Chapter 9

Norway didn't read. He said he would, but he didn't have anything else to read. While Matthias was sick, Norway read all the books in his house twice, some even more, like the fairy tales. He was sick of all those happy endings and historical novels. This was not the Viking Era. This was the end of the world. He was not out there to conquer, just to survive. For hours he paced across his room, glancing at the clock. That stupid Dane still hadn't come upstairs and bothered him. Usually he would have done that by now. He glanced at the clock for the thousandth time that day. It was nearing dinner time, and Matthias still hadn't asked for lunch.

He could have made it, you dummy, Norway told himself, but then he remembered he never hear MAtthias clattering about in the kitchen looking for what little food he kept upstairs. Most of the supplies were hidden in a secret room in the basement that Norway kept locked away with his magic. He figured the Dane must be pouting in his room or working out in the basement. The idiot would work himself to death just to prove that he was able to go outside. But he would never be able to do that. NOt unless he wanted to go away forever.

Norway stopped his pacing. Maybe I should go check on him now. He's been so quiet for so long, it's starting to worry me. What if he got sick again? Norway shook his head. Like I said before, he's probably just working out. There is nothing to worry about. Nothing. Now go check on him and prove you are getting ahead of yourself.

He stepped out of his room and slunk down the stairs. Matthias was not walking anywhere, so Norway decided to look in the basement. He opened the door and lit the candles as he headed down, but he quickly noticed it was silent.

"Matthias?" He called. Perhaps the man had finished working out and was moping in the corner.

But no one replied.

"Matthias, are you down here?"

Still, nothing.

"This isn't funny. I need you to come out. Now."

The basement revealed nothing.

Norway sighed. He must be upstairs. He ran back up the steps and over to Matthias' room. He knocked on the door and said, "Matthias, it's time to stop moping. You need to come out and get some dinner.

He didn't even hear a moan.

"Matthias, are you alright?"

He was greeted once more with silence, so he shouted, "Matthias, get your ass out here right now! I'm not joking! You have been moping in there long enough, and I need you to come help me make some dinner!"

Matthias still said nothing, so Norway opened the door. Just as he opened his mouth to yell at the Dane for ignoring him, he stopped. The room was empty. Norway burst inside and looked around the room. Matthias was definitely not in here, hiding or otherwise.

"Matthias, this is not time for a game! Come out from wherever you are hiding right now!" Norway ran across the house, looking everywhere someone Matthias' size could hide. He shouted for him and unlocked doors to rooms he hadn't been inside for years. Matthias was nowhere. When he had finally ransacked the whole house, Norway sank into his couch. "Matthias, please be here. Please be somewhere."

For what felt like hours, he waited for the Dane to come out before he finally resolved to stand up again and look once more. He had only barely looked through the kitchen, so he stepped inside the room once more and walked to the back door. The door was unlocked. Norway never left it unlocked.

Second, he noticed footprints leading away from the house through the mud. They stopped right by the fallen fence, facing towards it.

"Matthias, no!" Norway fell against the door. "You can't go out there! You can't get back in! I put magic around the house to keep out intruders, and I don't have enough magic left in me to undo it! You're stuck out there, and if I go out there too, I will be as well."

Norway curled up in a ball and sobbed against the front door.

He was alone.

For the first time, he thought, in history, he was completely and utterly alone.

"Help…"