Trickle - 17 - Wither

Blood was drizzling down his forehead, and through this netherworld he smiled at me.

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April 21

After we promised each other that we'd find a cure, I retreated to my room, and he left to his. He said he wanted to be alone. He wanted time to think. It's saddening sitting here, isolated, but...oh well, I'm used to it.

Squall and everyone were probably wondering where I was, but they probably gave up on me, and decided to have some fun. I guess that's what I would've done. Not to mention it is 9:00 p.m. The only people outside right now, are probably the people who are stuck with cleaning up the paper plates, and napkins.

Seifer told me that he finally told Fujin and Raijin to leave him alone. They were hurt, but of course, I'd be hurt too if he told me to just back off. I congratulated him, and told him that he didn't need people like that.

He just smiled, and looked down.

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"We'll find a way...Yeah...we will."

I smiled, and walked over to my window.

I needed to breathe in fresher air. Warmer air...the summer's air.

Opening the window, I could smell the remains of grilled meat, butter, and candy. I laughed, remembering my little choking incident.

Hmm, I think I'm going to sleep with my window open tonight...yeah, I think I will.

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"You son of a bitch! We're not good enough for you anymore?"

I awoke startled, and looked out my window.

Below, Fujin and Raijin stood in the secluded area, which could be seen from my window, and screamed at Seifer.

I stood watching, to see what was going on.

Raijin walked closely to Seifer's face, screaming something that couldn't be interpreted, and Seifer just calmly turned his face to the side.

Turning around, Raijin said something to Fujin.

Suddenly, he raised his arms to Seifer, and pushed him to the ground.

Oh my god.

I grabbed my whip, and rushed outside.

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"HAHA! TRADER!"

I walked behind a laughing Fujin, and raised my whip, but when Seifer turned and looked at me, all hell broke loose.

Fujin turned around, and pushed me to the ground.

The whip slid across the sidewalk. Too far for my fallen body to reach. She kicked it farther, reached down, pulled me to my feet, and restrained my arms behind my back.

"This is your reason for leaving us, isn't it?"

Raijin pointed to me, with a disgusted look on his face.

Things got silent.

Seifer extended one of his legs, and tripped Raijin. When he was on his feet, he began kicking him rapidly on the ground.

"STOP!"

Fujin yelled, throwing me to the ground, and punched Seifer on the side of his face.

Everything was happening so quickly. I didn't know what was goin on, I had no idea what to do. When I sat up, I saw Seifer laying on the ground again, indefensible, as Raijin repeated what just happened to him. Each kick, slowly taking Seifer's breaths away.

"Stop it!"

Fujin had me in her grasp again.

Everytime Raijin raised his foot back, I felt the pain 10x's worse. It was terrible. I wanted to just die right there. The look on Seifer's face was filled with agony, and it was so hard watching him, in a powerless huddle.

Fujin and Raijin were laughing, sinisterly, and their laughter only rose to a higher volume, as Seifer began coughing up blood.

"STOP IT YOU SICK BASTARDS!"

I was screaming, and my voice was cracking. I was trying so hard to break free from Fujins hands, but I grew weaker and weaker.

"Sure, I'll stop...oh wait...I didn't even try out the new move I learned today."

"FINISH!" Fujin cheered on.

I closed my eyes, afraid to see what was going to happen.

This is not happening, this is not happening. Here I was, screaming so loud, and still no one has rushed out to help us. Seifer lay there staring down at a red puddle, trying to get back on his feet, and these two laughed, at his attempt.

"Please, leave him alone! Leave HIM ALONE!"

I tried kicking Raijin, but he was too far, for me to reach. Everytime I tried to run up to Seifer, I was pulled back, and held in an even tighter grasp.

Raijin pulled out a pocketknife, opened it, and ran it along his fingers.

"This will do the job."

He grabbed Seifer by the collar of his shirt, and pulled him close to him.

"You know I could just kill you, for betraying me and Fujin like that."

He whispered closely to his face, but I could hear every word he said, as if his voice was amplified.

"Please no Raijin! Don't do this, we could work this out! I'll leave Seifer alone, and he could return to you guys, JUST DON'T DO THIS!"

I lowered my head to the ground, and was crying so loudly.

Seifer stared at me, wanting to run up to me. Blood poured from the corner of his mouth, and there was major damage done to his forehead, above his right eyebrow.

"Man, SHUT UP INSTRUCTOR!" Raijin turned, and pointed the knife at me.

Fujin gave me a kick behind the knees, making me fall, but she pulled me back up, and forced me to stand. The pain was unreal.

"QUIET!"

I scrunched my eyes, stopping more tears from flowing, and stared at Seifer. He stared back at me. His shirt pulled up to an inch under his chin. He looked so faint, and the laughter that used to be in his eyes, was so distant, and was replaced with a dying, screaming world.

"I found a place we could run away to. Let's go. We could leave now."

My voice was tear-filled, and shattering.

The moon shined on my grief, and made it look like little streams flowing down my face. Blood was drizzling down his forehead, and through this netherworld he smiled at me.

Raijin placed the blade under Seifer's chin, and started saying something, which was difficult to percieve.

There was one last utter stillness, before Raijin pulled his hand back and thrusted the knife into Seifer's stomach.

It was all happening so fast, but then it was happening in slow motion.

"NOOOOOOOOOOO!"

I screamed holding my head back.

Fujin, in shock let go of my wrists, and I was able to fall freely to him. He was hunched over, holding onto his stomach, as I saw the familiar scene of blood pouring through his fingers. I placed my hand over his wound, to help stop the flow, and looked back at a stunned Raijin.

"YOU BASTARD! YOU ASSHOLE!"

I shrieked, still crying.

Suddenly, Raijin fell to the ground.

"WHAT?!" Fujin yelled in shock.

I turned to see, Squall, and Irvine...whom, luckily just so happened to be out wandering around late at night.

Thank you God.

Seifer was still hunched over, coughing, bleeding, and trying to breathe.

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I persuaded Squall and Irvine to leave me be, after I thanked them gratefully. And I stayed outside, even after the Balamb paramedics left.

A minute ago, everything was going mad, but now the Garden slept peacefully.

The sounds of screaming, human hands striking the sidewalk, footprints moving back and forth, still breathing, coughing, flesh being torn open, and ambulance sirens, were all mixed into one sound. They were being replayed over and over and over, in my head.

The image of seeing Seifer being pushed away, on a stretcher was stuck in my head. His face continuously, turning from pale, to red...from the bright spinning light above the sanguine truck.

In the distance, my whip lay untouched, and my dorm window, remained pushed open, while the curtain's white ends flapped in the summer breeze.

I looked down.

And right below me, I could see scuffmarks and drops of blood on this lifeless ash colored sidewalk.

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"Disarm you with a smile, and leave you like they left me here, to wither in denial." -The Smashing Pumpkins

Notes: I've been getting great reviews lately, I love them! Want to know something I hate though? Having to wake up early...speaking of which, I should've been asleep an hour ago.

I hope you guys enjoyed this action filled chapter. I'm going to go now.... My bed...as Quistis would say "is calling my name." Chapter 18 will be posted soon. Later Tators!