50 States: Chapter 15

The library suddenly became very cold and the lights started to dim. They continued flickering for a minute before going out completely. The nations shivered. It felt like it was ten below zero in here.

"Germany, I'm scared!" Italy whined, clinging to his friend.

"It's probably just a power outage." Germany sighed.

"Eduard, why is it so cold in here?" Latvia asked, shaking. Not from fear this time but from the cold.

"I don't know." Estonia said, holding his younger brother close to him. "This is very strange."

"Mon Dieu! What is that smell?!" France gagged, holding his nose. Many nations followed suit. A horrible scent filled their nostrils. It smelled like rot and decomposition.

"E-Eduard, can we get out of here?" Latvia asked, his teeth chattering as the room became colder. Estonia nodded and headed towards the door.

"H-Hold on!" England exclaimed. "We're s-still –c-close to-"

"I d-d-do n-not c-care." Estonia snapped before forcing himself to speak. "Raivis and I have had enough excitement for one d-day so w-we are g-g-going b-back t-to our rooms."

As the Baltics left, the atmosphere became more eerie and everyone was on edge.

"M-maybe we s-should leave." Japan stuttered, the mood he was sensing became very dark and red flags were waving in his head.

Before anyone could respond, voice came from somewhere in the library.

"Help."

The nations jumped and many yelped in fright. The voice sounded static, like a broken record. No one moved a muscle or made a sound, not even Italy. It was England who was the first to muster up the courage to speak.

"H-hello?" He called out. There was dead silence in response. After a long agonizing moment, England opened his mouth to speak again.

"Hello."

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Alma woke with a start, her brown eyes looked frantically around the room as she tried to catch her breath. She could sense something evil in the house. Normally when she had trouble sleeping, Arizona would go sleep in New Mexico or Oklahoma's room but when she was scared, she would go sleep with the one who always made her feel safe. Her father.

Alma threw off her covers and sat up with her legs crossed. She closed her eyes and pictured herself in her father's bedroom, feeling a familiar tingle in her navel. She felt a wave of energy leave her and opened her eyes.

Many would believe America's bedroom to be overly decorated with red, white, and blue but that wasn't it at all. Alfred's bedroom was a sanctuary that would be described as cozy, classical, and timeless. The bed had soft white sheets and the frame was made of light colored wood, along with the other wooden furniture in the room. Including the wardrobe, desk, and bedside drawers.

Alfred was sleeping silently on his king sized bed with a look of peace on his visage only seen in his current state. Alma's father worked tirelessly to work for his country and the world due to being a super power but also manages to make time for his family, even if it occasionally affects his health. He always put others before himself and that was when either the capitals or his eldest children stepped in.

Alma stood up and quietly made her way to the bed. She felt guilty about waking him up but the evil presence in the house was making her afraid to wander through the hallways and didn't want to be alone.

"Daddy?" Alma whispered, gently shaking her father's shoulder. She didn't need to repeat herself for Alfred was a light sleeper and awakened almost instantly.

"Alma," He said, gently, offering a comforting smile. "What's wrong, Sweetheart?"

"There's something in the house." Alma replied. "It's a bad spirit."

Alfred closed his eyes and felt the hairs on his neck stand on end. "Yeah, I feel it too."

He reached over to his bedside drawer and picked up his walkie talkie. "Del, you awake?"

"What's up, Dad?"

"Do you know if anyone is practicing Native summoning rituals?" He asked, hoping the answer was yes. If not, then he would have to double check the spiritual wards and perform a cleansing of the property.

"Affirmative." Delaware confirmed. "I'm doing a ritual with a few others. Don't worry, we'll do a cleansing once we're done. I promise, we got it under control."

"Alright, Del." Alfred said, relieved. "Goodnight."

"Night, Dad."

Alfred put his walkie talkie back on the stand and turned to his 48th child. "Don't worry, Alma.Del's going to make sure the evil spirit goes back to where it came from."

"Okay." Alma still didn't look comfortable at the thought of being alone. Alfred gave her a reassuring smile and lifted the covers.

"Come here, Sweetheart."

Arizona climbed into the bed and curled up next to America. She felt warm and safe in the light and fluffy sheets. Alfred tucked her in and pecked at her forehead.

"Goodnight, Alma." He whispered.

"Goodnight, Daddy."

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The voice made their hearts race but the sound of footsteps walking in their direction made the nations blood run cold. But the footsteps didn't sound like human feet. They sounded like hooves. Two hooves.

Fear coursed through their beings and the nations suddenly wished that they had left the library with Estonia and Latvia. The footsteps suddenly came to a halt.

A tall creature stood ten feet away. It was nothing any of the nations could have ever imagined. It stood over eight feet tall, its skin was a deathly gray color. The creature appeared as a gaunt skeleton recently disinterred from the grave. Its eyes looked as though they were pushed deep into their sockets. It had the head of a decaying stag. Its lips were torn and bloody but revealed sharp teeth. The arms were longer than the creatures body and had long, sharp black claws.

"W-What is that thing?!" China exclaimed, taking out his wok and the other nations pulled out whatever they had for a weapon on themselves. Norway summoned his troll but the larger creature flinched back and whimpered in fear as if sensing something the others couldn't.

The sight of the troll didn't seem to sway the creature. It blinked with one eye and then with the other.

"What is that thing." It parroted in its static voice.

Some of the nations had tears running down their faces. They had all been afraid many times in their lives but the fear they were currently experiencing made their past fears seem like children's nightmares of monsters in the closet.

The creature stared the nations down for a long agonizing moment before walking back in the direction it came from and disappeared behind a bookcase. The nations stood there for what felt like an eternity until Germany broke the silence.

"Let's go." His voice was shaky. "Ve need to get out of here."

The nations hurriedly but silently made their way to the library's entrance. Once the door was in their sights, an earsplitting scream pierced the air and they looked up to see the creature leap across the ceiling and grab onto a balcony. The countries ran out of their as fast as they could and didn't stop until they had locked themselves in their assigned guestrooms. None of them got any sleep that night.

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Once the nations ran out of the library as if the devil was after them, Maine emerged from his hiding spot and quickly pinned a circle of sage above the door. He sighed in relief. Now the spirit couldn't get out of the library. The states could perform a cleansing without chasing it down the hallway. America, the states, capitals, and guest nations had a spiritual artifact pinned above their bedroom doors to prevent negative energies from getting in. They wouldn't be able to hear any spirits either except for tapping or scratching in the hallway. They wouldn't have heard the terrible scream from the creature currently trapped in the library.

"Is it done, Claude?" Pennsylvania asked from behind him. The younger state gave a shaky nod and Delaware walked up the library. She held up the paper she used to summon the creature and William lit a match. He handed it to his eldest sister and she set the paper on fire. The creature let out a pained howl from within the library before silence once again consumed the area.

Charity then took a roll of sage out of her pocket and held it out for William to light it before opening the door to cleanse the library of any negative energy the spirit may have left behind.

Pennsylvania and Maine shared a look. Once Delaware was done, they all swore to never summon a wendigo ever again. No matter the circumstances.

AN: Congratulations to SkiesEagle and Lady Nox the Night Angel! You were correct. The spirit the states summoned was a wendigo.

For those who don't know, Wendigo are Native American spirits associated with cannibalism in Algonquian folklore. They are native to the northern forests of the Atlantic Coast and Great Lakes Region of both the United States and Canada.

I just couldn't scare Latvia. Seriously, I'd say the kid has been through enough. (And he's so adorable!)