FINAL FANTASY X-2: UNFINISHED BUSINESS
CHAPTER ONE
The water surrounding her was coated with a thick, red substance. The cuts that had crisscrossed her back, neck, chest and arms were hemmorhaging. Blood pumped out of those wounds like a fountain, and the smell of the blood and the infected skin was more then they could bear.
Wakka had found her, first. While the village was taking cover, he, Yuna, and the Aurochs proceeded down towards the beach to make sure the boats hadn't drifted away in the storm. A giant wave had come washing in, and with it, the body of a woman. It was a miracle that he had found her when he did. At first, he believed her to be dead. The wounds were fresh, and there were teeth marks of small fish and aquatic fiends that had tried to feast upon her skin. And with the violent ocean waves whipping her body to-and-fro in the water, anybody would have believed that the woman had drowned.
The former captain of the Aurochs ran along the docks, rushing towards the battered body and pulling her onto the wooden planks. Yuna came rushing after him, careful not to slip off the docks and into the water, and knelt down beside him. For a moment, Wakka held the wounded woman in both arms, trying to shake her away and lightly slapping her cheek, hoping she would gain consciousness. When it didn' t happen, Yuna checked her pulse. For a moment, she felt nothing... but then a few faint heartbeats throbbed against Yuna's fingertips. The high summoner would have rejoiced, but the storm was growing too violent and they needed to take cover soon. Wakka lifted the woman into his arms and rushed her off of the deck, Yuna following close behind him. They made it to the beach and took cover with the Aurochs within a sea shack.
The storm continued to roar from the outside, but now that they had some shelter, they took some time to get a better look at the woman's injuries. The cuts were deep, and the bitemarks from the aquatic fiends were turning a strange, purple color. It was no doubt some sort of venomous infection. The skin that wasn't infected was growing pale due to the bloodloss. And when Yuna got a good look at the injured woman's face, there were bruises along her mouth and cheek bones, and both eyes were swollen and red.
Yuna wasted little time. She placed her hands over the infected wounds and cast Panacea, ridding the body of any poisons and infections. Then she touched the bleeding cuts and cast Curaga. Although the cuts sealed and the bleeding stopped, there was a lot of blood on the sand and wounds left many scars, and the bruises remained.
"She must've hit a reef or rock or somethin'." Wakka said. "The water's pretty rough. Must've smashed her into a few sharp rocks, ya?"
Yuna would have agreed, but deep down, she had a feeling that the injuries that girl had weren't from sharp stones or coral reefs. The high summoner's fingers ran across the long scars on the woman's chest and shoulders. They were in straight lines, parallel to each other. Some were more jagged and rougher than others, perhaps from the rocks or reefs as Wakka suggested, but most of the scars were perfect lines.
"I think..." Yuna whispered. "I think that...someone did this to her..."
No sooner did Yuna's fingers move from the scars, the woman's eyes slowly opened. Yuna was taken aback, gasping slightly as the woman looked right into the summoner's face. Her eyes looked tired, hazy, as if she was in some sort of a dream state. Wakka's jaw dropped as well.
"Hey..." he spoke, looking at the girl with concern. "Hey, are you alright?"
The woman's eyes didn't move away from Yuna. She continued to look at the summoner wtih those hazy eyes. After an indefinate amount of time, she spoke. "They're... all gone?"
Instinctively, Yuna's hand went to the woman's, holding it softly. "No one else is here... just you.."
The woman's eyes never focused. Yuna wasn't even sure if the girl could see her or not. The woman's head slumped to the side, whispering very faintly "Thank... god..."
Her eyes never closed, but she lost consciousness. Yuna felt her heart skip a beat. If she hadn't been holding this stranger's hand and feeling her pulse against her fingertips, she would have been absolutely certain that the woman had just died. Wakka jumped in surprise, but settled down when he realized that the woman was still alive. Although she was breathing very faintly, Yuna was certain that with a few days of resting, she would be in better condition.
A few minutes had passed after the woman lost consciousness, and the storm finally subsided. Wakka had picked the woman up into his arms and stepped out of the shack, Yuna and the Aurouchs following close behind. The beach was soaked from the rain and high tide, and debris from the boats, docks, and destroyed plantlife littered the beach. It would take a least a month to repair the damage and a few boats were lost, but the destruction was very minor. Wakka led the way, bringing the group back to Besaid Village. Because of the storm, the villagers were seeking shelter in the temple. The houses were intact and the inn was still open, so Wakka had no problem finding the newcomer a place to rest.
Yuna watched him as he lay the weakened woman on one of the soft beds. He pulled the covers down and covered the woman's body with a pale blue sheet. It wasn't particularly cold in the inn, but he didn't want the customers to be horrified at the sight of the woman's welts, bruises, and scars. While he proceeded back towards Yuna, the young summoner approached the innkeeper.
"I hope you don't mind. We found her washed up on the beach and didn't know where to bring her." she said. "I don't think she has any money on her, but I'll pay you for how long she stays."
The innkeeper merely shook his head. "You needn't pay me anything, Lady Yuna. Think nothing of it, conscider it an act of good will."
At that, Yuna smiled and bowed. "Thank you." when she straightened herself out, Wakka had already approached her. "We should go find Lulu. I'm sure she's at the temple with the others."
Wakka nodded slightly. "Let's get to it, then."
Although Yuna wanted nothing more than to smile at him and find her friend, her mind kept going back to that sleeping woman. Who could have done that to her? Why was she out in the ocean? Who were "they"? And most importantly... who was she?
A few days... Yuna reminded herself. All she needs is a few days of rest. Then I'll be able to speak to her...