By - Ryland
~My Name, Dear Locke~
Jun opened the door silently when he heard knocking. Standing in front of Jun, was the rouge thief from before, it was older and more handsome
then three years ago. His hair was cut short, but hidden by his bandanna. He had a black coat on, with a black tank top under, which was tight
enough to show off his chest muscles. His pants were black as well, like he was trying to hide in the dark all the time, only right now,
it was nightfall. The man appeared to be twenty two to twenty one maybe, the lighting made him so handsome.
Jun coughed. "Locke! I see you chose to finally show up?" He asked, letting him in.
Locke grinned, yawning as he fell back on a chair, facing the fire place. "Eh, it's been three years Jun, what could you possibly want from me?"
Asked the rouge man with a chuckle. Jun crossed his arms, then turned to pick up a chunk of freshly cooked bread. He threw it to Locke, who ate
it quickly. "This...is...good, mate." He mumbled as he savored the taste.
Terra was laying on her back, gazing at the wooden roof. She felt so alone, so empty without really know her name or her past. Jun had told her
before leaving the room, that she will gain her memories back, and be the strong, wise, fun girl he knew she was deep inside. She felt like she
was trespassing on someone elses mind and heart, like her body was a shell she stole away from a crab; she was utterly confused. Why would
someone want to control her? To force her to kill and serve them, to shove the world that they could control someone, that they were willing too.
Who am I?
What am I?
Why was I here?
Do I have parents?
Am I even cared about by someone?
Terra felt a void in her heart that nothing else could fill. A ugly truth fought her to rise and show. Terra tried to hold it back, but she failed.
Did.....I really murder people? Did I just kill them without another thought? How did I do that? How? I don't even know how I'd go about it...
Am I such a monster that kills recklessly? What kind of freak am I? Who...
Terra felt a sudden wave of fear seize her. What if they catch me again? I'll have to kill again! No! I won't let that happen! I won't!
She took a breath, tempting to calm herself. But it didn't work, it did the exact opposite and made her more frightened and baffled. She knew that if she continued
to think about the countless murders she probably did, she'd lose her mind. Swallowing back her anxiety, she closed her eyes, trying to think of the past; her past.
Terra's past. The only thing she could conjure up, was a few shaded images of a tall man with blond hair and tan skin, his eyes were calm and peaceful, they made
her smile fondly, yet she knew nothing of this man, only that she knew he was nice. Slowly, the image faded and she lost it all together. It slipped pass her finger
tips and into the black hole of nothing that is her mind. She sighed, feeling the fur blankets on her as she rolled over, facing the window, and the dark sky outside,
and the luminous stars hanging above. The beautiful moon that shined its glory down below, made Terra smile. If only I was the moon, all up in the sky, safe away
from the bad people who just want to harm others...I bet the sun...sun? Wait, how do I remember the sun? Urg, this gets more confusing every second! She shut
her eyes tightly, trying to shield herself from her own thoughts. Why did this happen to me? Why was I the one chosen to be ruined!? She smacked her head and
gripped locks of hair in her hands. Slowly, she remembered what color hair she had. Gasping, she let her hair go and used her hands to feel her face. It was new
to her, her own body was new to her! This was so bad, how can someone not know what they look like? It was startling and creepy that she wished she had a
mirror to look in, or at least water to gaze in. What did her face look like? What was her eye color? How tall was she? How thin, how fat? She was new to
herself...yet she felt like she knew herself for years, but she didn't. She was so lost. As she pulled the blanket over her face, tears withered down her young face
and dropped down to the pillows, they caused her face to get wet, and her nose to be runny just a bit, and her eyes red. She wiped the tears away and took
a deep breath, trying to get hold of herself, she started to laugh. Why am I getting so emotional? It's just memories, you can get them back. Besides, your an adult,
adults don't cry...do they? She smiled, laughing more. Suddenly, she started to scare herself, but in a laughable way. She thought she has gone mad! Like a twisted
person who escape a metal house. She was acting loony, for all she knows, the very first time! She pulled the blankets up more and grabbed the pillows, shoving her
face into them, she started to scream and laugh.
Terra felt the blanket be lifted, but stayed under her pillow, waiting for a voice.
"Ya okay, gal?" Said a lazy voice.
Terra pulled the pillow away and gazed straight into the eyes of a tall man, with wild sandy-blond hair and beautiful gray eyes. He had a strong face, with a handsome
smile and features, but his perfectly sculptured body was the best part, the part Terra enjoyed that is. She was at lost of words, but she smiled faintly as she slowly sat
up. He was tall! Maybe not giant tall, but at least three or four inches taller then her, and she was tall. She noted the light beard growing on his jaws and sheepishly
blushed, grinning.
Jun came in behind Locke, frowning, he gazed at Terra in wonder. "What was all that darn yelling about?" He asked, crossing his arms. She gasped, looking down, she
sighed. "I'm sorry Jun..."
Locke laughed, a deep, loving sound. "Sorry? For this chimp? Well, I'll be a Moogle caught out in a storm! Ya actually sayin' sorry to Jun here? He ain't worth ya time,
cutie?" He blinked at her and chuckled. Terra felt a wave of relieve over come her frail, tired body when Jun stated that this man was a very trusted friend of his.
Terra sighed as she watched them talk. Locke was surely a nice man, she could tell by the way he carried himself, the way he talked and laughed; she was so sure
he was perfect, that she suddenly blurted out, "I'm Terra..."
Jun smiled as Locke turned to look at her face. Jun chuckled as he saw Terra's cheeks flush. "Well, pretty, I'm Locke Cole, treasure hunter of Narshe." He grinned at her
stumped face. Terra felt weak looking into his eyes. "Narshe? Is that the name of the town?"
He nodded deftly. "Yup! Narshe, the city of coal." He stated as Jun whispered in his ears. Alerted by something, Locke made a startled face and paled. "...This is her?"
Terra frowned, knowing something bad had just happened. Suddenly Locke's face grew rigid, angry, raged, spaced out in horror, pissed off and totally red. He gripped
the hilt of his dagger and stepped forward, pushing Jun back with his left hand, he grabbed Terra by the throat, choking her.
Jun gasped as Terra clawed at Locke's hands. Jun stood, yelling at Locke. "Locke, you fool! Stop this! Stop it now!"
Locke didn't listen, he tightened his grasp and looked back at Jun. "Why!? She murdered ya kids! She killed people here! She needs to pay!" He shouted, watching as Terra's
red eyes grew paler in their color, her lips form a frown, her eyes narrow a bit, and her hands slip away from his arms. Jun stomped his feet.
"Because she had the Slave Crown on!"
Locke let go of Terra's throat, letting her fall back, gasping for air, trying to desperately replace the amount she just lost. Locke's eyes grew moist with tears as he realized
why she had killed them, why she was so pale looking. He gripped his hands, mentally punching himself for attacking her. He heard her frantic breathing, mixed with sobbing
and swore, shaking. Jun hurried to the girl's side and patted her back, "It's okay, dear girl. Breathe, take deep breaths, you'll be okay. I promise," He whispered into her
green hair as she hugged him, the blanket still wrapped around her waist. He pulled the sheets up and over her shoulders, pulling away. "Calm down, girl..." He gently patted
her cheeks and smiled tenderly. "Locke...he thought you were bad..."
"B-Bad? I didn't do anything and he att-attacked me! Dammit, I should kick his-" Jun stopped her by laying a hand over her mouth, "Shush, just rest and I'll talk to Locke. Go on
now, sleep!" He got up and gently pushed her back against the bed, pulling the covers up to her neck, he fluffed the pillows. "You'll need your rest,
Terra, now get it!" Jun watched as she nodded and closed her eyes deftly, her breathing was labored for a couple of seconds, but fell into the beat of sleeping. Jun led
Locke out of the room and punched his arm, "The hell is wrong with you!?" He hissed as he crossed his arm, wrinkles of anger formed above his eye brows. Locke
shrugged indifferently. "....Crap, old man! Ya coulda' told me the bitchy witch of the Empire was 'ere!" He growled as he begun to walk around the room, rubbing his
neck and frowning, he sighed deeply. Jun sniffed and sat down, he has been thinking all of this over, clearly and a lot more then he should have. "Locke, you should
have been way more sensitive towards her in the first place," He shook his head stiffly. "Locke, the poor lass doesn't even remember her name, and you completely
scared her to death!"
Locke rolled his eyes. "Yea, I see that! I didn't know! Ya can't blame me for somethin' like that, ya just can't!" The rouge closed his eyes. "'Sides, the girl seemed fine 'nough
after, she basically wanted to kill me." Locke muttered as he poured some of the wine he found on the shelves into a mug he had picked up in the same place. Jun
heaved a heavy sigh, "She had the right, really...Now, when she wakes, you'll apologize to her, right?"
"Sure, whatever, mate. I jus' can't get the idea out of me head! Why would ya let..her in your home, I mean, sure she was controlled and all, but I don't think I'd have the
strength and forgiveness ya have..." Locke drank a mouth full of the wine and smiled as he flavored the taste. "...I think she will be jus' fine, eh?" He chuckled.
"What's up wit the green hair, mate? I never saw me a girl with such...hued hair," He laughed as Jun sighed. A silence fell and soon Locke sat down on a rocking chair, a
tired old look on his face as he drank some more of the wine. Jun turned to look at the oak door that led to Terra and softly started to speak.
"Ya think that maybe the lass has parents somewhere?"
"..." Locke licked his lips, making a sad face. "I seriously doubt that, Jun old friend. The damn ole Empire must have killed her parents..." Said the thief, slightly touched by the subject.
Jun grew an stern face, "You think she has a husband, or maybe a boyfriend out there who will want to help her out?"
"....Doubt that too, Jun." Locke sat back, ready to answer Jun's next question. "....Do you think she has a slaver or maybe she was bought by the show girls?" He grumbled.
"...I hear they like to dye girl's hair colors a lot, ya know, for show..." Jun noted Locke's nod as a reply. But the thief said, "I don't see anyone buyin' her, sure she's cute in all, but look at her
ears? Have ya seen those buggers! They look feline, animal like..." Their talk ended with a dreadful sigh, then Jun stood weakly. "There another bed in there, if ya want it. I have to keep watch,
be suspicious if a suspected thief answered the door," Jun laughed when Locke snorted, but he stood and excepted the bed. "Thanks Jun, I'll be rememberin' that for years to come, mate."
Jun led him into the same room where Terra was and pointed to the smaller, less fluffy bed Terra had. The rouge silently took his muddy boots off and jacket, thenhis bandanna. He
stretched and crawled into bed, crunching the two pillows up for more fluff. "'Night, Junny." Locke grinned as he closed his eyes, Jun left after blowing out the candle.