Side Chapter 1 - Ramon’s Story 4 'Deserting the group…2’

“RON!”

A loud shout was heard, far away from Ramon.

Instantly, his eyes wandered to his brother and his gaze to brother Ron Graeme, who was on the floor coughing…- blood?!

-Gasps!-

His brain stuttered for a moment, his eyes stuck on the figure coughing up large amounts of blood and on the Crown Prince kneeling beside him and before he realized it, the evil man was already walking closer to the two, trying to do something eviler!

‘NO!’

Ramon gripped the hands of Aeselak tightly! Afraid of what’s to come!

‘DO SOMETHING ELDEST BROTHER LOUIS!’

Before tears could form in Ramon's eyes, Aeselak woke him up from his terrible thoughts, encouraging him,

“Now Young Master!”

Carrying him up to stand; this was the best moment to chance upon escaping as the two evil-doers are focusing on something else!

And with one last desperate shout to Ramon, she hugged and pushed him forward,

‘Please don’t look back no matter what!’

Without even thinking, or perhaps it might’ve been his instinct to take this best chance, with Aeselak’s push, Ramon sprinted as fast as he could towards the directions of the Imperial Garden. It was now or never, not looking back, with no words, he ran.

Passing by his Elder brother, Aedelak, Euria, Eugeneia, Crown Prince Ren, brother Ron, and the evil man who stared at him in shock!

Her telling him bad things will happen if they don’t get help, constantly repeated in his mind! Convincing himself to not stop running until he reaches either his father or mother. Not trusting any guards like what Aeselak told him.

‘But what if....the man runs right after?’

This terrifying question suddenly popped into his mind, tempting him to look behind, yet the moment he was about to, a loud shout was suddenly heard!

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING?”

‘No! Don’t think! RUN!’

The shout completely stopped Ramon from looking behind and made him concentrate on his task of getting help. Putting on more speed; and before he realized it, the distance between the mass and him was far away enough for the shouts to become inaudible.

His feets pounded the springy dry grass, as his throat slowly became parched from the scorching sun from above. His red hair bobbed loosely as his eyes slowly stung from sweat running down his forehead.

His sights slowly landed on a familiar huge red tree with 1 square-shaped apple hanging from the tree branch, realizing he was a lot closer to the Imperial gardens than he thought he was. But before he could rejoice, the next scene that flashed into his eyes was of the ground.

“Ah!”

His feet tripped over hard rock due to his wandering mind and cloudy vision, falling face-first onto the grass.

“Ouch..”

He groaned under his breath, as he slowly crawled up. Bringing his left hand to touch his forehead to see if he was injured.--- Blood...

Before pain could hit him he quickly stood up and started sprinting! Afraid that his courage would weaken if he were to feel pain.

‘No! No! No! It doesn’t hurt. It doesn’t hurt!’

Ramon shouted inside his head, convincing himself to run faster, already feeling his body becoming slower and heavier like weights have been added to him. Not enough oxygen entered his lungs making him feel dizzy from anxiety and distress rising. The shame of deserting the group heavily weighing on his mind.

“Fa…”

He wanted to stop himself from shouting so that all his energy could be spent in running, wanting to be calm and steady like the Veria’s mindset. However, the regrets of momentarily feeling relief upon seeing the red tree, and the guilt of leaving everyone behind completely broke him mentally. No longer able to hold his stress back, his whole heart muttered the name of the person he’s desperately looking for.

“Father...”

“.....”

The quiet surrounding replying back to him, the feeling of being all alone in the middle of nowhere but plain lands suddenly hit him...

“FATHERR!!”

Ramon screamed! Putting all his weights into his feet to run faster, past the stone wall that separates the endless plain to the entrance of the Imperial Garden. --Just a bit more!

His heart tightly clenched as if someone was repeatedly pouncing on his chest. As if a portion of his heart was repeatedly stabbed, and blood was flowing non-stop. He was scared. He was incredibly terrified of everything! --Why him?... Little by little water started to cloud his vision, tears threatening to fall.

He wanted to give up. But if he did, what would happen to everyone? And Aeselak who was stalling the guy for him?

‘NO! Just a bit more! DON’T CRY!’

He screamed inside his head. Shaking his tears away, gritting his teeth to not cry! Going through the same emotional turmoil Aeselak went through. Now understanding how afraid she must’ve been but still choose to stay behind for him to safely get away and bring help!

‘What if….. But what if she can’t make it?’

Feeling his breath skipping from such thought, enough to also slow his pace down… The first time he thought of death was when Eugene was asleep for one whole month. Never waking up even when Aernest and Euria were constantly bothering her...But what if… that happened to Aeselak....forever?

‘NO! STOP THINKING!’

Raising both his hands up, he slapped his face hard!

‘STOP THINKING’

He closed his eyes for a brief second...Reopening them in less than a second, however, it was all too late….

CRASH--!

Crashing hard into a wall he swears wasn’t there from afar. Falling and rolling hard from the harsh impact. Unable to realize what the wall he bumped into was...

‘Wha…’

Trying to crawl up, just to fall straight down. His world was spinning. His vision completely blackened-- What happened?... Was all he could think of before an incredibly low male voice spoke out from right from above him.

“Are you alright?”