Memories

Life One, Final Act

Warning: Violence and abuse. Character deaths.

Chapter Summary:
"For the sake of our department, you better pray we aren't too late." - Gilbert Beilschmidt, Prussia. "The chief has given search and arrest warrants..." - Cosette Choquette, Monaco. "No. Not again... I can't do this again... Please...!" - Feliciano Vargas, Italy Veneziano.

/

"Let's just get this over with..." Turkey grumbled as he picked up the remote.
/

"Children!" Sera called out. She wanted them all in the living room. "Ah, finally." She said as they all lined up at the center of the room. "Follow me." She marched them down to the basement. "You'll stay here until I've finished packing."

With those words, she pulled the foldable staircase up and locked the door.

Feliciano whimpered as he curled up beside Arthur. The blond only hugged his brother.

William and Seamus sat to Arthur's right, both trying to comfort Peter. "It's dark...! And cold...!" Peter cried as Fredrick sat beside him. "As long as we're together, we can keep warm."

/

Four Days Later

Gilbert slammed their findings on the desk of his coworker. "You said they were fine." His words were sharp and accusing. Ivan walked up to them, looking forlorn. "The chief said he'd look into the case... about two to three months before any results..."

Gilbert clenched his teeth. "For the sake of our department, you better pray we aren't too late." He said before walking out of the police station.

/

Two Days Later

"I'm hungry..." Kiku whispered just before his stomach made a sound. Phuong held onto him tighter. "I know... We don't have food anymore..."
Yao watched his siblings, all of them, and couldn't help thinking, At least in the streets, we can look for food... Leon pulled Yao closer to him, seeking warmth. It wasn't long before they were all cuddling close to each other.

"How long... has it been? You don't... think she... forgot us... do you...?" Hugo's question was met with silence as his siblings tried to think of a logical, yet positive, answer. Only to come up with none.

/

Three Months Later

Cosette walked to Gilbert's desk. "The chief has given search and arrest warrants..." Cosette didn't sound as happy as she would be about something like this. "What's wrong?" "The people are complaining about a strange smell coming from the house... I checked, myself, and found  the odor to be similar to... uhm... urine and maneur..."

Gilbert's eyes narrowed at the information. "Ivan and I will check the house. You try and track down that woman."

/

Gilbert opened the door, only to be met with an unpleasant smell. Ivan surveyed the house. It was quiet, almost peaceful. They followed the the bad stench all the way to the basement where they found a heartbreaking sight...

The children were huddled together in a corner of the room. They weren't moving or showing any signs of life.

"God...!" Gilbert carefully walked over to the children, avoiding the puddles and piles of substances he could only guess about. "John, you idiot...! You messed up big time...!" A whimper came from the center of the piled up children. "Ivan...! I think there are survivors...!"

Ivan helped his partner move the cold, unmoving bodies one by one. They were careful not to damage the children any more than they had been. At the center of the pile, buried under the cold bodies, was a young brunette boy, shivering and barely breathing.

/

Three Days Later

Feliciano groggily opened his eyes, only to shut them once more as he was met with sudden brightness. "Where am I...?" He whispered, before carefully reopening his eyes. He was in a hospital, it seemed.

"Hey, kiddo." A white haired police officer stood at the doorway. His red eyes reminded Feliciano of Vlad. "Where are... my siblings...?" The officer gave him a solemn look, like the ones given to him and Marcello after that accident.

Feliciano cried. "No! Not again... I can't do this again... Please...!"

Gilbert felt his heart break.

/

"It's the same thing, right? Vets do it to depressed pets, too, don't they...?"

Gilbert let Ivan hold him as he cried. Cosette and Maria sat on the couch of the apartment's living room. They tearfully eyed the empty syringe on the floor.

/

One Week Later

The courtroom was filled today. The townspeople were all present and accounted for. "Sera Caine, you are being faced with charges of child abuse and several first degree murders. What do you plead?"

The woman had the audacity to blame her actions on depression and schizophrenia...

/

"This is Sofia Richter reporting to you live from Dornoch. With me is Officer Gilbert Beilschmidt, who helped bring justice to the poor children. Could you tell us a bit of what you found, officer?"

"It's all in my official report, which you have no doubt received."

/

Summary of the Police Report:

There was attempted prostitution, starvation, dehydration, killing their beloved pets, verbal abuse, physical abuse.

The youngest had a stab wound from a spoon. The girl's lower back had the word 'prostitute' carved onto it. The eldest was thoroughly starved. More than three of them had burns on their bodies. They all had broken or shattered bones. The last survivor spoke of apologies for sleeping too long before he passed away.

/

Gilbert stood beside each of the small coffins before joining Ivan at the entrance. "The whole town's here, isn't it?" "Yes... They all cared... They still do..."

By the time Cosette and Maria got to the funeral, it was already dusk.

Gilbert and Ivan were still there.

The following day, the children were laid to rest with their foster parents.

Gilbert, Ivan, Cosette and Maria made it their duty to check on the Koreans' mother.

She never woke from her coma...

/

Taiwan was shaking in her seat by now. She was crying and holding onto an equally shaken North Vietnam.

Mongolia was frozen in his seat, not even bothering to think positively...

Romano went outside and began shooting vases and other furnitures.

France walked to England's original seat. "I'm sorry... If I'd known... I wouldn't have made that wish..."

Latvia could no longer stop himself from crying. Moldova climbed on his lap, trying to comfort the northern country even as Noldova, himself, cried.

"Iggy... Shit, dude... I never knew... I'm sorry..." Scotland held America as he cried. "Aye. I'm sorry, too, Albion..."

Ireland and Germany were silent, both crying at the tradegy. As were the rest of the countries.

In their minds, they kept apologizing for many things concerning their siblings and friends...