He's after me...

No where to run...

Zell staggered toward a fallen tree trunk for protection. He clamped his eyes shut, hopeful that he wouldn't get caught so easily. Giving up after a few troublesome steps, Zell settled down inside an old hollow tree. He paused, silence was all he heard. Nearby, a sudden rumbling noise intruded in his territory, which Zell guessed was footsteps. His footsteps.

"I know where you are..." The voice seemed unusually familair but Zell couldn't tell where he had heard it.

"Come out, come out where ever you are..." The disembodied voice droned on, finally disappearing as the figure walked deeper into the woods. Zell felt himself shiver. He was glad he did, once for all proving he wasn't dead - yet. Worst of all, it wasn't the cold what made him shiver; Zell knew he was afraid. He felt powerless against his new foe, who ever it was. If the enemy managed to kill Squall without having to put up much of a fight, then he'd stand no chance considering the fact that he was much weaker and inexperienced. No chance but to run. As fast as his srawny legs can carry him, where ever they led him, he would go without a doubt. There was no time for life anymore in his schedule, even if he had minute of spare time it would be wasted on double checking every other place for hazards.

His life made no sense, he didn't even know why he still wanted to stay alive. For revenge maybe? Who in their right mind would be this crazy? First he'll have to find out the person behind all this. Zell gentally massaged his temples and thought back to led up to something he knew he had to remember.

*FLASHBACK*

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"You should leave her alone, she's still a bit shook up from, well, you know..." Selphy made a simple gesture with her hand.

"C'mon! I just gotta ask her a question! Zell complained.

"Well, sor-ry!" With that last statement, Selphy pouted and stomped off. Zell shook his head and lightly tapped on the door. No answer. He slowly pushed it open only to find a pale-faced Rinoa sitting by herself on her bed, all huddled up.

"Yo, sup?" Rinoa tilted her head to the visitor.

"Zell...I saw him.." She replied, looking terrified.

"What? Saw who?"

"Him..."

"WHO?!?"

"He killed Irvine..." Zell froze in his tracks.

"You- you saw the guy who did that to Irvine?" Rinoa nodded.

"Wait here while I go get the others." Zell rushed out of the door, not bothering to listen to Rinoa's last sentence.

"...and he's watching me..."

***

Zell half jogged, half ran to the library, lucky to find Quistis and Selphy studying a few papers in their hands on a nearby table.

"Rinoa..she..knows...who killed...IRVINE!" Zell managed to spit the last word out. The girls looked at eachother and then back at Zell before the trio dashed out of the library to Rinoa's room.

Quistis twisted the doornob and stepped into the room. Cold air floated above every inch of their bodies. Something was missing. Where was Squall when you needed him? No one caught sight of him all day. Zell felt something under his feet that glued him to the floor. The stuff was sticky, but warm. He dropped his head to look at his feet but almost fainted doing so. There was a large puddle of what he recognized as blood on the tiled floor. He frowned. He didn't remember it being there before. Zell wiped the dried blood onto clean ground and ventured further into the room. Quistis and Selphy followed behind him, lingering for protection.

"Rinoa?" He called out. Nothing. The three turned the corner and was met by an ugly sight. Rinoa was hung to the ceiling with sturdy rope. Black blood dripped down from her slit neck. Rinoa Heartilly was dead. Realizing the recent turn of events, the girls let out an ear-peircing scream.

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*END FLASHBACK*

Zell yawned. Thinking so hard was making him tired so fast. Rinoa positively knew something. But now the she's dead, the information she had collected has been wasted. His eyes got heavy. He could feel somebody's presence as he drifted off to sleep.