---Chapter XVI: Darkness (Part 5)---


///Third Person PoV///


Gone.


In a flash, she was gone.


Just like how they've wanted, right?



As soon as the girl was sent back to her world using what little magic they had left, the two Englands fell to their knees. This alerted their comrades to assist them.

"England...hang on, I'll carry you." America offered. The American squinted a bit, adjusting his eyes to help his British friend who looked obviously weakened. Given England's nature, he would usually decline; but now that he didn't have any energy left to even reply, he simply accepted the help.

Japan walked to their side and took the laptop from the two Brits' hands, so that they could be carried respectively. "I'll hold on to this first." he said, giving a concerned look not only to England, but to his friend's counterpart, as well.


Allen also took action and lifted Oliver up, carrying him behind his back. "...You're gonna need a lot of rest, old man." he murmured to the strawberry blond Brit. Oliver responded with a muffled sob, and the redheaded American knew why.


"She's...gone, Allen." Oliver managed to choke out.

Shaking his head, Allen replied, "She's not gone. She's somewhere, safely back in her world."

Oliver gave a shaky sigh and decided to rest as he was being carried behind Allen's back. He needed to breathe. He needed to get himself together. The least he can do for (Name) was to take care of himself for her sake.
He should stay well, just how the poppet wanted him to be. Even just by that.




Too bad he can't.



Because the next thing that happened, was far from it.



Madness.



The two groups looked at each other. There was something strange. There was something that they all sensed that was off. If it was like the times before, they'd suspect each other for sure. Regardless of whether or not they sensed something suspicious of their counterparts. But now, they've managed to notice something other than themselves.


"Did...you guys hear that...?" Prussia asked nervously, clutching his chest.


Lutz shook his head. "Nein...but...we sense something."


"That's right...there is something odd here..." Japan said, feeling like he should unsheathe his sword.



"Run. Run away." a voice echoed in Prussia's head, making it throb painfully at the same time. "With what you have all done, surely that person will--"


"Will what??!!" the albino exclaimed angrily, alarming the others.


France placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "P-Prussia! What's happening to you?"


Before the Prussian could even open his mouth to speak, a loud voice thundered in theroom .



"WhAt....HAvE......yOu....aLL....DONE???!!!!"



The ground shook, making the others stagger. Italy managed to keep his balance by gripping on the bar of the cell beside him. "Wh-What was that?! Who spoke just now??" Italy asked aloud, looking at his friends.


"That's not really important at the moment." Luciano told him in a low voice, swinging his knife by his side.


Germany raised an eyebrow. "Why not? I know that we resolved not to fight at the moment, but I can't help doubt."


"Because there's a more pressing matter we should be concerned about." Kuro said, pulling his katana from its sheathe. "If you haven't noticed....all of those alien-like monsters kept in the cell, have disappeared."


Russia widened his eyes. "You..don't mean..." he trailed off. He gave a look of horror at the now-empty cell, as did everyone else.


"W-We need to get away from this place, aru!" China urged, dashing for the door.



As they headed for the exit, the door burst open, revealing the large, oddly shaped alien monsters. "Aiyah!!" China shouted in surprise and fear.


"China!" Russia exclaimed, seeing that the Chinese man was merely inches from the creature. The tall Russian quickly pulled China's arm to get him away from the monsters. "Ah...Xie Xie. Thank you..." China told him in between trying to gulp some air.


"It's alright. I mean, what are fr...." Russia looked away, suddenly feeling uncertain about what he was supposed to say.


China rolled his eyes. "You can say it, you know. I already told you we are."


"....What are...friends for, right?" Russia said softly, in somehow shy manner. They've talked about it earlier, but of course, he was still a bit scared of rejection.


But all that fear of rejection faded away. "That's right, Russia. We're friends." China grinned.


They would continue the conversation, but the matter at hand was preventing them to do so. With the exit blocked by the monsters, they were to look for another way out.


"Shit. Where else can we go??" Romano asked them.


Almost at the exact same time, the Second Players looked up. The passage to their base could be the only solution. "If we're lucky, then those Things weren't able to reach our base yet..." Kuro told them.


Flavio shook his head (fabulously, though that's a given). "Pfft. Those horrid creatures can't possibly--"


Thud.


Thud.


Thud.


Their hearts pounded as loud as the ceiling did. They gathered closer together, standing back to back, to have a better sense of security. The monsters were already up in the 2Ps base? That was the only option that they had left! It can't be true.



Oh, but it can.


The loud, breaking sound of the wooden ceiling ripped through the room ; the horrible noise of all of the monsters' murmurs began ringing in their ears.



They were surrounded.



They were trapped.


And they all just looked at each other. It didn't matter, First Player or Second Player. They were just there, looking at each other with wide eyes and a look of pure fear, shock, horror, and doom.


They are different. Oh, so different. But right now, they had the same thing running in their minds:


"Is this their 'Game Over'?"



=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=


///Reader's PoV///



"(Name)?"


"(Name), dear, wake up."


Wake...up...? That voice...? It's....


Slowly, I fluttered my eyes open. Once I did, my eyes opened wider than they expected.


"MOM! DAD!" I practically yelled scrambled out of the car and pounced on my parents.


They looked at me quizically. "Whoa, what happened to you? Did you have some sort bad dream or something..?" my mother asked me, looking concerned.


"I--well, I...it wasn't that bad, but...just let me hug you two." I responded frantically, hugging them like my life depended on it, before I let them go to allow them to breathe. I was able to breathe, too, but it was a shaky one.


Stepping back, I looked at my parents. They didn't react the way I thought they would. More likely, they...don't remember the things that happened the way I did. They had no recollection of the mansion whatsoever.


The mansion...


I sharply turned around to look at my surroundings.


No mansion.


Our car was parked at a gas station, beside a convenience store. Hold on, that means... that means we haven't arrived there yet?


What is this? Where did they send me?


"(Name)? You're spacing out. Is it still because of your dream?" my father asked me, placing a hand on my shoulder. Shaking my head, I replied, "N-No...I'm fine..."


Dream?


Were all those things that I've been through just a dream?


I mean, my imagination can get pretty crazy at times, but....all that just felt too real to be a dream.


Or was it?


Then, I remembered something important. "My...my bag?" I asked my parents.


"Here." my mom handed me my bag. I took it and quickly zipped it open, giving a soft "Thanks" before stepping a way a bit to check.


I rummaged through my bag to find the thing behind this sentence back to a world where my HetaOni experience never happened. My laptop. Confirming my suspicions, I zipped my bag back again. No laptop to be found.


Tugging my father's sleeve, I spoke, "D-Dad, where's my laptop?"

"Huh? If you don't have it with you, you probably left it at home." he told me. He was quite busy checking if all the car doors were locked. My mom, on the other hand, was distracted by playing Candy Crush on her phone. It seems this place was a stop-over for us.


Frowning, I looked at them, "Can...can we go back to get it?"


"Sorry, dear. We're too far away to get that back, besides, you need to take a break from it every now and then." my Dad told me.


Sighing, I placed my bag straps over my shoulders. "Now, of all times, is not the time to take a break from that blasted laptop." I thought to myself.


"Well now, let's go get something to eat over at the convenience store." my mother said as she placed back her phone in her purse. "O-Okay..." I replied, following after them.


As I walked towards the entrance of the store, I began to think deeply. How on earth am I going to go back? Is it even possible to do it? If it was my laptop that brought me back here, will it also get me back there? But if it was left in that dimension, how will I do it? Will any laptop do? Argh! So many questions!


I pushed open the door and was greeted by the cold air from the convenience store. Aside from the cashier, and my parents who were deciding what to buy, the place was practically empty.


"Oh, (Name). The tables are upstairs, so just wait for us there. Is there anything in particular you'd want to eat?" my father asked me.

Shaking my head, I gave a small smile. "Nah, anything's fine. I still have a ton of snacks in my bag, to be honest."


"Alright, then." he responded, turning back to the selection of light snacks. I took that as my cue to climb up the stairs to find ourselves a table. Not like anyone else was here.


But as I reached the second floor, I realised that there was someone else there, after all.



=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=


///???'s PoV///


I heard footsteps, signalling that someone was starting to walk up the steps. Smiling to myself, I spoke, "Heh. She's finally here."


Putting on my yellow earphones, I looked back to my laptop screen. Pressing play on the media player, I continued listening to a song that's stuck to my head these past few weeks. iNSaNiTY


Opening Notepad, I began to type. "I'll be dealing with her later. For now...let's get back to the iNSaNiTY of that place, shall we?~"



=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=


///Third Person PoV///

===

"Is this their 'Game Over'?"

===



"Who the fuck would think I'll allow that to happen?!" Luciano grumbled as he drew his switchblades and threw them at the monsters, causing the said creatures to hiss and step back a little.


Turning around to face the First Players and Second Players, he raised an eyebrow. "Are you guys just gonna stand there?! If we can't escape these fucking creatures, then we'll just have to kill all of them to make a way!"


"B-But! There's--there's too many of them!" Italy cried out.


Luciano squinted at his counterpart, "And there's more than enough of us!"


The rest looked quite uncertain. "Tch. Don't forget, we're..." he gestured at his Second Player comrades. "...we're a creation of bloodlust, terror, ruthlessness, anger...you name it. Everything that basically embodies insanity."


"And you guys..." Luciano faced the First Players and pointed at them. "You guys were the bastardi who created us."


The truth being slapped to their faces caused them wake up. Luciano was right, what were they afraid of? There's 24 of them, and about more or less 20 of those creatures. That number is nothing compared to all those people they've battled through the years.


Though it's something they would all deny of themselves, their hands were not clean. They weren't as innocent as they believed themselves to be. It was at times like those they realise, they're no different from the monsters they thought the Second Players to be. No.


They were the ones who created them. It was them. That's why...it doesn't matter anymore, First Player or Second Player. Because at that time, at that moment, they were the same.


They may be yin and yang, but in the long run, they're one.


That's why...


"We can do this." Italy stated loud and clear.


With determined looks on their faces, everyone nodded.


America faced Allen and asked, "So, what are we going to do about these two?"


"As much as I'd want to battle it out, we can't leave them at their vulnerable state." Allen replied. "The best we can do right now, is just stay in the middle, where we can be covered by our comrades. It's not like you can fight, either. You don't have your glasses. I can't put this cupcake idiot down either. If somehow he wakes up, he'll try helping, too, even if he doesn't have enough strength to."


"England will probably do that, too. Fine." America sighed.

==

The First and Second Players began fighting against the alien like monsters. Swords, guns, and other weapons and strange skills. They used them all to fend off those creatures.


Japan managed to dodge one of the Thing's attacks. Kuro actually helped him by driving his katana through the grey monster's stomach, making it disappear once defeated. "...A..Arigato." Japan thanked him awkwardly.



"It's nothing.
You were at a disadvantage, anyway. Give that thing to either of the Americans, that way you'll be able to fight with full force." Kuro told him, pointing at America and Allen, who were watching over England and Oliver in the centre of the hall. "Right..." Japan said, as he walked over to the four.

==

"Ano...America, please hold this for me for the moment." Japan said to the blond American. Smiling slightly, America nodded. "Will do, Kiku."

"Arigato, Arth--" the Japanese man paused, remembering his previous error. "Alfred."

America grinned, placing the laptop beside him and England. They may seem a bit calm in the centre, but around the hall, it was a very different story.

==

Spain swung his double-sided axe at the creature, cutting its arm. "Haa...that was close. Romano, how are you doing?" he asked, checking on the Southern Italian.


"Fine, I still have some bullets to spare." Romano replied. "But that guy..." he trailed off, watching his Second Player counterpart lash out quite strangely on the creatures.


With a sword he borrowed from Andres, Flavio cheerfully sliced through the alien like creature in front of him. "Hahaha!~ Take this, you bastardo~"


"Huh? What are you looking at, hon? I'll share you my fashion secrets later, for now, help me chop these ugly monsters down!~" Flavio said, adrenaline coursing through him as he managed to stab the creature's eye.


"What?! I wasn't looki--..whatever. Whatever. I'll just shoot at that monster you're dealing with." Romano grumbled, but agreeing to work with his 2P.


Andres handed Romano some extra ammunition. "Here, reload your gun with this. The bullets are more powerful."


"G-Grazie..." Romano said, accepting the cartridge. After he did so, the four of them battled against another creature.

==

Meanwhile, Germany and his 2P counterpart dealt with a monster, as well. "Calculating its movements, it's best to attack it from this side." Germany said.

"Mhm." Lutz nodded, using his brute strength to kick the creature's side. It was one of the slow creatures, so it wasn't much of a problem, but its endurance was strong.


Using his skill, Torture, Germany attacked the monster, causing it to weaken. "Good work." Lutz complimented with a stoic face. Germany wasn't used to it, but nodded. "Danke."

==

"Ugh..I don't think anything will happen if I hit it.." Gilen stated, frowning.


Prussia raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by that?! Of course, something will happen. You'll damage it, obviously. Have more confidence in your skills. You can do it."


"I...I'll try..." Gilen said, piercing his sword through the monster, causing it to hiss and attack back. "Argh.." he groaned, then realised that his 1P was in front of him, fending off the monster from attacking him any further.


"You okay?" Prussia asked as he used the poster sword he borrowed from Japan to defend them both.


Gilen nodded. "Yeah, thanks. I will...help you now." he said, a dark aura forming around him.


In a split second, Gilen used his sword and viciously stabbed the creature incessantly. The monster was attacking him, and it did hit him sometimes, but it was nothing. It was nothing compared to the ecstasy the violence was providing the Second Player.


As the two of them worked together to kill the monster, Gilen gave one final slice through the Thing's throat, making it disappear.


When it did, Prussia couldn't help but be relieved, while Gilen couldn't help but feel proud. Facing his counterpart, Gilen gave a rare...yet insane smile of content. "You were right, Ican do it."

==

Using all his knowledge and skill on martial arts, China attacked the grey monster. "Haa...its skin is quite thick, aru."


"You say 'aru' too much." Zao pointed out, hitting the same creature. When it recoiled momentarily, the Chinese 2P huffed in some opium.


Seeing this, China frowned and retaliated. "And you smoke opium, too much, aru."


"Hmph!" they frowned at each other. While distracted with their shallow quarrel, the creature suddenly threw an attack at their direction.


Both of them noticed it in the nick of time and shouted, "AIYAH!" as they dodged the attack. Due to the shock, they both slammed their fists and kicked the creature with their might, causing it to disappear upon defeat.


"Aiyah..." they both said at the same time again. Noticing it, they looked at each other with a blank look on their face...but failed at it and instead chuckled.

"But I must admit, we both say that a lot." Zao said, his lips curling slightly upward. China nodded. "I agree."


==


"So, how are you and your 'friends'?" Nikolai inquired as he used his steel pipe to damage the monster before them.

Russia, who was using his sword pipe to cut through the same monster's back, frowned. "Are you asking that to mock me or something?"


"No, I'm not." Nikolai replied. "Even I have learnt a few things about this 'friendship' thing. It's not practical, in my opinion, but I think we both agree that it's something that we both can't go on without."

"It is... They all consider me as their friend just as I consider them as mine." Russia told him.

Nikolai nodded. "That's good, I guess. You're not the lonely wimp anymore."


"What?" Russia gave him an irritated look.


The crimson-eyed Russian sighed. "You can't deny that you were. That was one of the reasons I'm here, wasn't it? I embody a lot of loneliness within me because of you."


"....I see, well, I guess you can say that. But now, I'm no longer lonely. I have friends." Russia said, a small smile hidden behind his scarf.


Nikolai looked at his 2P comrades, that he considered as his friends, as well. "Congratulations to us."

==


"What are you lookin' at?" Francois asked, raising an eyebrow at his First Player counterpart.


France pouted. "We're supposed to have the same appearance...but your clothes! Your face! Why aren't you showing the true beauty we share?"


"Ugh. Are you serious? Who the hell cares about that?" the grungy Frenchman said, shooting a bullet at the leg of the monster they were dealing with.


With a dramatic gasp, France took a step back. "I care! Big Brother France is a work of art! That's why I keep myself magnifique for the world to see~" he said proudly.


"If that's the reason, what's the point for me? We weren't made to be something for the world to see, didn't you guys think so?" Francois said, looking away and attacking the Thing.


France felt a stab of guilt. "Je suis désolé... It's true that we did, and we had our reasons... we just didn't think it all through..."


"I can't really forgive you right now, but I'll think about that once we get out of this fucking mansion." Francois told him, shooting at the monster once more.


Nodding, France responded, "Oui, I agree with you on that."


==


"At first glance, people would think you couldn't even hurt a fly." Matthieu told his meek Canadian counterpart, who was able to weaken the enemy using his skills..and the help of Kumajiro.


Canada slightly gave a sad smile. "People wouldn't normally glance at me...or see me for that matter, anyways."


Using a bloody hockey stick, Matthieu landed a hit on the grey alien creature. "Normally, they wouldn't. But not everyone is normal, right?"


"Right..." Canada replied in his usual soft voice. He stared down, remembering someone in particular who always noticed him.


His Second Player counterpart noticed this. "Thinking about (Second Name), eh?"


Blushing, Canada looked away. "E-Eh? Ah, well, not really...I.."


"Relax, you're not the only one, you know? Everyone here probably has the same thing in the back of their minds. Though at least we got her away from this place safely before these monsters got out of their cell for some reason." Matthieu said.


Canada nodded. "Yeah, good thing..." he replied, suddenly thinking of what the reason was for the creatures to escape the cell they were in.


"That reminds me, you're a lot smarter and more level-headed than the rest, huh?" Matthieu stated.



"What do you mean by that?" Canada asked as he and Kumajiro attacked the creature.


"You were the one who called the girl out before, weren't you? I sorta overheard the two of you talking before, while your comrades were attacking us."


Canada widened his eyes. Oh, I remember what he was talking about. It was that time when France, America, and the others planned to take the 2Ps down...and I told (Name) about it..." he thought.


"Yeah..." Canada replied.


Matthieu looked at him from the corner of his eye. "The question is: why?"


"Why..? Well..." Canada looked down. "It's because I realised that...we're not as good as we believe ourselves to be. Pride is something that blinds us, it can corrupt minds into changing the reality of what's right and wrong...but we slowly accepted the fact that we were at fault, too."


"...I hate you guys a little less now." Matthieu told him, with an approving glance.


Canada was a bit uncertain what he meant, but felt slightly relieved at what he heard. "...Thanks."


==


"It seems this is the last one." Luciano said, expertly hitting the grey alien monster with his knives.


Italy, on the other hand, used his powers to defend and or restore some health for the others when they needed it. It wasn't much, but it will do. "Ve...What are we going to do once we get rid of all these monsters?"


"What do you mean?"


The Italian First Player looked at his counterpart with concerned eyes. "You...still hate us, right?"


"Si. Very much. You think it's easy to forgive you all after everything you've done?" Luciano asked coldly.


Italy dodged an attack from the enemy. "No, I don't even know if you'll be able to forgive us at all..." he bit his lip. "But...But I wish we could settle that matter some other time, somewhere else. Not here in this mansion. We can reach to an agreement if we try hard enough...right? I mean, (Name) believed we could. I even heard her mention something important about it."


"What was it?" the magenta-eyed Italian asked as he flung his knife at the monster's forehead, finally making it disappear.


Once Luciano faced him, Italy spoke, "We have words...right?"


"We have words...right? Why don't we use them?"


Remembering all too painful memories made Luciano look away for a moment. When he faced Italy again, his magenta-coloured eyes widened. "Luciano..?" Italy asked, confused by the 2P's silence and reaction.


Suddenly, Luciano took out a pistol that was hidden in one of his pockets and made a dark expression on his face.


"What are--" Italy started to panic, but stopped when he saw that the gun was pointed in his direction.


Luciano began to pull the trigger. "...Arrivederci."


"Italy!!!" Germany yelled out as he saw what was going on.



BANG.


=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=


///Reader's PoV///

===

But as I reached the second floor, I realised that there was someone else there, after all.

===

Seated at one of the tables was a girl with black hair that went down by her shoulders, and dark brown eyes behind her glasses. She had tan skin and wore a light green uniform, with a ribbon that had a darker shade of green.


What was noticeable about her...was her Hetalia ID lace.


It seems she was preoccupied with typing something on her laptop.


Wait! A laptop?


If she's a Hetalian...is it possible for her to have the HetaOni game installed?



"You're not just gonna stand there all day, are you, (Name)?" she asked aloud, her gaze not moving away from the screen.


This made me give her a puzzled look. "S-Sorry, but...how did you know my name?"


"Why wouldn't I?" she said, taking off her yellow earphones and meeting my gaze.


She smirked at me and spoke,

"I am the author, after all."