Sorry it's been a while since I've posted a new chapter, life takes up time. Also I'm allergic to editing xc As always please feel free to point out any errors and leave your opinion!

Chapter 4
Scream for me

"...A mysterious killing spree in a small café in Venice, Italy leaves two dozen dead including all the staff working at the popular meeting place. There were no survivors to this tragic event and police are still without leads...In other news there will be an early cold snap this year..."

The TV droned on with the evening news, but Germany could barely stand to listen to it. Italy had disappeared from the house a few days ago, and had yet to return. The small Italian hadn't left and stayed away from Germany's house for more than a day since Romano died. Germany had assumed that he didn't want the memories associated with his house anymore. It was Understandable. Germany was starting to get extremely worried about the smaller nation, but he tried to push it out of his mind. Of course the TV made that impossible. Every channel he flipped to was either trash or covering the recent shooting in Venice. Germany found himself scared that there was a chance that Italy was in that café. He wouldn't have been so worried before the murders, since he, like the rest of the nations, had thought that countries couldn't just die at any moment.

The killings had proven that even as a country you didn't need war or an economic crisis to die. It led Germany to wonder if the dead humans had been collateral damage from trying to get Italy. It also led Germany to wonder if he should go looking for his pasta-loving friend. He let a soft sigh escape between his lips, standing up and heading towards the door. At the same moment the door was flung open and the very person Germany had been worried for flew into the house. His face was tear-streaked, his eyes wide open and blood-shot. He flung himself into Germany's arms before the German even had the time to process that his friend's entering.

"I-Italy! I was worried about you" Germany stuttered as he awkwardly patted his sobbing friend on the head. What was one supposed to say when a friend burst into their house crying?

Italy shuddered and clung to Germany, a fearful whimper escaping his parched lips "I saw something terrible happen, Germany" His voice was painfully afraid.

Germany's icy eyes softened, his hand still lingering over his friend's hair "What happened? What did you see?" He felt almost bad for thinking it, but he was really hoping Italy had some relevant information.

"I saw all those people get killed in Venice, but I couldn't do anything!" He buried his face in Germany's chest again.

The faintest blush dusted Germany's face at the physical contact "Did you see who did it, Italy? You have to step forwards as a witness if you did."

Italy clung to him and sobbed, as if what Germany said made things worse "N—no!"

"Italy, was it someone you know? It isn't right to protect a murderer!" Germany told him firmly "Whether they're your friend or not—"

"No! No; I didn't see them! Because—" Italy broke off suddenly, looking panicked. It always seemed that when Italy was about to say something important, he would break off. It was starting to get irritating.

"Italy, you must stop breaking off like that!" He scolded his friend "Finish what you were going to say." Italy gave the slightest shake of his head. Germany couldn't help but feel he was trying to get some across to him, but it made the whole situation no less aggravating.

Italy took a step back, looking up at Germany apologetically before turning towards the stairs to leave "I'm sorry, Germany..."

"No, wait, don't leave!" Germany protested a second too late as Italy disappeared up the stairs "I don't understand that man..." He growled under his breath. He'd check on Italy later, when the smaller nation had calmed down.

Germany headed into the kitchen to get a beer or something when a knock at the door brought him out of his thoughts. He hesitated, wondering who could be at the door at this late hour. What if it was someone who wanted to hurt Italy? What if he had been running from someone?

"Hey, bruder! Open up and let the awesome me in! Why's the door locked anyways?" A familiar cocky voice sounded from behind the thick oak.

Relief flooded him "Ja, Ja, I'm coming..." Germany sighed as he headed over to open the door.

Prussia wasted no time in making himself at home; He yawned and plopped down on the couch "Did ya hear about Austria and Hungary? Real shame, huh? I mean, they were both good in—"

Germany cut him off before he could get lost in a vulgar story about one of them and a bed. They were both dead and still Prussia was looking for a chance to joke about them. Perhaps it was his way of coping "What are you doing here, bruder?"

"Chill, west!" Prussia laughed, throwing back his head "I just came to make sure you and Ita-chan were alright!"

Germany frowned at the nickname for Italy; he had never perfectly been comfortable with the familiarity Prussia expressed with Italy "Well we're fine... You can go out drinking with your friends or whatever it is you do with your time." By the smell he had already been out drinking...

"So eager to get rid of the awesome me, West?" Prussia asked, raising an eyebrow "I was thinking I'd crash here for a bit!"

Germany hesitated "I suppose it wouldn't hurt..." He agreed carefully "And I do have some errands to run... Maybe you could just keep an eye on Italy briefly..." Even if his brother was a bit tipsy he surely couldn't mess up keeping an eye on Italy, right? And Germany did have a lot of errands he had ignored out of worry for Italy.

"Consider it done, bruder! The awesome me will keep a close watch on Italy!" He proclaimed, raising his voice louder than necessary.

"Good... Just try not to bug him much. He's been a bit off lately..." Germany instructed him, mostly out of paranoia that his brother might try something.

"Yeah, yeah! Whatever, West! I've got it covered." Prussia confirmed.

Germany hesitated again "And, uh, don't drink all my beer." He wasn't sure what else to say, so he slipped out the door without another word, his inner workaholic taking hold.

Prussia stretched and stood up "Kesesese, he's so paranoid! Like I'd actually kill, Italy!" He chuckled to himself "I might as well check on him though..."

Prussia trotted up the stairs and towards the guest room, not surprised to find it empty and dark when he swung the door open. He took a step inside, just to make sure he wasn't missing a dead body lying on the other side of the bed. The door slammed shut behind him, causing him to jump. He glanced uneasily at the open window and then over his shoulder. What he saw was definitely the last thing he expected; Italy stood leaning against the door, his hair ruffled and untidy. The dim, gossamer light cast by the moon threw him into sharp focus, his shadow streaked across the floor like the practiced stroke of an artist. He was staring at the floor like it was the most interesting thing in the world, or perhaps the most uninteresting thing.

"Hey there, Ita-chan!" He greeted brightly, not at all off put "Didn't expect to find you in the guest room! Considering you're always rooming with bruder when you stay here, kesesese...sese..." His laugh faded when Italy looked up. His eyes were open, which in itself was a rare occurrence, but the dull coldness they held was what really made him look a bit scary "You okay, Italy?" He asked hesitantly.

Italy took a slow step forwards, his aura dark enough to rival that of Russia. Prussia shuddered slightly and subconsciously leaned back a fraction of an inch. As Italy took yet another purposeful step, he flicked a small dark object in his hands, causing a blade to shoot out of it. It wasn't overly long, no more than maybe 4 inches or so, but it still sent shivers down Prussia's back as it caught the moonlight on its well-polished surface. The ex-nation took a small step back, and then another, and another as to match Italy's movement, lest the blade-wielding nation get any closer than he already was.

"H-hey now, Italy... If this is about the awesome me coming onto you all that time ago, I said I was sorry!" He tried to smile, but it died on his lips with a slight twitch.

"I never said you were forgiven," Italy's voice was a cold hiss as he raised the blade. Prussia took another step back, crying out as he fell backwards onto the bed "Sometimes sorry just doesn't cut it."

Prussia tried to stutter an answer, but all that came out was a feeble plea before he felt a sharp pain in his stomach, where the blade punctured his pale skin. He felt the blade twist inside him, sending waves of agony through every nerve in his body. He could do nothing but scream as the blade slipped in and out of him over and over until he knew nothing but pain.