Title: Haunted Melody
Rating: M
Disclaimer: I own nothing, except the Oc ghosties, that and the concept of the idea, but nothing else.
Warnings: See previous chapters. Also, I would like to add on some mental manipulations that occur to a child and suicide.
Special AN: Didn't get to do this last chapter, but thank you to those who have added me to your favorites and/or alerts, or reviewed this story. Your support means a lot to me. Also, Saoirse means Freedom/Liberty according to Google translate. Now onto the story.
Chapter Four: Map, Saoirse, and another Layer.
The silence that filled the space surrounding the two men, though you could hear the faint background noise of the others questioning each other and helping Germany, was somewhat tense but at the same time it was comfortable. Natural. It filled Gilbert with a sense of peace and companionship as he looked at the Russian and gave him a small smile.
"Well, you seem to be okay Germany." They both hear the moment they enter the group, causing Prussia to sigh in relief.
"Well, we also learned something new, da?" Russia states, causing all the nations to jump slightly as they didn't know he was there.
"What do you mean?"
"It's simple; whoever the killer was looks like Germany."
"Who the hell looks like my brother enough that they would try and kill him instead?" Prussia asks, pissed off at the ghost who attacked his brother and grateful to the nurse who saved him.
"There are two people, besides Germany. England and America both look like Ludwig, at least from behind." Japan states, pointing the other two nations out.
"Let's worry about this later dudes. I found something that could be of use!" America shouts, distracting the others from Japan long enough so that they can't hold on to the small thread of an idea.
This, of course causes some nations to look at each other in confusion. What was America hiding from them? Sadly, that was outweighed by the fact that a map was found.
"Fina-fucking-ly!" Italia exclaims, rolling his eyes in exasperation at how long it took to find a simple piece of paper. That was what several nations, including the soft spoken Canada, wanted to exclaim. They had every reason for it after all; they were in a hospital that had ghosts who could harm them.
"Hey. You try looking through all the files I had to, besides it's not like we're trapped in video games or anything crazy like that." The American laughs, holding the map in one hand and shining his flashlight at the huge mess of papers, folders, and cabinet drawers behind him.
"No! This is worse! This is real life, and any fuck ups we make have the very real possibility of killing us! This is like some horrible story where there is hope!" The Southern Italian waves his arms, causing the beam from his flashlight to move chaotically on the ceiling above.
"Chill out dude, we'll get outta here, but I want to put the spirits at ease." The American calmly explains, barely hiding his malice.
"For once I agree with Alfred. We should put the spirits to rest and find their killer." England states, walking over to Alfred and placing a hand on his shoulder.
"You just agree because you want to be like Sherlock." France mutters loud enough for the Brit to hear.
This causes the Brit's face to heat up and him to stutter out in anger, "Of course not! It would do us well to find the killer because they could strike again!"
"Dude, I seriously doubt it." Alfred shakes his head at his former guardian.
"He is right. You are letting your paranoia get to you." France sighs, placing his right hand on his forehead in annoyance.
This leads to a little debate, but it ends with them looking at the map and deciding to use it, if only for the sake of knowing where they were to some degree. It was not knowing the layout that started to get to the nations; they were used to being in control and knowing these sorts of things when it was a time of peace, a time that was really just a breath in the endless cycle of human nature. The group then decided to explore the area where they found the map, looking for the years that were called besides the three that they had. They each ended up with five files from each year to look through. Just as they were about to plan their next course of action, Canada tilted his head to the side as if hearing a beautiful melody, but not being able to tell the sound's direction.
He motioned for the others to follow him, and soon the whole group could hear the music. They followed it to a room, that according to the map was one of the waiting rooms for children and just beyond two steel plated doors was the OR. They stopped dead in their tracks as they saw a beautiful little girl's ghost appear before them. Her hospital gown was torn a bit, but there was no mistaking the striking eyes that belonged to her father.
"Hello, I'm Saoirse! Who are you?" She asks, looking directly at Canada.
"I'm Matthew. Saoirse, why are you here?" The Canadian asks, kneeling so he was making eye contact with the little girl.
"Daddy told me that he was gonna help heal me. He said that there was this new thing that would make this pain stop, but he lied. It only hurt more. Daddy's a liar." Saoirse pouts, her eyes going blank.
"Who is your Daddy?" One of the nations asks.
"Mommy told me not to talk to strangers." She whispers, looking at the French man who asked.
"Then why is it you talk to me, Sao?" Matthew asks, unintentionally using a nickname that he had called her long ago.
"Because I know Uncle Mattie won't hurt me like Daddy did." Suddenly, the little girl's ghost collapses, as if her legs gave out, and she points to the OR.
"What's wrong Sao?" Matthew asks, wanting so badly to help the girl he felt a bond with.
"If you want to know what Daddy did, the OR will show you. Oh, and Uncle Mattie, I'm sorry I wasn't able to see ya return from that nasty war. Mommy told me that you and Daddy had to help protect us from the meanie heads, so I understood why you were gone most of my youth. Y'all were busy." She whispers, slipping into a Southern drawl from the time she spent down South with her mom.
The other nations look confused, as they were still reeling from the shock of how there was a little girl who had been made a ghost, a girl who was only 14 years old even though she appeared younger. The nations numbly walked towards the OR and some had to stifle gasps of horror, and recognition of the scene that played before their eyes.
"Are you sure you want to do this Dr. Jones?" The surgeon in late 1910s medical garb says, looking at the unconscious form of Saoirse.
"It has to heal her. I can't stand seeing my baby girl in pain. Besides, it worked on the others didn't it. Maybe it will help her like it did them, it will fix her shaking. It pains me to see her tremble like a leaf in autumn when it isn't cold and for her to get questioned by her peers. Plus, I know it causes her frustration when writing." The other man in similar garb, no doubt the girl's father, stated dryly.
The nations watch in horror and fascination as they operate on the little girl. Suddenly the scene changes to show the girl, who is now several years older and looks like the Saoirse they saw in the previous room.
"Mommy… Why did Daddy lie to me? I saw him kill ya. I saw him, but no one believes me." Saoirse whispered as she looked out the barred window of her room in the mental ward. She was placed there by her father, and was given drugs that made her head pound like a drum and her vision blur. She always felt weak and knew that anymore would kill her, if she didn't end this hell herself.
"It's time for your meds Miss Vincent." A nurse states while holding a needle full of a weird light purple liquid in her right hand.
"My name is Saoirse Jones." She grumbles as the nurse jabs the needle into her arm, causing Saoirse to wince and nearly cry out in pain.
"Now, the meds should take effect in a half an hour Miss Vincent, and hopefully it will help you rid yourself of these delusions. Honestly, thinking you're Dr. Jones child and that he killed your mother." The nurse mutters, talking more to herself than Saoirse.
As quickly as she entered the room, the nurse leaves Saoirse to herself. The nearly 14 year old girl, as her official birth time was a few minutes away, closed her eyes to fight against the oncoming pain that caused her to shake worse than she did before the surgery. Saoirse looked around the room, and finding what she was looking for besides a pen and some paper, she scrawled a quick note and whispered, "I only wish I could say goodbye to Uncle Mattie. He understood and practically raised me until the war took him away from me, then my father locked me away."
The image changes again, only after the nations see her take the pen and, with her father's strength, made a stabbing motion towards herself. They only saw the blood that splattered the walls, the floor, and her white gown. They also noticed the smile on her face.
China, who was watching the whole thing while trying to distance himself, bent over to read the note that Saoirse wrote. "Everyone, I think we should read this." He calls out.
The other's gather in a circle as they listen to China's soothing voice, "To whomever comes across my body,
I am Saoirse Jones, yes as in Dr. Jones. My father killed my mother, forced me into this hellish cage where I was given drugs and labeled as insane, and then he had the audacity to tell the hospital that my last name was Vincent. I'm sure it even says in my file that it's Vincent. A bastard of a human, and immortal, my father was. At least now I can have the last laugh. He should've known that by naming me Saoirse, I could never be caged. After all, I hated having my freedom taken from me."
A heavy silence filled the OR; some nations were rubbing their eyes with their sleeves or a handkerchief if they carried one. They were still processing the letter as the OR returned to its ruined state and only the lone figure of Saoirse stood there.
"Sao… Oh god, my poor niece…" Matthew whispers his voice rougher than normal.
"It's okay Uncle Mattie. Father probably lied to you, like he did everyone else. Oh, and I know what he's done! I've been helping Nurse Nuivitz ever since she came to the hospital to work during that other war, I've been doing what I could to help try and free the others Father killed until this place closed. Only it closed before justice could be done, and now we are trapped."
"Nurse Nuivitz?" Prussia asks, his mind reeling and a small panic starts to envelope him.
"You must be Gilbert then!" The excited child claps her hands, "Nurse Nuivitz told me that her old boss might be here and that it was okay to help you like I helped her."
"Alona… even after all this time?" Gilbert whispers, guilt washing over him.
The ghost girl nods and giggles, "Nurse Alona would never betray your trust! I just gotta help ya more carefully cause Father's amongst you."
Before anyone can comment the girl disappears with wide eyes and a small squeaking sound escaping her lips.
"She spoke too much, but not enough. I guess her Father's presence finally scared her enough." A soft woman's voice sighs.
"Alona…" Gilbert whispers, not noticing how Russia and Canada look at him in concern.
"Don't fear my beloved nation. There is hope in this hellish prison, but be warned: not all spirits are good that roam these halls. The evil stirs as the killer walks amongst you."
She too fades as Gilbert calls out, "Wait! Don't…" he trails off and finishing in a whisper, "Go."