The Shot Heard Around the World (Countryhumans American Revolution)

Defeats of New York

August 27, 1776

What was he thinking? Why did he really believe that he could get away from his father? Why did United States—Thirteen Colonies delude himself into thinking he really had the power to get away from his father, that he really had the power to declare independence and become a country?

What gave him the right?

Panic and fear ran through him like never before. He supposed that he had been lucky not to see Father during the battle that morning, only spotting Scotland, who just seemed sad upon seeing Thirteen Colonies.

Vaguely, he began to register someone talking to him.

"States, you need to breathe. You're going to pass out!"

The unfamiliar voice—

"James."

James was right. Thirteen Colonies couldn't breathe. His breath stuttered and stopped and came out in short little bursts, which prevented him from breathing very well, as black spots crept into his vision.

Slowly, Thirteen Colonies let his breaths even out, vision clearing. Miraculously, it seemed that no one had noticed his panic—or at least how bad it had gotten.

"We ensured you stayed upright so no one thought you were going mad," New York said, his voice sounding distant with how foggy Thirteen Colonies' head was. He felt...he felt as if he was watching someone else control his body.

Maybe someone was. It was all fuzzy.

"General Washington has a plan of escape. He is going to escape across the river since the British have laid siege. This is not going to be the end, United States of America, so snap out of it now! Your people need you!" the male voice said. And he wanted to Thirteen—United States—whatever his name was going to end up being, he wanted to break out of the fog and help. But it was...it was just so hard.

"Let me take control! I can help General Washington!" New York exclaimed. Thirteen Colonies wanted to react, but he felt foggy. He knew his body was moving, that his mouth was forming words that he could not hear, but he was not the one in control.

He was watching.

Like his states.

"York—"

"This is my state, Uncle James, and if Father is unable to fight, then I will!" New York declared, his voice distant.

Thirteen Colonies blinked, and suddenly, he was staring up at a darkened sky, faces crowded all around him. Faces...with his flag. Well, most of them, in any case.

"Father?" exclaimed one of the faces, his voice familiar.

"Mass...Massachusetts?" Thirteen Colonies exclaimed, recognizing it. Where was he? The states were supposed to be in his head, right? Massachusetts nodded, tackling him into a hug, and the other faces—other states—did the same.

"You're here!" a voice that Thirteen Colonies recognized to be Maryland said. Thirteen Colonies was crying, tears of happiness and sorrow running down his face. These were his children—he was seeing the faces of his children for the very first time, and yet...

"Where am I?" he asked. He must have died. Father overtook their army and crushed them, killing Thirteen Colonies personally for his disobedience. He killed his children.

"We're in your head! Well...our head? We didn't know you could come here. But this is where we are when we aren't near enough to talk to you or take control!" New Hampshire said. Thirteen Colonies scanned the faces of his children again. They were all so beautiful and wonderful.