50 States: Chapter 12

The nations walked through the seemingly endless library. Every shelf had a section labeled either S, C, or N. Nobody knew what they meant.

What are these books? England wondered as he wandered down an S aisle. None of the books had titles, only numbers. He selected a book labeled 1 and flipped through it. There appeared to be various languages written within the book. England kept turning pages until he found a page written in English.

November 8th, 1864

Something good finally came out of this war. Dad found another baby in his room. We have a new little brother! We named him Frank. Dad says he is part of the West. The Montana Territory to be specific.

I only wish the missing eleven were here to meet him. Ginny would've been so happy. She always loved babies and so did Martha. I hope they're alright. We still never received a letter from either of them, or the others since the start of this terrible war. I pray that it ends soon. If the Confederates win, we might never see them again.

I still can't get that day out of my mind. April 11th of 1861 still haunts me. I can hear Gabe, Elvira, Jeremy, and Hattie crying. Louise being ripped from Tante Marianne's arms, Ginny and Tante Julchen being forced apart, and Alexander screaming 'Mama' as he was taken from Aunt Emily. Then, the war started the very next day.

I have started to lose hope that we will win the war but now, Frank has given us another reason to fight, to unite our family. So that he may grow up with all of his siblings and become a good man who will fight for freedom.

England felt his heart sink. He assumed that America's Southern states had willingly tried to leave but this journal proved the opposite. His children were forcefully taken away from their family which lead to a war the next day. Arthur couldn't imagine what had been going through Alfred's head as his children were taken away, kicking and screaming. And the capitals who seemed to act like motherly figures to the states must have been in hysterics as the children were ripped from their arms.

In another aisle, France selected a book labeled with a number 18 and opened it to the center. He could tell that the writing belonged to a young child.

April 13th, 1861

Ginny says I took a bad hit to the head two days ago and had not awakened since. When we were taken away from Daddy. Tante Marianne said that the Confederates wanted to talk to Daddy and he had to bring the states. The babies are not states yet so Auntie Meg was going to watch them. Tante Marianne wanted to come too and so did Mama, Aunt Lizzie, Tia Isabel, and Tante Julchen.

When we got there, Daddy went inside with the Confederate men and told us to stay outside. I played tag with Ben, Alexander, Violet, and Hattie. Then I played Hide and Seek with James, Abbie, and Claude. I found a flower and I picked it for Tante Marianne. She smiled so prettily and put the flower in her hair.

Martha gave us cookies when we got hungry. She made them last night because she said Daddy's meetings are very long. This one was even longer. Mama and Aunt Lizzie looked worried. So did Del, Penn, and Jersey. So Mama and Tante Marianne started singing to cheer everyone up.

Then Daddy came out. He was crying. I have never seen him cry before. Mama, Penn, and Del asked him about the meeting but then the Confederates walked out. The one in charge announced that whoever's state name he calls will stand in a line next to him. South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. He announced that we were to be taken to our true home in the Confederacy where we belong.

Daddy begged the men not to take us and the capitals started yelling. Mama shouted that they weren't leaving without us. Alexander ran to Mama and we did the same but to anyone we could reach. I instantly ran to Tante Marianne and she picked me up and held me close. I couldn't see what was happening but I heard it. Everyone was crying and screaming. So was I.

I begged Tante Marianne not to let them take me but then a Confederate grabbed me and carried me away while another man grabbed her. Tante Marianne was screaming for me and struggling against the man holding her back. As I was carried away I saw Ginny and Tante Julchen be forced apart from a tight embrace, Alexander was grabbed from Mama, Abbie was pulled away from Aunt Lizzie, Gabe was taken from Tia Isabel, and Gerald was yanked away from Daddy.

When the man dropped me I hit my head on the ground. I became dizzy. I heard Tante Marianne scream loudly and then she was in front of me. She held me tight and said 'Je t'aime, chéri. Je t'aime de tout mon coeur. Ma précieuse fille.'

She then kissed my forehead for a long time, never parting, until she was grabbed again and another man took her away. I could barely see anymore and as I was laying on the ground, I heard Tante Marianne scream my name before I fainted.

France gasped in horror. He knew for a fact that forcibly taking children away from their parents was a revolting thing to do. It was also clear that Paris loved the owner of this diary like her own niece or nephew.

In another aisle, Ukraine selected a book labeled 27.

May 26, 1929

Tetka Anya took me out into town today. We went shopping and I got a dress! It's a beautiful sea green color and Tetka Anya bought a silver headpiece to go with it. Then we went to the park. Tetka Anya started humming and I began dancing the way she taught me. After the song she clapped and cheered 'Brava, Brava! Elvira the magnificent ballerina!' At noon we had lunch at our favorite restaurant and went for ice cream afterwards.

Ukraine wondered what she did to make Kiev not trust her to reveal himself. Was it something she had done? She couldn't think of anything that was so terrible for her capital not to trust her.

China selected a book labeled with a 31. It looked like water drops had dried on the paper

September 14th, 1952
Gūmā Chun Yan still hasn't recovered from her time in Manchuria. She wakes up screaming and crying in the middle of the night. Sometimes she goes into a trance and Dad says it's a bad idea to try to snap her out of it. It makes me want to travel all the way to Japan so I can kill the ones who tortured her. I heard Ciocia Felka suffered a similar fate in Auschwitz. They both suffered brutal torture that I dare not to put on paper. When I read Dad's report, I had to stop reading in the middle of it and run to the bathroom before I vomited on the floor. At the end, I was screaming with rage and punched a wall until my hands bled. I then bawled like a baby. Why? Why did they do it?

China nearly dropped the book but quickly recollected himself before frantically searching the aisles for an Eastern European nation.

"Poland!" He hissed once he caught sight of the Pole looking at the books in one of the C sections. He handed the journal to Poland and told him to read it.

Once Feliks finished reading it, he gasped and horror was plastered on his face. It all made sense now. Warsaw carried the burden of witnessing one of the worst crime's against humanity in history and so did Beijing. Both capitals were more than likely treated worse than animals, being forced into slavery, tortured, and humiliated on a daily basis.

Hungary, having noticed the commotion wandered over. "What is it, Feliks?"

Poland only handed her the journal and Elizaveta gasped in horror after reading the page. As she read, Poland and China shared a look. They were going to confront America about this, knowing it could possibly further damage the already distant relationship between them and their capitals.

xxxxxXXXXXxxxxx

"Vi, do you copy?"

"21 speaking, what's up 6?"

"We're gonna need the dogs for our little 'project'." Sam said, smirking as he pictured what he would do with them in his head. "Think you can sneak 'em in?"

"Do apples grow on trees? 21 out."

Massachusetts snickered as he planned his next step.

xxxxxXXXXXxxxxx

In the library, Japan wandered down one of the C aisles. They were labeled with two letters instead of numbers. He observed them for a while before selecting a random book and opened it.

December 25th, 1777

I never thought I would experience another Christmas that I don't feel like celebrating, not since the Black Death. The men are getting worse. One of the boys I treated only yesterday was carried out this morning. He was only fourteen years of age. We have little food and medicine left and I can't save them, even when I give them most of my food. I feel so helpless. I failed as a nurse and most of all, I've let Alfred down. I pray that I don't see him, Charity, or any of his sons carried in, wounded or sick. I don't know what I would do. I don't even know what I can do. Susanna and Martha are not having much luck either. Twenty patients have died in their tent last night and the number is still increasing. I've also received a letter from Emily this morning. Everyone is alright, thank God. Martha also got a letter from Edith. Little Richard has measles and he's not doing very well. Edith had to move everyone into another room in fear of the sickness spreading while she watched over him. Mary is now in charge of Adam and Gerald while Bridget is taking care of Baby Mabel. However, I have not heard from Gilbert or Julchen yet. I do not know how much longer I can keep this up. Valley Forge has become a cesspool of death, hunger, and pain.

Japan frowned in sympathy for the writer. He had no doubt that the stress and hunger was also affecting her at the time. Kiku was also certain that even some of the medical staff were going hungry in a desperate attempt to save the soldiers. He checked the side of the book and saw an LN. He suddenly had a good guess to who's diary this is.

AN: I think I'll give some of you good reviewers a treat. I'll take requests on what the journal entries will be in the next chapter.

You just need to tell me who's entry you want to see, what the subject should be about, and who should read it. The requests will end on June 1st. Thanks!