Poland, along with other men, were hustled into a room. They were told to line up for showers and everybody stripped off their clothes. Everybody was worse for wear; some practically tore their ragged clothes off in excitement for showers. Officers yelled for everybody to hurry up and the whole bunch went inside the chamber. The door was shut close and Poland could swear he heard a lock click. It got pitch black and the men yelled out in horror whilst Poland got scared stiff. A vent opened on the roof, someone with a gas mask on poured pellets into the chamber. The vent was shut and everybody panicked. The strongest men banged the door yelling for someone to let them out, the weaker men clawed the walls and knocked Poland down to the floor. It didn't take long for the other men to collapse on the floor, the gas filling the chamber chocked them dead. One by one went down and Poland couldn't breathe or move.
"I don't want to die..." Poland wheezed out with his last breath.
Poland opened his eyes. He looked around whilst breathing heavily and realized he was in the safe and familiar environment of his bedroom at home, clad only in his pink speedo. Poland remembered he and Lithuania were going to shower before swimming but he freaked out and ran away without putting anything back on. The first thing Poland did when he came home was to get in the bed and hide under the blanket to sleep, that's what he did whenever he felt distressed. His dream wasn't just a nightmare, it was a memory!
Yes, Poland was in the chamber getting gassed like all the other men but he didn't die, countries couldn't die like humans. He passed out in the crowd and woke up all alone. Old memories were coming back ever since his encounter with Wojciech.
Someone knocked on the door, Poland yelped and hid himself under the blanket. He learned by that mistake and would never make it again. Poland didn't hide when the soldiers knocked on the door, now he was to make sure no one would ever take him again.
"Poland? Are you in here? The front door was open ajar…"
Lithuania! How ridiculous of Poland to think it was soldiers, to think he let the past get the better of him.
"Yes, I`m here..." Poland said still hiding under the blanket.
Poland heard the door open and gentle footsteps approach him. Though he knew it was Lithuania, he still felt afraid. Poland almost jumped off the bed when he felt a hand touch him.
"What`s going on? Why are you hiding?" Lithuania asked worriedly.
Poland carefully peeked out of the blanket. There was no reason to feel afraid, there was only him and Lithuania. Poland popped his head out and wrapped the blanket around his shoulders.
"I fell asleep and had a bad dream…" Poland said without looking at Lithuania.
"You left your clothes behind but I brought them with me." Lithuania said and pointed at the bag he`d dropped on the floor.
"Thanks…" Poland said timidly without looking towards where Lithuania pointed.
Lithuania sat down on the bed facing Poland and Poland wrapped the blanket tighter around himself.
"I`ve never seen you like this, it`s like you saw something awful happen in the shower" Lithuania said.
"The most awful things did happen..." Poland mumbled.
"Hmmm?" Lithuania looked curiously at Poland.
Poland let out a shaky breath and slowly turned his gaze towards Lithuania.
"Remember the man we met on the way?" Poland asked as he did his best to keep himself together.
Lithuania nodded faintly.
"I knew him when he was young and he hates me for everything that happened!"
Poland grabbed Lithuania`s shoulders. He buried his face in Lithuania`s chest whilst breathing unevenly like he had ran a marathon. The blanked slid off Poland and a baffled Lithuania put his arms around his nearly naked friend. Being held by Lithuania brought relief for Poland, but it didn't make the memories disappear.
"I did everything I could, but it wasn't good enough!"
Lithuania placed a hand on Poland`s head as an attempt to make Poland withdraw his face from his chest.
"I`m know you did, Poland. You are distressed, but please tell me what all this is about" Lithuania pleaded.
Poland`s breathing calmed down.
"You have shown me your scars" Poland said and ran his hands down Lithuania`s back.
Poland looked up and faced Lithuania.
"Now I will show you mine"