That night sleeping on the couch was a restless one. One full of the barking of dogs and other sounds—presumably American soldiers.

Russia had hoped that her coming to visit Germany would have gone better. But of course, he was as stubborn as ever.

She had to remember what Choson had told her during a UN meeting: “Never lay your heart out. That's how they weed out the weak and the traitors to the state. Always be vigilant.”

This was happening to her, and she hadn't even realized it. By being so open about what she wanted she had pushed herself further into being labeled as a “dirty communist”, which admittedly was partially true. But that still didn't mean she couldn't try to-

No. Stop being so naive. Choson is right. They won't learn by peaceful measures. They'll have to learn by force.

Russia's thoughts and ideas drifted to more and more outrageous means of doing so, but one stuck out to her: Be Europe's next worst enemy, by hurting one of their golden children and accusing them of harboring something vile. Only question was who? And what?

Though Russia didn't get that far. She slipped into a deep slumber long before that.

Even in slumber she was restless. Endless corridors, screams echoing from countless locked doors, a red string digging into her wrists, neck, and ankles.

She recognized this dream. She had it following the years of leaving that place, so wrongfully dubbed Das Asyl. It was everything but an asylum.

The red string wasn't taught but it still cut into her wrists, ankles, and neck, to the point where blood started to seep from tiny wounds.

Turn after turn, the screams omnipresent, and the stench of something rotting and something bloody growing ever stronger. To the point that Russia had to vomit in a waste bin that seemed so perfectly placed.

So close to the end… Russia thought, ready to have the string cut and for her to wake up as she finally stepped out of the horrid place.

But as soon as she was two meters from the large exit doors, looking at much like hospital doors to a surgery ward, the strings pulled taut, cutting even deeper into her neck, ankles, and wrists, even rubbing against the bone in some places.

“N-n-ye-ein!” Russia sputtered as blood welled up in her mouth, and she was shaken awake.