promises made, kept, and broken

Chapter 6: I need a miracle

TW// considering suicide, (do I have to add reanimation? I'll just add it. Just in case)

"If one of us turns into a zombie the other has to kill him."

Ranboo stares at this part of the promise in disbelief. Why did they say that? Why did they make that promise to each other? There is no way Ranboo could ever kill Tubbo. Even if he is a zombie. And the same counts for Tubbo.

Ranboo looks up from his book and looks over to the bed, where Tubbo is laying under a few blankets and still shivering. The fever started a while ago, even before he just passed out. But Ranboo does not want to give up on him. He just can't.

It's quiet in the house he and Tubbo are in. Too quiet for Ranboos's liking. Micheal is, as far as he knows, in the other house together with the rest of the group. So he and the others are safe in case something happens. He thought about what he would do when Tubbo woke up and isn't human anymore. He will just let Tubbo bite him. So he doesn't have to kill him. He goes back to flicking through the pages of his book hoping he wrote down how long turning into a zombie takes. But there is nothing. Not a single mention of the time it takes for someone to turn.

Then he comes to the 'weird man incident' as he titled it. He wrote down Tubbo's symptoms to keep track of them, to see if he is getting worse or better.

"High fever, fever dreams, not eating, nauseous, in-and-out of consciousness," he quietly reads. Then again, and again, and again.

----

"And you're sure about that?" Phil asks him, handing back the book. Ranboo nods and takes his book back.

"I need you to tell me everything that happened while the guy was with you," Phil tells him.

"That might take a while so get comfy," Ranboo says and sits down on the window sill.

"Okay, so a while before we met you all Tubbo and I met a strange guy while we were looting a city. He was surrounded by a group of zombies and as he saw us he yelled that he didn't have a weapon and needed help. So we killed all of the zombies and saved him. After that, he asked us if he could stay with us until we were out of the city so things like this wouldn't happen again. And once we would be out of there he would leave us alone. So we agreed and moved on. But later he began behaving strangely. Like on the first night he was sneaking around. And when I looked up he quickly moved back to his sleeping bag. The next morning I confronted him about what happened but he brushed it off and said he heard a noise. But I didn't hear any noise. It was quiet. Very quiet except for him sneaking around. Then over the day, he kept on asking questions, about where we're from, about the camp. And he kept pushing even after we said we don't want to talk about it. That went on for the next two days and nights. The last night when we were on the outskirts of the city things got even weirder. He laid down and didn't do anything. He just laid there. But I still stayed awake. He stayed quiet. The whole time. That was even weirder. But then everything is gone. And the next day I have a headache, a cut on my forehead, and Tubbo is basically burning up. After I saw the injection mark on his neck we immediately broke camp and moved as far away as possible. I was scared he might come back and try to kill us. Once we were at a safe location I wanted to search for him, and ask him what he injected Tubbo, why he did it and so many more questions. But on the other hand, I didn't know where he went, how long it would take to find him. But most importantly I couldn't leave Tubbo alone. And while he was recovering I kept track of the symptoms. And now the symptoms are the same. So even if it might be stupid I'm clinging onto this. But it keeps me going," Ranboo explains, fiddling with the pendant.

"Keep this hope, mate. It's a good thing," Phil says. "Have you told Tubbo yet?"

Ranboo shakes his head. "It kinda knocked him out immediately so..."

"You should tell him as soon as possible. It might help him fight. And I'll tell the others once they are back," Phil says, but Ranboo looks at him unsurely.

"Do you really think that this is a good idea? What if I'm completely wrong and he turns? It will just make everything worse."

"I'll deal with that. But hope is what keeps us going. It kept Tubbo going after you got lost. It is what keeps all of us going at this point. We all hope for this shit to end. All the things you've said right now. Thinking that he might survive this. That's your reason to keep going. And when he is immune then we have a big shot at ending all of this. If he wants that. If not then not. But nevertheless, we need this hope to keep going. That's why I'll tell them," Phil explains, and Ranboo nods understandingly. Then he looks to the ground.

"It's my fault tho. Isn't it? He wouldn't have run into this horde if I wouldn't have been stuck there."

"Don't do that to yourself Ranboo. It is not your fault. Things like this happen. Yeah, it sucks that they happen to us. But you can't beat yourself up about it."

"That's easier said than done," Ranboo states frustratedly.

"I know. But you need to try it," Phil encourages him and then looks down the road as he hears shouting. "Looks like the boys are back."

"We got what you need!" Michael yells, running towards them.

"That's awesome," Ranboo answers, smiling.

"We've found some of the medicine you said you need," Wilbur says and throws a little package to Ranboo, who catches it and places it next to himself.

"Okay let's go over to ours and check what else you found. And I have some news for you as well," Phil says and leads the other over to the other house. Except for Tommy.

"How is he Ranboo? And be honest," Tommy asks, leaning on the window sill.

"It does not look very good, but I'm hoping," Ranboo answers pointing at the medicine, "I hope this helps. Then we might have better chances."

"Take care of him, okay. And try to sleep as well. You look like shit."

"I will try, but I can't promise I will get any sleep," Ranboo answers, and Tommy nods. Then he follows the rest into their house.

Ranboo goes back to Tubbo, checks the leg compresses, changes them, and then checks Tubbo's pulse.

It's not there.

No matter where he tries he can't feel a pulse.

'Don't do this to me. Please don't. I can't make it without you.'

He starts trying to reanimate him. Once, Twice, three times.

He checks the pulse again.

He's back.