Prussia and France POV:

The two nations approached the opposite end of the street. The lack of sun made the building look all the more ominous, looming up over them like giant monsters ready to swallow them whole.

Prussia looked around, sensing the apprehension in the air, and did his utmost best to thwart such a brooding atmosphere, "Kesekesekese. Not much of a town is it? It's like two or three blocks long!"

France nodded, "Oui, I've seen villages that were bigger."

They walked up to the first building closest to the main road. It looked to be about 1950's era. France surveyed it, "Hmmm..."

Prussia looked at him, "What is it?"

France turned to him, "Considering how old this building is, do you think it is safe to search the second story?" he asked gesturing to it.

Prussia shook his head, "Not really but..." he looked up at the building, "I don't want to face West if we miss something."

France nudged his friend, "Ah, do not want to disappoint you little brother do we?"

Prussia didn't answer. He stepped onto the cracked sidewalk and went for the door, only to find it locked. Prussia jiggled the doorknob, and the thing crumbled under his hand. He stepped back, "Uh...are door knobs supposed to do that?"

France joined him, "Last I checked...no." He pushed the door open, "But at least it is no longer locked."

Russia and England POV:

The canyon was much bigger up close. It towered several stories over them. England scowled up at it, "How does one investigate something of this size?"

Russia thought for a moment, "Well...Aren't we supposed to get closer to it? And possibly look for anything of note?"

England had a snappy comeback ready, "Well-" he broke off as he noticed Russia's aura flaring up, "...I completely agree. Quite the head on your shoulders eh, Russia?"

Russia smiled, "And you would like to keep your head on your shoulders, Da?"

England shuddered.

Germany and Japan POV:

Germany watched the last group leave, and turned to Japan, "Ah. It is quieter now don't you agree?"

Japan nodded politely, "Hai, Germany-san."

Germany looked around, "I don't believe that there is much to see in this barber shop. So lets go to the next building."

Japan nodded yet again and repeated the same phrase, "Hai, Germany-san"

Germany looked at him for a minute and thought to himself, 'Is that all he ever says?...No wait, most of the time he says no.'

Prussia and France POV:

It didn't take them long to find something.

"France! I have found it! The key to all our problems!" Prussia exclaimed.

France perked up at hearing this, his head whirring toward Prussia, "Oh, thank god! I am tired of this grunt work!"

Prussia smirked, holding something behind his back, "I have found..."

France leaned forward in anticipation, "Oui?"

Prussia revealed his prize, "THE BEER!"

But nobody ever said anything about it being important.

France deflated, "Honestly Prussia? Wine is much better than beer. Have you been actively searching for alcohol zis whole time?"

Prussia shook his head, "Nein, I'm just lucky that way! Kesekesekese!"

France mumbled to himself, "Being dissolved does not make one lucky."

Prussia stopped laughing and narrowed his eyes, "What was that?"

France raised his hands in a pacifying gesture, "Oh, nothing of importance." He looked around desperately to change the subject, "Hey! Did you see that poster?"

Prussia immediately forgot France's earlier comment, "No...hey that could be a clue!"

"Eh?..." France looked closer at it and then it dawned on him, "Oui, I think it is!"

Prussia looked excited, "Lets show this to everyone! This is the last building anyway."

Russia and England POV:

England was kneeling down on the left right side of the canyon entrance, looking for anything relevant. Meanwhile, Russia was at the opposite side, scanning the wall for anything out of the ordinary. This continued for a while.

Russia's eyes stopped, "Oh? What is this?"

England glanced over, "Did you find something?"

Russia got closer to a specific spot on the wall, "Da, but I do not know what it means."

The english nation got up and dusted himself off. He walked over and followed Russia's gaze, "Hmmm. I don't know what it says either, but I have something that may help."

They both stood there for a moment in awkward silence. Russia looked at England pointedly, "Well?"

England looked confused, "What?"

"Aren't you going to do it?" Russia asked.

"Wha- oh, yes! I can only do it once so we have to wait for the others." England responded.

Russia plopped down against the canyon wall, "Then we will wait, Da?"

England also sat down, giving Russia some distance, "Indeed."

Germany and Japan POV:

They thoroughly searched yet another building. Germany pulled his head out of a cupboard and threw his hands up in frustration, "Nothing! Absolutely nothing!"

Japan paused in his task of rifling through a chest, and tried to appease the Germanic nation, "Please Germany-san, we only have one more building house after this."

Germany sighed, "Ja. While you are finishing up there, I will check that pantry in the kitchen. After that, we will move on."

Japan nodded, "Hai, Germany-san." and continued to search the chest.

Germany turned toward the doorway, and walked into the kitchen. They had already searched the drawers; They turned out to be completely bare. The refrigerator had food in it, but it probably hasn't had power for years, so it wasn't the safest looking food in the world.

Germany turned around to see the pantry, but something was off about it. The door was a crack opened, and Germany didn't notice that when he first came in. Germany never misses anything. He approaches the door, his gun at the ready. He opens the door really fast, "Aha!" He waited for a moment, and sighed. He put his gun away. There was nothing in there except an old doll. But what the doll was doing in the pantry, he'll never know.

Japan joined Germany in the kitchen, "I heard you yell. Did you find something Germany-san?"

Germany shook his head, "No, just this old doll."

Japan observed the doll in question, "I usually don't say this about inanimate objects but...that doll is really creepy."

Germany cocked his head, "How so?"

Japan continued, "It has a sense of foreboding to it. Or maybe as if something bad has happened."

Germany looked a bit apprehensive, "What if it's an Artifa-"

Japan cut him off, "If it is, it does not concern either of us anymore. We will leave that to them."

Germany stepped away from the doll, afraid to touch it, "Alright. Lets move on to the next house."

They left that house and were about to move onto the next one, when they both stopped. Germany leaned a bit toward Japan, "Why is that house shimmering?"

Japan looked relieved, "It was probably a trap in the form of a desert mirage of sorts. Let's be glad we caught on in time."

"Well, lets not act like we're out-right avoiding it, but we should go around it as if oblivious to it." Germany said.

Japan kept moving, as nonchalantly as he could, "Hai, Germany-san."

Germany tried to stifle a laugh as he followed Japan. Japan was never nonchalant, so he just looked ridiculous.

Done with yet another chapter! Will probably update today, for I have all the time in the world! Hooray for that.

Thank you for all the support so far, great to see it! Would like it if you review, although there's no obligation (but you probably already know that).

Later dudes! ^J^