Authors Note: Hey guys, thanks for the reviews and everything. Sorry it took so long to post an update. I've had loads of coursework to do before Easter and I had the school play with rehearsals almost everyday, but not anymore! So enjoy this chapter!
Also, check out my new story on called Flame Reborn in the fantasy section. Still pretty new and not much up there, but enjoy!
Darkness. It enveloped and coiled around her like a snake, choking her senses and clouding her mind. She couldn't feel anything, only the darkness. From deep within the darkness she could sense a strong presence. She moved forward, looking from left to right, trying in vain to locate the strong presence. From somewhere up above a small beam of light began to trickle down, illuminating the area ever so slightly. She moved forward slowly, aware of others. She could hear whispering, low voices and the rustle of movement. A dark figure flashed across her vision and she stumbled back in surprise.
The strong presence she could sense earlier seemed to be fading, disappearing. She continued on, looking around nervously. As the whispering grew louder and chanting began, she sped up until she was sprinting for all she was worth. As she ran the thin beam of light constantly remained in front of her, as she moved it moved at the same speed. A dark figure jumped out at her again and roared, before slipping into the darkness once again. She fell to the ground, which would have been painful, if she could feel it. As she landed the chanting abruptly ceased. She slowly to rose to her feet.
Standing in the beam of light in front of her, stood a young man of the same age. He had dark hair and dark clothing, all apart from his white vest, which was visible through his jacket. He just stood there stock still, staring quietly at her. She smiled weakly and took a few steps towards him. This time the light did not move as she did, and neither did he. It was hard for her to see him because of the stifling darkness creeping around them.
She held out her hand, her palm facing upward, and stared at it solemnly. He watched too. After a moment a small light appeared floating above her hand, then it transformed into a glowing white feather. With this new light source she could see the features of his face better. His face was solemn and cold. She stared into his eyes, searching for a sliver of an idea of how he was feeling and what he was thinking. But she could find nothing; it was like it wasn't him.
The light the feather floating in her hand began dim, drawing her attention to it. The feather began to shrivel up and then spontaneously set on fire. The ashes fell onto her hand. She stared in horror as she watched the destruction of the feather.
"What did you do?" He asked, still watching her
She looked up at him with watery eyes. She still held the ashes in her palm.
"Squall…?" She asked, confused.
"Squall…" She whispered softly, on the very edges of consciousness.
Her eyes blinked open wearily. She was in a dark, dank, musty room. There were candles on the walls that lit the room a little. On the far wall was a heavy wooden door with a small glass-less window in it at head height and vertical metal bars across it.
Rinoa sat up slowly, her body felt stiff and weak. It felt... foreign. She looked down at her hands, and then at the rest of her body. It was her own, but it still felt strange. As she was surveying her body she noticed she was in shackles and chains. The shackles on her wrists were connected to one another and looped through a large metal ring high up on the wall.
Drip... drip... drip...
She looked around the room for the source of the noise. In one corner of the room was a leak in the corner of the room where the ceiling and the two walls met. The water trickled down the wall and created a puddle on the floor.
Now that her eyes had adjusted to the light she could make out more of the features of the room. It was made out of large, rough stone. There were old wooden chairs and a small table in one corner of the room.
On the floor in front of her, on an oval-shaped metal tray, was a jug of water and a cup, and some bread. Now that she could see the water and the bread she realised how thirsty and hungry she was. But who left it? That question was the first of many to come to attention. Where was she? How did she get here? What was going on? Could she take the risk of eating the bread and drinking the water? What if it was drugged? What if it was poisoned? Who had done this?
Morgana stared into the water in the shallow dish on her lap. In the water's surface she could see the pale-skinned girl in blue awakening. Her thin lips curved into a malicious smile. She waved her hand over the dish and the image rippled away. She looked out of the corner of her eye at the other figure in the room, standing just behind her.
"You did well Ronan. Exceptional, even. Leave her in there for a few hours; let her stir a little. Make sure she is ignored and can hear nothing, I want her to feel totally alone." The sorceress smirked evilly.
"Yes Morgana. But I'm a little curious as to-"
"Silence!" Morgana interrupted, her booming voice holding more power than any mortals. "You will get what you want, but not if you are not patient. You are worse than father." She snarled
"Don't talk about him like that!" Ronan snapped without thinking, rage boiling up inside of him.
"I can talk however I please!" Morgana snapped back, the flames in the room flickering as she spoke, "Do you forget who I am and what I have done for you! You are trying my patience you impudent little worm! Do you wish to end your services with me! Shall I undo all that I have done for you!""
Ronan shrunk back in fright as the green-eyed Sorceress barked and bellowed at him.
"N-N-No, So-So-Sorceress Mor-Morgana." Ronan stuttered, cowering like a small child.
Morgana calmed her temper as she looked at the shrinking president before her.
Insolent little dog.
"Go. Get out of my sight." She snarled, disgusted.
Ronan was quick to oblige, running terrified from the room as quickly, but courteously, as possible.
"He's becoming a liability…" She said aloud, sitting down in her chair once again. "He's showing his mortal weaknesses…"
She looked up at a gnarled perch made out of wood in front of the wall opposite her. She snapped her fingers and a dark red raven magically appeared out of thin air.
"Follow him, carefully. Make sure he never leaves your sight and report back to me as soon as he does something he should not. Stay out sight of all. You have never disappointed me before Shalrock, don't start now. Go." Morgana ordered.
The dark red raven, Shalrock, cawed obediently, stretching his wings. His eyes were deep, infinite, entrancing. As it finished cawing and stretched it's wings one final time, it disappeared as magically and mysteriously as it had done before, it's eyes glowing and being the last part of it to vanish.
Morgana watched it disappear, then picked up the shallow dish of water once again…
Squall paced back and forth impatiently. What was taking so long? He looked at the clock on the wall. 3:14 am. Rinoa had been gone for about 12 hours. In that time Squall had only gotten more and more worked up and temperamental. The door opened and Squall's head shot up from the floor in front of him.
"And?" He demanded
"…I'm sorry." Selphie said sadly, shaking her head.
Behind her stood Irvine, head bowed.
"Keep looking!" He snapped back.
They had split into teams to search Balamb and the nearest regions of Galbadia for news. People from Garden had also volunteered for help and Quistis was on her way to Esthar to see what they could do.
"Squall, you gotta get some sleep. The teams who can have come back for rest, you should do the same." Irvine said
"Send them out again." Squall said crossly
"Squall, they're exhausted. They can't do anything in their condition. And neither can you." Selphie said
"Dammit Selphie!" Squall yelled.
He paused and silence filled his office. He didn't like this room, which was why he rarely ever used it apart from official work.
"…Sorry. I just…" Squall tried to explain.
"It's okay Squall." Selphie said, going over to him and putting one hand on his shoulder and resting her head upon it.
"Yeah man, don't worry about it. You're worried. We get that." Irvine added
"We miss her too." Selphie finished off.
"Thanks." Squall said finally, after a long silence
"So you gonna get some rest now?" Selphie asked
"No. Not until I find her." Squall said firmly.
"Squall, please. You need rest. Rin would hate to see you like this. You can't save anyone in this condition." Irvine replied
"But-"
"No buts! If you don't go and get some rest now, I'll tell Rin when she gets back and she will not be happy with you mister!" Selphie said sternly, putting her hands on her hips. "Now go!" She said, pulling him to the door.
Selphie practically had to drag Squall all the way to his dorm and nearly locked him inside. After making him swear to get some rest they reluctantly went to do the same.
Squall looked around his dark dorm, where everywhere he could see remnants of where Rinoa had been not so long ago. On his desk he could see pictures of her, of them together, of the entire gang. There was one picture of her that was taken in the summer when they made a day excursion to the beach.
She was wearing a cream coloured halter neck bikini. Her eyes reflected the sunlight beautifully and her smile was radiant. She was sitting on the sand with the blue water behind her. Squall picked up the photo and stared at it in the dim lighting. He took it over to the bed and lay down, staring at the photo of Rinoa.
"Rinoa… where are you?" He whispered to himself.
Rinoa stared into the water in the rough, clay cup she held with both hands. Reflected on it the waters surface was a girl with pale skin, chocolate brown eyes and raven coloured hair. Herself. She looked sad and lonely. Rinoa still hadn't eaten of the bread or drank of the water. She was trying to discern if it was poisoned.
As she stared into this water, a realisation came over her. It mustn't be poisoned, if they had wanted her dead then why take her? Why not kill her while she slept? As calmness took over her, she lifted the clay cup to her dry lips and drank. She put the cup back down next to her and lifted the bread to her now moist lips and bit off a large chunk.
Rinoa sighed and put the bread back on the tray. Where was Squall? Why hadn't he come? Where was she? Who had taken her? As soon as she thought this, the memories returned to her…
She had tears streaming down her face. Her mind was racing at what had happened. Squall, why was he doing this? Why was everything suddenly so awkward and difficult? She stopped running and turned to look back at the Garden. No one seemed to be coming yet. That was good.
She bit her lip and looked around. Where could she go? She could hid in the Fire Cavern, but it would be too easy for Squall and the others to find her. The only other option was to catch a train from Balamb Town to Dollet, and from there she could go anywhere. But it wouldn't be long before Squall and the others would be close behind. And it was a Sunday, the trains didn't run as often on a Sunday. It could be a long time before the train left…
As she was contemplating where to go, gunfire rained down on her. She raised her hands instinctively in front of her face and ducked down low. She looked around for the source of the gunfire. She saw a dozen Galbadians running at full pelt towards her, and behind them another dozen soldiers raining gunfire down upon her.
Before she knew what was happening, the soldiers were surrounding her and the gunfire ceased. Rinoa stood up and was about to cast a spell to blast them away so she could run. As she raised her hand to cast a spell, she felt something jab into her back. She groaned in pain and slowly raised a hand to her back. She pulled out the object and found herself staring at a needle.
She quickly began to feel nauseous and dizzy and knew what was going on. She desperately tried to fight off the darkness and unconsciousness that was quickly sweeping over her. The soldiers before her parted and a familiar face stepped past them. Ronan Deling.
"Dear Sorceress. I'm afraid that if you won't come voluntarily, we must take you by force. For your own good." He smirked evily.
"..Wh…wh…what?" She said, breathing heavily, the words refusing to come out of her mouth.
"I guess you're wondering what is happening to you? It's a mixture of that Sorceress-magic tranquilliser given to you in Timber, and a normal tranquilliser. Should keep you knocked out for a while. Plenty of time to take you away." Ronan said, as two soldiers grabbed Rinoa's arms.
She struggled weakly until unconsciousness took her, the last thing that she saw being Ronan's evil grinning face. Squall…
A tear fell down her cheek as she remembered. She resented ever rejecting or excluding Squall. How she needed him now. Ronan… Galbadians… What did they want from her? Where they… Where they really gonna execute her like they said they would? Rinoa gulped and drew her knees up to her chest and buried her head in her knees. What was she going to do? There was an anti-magic barrier on the chamber, she had already tried. And the chains were strong and unbreakable. What was she going to do?
That's it for this chapter! Again, sorry it took so long. I had my school play and then lots of coursework, but that's all out of the way now. So here it is! Reviewers Review!