𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭

~𝐇𝐮𝐫𝐭~

I check each room in what I'm guessing is the royal wing, but I find no one.

I get closer and closer to the ending of the rooms.
There seems to be a faint panting sound. I try to cling to that.
It leads me to an office of sorts. Green walls. A fireplace and a desk with chairs swarming the place.
But the first thing that catches my eyes is Fredrick. A terribly wounded Fredrick.
Blood oozes out of his chest as he tries to hyperventilate.

Good. I think to myself.
The work's done. Now I don't have to go through the trouble myself.

"Sept-" he hardly lets out while breathing heavily and coughing afterwards as I turn my back on him.

"It hurts. P-lease." He says, struggling.
That takes me to a stop as I reconsider my choices.
Is it the right move to help him?
Or shall I fix my mistakes and make no more by leaving him?
I haven't the faintest idea.

I shall leave him. I want to leave him. But I can't.
"Don't go" he says, still struggling. "I need-" he lets out yet another cough, "you. Please." I slowly turn to face him as he says it.
His bloodied silhouette on the ground. His blood staining the carpet, as he gasps for air. I can't take it no more. I can't keep on pretending like I don't care for him in the slightest. And so I start taking foolish steps towards him. Cursing myself as I go.
Why am I doing this?

As soon as I notice his breathing slow down, I unconsciously hasten my pace.
"No" I say as it hits me.
"No, no. You cannot die" I reach his body and apply pressure on his wound.
I bring a chair and raise his legs.
"It's fine. It's fine" I say to myself more than to him.
I tear a little piece of my gown and hold it up to his chest while applying immense pressure.
"Th-thank you"
"Shh, it's fine. Now just shut up" a faint of a smile appears on his sweaty face as I say those words.
"September- your- your- mo-"
"I said shut up!"
Slowly he starts to close his eyes. His breathing starts to slow down.
"No no, Fredrick you'll have to stay with me" I gently slap his face as he goes unconscious.
"NO! No, Fredrick WAKE UP"
What if he's dead?
"Please. Wake up." I plead to no one.
Slowly I start to lay beside him. Still sobbing.
Could I have saved him if I was a little more quick with my decision?
Tears are still falling dow like a waterfall.

I hate to admit it, but I do actually care for him.
Will he have the same fate as every other peron I've cared about?
Will he hate me for not helping him after he dies?

"I'm so sorr-"
A swath of darkness washes over me as millions of unanswered questions pop in my mind