Treasure Hunter (& Co.) for Hire
Notes: ^_^ I'm really digging this story. Ghost stories equal major coolness for meh. Anyway, this chappeh starts the fluff! Yay! You know you want the fluff, so choose an action! Read Magic Item Run. *gets hit with Fire* x_x...Just read it...
******
Chapter Two: A Different Kind of Flash
Having decided that since there was no way out, the only option was to continue, the team started along the dirt path that wove through the town. Seren was actually a rather large place. There was an inn and a pub, as well as the basic shops you'd find in any town. There was also a large church on a hill, complete with a cemetery. There weren't many tombstones in the area, however. Next to the church there was a small lake with a dilapidated old dock at its edge. A few houses dotted the landscape between shops and church and lake.
It would be quite a pleasant town, if it weren't for the dark chilling atmosphere that pervaded the entire place. No one could shake the feeling of being watched, though there was no one visible; Seren seemed to be completely empty.
"Where is everybody?" Sabin whispered. "It's the middle of the day. Why isn't anyone out?"
Edgar shook his head, not knowing. The four walked close together, as if expecting some attack.
"Let's check in one of the shops," Locke suggested, to which no one objected. Finding the item shop to be the closest, he eased the heavy wooden door open and they stepped inside.
The entire place was personless. Locke went up to the counter and looked in the back room, trying to find the clerk. "Hello? Anyone here?"
No answer. The ashen-haired thief looked at the others questionably. Setzer leaned rather annoyed on the doorframe. "What kind of place is this, a bloody ghost town?"
"Maybe everyone had to leave for something," the Blitzer suggested. "Like a big festival or something?"
"Or maybe they're all in church," Locke continued.
"Good idea. Let's head over there," Edgar nodded.
The party marched up the hill, taking in the bleak surroundings they were presented with. There was a grimy feel to everything, like it hadn't been cared for in some time. The church was tall and oppressing, with a huge steeple and darkened stained glass windowing. The double doors that stretched before them were larger than any of them, and all four could probably cross the threshold at the same time.
"I don't hear anything..." Setzer said quietly.
"Praying?" Locke shrugged.
Sabin snorted. "Praying for someone to fix up this dump..."
"Sabin..." Edgar muttered scoldingly, hopping up the front steps. He put his hand on the door handle to turn it...
*FLASH*
...He was inside the church, standing just inside the doorway. He could see rows of pews, leading up to the large alter at the front. A huge pipe organ was behind it, playing an eerie tune that made Edgar's stomach turn.
The pews were full of people of every sort, some in normal attire, others in soldier uniforms. They had their faces pointed to the altar with their eyes closed, almost as if in a trance. At the front, standing at the altar, was the man they had met at the gate. He was holding something...a cup it looked like...
Edgar froze. Something was wrong. He didn't want to be inside this place, with all those people. He looked to the side of him. No one. The others weren't there. He started to panic. Where had they gone? He needed to get out of here, before someone saw him. He began to turn around when the man at the alter removed his gaze from the cup he was holding. Slowly his vision moved to Edgar.
The king's breath caught in his throat. The man's eyes locked on him, and he gave the blond a hooded smile. Edgar tore his vision from him and ran to the door. He yanked on the handle, but it wouldn't budge. He pulled in it frantically.
Then the man was beside him. He reached for the hand on the knob, but Edgar pulled away before he could reach it.
"Stay..."
"NO!"
*FLASH*
"NO!"
"Edgar! What the hell, man?! What's wrong?!" Locke grabbed the blond's arm. Edgar whirled around to find three concerned faces staring back at him.
"It was...it...the guy from...before...inside..." Edgar tried to calm his rapid breathing a bit. "I was...inside..."
"What are you talking about? You were standing here with us the whole time!" Sabin raised an eyebrow. "Are you okay?"
"But I was...in the church...and there were all the people inside, just sitting there...and the man from the gate was there...holding some kind of chalice or something..." he shook his head to clear it.
"You sure you weren't just imagining it or something?" Setzer eyed the king doubtfully.
Edgar frowned. "I'm quite sure I could tell the difference between my imagining something and really seeing it, thank you."
"Well, at any rate, are you okay?" Locke tilted his head curiously. When Edgar nodded, he continued. "Do you wanna wait here while we go inside?"
"Of course not. I'm fine now. Whatever it was, it's gone now. Let's just go." He turned the doorknob he had been holding onto the whole time and pushed the heavy door open.
The church was dark and empty. There were rows of pews leading up to an altar. At the altar, there was a golden cup. All were covered in dust and darkness.
"Just like I..." Edgar felt he needed to sit down. But he didn't want to sit in the pews. He thought of the people, who were sitting there, entranced. He leaned on the doorframe.
"Whoa..." Sabin wandered down the isle between pews. "This place hasn't been used in ages!"
"There goes our theory on the townspeople being in here..." Setzer sighed. He ran a finger along the back of a pew, looking at all the dust. "Yuck."
"So our first theory didn't work out...it's all part of the job..." Locke's eyes were glued to the chalice on the altar. He stepped up to the table and reached for it.
"Don't." Sabin crossed his arms. "Remember what Edgar told you about treasure hunting..."
"Sure. Sorry..." Locke looked forlornly at his lost prize, before turning to Edgar. "See? I can—oh shit, Edgar!"
Sabin and Setzer turned to the entrance where they had left the king as Locke ran to it. Edgar was now laying face down on the floor. The rogue skidded to a halt beside him and pulled his friend into a sitting position.
"Edgar?!"
The king's eyes were closed and his body was limp. Cursing, Locke picked him up. He called behind him. "Guys, c'mon. We've gotta get to that inn."
The three left the church and hurried down the path to the inn. Expecting no welcome, the group was surprised to find a woman, no older than the rest of them, tending the counter.
"Hello!" she smiled. She had a mass of red curls and warm brown eyes. She looked at the three of them, then at Edgar. "Oh my...what happened?"
"We were looking around, and when I looked back at him, he was out!" Locke was getting panicked. The woman left the counter and walked over to them.
"Poor thing...must have been the air...it's thicker here than in other towns. Go ahead and get him in a bed." She handed them a room key, which Locke took in a hurry, carrying his human baggage down the hall.
"Um...thanks!" Sabin said before running after them. Setzer nodded his thanks as well, then joined the rest of the group.
"Hmmm...interesting..." the woman returned to her counter. "That'll teach them to play around where they're not wanted."
******
Edgar opened his eyes slowly and looked around. He was no longer in the church, but in a bed. The last thing he remembered was needing to sit down at the church...
"Hey, you're up!" Locke looked relieved. "You okay?"
"Wha...?"
"You conked out at the church, so we brought you to the inn. You've been out all day, man." The thief leaned back in the chair he'd put next to the bed.
Edgar sat up. "Where's Sabin and Setzer?"
"Oh, they went out for some dinner. They said they'd bring us back something."
He brought a hand up to his head. Locke looked at him. "Are you sure you're alright? The girl down here said the air's too thick here. Can you breathe okay?"
"I'm fine, it's just...the church..." he stopped. "What girl?"
"Hmmm? The girl running the inn. First person we've seen here all day. She says everyone's out of town for some boat race festival thing."
"Oh..." he put a hand on the chair to steady himself as he tried to get up.
*FLASH*
Running...down the hill from the church. Urgent. Something was chasing him. Couldn't let it catch up. He didn't know what it was, but he knew if it caught him, it was over.
Past the cemetery...it was filled with people. The people from the church. They reached out to grab him, but he dodged them. They wanted to hold him back until the thing caught him.
He had to find someone. But who? His subconscious knew, but he didn't. he just kept running. Suddenly he crashed into someone. He fell to the ground, but the person grabbed him by the arm. He thrashed around, trying to free himself.
"Hey, wait! It's me!" the man grinned, attempting to calm the panicked blond.
He looked up. It was Locke...no, wait, it wasn't. but it looked so much like him. He had to warn him.
"It's coming!" he grabbed the man's arm to pull him, but he resisted.
"Hold up, who's coming? What's wrong?"
Then it was there, right in front of them. He wanted to see what it was, but his body turned itself away. The man stood in front of him, blocking whatever it was from reaching him. "Run!"
He ran. Ran to the cover of the sparse trees that littered the hill. There he could see...nothing. Whatever had been chasing him was invisible. But he could see the man fight it. He looked so much like Locke...the thing grabbed his arm, pulled him off balance, then...
*FLASH*
"LOCKE!!!" Edgar jumped up too fast, got tangled in the covers and went into a dive to the floor.
Quickly, Locke reached out and grabbed him before he could fall. "Edgar! It's okay! I'm here!"
The king looked around. Back in the inn. Back with Locke, who wasn't being maimed by some invisible creature. Edgar shuddered.
"Holy hell, what's wrong?!"
"I-I-I did it again! I was running, and I found you, but this thing...this thing was chasing me, and you tried to fight it, and-and-and—" he broke off into a sob.
Locke wrapped his arms tightly around his friend's shoulders. "It's alright. Whatever happened, it's over now. Something's wrong with this place, and it's messing you up. I don't know how or why, but we've gotta do something." He moved slowly from the chair to sit on the bed, not letting go of the shaky blond.
He rested his chin on Edgar's head. "We're gonna find a way out of here tomorrow. Screw the legend or whatever. I'm not gonna let this happen."
Edgar's voice was soft and panicked. "I...I had to watch you die..."
This time it was Locke who shuddered.
******
"So...it's this one then? The blond one?"
"Yes. They think it's the air, but he's been having the visions."
"I know this. I can tell. He might just be the key to unlocking this mystery."
The man from the gate walked through the doorway of the inn room, followed by the woman from the counter. The two watched Edgar and Locke, who had fallen asleep together.
The woman giggled and moved to stand by Locke. "If we need the other one, then can I just take this one's life now?" she pushed his chin up with a hand and breathed in. Locke stopped breathing.
"No. He is an important part to the plan as well. Leave him be."
She pouted. "Fine." She blew out the breath again and Locke began to breathe. She moved to the door.
"With the other two," he continued, stepping beside her, "you may do as you wish."
******
Fine de chappeh 2! Happy meh! ^_^ Lookit! Edgar sees dead people! Look for our next episode next week! *squeal*
~Karu
Notes: ^_^ I'm really digging this story. Ghost stories equal major coolness for meh. Anyway, this chappeh starts the fluff! Yay! You know you want the fluff, so choose an action! Read Magic Item Run. *gets hit with Fire* x_x...Just read it...
******
Chapter Two: A Different Kind of Flash
Having decided that since there was no way out, the only option was to continue, the team started along the dirt path that wove through the town. Seren was actually a rather large place. There was an inn and a pub, as well as the basic shops you'd find in any town. There was also a large church on a hill, complete with a cemetery. There weren't many tombstones in the area, however. Next to the church there was a small lake with a dilapidated old dock at its edge. A few houses dotted the landscape between shops and church and lake.
It would be quite a pleasant town, if it weren't for the dark chilling atmosphere that pervaded the entire place. No one could shake the feeling of being watched, though there was no one visible; Seren seemed to be completely empty.
"Where is everybody?" Sabin whispered. "It's the middle of the day. Why isn't anyone out?"
Edgar shook his head, not knowing. The four walked close together, as if expecting some attack.
"Let's check in one of the shops," Locke suggested, to which no one objected. Finding the item shop to be the closest, he eased the heavy wooden door open and they stepped inside.
The entire place was personless. Locke went up to the counter and looked in the back room, trying to find the clerk. "Hello? Anyone here?"
No answer. The ashen-haired thief looked at the others questionably. Setzer leaned rather annoyed on the doorframe. "What kind of place is this, a bloody ghost town?"
"Maybe everyone had to leave for something," the Blitzer suggested. "Like a big festival or something?"
"Or maybe they're all in church," Locke continued.
"Good idea. Let's head over there," Edgar nodded.
The party marched up the hill, taking in the bleak surroundings they were presented with. There was a grimy feel to everything, like it hadn't been cared for in some time. The church was tall and oppressing, with a huge steeple and darkened stained glass windowing. The double doors that stretched before them were larger than any of them, and all four could probably cross the threshold at the same time.
"I don't hear anything..." Setzer said quietly.
"Praying?" Locke shrugged.
Sabin snorted. "Praying for someone to fix up this dump..."
"Sabin..." Edgar muttered scoldingly, hopping up the front steps. He put his hand on the door handle to turn it...
*FLASH*
...He was inside the church, standing just inside the doorway. He could see rows of pews, leading up to the large alter at the front. A huge pipe organ was behind it, playing an eerie tune that made Edgar's stomach turn.
The pews were full of people of every sort, some in normal attire, others in soldier uniforms. They had their faces pointed to the altar with their eyes closed, almost as if in a trance. At the front, standing at the altar, was the man they had met at the gate. He was holding something...a cup it looked like...
Edgar froze. Something was wrong. He didn't want to be inside this place, with all those people. He looked to the side of him. No one. The others weren't there. He started to panic. Where had they gone? He needed to get out of here, before someone saw him. He began to turn around when the man at the alter removed his gaze from the cup he was holding. Slowly his vision moved to Edgar.
The king's breath caught in his throat. The man's eyes locked on him, and he gave the blond a hooded smile. Edgar tore his vision from him and ran to the door. He yanked on the handle, but it wouldn't budge. He pulled in it frantically.
Then the man was beside him. He reached for the hand on the knob, but Edgar pulled away before he could reach it.
"Stay..."
"NO!"
*FLASH*
"NO!"
"Edgar! What the hell, man?! What's wrong?!" Locke grabbed the blond's arm. Edgar whirled around to find three concerned faces staring back at him.
"It was...it...the guy from...before...inside..." Edgar tried to calm his rapid breathing a bit. "I was...inside..."
"What are you talking about? You were standing here with us the whole time!" Sabin raised an eyebrow. "Are you okay?"
"But I was...in the church...and there were all the people inside, just sitting there...and the man from the gate was there...holding some kind of chalice or something..." he shook his head to clear it.
"You sure you weren't just imagining it or something?" Setzer eyed the king doubtfully.
Edgar frowned. "I'm quite sure I could tell the difference between my imagining something and really seeing it, thank you."
"Well, at any rate, are you okay?" Locke tilted his head curiously. When Edgar nodded, he continued. "Do you wanna wait here while we go inside?"
"Of course not. I'm fine now. Whatever it was, it's gone now. Let's just go." He turned the doorknob he had been holding onto the whole time and pushed the heavy door open.
The church was dark and empty. There were rows of pews leading up to an altar. At the altar, there was a golden cup. All were covered in dust and darkness.
"Just like I..." Edgar felt he needed to sit down. But he didn't want to sit in the pews. He thought of the people, who were sitting there, entranced. He leaned on the doorframe.
"Whoa..." Sabin wandered down the isle between pews. "This place hasn't been used in ages!"
"There goes our theory on the townspeople being in here..." Setzer sighed. He ran a finger along the back of a pew, looking at all the dust. "Yuck."
"So our first theory didn't work out...it's all part of the job..." Locke's eyes were glued to the chalice on the altar. He stepped up to the table and reached for it.
"Don't." Sabin crossed his arms. "Remember what Edgar told you about treasure hunting..."
"Sure. Sorry..." Locke looked forlornly at his lost prize, before turning to Edgar. "See? I can—oh shit, Edgar!"
Sabin and Setzer turned to the entrance where they had left the king as Locke ran to it. Edgar was now laying face down on the floor. The rogue skidded to a halt beside him and pulled his friend into a sitting position.
"Edgar?!"
The king's eyes were closed and his body was limp. Cursing, Locke picked him up. He called behind him. "Guys, c'mon. We've gotta get to that inn."
The three left the church and hurried down the path to the inn. Expecting no welcome, the group was surprised to find a woman, no older than the rest of them, tending the counter.
"Hello!" she smiled. She had a mass of red curls and warm brown eyes. She looked at the three of them, then at Edgar. "Oh my...what happened?"
"We were looking around, and when I looked back at him, he was out!" Locke was getting panicked. The woman left the counter and walked over to them.
"Poor thing...must have been the air...it's thicker here than in other towns. Go ahead and get him in a bed." She handed them a room key, which Locke took in a hurry, carrying his human baggage down the hall.
"Um...thanks!" Sabin said before running after them. Setzer nodded his thanks as well, then joined the rest of the group.
"Hmmm...interesting..." the woman returned to her counter. "That'll teach them to play around where they're not wanted."
******
Edgar opened his eyes slowly and looked around. He was no longer in the church, but in a bed. The last thing he remembered was needing to sit down at the church...
"Hey, you're up!" Locke looked relieved. "You okay?"
"Wha...?"
"You conked out at the church, so we brought you to the inn. You've been out all day, man." The thief leaned back in the chair he'd put next to the bed.
Edgar sat up. "Where's Sabin and Setzer?"
"Oh, they went out for some dinner. They said they'd bring us back something."
He brought a hand up to his head. Locke looked at him. "Are you sure you're alright? The girl down here said the air's too thick here. Can you breathe okay?"
"I'm fine, it's just...the church..." he stopped. "What girl?"
"Hmmm? The girl running the inn. First person we've seen here all day. She says everyone's out of town for some boat race festival thing."
"Oh..." he put a hand on the chair to steady himself as he tried to get up.
*FLASH*
Running...down the hill from the church. Urgent. Something was chasing him. Couldn't let it catch up. He didn't know what it was, but he knew if it caught him, it was over.
Past the cemetery...it was filled with people. The people from the church. They reached out to grab him, but he dodged them. They wanted to hold him back until the thing caught him.
He had to find someone. But who? His subconscious knew, but he didn't. he just kept running. Suddenly he crashed into someone. He fell to the ground, but the person grabbed him by the arm. He thrashed around, trying to free himself.
"Hey, wait! It's me!" the man grinned, attempting to calm the panicked blond.
He looked up. It was Locke...no, wait, it wasn't. but it looked so much like him. He had to warn him.
"It's coming!" he grabbed the man's arm to pull him, but he resisted.
"Hold up, who's coming? What's wrong?"
Then it was there, right in front of them. He wanted to see what it was, but his body turned itself away. The man stood in front of him, blocking whatever it was from reaching him. "Run!"
He ran. Ran to the cover of the sparse trees that littered the hill. There he could see...nothing. Whatever had been chasing him was invisible. But he could see the man fight it. He looked so much like Locke...the thing grabbed his arm, pulled him off balance, then...
*FLASH*
"LOCKE!!!" Edgar jumped up too fast, got tangled in the covers and went into a dive to the floor.
Quickly, Locke reached out and grabbed him before he could fall. "Edgar! It's okay! I'm here!"
The king looked around. Back in the inn. Back with Locke, who wasn't being maimed by some invisible creature. Edgar shuddered.
"Holy hell, what's wrong?!"
"I-I-I did it again! I was running, and I found you, but this thing...this thing was chasing me, and you tried to fight it, and-and-and—" he broke off into a sob.
Locke wrapped his arms tightly around his friend's shoulders. "It's alright. Whatever happened, it's over now. Something's wrong with this place, and it's messing you up. I don't know how or why, but we've gotta do something." He moved slowly from the chair to sit on the bed, not letting go of the shaky blond.
He rested his chin on Edgar's head. "We're gonna find a way out of here tomorrow. Screw the legend or whatever. I'm not gonna let this happen."
Edgar's voice was soft and panicked. "I...I had to watch you die..."
This time it was Locke who shuddered.
******
"So...it's this one then? The blond one?"
"Yes. They think it's the air, but he's been having the visions."
"I know this. I can tell. He might just be the key to unlocking this mystery."
The man from the gate walked through the doorway of the inn room, followed by the woman from the counter. The two watched Edgar and Locke, who had fallen asleep together.
The woman giggled and moved to stand by Locke. "If we need the other one, then can I just take this one's life now?" she pushed his chin up with a hand and breathed in. Locke stopped breathing.
"No. He is an important part to the plan as well. Leave him be."
She pouted. "Fine." She blew out the breath again and Locke began to breathe. She moved to the door.
"With the other two," he continued, stepping beside her, "you may do as you wish."
******
Fine de chappeh 2! Happy meh! ^_^ Lookit! Edgar sees dead people! Look for our next episode next week! *squeal*
~Karu