"Wha..what's going on?" Laguna asked aloud as Raine hid behind him.

"Only I can love Laguna, only I care about him!! Everyone else can just STAY AWAY!!" Selphie threw Ellone to the ground.

Ellone landed roughly on her back. She sat up slowly, and shrank back against the nearest wall.

Irvine ran over to Selphie. "I don't know where this came from, girlie....maybe the stress of things..." he spoke softly. He placed his hand on her arm. "Now, please, let's go talk about this, okay?"

Selphie slugged him in the ribs with a fury unfelt by anyone. Her newfound strength sent Irvine flying into a wall, and made him curl up while he tried to catch his breath.

"I SAID STAY AWAY!! That goes for ALL OF YOU!! I don't want any of you touching him! I KNOW one of you is the killer, so if you stay away from him, he'll live through this!!!!" Selphie picked up a letter opener that had been left on the desk, as if someone put it within her reach. She held the sharp tool up as she walked toward Laguna. "I swear, I will protect you...even at the cost of my own life...."

By now, everyone was standing up, and debating whether or not to approach Selphie.

Zell yelled to Squall, "What are we STANDING here for!! We HAVE to do SOMETHING!!"

"No..." Squall whispered. "Look at her. Did you even see her eyes? That's not Selphie. I mean, it is Selphie, but...something's inside her. She's not doing this by choice."

"Edea....Edea's power..." Quistis began, "Edea had the power to control people. Or...at least it appeared that way. So...whoever's doing this was given Edea's sorceress powers. It just makes sense now."

Squall nodded.

Ellone crawled over to the small group. "So...do you have a plan yet?"

Squall nodded. "Maybe. But I can't ask it of you. It's too dangerous."

Ellone shook her head. "After what I said earlier, do you think I wouldn't try, no matter what the cost?"

Squall looked to the ground solemnly. "I...guess we'll have to try.."

Selphie inched closer to Laguna. "Please don't hate me, Laguna....I'm only doing this out of love. I don't want you to get hurt..."

Raince continued to hide behind Laguna, and pulled him slowly toward a door in the back.

"Please..." Selphie pleaded.

"So...all I have to do is go back with her, that way I can see who's doing this to Selphie?"

"Yes.." Squall nodded.

"O...kay..but...it will be better if I can get ahold of her...since it's not really Selphie, I must direct my powers at the being inside of her..." Ellone went back towards Selphie as she said a silent prayer in her mind. She clamped onto Selphie's shoulder, and began to start the process of taking them back in time.

Selphie had other things planned. She spun around and forced Ellone to the ground again, but this time she straddled the girl with her legs.

"I TOLD YOU!!! TO STAY AWAY FROM HIM!!!"

Selphie held the letter opener over her head momentarily. She swung the blade and plunged it swiftly into Ellone's chest, and brought it back over her head. Time seemed to stop, but the bloody scene continued to move.

"STAY!!!"

Another swing forced the blade through bone. She returned the blade over her head.

"AWAY!!!"

Another time the blade was forced into her victim, and again she brought it back over her head.

"FROM--!!!"

The next swing was well anticipated, but it was haulted by the thunder of a single, well-aimed gunshot.

Selphie looked down at the hole in her shirt. A red stain began to spread. The girl's face turned white, and she fell backwards.

Squall ran over to Ellone, and tried to use Curaga spells on her, but to no avain. Her injuries were far too severe.

Irvine fell to the floor, then threw the gun away from him. He shrunk up against the wall and buried his face in his hands.

Quistis attempted to heal Selphie with her Curaga spells, but Seifer stopped her. "Quistis...if you cure her, you cure whatever's inside of her."

Quistis began to cry. "I...I can't let her die...not like this!"

Selphie began to shake slightly. Quistis brushed her hand through Selphie's hair as the scared, dying girl blinked frantically. "It's okay, Selphie...." she cooed with shakey words. "It's almost over, it's okay. I'm here for you, Selphie..."

Selphie smiled slightly. For a moment she was still, then her eyes closed. Her body went limp, and Quistis knew she was gone.

Raine and Laguna ran to Ellone and croutched beside her. Laguna was running a hand through her short black hair, while Raine sat by the bleeding girl, unsure of what to do. Griefstricken, Raine put her hands on her knees and began to cry. "Laguna.....Squ....Squall?" Ellone breathed. Her voice came out in a slight rattle because of the blood that was filling her lungs.

"No...don't speak. Save your strength." Squall held her hand as his eyes began to fill with tears.

"I'm going to die...I am...." Ellone glared at Laguna with empty eyes.

"No you're not. you'll be fine. I won't let you die.." Laguna spoke quietly.

"But...I want to die. I do...I know that you'll find her. Just like I wanted to happen. I've found her."

Squall narrowed his eyes through the tears that were building. "Find who? Who did you find??"

Ellone pointed weakly toward Raine. She narrowed her eyes and smiled. "I found you.....I found...you..."

Ellone breathed her last breath, and went limp.

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AuthorNotes:

.............go-me-n. *shiku* I hope that was Greek enough for you, Jenny.