Chapter 13

Sadik knew his country would not last. Even before he entered the war, he knew he wouldn't make it through. He watched as bombs whizzed past and sent debris flying as they made impact with their targets. Choosing to side with Russia may have been a good thing, but he knew that it would cost him. Many nations still did not know his side in the war, and he wanted to keep it that way. If he lost this war, he would be killed. There would be no more mercy for his nation. But if he won, then he would be able to expand his lands and live a prosperous life not watched like a dog by the other nations of the EU that did not trust him. They would never trust him, and they had good reason.

Two of his men ran toward him, shouting.

"What is it?" Turkey shouted back, but they did not seem to hear him. They kept flailing their arms and running. TUrkey stared at them until he saw behind them a bomb flying out of the sky.

This was it.

This was the end of his life.

Thanks, America. You really trusted me and helped, didn't you? Turkey thought. The charismatic nation that had always believed Turkey as good going into the war would be the end of him now. Turkey stood his ground as he watched the bomb approach him. Slowly, then more quickly, until-

Hungary shook Sadik out of his thoughts. The trio had taken a break and were sitting on a rock in the shade of the few dead trees that hadn't fallen or crumbled to ash and small bits of debris.

"What?" Sadik sat upright and looked around. When he saw Hungary, he relaxed. "Sorry, I was thinking."

"I could tell. Now get up. We shouldn't stay here any longer. If we want to get to the Northlands by the end of the week, we need to get going."

"Oh, right. Yes."

Lovino scowled at Sadik. "Idiota."

"Watch your language, Lovino. I can still hit you if you continue to undermine everyone here. We are all you have right now," Hungary snapped at the Italian.

"Come si può fare nulla," Lovino mumbled.

"Io so quello che hai detto," Hungary replied. "Idióta."

After that, the three travelled in silence. Sadik watched every day as Lovino slowly separated himself from the group and refused to talk to them. When the southern Italian had fallen asleep one night, Sadik asked about it, but Hungary just shook her head and said, "That's the way he is. Let him brood. He'll perk up eventually, and if not, he will at least stay with us until he finds his brother."

"His brother is dead," Sadik whispered.

"I didn't say he had to be alive for Lovino to leave us."

"I can hear you. Fratello is alive. Don't say he isn't," Lovino shouted from where he was lying down.

Hungary's eyes widened, and she whispered, "Shit."

"It doesn't matter if you can hear us, çocuk. I'm speaking the truth. Your brother ran off, and if he hasn't returned, then he is dead," Sadik explained.

Lovino sat up. "He could have found that potato bastard. He would never leave Germany, even for his own fratello. He is alive. I know better than you." Tears filled his eyes.

"He does know better than we do," Hungary told Sadik. "They are brothers. They have the connection."

"But they are only humans, no longer nations. They lost that connection. Lovino cannot tell how his brother is doing or where he is," Sadik countered. "A fallen nation has no magic."

"That's not true!" Lovino countered. "I can still feel Feliciano! I can feel Italy!"

"Lovino, Feliciano has not been Italy for a while, just like you haven't been Romano."

"But we are still fratelli!" Lovino shouted.

Sadik clamped a hand over his mouth. "Shut up! You'll attract animals."

"So what?" Lovino pouted.

"We'll be killed! Hungary here still has people! We need to make it to the North."

"Like the Northlands will be any better," Lovino rolled his eyes.

"We can go outside there," Sadik hissed.

"And die from radioactive poisoning. Either way, we die," Lovino snapped. "Might as well do it now."

"Why you-"

Hungary cut in with two, quick slaps. "Shut up, both of you! This is not the time to talk about this! Go to sleep or I'm throwing you both out to the animals. Then you'll see which way you'd rather die!"

Before either man could say anything else, she stalked over to the other side of the tent and sat down, facing away from them. She let her hair out of its bun and lied down. Her hair was knotted and curly, nothing like it used to be when nations thrived and she lived with Austria.

Sadik eventually pulled his eyes away and sat down. His great hands rubbed his face and neck. He could only handle this so long. He missed the days of lounging around and taking care of his nation. He missed fighting with Greece, the only nation that could fight like Sadik could. Greece would never lose to Turkey, but he also never won. It was not like that with these people. Their petty bickering drove him to insanity. He was beginning to act like them as well. If Greece were here, Turkey would not be a match for him.

Dammit, Sadik. Don't think about those things. You'll only hurt yourself. Think about now. Think about going North, where they skies are dark and cool.

Sadik shook his head and lied down in the corner opposite Hungary. Lovino was in the third corner, leaving the fourth empty. With half shut eyes, Sadik watched as Lovino stared at the empty corner. He knew exactly what the Italian was thinking about: how Feliciano should be there sleeping in that corner and crying out in his sleep like he always did before he disappeared. The Turk fell asleep to those thoughts, a frown plastered to his face.