{Warning: Description of blood and stabbing}

New Zealand POV

~Bit of a time skip~

Life's been hard, recently. Britain and America probably have the worst mental states in the house, and they refuse to leave their rooms for anything. Canada went to visit Ukraine again (with the permission of France this time) five days ago, and hasn't come back. He called and told us that Kazakhstan had saw something weird in the backyard so he prevented Canada from leaving.

So, that leaves France, Australia, and me to take care of the house and both America and Britain. That's fine, right? Not too much stress, it's manageable.

Well, was manageable.

Recently, Britain's been having freakish nightmares about being attacked and sometimes killed. It's gotten to the point where he stays up all night for fear of going through it. France has to lull him to sleep and has to stay with him all day since he's also been having freakouts.

Alright, so France can't help out with America and the house anymore, but at the same time we don't really have to worry about Britain anymore. Even then, there's still a lot of pressure on Australia and I. We're not as good as cleaning as everyone else and he (Australia) has been concerned about his pets.

All of Australia's pets are in a different place a little ways away from the house. France and Britain had him do this so that they wouldn't all crowd the house and kill everyone. He hasn't been able to go and visit them, lately, and it's stressing him out.

Speaking of Australia, he flopped onto the couch with a sigh. "C'mon, Aussie, get up.. We still have to clean the kitchen and prepare dinner..."

He groaned. "We've been doing stuff all day, surely we deserve a break?"

I sighed, "Yes, we do... But everyone still needs to eat. Mom can't and Ame refuses to leave his room-"

"I know, I know, Kiwi..." Australia sat up. "I just wanna flop down and sleep for 16 hours."

"Same here." I chuckled.

"Well..." My older twin got up from the couch and stretched with a groan. "I'll get dinner started... We can clean the kitchen once I'm done."

"What will I do?"

"Set the table, if you want."

"And after that?"

Australia shrugged. "I don't know, do whatever you want." He turned and went into the kitchen.

I sighed and decided to set the table like he told me to. Once I'm finished with that I'll figure out what to do next.

~After NZ set the table~

I wiped my brow and sat on the couch. Table's finished, and I could hear and smell Australia making dinner. I racked my brain for stuff to do that wasn't grabbing a blanket and falling asleep on the couch.

I guess I could check on America and France and Britain. Yeah, I'll check on them.

I stood up and made my way to the stairs. My body protested against this, wishing to lay or sit down and rest. I ignored this and kept going, though my feet did drag a bit.

I made my way to America's room first since it was closer. I knocked on the door and called, "Ame? You doing alright?"

He didn't answer, as always. "Aussie's making dinner... It should be ready in a bit."

"Go away, Kiwi..." America's muffled voice came.

I sighed. "Alright... Would you like me to leave your plate in front of your door?"

"Sure..."

"Okay...see ya, Ame."

I went to our parent's room and knocked on the door. "Mom? Dad?"

"Yes, New Zealand?" France softly called out.

"Can I come in?"

"Of course."

I opened the door and stepped inside, closing it behind me. My attention immediately focused on the two countries on the bed. France was leaning back against the wall holding Britain, who was laying on her chest. "Hello, New Zealand." France greeted.

Britain glanced at me for a second before closing his eyes and resting his head back on France's chest. "How is he..?" I asked quietly, looking at my father. He seemed...smaller...in a way.

"The nightmares have relaxed a bit... He still has them, of course, but they've been toned down and happen a tiny bit less. Still refusing to sleep..." France explained, caressing Britain's cheek as she spoke.

I nodded. "Alright. Well, I just wanted to check on you guys. Oh, and Aussie's preparing dinner."

"Alright, thanks for letting me know. Could you bring two plates up once he finishes?"

"Sure." I turned and opened the door to leave.

"Hey, Kiwi?"

"Yeah?" I looked at France.

"I...I'm sorry I left the two of you to take care of everything on your own... I just..." France glanced at Britain, who seemed to have fallen asleep on her.

I smiled. "It's alright, Mom, Australia and I can handle it. Besides, it's good practice for if we ever move out."

France looked at me and chuckled. "I guess so.."

"I love you two. I'll go and bring your food up when it's done."

"Thank you, Kiwi."

"Welcome."

I left the room and closed the door behind me. I went down the stairs and over to the kitchen. "Hey, Aussie, is the food done?" I asked him.

"Oh, it's finished. Just preparin' the plates." Australia responded.

"Okay. I'll bring some food up to Ame and our parents. You wait for me at the table."

"Sure, mate."

~Time skip, night time~

Australia and I were on the couch watching TV. It had been a long day of countless and continuous chores, as well as worrying about our family and friends. We were both drained mentally and physically. I heard Australia sigh and looked at him. He had a distant sad look. "Australia? You okay?"

He leaned back and looked at the ceiling. "I'm worried about Nada... And Ame... And Dad... And everyone else..."

I nodded as he continued. "I'm drained, Kiwi... I'm so tired from cleaning and looking after everything every day. My pets haven't been fed in weeks, they're probably eating each other. I'm always peaking out windows cause I'm scared they decided to come for us, but I also don't want to look out cause I'm scared I'll see something... I get scared by the smallest of sounds and think things move when they don't!- Everything's just been so confusing and tiring..." Australia covered his face with his hands.

I hugged my twin and rubbed his back. "I...I know where you're coming from... I've been feeling the same..."

Australia sniffed and leaned on me. "I want this period of our life to be over..." He whispered.

"Me too, Aussie... Me too..."

We heard footsteps coming down the stairs and turned towards it. France was coming down with a worried expression. "Boys, have you seen your father? I left him alone for a bit to check on America and talk to EU, and when I came back he was gone."

"No... If he came down the stairs we didn't see him." I said, wiping away Australia's tears.

"Alright..." France sighed and went to look for Britain in the rest of the house, calling out for him in French and English.

"Where do you think he went? That is, if you're not assuming the worst already..." Australia asked.

"I don't know... He never left their room, why now?"

"How did he even sneak by Mom as well? I know his mental state has been declining a lot and he's been acting really strange, but still..."

Australia and I glanced at each other with worried looks. We stood up and decided to help France look for Britain.

Third Person POV

Britain walked down the sidewalk. He didn't know what he was doing, he just needed to get out of the house. He felt suffocated, having to stay in there for so long, let alone in the same room.

Why not just leave the room?

He didn't know. The room felt like it was trapping and smothering him, but at the same time a safe haven.

Britain couldn't find the words to describe how he felt if he wanted to, he just knew he needed some fresh air and to stretch his legs.

He was heading home now, having walked to the closest park and staring at a few gardens as he passed by them. He let out a soft sigh, smiling softly. He really needed this. Probably not the best time to go out, though, but hey, his brain was mushy.

He was approaching his home. He knows he'll have some explaining to do but he didn't really care at the moment. The walk calmed him down and has temporarily took his mind off the situation his best friend and other nations he cared about were in.

He heard a noise from behind him and turned around. He didn't see anything. Maybe it was the fact that he hadn't slept for at least a week now, but he didn't think anything of the noise and assumed it was a squirrel or bird.

Britain turned back around and took a few more steps to his house before being tackled. His face collided with the concrete, causing him to let out a wail. Whoever had tackled him was definitely smaller than him, but they were strong.

Britain tried to get up and shake them off, but they held him down and kicked his side. The kicking soon turned into kicking and punching. Britain flailed his arms and legs until he managed to hit something, hearing a groan and turning on his back.

That was a mistake since he immediately got stabbed in the stomach. He gasped as the knife was also immediately ripped out and held the stab wound. Warm blood seeped through his clothes and covered his hands.

The attacker stabbed his shoulder, and then his thigh. They then forcibly removed Britain's hands to the side so they could stab his stomach again.

Britain was screaming by now. Screaming in pain and begging his attacker to stop. His blood stained the sidewalk and the knife gleamed in the moonlight, blood dripping off of it as they raised it up for another stab.

France burst through the front door of the house and hauled butt to her husband and his would-be-murderer. The attacker hopped up and took off down the street. America fired a few bullets at them but soon stopped once they were out of sight.

"Australia, call an ambulance!" America yelled as France picked Britain up and rushed him inside. The American slammed the door behind them.

Australia was doing as he told, stuttering into the phone as he rushed to explain what happened. New Zealand was running around grabbing medical supplies while France laid Britain down on the couch.

The household was filled with panic, shouting, and yelling as France and New Zealand focused on keeping Britain alive until the ambulance got there. Australia ran about grabbing anything New Zealand and France shouted for. America focused on keeping his family safe; locking all the doors and windows and patrolling the area everyone was in.

To them it seemed like hours for the ambulance to arrive. When they did they promptly took Britain while the police questioned the family. They were quite the scene: France and New Zealand's shirts, pants, and hands were covered in blood, Australia was a hysterical sobbing mess, unable to hold it in anymore, and America had red, bloodshot eyes and looked like he hadn't bathed in weeks, as well as being very jumpy. The police couldn't even get within a few feet of him or his mother and brothers or he'd point a gun at them and tell them to back off.

Canada would hear about the night the next morning.