Disclaimer: As I've said many times, and will continue to say, I don't own any of these characters.
WHEN DARKNESS FALLS
Part Two
The Kill
Rinoa opened her mouth to scream, but no sound came out. This is it, she thought. Please, Squall, just make it quick!
A high-pitched bark drew the creature's attention. The beast turned its head as Angelo sprang out of the shadows. The dog placed his body between the monster and his mistress, teeth bared in a pitiful imitation of the wolf-creature's own deadly smile.
"Angelo," Rinoa choked out. The dog tensed as he came to attention, awaiting his mistress's command. "Invincible Moon," Rinoa whispered.
The dog sprang into the air just as the monster's paw swiped the place where he had been. The small GF cast the spell over Rinoa, whose form shimmered as the spell wrapped her in its protective embrace. If only the creature can't strike through it – it has Squall's junctioning, and he's almost impervious to magic!
The beast slashed at her, but its claws slid through her as if she weren't there. The creature bellowed in frustration, then turned its attention to Angelo.
"Angelo!" Rinoa commanded. "Search! Find help!" The dog whirled and ran down the hallway, and the creature's gaze darted between Rinoa and Angelo's retreating form.
It chose Rinoa. It must have realized the spell wouldn't last forever. If only help could get here in time…
* * *
The creature was pleased. The dog that wasn't a dog had done something to its intended victim, but it was already fading. The scent of blood from the sorceress's incorporeal body intensified as the spell's potency faded. The sorceress tried weakly to pull her torn body away, but her arms lost their strength and her upper torso fell heavily to the floor as the spell wavered and vanished.
Now. Now it could attack and destroy this woman of power before she could find a way to destroy it!
The creature tensed its body, preparing to lunge forward, when its sensitive ears picked up the sounds of a great many footsteps heading its way.
"What the hell is that?" a voice cried. The creature whirled, teeth bared and claws spread.
"I don't know, but it's dead!" another voice answered. The second speaker raised a gleaming silver rifle and fired.
The creature moved, but the bullet caught it in the shoulder, blowing away chunks of flesh. Pain! These weren't normal bullets!
It dodged again as the man shot another round, but there was only so far it could run in the narrow hallway. And every one of the people gathered in the hall was armed with weapons and, it scented, magic.
Staying wouldn't be a good idea, it realized. Though it doubted they could hurt it seriously enough to kill it, there were enough humans that it would be very inconvenienced.
Besides, it preferred to hunt solitary prey, and taking on this many people at once didn't appeal to it.
With a cry, it leaped through the window to its left, taking another bullet in the side in the process. It hit the ground, rolled, then sprang to its feet and shook the glass from its fur before plunging forward amidst a hail of bullets and hastily cast spells.
It opened its jaws in a mournful howl before vanishing completely into the night.
* * *
Zell carefully scooped Rinoa in his arms. Blood spattered against him, coating his arms, but he paid it no heed. Quistis had cast a Curaga on Rinoa as soon as the monster was out of sight, but her flesh was still torn and ragged, with blood sluggishly pouring out, draining Rinoa's life away. They had to get her to Dr. Kadowaki, and fast.
"I can't find Squall anywhere," Irvine said dully, coming up behind him. "His room is a disaster. I think the creature got him," he concluded dully.
Zell couldn't suppress the sad moan that escaped his lips. "Dammit," he breathed.
"No…" a voice whimpered faintly. "Squall…" Zell started; he hadn't realized Rinoa was awake.
"Shh…" Zell said soothingly. "I'm sure we'll find him." Irvine, out of Rinoa's sight, gave a hopeless shrug.
They had volunteered to stay behind at Balamb Garden while most of the SeeDs went out in teams to find the creature. Someone needed to be here in case the creature came back to finish Rinoa.
They took Rinoa to Dr. Kadowaki, who pursed her lips but said nothing. She directed them to set the girl on an operating table, then ordered them to stand by the door, where they remained until dawn.
* * *
The light! The sun! It had forgotten about the hated enemy that burned its skin and blinded it. It should have been impossible that anything could harm it! Even the wounds in its body had vanished. And yet the sun hurt it in a way nothing else had, and it was forced to retreat into its host's mind, and around it, the body shrank to its former pathetic shape.
But this would not last. Tonight, and every night after, it would strike until it had feasted upon the still-beating hearts of every living being in that building. It had learned patience during its imprisonment, and it knew it would be rewarded in the end.
* * *
Squall lay huddled in a fetal position, ignoring the chill on his bare skin.
Hyne… What have I done? Rinoa… He remembered it, all of it. He remembered the feel of claws through flesh, the intoxicating scent of warm blood…
And a joy bordering on orgasmic at the thought of sinking his jaws into Rinoa's quivering body, tearing her heart out and leisurely feasting upon her remains. It horrified him beyond belief, it sickened him, and yet, a part of him would give anything to finish what he had started. He found himself licking Rinoa's cold blood from his fingers and stopped himself, disgusted at what he'd become.
He couldn't go back. Ever. Not as long as his body was possessed by this monstrosity. He was scared of what he would do. And he knew he was too weak to stop himself.
He didn't want to stop himself…
So Squall huddled in the small crevice he'd wedged himself into, hoping it would all end.
* * *
"Any luck?" Zell asked Quistis when she returned that morning, trailed by a dozen weary SeeDs.
"Nothing," Quistis sighed. "Any sign of Squall?" Zell shook his head, and Quistis slumped. "How's Rinoa?"
"She's lost a lot of blood, but she'll make it, Dr. Kadowaki says. But," now Zell hesitated, "she's torn up. Badly. Dr. Kadowaki had do to some reconstructive surgery, but she's going to have the most awful scars..."
"Is she awake?"
"No. Thank Hyne." Zell wearily leaned back against the wall. "What are we going to tell her about Squall?"
"We haven't found anything except his ripped clothes. He could still be alive. We won't tell her anything until we know the truth," Quistis said. "We don't want to alarm her."
"Do you honestly believe he's still alive?" Zell demanded. Quistis shut her eyes and shook her head sadly. "What the hell was it? Irvine hit it twice and it didn't even slow down! It's not natural!"
"Whatever it was, it's dangerous, and it could return. We have to keep a look out for it. I suggest you get some sleep while you still can," Quistis advised. "I have the feeling we're going to need all our strength to deal with this."
* * *
Rinoa slowly swam into consciousness. She hurt! The pain nearly sent her back into a catatonic state, but she refused to submit. She had to tell someone what she knew about the creature!
Squall... What's happened to you? She moaned and tried to move.
"Stay still, Rinoa, or you might bust a stitch," a voice said quietly. Since moving hurt, Rinoa obeyed. She opened her mouth and tired to speak, but all that came out was a gurgling moan.
Dr. Kadowaki came into view. The older woman's expression was sympathetic as she checked Rinoa's bandages. "I'm surprised you're awake already," the woman said. "You were hurt quite badly."
Rinoa followed her gaze, and saw her exposed body was bound in bandages across her chest and along on side, down to her knee. Her gaze finally came to rest on her chest, which seemed peculiarly flat.
Dr. Kadowaki saw where she was looking and shook her head sadly. "You lost a lot of flesh there. I'm no plastic surgeon, but I did what I could. I'll call in a specialist from Esthar who can probably restore you, if you'd like. But it could take time before I can find one available."
This didn't matter to Rinoa. She had bigger concerns than her new bra size. "Squall," she tried, the name barely coherent. Damn, she must have me drugged! "Monster," she continued thickly.
Dr. Kadowaki's face went still. "I'm sure Squall's fine," she said neutrally. "Why don't you get some rest?"
Rinoa frowned. Why wouldn't anyone listen? But she obeyed the doctor, shutting her eyes in an effort to get to sleep.
The creature was there, waiting. The fiery aura that had haunted Squall once again prowled the edge of her senses, just out of touch with reality. But there was a feel to it that it had lacked before, a satisfaction that made Rinoa sick to her stomach. It will be back tonight, she realized with dread. And she didn't have the strength to stop it.
* * *
There was an air of tension around Garden that day. The students were unusually subdued in class, and it wasn't because they'd partied too hard the previous night. The exhausted SeeDs slept in shifts as they kept an eye out for the beast, while others patrolled outside for signs of it.
Rinoa slept the day away, gathering strength for the coming night. Her body ached and felt like it would rip open at the slightest movement, but she knew she had to be ready tonight, when Squall returned.
And so the day passed, with the headmaster debating if he should evacuate the Garden, and Quistis and Xu plotting the best way to deploy the SeeDs that night.
Something was going to happen that night. Everyone could sense it. But no one was certain they could do anything about it.
* * *
Squall watched the sun sink over the horizon, feeling his heart sink with it. He quivered, with fear or eagerness he couldn't tell, and braced himself for the change.
It started as a scream that tore itself from his lungs, and he dropped to the ground as the agony rippled through his body. This time, he didn't resist as the beast inside him forced his body into that unnatural shape. He almost welcomed the feeling of power that came with the pain, and the pleasure that accompanied the razor sharp claws and bristling fangs.
He let the beast take over, knowing it would provide him with what he most craved.
The beast would kill tonight. This time, nothing would stand in its way.
* * *
Rinoa jolted awake. Night had fallen, and she had felt Squall's change again, though something about it had felt different.
He'd welcomed it... Don't give in to the beast, Squall! Control it! He couldn't hear her, she knew. It was up to her to stop him.
Dr. Kadowaki was nowhere in sight, much to Rinoa's relief. She knew the woman would try to stop what Rinoa knew had to be done.
With great difficulty, she levered herself out of bed. The flimsy hospital gown fluttered against her, and she knew she would have to find something else to wear. She had time; Squall had felt distant in her mind. She doubted he'd make it here until close to dawn, which was very good.
She moved stiffly out of the infirmary, ignoring the waves of pain every step sent through her body. She headed towards her room, using spells to ensure that no on saw her. She couldn't afford to be caught. Once in her room, she carefully pulled on a pair of baggy black pants and a red silk blouse, which her trembling fingers couldn't button all the way.
Red and black. The colors of vengeance and death. She hoped this night would call for neither.
* * *
Nida swore as his knee knocked into the railing of one of the main lobby's low bridges. He wished it weren't so dark; how were they supposed to see the damned creature if it was pitch black?
He couldn't even see the rest of his team! His teammates said he just had bad night vision, but still... He could faintly hear them if he strained his ears. Like him, they were trying to keep quiet and out of sight as they patrolled the lobby.
It's not coming, he thought flatly. There was an hour until dawn, and still the beast had not shown itself. Garden was getting alarmed over nothing. He'd heard Rinoa had been badly hurt, but why did that make everyone so jumpy? The woman had a habit of exaggerating, anyway. Why did they even keep her at Garden?
There was a soft splashing noise to his left. Nida froze, his eyes trying to pierce the darkness. Should he sound the alert? There shouldn't be anything in the fountain to make a noise-
Nida barely managed to scream as claws sank into his backside. Then, with a gurgling noise, Nida's scream was cut off.
* * *
"Lights on!" Xu's cry echoed through the lobby. She'd heard Nida's scream and had snapped out the order before his cry had ended. Dammit, it wasn't that dark, they should have seen it!
The lobby was abruptly flooded with light. All teams on Garden's first floor were flocking to the lobby.
There was a round of gasps as everyone got their first look at the creature. It stood on its hind legs, well over six feet tall, with a wolfish head covered in a shaggy mane of golden brown fur. It held Nida in its front claws, shielding its body with his. Xu held up her hand to halt any firing. She didn't want Nida injured in their efforts to slay the beast.
When the creature shifted position, she realized that was a moot point. It held something it its jaws, and gore and bone shards stuck to its muzzle. The monster threw back its head and swallowed the blood-red object, its eyes locked on Xu's all the while. It then cast Nida's body aside, and Xu could see the gaping hole in his chest where his heart had been torn out. Nida's body landed near the group, and Xu's eyes were drawn to his blood-flecked lips and glazed, empty eyes. She fought down the urge to retch and tore her eyes away, meeting instead the wolf creature's sinister gaze.
It was smiling at her, she realized, with teeth dyed by Nida's blood. It tensed its body in preparation to spring.
It was coming after her...
"Attack!" she screamed to the handful of SeeDs gathered around her. Guns were fired by those who had them, magic was used by those who didn't. All to no effect, Xu thought grimly. The creature seemed to brush off the bullets and absorb the magic as if they were nothing!
"Shit," Xu hissed. "Find Irvine! He hurt it last night!" Not that anyone could guess by looking at the beast's unmarked hide.
The beast sprang, knocking into Xu. She'd been in motion at the time of the leap and was sent flying, but she wasn't in the creatures clutches, at least. It snapped angrily at her heels, but Xu rolled away.
The creature gave a sharp bark as a bullet tore into its ear, tearing away a hunk of flesh. Its burning red eyes scanned the crowd for the one responsible. Then it grinned and prepared for another leap.
"Squall! Stop!" A voice rang through the lobby. The creature froze, its eyes flashing blue.
Rinoa limped forward, forcing her way through the gathered SeeDs.
"Squall, please!
Fight it!" Rinoa pleaded.
She held herself up with her last vestiges of strength, her body
trembling with effort. Blood soaked the
bandages visible beneath her blouse where stitches had been torn. "This isn't you! Fight it!"
The SeeDs were stunned. Without removing their eyes from the beast, the SeeDs began to mutter among themselves. "What is she talking about?" "She's hurt - not thinking straight." "Rinoa, you shouldn't be here."
"I'll prove it," Rinoa whispered. The beast recovered its senses and turned to face Rinoa, its ears flattened in anger. Rinoa lifted her hands above her head, and a bolt of lightning shot up from her fingers, striking a light fixture on the ceiling and freeing it. The beast leapt towards Rinoa, who didn't move.
Seconds before its claws could sweep down on her, the light fixture landed, pinning the creature under it. It bellowed and struggled to break free, but the metal was too heavy.
The SeeDs gathered around, ready to attack, but Rinoa held up a quivering hand. "Just wait," she whispered. "You'll see."
There was nothing else the SeeDs could do. They gathered in a growing knot as more teams came in to reinforce the others. Nida's grisly body was taken away by a couple of people who weren't riveted by the sight of the struggling creature.
They waited forty minutes, a tense span of time when all feared the nearly indestructible beast would tear free. Then the sky lightened. Rinoa hadn't moved, despite the newly arrived Quistis's insistence she return to the infirmary.
With an anguished cry, the beast suddenly seemed to shrink. Fur faded away, and the sharp muzzle and ears retracted. In a matter of moments, the head and shoulders of SeeD's commander was revealed to them.
As the horrified gasps filled the lobby, Rinoa slumped forward in an unconscious heap.
To be continued...
Up next: The origins of the beast.
