Chapter 8: Not Much Clues for More Questions
Squall and Rinoa entered the Infirmary behind Kadowaki. She invited them to then resting students. There were three girls and a guy. The guy and one of the girls were awake. Squall walked to the guy after asking Kadowaki to leave them alone. Rinoa sat down between the two and Squall stood by her side, looking at them. They still looked pretty weak and there was fear in their eyes. They were younger than Squall so he try to take care of his elder-leader job and went on a knee to reassure them.
"Whatever you went through, it's over now," he said with a smile.
They seemed comfort from his soft tone, but there was still great fear on their faces.
"Now, I would like to tell me what happened," he tried to sound the most calm possible not to scare them even more they already were.
"It… It was hell," the girl said in a shaking hoarse voice.
Squall slowly turned to her.
"Tell me everything."
She nodded nervously.
"I was coming out of my room to attend my class when… somebody came to speak to me."
"Who?"
"I…I don't know."
"A girl or a guy?"
"I don't know," the girl answered growing more nervous.
"What do you mean, you don't know?" Squall asked a bit louder than he wanted too.
The girl bit her lip in a guilt face and started to cry softly. Squall sighed as an apology and Rinoa held her for comfort.
"I'm sorry, I didn't meant to be rude. It's just that we were all so worried about you four,"
'And that you might help find the other one missing,' he thought.
"Four? But we were five there."
'Five? Then they were together!'
"Now tell me how come you don't know who talked to you," he asked softer.
"Something was done to us," the guy spoke. "I can't remember a thing about who talked to me and took me to that place or where it was. The only things I remember is that I was tied up from my wrist and I was feeling my energy leave my body. I feel like I was there forever!"
Squall turned to him.
"It's true. We were all tied up and I couldn't see a thing because my eyes were blinded. I could only here the voice of that… person," the girl said.
"What kind of voice?"
"Can't remember," the guy said. "I can still remember what it said, but not the tone."
Squall turned to Rinoa for an explanation. She stood in front of the girl and told her to close her eyes, saying she wanted to scan her mind if she could find somewhere about the place or the mysterious kidnapper.
"Will it hurt?" the girl asked worried.
"No," Rinoa answered with a comfort smile.
The girl nodded and did as she was told. Squall and the cadet looked at the girls until Rinoa said her to open her eyes.
"So?" Squall asked with hope.
"Brainwashed," Rinoa diagnosed looking at him. "Was erase of their mind what the person wanted them to forget. I bet 'he' expect us to look for the place."
"It doesn't help much," Squall said.
"What I'm sure of is that they never left Garden. Not a second."
"You sure?"
"Positive."
"Alright."
He turned to the youths.
"What do you remember the person said?"
"'He' never spoke to us, only to the SeeD," the guy said.
"The SeeD?" Squall asked faking ignorance.
"I don't know who it is. 'He' kept addressing him as 'SeeD'. But that SeeD was a guy, I'm sure of it because I heard him threaten our jailer."
"What did you jailer said?"
"He was saying: 'Once I'll have the energy I can get from you, you won't be of anymore use for me.'"
"And what did the SeeD replied?"
"'You coward! Fight like a man and I'll kick your ass!'"
Squall couldn't help smiling.
"That's Zell, alright."
"Then he screamed from high pain," the girl said.
Squall lost his smile and looked worried.
"Our jailer made him suffer and said it was for his insolence of not knowing who he was talking to."
Squall rubbed his chin.
"We found only you four cadets," he finally said.
"Then 'he' must have needed the SeeD a little longer," the guy explained. "That's why he said that to us before we fainted."
"What did he said?"
"'He' said: 'You worthless Cadets! You already don't have anything left for me! What a relief I took the SeeD along! He got much more energy than you all put together!'" he paused.
"Then?"
He shook his head.
"I fainted."
"Me too," the girl added.
Squall shook his head. That didn't help them much. He was just more worried about Zell than before.
"Thank you. Now you rest and you'll report that to the Headmaster once you're fully recovered."
He saluted the two of them and left with Rinoa, heading back to the Cafeteria.
The others were still there, apparently waiting for them. Seifer had an arm around Coran's shoulders. Squall had a smile, not used to that situation and wondering if he would ever be.
Rinoa and him sat with the others and told them what they just learned. They all frowned, thoughtful.
"This doesn't help us at all!" Selphie exclaimed.
"What is this story of brainwashing?" Seifer asked skeptical. "Nobody would be stupid enough to let themselves be brainwash unless they are very weak."
"You said it," Quistis cut him. "They were probably very weak already."
"But Selph is right," Irvine said. "This doesn't help us. We still don't have any idea where Zell could be or who did that!"
"I'm sure we'll find out soon enough," Rinoa assured. "If the responsible thinks he can get more energy from SeeDs than anybody else, you should all watch your back."
"I don't have to worry about it: I'm not a SeeD. Coran and Irvine either."
"Yes, but you are still more powerful than Cadets, aren't you?" Squall asked.
Seifer raised an eyebrow.
"Since when do you think I'm powerful?"
"I fought you in the past, remember? I know what is strength."
Then he turned to Rinoa.
"You're not a SeeD either, but since you got great power, you could be a tasty prey. So I ask you never walk around Garden alone."
She nodded, touched by his concern.
"Maybe 'he' has enough energy yet," Coran suggested. "Maybe 'he' won't be against anybody else."
Squall shook his head.
"I don't think so, but I still hope you're right."
"We have to face the truth," Quistis added. "If 'he' needed energy –who knows why– 'he' will probably not stop here. If 'he' needs energy, 'he' probably needs a lot."
"Yeah, but the most time we spend here talking about the probabilities, that jerk is probably becoming stronger!" Seifer exclaimed.
"You must be right," Coran agreed. "But there's nothing we can do: we don't know who it is and we don't know where 'he' is hiding."
Seifer quickly got up, frowning at everyone, but not looking at Coran.
"Well I'm not gonna stay on my butt while a stupid energy sucker threat the Garden!"
He walked to the exit. Coran quickly got up too with the others.
"I think you're the only one he would listen to, Coran," Squall said. "Don't let him do anything stupid."
"Of course."
She ran after Seifer.
"Seifer, wait up!" she called.
The both of them were soon out of sight. The others sat back, wondering what they could do to find that mysterious person.
"Squall!!!" screamed a voice from out of the Cafeteria. Squall got up in a flash.
"It's Coran! Let's go!"
They all ran out of the place but didn't went very far. They saw Coran holding Zell in her arms next to the Training Center's entrance's corridor. They all froze in shock. Squall was the first one to snap out of it.
"Coran! Zell!" he called running to them.
Brought back to their senses from Squall's call, the others followed. Seifer was standing next to Coran. Squall let himself fall on his knees beside his sister, staring at Zell's pale unconscious face. He had minor wounds all over his body, like he was shocked by some kind of power. Those wounds recalled Squall the ones he had when Seifer tortured him in the D-District prison.
Zell was breathing with difficulty, looking very weak. Squall was relieved to see him but worried from his state.
"Zell! Say something!" he pleaded.
He looked at Coran.
"You found him just now?"
"Hum… Would you believe me if I tell you he came out of nowhere and almost landed on me?"
"Huh?"
"It's true," Seifer said. "Coran has caught me and we were talking. I began to walk away and turned around to see him fall out of nowhere. Don't ask me!"
Squall turned to his friends standing by his side.
"Quistis, get Kadowaki!"
"Yes," she answered and ran to the infirmary wondering why it was always her to get the people.
Squall looked back at Zell, checking the pulse. Slow.
"Zell, hold on," he pleaded.
The unconscious SeeD weakly moved his lips. Squall bent down over his face to hear what he was saying.
"It still…needs…more…ener…gy," he said in a so low tone only Squall knew he said something.
"It still needs more energy? Zell, how do you know that?" Squall urged him.
But Zell was unconscious again.
Unable to wait for Kadowaki's arrival, Squall lifted Zell in his arms and carried him to the infirmary, followed by the others. They met Quistis and the doctor on their way and carried Zell in a room. Then Kadowaki asked Squall and the others to wait outside while she was treating him. Squall reluctantly obeyed. He sat on a chair in Kadowaki's office. The others were standing in front of him.
"I'm not gonna waiting for his awakening to learn things I already know!" Seifer objected. "I got work to do!"
Squall looked at him angrily.
"Nobody asked you to stay!"
He rested his elbows on his knees and took his head in his hands. Rinoa went behind him to pat his back. Seifer frowned, biting his lip and left, Coran close behind after granting her brother a sorry look he didn't saw.
"Not that I'm bored, Squall, but I need some training," Irvine said sorry. "I'll come back after."
Squall gently swung his hand to show he didn't care. Then Irvine left too.
"I'll train with him," Selphie added. "It's not safe to be alone."
Squall nodded in approbation and followed Irvine.
"Even if I'm not an Instructor anymore, I still have work and I'm late on my schedule."
"Fine, go you too."
She wanted to add something but Rinoa signaled her to forget it. Quistis left.
"Why don't you go too?" Squall asked Rinoa bitterly.
"I got nothing to do," she kneeled by his side and put a hand on his arm. "They are just as worried as you are, Squall. They are trying to focus on something else not to fall in the same depressed state you already fell in."
Squall looked at her in disbelief.
"I'm not depressed!"
She smiled at him.
"Look at yourself: anything makes you mad, you worried for things you can't do anything about."
"That's why I'm mad! Because I would like to do something to help it!"
She rubbed his arm gently and didn't say anything more.
"You didn't have to be so rude, you know?" Coran said walking by Seifer's side.
He glanced at her.
"What do you mean?"
She frowned and took his arm to make him stop and look at her. He seemed surprise from her angry face.
"There are other ways to say you got work to do!"
She faced him her back and crossed her arms on her chest. Seifer raised an eyebrow from such actions. He was about to reply with his fists on his hops when he heard sobbing. Then his angry face vanished, replaced for a sorry one as he took her gently by the shoulders to make her face him. She kept her head down, refusing to face him. He gently lifted her chin to see tears running down her cheeks. Then sadness appeared on his own face seeing hers. He hugged her, not even thinking about the curious people passing by.
"Come on, don't cry," he whispered in her ear.
She looked up at him.
"Why do you have to act like that in front of Squall? I couldn't believe all the bad things they told me about you, but now I'm beginning to believe them."
He hugged her tighter, gently rocking her.
"I don't know…"
"You're so sweet with me. Are you afraid to show that new side of you to your old rival and his friends? Are you afraid to show that you love me in front of them?"
"What are you talking about?" he asked with an amused smile. "I had my arm around you, haven't I?"
"Yes, but I could feel you were reluctant. I thought it was just to say: 'hey, look at me! I got a girlfriend!'"
Seifer didn't know if he should laugh from the tone she used or shut up from her serious face. He chose to shut up.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to act like that. I didn't notice."
He was looking so serious and sorry; Coran wiped away her tears and granted him her most beautiful smile. He felt like melting from that smile. He bent over her.
"You'll see what I think of what people can think about me…"
She closed her eyes when he kissed her and wrapped her arms around his neck. He wrapped his own around her waist. When he moved a little backward, he smiled to her.
"Show everyone the different Seifer you show me, the one nobody else know."
"Maybe…"
A fading noise caught their attention.
"What was that?" Seifer asked still holding Coran from her waist.
"It was coming from the Training Center!" she answered her voice growing louder with the sentence.
They looked at each other, both starting to worry as they were thinking the same thing.
"Irvine and Selphie!!" they exclaimed in the same time.
They both ran to the Training Center. Once they were in, Seifer asked Coran to stay behind him as he took his gunblade. They walked in, looking around for their friends.
"Irvine!! Selphie!" Coran called.
Seifer didn't call. He thought Coran's voice was enough. Besides, he didn't know if he could call them 'friends'. Something caught his interest.
"Coran…" he whispered.
She looked at him to know what was going on. She just followed his glance to something black on the ground. She ran to the object with wide eyes, Seifer on her tail. She kneeled and took the object in her hands.
"Irvine's hat…"
"Squall!!" Coran called running to him.
He was standing next to the bed Zell was lying on. He turned to her, seeing fear and concern all over her face. Then his sight was locked on the object she had in her hand and couldn't leave it.
"I truly hope this hat doesn't belong to the person I think it belongs to," he said.
She nodded sadly to him.
"Irvine and Selphie disappeared too!"
"You found this in the Training Center?"
She nodded.
"We were standing close to it when we heard a fade noise," Seifer explained.
Squall nodded.
"If it's from the same person, we'll wait a while before seeing them again."
"At least, we'll see them again," a weak voice behind Squall said.
Squall quickly turned around to meet Zell's weak smiling face.
"Zell! Are you alright?"
The weak SeeD nodded, closing his eyes.
"I've been better, believe me."
Squall was very relieved.
"I believe you, don't worry!"
"Now I guess you want me to tell you where I was, or you already questioned the Cadets?"
Squall nodded.
"We already did and it didn't help us at all! What happened?"
"After you left me that morning, I went to the Cafeteria to get some hot dogs."
"I know, I asked the girl there."
"I was thinking of having more training by myself when somebody talked to me at the exit."
"Let me guess," Seifer cut in. "You can't remember."
Zell slowly shook his head.
"Something was done to us in there. I can't remember who did that, but I can easily remember the pain!"
He grimaced at the memory.
"What exactly was done to you?" Coran asked.
"Electric shocks, I was slapped a few times too. Nothing really bothering but with such strength! I don't know why, but I would say it was a girl."
"A girl powerful enough to carry five people in the same time!? Don't be silly!" Seifer exclaimed.
"Oh, we were not taken there all in the same time. I was the last one."
"But the Cadets were brought back all in the same time!"
Silence for a few minutes.
"How were you receiving the shocks?" Squall asked shivering at the recall of the shocks he received himself ago, thanks to Seifer.
"From the front of me, like she was sending them directly to me. I was tied up from the wrist and my feet too."
"The others weren't tied by the feet!"
"The others were a little more obedient than I was," Zell answered with a smirk.
Squall laughed a little, not surprised at all.
"You said she was the one throwing those electric shocks at you?" Coran asked.
"Yup! And it had nothing to do with thunder related magic."
Rinoa entered then, back from the washroom. She heard the final sentence.
"It can't be! I would have known, or at least Edea!"
Squall, Coran and Seifer turned to her while Zell tried to lift his head from his pillow.
"What are you talking about?" Squall asked her.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is the doings of a Sorceress…"