Everything is Hetalia

Campfire Story Part 1

"Toward the end of the 1940s, Soviet researchers sealed five prison inmates in an airtight chamber and dosed them with an experimental stimulant gas to test the effects of prolonged sleep deprivation. Their behavior was observed via two-way mirrors and their conversations monitored electronically. They had been promised their freedom if they could go entirely without sleep for 30 days.

The first few days of the experiment passed uneventfully. By the fifth day, however, the subjects began showing signs of stress and were overheard bemoaning their circumstances. They stopped conversing with their fellow inmates, choosing instead to whisper compromising information about one another into the microphones, apparently in an effort to win the favor of the researchers.

Paranoia set in.

On the ninth day the screaming began. First one subject, then another, was observed running around the chamber screaming at the top of his lungs for hours on end. Equally disconcerting was the reaction of the quieter subjects, who began ripping apart the books they'd been given to read, smearing the pages with feces, and plastering them over the mirrored windows so their actions could no longer be observed.

Then, just as suddenly, the screaming stopped. The subjects ceased communicating altogether. Three long days passed without a sound from inside the chamber. Fearing the worst, the researchers addressed the subjects via the intercom. "We are opening the chamber to test the microphones," they said. "Step away from the door and lie flat on the floor or you will be shot. Compliance will earn one of you your immediate freedom-"

"Wait, wait..." China interrupted Russia, holding his hand in front of the startled Russian. Russia's face soon melted into a knowing smirk. "Yes, my precious Yao?" China internally shuddered from Russia's intimidating aura.  "So, the Soviet Union brought in prisoners for an experiment that if they can go thirty days awake, they get their freedom? Why would they do that, aru?" China said, rubbing his chin and looking at Russia in mild curiosity. Russia smiled, "Well, they were curious. Naturally, they would try it out." China said nothing, looking back at the campfire and eating one of the marshmallows that America offered to bring. "This story isn't going to end well, will it? After all, curiosity killed the cat," England blankly stated, a smirk slowly crawling on his face. "Such dark pessimistic words, Britain. Well, if I continued the story, we will find out." Russia said, content that he had the undivided attention of his allies. "No way, Jose! This is some creepy story!" America shouted and grabbed on to the person closest to him, France. France grunted, startled at America's childish actions. However, he didn't fight him off. "Well, are you going to continue, Russia?" France peacefully asked, patting America's back gently with one hand while using the other to eat a marshmallow. England grunted, "Yes, well I am enjoying this story very much...continue, please." Russia's smile got bigger, showing his white-as-snow teeth. The fire illuminated off the trees and made Russia's smile look more terrifying. This struck a sense of fear in the atmosphere and the nations. Except for Russia, who began to continue his scary tale.

"A voice from inside answered, "We no longer want to be freed."

Two more days passed without contact of any kind as the scientists debated what to do next. Finally, they decided to terminate the experiment. At midnight on the fifteenth day the stimulant gas was flushed from the chamber and replaced with fresh air in preparation for the subjects' release. Far from being pleased at the prospect of leaving the chamber, the subjects began screaming as if in fear for their lives. They begged to have the gas turned back on. Instead, the researchers unsealed the door to the chamber and sent armed soldiers inside to retrieve them. Nothing could have prepared them for the carnage they witnessed upon entering.

One subject was found dead, lying face-down in six inches of bloody water. Chunks of his flesh had been torn off and stuffed into the floor drain. All of the test subjects were found to have been severely mutilated, in fact. What's worse, the wounds appeared to be self-inflicted. They had ripped open their own abdomens and disemboweled themselves with their bare hands.