Book 3 - Retrievers

X - Sleep

Russia wakes up to a choked scream coming from somewhere in the room with him. He springs up, half-awake, glaring around at the rest of the room.

'I'm in the bedroom.'

'What's going on?'

Russia hurriedly looks around and sees America curled up on his side, crying and shaking profusely. Russia searches for any new injuries, only to see none. America looks like he's sleeping, but something isn't right.

"America," Russia says, shuffling his way over toward him.

But the second his hand touches America, America yelps and shuffles back. Russia recoils as if his hand had been set alight. He stares with wide eyes.

"America?" Russia asks tentatively.

America whines. Russia reaches out again, more carefully this time, and brushes his hand on America's cheek.

As soon as his hand makes contact, America wails and recoils like he had been slapped.

"No. Please.... Don't touch me. Please," America begs, tears slide down his face like waterfalls, "don't touch me... your love hurts."

America's eyes scrunch shut and he sobs. Russia feels a knife twist in his chest. He watches as America curls away and starts shaking even harder, cowering from him. But with every movement, America would shriek in pain into his hands.

Russia is left breathless. Horror and heartbreak clenching his throat shut. His heart pounds, and his stomach aches and churns. His tongue feels dry enough to crack, and Russia covers his mouth with his hands, wanting to cry.

'My love... hurts?'

'I'm hurting him?'

'He. I need to find help. He's hurt,' Russia's thoughts scream as they spin around in his head.

'I touched him and he's hurt now. I...'

Russia's eyes burn and he stumbles out of bed onto the floor. There is a faint aching in his legs that he doesn't even register. He scrambles to his feet and rushes out the door, his mind reeling.

'I did that,' his mind tells him.

'He's scared of me.'

'My love hurts him. I hurt him.'

'Why did I do that to him?'

Russia rushes down the stairs and begins looking for someone, anyone, to help. He meets New Jersey's eyes as soon as he reaches the bottom of the stairs. New Jersey starts walking over and Russia stumbles to meet him.

"Please! Help! Please. I tried to help I tried but it didn't work and now it's worse and-"

"Russia, I can't understand you," New Jersey says, but his face shows concern.

Russia shuts his eyes and clenches his fists out of frustration. He clenches his teeth and aggressively swipes away at the water dripping down his face.

"York!" New Jersey calls.

"Yes?" New York replies, sounding annoyed.

"We might have a problem."

New York rounds the corner, taking off a set of headphones. The second New York sees Russia, he picks up his pace. Russia sees him and the words start spilling out.

"Help America please I tried to he's not I tried and I he's hurt and I did it I did. My love hurts I hurt him I," Russia babbles, trying desperately to keep from crying.