How to take down an empire with voices in your head

25. Against a Tree

His legs are heavy and his chest is heaving. Still, he drags himself further. Despite it being sometime in the evening, and the sun slowly setting, he still squints his eyes as he glances around. He didn't know where to go at first, he just knew he needed to be away from other people. The low humming and the voice in his head could lead to anything. And it was too difficult to ignore at this point. So step by step he made his way to the crater of L'manburg.

'Interesting choice,' he hated that voice. 'But you should've stayed. With the others and all.'

His back slides against a tree before he's laying in tall grass, shaking his head at the words. 

"No. That could put them in danger. I know what you do." There was a few beats of silence, making Ranboo shiver in uncertainty. Then he could hear Dream's voice again, 'But that's exactly the point, right Ranboo?'

"No, just no. Never," Ranboo mumbled as he stared at the ground, hunching over. He hated the low chuckle that followed, clenching his fists. "Can't you leave me alone? What do you even want?"

'I want you to help me,' Dream's voice was loud in Ranboo's head. He worried that if he looked up he might even see the dark green figure standing above him, that cursed smiley face glowing from under his hood. Ranboo could even picture a netherite axe, already covered in blood.

So he squeezed his eyes shut, not taking any chances with the games his mind would play. Letting out a shaky breath as he ran a hand through his hair, "But- I won't. I'd never help someone like you."

'But you have,' Dream was quick to respond. 'And you know it. I know it. The egg knows it-'

"The egg? How- when?" Ranboo frowned, his conversation with the mind-controlling virus playing in his mind. Again there was a moment of silence, 'I'm not exactly sure... But that doesn't matter. What matters is that you're going to help me now.'

This damned voice had been in his mind since he woke up and to his disappointment, it didn't seem to want to leave anytime soon. That's why he was here, sitting at the top of a crater. Away from people, he wasn't willing to risk it. He already felt bad for the scratch he gave Niki, but with Dream's voice influencing him, Ranboo was capable of doing a lot more. So Ranboo ran away, trying to ignore the pain from being stabbed as best as he could.

He knew running- or any big movements for that matter, wouldn't help his wound, he was fully aware. Because now the pain had increased along with his unsteady breathing. He's no longer paying attention to the voice in his head, only focusing on his surroundings. His eyes are heavy, so he's relying heavily on his hearing. But all he hears is the wind, the pool of water at the bottom of the crater and Dream's muffled voice. Ranboo hesitates for a second but allows himself to relax for a moment. Or two. It's warm under the tree. Maybe he could take a quick nap, wake up and Dream would be gone, his pain would be gone.

So Ranboo finally gives up on listening to the world around him, burying his head in his arms that rested heavily on his knees. His breathing slows down and he isn't as tense. Now he's asleep, under a tree at the top of a crater. With two people searching for him. This isn't bad at all.