Germany spun on his heel, coming face to face with Hungary, hardly believing the state she was in.

The Corrupt nation had large splatters of blood all over herself. Her dress was almost ripped to shreds, dangling from her limbs and her hair had become incredibly greasy, matted with blood.

"H-Hungary..." Germany took a step back. "What happened?"

Hungary ignored him, glancing around. "Where's Italy?" she asked.

"He's safe"

"But where?"

"Safe." Germany repeated, firmly. "That's all that matters."

Hungary's expression darkened, her free hand clenching into a tight fist as the other increased it's grip on the hatchet. "Germany," she practically growled. "Tell me where he is!" She took a step forward, raising her hatchet slightly. "Don't you dare try to keep him from me anymore!"

Germany raised an eyebrow. "What are you—"

"When Italy was little he'd spend hours with me every day." Hungary began to shake, tears welling up in her eyes. "He was my baby and I... I was..." she bit down on her lip, wiping away her tears. "And now all he talks about is you! He hardly ever comes to see me anymore, he always runs to you." She glared up at Germany through her fringe. "You took my baby away from me! Now tell me, Germany," she took a deep breath. "Where is my son?"

Shaking his head, Germany took another step back. "I'm sorry, Hungary." he said, calmly. "You're no good for him right now."

Hungary's eyes widened. Her grip on the hatchet slackened, but not enough for it to drop. Her head dropped, hair falling in front of her face.

When Germany saw her shoulders shake, he assumed she'd started crying. That wasn't the case.

Bitter chuckles fell from her lips as her tears overflowed. "Who the fuck do you think you are?" she growled out. "I think I know better than you who and what is good for my baby." She raised her hatched again, still shaking. "Now tell me where he is!" she screamed.

"Hungary, I—"

"Do you seriously think that I would harm my own child? Is that what you're thinking?" asked the Corrupt nation. "You think that I'm capable of such a thing? That I'm a bad mother?" More broken sobs vibrated through the Hungarian's body. "I'd never hurt my little boy! I just want to hold him, Germany. Please!"

Germany let out a shaky sigh. "Okay," he muttered, lowly. "Come with me."

Hungary looked up, a smile forming on her face. She scrambled after Germany, who had turned and walked off down the long corridor.

For what felt like hours, they walked down the corridor, turning countless corners and walking up stairs.

He's not taking you to Italy.

Even he doesn't know where he's going.

He doesn't trust you.

Hungary paused, her eyes narrowing. "Germany." she called.

Germany turned to face her.

"Why don't you trust me?"

Germany paled as he watched Hungary's fingers tighten around the handle of her hatchet.

"I won't ask you again, Germany." The Corrupt nation took a shaky step forward. "Where is my Italy?"

Germany stood as still as possible, before letting out a heavy sigh, his eyes drifting over to a door behind Hungary.

Hungary glanced behind, following Germany's gaze, a smile appearing on her face. "He's in there?" she questioned.

With a curt nod, Germany frowned. "He's in there." he replied, voice low.

Hungary beamed, turning on her heel and dashing into the room.

As soon as she had she entered the room—the empty room—there was a loud SLAM behind her, followed closely by the click of a lock.

She turned, slamming her free hand against the wood, open palmed. "Germany?" she called.

She could hear the larger nation's heavy footsteps rushing down the corridor.

With a frustrated cry, Hungary dropped the hatchet, slamming both of her fists against the door. "Germany, you BASTARD!" she screeched, continuously pounding at the wood.

She sunk to her knees, still weakly beating the door. She almost started to cry before she remembered one tiny detail.

She had a hatchet.

Germany dashed frantically through the corridors of the old house.

Where the hell was the room Italy was in?

He knew it wouldn't take long for Hungary to get out of that room, and he needed to find Italy and hide before that happened.

He could hear the hatchet tearing through the door behind him. Luckily, far behind him. He sped up, calling Italy's name as he tore through the halls.

It wasn't long before he heard Hungary's footsteps behind him. And he thanked whatever deity was listening that the Corruption was slowing her down.

After tripping far too many times on her own skirt, Hungary had finally had enough.

She hiked up her skirt, tearing at the fabric. She ripped it almost right the way off, leaving just enough to cover her upper thighs.

With the restrictions off and her load lightened, she marched forwards, dragging her hatchet behind her.

By now, Germany was probably far ahead of her. Probably telling Italy so many ugly lies about her.

She clenched her fists, picking up the pace.

How dare he! Spread those ugly lies to turn her own son against her! He'd pay dearly for that!

Every door looked the same. Exactly the same. How would he ever find Italy if there was no significant difference between the doors?

He threw open every door, glancing inside before moving on to the next one. Eventually, he came to the end of the corridor, his hand on the knob to the last door.

He knew Italy wasn't in here, there were at least three doors either side of the room he'd taken Italy to. But it wouldn't hurt to try. He opened the door, tumbling inside before slamming it shut and collapsing against it.

He was shaking. Terrified.

Not for himself. Hungary could do what she liked to him, he didn't care. But what if she found Italy first? Although she said she wouldn't harm him, but how trustworthy was she now? How reliable was the word of a Corrupt nation?

He pushed off the door and made his way towards the bed, sitting on the edge with his head in his hands.

Being helpless is an awful feeling. One that Germany had never felt before.

He knew that if Hungary found Italy, she'd likely kill him, and there was nothing he could do. He didn't even know where the Italian was. He was powerless, and he hated it. He felt weak.

Somewhere down the hall, he could hear Hungary's heavy, clumsy footsteps and the screech in her voice as she yelled her throat raw.

He heaved a sigh, glancing up at the door. She—no, it. Whatever that thing was, it was not Hungary. Hungary was an amazingly strong and kind woman who had everyone's best interests in mind. What the corruption had turned her into was a monster. And the monster would have no problem finding him. He'd thrown open every door and left it open in his haste. The only door he'd bothered to close was the one to this room.

He knew what was about to happen.

Slowly, he rose to his feet, listening as the footsteps got progressively louder.

Germany wasn't in the least bit surprised when the door flew open, the monster that wore Hungary's skin spilling into the room, black eyes fixed on him.

It's expression morphed into a viscous snarl as it glared forward, hanging from the doorframe. It sucked in a large breath and growled out "You!"

Italy had spent the past forty minutes lying in bed and staring at the ceiling. He'd spent so much of the day—was it really the same day?—asleep, but he was still so tired.

He was aching all over, feeling sick to his stomach.

What was going to happen to him?

Even if he survived, what would happen then? Was the challenge just to stay alive in the house for a whole day? And if that were the case, would he want to live now that he'd lost so many great friends?

How would he do it? How would he make it through a single day without Romano calling him at least three times? Even if all he did was cuss and grumble, Veneziano really looked forward to those calls.

How would he be able to sleep without Prussia making an abysmal din downstairs? He was so used to the sound now that he doubted he'd be able to sleep without it.

How would he live knowing that he couldn't run to Japan's house when he was bored?

How would he do anything now that so many of his loved ones were dead?

A sob tore from Italy's throat as he turned to his side, clutching the eiderdown close. "I can't be home tonight..." he whispered, letting his eyes slip closed. "I-I'll make it back, it's alright. No one could ever love me," he wiped his tears away with the edge of the eiderdown, burying himself deeper under it. "Half as good as you..."

"You!" The monster kept repeating that word as it moved closer, dragging the hatchet behind it. "This is your own fault!"

Germany raised his hands in front of him. "Don't do this, Hungary." he said, softly, hoping against all hope that any shred of the real Hungary still existed. "Please, just put the hatchet down."

"THIS IS YOUR OWN FAULT!" The monster screeched back, lifting the hatchet and bringing it swiftly down.

Germany barely managed to dodge. "Hungary, please, just—"

The monster lifted its hatchet once more. "I wouldn't have to kill you if you had been good and just told me where Italy was!" It growled.

"I don't know where he is!" Germany replied.

This made the monster pause. "You don't know?" it asked. "You... You lost my baby?!"

"I know he's somewhere on this floor." Germany offered a hand to the monster. "We could find him together and figure out a plan to leave."

The monster looked at Germany's offered hand, then back at his face, glaring. "I'm not stupid, Germany!" it hissed, raising the hatchet once more.

This time, Germany wasn't quite quick enough, the hatchet ripping into the flesh of his calf as he tried to avoid it. He cried out, falling onto his side as his hands automatically moving to cover the wound.

"Last time I trusted you, I got locked in a room." the monster said. "You're a liar, Germany. You know exactly where Italy is, don't you?"

"N-No, I—"

"LIAR!" The monster raised the hatched again, bringing it down into Germany's ribs. A gruesome smile formed on the monster's face as it heard the loud cracking of bone. The hatchet had gone right through his ribs and, judging by the coughing and wheezing, into his lung.

The monster cackled to itself as it yanked back the hatchet. "I guess I'll have to find him myself now." it said, walking towards the door.

"H-Hung...ary...!"

The monster glanced over its shoulder.

"Stay... a-away fro... from him!" Germany demanded, weakly.

Grinning, the monster flicked its greasy hair out behind it. "Sorry, I can't hear you, Germany." it replied. "Gotta go, bye."

It walked away, smirking at the weak calls of its name. It was barely out of the room before the announcement was made.

Germany has reached Platinum Tier.

"No!" Italy cried as he sprang up in the bed. "N-No! Not Germany!" He kicked the eiderdown of his legs and awkwardly stumbled towards the door, yanking it open.

Just outside the door, Hungary was rushing passed. She cried out in surprise when the door opened. "Italy!" she breathed out, moving toward him and encasing him in a hug. "Thank gosh, you're alright!"

Italy hugged back, hiding his face in Hungary's shoulder as he sobbed. "H-Hungary..." he hiccuped. "Germa—"

"You poor thing!" Hungary cut him off, grabbing hold of his hands and guiding him back into the bedroom. "You must be terrified!" She sat him down on the bed, gently brushing his matted fringe out of his eyes.

Biting his lip to hold in his sobs, Italy laid his head back on Hungary's shoulder. "I want him back." he whispered.

Hungary sighed, rubbing Italy's back in soothing circles. "I know, baby." she replied in an equally hushed tone. "But this is for the better."

End Note: I hate myself. I really, genuinely hate myself. God, Germany's death was so damn hard to write! It wasn't even that good, jeez! Now that Germany's gone, what will happen to Itababy?
Translations:
There are none~

No sneak peaks this time, as the next chapter is the end and I do not wish to give a single thing away.