Sealand awoke to complete darkness and a deafening silence.

"Hello?" he called out. Even his voice sounded muffled.

No response.

He tried again, "Is anyone there?"

Not a bit of sound or movement. Not the slightest shift in the blackness.

"Sweden? Finland?"

Still no answer.

"Ladonia?"

Nothing.

"Anyone?"

Absolutely nothing.

Sealand started to panic slightly. 'Am I... alone? But how? Why? Where is everyone? Did they leave me?' He shook his head. No, they wouldn't. They would never...

'What happened to "always with you"?' That phrase, that little promise, was the only thing that kept his family together sometimes. This place - whatever it was - must have been getting to him. They wouldn't break that promise.

But still...

'They're not here.' He thought. 'They're not with me.'

'I really am alone.'

No one was there to hear his cries in that darkness.

No one.

~~XXX~~

Sealand jolted awake at the sound of someone coming into his room.

"What's wrong?" Iceland asked, worried for the micronation.

"What do you mean?"

"You were crying."

"I was?"

"Yeah." He paused. "Was it a nightmare?"

''A nightmare? More like hell.' Sealand nodded, shaking slightly at the memory. "Yeah, it was."

"Are you okay now?" Another nod.

"Alright then." Iceland began making his way to the door.

"Wait!"

He turned back around. "Hm?"

Sealand asked, "Can - can I come sleep in there with you? Just for tonight! In case..." he trailed off.

Iceland smiled at that. "Of course. Come on."

'That nightmare was hell, but it's okay now. My family is always with me, just like they promised.'