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The adrenaline wouldn't stop rushing as Bad jumped up, looked around wildly and sprinting forward. The white letters of a screen in the corner appeared in front of him. Not even done loading and he's already moving.
Ramon is bleeding. Ramon was slain by 100101001
As he realizes he can't get to Ramon's home by waystone, he's choosing the closest one. Running to the way-plate on his farm. Pulling himself up the ladder to an empty room. He pushes open the door and shouts for him.
"Ramon, come here!" He can't keep the hint of fear out of his firm calls. Faster, faster he has to move faster.
"Ramon where are you!" The fear and shakeing became clearer as he calls. Searching through the field and flowers.
"Ramon's safe he's at his home- he's bunkered up," his own words repeating in his head over and over.
He looks at the map on his arm for a moment, confused where Ramon could be. He should be right here. Everything becomes too still, and quick all at once
Ramon was slain by 100101001
He can hear himself scream. He can hear Max shouting. The talking and explaining. It's all so dull as his eyes land on Ramon. He quickly looks away, feeling sick at the sight.
He was right there. On the beach, just next to the bamboo. Leo doesn't move from where she sits clutching onto his arm. Staring down at him as she quietly cries.
Bad keeps his eyes up. Looking at the others, looking to the bed in Ramon's room. Talking about what happened. He can't focus on Ramon, there could still be something. There has to be something.
And when everyone leaves. When it's just him. He can't help but pace around the house. Begging it's just a nightmare. A bad dream gone wrong. He opens and closes the door to Ramon's room. Each time a quite prayer for it to be different.
He feels like a ghost. Like he's haunting this place. To keep Ramon company. He doesn't want him to be lonely, or scared when he wakes up. That’s all. He’s familiar with ghosts. They’re friendly, like his chat but sometimes they can be scary. like the monster that digital creature sent after him and the others earlier. He just feels hollow. Cold and almost numb.
The corner screen echos out each time the door opens, following the click of secure metal. It was supposed to protect Ramon. Now it just feels flimsy. Useless. Bad still can't bear to look at him. He can't. Cause Ramon's bed is there. Where he's supposed to be. Not laid out on the beach, next to the bamboo.
He starts chasing down rabbits to distract himself. Thinking aloud. Trying to understand how this even happened. He goes to the church. Kneeling at the pews, even if he doesn’t quite know if he believes it. Begging for miracles never hurt.
He can’t help but go back. Like he never left. Like Ramon’s still there. Ramon will be walking over there when Bad gets back. He’ll be safe and happy.
Bad's own ghosts chime in, telling him, he did his best. That he can’t blame himself. Bad doesn’t hear them as he steps back over to the bamboo. Opening that door again and again. Still a ghost of his own, begging for a miracle. Not for him. He’ll gladly be a ghost haunting this place forever if it meant the kids were safe. If it meant Ramon was safe.
He stops then. The frustration spilled out into tears. He doesn’t cry often. As a demon of many years, he’s experienced many losses before. It doesn’t make this hurt less. He looks down at Ramon and he doesn't know how the world could bear to be this brutal.
Ramon, lying there with a cut down the chest. Blood spilt on the green grass. Blood on him. His blood…
He looks away, remembering a place where he could’ve moved faster. Found Ramon sooner. Bad didn’t know where the way-stone was but he knew the place. The xp farm, with the mine near it. They'd almost lost Ramon once in there. He counts out the steps, the seconds it would’ve taken. He doesn’t hold back in running. Considering the facts. Facts are easier than emotion sometimes.
He can’t bear to leave him. Not like this. The ghosts whisper to give Ramon a totem. It feels morbid and silly, but he doesn’t deny them. Instead searching his bags for one. Instead he sees the Sombrero’s Bad had gotten for Dapper and Ramon.
He fails to hold back more tears as his hands brush over them, imagining the joy the boys would have shared in. Dancing around and showing off their hats. He goes back to searching, swiping at his face and finally finding it.
He goes to give Ramon the totem. Only long enough to see it doesn't work. H e turns to the door again, like it’ll become some sort of Magic. It doesn’t. It just wears him down more and more.
Finally. Finally he stops. Bad sits down in the grass next to him. A few paces away. Clutched in Ramon’s hands is a starfruit. The totem he placed right next to him. Bad looks away again. Sending the ghosts out so he can cry. Tears spilling over his cheeks. Constantly replaying every step.
He promised he’d protect them. All of them. He failed when he was right there, just a few steps away. How can he do anything else now, besides stay here with Ramon until Fit comes. It’s his responsibility. Even if it’s forever, he’ll stay here with him. He doesn’t want Ramon to feel lonely or scared after all.