Road to Hell

Appeasement.

Arthur had suddenly come to loathe that word.

That word that he had supported months ago. That word that now had him in anguish over Poland as the larger country burned.

Well he had tried right?

He had tried to give Germany what it wanted in order to smother the flames of war. He had visited Poland to warn him of the possibility of the attack. They had countless meetings, countless arguments, over what to do about this new threat.

He had done everything right, so why did he feel so guilty?

Perhaps it was because it was Poland? England wasn't too close with the country, but he knew Poland. He knew Felix was always happy, always smiling and dancing around as if he didn't have a care in the world. Seeing that happiness...that peace broken, it hurt. Poland had been in wars before though, so why was this time so utterly different?

Perhaps it was his own country under fire. His own people being killed, being robbed of their homes and families. The bombs dropping, though not breaking his people's spirit as they looked to England for guidance. The pain still coursed through his veins; pounded at his head. Yet again, Britain had seen it's own share of wars, why was this time so utterly different?

Was it that America had gotten involved? Was it all the millions of people dying in camps and on battlefields? Was it the cries of the people as they died? As they lost their will to live? As they lost their faith in the world?

Arthur put his head in his hands as the throbbing headache grew stronger.

"No..." he faintly whispered, "I didn't do enough... I should have known... trying isn't enough..."

"This is all our fault, and now we get to watch as our world burns."