CHAPTER VII: Inception
Morning came quickly; the scent of flowers and fine linen swept across my bed sheets from the window, carried by the crispness of an October wind, and coupled with patches of sunlight that warmed the floor beneath. The day had finally arrived – the first mission as SeeD.
Headmaster Cid met Selphie, Zell, and I at the front gate, wielding his usual pair of bifocals that rested beyond his altruistic gaze, offering words of encouragement and care. He explained that Garden had accepted a "low-profit" commission – an operation that yielded only three SeeD members. Headmaster Cid is known for being a man with a benevolent heart, earning the respect from those he comes in contact with, including other Gardens. However, he is also known for his ruthlessness in war, his cunning in strategy, and his myopic sense of clemency once victory is attained. He is a man who is greatly celebrated as an ally or deeply feared as an enemy.
Our mission was to go to a city known as Timber, which was currently commandeered under Galbadian law. The steps were simple: travel by train to Timber; meet with a resistance faction at the train station; support the faction and aid them in their objective; collect pay; return to Garden. We were armed with our weapons and our words; nothing else – no radios, no phones, no additional aid.
Headmaster Cid adjusted his tie and added: "A member of the faction will contact you once you disembark and will say that 'the forests of Timber sure have changed.' At this time, you must reply," He paused and removed a slip of paper from his pants, reading it aloud: "'But the owls are still around.' That is the password; do not forget it."
Soon after, and due to the fact that Balamb Garden had special ties with the region, the three of us found ourselves boarding the train with little to no trouble. No security checks, no exchange of currency, and most importantly, no questions.
The cabin in our train was empty and devoid of other passengers. Nothing but the whistle of the train's horn ahead, the grinding of the rails below, and the soft shake and rattle of the floor existed. Zell entertained himself across the room, scavenging the crevices of seats and cushions for loose change, and Selphie peered out the window, watching the endless stream of trees, grass, mountains, and sky roll by. Me? I sat down, mind you, far from Zell and closer to Selphie, resting my head against my palms, wondering at what age I started getting motion sickness. It was an unfamiliar nausea. A strange ringing crept into my senses; you know, that sound that comes about when you're alone in a room and have an inkling that someone's talking about you.
"Guys… I don't feel very good," Selphie staggered weakly from the scenic view of the train window, head bowed, with one hand cupping her stomach and the other cupping her ear. She dropped to her knees. "I'm really sleepy…" She said, leaning down and sprawling herself across the floor.
I stood up; in my head, the ringing became so loud that I could barely hear the clamor of the train. I watched Selphie's lips move but heard nothing, watching her lie there like a lifeless doll against the decorative design of the carpet. Completely frail. Completely alone. My body too, felt like it was shutting down, but I managed to voice myself: "Selphie, are you… ok?" My knees grew weak. My throat clenched. A cold fist tightened within the hollow of my chest, squeezing my gut and hushing my breath. My vision faded in and out like a dying flame, catching glimpse of Zell who had already succumbed to what was happening. What was happening?
My knees gave way and I collapsed to the floor with a sense of daunting confusion. Are we poisoned? I felt my energy escaping me, like the lull of sleep after days of avoiding it. What is this? I saw Zell prostrated – half of him prone to the floor and half of him limp against a chair – his change spilling across the carpet in one loose-handed dump. I'm so tired… I couldn't fight it anymore; I didn't want to. I… can't go to… sleep… I…
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….. #$% #%$#% ##% $#% %#$ %...
….. #$% #%$#% ##% $#% %#$ %...
I woke up, but I wasn't me.
Note from the author: This is a short chapter, I know. Chapter VIII is soon to come!
