To Protect

Chapter 2.

"Do you have food?" I nudged Tommy who was still staring intently at his friend in the distance. Tears were welling in the corner of his eyes while his mouth moved as if wanting to cry out, but no words formed. He looked towards me, quickly swiping at the wetness that had dropped down to his cheek with his sleeve. He then nodded and whispered a simple yes at me. "Okay, because we'll be going a long while," the corners of my lips curving into a smile.

"I thought I was only exiled from L'manburg!" he called out.

"Oh no no, you're exiled from everywhere that's been touched," I couldn't help but let out a laugh as I saw his eyes widen. "So, did you need food?" I didn't want him to think I was offering out of pity, so I spoke my words without emotion. Pity wasn't something I could feel towards him. I simply knew we had to get to where we were going without issue so I could be done with it. 

Plus, I couldn't let him starve to death, could I? No, it wasn't Tommy's time yet. 

I grabbed some beds that were lying around and put them in my inventory knowing that they would be useful for later while Tommy muttered a no at my previous question. "Let's go," I ushered him onwards before noticing we had company. Ghostbur was watching us.

I had no quarrels with Ghostbur as he had done exactly what I wanted him to in the Pogtopia versus L'manburg war, along with his inability to remember any of it. He was no issue. "Is he coming with us?" I glanced at the blonde boy beside me.

"I don't know, I don't know..."

"Hey guys!"

He started walking towards us, obviously hearing me comment on whether he was joining the journey. "Hi guys! How's it going?" His cheery demeaner that he had ever since he died was somewhat painful to listen to after witnessing him crumble into insanity. Don't get me wrong it was a nice change to be around Ghostbur and he was easy to talk to, but it still wasn't the Wilbur we all remembered. Everyone was changing each day on the SMP, including myself.

"Hello, we have a long journey ahead of us, do you have food?" I asked him subconsciously without thought.

"Yeah, I've got food. I don't really eat much though. Where are we going?" Of course, ghosts don't eat.

"Uhm, wherever the river takes us" I gesture to the river behind us and then place two boats, suggesting Ghostbur rides in Tommy's.

"I don't have to come with you," he finally piped up.

"Well, I'll just kill you." I didn't mean too but I had said it with some force that made Tommy start walking towards the boats as a small 'oh' came out of his mouth in disappointment.

While I was getting into my boat, I heard Ghostbur making a comment about how he couldn't row because his arms weren't that strong. Tommy was then shouting out "what the fuck," in disbelief at his own situation before climbing into the front of his boat.

Or because you're fucking dead Wilbur.

I told them to follow me and set off down the river, a cloud of silence hanging over us before it was broken by the gentle ghost.

"What happened? Why are we leaving?" he asked me, looking in my direction as I kept my focus on the river ahead. "Hello Connor!" He suddenly shouted out before I could explain, waving his hand rather aggressively at the man stood on the side of the river in a Sonic outfit. Tommy tried to resist chuckling at the attention span of his friend, or lack there of. I couldn't help but laugh along too. Maybe I didn't mind the adventures I was forced to make with these two.

If I don't get rid of him, I won't get power. He's always been in the way and he always will.

My thoughts were cut off. "I don't have to follow you... I don't..." the sentence trailed off, so I decided to speak up before he continued.