~~~~
" Rinoa, will you be able to look after him?" Zell asked. He had carried Squall all the way to his dorm room after he had passed out. The infirmary doctor had said it was a side effect from the medication Squall was taking which was somewhat of a surprise to Zell since Squall hadn't mentioned he was sick or on any type of drugs. Then again, it was Squall.
Zell turned his attention back to Rinoa who had cast her eyes to the floor.
" Actually," Rinoa began. " I would like to take Squall's position on the second floor."
The brunette desperately wanted to find the killer of Ellone and was slightly happy the side effects of Squall's medicine had kicked in.
" Sure," Zell said. " Lemme call Selphie here to look after Squall." He walked towards Squall's rarely used phone and dialled Selphie's dorm room number. After saying a few words, he put the phone down.
" Yeah, she'll be here."
Squall groaned from his bed. " I don't need anyone to look after me."
Rinoa looked at him sceptically.
" You can't always rely on yourself." She said, smiling.
" Whatever." Squall rolled over, deciding to ignore her. Zell and Rinoa stood in silence for a minute until Selphie burst through the door.
" You guys can go now; Squall will be fine with me!" She chirped. Squall shuddered and struggled not to cry out for help.
~~~~
Irvine ran his hand over the rifle admiring the smooth craftsmanship. An hour had passed with no disturbances, causing Irvine to lose interest in what he was assigned to do. He yawned then checked his watch.
" 12:36 in the morning." He muttered. There was still six more hours to go.
~~~~
Rinoa paced in the upstairs hallway near the elevators. She wished the killer would show him or herself instead of playing this 'game' with the rest of them. Her heart ached for Squall knowing that he felt pain beyond anything else in this universe. Ellone, how would it be like never to see someone again?
~~~~
Selphie smiled. Squall looked so innocent when he was sleeping. His angered, ever scowling face finally relaxed, making him appear even more handsome then he already was.
I wonder what Irvine is doing? Selphie's mind drifted off into her never ending thoughts and now she wanted to visit her boyfriend. She knew it would be best to stay with Squall until he was better, and in case he tried to sneak out and avenge the death of Ellone, but wouldn't it be all right to leave him for only a few minutes?
Just to be sure eh wasn't a light sleeper, she tapped him on the nose. There was no response. Selphie left the room, walking down the long, dark hallway. She was halfway through when a figure grabbed her from behind then covered her mouth.
" Don't scream," the creature hissed. " Don't even try to move."
Selphie knew she could take her attacker out in a matter of moments, but she was too struck with fear to even whimper. The assailant grabbed her by the waist, dragging her back towards the dorms. She closed her eyes, hoping that when she opened them, all this would be gone and she would be in her room, alone. Once her eyes were opened, she realized in irony that at least half of her vision was true. She was in her dorm room, but not alone.
Hoisting her up, it pinned her to the wall and she took a good look at the face.
" If you think this is funny--"
It laughed.
" Selph, you are so naive..." Her once friend said, pressing its body against Selphie's, making her gasp once more. Trailing a finger along her neck, the betrayer whispered, " So naive..." Then all went red.
~~~
Quistis tried to stifle a yawn. She was relieved to see the golden sun come out yet disappointed that the murderer refused to reveal itself. Her shoes clicked in a set rhythm on the tile floor as she made her way inside the Garden. Spotting Irvine leaning against the fountain, she walked towards him and flipped off his hat.
" Hey!" Then he noticed who it was. " Any luck?"
Quistis shook her head. " I just came here to tell you it's time to draw back." She looked past the fountain. " Where's Zell?"
" He went to go check up on Selphie and Squall."
As if on cue, Zell came running out of the dorms, his face flushed.
" Selphie's not there!" He said frantically. Irvine's eyes widened.
" What?"
" I went to see her and she's not in Squall's room!" Zell repeated. " I tried to wake Squall but the guy's in a coma!"
Quistis remained calm. " Did you check her room? She may be changing or something."
Zell slapped his forehead, then ran back in the direction he came from. Quistis and Irvine weren't too far behind. They pushed through the students rushing towards the washrooms, for in the mornings it was always a rush to get there first. After struggling through the mass of bodies, the three arrived at Selphie's closed room. Irvine knocked.
" Selph?" Once more. " Selph?" And again. " Selphie?"
" It's unlocked..." Quistis said, cautiously turning the knob. They weren't surprised when they saw the mess, Selphie was quite disorganized and everyone knew it for a fact. Selphie herself was laying face down on her bed, which was a common position for her to sleep in.
" Hey Selph, " Irvine said, sitting on the edge of Selphie's bed. " Wake up."
It seemed Quistis was the only one who noticed something was not right, for she gasped and backed up. The girl's chest was not moving.
" She asleep?" Zell asked. " Yo, Selph. Wake up." Zell shook her shoulder and her head rolled to the side. A small trail of blood ran from her neck onto the bed, making it look like rose petals across shimmering snow. Somewhat of a cry was heard from Quistis, for her suspicion was confirmed. Zell backed up to where Quistis was trembling and Irvine grabbed Selphie's limp body, shaking her out of grief.
" Selphie, Selphie! Wake up, now!" He began to sob, holding the deceased girl against him.
" She's so pale..." Quistis said in monotone. " Just like Ellone..."
Zell was shaking with rage. " Whoever did this..." Quistis placed her hand on Zell's shoulder and led him out of the room, leaving Irvine time to mourn the loss of the one girl he had ever truly loved.
~~~
" We're not safe anymore, " Quistis whispered. The headmaster gazed over the vast sea, trying to digest what Quistis had told him. It seemed too out of the ordinary, too bizarre to be happening in his Garden.
" Yes, I know. My most experienced SeeD's couldn't stop this creature from taking another life." He turned to face the ex-instructor. " It's a shame hat Squall Leonhart is unable to help due to his illness."
" He'll get over it," Quistis said quickly. " Zell did."
Cid nodded. " I'm not sure what to do anymore, Miss. Trepe," He paused and rubbed his temples. This was all becoming too much for him.
" Two lives are already too much," Quistis remarked solemnly.
" Yes, yes. All we know is that the fiend strikes at night then drains all of the blood out of the victim. But perhaps there is a way..."
" And what might that be?" Quistis asked.
" Firstly we--" the phone rang in a shrill tone, cutting Cid off. He excused himself, tossing papers in the air and muttering profanities during his vain search for his phone.
The SeeD shook her head and left Cid in the mess that was his office.
~~~
Zell smashed his fist into the wall of the Quad.
" What the hell are we supposed to do now?" He growled angrily.
" For starters, you can stop trying to break the Garden apart," Quistis said, giving Zell an equally angry side look. She sat down on the ledge the marble water fountain. " When Cid is done with his duties, we'll know then."
Flipping her brunette hair, Rinoa placed her hands on her hips and glared at both Zell and Quistis.
" Listen, we don't have time to wait for Cid to tell us what to do. We need to take matters into our own hands!" She cast her eyes down. " For Selphie and for Ellone."
" You're right," Quistis whispered. " What do you have in mind?"
" I haven't thought of anything yet. Give me some time." Rinoa placed her hand on her forehead, feeling stressed. " It will come."
" Well, that's just great!" Zell shot up and grabbed Rinoa by her slim shoulders. " So while you're thinking, more people are going to die!"
" I never said--"
" Shut up. Just shut up," Zell commanded. " What we're going to do is talk to Squall. He's the only one who can save us."
~~~