Chapter Two: Spiral.
June 1941.
"German troops are attacking the Soviet Union! Hide in your cellars! Fight! We shall not fall!"
Ivan couldn't believe it. He trusted Ludwig. He trusted… And all that trust? Gone. Stepped on. Burnt. Ivan will get his revenge. He swears..
"Hello.. Ivan Braginsky." He looked outside his door and noticed Ludwig, with a grim smile. "Hello, Ludwig." Ludwig loaded his gun. "Any last words?" Ivan laughed. "So long, comrade!"
Ivan grabbed his metal faucet and pinned Ludwig to the ground. "What the-" Ivan grabbed the pipe and began to crush Ludwigs throat. Ludwig squirmed and tried to fight back, and eventually he got to regular ground. Ludwig tried to shoot, but he missed. He tried to fight Ivan with his gun but Ivan was too strong. Ivan grabbed his pipe, and swung it at Ludwig. Ludwig fell off Ivans porch and as Ivan looked, Ludwig was unconscious. Ivan laughed. He grabbed the body, and went back inside. He carried it to his signature "dark room" where he murdered Feliciano many months ago.
He threw the body next to the already bag of Feliciano. He locked the door to the room and left it. Now, he has Ja- What is he thinking?! Randomly murdering others? For Fun?! What the hell happened to the once innocent Ivan?! No.. Italy, Germany and Japan killed others! It's worth it!
This vodka affects me negatively, it seems.
I miss my sisters.
" I can't do this anymore.."
~A
"You're kidding, right? Another one?" Arthur sadly nodded. "So. You.. you came all this way to tell me this?! Germany is gone?!" Alfred could not believe it. "We still have not caught the murderer. Was curious if you wanna help us find them." Alfred's jaw dropped. "What places did you check?"
Arthur paused. "England, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Austria, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Poland, Yugoslavia."
Alfred's shoulders dropped. "Well.. I have no clue where those are but okay! You should search for those two in the commie.. State.." Alfred gagged. "Dangerous. We might get shot down by German soldiers." Alfred rolled his eyes. "Then fight back?" Arthur raised an eyebrow.
"Whatever." Arthur turned on the radio.
"The Germans escaped the Soviet Union! Seems like the commies won.. Again, We are here to report a missing person. Ludwig Beilschmit. . Last seen heading to somewhere on the outskirts of Moscow."
"Damn."
The whole room went silent. Alfred's eyes were wide with terror, and Arthur was shook. Ivan Braginsky was the prime suspect of the disappearance of Ludwig and Feliciano.
The same Ivan who loves sunflowers.
The same Ivan who is polite.
And the same Ivan.. who was one of Alfreds, Arthurs and everyone's friend.
Alfred felt as if someone stabbed him in the chest repeatedly, as if someone ripped out his intestines
His best friend was a killer.
~I
Ivan felt like he was spiraling down an infinite rabbit hole of insanity and regret. What happened to.. Everything? Why is he now killing for.. fun..
Ivan walked into a nice room with a long table and chairs. He noticed some of his comrades and acquaintances on the seats in the room. Alfred FJones, who seemed to be the host, was sitting in the front of the table. "World Meeting!" Alfred called out.
Ivan warmly smiled. Francis interrupted "So- before we begin, where is Ludwig?" Some voices agreed with Francis. "Yeah, where is he?" Ivan patiently sat. "Pasta!" Ivan heard a load of voices.
"Quiet Down!" Alfred called out. "We need to have permissions to speak." Berwarld called out. "Yes!" Matthias loudly said. Alfred starred. "Shut up everyone!" He yelled. The room went silent. "Now. We will start from my left." Alfred pointed at Arthur. "What do you have to say." Arthur chuckled. "Everything.. Is.. okay. We are getting twice the tea imports as usual for some reason. Well; who am I to complain?" Alfred rolled his eyes and pointed next to Arthur. "That was the empty-" Alfred looked mad "Shut up Commie!" Ivan went quiet. "Anyway, next the the empty seat. Austria." Roderich smiled with pride. "Well, nothing crazy much. Been learning new music sheets." Alfred yawned. "Boring. Next!" Elizabeta sat there. "Hungary, what do you have to say?" Elizabeta began to talk. "Well, really not anything new." Feliciano sat with Elizabeta. "Well, for us well we are doing well! Today before I came I was with my brother Romano! We cooked some food together for our friends!" Romano awkwardly nudged Feliciano as if theres some thing private that he cant say out loud. "France!" Alfred yelled. Francis flipped his hair. "Oui oui, nothing new, merci. Mes ami, England suis le attrracti- Nevermind! So, overall nothing. Paris is looking beautiful as always." Alfred starred in concern. "Okay.. next." Next to France was Poland, looking twice as scared as usual. "Well- Doing good! Yes, good!"
Finally, it was Ivans turn. "Well, everything is going alright. Our new leader is.. Great.-" Alfred called out again. "What did YOU do today?" Ivan paused. "I.. I just sort of.. Went to the marketplace fair and got myself vodka and bread.. I also fed a homeless kitty today, cute." Alfred responded with a simple 'aww' and then yelled. "Next!" China sat with Ivan. "Good." Then pointed at Kiku. "Oh, my turn? Well-" Kiku glanced at Feliciano. "I was doing good. Medicated for a bit and.. Was with Italy for a bit. Seriously, his pasta is amazing." Feliciano smiled.
The rest of the meeting was quite boring. Finland was talking about how he was spending the day hanging out with Sweden and Norway, and that was basically all the "interesting" things.
But, why can't things be like that anymore? What happened…
Ivan looked in the mirror and noticed.. Beneath his purple eyes were eyebags. He looked ruined, he looked unstable. His hair was a mess, and his coat was covered in dry blood. His scarf was ragged and he looked crazed. Is this what years of loneliness does to him?
"What the hell."
Ivan went silent.
"I need a break."
Ivan decided to wash his coat and take a shower to remove the evidence.
~A
"Alright, Arthur, Matthew and.. Francis! I brought you here to see what the hell is going on in Russia, so we will go together!" Arthur grunted. "Not with this frog." He looked at Francis, who was looking at himself in his pocket-mirror thing. "Oh shut up..!" Arthur gritted his teeth. "Yeah whatever. Look at yourself in the mirror more, you might find something hot there, probably impossible for you though." Francis raised an eyebrow but said nothing. "Since, I obviously know how to work with plane stuff, we are boarding a plane dudes!" Matthew smiled, Arthur looked unimpressed and Francis.. Well, Francis was busy looking at himself in the mirror to care.
"Lad, you're not scared Ivan will..KILL US?" Alfred shook his head. "No, because I'm the HERO!"
Francis gave Alfred a dirty look, Arthur looked even more disappointed and Matthew looked bored. "You seriously need to stop doing that." Matthew sighed. "Tu est idiot.." He quietly added to himself. Arthur looked even more peeved, but Alfred doesn't see why.
Alfred grabbed his phone and rang his boss' number. "Hello?" he heard his boss say. "Hi, dude, It's me, Alfred. I'll be gone for a bit inspecting the communist state. Think something is crazy there." His boss went silent. "Communist state.. Soviet Union?" Alfred answered. "Yes. I'll be with my plane and my friends." His boss responded with a simple 'ok' and hung up.
"You know what this means! Let's go!"
~ M
As Matthew boarded Alfred's plane, he felt uneasy. He knew something was going on, and he knew Ivan was not that good of a person. But atlas, he has to keep quiet to not irritate the others, since no one really listens to him.. He looked at his 'pet' polar bear and sighed. "What's your name?" The bear said. "Matthew.." Matthew responded.
He sat down in the plane, and Alfred used the speakers. "Alright everyone, sit down. Francis this is why I put you in the back and Arthur in the front, Matthew.. Just.. I don't know." Matthew sat down on the top left seat, while Francis was duct taped to sit in the right back corner. "I don't understand why you put me here in the back!" Arthur laughed. "Cause you deserve it frog." Francis sighed.
The ride to Russia wasn't really that turbulent, and Matthew must admit his brother knows how to drive a plane surprisingly.. "Alright losers, we are here!" Alfred parked not far from Moscow in an empty parking lot for planes and all of that. "Do you know the way to where Ivan resides?" Arthur worriedly asked. "Yes, duh. I visited him before."
"Alright, so this might be.. Like a 10-20 minute walk?" Alfred calculated while standing. Francis laughed. "I'm surprised you're aware what that is-" Francis got interrupted by Alfred kicking him in the leg. "Shut it, French!"
"I'm french too, you know.." Matthew looked at Alfred. Alfred laughed. "You're also english.." Matthew shrugged.
Once they got on Ivans doorstep, Matthew noticed drops of dried blood on the ground. "You guys.. See that?" Francis looked at Matthew. "I don't see 'it'. Are you sure you are good?" Matthew scoffed. "I'm good." Alfred knocked on Ivans door. "Hello? Commie guy? Vanya? Creepy Russian dude?" Ivan answered the door. "What do you need?- OH! Privet Alfred, Matthew, Arthur and.. Francis." Francis frowned. "Now, why do all of you hate me?" Arthur warmly smiled at Francis. "Cause there's reasons for that, frog." Ivan began to speak to Alfred, and Matthew was just standing there, not knowing where to speak or in what conversation he should join.
"... And Matthew can agree, right?!" Matthew looked up. Alfred looked at Matthew and Matthew was confused. "On what?" Ivan sighed. "He says you can agree that I'm a creep or something that slaughtered the unfortunate Feliciano and Ludwig." Matthew didn't know what to say, if he agrees then Ivan will be disappointed, if he disagrees his brother will get mad, why was Matthew in a position like this?!
"I.. I don't really know.. I thought you and Ivan were friends, Alfred." Alfred angrily clenched his fist. "Yeah.. Acquaintances at THIS POINT!" Ivan looked hurt for a moment. Alfred looked at Ivan and his eyes widened in fear. "Hey, hey I didn't mean that dude! I was just joking, you know! Jokes, haha!" Ivan pulled out his metal faucet.
As Matthew inspected the faucet from a distance, he noticed dried blood on it. The shiny metal couldnt get rid of blood.. Because Matthew knew water can cause metal to rust if you wash it.. Not like Matthew is speaking from experience, not at all!...
I think.
Alfred looked at.. Canada in fear. How could his own brother do this to him? "Matthew! Stop this!" The young Matthew starred. He grabbed a shape blade and pointed it at Alfred. "... Re.. Re-think this!" Matthew starred. He began to stab Alfred's stomach and Alfred fell back to the ground. "Don't mess with me."
Matthew sighed and tried to brush away the memory of 1812.
"MATTHEW!"
Matthew looked at Alfred. "Dude, where were you? Mentally in Australia or something? Dude, I was calling you to calm Ivan down before he murders me or something." Ivan looked at Matthew. "Perhaps it's good you didn't interfere, da..?" Matthew felt a cold sweat down his spine. The others were right, Ivan is scary. "Yes, probably for the best. Sorry, Alfred." Alfred looked mad. "Dude, Now I have a bruise on my back. Geez…" Ivan nervously laughed as if it was a joke.
Arthur in the meantime was talking to Francis, and it looked like Francis was intimidating Arthur and Arthur looked like he was madly blushing. "Shut it, Frog!" Francis chuckled. "You're like.. Blood red." Ivan looked at the two bickering men for a moment then looked back at whatever was with Alfred.
Matthew again, didn't know what conversation he joined. He forgot he brought his polar bear with him, and so he spoke to the bear. "Hi." The bear scoffed. "You just noticed me?" Matthew shrugged. "Sorry.." The bear started. "Whatever. Do you have any food?" Matthew realized. He looked at Ivan. "Do you feed bears..?" Ivan looked confused. "There's some bears sometimes in the forest-" He noticed Matthew holding the bear. "Oh, well sure." Ivan opened the door to his house and walked in for a few moments, then he returned and handed Matthew some cod. "Give it to your bear." The bear snatched the cod and gobbled it.
Ivan went back to bickering with Alfred, Francis was now looking at Arthur weirdly. I'm surrounded by idiots. Matthew thought.
~I
Ivan can't believe he's arguing with a person instead of a brick wall. Alfred was so dense, it's insane. "For the last time, I am NOT a crazy-russian-killer who eats 'borscht!' That's food from the Ukr- Not here!" Alfred looked angry then calmed down. "Wanna- you know." Ivan looked at him in shock. "You don't say.."
Alfred laughed nervously. "Well?"
Ivan looked disappointed. "No." Not in front of like.. Everyone.
Ivan looked at Matthew and noticed the guy was with his bear looking nervous as always.
It seemed as though the only thing Matthew could do or say is just stand there, quietly before someone would say something to him.
Of course, Ivan didn't mind that, he actually DID agree with Matthew. Silence is good.
"Well, I suppose this has been resolved." Alfred nodded.
In the distance, Ivan noticed a person randomly running to where Ivan was. It was Alexi Minutka. One of his soldiers. "Hope I'm not interrupting anything." Ivan starred. "Not at all." He said calmly. "There's an American plane in an empty parking lot. It's empty but I thought I'd let you know there's a chance of American spies invading our territory." Ivan looked at Alfred.
"Dude- That's my plane." Alexi sighed in relief. "Then what are you doing here?" Alexi was shivering as he was talking to the nations. "Nation business. Leave." Alfred responded. Alexi, as soon as he heard this, ran away. "Dude, why are your soldiers such.. Cowards." Ivan frowned. "They aren't usually this cowardly, maybe they just never seen a 600 kg person before." Alfred looked angry. "What the hell is a 'kilogram' and if this is another 'You're obese' insult I WILL find the bodies."
"That's 1322 pounds." Matthew looked at Alfred. Alfred stomped his foot. "For the last time, IVAN BRAGINSKY I'm not FAT I'm BIG BONED and for your information I'm like 140 pounds" Matthew looked at Ivan. "That's 63 kilos." Ivan sighed. "No need for that, Matthew. I understand well.
Matthew silently nodded.
"Soo, did you drink all the vodka yet?"
Ivan was with Alfred, Matthew, Francis and Arthur in a lonely run-in abandoned coffee shop. Ivan laughed. "Not yet.. You should probably send me more or something, the lack of vodka here is insane." Alfred looked surprised. "HOW?!" Ivan shook his head. "No clue." Arthur was in the kitchen of the place, making tea for himself while Francis swore he didn't want "rotten tea." Matthew said he prefers coffee, Alfred said he hates brits and Ivan kindly asked for any flavour of tea, as long as it was not poison..
Poison..
Ivan remembered how he killed Feliciano. He remembers everything. He did it. He killed his friend.
"Alfred. Can we speak in private?" Alfred looked confused at the Russian. "Alright." The Russian leg was on the way to the back corner. "Did you put any additives in the vodka?" Alfred looked shook. "Well.. Maybe a few but it's fine! Right?" Ivan didn't laugh. The Russian kept his cold expression. "Right?.." Alfred was starting to look concerned. Alfred sighed. "I'm sorry then. I'm sorry for everything then. Did it negatively affect you?" Ivan starred.
"Yes."
"Oh.. But does it feel nice?" Alfred tried to laugh. "Do you want to kill me?" Alfred looked hurt. "No-No! Everyone needs well.. Drugs every now and then. I thought you needed some anyway!" Ivan began to have enough. "I didn't though. Do you think it's funny how.. How.." He doesn't know what to do, does he confess? "Do you think it's funny how I brutally killed Ludwig?" Alfred looked shook. "The vodka caused you to kill him?" Ivan nodded in shame. "Well.. Don't worry, I won't tell a soul. We still have Guilbert to be the new german guy.." Ivan was near tears. "Hey hey! Don't cry! It's alright.." Alfred hugged Ivan. "It's.. alright."
It was weird. Ivan had never been hugged before in the last.. few years.. "Ivan! Your tea is ready..!"
Alfred laughed. "We better get back to the others." Ivan nodded and Alfred let go. The two men walked back to the front of the shop, taking a seat where they once were. Francis, sitting with Matthew, Alfred, sitting with Ivan, and Arthur was supposed to be with Francis and Matthew. Arthur came to Ivan's table and handed him the tea. "Some weird flavour with a white flower yellow circle in the middle of the box." Ivan smiled. "Thank you, also that's daisy." Arthur looked embarrassed "Yeah.. It was just in russian- I would know that if it was in english!" Arthur walked away to sit with Francis and Matthew.
"Alright, as long as I DON'T tell anyone including my boss we're good and you PROMISE not to hurt me anymore, right?" Ivan nodded. "Even with your metal faucet." Ivan frowned for a moment "Why.. it's fun!" Ivan whined in a satirical way. Alfred blankly looked. "Fine." Alfred began to grin again. "Andddd I can call you bro!" Ivan chuckled. "That's too far now!" Ivan joked. "Yeah! Too far" Alfred laughed.
Alfred looked serious for a moment. "Can you do me a favour?" Ivan took a sip of his tea. "What?" Alfred looked around for a moment. "Can you help me if Germany- or whatever attacks me? I'm quite worried." Ivan flinched. "Ludwig died, remember." Ivan stirred his tea a little bit. He found an old sugar packet and ripped it open. He mixed the sugar with the tea to make it better. "I know. But his army doesn't die now does it?" Alfred pointed out. Alfred looked behind him to catch Francis taking a glance at the two in suspicion. "Well, can you care to explain your 'plans' Alfred? Il est évident que vous vous cachez plus que vous ne le dites." Alfred looked nervous at the French. Ivan knew what he needed to do. "We are going to go find Ludwig's tomb in honor of his death. Sure, he was not a good person but he was our friend. We deeply care about him, as he was not just my comrade, but he was many others." Francis looked taken aback. "Fair enough." Francis turned his head back to his friends. "Dude! How did you do that!" Alfred whisper-shouted.
Ivan looked proud.
"I know lots of things.. Lots of things."
~M
Matthew overheard what Alfred and Ivan were talking about in private. He heard what Ivan did.. Because Matthew was spying through the hallway. Does he break Alfred's trust and tell everyone? Not sure.
Because Matthew knew damn well, He might die. Ivan might find out that Matthew knows what he did, and then.. Kill him. Matthew's worst nightmare was death. Being stuck in an endless void of nothingness as your body decays and gets eaten by maggots does not sound pretty. Not at all.
Unless.. He kills Ivan
NO! I don't want to kill! I don't wanna fucking MURDER!
It will be fun.
STOP IT!
Matthew couldn't believe himself, why was he thinking of murdering a friend, a nation and an overall important figure. Besides, Ivan could crush him if he feels like it.
Matthew yawned and he felt like dozing off, for some reason, the coffee he took couldn't really do anything.
And so, he fell asleep.
~ F
"Matthew! Are you listening or not?" Arthur yelled, in a rude tone. Francis laughed, "He's sleeping now.."
~M
Ivan looked crazed. He was covered in blood, old and new. And so, now he stood in front of Matthew. Ivan grabbed his red faucet and began to talk. "It's sharpened. Just for you." Matthew took a step back. "Leave me alone you monster!" Ivan laughed. "Awe.. Why? I thought we were friends! Right..?" Matthew screamed. "Quit it Ivan! Quit IT!"
"I wont stop ." Ivan began to laugh like a maniac.
Ivan stabbed Matthew in the chest before Matthew could escape, Matthew was pinned down to the wall like a poster. Ivan began to slice open Matthew's stomach and Matthew's organs began to fall. Matthew was in so much agony words cant fathom it. He tried to recollect what was left of him but it just didn't work, as if the organs disappeared through the floorboards.
" You enjoy this, da ? "
Matthew tried to scream, but it felt as though he had no mouth and he must scream.
"Your vocal cords are gone, you cant speak, HAHA"
And then, Matthew woke up surrounded by everyone, including Ivan. "What happened! You were screaming the whole time! You were screaming about your organs getting ripped out or whatever, creeped all of us out!" Alfred looked scared. "You're as pale as a ghost." Arthur remarked. Francis looked concerned. "Perhaps it's our time to get away from here.."
Ivan nodded. "Seems like Russia isn't doing him any good." Everyone agreed.
"Alfred.. We need to talk…" Matthew managed to say before passing out yet again.
And so, the same dream happened again. And again, and again. It was an endless loop of nightmares.. He hates it. He hates this dream. He wishes he had the power to trust Ivan but after learning he probably murdered Feliciano and 100% murdered Ludwig. This paranoia of the Russian is driving him insane. He can't grasp it. He needs to tell.. Someone…
'
SOMEONE FUCKING SAVE ME!
"Dude. are you good?" Alfred looked at Matthew with concern. "I'm.. not sure anymore. But we need.. To get away from HIM" Matthew pointed at Ivan
Ivan looked at Matthew in hurt. "What the fuck is wrong with me?" Ivan asked, beginning to sound intimidating. "I-I don't know! Please don't kill me-" Arthur looked mad. "It's already been confirmed Ivan doesn't know where Feliciano and Ludwig went." THAT ISN'T FUCKING TRUE! IVAN IS A LIAR! Alfred looked at Ivan and smirked. "Quit making a big deal, lad. You're acting like the lobotomy patients back in England."
Matthew gritted his teeth. Why did Francis and Arthur believe.. This man.. And why did Alfred help Ivan? Matthew can't be sure. "Can't you see? Ivan is EVIL! Evil! Please- Believe me! Please.. Father." Canada looked desperately at Francis and Arthur.
"You know what? I'll just speak to him alone…" Alfred grabbed Matthew by his arm and dragged him into the corner of the shop. He looked at Matthew in disappointment. "Why are you scared of Ivan?"
Matthew sighed. He didn't know where to start.
"Well. for starters, I overheard your sorry ass talking to Ivan about how he murdered Ludwig for uh… fun?" Alfred frowned. "That wasn't what he said." Matthew began to fidget in his pockets nervously. Alfred took a step forward and took a look at the canadian. "You know, I know I promised Ivan I wouldn't tell a soul about the truth of Ludwig, but THIS TIME I might." Alfred paused and then continued. "The vodka I sent to Ivan contains addictive drugs I added just because I believed Ivan needed some fun in his depressing cold life. Obviously, I sent him more after a few months and all of that, but as it turns out the additives that I add cause Ivan to go.. A bit crazy. He begins to see things weirdly, as if he's in some alternate reality. Then, when the Germans attacked Russia, Ivan was drinking that time. He found out about what Ludwig did and got angry. He killed Ludwig out of anger.." Alfred's tone darkened. "Like you tried to kill me in 1812." Matthew felt a cold sweat. "So fucking quit being a hypocrite, you insane lunatic." Matthew looked scared at Alfred. He never saw Alfred like this..
Matthew clenched his fist in anger. "I am not an insane lunatic. And you know.. I can tell the world about Ivan and your secrets! I absolutely fucking can!" Matthew charged at Alfred and punched Alfred in the face, nearly shattering Alfred's glasses. Alfred stumbled back and took a deep breath. Alfred kicked Matthew and Matthew flinched in pain. Matthew gasped and realized what he was doing. He looked at his brother in hurt. "Don't try the guilt trip now, Canada."
"Do..Don't fuck with me then, America!"
Alfred laughed. "Either we get back there.. Or I'll kill you." Matthew started breathing rapidly. He doesn't even process what the FUCK just happened. Matthew tried to regain balance and quietly walked back to the main room of the coffee shop. Francis stood up and noticed Matthew. "Matthew! Your face!" Matthew was confused. "You have a ugly ass scar below your left eye." Matthew looked embarrassed
"M-my bad?"
It was obvious to everyone else Matthew and Alfred got in a fight, however no one said anything and Alfred was standing with Ivan. "Alright. So, I think we've dealt with things and cleared one thing, Ivan is not the murderer. Our next stop is Ukraine." Ivan looked worriedly at everyone.
Did he kill his OWN SISTER? "Ivan, why do you look so sad? Did you kill your sister?" Matthew smirked. Maybe this is the chance where he proves Alfred and Ivan wrong. "Seriously? All these fucking murder accusations. Maybe remember world war one and what you did to Alfred in 1812." Matthew gasped. "But what about Ukraine?" Ivan looked disappointed. "After the unification of the Soviet Socialist Republics, she disappeared. Everyone did. But me. EVERYONE BUT ME! I HAVE BEEN ALONE FOR THE LAST SEVENTEEN YEARS. SEVENT-" Alfred cut Ivan off. "It's alright, Ivan."
" I hate both of you. " Matthew quietly whispered.