Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy VIII, or any of the characters…that's it.
The Imposter
Chapter 4
Unforgivable Crime
Squall shuffled out of the Headmaster's office as soon as he was able to talk about the matter that Laera had brought up. Cid had approved it, which Squall was confident will make Laera die with excitement.
That girl is going to be so happy, Squall thought with a smile.
Squall's eyebrows fused together in thoughts again as he remembered he had to make his way to the front gate. Then remembering what Rinoa had chided him about weeks ago about his bad habit of thinking too much, he laughed lightly and shrugged it away again.
Maybe some habits aren't meant to be broken…But still…"Squall!" a voice called to him, a high note of panic blended inside, "Squall! Come, quick!"
Squall stopped and looked up to see Rinoa running towards him. A panicked look clearly written on her face.
"Squall! Come quick!" she said, out of breath, "A new trainee was attacked on the Training Ground."
"What!" Squall asked, growing panicked himself, "By a monster?"
"No, not a monster," Rinoa said with fear, "And it also seems like whoever did this wants to kill her."
"It's a her?" Squall became outraged, "This is…unacceptable, murder in Garden, this had never happened…at least not to students…Nobody murdered each other in here."
"Just come, please, we need you at the scene," Rinoa began pulling him with her.
When arrived at scene, Squall almost keeled over and threw up. The Training Center was the same as always, with the musty smell of dirt and blood of the slain monsters. Grown trees and bushes overshadowed the fluorescent light that would be lit at night. However, now, the Training Center smelled of fear and terror. Something that had never happened before happened, and it wasn't supposed to happen either.
Lying on the blood-caked dirt of the Training Ground, and surrounded by Zell, Quistis, and many other trainees, was a female student with long, pitched black hair. Her eyes were half-opened, as if trying hard to hang on to life, revealing two pair of orbs of different colors. Squall's eyes opened wide in recognition.
"Laera!" he shouted, rushing over.
"Squall…" Quistis was the first to look up, "Who could have…? Have Garden grown so vicious the day I left?"
"Who could have?" Squall was speechless as he came closer and a few trainees moved out of the way, "Laera, can you hear me?"
Laera seemed to be in shock for a moment, for she was staring at Squall but did not answer or make any movement that showed she saw him there. Suddenly, a SeeD cadet ran in, saluted quickly, and made a quick report.
"Commander Leonhart, Sir," the SeeD said, "The front gates and back gates, or any possible entrances and exits were closed the whole time, for it is not yet time for opening. It's only 7:00, Sir, quite early. So we came to suspect that whoever did this must be someone from Garden."
"I don't believe this!" Zell said, standing up and waving his fists in the air with anger.
"Stop it, Zell!" Quistis shouted, "You're not making it any better."
"Guys, we gotta alert Doctor Kadowaki," Rinoa said, pulling out her handkerchief and staunching the girl's wound at her stomach with it, "Someone…"
"MOVE!" Squall almost roared with panicked, and a few trainees shuffled out along with the SeeD cadet. Turning back to Laera, he took her hand, "Laera, can you hear me?"
"Someone had attacked her really brutally," Quistis observed, "It's like from a blade…"
"Laera," Squall said again, and a gasp seemed to escape from the girl's throat. Then she began to whimper and thrash around weekly.
"Girl, tell me what's wrong?" Quistis asked, holding her arms down.
"H…im…" Laera said out between gasps.
"What?" Zell leaned in closer.
"H…i…m," Laera said again, a slight bit louder.
"Who?" Squall asked in confusion, "Who did this?"
"She's about to say something important, anyone have a recorder?" Rinoa looked around at the remaining trainees and asked with hope.
"Ma'am, I have one, but it's quite old-fashioned," one of the trainees spoke, "And it's filled with my rehearsal songs…"
"Doesn't matter," Rinoa said, and as the trainee handed it to her, she almost snatched it out of his hand like a hungry homeless person. Pressing the record button, she waited patiently.
"Y…ou," Laera gasped, then closed her eyes tightly as tears began to stream down her face unwillingly.
"Commander Leonhart?" Quistis asked, "That's ridiculous, dear. Did you have…a concussion?"
"No," Laera shook her head and breathed heavily, "He attacked me…I can't believe it either…He snuck on me and stabbed…me…I don't know…why…the Commander would… do…such…"
"Rest, Laera," Quistis soothed, holding her girl's head in her arms, "The stretcher will be here soon."
Quistis bit her lip as she knew even if the stretcher will be here soon, the girl wouldn't survive. The wound at her abdomen was quite deep, and it wouldn't stop bleeding no matter how hard Quistis staunched it. It appeared a side of her head was bleeding as well. Who was relentless, Quistis wondered.
"NO!" Laera yelled in anger, forgetting her pain for the moment, "He killed me…I'll die…and I want the world to know…he tried to kill me. Listen, the world, the…Great SeeD …tried to kill his cadet today! If you don't believe me, check the security cameras…check them, you do have them…do you? I pray to God you do…please don't let my…death…go to waste…Throw the bastard…of a Commander in…jail…"
Laera, having finished what she wanted to say at last, closed her eyes slowly. And gradually, her breathing slowed and stopped. Her head fell into Quistis' arms.
"She's…gone…" Quistis whispered. The room seemed to be frozen in time, then, for no one dared to move nor breath after the shocking event and after all the shocking things they have heard. Rinoa moved at last, as she had to press 'stop' on the recorder. Then she turned to Squall, with tears sparkling in her eyes.
"Tell me…you didn't…" Rinoa spoke, her eyes burning into Squall's with hope.
"I didn't," Squall said straight out without hesitation, "I didn't, I swear, I was with the Headmaster and in my office, that's the only two places I've visited today. For the love of…I didn't even go in the Training Center…"
"Squall, are you sure…?" Zell asked.
"You're doubting me?" Squall asked with shock.
"No…it's just, Squall," Quistis said, brushing back Laera's hair, "It's just…she was so sure you killed her. And she's a new trainee, and you don't know her either, do you? I don't see why she would want to frame you for anything…"
"You're doubting me," Squall stated.
"Squall, if what you said is true," Rinoa said, coming closer to link her arms with his, "Let's hope it'll be what we'll see in the security cameras…"
"Of course it's true!" Squall was furious, "This is Laera! I know her! She came to me about the Garden Spring Festival. She was a funky and energetic one, just like Selphie. I respected her need and I talked to the Headmaster to receive approval for her…I know her, why would I want to kill her for wanting to make a Festival!"
Squall turned, fists shaking with anger.
"I just met her this morning, too," he continued, "She was so innocent…Who would do this, who!"
"Squall…let's go," Rinoa said, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"Go by yourselves," Squall stated coldly, "Check the cameras for all I care. I…I gotta make sure Laera deserve a proper burial…"
With that, Squall ran out of the training ground, unable to look at Laera one last time.
