To Build a Home

When Pasta Was an Everyday Meal

Chapter two

Arthur was beyond pissed. He sure as hell couldn't put up with Mr. Golden Boy Jones and the others. Arthur was 100% capable of defending himself and he was aiming to prove it. He had his arrows, his first aid kit, and his brain. With that in mind Arthur headed to the thick tree tops of the south African jungles. Arthur figured he would live like an ewok upon the treetops until things were sorted out. Arthur smiled to himself, remembering the tree-houses he had built as a child in England before he went and got dragged into the hell of school. Arthur was the chosen prodigy of the UK, and he was going to damn well prove it! It will be fine, of course it will! Arthur wasn't lonely and scared and heartbroken...

No, he gave Alfred a chance time and time again. The world just hated them, seeing as every time they tried to be together something went wrong, and life threw a wrench in their plans. Arthur reached to touch the necklace around his neck. It was just leather cord with a singular silver ring on it. It was his wedding ring once upon a time, but now it was just a painful reminder. Alfred worked for days to get enough pensions to by the metal to make the rings, and even more work to get the small green diamond, to match Alfred's blue, engraved in the silver band.

It didn't matter now, what was said and done is in the past, right now all Arthur had to focus on was his survival.

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Feliciano was scared. His fratello was somewhere at camp and Feli was trapped on the outside of the wall with strangers. The only person he knew here was Francis, because he was also in the Wolf Cabin. Ivan and Alfred were fighting violently as Francis and Yao threw sticks at them, betting on who would win. Kiku was sitting by the firepit, leaning against the cream colored wall that separated Feli from his friends and his brother. The wall itself was a good twenty feet, towering above the teens. Feliciano watched as Ivan threw a stone at Alfred. This was too much. No one would survive if we all killed each other.

"Guys, stop it please! I'm hungry and soon we'll all be starving! We can't be divided, we won't make it! Let's make pasta, not war!" The Italian chided, trying to get the other's attention. Kiku looked up from his corner and nodded.

"Feliciano is right. Guys. Yao-" Kiku started, and gave up seeing as Francis and Yao themselves started fighting over bets and money owed. But who gave crap about money when you were trapped outside a wall, vulnerable to...well anything.

In Feliciano's experience from horror films, the end of the world always had zombies, some creature or something evil that the survivors feared. In the movies, the heroes knew what they were up against, they knew the odds, and at the end of the day humanity always survived. But out here, in the wilderness, no one knew what to expect. Would there be cannibalistic humans or carious dinosaurs with robot arms? Radiation killed, it poisoned, it blackened and destroyed, but it also mutated. No one could be sure what to expect, and no one could be prepared. Somehow that was more terrifying than zombies would have been. At least Feli would know what to do.

Ludwig got up from the campfire and stood tall. "Alfred! Ivan!"

Surprisingly, both boys turned, fists seconds from each other.

"What the hell do you want sausage breath?!" Alfred barked, stepping away from the tall Russian.

"The Italian is correct. We should be making food, not gutting each other! I'm hungry, but not for a human corpse. You two!" Ludwig pointed to Yao and Francis. "You're both in Wolf, correct?"

"Shi!" "Oui." Answered the two in question.

"Right, you work together and build a shelter. We'll stay here by the wall in case patrols come by and see us once they notice we're missing. Feliciano and Kiku, work on food."

The four boys nodded and began working in their respective jobs.

"What about me?" Alfred asked, leaning against a tree impatiently. Ivan rolled his eyes.

"I would send you off with Ivan, but as right now, I don't trust either of you. The three of us will gather supplies in the woods, and more importantly, things to make weapons out of. I don't know what's out there, but if a rabid bear comes out of nowhere, I'd like to live. Questions?"

Ivan shook his head and tugged at the scarf he was wearing. Alfred kicked the dirt at his feet and looked away from Ludwig and into the treeline. "What about Artie?"

"Who?" Ivan asked. "The British kid with big eyebrows?"

"No,I'm talking about the monkey that I saw earlier. No shit Sherlock! Of course it's the British kid, the one that stormed off because of--" Alfred faltered.

Ludwig raised his eyebrows, knowing the hidden undertone in his comrade's voice. Because of me.

"Well, we'll look for him in the woods while we gather supplies. Now, let's get going!"

Alfred and Ivan sighed and followed Ludwig into the woods that awaited them.

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Eight months ago...  

Feliciano skipped happily as he carried a fresh plate of spaghetti into his cabin, his roommates lighting up and jumping out of their beds.

"Feli brought food! Feli brought food guys!" Katyusha smiled and took the bowl from his arms.

Feliciano beamed as Francis got off of his bed and started handing out plates.

Lovino shook his head. "Again Fratello? You know the pasta is to be preserved for special occasions like birthdays and dances and shit. We already had our daily ration."

"Don't call it that, please." Feliciano whispered as he sat down on his bunk.

Yao rolled his eyes. "Why do we even bother? Everything is dead outside, why deny it?"

Roderich gasped. "Stop it! You're both breaking rules! Feli shouldn't be stealing anyway. It's wrong, even if it's for all of us."

"Don't call it stealing!" Feliciano yelled. "I just wanted to feel normal, like the times when pasta was an everyday meal.

Lovino sighed and hugged his brother. "I know." He whispered. "I miss those days too, but Roderich and Yao are right. We can't just eat whatever we want anymore, even if we are the food and shelter cabin."

Francis laughed. "Cheers to that mon ami. Anyway let's stop arguing concerning the food and dig in!"

Heracles, Im Yong Soo and Kiku all smiled and grabbed a plate, as laughter filled the air. Warmth radiated from the cabin as the windows fogged up, the december snow. Outside candles were lit as other campers threw snowballs and lovers courted each other. It was almost magical, and for once since the end had come, Feliciano truly felt like he had a home again.

But that home was shattered. That family was gone. And this time Feliciano wasn't sure if he'd ever eat pasta again, or if he would ever find happiness in this world of darkness that seemed to snuff out every form of light.