Chapter 25
The storm rattled the windows. The three nations sat on the couch and watched the dark clouds outside. The rain did not reach through the barrier, but sound did, and they heard every boom of thunder and saw every lightning streak. Sealand grabbed Denmark's arm. "Uncle, are we safe here?"
"Of course we are, kid," Denmark chuckled, but his laughed was hollow. Another streak of lightning lit up the whole sky, and the three nations shuddered. Norway stood and closed the window curtains.
"We must hope the barrier holds."
The water was lapping against the invisible walls, and the levels were only rising.
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"How much farther do we have to walk before we rest?" Lovino asked. "My damn legs can't hold up any longer!"
"When none of us have the energy to walk or carry each other any farther. We will travel as long as we can all keep moving in some way or another," Finland shouted over the wind. Thunder boomed ahead of them and lightning struck on both sides. Lovino jumped.
"The storm is above us. When it moves, we may experience a decrease in the intensity, and then we may find a place to rest, if everything is not devoured by the storm or the water levels have not increased," Ludwig shouted.
Finland replied, "The water levels could rise at a dangerous pace. We are walking in shallow waters, which means we need to move inland. It could take us longer to get to Norway, but that way we will all make it to Norway alive. And that will mean we have to skip this rest stop."
The other nations groaned but pushed through the storm. Even as they moved inland, the waters kept up with them. Now it sloshed against their ankles. And the rain was not letting up. Finland shouted for them to run, and they tripped over debris rushing inland as the sea chased after them into the eternal night. The clouds ahead were a mix of black, green and murky red, something none of them had seen here on Earth. Lovino cried for Feli, and Ludwig pushed him forward as a waved crashed just behind them.
Belarus risked one look behind her and screamed. The next wave towered in height several meters above their heads, and lightning struck it as it sped through its course towards the nations. Finland ran just ahead of the other three, strongest because of the nation he still lead, and Lovino fell as the wave nearly caught him.
"Help!" He screeched as the wave roared above him. Belarus and Finland ignored the cries and kept running, but Ludwig slowed down. He looked between the two groups and cursed, "Damn," before scooping up Lovino and running after them.
"You are slow for an Italian running away," Ludwig huffed as the wave fell and sent water all around them. Then he slipped and Lovino flew from his grasp and grabbed a log. Water covered their heads as Lovino held on as tightly as he could and Ludwig was swept away.
When the waters receded, Lovino called out, "Ludwig, where are you?"
No response. Only the screaming of the waved and shouting of the thunder.
"Ludwig, can you hear me?"
Another wave crashed over Lovino's head.
"Ludwig!"
He coughed as water swirled around him. Everything was black as night now. Lovino could barely see a few feet in front of him.
"LUDWIG!"
LIghtning struck the water, jerking Lovino back as he gripped the branch tighter. Whiteness filled his sight, and his eyes dried up. Still Ludwig did not call back. One last time, he had to try.
"Germany!"
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They stayed far away from the sealine. Sadik had seen what it did to the land when storms approached, and he knew they would not live through it, so they took an alternate route, travelling farther north than anyone had travelled in the days where the cold pierced a man's skin and his spit would freeze if e were to open his mouth. Hungary looked for Lovino in their travels but she saw no sign of him. Whether or not he was alive, the Southern Italian was in a very different place, she knew.
The storms pushed them forward one day and pulled them back another, but the two kept on going. Each night, they found a cave or abandoned building and spent the night, refilling their energy to walk another day.
The water never reached them.
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He left his cave in search of another living soul. So many had hurt his, and now he needed one to nurture and destroy. Russia trekked due west, straight through the storm and into the waters. Murder raged in his eyes. The water, the lightning, the darkness⦠It all consumed him.
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His makeshift boat had carried him across the water just before the storm arrived. He hid in the mountains as the rains lashed across the lands. He watched for rising waters, but they did not act as if they would consume him this time.
"Bloody hell," he chuckled. "And I thought it would get me all the way up here. Bloody hell!" He fell back laughing. "Such a funny word."
The water never made it to him either.
