***Misted Reality: Part 5***
There is nothing more horrific than discovering you are not who you thought you were, especially when who you are may be a horror within itself. People go about their daily lives believing this or that about themselves, and most of the time they have no idea what truths lurk within the darkest recesses of their minds, what monster waits to roar its ugly head when they dare to turn their backs. When that monster comes out to play, it may not cause much damage at all. Perhaps the person will turn out to be very much like their true, inner self. But, perhaps not. Maybe they'll turn out to be something far different, something uncontrollable. Maybe....just maybe......they'll discover that who they really are.....is.........
"Seifer," a low-toned, feminine voice called from outside Seifer's door. "Seifer, are you in there? It's nearly noon, where have you been all day?"
Seifer Almasy sat huddled on his bed, his knees clutched to his chest as he stared blankly forward, rocking gently back and forth. He'd been like that all morning, eyes wide with panic and pain. His mind forever flashed with images of a nightmare too real to be a mere dream, and the gash on his cheek only proved what Seifer desperately wished hadn't truly happened.
"...go....away...." Seifer breathed, barely loud enough for Quistis, who stood anxiously beyond Seifer's dorm room, to hear.
"Go away?" Quistis repeated, hurt by Seifer's blunt and eerie tone. "Seifer......are you alright?"
She was offered no reply.
"Was it another one of those dreams? Is that why you're hiding in there?"
Seifer clenched his eyes tightly closed, rocking more fiercely from the ache of memory. What was he supposed to say? That he'd had the most unbearable dream yet, and.....that he'd......he might have.......
"Just go away........please go away......stay away from me......" Seifer mumbled, pulling himself into an even tighter ball, so afraid of what he might do if he even dared to open his door.
"No, I won't go away," Quistis stated firmly, punching on the key pad outside Seifer's room in an attempt to open the door. It was locked, and though she knew the code, it didn't seem to be working. "Let me in Seifer. Talk to me! Please........I need to see you.....I need to see your face......." Quistis' voice broke a little as she pounded on the door. She sounded near tears.
"...why....?" Seifer questioned, tilting his head up at her stressed words, terrified of what she might say.
"Something's happened, Seifer," Quistis answered, letting her forehead fall against the door. "There's.....been another murder...."
Fresh tears found their way down Seifer's cheeks, stinging his cut in a painful reminder.
(...I already know....) Seifer thought agonizingly. (.....I killed them......)
"Seifer, did you hear me?!" Quistis yelled, pounding a fist against the door as tears poured down her face as well. "Why won't you talk to me?! Seifer!!"
"LEAVE ME ALONE!!" Seifer screamed, jumping off the bed and racing to the door. He stood before it, yelling through the steel wall. "I don't want to hear about the murders! I don't want to talk! I just want you to go away! Go away.......stay away....just let me be......."
(I don't wanna hurt you.......) Seifer stumbled back, falling staggeringly into a heap on the floor.
Quistis stood outside his room, confused, hurt, and frightened. Not frightened *of* Seifer, frightened *for* him. She didn't understand why he was acting like this. It didn't make any sense. She had only wanted to talk with him. The murders had really shaken her, and she just wanted someone to hold, someone to hold her. Why would Seifer push her away?
(It must be the dreams.......that's all it is....) Quistis reasoned. (I'll leave him alone, let him cool down. I'm sure he'll want to talk later........of course he will.......)
"Alright, Seifer, I'll go," she stated softly, allowing no anger to enter her tone, but clearly expressing the hurt she felt. "If you change your mind and want to talk, I'll be in class, and then in my room later. We don't have to talk about the murders.....we can just......." she sighed, placing her palm longingly against the door frame. "Just promise you'll come see me later.......please?"
Seifer couldn't answer her, he just laid back on the floor in agony. He wanting so much to just open that door and take Quistis up in his arms, and yet.......he was so afraid that he might......
"Seifer...." Quistis called, knowing he wasn't going to reply. "....I'll wait for you......I......" she swallowed hard, holding back her tears. "......I love you........" Quistis stepped back from the door then, and slowly heading down the hall.
(.......you shouldn't......) the former knight thought bitterly, sitting up as he sat there on his floor. (......Oh, God.......what am I supposed to do? I know who was killed this time.......and I know it was me who did it. I killed those children.......I killed Ashton. You were wrong Quistis......I *am* a killer.........)
----------
The day drifted on unbearably slow for Quistis. Each class seemed to drone on longer, and every time her door would open, she'd hope and pray that Seifer would be the person who entered. He never did.
When classes finished, Quistis had gone straight to her room, half expecting to find Seifer there waiting for her. Her heart had sunk sorrowfully when she found it empty, and a part of her ached to return to Seifer's room, to beg him to come out, but she couldn't bring herself to try. His words, his distance, had stung deep within her, and she stubbornly wanted him to come to her.
(He'll come......) Quistis assured herself. She had gotten ready for bed early, and sat in front of her mirror, brushing her long, golden hair absently. (.....he'll come.....he just doesn't want to while everyone's still up and about......that's all. He'll come when it's a little later......yeah. The dreams.....the murders....he's just taking it all really hard. He'll come........he'll come........)
----------
Seifer had stayed in his room all day, never daring to leave, barely daring to move at all. He longed for Quistis' company, for any company, but seeing himself in a new light kept him hostage within his room. He was terrified and at a loss for what to do. If he tried to turn himself in, what would become of him? What would Quistis and the others think? What if on the way to confessing he became whoever he is in his dreams and killed someone else? It all seemed too dangerous, too difficult for Seifer to attempt.
(......I just have to......keep myself awake......'till I can figure out what to do........) Seifer thought, leaning against his bed on the floor. (...as long as I stay awake......everything will be ok. I can't hurt anyone if I stay awake.) Seifer pulled his knees into himself once again, clutching them tightly to his chest. (This'll work.......this will all work out.....somehow...)
If only Seifer had been strong enough to fight the forces that pulled his eyelids shut........
----------
Knock. Knock.
Quistis rushed to her door at the sound of someone knocking. It was only 9pm, not terribly late, and she hoped beyond hope that it was......
"Seifer....." Quistis said breathlessly, smiling widely as she let her door open to reveal the very person she'd hoped to see.
"I'm not too late, am I?" Seifer asked, tossing her his familiar, arrogant, little smirk. "I was sorta hoping I could still take you up on that offer to talk. If you'll let me......?"
"Of course!" Quistis cried in relief. "Come in...."
Seifer entered slowly, leaning back against the door as it closed behind him. He held his hands behind his back curiously, but Quistis didn't seem to notice.
"I heard about last night's murders almost right away....." Seifer began. ".....that's why I was so tense this morning. I didn't mean to snap at you like that,"
"Don't worry about it," Quistis dismissed, turning away from him. She walked to the window, staring out of it as she continued. "I can understand. The murder's were.........oh, I'm sorry. You probably don't want to talk about it,"
"It's ok," Seifer replied. "It'll be good for both of us," He pushed himself away from the door, causing a soft clang of metal against metal to resonate, though too lightly for Quistis to hear.
"I'm glad you feel that way...." Quistis began. "....because it's eating me alive." She bowed her head, leaning against the window. "I was shocked when Ashton was found. It was so horrible. But......Jei and Maren.......they were so young. Everyone's been saying that it must be someone from Garden, too, since this place is locked up like a tomb at night. But.....how *could* it be.....?"
Quistis didn't notice how Seifer was closing in on her from behind. There was something in his eyes that she just might have noticed if only she had been facing him in time to see it . From Seifer's point of view, he'd never seen clearer, even as he pulled his gunblade from behind his back......
"It couldn't be someone from Garden," Quistis went on. "Who would do something like that?" She turned back around to face Seifer with those final words, and gasped at what she saw.
"Gee, I don't know," Seifer smirked, holding his gunblade proudly. He shot out an arm to pull Quistis closer, grabbing the back of her neck. "Maybe..........me?" Seifer laughed, a cruel, unnerving laugh.
Quistis' eyes were wide with anguish, and she stood frozen in Seifer's grasp as he brought his gunblade closer.....
".....Seifer....." she breathed, her eyes welling up with tears. ".....no.....not you......"
"Fraid so, sweetheart," Seifer answered mercilessly. He pulled her in barely an inch from him, and whispered in her ear, "Guess your boyfriend's a killer after all....."
A shuddering breath escaped Quistis throat as the gunblade's cold, piercing metal slid into her stomach slowly, allowing her to feel every twinge of pain all the more. She clung to Seifer as he let her fall to the floor, sliding from his gunblade as agonizingly as it had made its way through her.
"Sweet dreams, Beautiful," Seifer sneered, ripping himself from her grip. Quistis crumbled to the ground, clutching at her bleeding wound, and staring up at Seifer in disbelief.
"...but...." Quistis tried to gasp out. "....I......I love....you.....Seifer....."
Seifer answered her words with a scornful laugh, turning his back on her bleeding form. He then stepped through the door and out of the room, leaving her with the echo of that laughter and the pain of betrayal.
**********
Don't hate me now people. You don't know how this is going to turn out. Quistis isn't necessarily dead or anything.
I bet you're all wondering what's up with Seifer. If you noticed, there was no dream sequence involved with what he did to Quistis. Does that mean Seifer's turned into his dream persona? You'll have to wait and see. The next parts only get better. PLEASE REVIEW. Love you all :-)
There is nothing more horrific than discovering you are not who you thought you were, especially when who you are may be a horror within itself. People go about their daily lives believing this or that about themselves, and most of the time they have no idea what truths lurk within the darkest recesses of their minds, what monster waits to roar its ugly head when they dare to turn their backs. When that monster comes out to play, it may not cause much damage at all. Perhaps the person will turn out to be very much like their true, inner self. But, perhaps not. Maybe they'll turn out to be something far different, something uncontrollable. Maybe....just maybe......they'll discover that who they really are.....is.........
"Seifer," a low-toned, feminine voice called from outside Seifer's door. "Seifer, are you in there? It's nearly noon, where have you been all day?"
Seifer Almasy sat huddled on his bed, his knees clutched to his chest as he stared blankly forward, rocking gently back and forth. He'd been like that all morning, eyes wide with panic and pain. His mind forever flashed with images of a nightmare too real to be a mere dream, and the gash on his cheek only proved what Seifer desperately wished hadn't truly happened.
"...go....away...." Seifer breathed, barely loud enough for Quistis, who stood anxiously beyond Seifer's dorm room, to hear.
"Go away?" Quistis repeated, hurt by Seifer's blunt and eerie tone. "Seifer......are you alright?"
She was offered no reply.
"Was it another one of those dreams? Is that why you're hiding in there?"
Seifer clenched his eyes tightly closed, rocking more fiercely from the ache of memory. What was he supposed to say? That he'd had the most unbearable dream yet, and.....that he'd......he might have.......
"Just go away........please go away......stay away from me......" Seifer mumbled, pulling himself into an even tighter ball, so afraid of what he might do if he even dared to open his door.
"No, I won't go away," Quistis stated firmly, punching on the key pad outside Seifer's room in an attempt to open the door. It was locked, and though she knew the code, it didn't seem to be working. "Let me in Seifer. Talk to me! Please........I need to see you.....I need to see your face......." Quistis' voice broke a little as she pounded on the door. She sounded near tears.
"...why....?" Seifer questioned, tilting his head up at her stressed words, terrified of what she might say.
"Something's happened, Seifer," Quistis answered, letting her forehead fall against the door. "There's.....been another murder...."
Fresh tears found their way down Seifer's cheeks, stinging his cut in a painful reminder.
(...I already know....) Seifer thought agonizingly. (.....I killed them......)
"Seifer, did you hear me?!" Quistis yelled, pounding a fist against the door as tears poured down her face as well. "Why won't you talk to me?! Seifer!!"
"LEAVE ME ALONE!!" Seifer screamed, jumping off the bed and racing to the door. He stood before it, yelling through the steel wall. "I don't want to hear about the murders! I don't want to talk! I just want you to go away! Go away.......stay away....just let me be......."
(I don't wanna hurt you.......) Seifer stumbled back, falling staggeringly into a heap on the floor.
Quistis stood outside his room, confused, hurt, and frightened. Not frightened *of* Seifer, frightened *for* him. She didn't understand why he was acting like this. It didn't make any sense. She had only wanted to talk with him. The murders had really shaken her, and she just wanted someone to hold, someone to hold her. Why would Seifer push her away?
(It must be the dreams.......that's all it is....) Quistis reasoned. (I'll leave him alone, let him cool down. I'm sure he'll want to talk later........of course he will.......)
"Alright, Seifer, I'll go," she stated softly, allowing no anger to enter her tone, but clearly expressing the hurt she felt. "If you change your mind and want to talk, I'll be in class, and then in my room later. We don't have to talk about the murders.....we can just......." she sighed, placing her palm longingly against the door frame. "Just promise you'll come see me later.......please?"
Seifer couldn't answer her, he just laid back on the floor in agony. He wanting so much to just open that door and take Quistis up in his arms, and yet.......he was so afraid that he might......
"Seifer...." Quistis called, knowing he wasn't going to reply. "....I'll wait for you......I......" she swallowed hard, holding back her tears. "......I love you........" Quistis stepped back from the door then, and slowly heading down the hall.
(.......you shouldn't......) the former knight thought bitterly, sitting up as he sat there on his floor. (......Oh, God.......what am I supposed to do? I know who was killed this time.......and I know it was me who did it. I killed those children.......I killed Ashton. You were wrong Quistis......I *am* a killer.........)
----------
The day drifted on unbearably slow for Quistis. Each class seemed to drone on longer, and every time her door would open, she'd hope and pray that Seifer would be the person who entered. He never did.
When classes finished, Quistis had gone straight to her room, half expecting to find Seifer there waiting for her. Her heart had sunk sorrowfully when she found it empty, and a part of her ached to return to Seifer's room, to beg him to come out, but she couldn't bring herself to try. His words, his distance, had stung deep within her, and she stubbornly wanted him to come to her.
(He'll come......) Quistis assured herself. She had gotten ready for bed early, and sat in front of her mirror, brushing her long, golden hair absently. (.....he'll come.....he just doesn't want to while everyone's still up and about......that's all. He'll come when it's a little later......yeah. The dreams.....the murders....he's just taking it all really hard. He'll come........he'll come........)
----------
Seifer had stayed in his room all day, never daring to leave, barely daring to move at all. He longed for Quistis' company, for any company, but seeing himself in a new light kept him hostage within his room. He was terrified and at a loss for what to do. If he tried to turn himself in, what would become of him? What would Quistis and the others think? What if on the way to confessing he became whoever he is in his dreams and killed someone else? It all seemed too dangerous, too difficult for Seifer to attempt.
(......I just have to......keep myself awake......'till I can figure out what to do........) Seifer thought, leaning against his bed on the floor. (...as long as I stay awake......everything will be ok. I can't hurt anyone if I stay awake.) Seifer pulled his knees into himself once again, clutching them tightly to his chest. (This'll work.......this will all work out.....somehow...)
If only Seifer had been strong enough to fight the forces that pulled his eyelids shut........
----------
Knock. Knock.
Quistis rushed to her door at the sound of someone knocking. It was only 9pm, not terribly late, and she hoped beyond hope that it was......
"Seifer....." Quistis said breathlessly, smiling widely as she let her door open to reveal the very person she'd hoped to see.
"I'm not too late, am I?" Seifer asked, tossing her his familiar, arrogant, little smirk. "I was sorta hoping I could still take you up on that offer to talk. If you'll let me......?"
"Of course!" Quistis cried in relief. "Come in...."
Seifer entered slowly, leaning back against the door as it closed behind him. He held his hands behind his back curiously, but Quistis didn't seem to notice.
"I heard about last night's murders almost right away....." Seifer began. ".....that's why I was so tense this morning. I didn't mean to snap at you like that,"
"Don't worry about it," Quistis dismissed, turning away from him. She walked to the window, staring out of it as she continued. "I can understand. The murder's were.........oh, I'm sorry. You probably don't want to talk about it,"
"It's ok," Seifer replied. "It'll be good for both of us," He pushed himself away from the door, causing a soft clang of metal against metal to resonate, though too lightly for Quistis to hear.
"I'm glad you feel that way...." Quistis began. "....because it's eating me alive." She bowed her head, leaning against the window. "I was shocked when Ashton was found. It was so horrible. But......Jei and Maren.......they were so young. Everyone's been saying that it must be someone from Garden, too, since this place is locked up like a tomb at night. But.....how *could* it be.....?"
Quistis didn't notice how Seifer was closing in on her from behind. There was something in his eyes that she just might have noticed if only she had been facing him in time to see it . From Seifer's point of view, he'd never seen clearer, even as he pulled his gunblade from behind his back......
"It couldn't be someone from Garden," Quistis went on. "Who would do something like that?" She turned back around to face Seifer with those final words, and gasped at what she saw.
"Gee, I don't know," Seifer smirked, holding his gunblade proudly. He shot out an arm to pull Quistis closer, grabbing the back of her neck. "Maybe..........me?" Seifer laughed, a cruel, unnerving laugh.
Quistis' eyes were wide with anguish, and she stood frozen in Seifer's grasp as he brought his gunblade closer.....
".....Seifer....." she breathed, her eyes welling up with tears. ".....no.....not you......"
"Fraid so, sweetheart," Seifer answered mercilessly. He pulled her in barely an inch from him, and whispered in her ear, "Guess your boyfriend's a killer after all....."
A shuddering breath escaped Quistis throat as the gunblade's cold, piercing metal slid into her stomach slowly, allowing her to feel every twinge of pain all the more. She clung to Seifer as he let her fall to the floor, sliding from his gunblade as agonizingly as it had made its way through her.
"Sweet dreams, Beautiful," Seifer sneered, ripping himself from her grip. Quistis crumbled to the ground, clutching at her bleeding wound, and staring up at Seifer in disbelief.
"...but...." Quistis tried to gasp out. "....I......I love....you.....Seifer....."
Seifer answered her words with a scornful laugh, turning his back on her bleeding form. He then stepped through the door and out of the room, leaving her with the echo of that laughter and the pain of betrayal.
**********
Don't hate me now people. You don't know how this is going to turn out. Quistis isn't necessarily dead or anything.
I bet you're all wondering what's up with Seifer. If you noticed, there was no dream sequence involved with what he did to Quistis. Does that mean Seifer's turned into his dream persona? You'll have to wait and see. The next parts only get better. PLEASE REVIEW. Love you all :-)