HetaOni: Italy's Story

Chapter 8: Hidden Demons

Italy's POV:

I wake up extremely disorientated. Where am I? Why do I hurt so much? What the fuck happened? Then it all comes crashing back. I bite down on my inner lip hard enough to draw blood as my sleep-fogged mind finally registers the pain I'm in. FUCK!

My body has stopped twitching from the electricity, but I can still feel the muscles twitch underneath my skin from the pain. Damnit. I won't be able to fight for another day at least. We can't attempt an escape like this! I need to fight. I'm the most capable fighter here; I can't let them die again. Not when we're so close! Shit! Merde! Why did I get myself into this position?!

I register the quiet voices of the others. They're already awake? I've been sleeping for over 6 hours, then. That's no surprise seeing how injured I am. I can hardly move. Damn. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! I know better than to stab a Lightning Thing in the fucking forehead! STUPID!

I decide that I'm done with my mental self-rant, and listen in on what the others are saying. "–ust be really tired... He's been seeping for hours. Nothing can wake him. You sure he's alright?" Romano asks, concern evident in his voice. They must be talking about me. I can't let China see me like this. He'll recognize the symptoms immediately! It's a miracle that nobody noticed my ragged breathing as is, let alone my trembling muscles!

"I can check up on him if he doesn't wake up in 30 minutes. I'm getting worried, too. We all woke up 5 hours ago, after all." China says. Five hours?! I've been sleeping for 11 hours?! Holy shit! I haven't slept that long—not including death, and comas, because really, they aren't a restful sleep at all—since we've entered this Mansion! I must be worse than I thought... Maybe I should have Yao take a look at me? No. Not when there's a chance to escape without telling them. I can't risk it. Not now.

I wrench open my eyes, wincing at the bright light. I wait for my eyes to adjust before glancing around, careful not to move anything but my eyes. Nobody. They must all be in the kitchen. I conclude.

Taking a deep, shuddering breath, I bite back a scream as I sit up. This won't do! I have to act normal around them. I can't show this pain to them!

"Oh? Veneziano! You're finally awake! Damn bastard! Worrying me like that! Just how long were you planning to sleep anyways, huh?" Romano demands as he comes up behind me and playfully slaps the back of my head. It takes everything I have to keep from screaming bloody murder. He doesn't know... He doesn't know...

FUCK! Let me murder that bastard!

NO! Damnit, just shut the fucking hell up! I'm in way too much pain to deal with you right now!

"Oi, Veneziano? You okay?" Romano asks worriedly. Somehow, I'm able to rearrange my facial features into something more sleepy and normal, rather than the extreme pain that it showed seconds prior.

"Si~ I'm fine. Just tired." I say, looking up at him with a slow yawn for authenticity. Romano still looks worried, but seems to shrug it off.

"Well, come eat your breakfast, then. It's actually lunch, though. Lazy-ass."

"Okay~ Grazie fratello." I then begin the process of standing. I bite my cheek hard enough to draw blood again. That's going to make the food taste off.

The taste of your food is the least of your worries.

Yeah, I suppose you're right. How the hell am I going to even make it to the table, let alone run all the way to the Front Gates while fighting off the Things?! It's suicide! And homicide!