Chapter 12

The sun rose, but no one saw it. The blinds were shut so tightly over all the windows that no sunlight came in. They couldn't risk adding any warmth to the already boiling house.

"Oi, when will it be winter? I need a change in temperature," a woman walked into the largest room. Her once long hair had been cut half length and tied up into a tight bun.

"It only gets hotter from here. It's only April: imagine what July will be like," a second voice called out. This one belonged to a man with messy dark hair and a mole on his chin.

"Oh, Roderich, don't say that. I can't bear to think of that damned heat: none of us can," the woman replied tartly.

"Then leave and go somewhere else," Roderich snapped. "It's your country you'd be leaving, Hungary."

"Maybe I will. Maybe I will go find somewhere I can actually live, because if I cannot stand this heat, then my people will be dying hundreds by the day from it. I will take them and we will go to the Northlands where it is cold," Hungary said.

"You know it is still warm there. That's why the sea levels are rising and they are losing land."

"It will still be better than here."

"And they have no space. The Norwegians let all those Danes die because they had no room, and the radioactivity from that last bomb is destroying so much. They'll have to leave soon."

"Everyone is destroying this earth. They are so ungrateful…" Hungary stared at the blocked windows. "Look at what we see. Nothing. Humans and nations alike have reduced this planet to nothing."

"We are selfish."

"Yes, we are."

"And now we must fight over what little land is left."

"Why would you fight when you could stay inside here and be comfortable?"

"This isn't comfortable, Roderich. I am dying."

"Your nation is dying. You'll continue living."

"No, I won't. My nation is too important. People like Gilbert may not have cared as much, but I care, and I will fall with my people."

"Suit yourself."

Hungary yelled and stormed out of the room. Fine. If that ungrateful little shit won't do anything then I'll leave myself. I'll find a place up North we can move to and bring my country there. She looked back at the living room where Roderich was resting and headed back to her bedroom.

She pulled together some clothes and sunscreen to protect her from the sun and heat. Then she grabbed a bag and filled it with lightweight foods to take with her.

""Roderich won't miss it. I would have eaten it all anyways," she whispered to herself. Then she slipped out the back door and into the world.

The heat hit Hungary harder than she expected, and she shielded her eyes.

"Damn, no wonder I've felt so sick! My people can't survive this. I need to hurry."

Hungary disappeared into the dying woodlands outside their home. Night was falling, but it was still too bright and hot for her. Night would never be the same again. No more stars. No more cool winds. No more sleep.

Romano paced back and forth in the tent he shared with Turkey. They had been using it for weeks as they travelled north, but Romano still could not get over how fancy it was. Turkey was too classy, even in a war.

Lovino crossed his arms as the Turkish man walked in. They both had lost their countries in the war, but they were determined to keep living as humans as long as they could.

"There's nothing out there to eat. Everything is dead," Sadik said.

Lovino scowled at him. "Idiot. I told you we should have brought the food I had stored!"

"Actually, Feliciano-" Sadik stopped. Lovino was still glaring at him, this time with more hatred.

"Don't mention my brother, pig," Lovino whirled around so that he could not face him.

Sadik laughed. "You are so young and immature. No wonder Spain was the only one who could take care of you. No one else has the patience!"

Lovino fumed. "Don't talk about that asshole either. He was a traitor and a complete loser. He never really cared for me."

"Aw, don't say that! Spain just had his own agenda."

"Exactly. Now leave me alone."

"We are living together in the same small tent. I can't really do that."

"Then shut up. I don't want to hear your voice."

"I can do that." Sadik shut his mouth and sat on the ground. He picked up a stick and his pocket knife and began to carve into it, whistling as he went.

Lovino cringed. "No singing, either! It sounds like Feliciano."

"Suit yourself." Sadik fell silent and kept carving into the stick. He glanced up at the Italian as he went. Lovino refused to turn around and say anything.

The whole night seemed to pass in that awkward silence. Sadik kept carving and Lovino kept sitting there, until finally he fell over, asleep. Sadik laughed to himself and began to hum. Maybe now he won't hear me and be bothered. Only when he is asleep can I escape being ordered around all the time. The little brat…

Then Sadik heard a loud crunch outside. The crunching continued in a rhythmic motion, like footsteps. Sadik stood up and pulled out his larger knife. "Who's out there?"

"Hello?" A female voice called back.

Sadik narrowed his eyes and paused. He knew that voice from somewhere. "Do I know you?"

"I'm Hungary, and I can hurt you. Come out of the tent now."

Of course it's that crazy lady… Damn. Sadik slipped out of the tent and came face-to-face with an annoyed nation.

"It's just you, Sadik. What are you doing away from your homeland?"

"Same as you, finding a new place, I assume."

"I am still in my homeland, thank you very much."

"We are in the Slovak region now. I don't think you are still in Hungary."

"It's a small world," Hungary huffed and looked away. Her green eyes pierced the night.

"Lovino is sleeping in the tent. Come on in before some wild animal gets you," Sadik opened the tent flap and ushered her inside. Hungary followed him in and sat down.

"I see you still like to live in style," she commented.

"It's heat resistant," replied Sadik.

"Handy," Hungary looked over at Lovino. "Where is his brother?"

"He ran away."

"Ran away?"

"He went looking for Germany, and we lost him. We have stayed here for a week waiting, but he hasn't returned."

"Lovino won't leave him."

"No, he won't."

"And Spain is dead."

"You saw him?"

"I did. He was looking for Romano and found us. I was with Roderich at the time. Antonio was not doing so well, and he died just days after we let him in."

"Lovino will not like to hear that."

"He will not."

"Even if he says he hates him."

"Lovino hates everyone, but he loves Antonio and Feliciano. No matter what he says about them, he will wait for them. Always."

"Then we shouldn't tell him. It'll be best to let him believe there is a chance Antonio is alive because it will keep him going. Otherwise, we might have to leave him behind."

"I know that, but there is no way I will leave him. I have left one man already, and I cannot leave someone else in my family, Sadik."

"I understand. The sun will rise soon, and we will pack up then. I have some extra clothes if you need something to cover yourself. Italy left many of his things here."

"I do have a few things, but thank you for the offer." Hungary stood and looked back at the tent flap. "Why don't we travel by night?"

"Animals. Many were unaffected by the radioactivity or mutated by it. They are much more dangerous now, so it is best that we take cover. We can cover ourselves from the sun, but we cannot cover from the animals."

"Even if it means risking sun-poisoning."

"Sun-poisoning?"

"If you do not cover, then you either burn very quickly or get sun-poisoning. Sun-poisoning happens more often with people who do not cover properly. It is similar to burning, but it is much slower. You can get out of the sun and continue to suffer from it. The sun slowly eats your skin alive, turning the areas around it a greenish color. Your skin gets spotty, and that is when you know you are about to be poisoned. Rather than a few minutes, it takes several days to burn your skin. I have seen it happen many times."

"Then you must borrow our extra supplies."

"Yes, thank you, but then I will be taking them from someone, who by now, is dead."

Sadik nodded. "Very well."

By morning, they had awakened a very grumpy Lovino and packed up their belongings. All morning, Lovino pestered Hungary about her borrowing Feliciano's protective gear. "Hey, HUngary, why do you have my fratello's clothes. He is coming back!"

"Lovino, I do need some extra clothes because I have so few, and these garments are quite heavy. Wouldn't you rather I wear them until he comes back? If I didn't do that, you would have to carry them." Hungary gave Lovino a small smile. He blushed.

"O-okay. Fine." His eyes narrowed and he avoided making eye contact. "But make sure to give them back when he returns."

"Of course. I would never keep them from your precious brother."

This time, Lovino scowled and patrolled ahead of the other two.

Hungary laughed and whispered to Sadik, "I think he will be fine. He seems perfectly normal. He just needs someone he respects and will listen to."

"That someone is not me," Sadik joked. "He doesn't listen to men, especially ones who tried to conquer him when he was young."

"You were all so ruthless. You scared the poor kid," Hungary laughed. "No wonder he is so guarded. He thinks you will kill him at any moment."

"In these times, anyone can be like that, not just nations. We must watch out for anything that moves."

"Yes, I know that, Sadik. We all do."

"Mhm."

"We all know the danger of our own men."