Daystar - 7 - Dispose
Zell sat impatiently staring out the hotel's lobby windows. The instructors had run into him, and a couple other SeeDs, and asked them to immediately return to the red building, because of the storm outside.
"Rain can't scare me away, I could fight in the damn snow if you need me to!"
The spiky blonde slammed his hand on the wooden armrests of the chair. Other SeeDs ignored his anger, and chatted away about the monsters they ran into.
"They seemed so easy to defeat! I can't wait until tomorrow, I can take out a lot more of those bad boys!"
Zell stared at the petite blonde who laughed at his jokes the night before. He smirked, and let out a "Yeah right" under his breath. Next to him hung maroon curtains, which held someone sitting below them.
It was Nova. She silently went through her bag, and looked up at the hotel door with a hopeful look in her eye, whenever she heard it open. She was waiting for Squall. It seemed that she was the only one who noticed that he wasn't in the room.
-
"Ahem, can I have your attention please? Is everyone here? Are we missing anyone?"
The black haired instructor stood behind the hotel check-in desk holding a red clipboard.
"We need to have every single SeeD member in here. Prancing around outside in this weather can be very dangerous."
All the students moaned, and sighed.
"Ok, so you say everyone is here?"
Nova stood up, and walked silently towards Zell. He looked at her for a brief moment, and looked away. He then realized that Squall wasn't in the building with them.
"Hey man, Squall's not in here!"
He stood up quickly, and peered around the crowded, heated room.
"Who the hell is Squall?"
"You know, Squall. The stuck up brown haired kid. He doesn't talk, doesn't show emotion, but knows how to kick ass well?"
"Oh, that's right. The orphan."
Zell looked at the two young boys bashing his friend.
"He's not the only one who knows how to kick some ass!" He held his fists up, and all the students, bored, and starving for entertainment surrounded them. They began to immaturely chant "FIGHT! FIGHT!"
"STUDENTS! THAT'S ENOUGH! There's not time for games!"
Nova ignored what was going on, and peered out the window beyond the students. She could see a dark figure walking quickly to the building, dragging a huge metal light behind him.
Nothing seemed to shake the teens. They didn't listen. Bad weather and missions that had to be given a rain check were extremely bad combinations. Out of all the shouting, and yelling of violent comebacks, everyone stopped when they heard the silent squeak of the hotel door opening.
-
Squall stood in the doorway dripping wet, clinging onto the dirty necklace he retrieved off of the dead girl's neck. His other hand rested on the blood spotted blade. He looked at the ground, ashamed and embarrassed when he saw everyone staring at him, awaiting his return.
"Young man, are you on the mission with us?"
"Yes." His voice was gruff, and he was out of breath.
Nobody said anything.
"Is there a hospital, or anything here? A medic perhaps?"
He tucked the necklace into his pocket, and rubbed at his wet cheek. Looking down at his fingers, he could see that the blood wasn't washing off.
"Of course there's a medic with us. Is there a problem? Are you hurt?"
He shook his head.
"No, but there's a young girl who was hurt badly. In fact...she's dead."
Female students gasped, and covered their mouths in shock. Zell stared at Squall, slowly loosening his fingers from the boy's shirt collar he previously grabbed onto. Male students tried digging out information, by asking questions like "Did you see her die?" or "How'd she die?!"
"Wait a minute, come over here kid."
The older instructor pulled Squall to the side of the room, and spoke to him silently.
"Where's her body?"
"Down by all the houses. She's laying right in front of the forest."
"How'd she die?"
"I don't know."
He sighed, and let go of Squall's arm.
"Alright, I'll send someone out. You may return to your room."
Squall ran his fingers through his damp hair, attached his weapon to his waist, and leaned against the white wall. He'd occasionally place his hand into his pocket, and touch the heavy necklace that weighed his pocket down. He didn't notice that Nova was on the other side of the room staring at him.
-
At 6:57 p.m. The SeeDs were called back into the hotel lobby to discuss what will happen tomorrow. Squall finally did notice that Nova was alive. The look on his face was beyond description when she walked into their room. He also saw that her necklace was missing. Was it a coincidence that they both had the same pendant? Did she just take hers off? Who was that girl, and why did she look so much like Nova?
"No need to be alarmed! The body was found, and taken care of. I think we still have a fair chance of staying here, and fighting. We did however get a call from Balamb Garden allowing us to return earlier if necessary. So what do you say?! Do you want to stay?!"
The once enthusiastic students now stood silently, afraid to stay. Afraid to die.
" I don't know about you guys, but I think we can do it! I don't want to leave until we free this town!" The young instructor spoke loudly to animate everyone again. He finally moved closer to his partner, and whispered into his ear. Squall was close enough to hear what they were saying.
"Looks like we'll have to call some other members of the garden to join us."
"Yeah, maybe Seifer. That guy is fearless."
"Damnit." Squall thought quietly. "He'd only make things worse."
