HetaOni (Hetalia x Reader x 2P! Hetalia)

Chapter 16 (Part 7)

---Chapter XVI: Darkness (Part 7)---


///Reader's PoV///

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

"It is up to you to decide, (Name)."

It's up...to me...?

I took a deep breath, then smiled. 

"...I've decided..."

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

"....That I want to go back...to that mansion." I said with all sincerity. No matter how outrageous my decision sounds to my mind, it was would always be the answer my heart would give.


Smiling warmly, Author spoke, "Yeah, I knew you would."


"Silly, of course, you would." I told her, stepping closer to her and grinned. "You're the author, after all."


"Yeah, and besides...it's not like any of us can leave those nation dorks--or their alternatively coloured counterparts, alone." she chuckled. "Your role's the complete opposite of that."


Placing a hand on my hip, I asked, "Huh? What do you mean?"


"You'll find out soon enough, dear." the raven haired girl murmured. "Now, about your answer...you're 100% sure of that, right? It'll be a lot tougher than it was before, you know. You might even cry as soon as you get back, is that okay? I know what your answer will be, but this is for formality." she told me.


Looking down, I clenched my fists.

I know.


I know that the chance I'll get out of there alive would be slimmer than ever...but...



...as long as I'm with them, we can work something out, right? We'll get through it.



Together.



"Yes." I answered, determination seen clearly in my (e/c) coloured eyes.


We were both enveloped in silence for a few moments. That was, until I heard a familiar song coming from her laptop.


It was the Dark Horror version of Marukaite Chikyuu...


"That's..." I took a seat beside her and look at her laptop screen. A window was displayed, it was titled... ".....HetaOni..." I spoke aloud.


"Writing a story like this...is really tough, you know." Author said softly, a hint of sadness in her voice. Then, she faced me with a smile. "...but I know that it's worth it. And I know that you find all this worth it, too."


Slowly nodding, I met her eyes. "Author...I--I still have a lot to ask, you know--"


"You will find the answers soon enough, dear." she said. Placing a hand on my shoulder, I saw her smirk slightly. "Now...go back in Time." she whispered as I saw her select the "Previous Loop" on the game window.


"Huh?"



And in a blink of an eye, everything disappeared.


There was nothing.



Nothing but the dark.



=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=

///Canada's PoV///

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

"Hm? Well, we actually thought of an important matter we should be discussing about.." Nikolai told us, approaching us First Players. The rest of the Second Players weren't showing much interest to their counterparts, just lying around.


I turned to them and spoke up, "W-What important matter is that...?"


Matthieu raised an eyebrow at me. "Didn't cross your mind, eh?"


"Huh? What?"


"The person behind all this."

-=-=-=-=-=-=-  

My eyes widened. "...The person...you mean..."


"You are all very aware that we're not all that responsible for this wretched mansion, are you not?" Kuro asked us, waiting for confirmation.


France creased his forehead. "...Oui...but what do you suggest for us to do about this? Do you know who the person behind this is?"


"No...not yet. That's why..." Francois lazily turned around. "That's why we decided to investigate about that for ourselves."


"I-Investigate? But where do you suppose you'll find the answers?" I asked them. "We've all searched through this mansion countless times already..."


Allen placed his feet up the long wooden table. Lowering his sunglasses, he looked at me. "Y'all searched pretty well, given that you found our base during your so-called search." he told us sarcastically.


"Well...they've got a point, aru. We didn't even suspect that there would be more to this mansion than we thought..." China sighed.


Russia simply adjusted his scarf. "...Then, I agree with the idea of investigating. It could help us end all this once and for all."


"But, how are we going to start?" Gilen asked, looking a little hopeless about it.


Nikolai stared up the ceiling for a moment. Then, faced the others. "...For starters, have any of you noticed anything strange...besides each other, that is? Any entity other than us in this mansion that could be suspicious?"


"Uh, those Things?" Allen asked.


Francois shook his head. "Those Things are a given already. We don't have any idea about them...but I think it's best for us to leave those out for the time being."


"What about that pudgy thing at the fourth floor?" Russia suggested. He was probably referring to that thing that Japan called a 'mochi'. It's strange but...


Looking up, Kuro confirmed my thoughts as he spoke, "The mochi, you mean? It does appear quite questionable. Ever since we got here, it was stuck on a wall. It was you and your comrades that got it out...other than it being soft, I don't think it really holds anything significant."


"Aiyah...then...what exactly are we going to go after...?" China frowned, seeing the conversation go nowhere. The rest of us felt the same way, as well.


Sighing, Gilen rubbed his temples. "That's what we wanted to figure out, too. We thought you guys would have noticed at least something." Pointing to his comrades, he continued, "These guys thought that you guys might have seen or heard something that we had missed."


France cupped his chin. "Hmm...That's a complicated task, whenever something of the extreme happens, we tend to act on adrenaline rush...so it's kinda difficult to pinpoint the things beyond those happenings..."


"Then..." Lutz exchanged glances with Kuro. "...let's talk about it another time. Maybe by then, we'll be able to come up with something."


"Alright. I hope so." Russia said, giving a sad smile. It didn't seem like it before, but I think he was expecting something. Probably a lead to what to do next. I know, I wanted to find a new path already...or a new problem. It sounds strange to look forward to a new problem, but I just think that if there was a new problem, it means there's a new solution...and maybe that solution could bring us closer to escaping this mansion.


We decided to adjourn our small discussion and once more dispersed around the saferoom. There would probably be another discussion when all of us are complete. That would be when the rest of our friends would come back here, though.


All but one, that is.


"...Maple..." I cursed under my breath. "...It's completely easy for everyone to forget about me...yet I can't forget about..." I paused, sitting down on one of the beds.


Huh?


What was I saying...?


I can't forget about...


It took me a while to realise what I wanted to say after that, but when it hit me, I felt blood rush to my cheeks. "...Am I an idiot...?"



Something was bothering me in the back of my mind. There was something that I had been pondering on a while back, what was it again? Something that (Name) said...


If only (Name) was here, then I'd be able to remember an important matter...


Letting out a heavy sigh, I dug my hands in my pockets. The only thing I had in them was my phone. Taking my phone out, I switched it on and looked at the screen. Nothing new. Our friends from outside aren't able to call us yet, looks like the signal's weakened again.


Scrolling aimlessly through my phone content, I saw my call logs. Its memory is almost full, given that it automatically records when I make calls. Well, I only did that so that I can get back to what my boss had called me for and all that. I'm far from work now, though, so I should probably--....



Wait. Wait.


Wait.


My hand starting to shake as I looked for a particular recorded call with someone...


=-=-=-=-=-=
dd/mm/yy
(Name)
Mobile: (phone number)
08:29
Call Recorded
=-=-=-=-=-=



"This...is it..." I stared at my phone screen, wide eyed. Pressing play, I nervously placed my phone to my ear to listen to whatever was recorded.