The Secret

Chapter 16

Dad. Dad, I'm scared. Please, I don't know where I am.

Alfred woke, and the house was still quiet. The blinds over the window were still drawn closed, night was still settled over the room. He sat up in the bed, pushing the blanket down. Despite the night terror that was slipping from his memory, he felt cold.

He reached to the nightstand and brought his glasses to put them on. He looked beside him. Asleep with the blanket coming just below his chest was Ivan, his chest slowly rising and falling with each breath.

Alfred's legs pushed off the bed and he stood up. His hand pushed through the locks of hair on his head as he left the room.

He knew this house like the back of his hand. There was something about it that seemed foreign, though. A feeling he couldn't shake. In the living room, he pulled the slider door open and stepped outside, onto the balcony.

The air was silent. The city around him was quiet with only the wind to disturb the silence. He filled his lungs with the brisk air.

"Alfred? What are you doing up?"

"Just a dream."

Alfred could faintly hear Ivan's footsteps until he came out onto the balcony. He felt Ivan's hand on his waist as he came to stand beside him. "What was your dream about?" he asked softly.

"I don't remember."

Ivan rested his head against Alfred's. "Come back to bed," he said softly.

Alfred couldn't knock the feeling. It came on like panic. The feeling came suddenly and overwhelmed him.

"Come to sleep."

Alfred turned to Russia, a strong gust of wind rustling his hair. With a nod, he walked back inside, pulling the door closed. Ivan lead Alfred back to the bedroom where the two laid down on the bed.

Alfred laid down beside Ivan, pulling the blanket over them both and removing his glasses. Alfred looked up to the ceiling, not able to forget the panic. He felt Ivan's hand rest on his shoulder.

"Do you feel like something's wrong?"

Ivan inhaled a deep breath. "Wrong?"

"I don't know," Alfred said with a sigh. He let his eyes close, tilting his head against the pillow. He slipped back into unconsciousness, back to where a young voice called out to him. One he could only faintly remember.

-

A noise woke him. Alfred opened his eyes to see the white ceiling, lit from the shaded morning light peaking through the shade. He heard the noise again, and this time he could identify it.

Alfred turned to his side to find Ivan. His eyes were closed, but he seemed restless. He gave a few ragged coughs before settling down.

Alfred slowly sat up and got himself dressed. In the kitchen, he made himself some coffee and a cup of tea for Ivan. Soon enough Ivan walked into the kitchen; dressed and ready for the day. Except,

"You don't look like you got much sleep," Alfred observed. Ivan's eyes sagged and he moved with extra effort, as if the air around him were water. He didn't respond. He only sat down at the kitchen table and sipped his tea.

Alfred sat down at the table with his coffee. "Are you feeling all right?"

Ivan nodded. His mouth stretched open in a yawn. His hand came up to wipe at his eyes. He looked up with a smile. "I'm fine. Just tired." Alfred gave a small smile.

At the meeting, all the countries were there as usual. Each pair sat beside each other. By the time everyone had arrived, Ivan was looking okay; weariness gone from his appearance. The meeting rambled on about meaningless topics, things that didn't really need discussing.

Once the meeting ended, Alfred stood. He glanced to Alan beside him. His movements were slow and he seemed to have something on his mind. As if he wasn't really here.

"Hey, are you okay?" he asked softly.

"I'm fine," he said sternly. "Just some stuff on my mind."

"I can see that."

He turned to glare at Alfred before taking his things and leaving. Alfred watched him leave for a moment before gathering his things together. He looked up when he heard his name called. Romania walked up to him with a smile.

"Hey, Vlad. What's up?"

"Alfred. I wanted to talk to you about something."

"Sure." Alfred shouldered his bag. He turned to Vladimir, waiting for him to speak.

"Would you like to take a walk? Get a drink?"

Alfred stared at him for a moment before nodding his head. He followed him out of the building. They didn't go to get a drink or anything. They just walked down the street until they got to a secluded spot where Vladimir offered Alfred a seat on a bench.

"Alfred. Do you remember anything?"

Alfred narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"

He took a deep breath before continuing. "Does anything feel different to you? Like something's off."

In a word, yes. That's exactly how he had been feeling. "Why? Is everything okay?"

"Let me ask one more question." Alfred nodded. "Have you had any dreams with a young girl? Ever felt like something's missing, or not right?"

"Why are you asking me these things?"

"Alfred. Something happened. Some of the other countries planned it to make this world."

"What are you-"

"Don't you think it's odd that there are two personifications for each nation?"

He had, but no one ever really knew anything about them.

"Don't you think it's odd how Luciano and their gang are always watching everyone else?"

"That's because they're in charge."

"If that's so, isn't everything suppose to be equal? Property, rank, economy, military."

He did have a point. But why was he asking him? "Why are telling me this?"

"Because it's your daughter. She's the one that died to make this possible. She's the one they killed."

He could hear a gunshot in his head. Two. A quick image that passed in less than a moment. He shook his head. What was he thinking? "I don't have a daughter, Vlad. I have my states and territories."

"How many states do you have? Fifty?"

"Right. No," he corrected himself. "I have forty-nine states."

"But you had fifty," he insisted, his tone lowering in volume.

Alfred stood up. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Vladimir shot to his feet. "Alfred, please."

"I've heard enough. Goodbye, Vlad." He turned and walked from the bech, leaving Vladimir. He wanted to forget everything Vlad had tried to tell him, but it all nagged at his mind. Maybe he should listened. No. What he was talking about- He didn't know, but it sounded crazy.