They dragged the half conscious body down the stairs and propped it against the wall before one of them took a few lengths of rebar in hand. The other held the body in place as the one with the steel drove it into the arms and legs of their captive. He cried out, screaming for mercy as the steel plunged into his limbs, pinning him to the concrete wall behind him and the floor. Blood oozed from the wounds and pooled on the floor beneath him. Once the limbs were secured the one driving the rebar into place grabbed a few pieces that were bent into 'U' shapes and drove them into the wall and floor around the captive's limbs securing him in place.
"Heh, that was almost too easy."
"Why? Why are you doing this?"
"Why? Because I can't stand heroes like you. They make me sick. People who can't look after themselves deserve to be left to die not saved by some goody goody that thinks he's better than the rest."
The captive slumps, his blonde hair hanging limp as his captors laugh before heading up the stairs and out of the basement.
"Lad?"
A hoarse voice breaks through the darkness of the unlit basement.
"A Arthur? What?"
"Bloody hell, they've had me down here for... weeks, months? I'm not even sure anymore."
"Arthur who are they, what do they want?"
"I wish I knew lad, I surely wish I knew."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Alfred and Gilbert had hurried back to the UN building and the meeting room. Even though the day was only meant for checking in so you were accounted for in meetings many nations still tended to gather in the meeting room to socialize and discuss things that were going to be brought up in the meeting. This approach had been helpful in lessening the number of disruptions during the meetings. The two burst into the room and, drawing attention to themselves. Gilbert hurried to his brother while Alfred scanned the room before making a beeline toward Russia. Reaching the Russian he grabs him by the collar of his shirt and lifts him from his seat, glaring down at him with fury and hate.
When Gilbert reached his brother he quickly tried to explain what was going on before both were distracted by the commotion growing around Ivan and Alfred.
"Where is he you sick bastard? What have you done to Matthew?"
Ivan looks at Alfred with confusion, trying to mask his nervousness at having to deal with a very pissed off America, the last time he had been this mad was after 9/11 and before that was Pearl Harbor. Everyone knew by now you did not try to fight a pissed off America if you valued your life.
"Matvey? I do not know what you are talking about Amerika."
"My brother! I know you attacked him in his home you bastard. Where did you take him? What have you done with him?"
England approached the pair and rested his hand on Alfred's arm in a soothing manner.
"Alfred, lad, let him down I doubt Ivan would do anything to your brother. He's probably just out and about, nothing to worry about."
Alfred shifts his burning blue eyes to Arthur before going back to Ivan and shaking him roughly. "If he was just out then why the hell was there blood splattered all over his house? It was everywhere and I know this bastard has to have been responsible."
The rest of the room went silent at Alfred's statement and suddenly the situation became all the more tense before Gilbert stepped forward, clipboard in hand.
"Alfred, calm down. I know you're worried about Mattie but Ivan couldn't have been the one to attack him. He's been here since early this morning and that blood hadn't even fully dried yet, it was still fresh, maybe a couple hours old. It wasn't a nation that attacked him, it was someone else."
Alfred looks between Gilbert and Ivan for several long tense minutes before slowly releasing Ivan and turning his back on him. His bangs fall forward to shield his face and cover it in shadows.
"Right then. We should all be careful since we don't know who else this person or persons may be going after. For now I suggest everyone go and rest up for tomorrow. Gilbert, Alfred stay here for a bit while I call the police in Canada and let them know to go begin and investigation. And I will tell them to keep us informed, but we still have a meeting and there is really not much we can do in searching for him."
Gilbert nods but Alfred just continues to stand there as everyone else makes their way out of the conference room.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"You two are really bad. I can't believe you would make such a mess of his house. You were only supposed to grab him and bring him back here."
The door at the top of the stairs opens and Matthew and Arthur look up from their places bound against the concrete floor and walls.
"Hey don't blame us, the hero put up a fight and you know how Matthieu is when it comes to 'heroes'."
Two figures begin a descent down the stairs and the light comes on. Matthew is able to make out the features of one of his captors and his eyes widen in shock at seeing Arthur following him down. He looks between the Arthur slumped on the wall across from him and then back to the free one.
"But Freddie, Alfie wouldn't have known anything was wrong if you had just stuck to the plan. You shouldn't have taken Matthieu if you knew he was going to only cause problems."
"Relax Artie I wouldn't have been able to get him on my own, we both know that. So who's next? The wanna be or can we get the Russian so I can bring Vanya over, he can play at being Russia for a bit before we make our final move.
'Artie' seems to scowl lightly before taking a damp cloth and washing his face to reveal freckles and then removing what looks like colored contacts,showing his eyes to be a swirl of pink and blue.
"We need to take Alfie out of the picture, he's a loose canon and could mess things up if he figures out where his brother is. Besides since you won't let me play with you I can play with him and its almost the same thing."
'Freddie' seems to wince at the comment and Matthew simply watches as the two head back up the stairs and shut off the light.
"Arthur?"
"I know lad, I know. That's why I didn't hope for a rescue from down here. He's a bloody good actor. I'm sure you noticed the other two resemble your brother and yourself."
"Yeah."
"I wish I knew what they were up to and why they are doing all of this."
Matthew glances up at the door and then bends his wrist down to feel for the bar in his arm. He manages to get a grip on it and pulls at it.
"Matthew, lad what are you?"
"We need to get out of here before they go after Alfred or anyone else."
Matthew grunts in pain as he slowly begins to work the rebar out of his flesh and the wall behind him. It is slow going and Arthur quietly encourages him while still telling him he shouldn't be moving so much with the rebar piercing him. Eventually Matthew manages to get the first piece out and lets it roll down to his leg before lightly clattering on the floor. He begins on the piece in his other arm, this one going much faster. Once the first two are out matthew wriggles his arms to work out the loop holding them against the wall. He manages to pull that out, panting in pain and at the effort. One by one he removes all the rebar holding him in place, pulling the last piece from around his legs just as they hear footsteps and voices approaching the door to the basement once again. Matthew scurries over to Arthur and breaks the shackles holding him in place as the door opens. He looks around frantically for an escape and spots a small high window leading to the outside.
He grabs Arthur with his bloody hands and helps him to open and climb out the window as the voices of their captors rise in alarm at their being free.
"Arthur go, get help. Hurry!"
He shoves Arthur out the rest of the way just as he feels something solid connect with his back, dropping him to the ground. Arthur hears the sound of Matthew falling and hesitates giving Fred the opportunity to grab his ankle and begin to pull him back in. Matthew though grabs and bites Fred's ankle, causing him to drop Arthur's and allow Arthur his escape.
"Why you? I didn't figure you were so stubborn, that rebar should have kept you in place."
Fred kicks Matthew in the gut, causing him to curl up on himself at the pain, his wounds were still oozing blood as he prayed for Arthur to get away and bring back help.
Meanwhile Arthur was making good on his escape. He felt horrible that he left Matthew behind, but realized it was better one of them make it out and to freedom than neither. Arthur was quick to realize he was in New York and praised heaven and earth for his fortune, he only hoped Alfred was home right now.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"How could you let him get away?"
Matthieu was furious he had to restrain himself from beating his brother and Artie. Instead he just glared at them as Artie put on his disguise and hurried out the door. He was going to head for Alfred's house and try to cut off the escaped nation before he got there. It was the only thing the three could think of to prevent this from leading to their plans falling apart.