Get Out Alive - HetaOni

"There's... no time for goodbye." he said. "Just listen."
I stopped crying long enough to look up at him and nod slowly. He blinked and tried to smile, but a blood-spewing cough interrupted it and he held his shattered ribs with a pain-filled expression. Then he looked up at me with dull but frighteningly pained blue eyes.
"The rest of them... don't trust anyone. Don't... don't put your life in someone's hands. They're bound to steal it away. If you want to get out alive, run for your life."
"B-but, I have to save them too..." I reasoned brokenly. He frowned at me.
"No, you get out. For me."
"I can't if they don't!" I insisted sadly.
"I don't care about them. Save yourself. This is... this is the only way. Promise me you'll get out alive." He opened up his eyes and pinned me to the spot, using the no-nonsense expression I'd been taught to obey seamlessly. I shook my head.
"But-"
"Promise me!"
"Okay, I promise!" I shouted. Then with a small sob I buried my face in his chest. "Damn it, Germany, I promise."
"Good." he whispered. He let his eyes close slowly and leaned against the wall. "This is my last time, Italy. I'm done for. But you still have a chance, and you're gonna save yourself. I... Ich liebe dich."
"Wh-what?" I asked, sitting up. He almost smiled as blood oozed out of the side of his mouth.
"I'm glad I said that. Goodbye, Italy."
"Germany? No, Germany?!" I shouted. He started to slide down the wall and I caught him by the shoulders. "Germany? Oh God, Germany, please answer me!"
He didn't.
I eased him onto the floor. The knot in my throat felt like it would choke me. I tore my burning eyes off of him and let my arms go limp as I stared up at the ceiling. All at once, I squeezed my eyes tight and wailed, "Why the hell now?!"
I couldn't even bear the weight of my own spine as my body fell into contracting sobs. I collapsed onto the floor and curled up into Germany. My shaking hands found his bloodstained clothing and held there like anchors. I laid there next to him, slowly rocking back and forth.
"I thought... we would all get out this time. Everything was perfect. But you had to go and die on me, didn't you, tesoro? That's okay. I'll just go find the clock and set it back. That is, if I can... Every time I do I know somewhere that... That the longer I stay, I'm burning on the inside. I've watched all of them die, one over the other, and it's my fault but I didn't do anything about it. As a human here, I know I can only hope I make it to the other side. That is, if I'm not dead already." I laughed hysterically. "It would make sense that I'm in hell, wouldn't it? I've hid all my mistakes, and they're going to find me, and burn me. Burning on the inside. But then again, how in the world could I ever feel warm again when you're getting cold right beside me? Maybe I'll just sit in the dark for the rest of my life, burn on the inside and freeze on the outside. I deserve that. Maybe I should just let It kill me and get rid of this never-ending lifeline I'm stuck with. That sounds nice. Sweet blissful death." I mused. "Ah, but I promised you, didn't I? I promised I'd get out alive. But not this time, my dear. I'm going to get them out, and them keep my promise with you. I always keep my promises. I suppose I should get up now and go find the clock, even though a nap sounds so nice, hm?"
Germany didn't respond. I'm not sure if I expected him to or not.
"So... I guess this is goodbye. For now. I'll see you... when I see you. It's time to go get out alive."

If you want to get out alive, run for your life.