No one could argue with her logic.
"Maybe we should split up so we can cover more ground," Ukraine suggested.
"Good idea," Hungary agreed. "I'll go with Belarus and Ukraine. Liechtenstein, you go with Poland and Lithuania."
Liechtenstein nodded.
"Okay."
Hungary, Belarus, and Ukraine set off. Liechtenstein looked at her new companions.
"Mr. Lithuania, why do you have a pink heart on your face?"
Author's Note: I'm sorry this took so long! I've been ridiculously busy and my muse decided to go on vacation. So, you got your answer to what Poland drew on Liet's face. A lot of people guessed it. Good job, guys :D As for what Iggy was playing on the piano: I never really decided. I was kind of thinking "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" or "All I Ask of You" would fit the scene. But I deliberately wrote it so you can imagine whatever song you like, so everyone got that one right :D