America's POV:

My arms throbbed as I carried D.C. up to his bedroom, Allen and Nick trailing behind me with solemn faces. After settling D.C.'s charred form on the bed and kissing his forehead, I left the room and turned to the two men looking at me expectantly. They wanted an explanation, and I had to give it to them. Allen probably knew already, but Nick... Nick didn't know, and he deserved to know. And I had lied saying it was a long story, it would take me like, ten seconds to explain, but I was stalling. I know, world's worst big brother right here.

"The states are staying with England. Well, what's left of them." I chuckled humorlessly. "Canada kidnapped the rest of the thirteen colonies. He's keeping them all hostage and torturing them. He's sending me pictures of them on my phone... He wants something from me, but he's refusing to tell me what it is until he has a turn with each of them." I swallowed hard and bowed my head. "Including you, Maryland. He wants all thirteen of you, b-but I... I can't just..." My voice broke and I pinched the bridge of my nose, sighing shakily and blinking back tears. Nick looked at me with wide eyes, tearing up behind his glasses before his face twisted with pure rage.

"Give me your phone," Nick hissed, grabbing me by the front of my bomber jacket and yanking me forward, searching desperately through my pockets. "Whoa, Nick, stop it! Why?!" I said, pushing him away with a terrified expression and quickly pulling up my sleeves over my arms. 

"I can trace the signal coming from Matthew's phone. Then we can find him, rescue the others, and beat his-" I cut him off with a glare and his hands balled into fists, his expression frustated once again. He held out a hand, waiting for me to give him my phone so he could hack it. No way was I letting that happen. I folded my arms across my chest and shook my head.

"Look, I know this is scary, and I know you want to help, but you aren't even half as smart as me. Heck, most of your population is made up of crab farmers or whatever. We can't take unnecessary steps and risk our siblings getting hurt any worse than they already are," I said firmly. Both Nick and Allen glared at me with disapproval and I shrank back.

"Give him the phone, Alfred. I didn't give my Maryland the phone and now most of the states are dead," Allen hissed, emphasizing nearly every syllable. My face paled and I nodded quickly, handing Nick my phone and watching as his shoulders slumped in relief. Oh boy, this wasn't going to end well.