RE4: One Wish

He'd never really believed in wishing on stars… Ramón Salazar had to admit though that the prospect was tempting, especially when the stars above his castle shined so beautifully…

What would someone like him wish for though? He toyed with the idea in his seventeen-year old mind… Stars don't grant just any wish after all. At least, that was what he'd been told. It had to be something you really and truly wanted…

He could wish to be a bit taller… or perhaps for some more servants in the castle… It got lonely when the only people to talk to were the old butler, Javier… and his personal servant, Carmen. Of course he didn't mind talking to them… They were very good company, but…

Then there was that whole Plagas issue… He had originally thought he was doing the right thing when he'd undone the seal. Now though he was beginning to have his doubts… Saddler was obviously up to something, and to be honest, Ramón didn't like it. Of course it didn't help that he'd recently learned that Saddler was the one who'd sent those assassins to murder his family some ten years ago.

Maybe he could wish that Saddler would have a heart-attack or something and die… That probably wouldn't come true though…

The door to his room opened quietly… He turned briefly to see who had entered. Carmen, as usual, was patiently waiting to be acknowledged. "Greetings Carmen," he said lightly, looking up as the woman approached. She was tall, taller than he remembered his mother being. "Is there anything you needed?"

"I was going to ask you that, my little Ramón," she said pleasantly… That had always been her habit. When they were among others, even simply Javier, she would call him 'Master' or some other title… Alone however, he was her 'little Ramón'. "Regardless… Lord Saddler is here to speak with you on some issue. He says it's important and cannot wait."

"Ah…? He's here at this hour?" he asked, sighing. "I suppose if it is important then I should go. Inform him that I will be there shortly…"

"At once…" Carmen said, bowing deeply before exiting. He nodded his thanks as she closed the door.

He glanced once again at the stars, their lights dancing so far above the troubled Earth. Suddenly he saw a streak appear in that pristine sky, a shooting star… If he WAS going to make a wish, now would be the best time.

He shut his eyes, thinking… A simple wish was what he was trying to think up. He wanted something simple, like what a child would wish. At last a small smile crossed his lips, and he brought his hands up to them. He'd thought up a wish, but…

It'd be foolish… There was no harm in it though. He had to make this quick; Saddler was waiting.

He looked up; staring at the brightest star he could see. "I don't want much…" he started. "I just want to feel her lips against mine… just once would do, before I die… That's all I'm asking for, one simple intentional kiss."

He then nodded to the winking stars, donning his hat and coat and heading down to speak with Saddler…

………Three years later………

Salazar clutched his left hand tightly, trying to slow the bleeding… Mr. Kennedy was certainly stubborn, and had good aim apparently. "He's managed to make it this far… maybe…" he started "maybe… Mr. Kennedy really does have what it takes to end this Nightmare…" He looked at his Verdugo bodyguard, a 'gift' from Saddler… frowning slightly then standing straight as the doors opened… Mr. Kennedy was fast too?

"Master?" called a familiar and comforting voice. Carmen stepped in, looking a bit worse for the wear. "Master, the American agent is coming. I… I can stop him. Just give me the order and I'll…" she said, trailing off when Ramón held up his injured hand.

"You wouldn't stop him… Carmen; you would only slow him down…" he said lowering his hand. "You shouldn't even be here right now… Now that Luis is dead, you don't owe me your continued service…"

Carmen shook her head. "No… Saddler killed Luis, not you and not your men… You aren't at fault."

He glanced down. "Carmen… I know what you're thinking. You think we can continue our plan if Mr. Kennedy is killed…" he said, praying that the American was having difficulty reaching them. "Carmen… I am a fool…"

The older woman looked at him, shocked. "Master?" she asked.

"I've made enemies with the one who would accomplish our dreams… all for the sake of fulfilling them on my own…" He looked up at her sadly, "But I've figured out how I can fix this!" he said. "Hopefully neither Saddler nor Mr. Kennedy will be any closer to knowing the truth…"

"Ramón…" Carmen said, fear creeping into her voice. "You… No! Master, you can't truly intend to- to…" she said, seemingly to be unable to finish. He smiled sadly in reply. They both knew what the next word would've been anyway, 'to… die…'

"It is my intent…" he said solemnly. "Carmen… you have always been there…" he said, stepping closer to her "…always protected me as best as you could." He smiled, reaching up and taking her hand delicately. "Please allow me to do this… It is the only way to make things right."

Carmen looked down at him… not saying anything. He shut his eyes and looked away… Then there was a sudden sensation on his hand, the one he'd taken hers with… It was hot, and wet… it burned a bit, coming into contact with his injury. He was unsure of whether to look or not, finally choosing to look.

She was crying. His personal servant, protector, and friend was crying quietly… fighting desperately not to be crying at all. "Carmen?" he asked… worried.

"Forgive me… I try so hard not to show weakness in your presence," she said. She knelt to her knees, so that they were now eye-to-eye, pulling him tightly into an embrace. "You have suffered so much…" she said softly.

He smiled, leaning into her. "I can endure a bit more if I must…" he said, pushing away gently. "You need to go now… I am relieving you of your duties. You are no longer my servant."

Carmen nodded… standing quickly and quietly. She bowed a final time, before walking out of the ritual chamber… Ramón turned, looking at the large, flower-like organism that would be the key to his demise…

………Outside………

Carmen had only just begun her descent of the tower stairs when she saw the one named Leon going up. He paused when he saw her… "…You."

"Hello Mr. Kennedy…" she said softly. "Ramón is waiting for you…" she said simply, stepping aside. When he looked at her curiously, she replied as best she could in a last-ditch effort to protect her former Master… "He didn't wish for me to kill you…"

"Oh, as if he hasn't taken enough shots already…" Leon said sarcastically.

She frowned. "He doesn't wish you to die, truly…" she said. This provoked a raised eyebrow from the American. "We both know Mr. Kennedy that you will not fail…"

"Then why is your Master still trying to kill me?" Leon protested.

Carmen frowned. "I admit, he did try at the beginning… but…"

Leon took a step up on the stairs. "Frankly I don't care… Salazar's just another one of Saddler's puppets as far as I'm concerned." He kept walking…

Carmen stared. She could not defend her former Master after all…

………Inside………

Ramón continued to stare… watching the plant-like… thing. "It has come to this…" he muttered darkly. "I have squandered my chances-all but this one-to make things right." The doors opened again…  At last it was time for his grand final performance… No doubt Mr. Kennedy would want to know where Ashley was…

He decided to answer his question before it was asked. "Ah, you've just missed her. The ritual is over. She left with my men to an island."

"What?" Leon asked, sounding pretty miffed that he'd gone all this way for nothing…

Ramón couldn't help but chuckle a bit. "I think it's time I paid my due respects towards to your impressive and stubborn will. Mr. Kennedy... Welcome!" he said, stepping up onto the altar. The 'plant' sensing nearby prey, took hold of him and his remaining Verdugo…

He knew what would happen after this point. He would die… an unsung martyr for the sake of vengeance. He found this funny, and started to laugh. He was going to die; without ever telling Carmen his true feelings, let alone fulfilling his wishful dream of kissing her… He laughed louder, the low grumbling of the 'plant' drawing closer. He allowed his eyes to close as the dark of the massive 'plant' engulfed him.

At first it felt as though he'd been doused in acid, and then ripped apart as he was pressed against something. He tried to scream, but his voice was gone. He was pressed harder and harder, until he finally burst through. He felt God-awful; the pain was still there… complicated by the sting of the air against his body, raw and damaged. He looked briefly at the place where Mr. Kennedy was before being enclosed in a flytrap-like pair of 'leaves'. He'd seen it though… The altar was shattered. A sign of things to come, he hoped.

……Within the Hour……

Carmen was shouting, trying to force her way into the ritual chamber. "Let me in! Please! Master Ramón!" she cried, pounding her fist on the door. It was locked from within… She backed away. What hope did she have? Even though she was not weak, she knew she couldn't get the door open on her own. "It's his fault… all of it," she said, thinking of the man responsible for this entire mess… A low growling filled her throat. She had to get in somehow…

She looked at the door; the sounds of the battle between young Ramón and Mr. Kennedy seemed to have died down. She then heard a loud sound, akin to a roar. There was a jolt from within the room, shaking the stone she stood on. By luck, it also shook the door ajar. Carmen ran inside, looking for any signs of life.

"Ramón!" she called. "Where are you Ramón?!" Leon was gone… He'd left no doubt to find the girl Ashley. She looked around, walking to where the altar had been not that long ago. From there, she could see a small swarm of spider-like Plagas. They were below, scurrying around and over something on the sandy ground. Not far from the swarm was a familiar hat… "Master!" she shrieked, absolutely horrified as she descended the ladder nearest her to the bottom.

"Leave him! Scatter you worthless creatures!" she shouted, running toward the Plagas. Most did so, though one was loath to leave its meal, lunging at her in its own attempt to scare her off. Carmen swatted the creature aside. "Know your place, Vermin!" she said. It scurried away, burying itself beneath the sand as she looked down at what was left.

She allowed her knees to buckle, falling on them beside him. "Ramón…" she said quietly. His eyes were shut… the look on his face-at least the side that the Plagas hadn't been ripping at-was one of peace. In fact, if it were not for the damage done, she would have considered him almost angelic. She felt herself begin to cry once again, not fighting the tears this time. "I'm so sorry… Ramón… I never should have left you alone."

"…Carmen?" a faint voice said, caught only just by her ears. She stared down in disbelief. "Why are you here…?" Ramón asked, his right eye looking up at her curiously.

"Master… You don't truly believe I would simply abandon you…" she said, reaching across to carefully lift him into her arms. "I know you didn't want me to return… Forgive me for doing so."

The small castellan looked at her, smiling… "There is no need…" he said, resting his head against her. Carmen stroked his fine hair, which had gone from a light mousey-grey to a more refined white. "Carmen?" he asked.

"Yes?" she replied, growing worried in how pained his voice had been with that question.

He looked at her, quiet for a few seconds… "I wanted to ask… if you would do me two small favors," he said. When she nodded, he continued. "I hope I am not being selfish… but I would like for you to kiss me goodnight, as you did when I was a child."

"And your other request?" she asked.

"End this pain," he said simply.

She knew what he'd meant… judging by the look that crossed her face. She nodded however. "I will do this for you, Ramón…" she said, reaching back to retrieve her knife.

"Thank you," he said.

She leaned down, kissing his forehead as she had done for him nearly every night until his twelfth birthday. She allowed a few more tears to fall as she pulled away slightly. Placing the knife gently against his back, she whispered softly. "Goodnight, my brave Ramón…"

She kissed him then, this time on the lips, as she held him tightly and plunged the knife into his back. He made a slight gasping sound from the pain before relaxing completely. Carmen continued to hold him. "I'll see to it… I'll see Saddler destroyed for you, for Luis… for Bitorez and his village… For all of the pain he's given you, even the most excruciating death will not be enough for him to bear."

…Post-game…

She stood in the family graveyard, looking over the stones. Carmen was content… for the first time since the incident with the Los Illuminados had begun. "Saddler is dead… Mr. Kennedy succeeded, just as you believed," she said, looking at a stone that was smaller than the rest, but carved delicately.

"Ramón… Everything you worked for has finally come to pass," she said, quietly kneeling down. "I suppose now I could leave without any regrets… but there's just one loose end to tie…" she said.

"I was too much a fool before the end… I loved you, but refused to believe it until it was almost too late." She looked at her hands. They'd needed to be bandaged after digging the grave, as they'd been left raw and blistered. "I hope that you understood… the kiss I gave you was not simply to take your mind off of the pain…"

With that she turned, heading back to the castle to retrieve her traveling clothes. "I will return whenever possible… I promise."

"Goodbye, my brave little Ramón."