𝑫𝑬𝑨𝑫 𝑨𝑳𝑰𝑽𝑬《 Philippines CountryHumans AU 》

xxiv.

[I finished this in the middle of the night without much proofreading, so I apologize if the pacing is way too quick!]

[Dead Alive is back!]

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Philip stood still, watching as the waves above him pulled him down into the familiar oblivion he'd been to, a hundred times over.

He knew it wouldn't kill him, so he just accepted it, letting the water rush into his lungs and stinging his chest.

"You're pathetic. You could have come up with a better plan, but instead, you run. Why couldn't you have just used France's money for something else?"

The second Philip—

I should really stop calling him that, Philip thought.

—spoke behind him, and despite the fact that his words were laced in venomous poison, his eyes were brimming with curiosity.

It made the country pity his parallel counterpart. Despite everything, he was just like a big kid, not because he was immature and impatient, but because he grew up too quick.

The Second Philip was the result of the universe ignoring his pleas and twisting his fate into that of his death— a tragedy.

The country's once floating foot finally hit the ground— something he would never get used to. After all, he felt like he was gently gliding down from the skies.

"Martial hates the cold," Philip replied, noting how his nightmares weren't really nightmares anymore. Ever since South'a confession, his unconscious mind served as a portal, a catalyst even, to speak with the Second Philip.

"I figured that fleeing to Sweden would give me some time to think of my next moves and who my assassin is," he added, looking away. In his new dream, he could move and speak around freely, which was a great contrast to the past where he would continously drown over and over with no control whatsoever

But that didn't mean that Philip could freely control his surroundings like in lucid dreams. He and his counterpart were standing on an endless oblivion, bare feet dipped in clear water that seemed to glow.

He didn't understand, but he chose not to question it. After all, it was just that— a dream.

"You have all the time in the world here in your mind," The Second Philip pointed out, eyes furrowed as he scanned the country in front of him for answers on his face. "Why not just think here?"

"I'd rather actively search for clues while thinking." Philip turned, walking away before stopping after making it a few feet. "Besides, someone said that Sweden's provinces has been incredibly crowded lately. Martial would think that I was staying at the capital instead."

"You're staying away from the capital this time?" The Second Philip asks, trying to hide the fact that he was beyond curious behind a scoff. "You've finally started thinking right."

A soft chuckle escaped Philip's lips before he felt himself being pulled away, and before he knew it, Philip found himself lying down on a hard mattress inside a rented room of an inn.

He grumbled, sitting up and stretching. The country flipped the covers of his bed and walked over to the window, gazing out. Chilly air nipped at his skin, his neck was stiff, and his face felt numb— ah, he left the window open.

Right in the distance was a large, chain-linked fence that stretched for miles. It was the border of Sweden.

Guards with military grade weapons were stationed at the gates, some patrolling the perimeter to ensure no one passes through illegally.