lost ~completed~

chapter 33

Ludwig panted as he raced through the trees. His feet stumbled over branches and underbrush and twigs reached out to snatch at his arms but he had to get to his allies ahead of him.

Gilbert's words echoed through his head. "Go ahead and get our allies. I'll stay here and hold Feliciano off." he whispered.

"What? No! With your leg, He'll kill you! Why don't you run ahead ?" Ludwig retorted. Gilbert smiled. Ludwig was shocked by his smile. It wasn't his usual smirk. It was a genuine warm, comforting smile.

"You said so yourself, my leg is an issue. I can't run, Ludwig. But that also means that Feliciano won't kill me." he said. Ludwig frowned. Gilbert did have a point.

So he left Gilbert behind. He ran as fast as his tired legs could take him. He had to get to the others quickly. He didn't think Feliciano would hurt Gilbert but there was always that chance. He wanted to get help for his brother as quick as he could so they could get him to safety and to a place where they could all rest.

He soon saw them come into his sight. They all looked exhausted. Trailing near the back was Elizaveta . Ludwig felt his legs move faster, adrenaline pumping through his veins.

"Liz!" he yelled. Liz froze instantly and turned around, her hair blowing around her face. Her wide green eyes seemed to glow from the shadows of her eyes.

"Ludwig!" she exclaimed. Fear visibly seized her when she noticed Gilbert wasn't by his side. Gilbert had also forced her to run ahead. Ludwig was strong enough to help him, any more would be a hindrance, "Where's Gilbert ?"

Ludwig stopped, breathing heavily from having to run so fast in order to catch up. He pointed behind him, "He's buying us time but he needs help. Feliciano found us and he's fighting him." Ludwig explained in a rapid voice. Elizaveta nodded and started running towards the direction where Gilbert was without a second thought.

Ludwig turned and followed after her, desperate to get back to his brother before it was too late. Rain drops began to fall from the sky. At first it was just a few drops here or there but the drops soon began to fall quicker. Ludwig and Elizaveta didn't seem to care. The rain drops went unnoticed as they ran towards their brother or lover.

As they neared, at first they didn't see anyone. Once they got close enough they could see a person lying on the ground with a long object protruding their stomach. Ludwig froze and vile rose in his throat. That was either Gilbert or Feliciano lying dead or dying in the field, in the rain, by themselves. The thought of one of them dying out on that field wrenched his heart.

As they neared even closer, they could see a pale silver mop on the persons head. Ludwig chocked out a sob. It was Gilbert. It was his older bruder that was lying in the field all alone. Feliciano really had killed him, and left him to die alone. Ludwig felt as though he was going to be sick. He didn't even care that tears were streaking down his cheeks. He didn't slow down until he reached his brothers side. He dropped down onto his knees, the water on the ground soaking his pants. He didn't care though; Gilbert was dying.

"Gil..." he whispered. He didn't know what to do. His hands trembled as he reached down. He carefully picked up Gilbert's body and rested it on his lap, cradling him close.

"Lud..." a hoarse voice croaked. Gilbert blinked his eyes open, squinting against the rain. Ludwig leaned over him, trying to shield him from the rain. A weak smile graced Gilbert's features.

Ludwig bit his lip to hold back more sobs as he looked at his brother. Even inches away from deaths grip, he was still trying to smile. Ludwig's eyes grazed over his body. Disheveled hair; colorless, almost transparent, skin; dull red eyes; dark, sunken eye sockets; chest weakly rising and falling; and, worst of all, the dark red stain around his stomach. Ludwig's hand trembled as he felt the sword, Feliciano's sword. He wanted to remove the foreign object from his brother's body, but he didn't want to cause him anymore pain.