Here is my next story. There will be multiple points of view this time and Serah will not be crazy. Maybe she'll redeem herself, who knows? Enjoy. I don't own Final Fantasy.
"Guardian Corps is still searching for Sergeant Claire Farron. She was listed M.I.A. almost two months ago following an incident in an abandoned warehouse. The Guardian Corps has confirmed that the warehouse had been used by The Prince and have connected the disappearance of Sergeant Farron to the Prince's criminal gang. Anyone with information regarding Sergeant Farron or The Prince is asked to call the number at the bottom of the screen."
"It's truly a shame that another soldier has fallen to that twisted man, isn't it Maple?" asked the news anchor in his deep voice.
"It sure is, Cid," replied the female news anchor, who had read the announcement. While her voice had some semblance of sorrow, it was obvious to be faked as her chipper demeanor quickly returned as the show carried on.
"In other news-" was all the news anchor, named Cid, had time to say before the television was promptly shut off and the screen faded to black.
In the softly lit room, on the large, white couch, a petite girl was enveloped in the arms of a behemoth of a man. He rocked the girl, who was, at this point, sobbing quite uncontrollably, back and forth. She heard him mumble promises and comforting words, but deep inside, she felt that he would not be able to hold true to those promises.
"We'll find Claire," he whispered. Or tried to whisper, he was never good at being quiet. The memories of his reckless attitude almost brought a smile to the girl's face. Almost. The moment of peace was swiftly swept away by reality, and reality swept away by memories.
Two months earlier…
While Serah was hanging around Lebreau's bar with most members of NORA, Claire was out patrolling through their home town of Eden. Patrons laughed and loudly talked to on another. Some hit on anything that was alive, others appeared to be drowning their sorrows. The scent of alcohol was so strong in the room that Serah was afraid she'd get drunk purely from that. An off-duty soldier sat in the bar enjoying his drink, until his radio went off loud enough for those sober in the bar to hear its message clearly. The Prince's hideout was found and the soldiers on duty needed back-up. He rushed out of the bar.
The members of NORA didn't need to think twice before rushing out of the bar to follow the soldier, grabbing their weapons. Lebreau stayed behind to serve her customers. Serah gripped her bow tightly in her hands, quiver over her shoulder. The arrows fought over the open space in the quiver while she ran.
They arrived at a warehouse, where a vicious battle was already waging. Bullets were being fired and the clang of metal against metal burned itself to the memories of all present. Upon arrival, Serah dropped to one knee and shot an arrow at The Prince's blonde haired friend who wielding a shotgun. While he was surprised at the sudden attack, he managed to move enough so the arrow didn't hit anywhere fatal, it merely grazed his left arm instead. As he was about to aim at Serah, he was interrupted by a small explosion in the warehouse.
In the smoke and fire, Serah saw a familiar silhouette. "Claire!" she cried out in desperation while running towards the now burning building.
It seemed that Claire had heard her as she turned towards Serah for a moment. It was a mistake for Serah to call out, she realized too late though. The Prince took the moment of distraction to appear behind Claire, his normally dark hair momentarily white due to the teleportation. His red eyes glowed in the fire and a smirk plastered itself on his face.
Another explosion went off in the warehouse and the frail building collapsed. Serah ran towards the burning, only to be held back by Snow's strong arms. "Claire! Claire!" she wailed as she struggled, but Snow's grip proved stronger and she was trapped.
"I'm so sorry, Serah," the large man said to his flailing fiancée. The smoke from the building filled the air. Serah didn't really notice, her eyes already stung and she couldn't breathe anymore anyway. Claire! She still cried in her mind that one word.
The Guardian Corps searched through the rubble, but only found a black rose, The Prince's signature mark. There was no sign of Claire Farron, not even a corpse.
Serah held on to that fact to hope that her big sister is still alive. After searching through the rubble, that she really wasn't allowed to be near, Serah found no sign that her sister was dead. It brought peace for a moment, before a different thought crossed her mind. Where did she go?
Still two months earlier...
The chains clinked and clanked as she struggle to move around. Her body gave out rather quickly each time she tried to move. She still had burns and gashes, not life threatening, but extremely inconvenient.
She was in a stone room, but why?
Kidnapped. Warehouse, fire, The Prince. Everything ran through her head. She was alive, so there must be a reason that they wanted her. Or maybe The Prince just wanted to be nice for once?
She chuckled at her own foolishness. I can't even pretend that's an option.
The Prince and his little criminal group have never taken survivors. His head had a high bounty on it, so did the others, but no one really paid attention to them when he was around. Then, why did they want Claire? What could they gain from her? Information, sure, but they would have wanted an officer instead.
She heard footsteps approaching. Within moments, The Prince entered her makeshift cell from the door she couldn't reach with the chains attached to her wrists and ankles. She had to try to keep an emotionless expression, and with how much disgust she felt in this man's presence, it was a difficult thing to do.
"Snack time, Sarge," he said. His voice was smooth and silky, refreshing almost. But she wouldn't let those thoughts cloud her mind. Remember who the voice belongs to.
"Trying to fatten me up before the slaughter?" she asked in an emotionless tone.
The Prince frowned, he looked innocent when his eyes were dark blue instead of burning crimson. "Do you really think so lowly of me? You are a guest, love."
His playful tone dropped into a serious one as he set a tray of bland food in front of the pink haired woman. "Enjoy my hospitality, not many people get the chance."
"Bullshit," she retorted. "Just tell me why you're keeping me here."
"You have information."
"You could have taken an officer."
"You don't miss anything, do you?" he asked, obviously annoyed by that fact.
Claire didn't respond, but she did feel accomplishment for annoying the feared man.
"You'll be joining us," he stated. It wasn't a question of whether or not she wanted to, she was being demanded to join their group.
"What makes you think that, Princess?" she knew she probably shouldn't talk back, but his attitude was bothering her. She would die before she joined them.
His eyes quickly became crimson as he kneeled beside her, gripping her chin with his hand and forcing her to look at him. He leaned in closer to her, she could feel his breath on her skin. "Because you are the same as us," he whispered.
"You must be mistaken." What could he know about her? She's never murdered anyone, she's never stolen anything, or committed any other crime. She had always been protecting people. She had always been Serah's shield from danger, before Snow, at least.
The Prince simply stood up and walked to the door, but before he left into the bright hallway, he glanced back at the girl on the floor.
His words sent chills down her spine and caused her stomach to drop, but she wouldn't show it. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction.
"I am never mistaken."
He was about to step into the hallway, but stopped himself once again. He turned to face her with a smirk that she would have loved to punch off of his face. "And do make sure you eat. There's no use in starving yourself. We have ways to make you co-operate."
Do your worst, Princess.
A/N: Continue? Leave a review or PM me if you have a name for the little criminal group that you'd like me to use. Any that I thought of were just cheesy. Leave a review even if you don't have a name suggestion!
