//By Julie (yaoifantasy) and Wonderful Failure
//rated R for horror, gore, death, and cussing
// yaoi hints
//Disclaimer: Don't own Final Fantasy 8 (not the characters/world/etc) -- I wish, but it just isn't happening. And the movie "Pitch Black" - don't own that either. Just ~borrowing~ for creative out-lets.
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"Here," Squall called the others. There was a small shallow cave on the dirk/rock wall that was to the groups left. It was maybe 7 feet deep, and there was a large boulder next to the cave. "Hide here..." Squall said, motioning for the group to enter.
Selphie, Zell, and Quistis followed Squall's order, entering in the cave. Then the cave no longer had a way out.
Zell's eyes widened slightly when he realized Squall had moved the boulder in front of the cave entrance. And the convict was still outside.
Quistis walked to the boulder and pushed it. No use, it was lodged into place pretty good.
Outside, Squall took a long look at the rock. It would keep the others safe while he traveled the dangerous last few paced to the Skiff with the power cells. But... would Squall come back for these three survivors?
"Why is he still out there?" Selphie asked.
Zell swallowed, his breathing slightly increased. The blonde only could hope that Squall wasn't planning on abandoning them.
~*~
The rain made the terrain muddy. Lugging 4 power cells weighing at 50 pounds each wasn't an easy task. Clenching his teeth together, Squall forced himself forward, fighting off fatigue.
~*~
The bottles of booze were almost empty. The lights the three had left were nearly completely out.
Selphie opened her bottle up, Zell doing the same. Then they poured what was left of the alcohol, their saving light-source, into one bottle, trying to lengthen the burn time.
Capping Zell's bottle, the three huddled around their light, watching the flame flicker in the cool cave room.
They were drenched, tired, and afraid. And Squall had left them. Trapped them.
"He's not coming back, is he?" Selphie asked Zell.
He didn't have an answer.
Flapping sounds of the shadow-creatures just outside the cave echoed and purred. They knew where the food was. And all they had to do was wait for it to come out.
Selphie reached for Zell's hand, taking it, eyes wide at the blocked entrance.
Then, the light of the booze bottle flickered... and died.
Zell waited for complete darkness to take over. But it never did. There was a slight glow in the room. A bluish glow that allowed the three survivors to see.
Looking up, Zell saw where the light was coming from. Strange worm-sized creatures in the dirt. The worm-things were glowing bright blue-light.
Light.
Quistis reached up and removed a worm from the dirt, bringing it down for the others to get a closer look. It was amazing, the single creature beamed this bright light muting out the darkness.
~*~
Squall flipped a few switched. Sitting in the pilot seat of the Skiff, he was preparing to take off. Did he go back for the others? No.
Not worth it. They wouldn't make the trek back to the Skiff anyway. Even with him able to defend them now - no power cells to lug.
The engine charged, lights around the craft burning brightly in the darkness.
Squall stood from the chair and walked down the catwalk to the back of the Skiff. He took one final look at the terrain outside, then reached over and pressed the [Close] button. The entrance door shut.
Squall hovered near the entrance, closing his eyes. Zell, Selphie, and even Quistis - he liked them Would he just leave them here to die?
Nodding, Squall turned and headed back to the pilot seat. He flopped down and flipped a few more switches, moving to start his accent.
As he buckled himself in, Squall glanced up. And there was Zell. The booze bottle now glowing a bright blue light.
The tattooed blonde was breathing heavily from running, but he looked determind.
He brunette convict quickly unbuckled himself and headed around to the back of the Skiff, opening the door to let Zell in.
Squall half-smiled down at Zell - the blonde still standing in the rain. "Strong survival instinct. I admire that in a boy."
"I promised them that we would go back wit more light," Zell replied, still breathing heavily from running.
"Did you?!" Squall replied, trying to sound surprised. "Hmm."
"What?!" Zell snapped. "Are ya afraid?"
Squall laughed. "Me afraid?"
"Come on, Squall," Zell replied. "There's gotta be some part o' ya that wants ta rejoin the human race."
Squall cocked his head to the side, moving to squat down. "Truthfully, I wouldn't know how."
"Well then jus give me more light an' I'll go back for them by myself!"
"Okay," Squall said with a nod, turning his upper body around to reach in for a flashlight. He looked back to Zell, tossing the blonde the flashlight. "There ya go."
Zell looked at Squall sad and desperate. Squall returned the look blankly.
"Please jus come wit me," Zell asked, his voice small.
Squall half-smiled away. "I've got a better idea. Come with me."
Zell stared at Squall, shocked with the idea of leaving Selphie and Quistis in the cave. Alone. Trapped. To die.
But Zell would live. No problem. He's have the rest of his life. And he did try to kill them before. What's different now? Survival of the fittest, ne? Isn't that how it works? Why risk he life for those two?
Zell wasn't like that, though. He was brave, strong, and determind. And he cared. The priestess and the young girl. They needed help.
"You're fuckin' wit me, I know ya are," Zell replied to Squall's idea.
"You know I am?" Squall asked, raising an eyebrow. He stood tall again. "You don't know anything about me. I will leave you here."
Zell felt panic run threw him. Zell could go now and live, or go back and maybe live. It was a difficult chioce.
"Step inside," Squall said.
Very difficult, especially since Squall was so encouraging. And Zell's stomach hurt, torn between morals and his desire to just flee now.
"I can't," Zell replied to Squall, crouching down, holding his stomach. His face cringed in pain of discord.
"Sure you can," Squall encouraged. "Here," he held out his hand to help Zell inside - All Zell had to do was take the hand, "I'll make it easy on you."
Zell felt tears slide down his cheeks. The rain pouring around. It was cold, those beasts were out there in the darkness, and Squall was here. Warm, dry, ready to take Zell away from the pain. The horror. They dying. All Zell had to do was take Squall's hand and he would be free from this place.
But he would have to leave Selphie and Quistis. They were waiting. Depending on Zell to come back for them.
"Take my hand," Squall said softly. "Come on," he purred. "Come on."
Zell felt more tears slid down his cheeks, sitting there in the mud. Torn.
"Look. No one is going to blame you," Squall said, looking down at the crying blonde. "Save yourself, Zell."
Zell looked up at Squall, unable to move.
Squall smiled slightly sad. He moved off of the Skiff walkway down to help Zell into the ship. "Come on, sweetie," Squall purred, his hands gently helping Zell forward. Zell started to crawl to the Skiff. "There ya go. That's it. That's it. ... Good boy."
Zell stood, able to walk a little. Squall released Zell, letting the blonde continue forward himself.
Shadow-creatures hisses from the darkness. Squall turned to look at them, watching carefully for an attack.
Zell paused, the sounds of the night-beasts wakening Zell's memories. Of the handle he pulled. Of Xu, yelling at him to stop. Of Xu dying to protect the passengers. And Zell tried to kill them. Zell owed.
He turned around and lunged at Squall, toppling both of them into the dirt. Zell wasn't going to leave Selphie and Quistis!
"No you!" Zell growled down at Squall - who was laying under Zell, looking up with complete surprised - "You listen to me! I am the Captain of this ship, and I am not leaving anyone on this rock wit those fuckin' things, even if it means-"
He was cut off as Squall flipped Zell over, turned around and changed the positioning. Squall now sat on Zell's stomach, bone blade pressed to Zell's neck.
"Get that thing off my neck!" Zell snapped, struggling slightly under Squall.
"Shut up!" Squall growled. "You'd die for them?"
"I'd try for them," Zell replied.
"You didn't answer my question," Squall said.
"Yes!" Zell answered. "I'd die for them, Squall."
Squall moved the blade from Zell's neck, leaning down close to Zell's face. "How interesting," he purred.
~*~
Quistis stood in front of Selphie, the rock that blocked the cave entrance moving. Then, it rolled out of place, Zell looking in.
Selphie sighed in relief.
Then Squall appeared in back of Zell, smiling at the two.
Selphie smiled brightly. "Never had a doubt!"
Squall smiled at Selphie a moment longer then said "Anyone not ready for this?"
"There is my Hyne, Mr. Squall," Quistis replied.
~*~
The four ran threw the mud, heading as quickly as they could to the Skiff City. It was an easy trek until two Shadow-Creatures flew down and decided to start wrestling right on the path.
Squall stopped the group and moved to a boulder to hide. He reached behind him and took Zell's hand, holding it tightly. Zell reached back and took Selphie's hand, then Selphie took Quistis'.
Squall then jumped up and started towards the Shadow-Creatures. The two beasts flew up and away quickly, feeling from the flashlight and blue-booze bottle.
In the mud the group started slipping, unable to keep up the fast pace. Squall stopped and pushed the others forward. "Don't stop! Don't stop!"
Then a Shadow-Creature jumped down at hissed. Squall looked at it, watching the creature slowly move towards him.
"You know the way!" Squall yelled, meaning for the others to leave him.
And they did.
Zell lead Quistis and Selphie to the Skiff, it only taking another minute. Then they were in complete light. And the Ship was a button-press away from take off. They could leave right now.
Zell stopped and turned to look into the darkness. "On board," he ordered the two, keeping his eyes locked to watch for Squall's approach.
Meanwhile, Squall had another meeting with a Shadow-Creature. Now two surrounded him, ready to lung forward and eat their dinner.
Sneering angrily at the creatures, Squall pulled out his bone knife and held his up. Ready, waiting.
The Shadow-Creatures would have to fight for this meal.
"Zell?" Quistis called, trying to get Zell to come onto the ship. To leave Squall. The convict was probably dead anyway. "Come on, Zell."
Zell glanced back at Quistis, then took another long look into the darkness. No sounds, nothing. Would Squall come?
"Come on," Quistis said gently.
His shoulder's slumping slightly, Zell turned - meaning to reboard the ship.
Then they heard Squall yell.
Without thinking, Zell turned and burst into an all out run. For Squall. To find him, wherever he was.
"Squall?" Zell called, hearing another yell.
"Squall!"
Zell nearly fell on his face when Squall jumped out at him. The convict's leg was cut pretty badly, and he looked completely warn. But he was alive.
Zell dropped the flashlight, taking Squall into his arms. "Come on," Zell said to Squall. "Come on, baby, we'll make it back to the ship. Jus hold on to me."
Squall grasp Zell tightly, desperate. He honestly couldn't believe Zell came back for him.
"Hold onto me," Zell said again. "We're gonna get outta here. Its okay... I've got ya."
Squall slipped, almost falling.
Zell had a hard time holding him up. "Come on!" Zell yelled. "You're stronger then this! ... I said I'd die for dem, not for you!"
And with that said, the sound of flesh being sliced into and torn apart filled the air. Blood splattering into the muddy, rain drenched dirt. And Time seemed to freeze.
Zell and Squall looked into each other's eyes, watching. Squall looked at Zell sadly, Zell smiling slightly at the convict. Zell leaned forward in a half a second, brushing his lips against Squall's.
Then Zell was lifted up and away. Torn from Squall's arms. Zell's arms open, reached down to try to grasp Squall's hands. The Shadow-Creature's tail sliced threw Zell's stomach, wings beating at it carried Zell away.
Squall watched in horror as Zell disappeared into the dark, night sky.
"Not for me," Squall whispered, Zell having vanished in the pitch black. "Please... not for me."
His legs weakened as he fell into the mud, his jeweled eyes still staring at the place where Zell disappeared.
~*~
Squall sat in the pilot seat, the Skiff's engines on.
Selphie was strapped in the co-pilot seat, Quistis sitting on a metal box right behind Squall.
"So much prayer to make up for," Quistis muttered. "I scarcely know where to begin."
"I know where I'd start," Selphie replied.
Squall just kept quiet, his hand on the accelerator.
"Squall?" Selphie asked, wondering why Squall hadn't started to take off yet.
"We can't leave," Squall said softly, turning off the main power by pressing one button.
"Lets just get the hell out of here," Selphie said, eyes wide.
"We've gotta say good night," Squall replied, waiting in silence, listening to the creatures beginning to pile onto the ship. Then he pressed the power button and shifted the accelerator back, the ship burning brightly, engines bursting into flames.
Creatures outside the ship perished in the light.
The ship burst forward, flying up - towards the heavens.
~*~
"A lot of questions, whoever we run into," Selphie said. "Could even be a mercenary ship. ... So what should we tell them about you?"
"Tell them Squall Leonhart is head," Squall replied. He turned to look at Selphie. "He died somewhere on that planet."
In the black of space, the ship hummed along, flying towards where ever...
The End...
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// Oie! Zell died!! ... I know, I didn't want to write it either. I love Zell. I should have just killed Quistis or Selphie, but no... its how the movie went and I didn't want to change that. Fry (a FEMALE pilot, Zell's movie double) died at the end, saving Riddick (Squall's movie double). --- I didn't mind Fry dying, but I do mind Zell dying. Oh well...
// *huggles Zell tightly* "Its okay, baby. Next story you'll have a happy life."
// ~*Julie, xoxo