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You trudged through the open town, walking past the stalls and shops that seemed to be everywhere on this block. It was a beautiful day outside, with the few clouds in the sky puffy and white.
You huffed as you carried a basket in your hands, some stuff already put in there by you. You were running an errand for your father, since he couldn't do it anymore. But you were always happy to help him out, since he had taken good care of you.
A good-natured person called out to you, and you replied back happily. You knew some of the owners of the stalls, since this was a small town where most people knew each other. It was always fun coming outside in the fresh summer air. The flecks of Autumm threatened the horizon, and although it was sometimes cold, you had gotten used to it.
"Hey, Y/N!" another person shouted. You turned to them curiously and they threw you a fruit. Jumping, you caught it between your hands and looked down; an orange, it seemed like. "Thanks, sir!" you cupped one of your hands, putting the fruit in the basket.
"No problem! Have a nice day!" he replied with a grin. You couldn't help but do a cheeky smile back. It was always a joy when somebody smiled at you.
You yawned slightly, looking up at the sun. It's blinding glare made you groan in despair, and staying in the heat sometimes made you tired. You sometimes felt like taking a nap in the middle of the day.
So maybe there were negative qualities to Summer.
Shaking your head, you continued past most of the stalls until you felt satisfied with what you had gotten. When I get home, I'll leave Father to sleep. He deserves it. I'll cook dinner, you decided. He hadn't been as active lately, but he had helped you in so much; it was the least you could do for him.
As you were checking everything over and double-checking to make sure you had enough ingredients for whatever you were making, a shadow shifted at the edge of your vision.
You jerked your head up and looked around, but you didn't spot anyone. Shrugging it off as your imagination or, even more rare, a hallucination, you continued humming lightly and rummaging through your stuff.
Again, a shadow shifted its position from one of the walls in front of you.
Confused now, you slowly put your basket down and stepped forward carefully. The shadowy figure didn't move like you thought it would. So maybe it was just a normal shadow.
You crept forward silently, heart starting to hammer in your chest. Who was this? Were they a criminal? Burglar? Someone who could beat you up and take you out and kidnap you? Why am I even going towards it if that's the case? you thought.
A large clatter was heard, and you saw the shadow shift again. According to the sun, the person who cast it was behind one of the empty stalls. You stepped forward again, eyes flickering.
And then a head poked out anxiously.
Startled, you took a step back. The person gazed back at you with wide, fearful eyes. "Are you with them?" he said nervously. His oversized sweater was rolled down so you could see his hands. Oddly, they were red. Had he drawn on them?
"With who?" you replied, frowning slightly in confusion. The person looked around and quickly grabbed your arm. You yelped and they covered your mouth. So it is a criminal. You kicked and writhed in their grip, and they put a "shush" sign to their mouth.
You stopped, going mute for a second. "Who are you?" you whispered quietly. You suddenly realized that behind their emerald-blue eyes, their face were two colors. This surprised you immensely, and you narrowed your eyes to take a second look.
The person didn't allow you to look any more. He grasped at a black coat with a yellow stripe across and put it on, then looked at you again. The shadows hid the rest of his face. "Do you really need my name?" he commented after a moment.
You shook your head. You didn't mind if he didn't want to say it. But why would he not give you a name? Who was he hiding from. After a moment the person exhaled, then looked up at the light. You gasped as you saw the white and red of something so familiar and yet not to you.
The man sighed as though he didn’t have a choice to not say his name. You felt the flicker of doubt in your chest that he was a criminal go out. Why would his shoulders be slumped in defeat like that if he was?
"My name..." he looked over his shoulder as though somebody was going to take his life if he talked too loudly. Obviously not, though. You let out a nervous laugh in your mind. Who would want to do that?
He turned back around. "is Poland." You took a step back as he said it, your heartbeat multiplying faster and faster. "Poland?" you echoed. He nodded. "Don't tell anyone, okay? I'm not supposed to be here. They'll find me." He let out a soft whimper as he said that.
You blinked and nodded vigorously, too wrapped up and surprised that you were talking to an actual country. "Who'll find you?" you asked. "The cops?" Poland gazed at you in fear. "Worse."
Worse? You thought for a moment. "Government?" you tried. That would make sense, since you didn't think anyone had even seen this person before. A country in human form? Poland shook his head again and froze, as if he heard something. You stiffened as well, trying to hear as well.
The chatter of the market grew silent, and then there were screams. They cut through you like a knife through butter. You flinched away and couldn't help but stand up to see what was happening.
Poland grabbed your arm and shivered, making a pleading gesture and mouthing "No." Guilt flooded his gaze. "I'm sorry I led them here. I thought they wouldn't find me," he said, a breeze on the wind current.
Numb shock and pain flooded into you. Your friends! The people you had known almost your entire life! Were they in danger? You staggered up and crawled forward, ignoring Poland's wince.
You peeked out from a cloth in the fabric stall and saw two other people standing in the middle of the square, the people backing away with yells and shouts of terror or confusion.
The shorter one held a smirk of triumph as he saw the people backing away, but the much taller one had a neutral expression, silently searching the clearing.
Poland's breath quickened.
He quickly back away and latched onto your arm in horror. He was so scared by now you could feel his heart racing beneath his skin. It was much faster than yours, to your enormous surprise. Was that even possible?
The shorter one had a suit on that seemed to be from the old times, his expression scowly and fierce. He glared around and disgust entered his expression whenever it lay on a child. And again, the shadows hid the colors of his face, though you had to assume they were like Poland, if they were trying to find him.
"Attention, you pathetic humans," he snarled, gesturing the taller one forward. "We are looking for a rascal who ran away from us a few days ago, hiding in the most ridiculous places." He snorted and glared around the clearing. "We suspect he's in your town."
Poland's immense fear was starting to get to you too, and it became a bolt of lightning as he said "your town." So he was talking about Poland. Should you even be helping him, if he had run away from someone?
"Nobody bad is in our town!" a man at the edge of the surrounding crowed spat. The newcomer swiveled his gaze to the man. They locked eyes for a moment. Then the shorter of the two new people gave a sharp nod towards the man. The taller one suddenly lunged forward to grab his throat and caught it with ease, dragging him into the air.
You let out a cry of terror, but it was nothing compared to the screams that rose as everyone backed away. You felt a tug. Looking down, you saw tears of pain spring into Poland's eyes as he stood up with you. "I have to go," he murmured.
You were barely paying attention, you gripped the empty stall, fear pulsing beneath you. The man was writhing in the taller person's grip, and you choked out a gasp. Why was the person's head shaped so... wrong?
You felt your heart speeding up even faster, almost up to Poland's. You realized he hadn't let go of your arm and you gently pulled away. "What is that?" you choked out, throat closing by the amount of fear that was taking over your mind.
Poland was trembling. "That is what he likes to call himself; Reichtangle. And the person beside him is his son, the Third Reich," he explained shakily. Your entire world suddenly stopped.
You had heard of them before. It was a bell, a ding, a warning. That was why everyone had been afraid. Those people are one of the worst to walk the planet! You backed up so quickly you accidentally hit Poland's chest. He let out a hiss of pain, but he silenced it.
You swallowed and saw that the person is the supposed Reichtangle's grip was growing weaker. After a few more moments, he shook the man to make sure he was dead and threw him towards the ground. He went down with a limp thud, eyes dull.
You suddenly wanted to run. Everyone here was so exposed and in danger. But then you thought of your father, and the innocent kids who had just watched one of the longest deaths you could have. They needed to be safe, too.
You whipped your head around to see Poland fiddling with his fingers. "I have to go," he repeated to you. You violently nodded in agreement. "You need to lead them away from our peaceful town," you said firmly, trying desperately not to draw tears.
They came anyway, but you wiped them off. Poland started shivering, and, making up your mind and choosing compassion instead of blending in with the crowd, took his hand and stared at him. "I'll help."
His eyes became round orbs of blue again. "But then they'll want you dead too!" he said loud enough that nobody else could hear. "I know," you whispered ignoring the fear striking your heart. "But I have to do this. My father is weak and needs help. I'm sure if they searched this town they would kill him aswell."
Poland looked stuck, but eventually gratefulness came into his eyes and a shaky determination took its place. "They'll never make me stop running, anyway," he said with a half-sob. "But I don't want anymore to die because of my cowardness."
"You're not being a coward," you protested. Poland looked so different and unique from anyone you had ever seen. The shadows seemed to make him feel more safer and brighter and stronger, and yet it was the same in the light aswell. "I would've done the same thing. But we have to get them out of here."
Poland nodded fiercely. Taking a deep breath he grabbed your wrist, and this time you let him hold it for as long as he needed. You both came out of the stall. Poland took off the hood and black sweater, cupped his hands, and stammered, "H-hey!"
Both Reichs turned to him simultaneously. Poland's heartbeat increased again. But he didn't stop. "You're looking f-for me, right?" he said. The Third Reich, who you assumed would be referred to as Reich, let out a soft smile. "Yes, indeed." His gaze moved to you, noting you were beside Poland, and malice darkened his expression.
The Reichtangle just stared emptily at Poland, his beady white eyes dragging him down.
Poland swallowed, courage seeming to fail him for a moment before continuing. "Leave these people alone, then, a-and come after me!" Amusement lit up Reich's gaze, and he glanced at Reichtangle.
"Who knew you would be the brave one?" he sneered, letting out a laugh. "But we can do what we want. I think, as punishment for escaping and leaving, we could... end some lives from ever having to see your face again. What say you, father?" He glanced up at Reichtangle.
He didn't say anything, only letting out a small nod. Your heart seemed to stop. They were going to kill more people. Without thinking, you added your voice to what Poland had said. "I don't even think you can catch us! You're so paranoid of people running away that you have to kill people, which, by the way, is another reason why they run!" you clasped your mouth instantly in shock.
What the hell had you done?
Silence fell over the clearing.
Poland seemed to turn to stone. Your breath became ragged and unsteady. Had you gone too far? Was he going to kill you and then everyone else after all? Instead of keeping whatever he felt down inside, Reich let it take over him. Pure fury flooded his gaze.
”You,” he pointed at you with a finger, and you took a wobbly step back. Your eyes flickered at every side, as though looking for confirmation that he was talking to you and just you. “are going to pay for saying that. Nobody talks to me that way.” His voice was soft, and yet his physical appearance was all the more terrifying. Reich was bristling, his fists tightened and his face twisted in anger.
You winced in pain. Now you had to leave this town. You were sure the townspeople would take care of your father when you were gone. I have to run alongside a person- no, a country I just met… until both of our bones are rotted.
Unless someone could stop the two Reichs. You doubted it though. The taller one looked as if he wouldn’t care if you suddenly collapsed and had threw up all of your insides, and you already knew now that you were on Reich’s murder list.
You took a step back, making sure Poland was ready aswell. He seemed surprised, like he didn’t realize that you would do all of this for him. And now, as you thought about it, some of it had been. It wasn’t just for the town. You wanted Poland to feel safe aswell.
Gripping his hand tighter, you whipped around and ran. Poland sped after you, never letting go of your grip. You kept him moving forward if he stumbled. Although he was good in the shadows, he seemed so scared of everything around him.
You glanced over your shoulder. Reich was running after them, slowly gaining foot by foot, but the Reichtangle just stayed there, his head slightly tilted. And then he jerked around so suddenly and sped into one of the alleys.
You were momentarily confused why he didn’t run after his son, but you couldn’t dwell on that. You just had to stay alive, and keep Poland alive as well. Although you just met him, there was something in him that was as Innocnet as the children in the crowd.
“You can’t run forever, you desert rats!” you heard Reich screech from behind you. The tears from before started to roll down again, and you conserved your energy for running, not choosing to look back or wipe them away.
You could feel your stamina wearing out, but you pushed past the pain. After what seemed like hours, and the sun finally dipped below the horizon, you stopped, taking a deep breath. Poland came a few moments behind you, panting.
You looked around to see if the two Reich’s were still following, but they were nowhere to be seen. A bolt of fear shot through you. What if they had gone back to kill everyone?!
If it was anyone else, you would doubt they would be able to. But something told you this wasn’t the case. You properly looked around and saw that throughout the entire chase you had been running through a forest, the trees thin enough to shine the sun through.
You took a deep breath and saw that Poland was staggering away from you, but he still held your hand. Both of your hearts were beating at the same pace for once. “Do you think we’re safe enough here?” he asked quietly.
Now that your life was on the line as well, you wanted to say no, but exhaustion took over and made you collapse to the ground. Poland seemed to take that as a yes and sat down as well, looking fearfully into the forest.
“I’ll keep watch,” you decided. Poland twitched an eye and stared at you. “No. You gave up your entire life to help me escape and save your people from them. I should take it. You get some rest.” The ferocity of his voice surprised you.
You couldn’t help but pat his hand, feeling a little warm as you did it. “Let me do this one last thing for you,” you said gently. Poland looked stuck, but he took a deep breath and finally nodded, settling down to sleep.
After a few moments struggling into a position you were comfortable with, you finally stopped and gazed into the forest, hoping dearly that nothing in the shape of a human or rectangular head would pop out and kill you both.
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You jerked awake at the sound of a bird fluttering away off a tree.
You blinked your eyes open and looked up, momentarily confused about why you saw the sky and stars and trees, until you caught up with reality. Then you shot up, heart pounding. You had forgot what had happened.
Poland! You suddenly thought, looking towards where he had slept originally. To your horror, a figure was standing over him, eyes white with menace. Perhaps it hadn’t noticed you, but it was silent as it watched Poland breathe softly.
Suddenly protective, you stood up and glared at the figure. “Go back to where you came from,” you hissed. It turned its gaze reluctantly from Poland and onto you. You froze, muscles stiffening. It was the Reichtangle fellow!
You backed up a second, your eyes wide in fear. Reichtangle followed your movements, but didn’t do anything. He just stared for a long moment, and then back down at Poland. “He is mine,” you heard a deep, glitchy voice rasp.
Your eyes widened as the tall figure looked back up at you, triumph in his eyes. “Mine, all mine.” You felt confusion and anger. “He’s all mine,” Reichtangle repeated. He didn’t have a mouth, but he was speaking.
”He’s not yours to keep,” you stammered. Fury flooded Reichtangle’s white gaze. “He is mine. An object I can play with. His fear is my joy. Nothing you can meddle with. Don’t take it away.” His head tilted and he tore his gaze from you, stepping forward to pick Poland up.
Fear overwhelmed you, but the sudden urge to do something flooded the banks and won. You surged forward and went in front of Poland, staring the figure down. “He is not yours,” your voice said shakily.
“Oh, but he is,” a voice said in glee. You turned around to see Reich padding out of the shadows. His gaze was lit up with umbrage as he looked at you. “Why help him, anyway? Now you’re going to die,” he smiled, revealing incredibly sharp teeth.
“Why do you want him so much?” you asked, starting to tremble. Reich frowned and shrugged. “Ah. Quite a nosy one. But that’s not your matter, you worthless human,” he said. His teeth seemed to grow bigger as he took another step forward.
A shadow at the edge of your vision twitched.
Poland suddenly surged up and took your arm. Your eyes widened in surprise as he pushed past Reichtangle, who staggered at the touch. Poland’s eyes were desperate as he ran away, this time with you on his heels.
Poland stumbled a bit, perhaps at suddenly waking up and running off with you. He must have awoken when Reich had come into the clearing.
Was it always going to be like this? You looked back at the two Reich’s. Their gazes unwavered, they just stared at both of you. They knew you would never stop running. But you also knew they would never stop finding.
Doubt circled your belly. Should you have helped Poland? Your town wasn’t in danger anymore, with them this far away, but you two were. Perhaps Poland would’ve escaped their grasp just now without your help.
Then you remembered how close Reichtangle was to grab Poland and to taking him back to wherever he had come from. A shiver rose above your spine and to the sky above. Your feet thrummed against the earth, and you glanced at Poland in front of you.
I would never have left him to fend for himself, you realized you had decided. I would have always come with him. I don’t know why, but I would with unhesitating determination.
And I always will.