When Rinoa awoke in the middle of the night, she was broken out in a cold sweat. With no idea what was going on, or why she seemed so disturbed, she gazed around the room, not seeing anything to cause her slightly unconscious sense of alarm. She slowly rose from bed, and stood in the center of her darkened room, her heart beating fast, telling herself it had probably just been a nightmare, nothing more. But as she sat down on her bed again and attempted to fall back asleep, she knew something was wrong, something outside the garden, something that wasn't just her imagination, and that desperately needed to be noticed.

Quickly throwing on her clothes, she went to the window, and looked outside. Sure enough, there was a woman standing outside, with her back to Rinoa's window. Ducking down so as not to be seen, Rinoa watched her, as she turned, billowing her huge jet-black wings out behind her. There was no doubt it was one of the creatures Squall had seen…one of the 'Holy Kingdom.' Without waiting to observe her more, Rinoa silently got up and rushed down the hallway, knocking on Quistis's door.

Quistis opened it and peered out, blinking in drowsiness and confusion. "Quisty…something's gone wrong." "Hmmm?" Rinoa shook her gently by the shoulders. "Quisty! They're here! I don't know why, they've come too early! The Holy Kingdom!" That woke Quistis up right away. "What?? How can that be, we're supposed to have three days!" Rinoa shook her head and pulled at Quistis's sleeve. "I don't know, it doesn't matter, we've got to get out of here! Get dressed, I'm waking Selphie." Quistis nodded slowly, and closed the door. Rinoa moved on to Selphie's room.

An hour later, they were all standing by the garden entrance, some groggy, but all ready to go. Rinoa glanced out the doorway, and saw the creature looming slightly to their left. She gestured the others to stay back, and watched as it came slowly closer. Her heart started beating fast again, and she started backing up…to see it turn the corner and disappear from view, just as it came close enough to see her. Everyone present breathed a huge sigh of relief. Then, looking around to all sides, Rinoa gestured, and they all rushed out the door, as quickly and quietly as they possibly could.

Just as they reached the gate, and were rushing to freedom, Squall heard a swishing sound behind him, and saw the 'angel' coming at them full tilt. "Run!" He yelled, grabbing Rinoa's hand and pelting forward, tripping on a rock and righting himself, making sure everyone was out of the gate before slamming it shut, and pulling everyone behind a tree. The creature stirred around for a while longer, and then turned, heading back in the direction it had come. Again, sighs of relief were exchanged all around, though Quistis didn't look so sure.

"Cid said it could sense the thoughts in our minds…it's a good thing we don't know where we're going, or it could follow us easily enough." Squall nodded. "We'd better move out of here as fast as we can. C'mon, let's go." He headed off, followed by the others. Rinoa lingered longer, biting her lip as she looked off in the direction of the garden. What if it's hurt someone, she thought to herself. What if it's attacking the SeeDs and students…hoping to get to me? This is all my fault…What have I done? Hearing a call from Zell, she turned, and, taking her last look at Garden, followed them off.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Squall called a halt in the procession later that day. Slumping down against a tree, Rinoa stared at the ground shaking her head and not speaking to anyone. They all looked nervous and worried, knowing what she felt, and unable to keep their own minds clear of worry for Garden, their home, where most of their friends were now, and which they all knew was being ravaged by the 'angels.' Squall walked over to Rinoa, and put his arm around her. "It's gonna be alright. Everyone at Garden knows how to fight, the students, even the kids. And that thing won't stay there for long, it knows we left." That was bothering everyone too.

Rinoa shook her head, and looked up at him. "What if it tries to pry the information of people's minds at Garden? What if it kills them in the process? Oh god, I wish I'd never even come there…" Squall squeezed her hand so sharply that she gasped, and was forced to look up again. "No, you don't. Because if you hadn't…I never would have gotten to know you."