Iceland slowly opened his eyes, hoping it wouldn't cause the monster called migraine residing inside his head to go on another rampage.
Everything around him looked white, illuminated by the last bright rays of sunlight for the day. There was no-one to be seen.
"Norway?" he whispered weakly.
No response.
How long had he been asleep? He looked out of the window at the sun slowly disappearing into the horizon. It would soon pain the sky red.
A shiver ran through his body. One of the dead leaves still hanging on the tree finally fell and slowly floated down and out of sight.
The strange presence was still in the air, stronger than ever. By now, he had a nagging suspicion of who was behind it, but what was he supposed to do about it, bedridden and abandoned as he was? He would have to wait, and hope he would get an opportunity to act before the stench of blood and old gods consumed everything.
Until then...
More dead leaves fell as he descended back into a deep slumber.
"Oh, how nice to have you visit so soon after I built my new luxury hotel." Norway's eyes twinkled with a rare mischief. "The fee's everything you have."
Denmark slammed his fist against the table, sending plastic tokens and fake currency bouncing around. "Why do you always win? You started way behind everyone else." He growled. "I bet you cheat."
Norway checked his nails. "Maybe you ought learn some economics."
Denmark huffed. "Whatever, oil prince."
"Right, that's enough for now." Finland raised his hands, cheeks red from both enthusiasm and more than a generous helping of vodka. "I take that as our cue to turn in for the night."
Sweden nodded, equally red-faced. "'Bsolutely."
"Fine." Denmark yawned loudly and stretched his arms, anger dissipating as soon as he removed his eyes from the board and the smug expression on Norway's face.
"I guess it was a good idea to call it a night."
Finland was already placing the game pieces back in their box. "Thanks for the fun night."
"Likewise."
Sweden watched Finland work for a bit, then turned his gaze towards the ceiling. "How's 'Celand?"
Finland dropped the pieces in his hand into the box, a guilty expression rising on his face. "Did we forget about him?"
Norway sighed and stood up. "I'll go check on him, just in case."
"Goodnight!" Finland waved after him as he ascended the staircase. "To you as well," he continued, beaming at Denmark and Norway.
Denmark grinned. "Don't go heating up the sauna at four in the morning this time, you hear?"
"I'll try not to!" And with that, Finland disappeared into the guest room prepared for him.
Sweden lowered his hand, never having gotten a chance to wave at Finland, and followed Denmark further down the corridor.
"Good drinks, huh?" Denmark jabbed Sweden with his elbow, grinning.
"Guess so."
Just then, Norway emerged behind them, face impassive as ever.
"Iceland's asleep," he said curtly before Denmark even had a chance to ask about it.
"That's good." Just then, Denmark realized he hadn't mentioned something to Norway. "By the way, we're planning on leaving tomorrow morning."
Norway quirked an eyebrow. "Already?"
"Yeah, well. Not much we can do here. We should get together and come up with a plan later."
Sweden nodded.
Norway's eyes were cold as ice. "Of course. "Now, if you'll excuse me."
He glided past Denmark and Sweden and into his room, slamming the door shut.
Denmark sighed. As nonchalant as Norway's tone of voice had been, it was easy to tell he wasn't up for any further amusement that night.
That meant...
Denmark wrapped his arm around Sweden's waist. "Just us, huh."
The look on Sweden's face wasn't exactly inviting, but neither did he pull away. "Y'ah."
Denmark nudged him. "How about it? For old time's sake?"
"This re'lly the time?"
"Yeah, let's celebrate life. Besides..." he let go off Sweden and quickly dodged into his room, grabbing a bottle he had left on the desk that morning and proudly presenting to Sweden, "I get the feeling you could still go for some partying."
Sweden gave him a long, hard look. Denmark could see the slightest hint of a blush on his face. He hid his grin from Sweden and raised his head to whisper in his ear.
"Come on, Sweden. We could both use some warmth this night, right? All that losing I did in Monopoly today made me feel real cold. And winter's coming, too." He smiled broadly. "So, what do you say?"
Sweden remained silent, but Denmark could tell he was giving in. And true enough, soon Sweden walked to the green door leading to his room and opened it.
"Come in," he muttered.
Score!
Denmark quickly walked over and placed his hand on Sweden's shoulder, then walked into the dark room together with him.
"Su-san! Su-san!"
Denmark grunted and slowly lifted his head from the pillow and rubbed his forehead. It felt like a battalion of nisser had moved into his head and decided to smash his brain to bits with tiny hammers.
"What the fuck is he going on about?" he grumbled angrily to no-one in particular. "I told him not to warm up the sauna at night-time again."
"Mmm." Sweden mumbled, still half asleep.
The banging at the room grew more agitated, so Denmark pulled of the silky blankets better around him to cover his bare form before finally opening his eyes and looking around groggily.
"I mean seriously. It's only..." Denmark lazily searched for a clock with his eyes before spotting one by the night-stand. "10 AM. Oh." He scratched the back of his head. "Well, I guess it's time to get up anyway."
"Su-san! Please, open up!" Finland's muffled voice sounded desperate even through the wooden door.
Denmark sighed and quickly pulled his pants on.
"I'll get it."
Sweden nodded sleepily and reached out for his clothes as well. Denmark couldn't help but admiringly stare at his current partner's finely shaped body as he pulled on his shirt before another series of knocks reminded him of the situation at hand.
"Yeah yeah, just a second!" He and stumbled to the door, his shirt still unbuttoned. He opened it and faced an unusually nervous Finland.
"Oh, Su-san, I think—" Finland blinked and paused as he realized he wasn't talking to Sweden.
Denmark leaned into the door frame. "What's up?"
"Right! I think something's wrong. Noru-kun...he's still in his room and doesn't answer to my calls."
Denmark frowned. Norway has always been an early bird. Why exactly was Finland so worried?
"Why do you think he's still in his room? He probably woke up early went to check up on Iceland. No reason to fret."
"That's what I thought first. Finland shuddered. "But then I remembered these rooms can only be locked from the inside, and the door won't budge."
Denmark stood silent as the knowledge sunk in.
"Okay, that's kinda weird," he admitted. "I'll come and see."
Finland nodded and walked rapidly towards Norway's room. Denmark followed on his heels.
"Norway?" He called out as soon as he reached the yellow door. "Hey, you alright? You didn't catch Iceland's disease, did you?" He knocked several times, then pushed his ear into the door and was met with perfect silence.
"Hey, are you there? Wake up! It's morning already!" He yelled, forcefully banging on the door.
Still no reply.
"Norway?" Denmark cried out, starting to feel uneasy "What the hell?"
He gave Finland a confused look. "D'you think I offended him last night?"
"I doubt it, Ta-san. Besides, he wouldn't respond to me either."
"True." Denmark bit his lip. Perhaps it was an overreaction, but something in the air made him feel uneasy.
"Hey, Norway! I'm coming in now!" He grabbed the handle and attempted to push it down with all his might. It didn't move an inch.
Shit! Do I really need to break this door?
"Fine, I'll pay for it later." He took a few steps back and slammed his body into the wooden door. Finland immediately rushed to help him. After a few more slams, Sweden, who until then had been quietly standing in the background, joined them.
The lock finally gave way and the door crashed open. The trio staggered forward from momentum. Denmark soon regained his balance and looked up.
There was no-one in the room. The bed was neatly made and all of Norway's stuff was set on top of the small desk by the window...The window, which happened to be wide open. The striped curtains fluttered in the wind.
Denmark took a disbelieving step forward.
"Why would he..."
Finland looked up. "Should we tell Ice-kun?"
"What, that his brother decided to exit the house through a window?" Denmark hesitated. "Assuming that's what happened."
"Yes."
"We must. He's 'pecting ta see him."
Denmark nodded absent-mindedly. "I'll go check up on him right now, if nothing else."
He followed Sweden and Finland out of the room, his eyes fixed on the back of Sweden's jacket.
Where has Norway gone? And why would he leave through the window, leaving all his stuff behind and the door locked? What he actually left by his own volition? And if not, what could possibly have happened? None of it made any sense.
As they reached the lounge, he moved ahead and was the first to climb the stairs, buttoning his shirt as he did so.
"Wouldn't it be funny if Iceland had gone missing too?" he asked as he knocked on Iceland's door, looking at Sweden who had just stepped on the landing.
There was no response, but as the door was unlocked, Denmark took the liberty to step inside.
Immediately, he was hit by sudden coldness; both windows inn the room were wide open, and icy wind blew into the room, flapping the linen curtains. Denmark shivered and walked to the nearest window, shutting..
"Iceland? You awake?" He turned to look at the bed where the youngest of the Nordics was lying. Iceland was soundly asleep by the looks of it. Denmark walked closer to him in order to reach the other window and and took a better glance at Iceland as he did so. He frowned. The younger man's pale complexion seemed even more gaunt than the day before.
"Hey?" He touched Iceland's cheek and quickly pulled his hand away. His skin was as cold as ice.
Denmark felt a lurch in his stomach as he noticed a dark stain on the blanket on top of Iceland's chest. He braced himself and lifted the blanket.
He nearly dropped it back down as he saw the numerous slash and stab wounds that had torn through Iceland's white shirt and his upper torso, smearing his clothes and skin with blood.
Denmark stared at the body, trying to comprehend what he was seeing. There was only one logical conclusion to draw from the amount of dried blood underneath Iceland, previously hidden underneath his thick covers, and his stone-cold body.
But...Why? How?
The others had moved forward to witness what Denmark did. Sweden's eyes were as wide as saucers, and Finland had covered his mouth with his hands, shivering.
Finally, Denmark covered the gruesome view looked out of the open window, trying to control the terror inside him.
A pair of dead leaves floated by the window.