Parallel

Hints of Truth

She lay there tossing and turning in her sleep. It was happening again – that horrific nightmare she'd tried desperately to shake. No matter how often and hard she'd try however…it kept coming. Tonight only took it further – the whole incident playing out once again as the dark memory haunted her once more. Despite her special night…her sleep was anything but pleasant. Her wish even seeming more than just unanswered as her nightmare played out:

"RINOA! RUN!"

She moved as fast as her feet could carry her, nearly falling over as she kept moving at Squall's behest while he followed closely behind her. They were almost out. If they could just make it another thirty yards, they'd be safe. The Galbadian faction chased them relentlessly as they ran faster than they ever had – tears nearly falling from her eyes as her heart beat rapidly, fearing for their lives. She knew they were almost there, but she wasn't sure she could run anymore. She felt Squall grab her hand and start pulling her as they sped up, comforting and encouraging her to keep moving. Just a little bit further and that was it. She could now feel it – they were within reach. Then…it happened - she felt his hand slip from hers…and not by choice. He'd somehow been unable to hold it anymore. She quickly turned around to witness the horrifying scene – her eyes pouring with tears at the sight.

"SQUAAAAAAAAAALL!"

She shot up in bed as she awoke abruptly from her sleep – her heart beating fast as she gasped for air. It had seemed so real – like it was actually happening all over again. She couldn't help but cry. She was so sick of doing it, but she couldn't keep it in. She wanted to be strong; wanted to let go…but, how could she when it was always at the front of her mind?

She cried into her hands once again. Why did this keep happening? Why did she have to keep having that horrible dream? Why couldn't she just sleep peacefully even once anymore? She felt sick and nauseous – like she wanted throw up. The picture of Squall lying on the ground in cold blood stayed glued to the front of her mind and she couldn't shake it as she kept crying – harder and harder as it flashed in her mind repeatedly like it was laughing at her. She'd done everything she could to keep him alive…but, it hadn't been enough. Somehow…she couldn't bring him back this time – and it killed her inside whenever she thought about it. She didn't exactly blame herself for what happened to him…but having done it before, she knew it could have worked and didn't understand why it hadn't. What had made that time so much different than the prior one?

She was hesitant to go back to sleep. She couldn't bear the thought of it happening once again. She'd had too many sleepless nights to count and just wanted once to be able to forget it. She had wished for some kind of sign, not a memory – especially that one. She tried to calm down, taking a deep breath as her tears began to slow down and she wiped them from her face. She hated that she was always crying now. Even she was really beginning to miss who she had once been. Truthfully, she wanted just as badly to get back to that, but it was easier thought than done.

"Squall…" she mumbled, "…Why did you have to die?"

She dropped her head down onto her blanket covered knees.

"Why you? How?"

She wanted to hate the Galbadian faction for what they'd done. However, despite her current feelings and rising anger…she couldn't. It wasn't in her to be so fueled with rage or aggression of any kind. She didn't hate them…but, she still wondered why they took him when they'd been after her. It was the question that had haunted her ever since. Most Galbadians had changed their views on sorceresses upon Ultimecia's defeat, having learned by then what had really been going on. A small portion however, had still not put their fears to rest – disallowing themselves to distinguish good from evil among any sorceresses now and to come – and leaving her with the undying fear of capture…or worse. The Anti-Sorceress Faction – and Squall had only tried to save her, costing him his life in the process.

The tragic memory caused her to throw her head back in horror as she slammed it back down on her pillow – only to open her eyes again and find she was somewhere else. It was dark and she couldn't see a thing more than three feet away. She was hesitant to move as she looked around.

"What?" she asked, "Where am I?"

She was sure she wasn't dreaming. She had only closed her eyes for a second upon hitting the pillow. This felt more real than the nightmare she'd just had. There was no way she could be asleep…was there?

"Hello?" she asked, with a shaky voice.

She stepped forward slowly and carefully, unsure of what to expect. She couldn't tell where she was or how she'd gotten there.

"Quistis? Zell?" she asked, "Irvine? Selphie?"

No one replied as she continued walking where she thought was forward – she hoped.

She wanted to say his name. She had an undying urge to call to him for some unknown reason – though was hesitant to. How could he possibly reply anyway? He was dead. If he did, it would only prove she was dreaming – or she was crazy. She wasn't that naïve and she certainly wasn't stupid. Still…it pulled at her endlessly and she could feel it rising from her throat to the edge of her mouth – waiting for her to shout it out. But, what good would it do? Why would she call for him if he wouldn't answer? She still resisted – shaking her head in doubt and disbelief as she kept moving forward.

Again, the urge started rising, but this time it was stronger. She couldn't resist as easily and try as she might…she couldn't hold it back. She started running, but it only got stronger with each step. Her heart raced from running and the anxiety that she tried so hard to fight.

"SOMEBODY! ANYBODY!" she yelled, "HELP ME!"

She searched desperately for a way out even though she couldn't see no matter where she ran. There was no one around no matter how loud or often she called. No one ever came.

Finally, she stopped when she couldn't run any further – leaning forward on her knees as she breathed heavily, trying to keep from crying again.

"No! Enough! Just stop!" she told herself, fighting the tears this time.

Though the tears didn't come, that urge continued to swell up inside of her. She could really feel it now. She couldn't resist any longer. It took everything in her not to do it…but it wasn't enough as she finally screamed.

"SQUALL!"

At that minute, a flash of light illuminated the area and everything was white. She was still unable to see anything around her, but she noticed something else as she leaned down.

"…What's this?" she asked herself, slowly picking it up.

She stood up and held it to her face. It looked familiar, but she couldn't make it out…until she turned it around and gasped at the sight. It was Squall's ring: the Griever ring he'd told her she could keep during the Battle of the Gardens four yours back. She had no idea how it had gotten there, but she was nearly speechless as she stared at it in shock.

She looked around frantically.

"Squall? Squall, where are you? Can you hear me? Are you there?"

She grabbed the ring tight as she moved forward quickly – looking side to side as she moved hoping she'd see someone or something.

"Squall!" she called, "Squall, answer me!"

There was no reply, but she didn't give up this time. The feeling of his ring in her hand kept her from doubting. It had ended up here somehow…and she had to know exactly how.

"SQUALL!" she shouted, loudly.

She finally stopped moving again as she looked at the ground, wondering what could be going on. Where was she? How did she get here? And, most importantly…how did Squall's ring end up here? It was one big mystery and she couldn't even begin to make sense of it.

Suddenly, she heard a strange sound and slowly lifted her head to look forward. What she saw, only confused her more.

"What is…that?" she asked, quietly, stepping forward.

It was a strange, faded, blue light swirling in the air before her. She leaned her head forward to look at it closely. She could hear something, or someone, calling to her – though it sounded faint.

"...Rinoa!..."

She recognized the voice and slowly reached her hand out to touch the strange light - not knowing what might happen, but still willing to take the chance. She didn't know what it was, but she knew it and Squall's ring were somehow connected.

"...Squall?" she asked, softly.

She stared at it like she was hypnotized as her hand finally touched it, suddenly pulling her through and she awoke to find herself back in bed.

"Huh?" she asked, her eyes shooting open.

She slowly sat up as she looked around the room. She didn't understand what had just happened, but she felt something in her hand. As she opened it up, she found Squall's ring still in her possession – a fact that only served to scare, but mostly confuse, her even further. She had put it at his gravestone upon his burial. How could it have gotten back to her?

"…W-what?" she asked herself, as she stared at the ring.

She looked around the room once more – frantic again, at that.

"Squall?"

She began to think it was a prank of sorts: someone had come into her room while she slept and slipped the ring into her hand. That thought alone, angered her that someone could be so cruel. However, another thought crossed her mind as well…the one that, though it seemed so unlikely after all of this time, told her it was possible – that it just might be true. She wanted to believe it, but she found it hard not to deny. There was no way. No matter how much she hoped, there was no possibility that it could be so.

She stared back down at the ring as she rolled it over in her hand, the Griever emblem on it catching her eye once more as she was overcome with an undeniable sense of certainty – words of his and the promise they'd made all flowing into her mind so suddenly.

"It's a lion. Lions are known for their great strength and pride." "I'll be here…waiting for you. So, if you come…you'll find me."

She played that last sentence over and over for a moment as those last words: the ones from their promise – the ones that rang out above all the others only served to increase this overwhelming feeling.

"So, if you come…you'll find me." "…You'll find me." "…Find me."

Her eyes went wide as she gasped again, finally understanding what had happened; what had been intended for her to realize all along. She kept her eyes locked on the ring as it seemed to stare back at her.

"Squall…are you still alive?"