The Locked Secret: A Countryhumans Mystery

Chapter 10 - The Retreat

The air was thick with tension as CSA and the others hurriedly gathered America's belongings from his office. The ancient symbol still burned in their minds, and the ominous voice that had echoed through the room left them with no doubt—they were dealing with forces far beyond their understanding.

Before they made their move to leave, Canada hesitated, his eyes locked on the symbol formed by the dark liquid on the floor. Without a word, he pulled out his phone and quickly snapped a picture of the eerie pattern. "We might need this later," he murmured, his voice tinged with unease.

France nodded in agreement. "Good thinking. We can analyze it when we're in a safer place."

With that done, they moved quickly, stuffing important documents and anything that might be useful into a leather satchel. The UK and Canada helped gather America's personal effects, while Australia and New Zealand kept watch by the door, their eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of movement.

"Is this everything?" CSA asked, his voice low and urgent as he glanced around the room one last time.

"I think so," France replied, her tone equally tense. "We can't stay here any longer. That... thing we awakened, it's too dangerous."

The states, America's children, clustered together, their eyes wide with fear and confusion. Alaska clung tightly to Russia's side, her small hand gripping his coat as she looked up at him with pleading eyes.

"Papa, are we going to be okay?" she asked in a trembling voice, slipping into Russian as she often did when she was scared.

Russia knelt down to her level, his expression softening. "We will, маленькая (little one)," he assured her, gently brushing a strand of hair from her face. "But we need to leave now. We'll be safe at my house."

With everything packed and ready, the group made their way out of America's office and into the hallway. The house, once a place of warmth and laughter, now felt cold and foreboding. 

The shadows seemed to stretch and twist, as if alive with the dark forces they had unleashed.

As they reached the front door, CSA glanced back at the house one last time. He felt a pang of guilt for leaving it behind, but he knew they had no choice. Whatever was hunting them, it wouldn't stop until it got what it wanted.

"Let's move," CSA urged, pushing the door open and stepping outside into the cool night air.

The group quickly made their way to the vehicles parked outside, the states following closely behind. 

CSA, Russia, France, the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand piled into the cars, the weight of the situation pressing down on them as they sped away from America's house.

The drive was tense and silent, the only sound being the hum of the engines and the occasional sniffle from one of the states in the backseat. 

CSA gripped the steering wheel tightly, his mind racing with the events of the night. The red liquid, the ancient symbol, the voice—it all pointed to something far darker than he had ever imagined.

After what felt like an eternity, they finally reached Russia's estate. The sprawling mansion loomed ahead, its grand structure silhouetted against the night sky. The estate was surrounded by dense forests, far removed from the other countries' homes—a fortress of solitude and safety.

Russia was the first to step out of the car, his presence commanding as he surveyed the area.

"We'll be safe here," he said, more to reassure himself than the others. "This place is well-guarded, and it's far enough away that whatever we awakened won't find us easily."

The group quickly followed, helping the states out of the cars and carrying the bags inside. The mansion's interior was just as grand as its exterior, with high ceilings, ornate chandeliers, and rooms that seemed to stretch on forever. But despite its grandeur, there was a warmth to it—a sense of security that they desperately needed.

Russia led them through the main hall and up a grand staircase to a series of rooms on the second floor. "You can stay here," he said, opening the doors to several guest rooms. "Rest, gather your thoughts. We'll figure out our next move in the morning."

The states were settled into a large room together, their fear slowly giving way to exhaustion. Alaska stayed close to Russia, her small hand still gripping his coat as she looked up at him with wide, tired eyes.

"Papa, will you stay with us?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Russia smiled softly, brushing a kiss on her forehead. "Of course, маленькая. I'll be right here."

As the states settled down for the night, the others gathered in one of the larger rooms. CSA placed the vial on a table in the center, the memory of its transformation still fresh in his mind.

"We need to figure out what that symbol means," CSA said, his voice firm. "And who or what Ymir is. This isn't just about finding America anymore—it's about stopping whatever this is before it's too late."

France nodded, her expression serious. "We've stirred something ancient and powerful. But we can't give up. America is counting on us."

Russia crossed his arms, his gaze fixed on the vial. "And so is the rest of the world."

The group fell into a heavy silence, the weight of their task pressing down on them. They had escaped America's house, but they knew the danger was far from over. The ancient curse had been awakened, and there was no telling what would come next.But one thing was certain—they were in this together, and they would face whatever came with unwavering resolve.