Disclaimer: I don't own "Losing my Grip" by Hoobastank
A/N: Well, what do you know? The last chapter kinda crept up on me. So, here it is. The last installment of this fic. Also, I've redone all the chapters, so they're better than they were before (I hope). Enjoy the last chapter!
"Human psychology, and everything in the world, is made up of two opposite facets, two sides of the same coin. After all, humanity is always living side by side with the "pair" called "life and death." --- Yuu Watase
Chapter 14
The house was silent, save the youthful laughter that floated through the air. In the spacious kitchen, sat a young girl on the floor, her clear eyes shining like the cloudless sky during daytime, and her tiny pink lips curved upward in a wide smile. Next to her sat an older lady, old enough to be her grandmother, who smiled along with her as the two played together.
The younger of the two studied her companions face a moment before pointing out, "Aunt Alicia, you're face is twitching again."
The older playmate emitted a sigh before climbing to her feet and bending down to look the little girl in the eye.
"You know the drill," she said. "I'm going to my room for awhile, sweetie. You'll just have to play by yourself for a little bit. And remember, no matter what I do or say, don't open the door."
She nodded. "I know. Do you think you'll get better sometime soon?"
"I don't know. I really don't know."
That said, Alicia straighted up and walked into the nearby room, closing the door behind her. The door gave a small click as it was locked, and for a brief moment, all was silent. Ethereal sat there, motionless in the same spot Alicia had left her, as she watched the door and held her breath, hoping the rein of mental deterioration that so often took control of her only guardian had ended. Hoping the sickness had run its course.
The calm was shattered with a painful scream from behind the door, and the sound of glass breaking forcefully against the wall. Shrieks of profanity, broken only by tortured sobs, poured through the walls as objects collided violently with each other. Wickedly curved claws screeched unbearably down the barrier that seperated the two, as she peeled at the wall paper and left deep indentions in the wood, uncaring of the splinters that tunneled into her skin.
Ethereal listened for only an instant more before walking, head hung down, over to the small oak table where a bunch of wild flowers lay. She gathered them up in her arms and walked out the door with them, heading for the two tombstones outlined in the fading light of the sun.
++++++++++++++++++++
3:35 P.M.
The three tired travelers had remained silent throughout most of the trip, the mood having been to solemn to lighten with petty conversation. Squall sat against one of the tall metal crates with Rinoa in his lap, and their hands entwined, both lost in their own dreams of the future. Alicia sat opposite of them, wondering over this feeling that crept so suddenly upon her. This feeling that something dark, and dangerous lay dormant at her core, waiting in its rage-filled state until the slightest provaction would free it from its forced confinement.
Alicia was distracted from her thoughts when she looked up and noticed the seal of the Estharian Institute. She hadn't paid much attention to the contents of the car up until then, and now that she did, it was like an electric shock going through her veins. They were the same ones from the first train. They must've been transfered after the first train had trouble.
"These boxes are from Esthar," she said out of the blue.
"What?" Rinoa asked, broken abruptly from her dreamy meditation.
"These boxes. I saw them in a locked room on the train from Esthar. They're from the medical institution."
Rinoa's face darkened. "What do you think is in there?"
"I don't know. I've been in that place for a long time, and I've never heard of them shipping anything. The only thing that ever got out of that facility were stock shares, and the occasional auctioned test results."
"Whatever's in here has to stay cold," Squall pointed out. "It's probably some kind of chemical."
Alicia nodded. "We need to track it, reguardless."
"It's not our problem," Squall argued.
"It might become our problem," Alicia replied. "This stuff is probably dangerous, and it's headed for Balamb. We don't want it to fall into the wrong hands."
At that moment, four guards marched into the car for their routine inspection. Before any of the three had a chance to move, they were spotted, and the guards drew their guns.
"Wait, don't shoot us!" Rinoa exclaimed, throwing her hands up in surrender. "We just needed a ride to Balamb."
"There's no excuse for the three of you being in here. This is a restricted area."
"Then maybe you shouldn't leave the door open," Alicia mumbled.
"You two go check and see if anything's missing, or messed up," the head guard ordered over his shoulder.
Once the other two guards dissapeared, the remaining pair nodded to each other then stepped closer to the trio as they were backed closer and closer toward the opened door.
"I don't know what the three of you think you're doing here, but no one gets away with this kind of thing on our shift."
"Oh, but you must not know who we are," Rinoa said.
"I don't really care."
"We're escapees from Esthar. If you let us live, and turn us in, they'll give you a good reward," she said.
"I don't trust you."
"Fine then. Shoot us and hate yourselves for it latter. Yeah, I'm sure you have an interesting story lined up for why you shot three unarmed stow-aways."
Before either one of them could answer, the other two guards returned. "Everything's fine... Hey, what are you doing! They're unarmed. You know we'll get fired for that!"
The other two backed away from the door slowly, so it would not appear that they had murderous intent. Squall took the oppurtunity to grab Rinoa's hand and pull her behind one of the large steel crates. Alicia, taking the hint, ran the other way, and lost herself within the maze of cold chrome. Immediately, the guards split up to look for them.
Alicia dodged past the officers and ran out into the open for a split second, just long enough to slide the door shut, so that there was hardly any light. She knew that she, Squall and Rinoa would be able to see reguardless. Squall backed Rinoa up into a cornor and squinted into the darkness, waiting for his vision to clear. Just as he was able to see, he noticed a guard heading right for him, shining a flash light to illuminate his path. Squall rammed him into the nearby crate and watched as he fell to the ground unconcious.
Alicia stuck her newly protruding claws into the smooth metal in front of her and quickly scaled the side, until she was crouched comfortably on the top. Looking up at the nearby ceiling, she noticed the hooked ends of several chains dangling in the air. They were usually used to fasten the boxes in place, but this one in particular was held steady by a length of stronger chain that wrapped around it. Upon looking down, she noticed one of the men was about to pass her. She grabbed hold of the nearest hook, and flung it over the side. The chain unraveled and the heavy hook slammed into his head with devastating speed, and a sickening crack as it demolished his skull.
As she was jumping down from her place atop the crate, she heard the deafening sound of a gun firing at close range. It went off twice, and then all that was left was silence. She slowly walked over to the door and slid it open again, allowing the light to flood inside.
She heard footsteps approaching from the otherside and drew in a sharp breath, worried about who she would have to face. She nearly collapsed in relief when she saw it was only Squall and Rinoa.
"You worried me," she sighed.
"Yeah. But we made it. Rinoa took down the other two guards," Squall said. "It looks like we're coming up on Balamb. We need to get rid of the evidence, and we'll use their uniforms as a disguise."
"And then what?" Rinoa asked.
"Then we try to see this thing through," he replied.
"God help us."
++++++++++++++++++++
4:07 P.M.
It hadn't been a difficult task to convince the authorities of the Balamb train station that they were the guards appointed to take the valued cargo to its intended destination. After all, even after the boxes were unloaded, the dead or unconcious bodies of the original guards were no where to be found.
They were told to deliver the mysterious boxes to the Balamb Medical Lab, where the lab's staff would take over. They each drove in an over- sized truck to the back of the small, white-washed building, where several men in work clothes, and a woman in a white coat with a clip board waited. The three jumped out of the trucks, and headed over to the stern-faced woman.
"You three can just wait in your trucks until they've finished unloading. Then you can leave," she said upon their approach.
"We were told to see that this shipment gets to the right place," Squall explained.
She frowned at the group and shook her head, causing her long pony- tail of auburn hair to swish back and forth behind her. "I cannot allow you permission to go in there. Its a restricted area."
"You don't understand," Squall persisted. "We have special orders."
The woman studied him for a moment, then Alicia, but frowned as she looked upon Rinoa. "Well, I somehow feel that this will be going against my better judgement, but I'll allow you entry. Go through that door there, and help them unload the individual containers. Here's a list of rooms that you're supposed to take them to," she said, handing them a peice of paper with room numbers scribbled on it.
As Squall led the group away, she watched them leaving, her senses screaming at her that there was something she just wasn't getting. A light breeze blew, and a familiar scent caught her attention. She took a few steps forward, and could vaguely hear the remainder of the angelic interruption upon the underwordly rythm she knew so well. Taking notice that the three had already dissapeared into the loading dock, she shook her head slowly, knowing that if word got out about her letting an imposter in, it would mean her destruction. Instead she just stood there in place, deciding, with a cruel little smile distorting her stony features, that someone else would take the blame this time.
Meanwhile, Rinoa and the others stood in front of one of the huge boxes as it was being pried open. Puffs of freezing air escaped as one side of the box fell open. The inside vibrated violently, and was flooded with bright green light that illuminated the numerous four foot boxes that were stacked inside.
They pulled them out, one by one, and loaded them onto carts so people could deliver them to one of the assigned rooms. As Squall, Rinoa, and Alicia were pushing their carts away from the loading ramp they decided they would have to split up, deliver the containers, and if the chance presented itself, they were to study the contents of it.
Alicia was the first to find an unoccupied lab, and hastily pushed her load inside, knowing time was short. She pulled at the container's tight lid until, at last, it popped off to reveal small, closely packed trays of chemical tubes filled with a thick, muddy green liquid that looked awfully familiar to her.
Alicia was no science expert, but she had learned a few things about chemical injections while she was trapped in the facility. She pulled a microscope from a shelf underneath one of the table and plugged it in before going of to find some syringes and slides.
When she had everything she needed, she opened one of the tubes and carefully took a small sample of it to put on one of the slides. She slid it underneath the microscope and studied it for a moment, though she didn't understand what she was looking at. She then took a small sample of her own blackish-red blood and placed it between the two peices of glass. Looking at the two side by side, it wasn't hard to see the similarities. It was similar to the same chemical she'd been injected with during the one experiment that changed her life.
They had studied her and her powers relentlessly, trying to find some way to enhance it, or at least duplicate it. Their theory was, that if they could find a way to perfect the strengths of demons, they could make an unstopable army for Esthar. At least, that's what they told the government. After such a long time of studing, they thought they had finally found their break through, and they intended to test it on Alicia. In the end, the chemical did not enhance her powers after transformation, with the excpection of the incident during her escape. Instead, it made it so that her body rejected the transformation. That was fine so long as she was kept away from blood or fresh meat, which would force her into attempted transformatiom. Afterwards, they used it as a tool for punishment.
Upon studing the cells of her blood for a moment more, she noticed they were changing. They were becoming something powerfully self- destructive. That had to be the cause for her sudden sickness. It all went back to the failed experiment. Upon further examination, she realized that the more her own cells changed, the more they looked like the chemical. It was some kind of super-charged version of their enhancing chemical, but this time, it was even more dangerous. Whatever demon had this injected into their blood stream would die almost immediately.
++++++++++++++++++++
Rinoa wearily pushed her cart down an empty hallway, the sound of her own footsteps ringing in the silence causing her adrenelin to pump. She had a sinking sensation in her chest, and she just knew that something was going to go wrong.
As she passed by one of the labs, she came to an abrupt halt and crouched down, so that she couldn't be seen through the window in the top. Pressing her ear to the icy metal, she could faintly hear voices comeing from the room on the otherside. It was Ellone and the woman they had met outside.
"We're going to test ever batch of it," the woman was saying. "There's no trusting those Estharian doctors. They could've sold us some bad stuff."
"We were lucky to get it at all," Ellone replied. "Had it not been for my connections, we wouldn't have."
"I understand. But we can't be too sure. All of it has to be tested first. But don't worry, it will all be ready by the ceremony tonight, just like you wanted. I promise you that."
"I hope you're a woman of your word," Ellone said. "I would hate for the ceremonial drinking from the fountain to be posponed. But it's awfully tedious work, to have to inject them, one by one. Is there not some easier way of doing this?"
"Of course. We've already taken it all into consideration, and come up with a way that should be suitable. Everyone will get their share, without having to stand in a line and wait for days."
"And this would be?"
"Well, we were told that the original version while effective, were not very strong, and had to be injected directly into the blood stream. This improved version is supposed to be able to sink in through the skin. It doesn't take but a little bit, either, so we could probably just hand out the vials and have them apply it themselves. After it's been properly analyzed, of course."
"Of course," Ellone replied coldly. "And how long will it take you to study every little vial of it?"
"I've got everyone in my staff working on it. Please, don't worry."
"Very well, then. I'm off to feed. I'll return to check your progress later."
Upon hearing these words, Rinoa got up and fled, not thinking twice about leaving her cart in the middle of the hall. At the moment, she was more concerned about finding Squall and telling him what she heard.
As Ellone stepped out of the room, she noticed the cart sitting idley in the middle of the floor. "This is what you call working?" Ellone asked of the young doctor.
She gave a nervous laugh. "Well, it appears that some of my staff members are slacking off. I'll have to find the one responsible for this and see that he gets his proper punishment."
Ellone ignored her words and took a few more steps into the corridor, inhaling deeply as she did. "Do you smell that?" she asked. "I hope this was no staff memeber of yours. But, if they weren't, how did they get in here?"
The doctor hesitated for a moment, realizing she'd been caught in a lie. When her lips were finally able to form words, she attempted to stutter out, "P-perhaps there's a traitor amoung my-"
She was cut of when Ellone rammed her claws through her stomach until they tore out through the other side of her back. "Yes, there is a traitor amoung us. I have the undeniable feeling it's you."
+++++++++++++++++++++
Rinoa didn't stop running until she bumped into something tall and hard in the middle of the hall. She stumbled back, her paranoia getting the best of her, and started to run. She felt arms wrap around her waist, and she was pulled back into someone's chest.
"Let go of me!" she screamed, just before a large hand covered her mouth.
"Shh. Calm down, it's just me," she heard a familiar voice say in her ear. She turned around to see Squall giving her a questioning look.
"Sorry," she said. "I just saw Ellone, and it kinda shook me up."
"You did? Where?"
"Somewhere down the hall. She was talking with that woman from outside. I learned some stuff about the shipment from Esthar."
"Did you learn what is was?"
"No. But they intend to give it out at some kind of ceremony tonight. The doctor said all of it had to be tested to make sure it wasn't dangerous."
The two were disrupted when a door swung open and shut with a loud creak. They turned to see a troubled Alicia standing in the hall.
"Alicia, did you find anything out?" Rinoa asked as she approached the older woman.
She nodded. "The chemical... it's an improved version of the chemical they used on me. It's supposed to enhance the powers and strength of a demon after transformation, but it failed. It made my body resist the transformation, instead. It's the cause for my sickness. This stuff is the same, only stronger. It will kill any demon that comes in contact with it immediately."
"Then all we have to do is let them go on with this ceremony Ellone was talking about. They'll kill themselves," Squall pointed out.
"No," Rinoa said sadly. "The doctors are studying it as we speak. They'll see that something's wrong with it and dispose of it. If anything is going to be done, we'll have to do it."
"This is our one oppurtunity," Alicia said. "Our only chance at redemption is to go through with this necessary evil."
Rinoa and Squall both nodded.
"How should we go about this, then?" Rinoa asked.
"You said they were having a ceremony. I would assume that it's the traditional ceremony of praising the new leader, and then drinking from the fountain?"
"Yeah, that's what Ellone said," Rinoa replied.
Alicia opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off when a siren started blaring, and the sinister voice of Ellone could be heard on the building's intercom.
"There is at least one intruder in this building. You will know them when you get close to them. When you find this person, bring her to me. That means now!"
"We have to get out of here," Rinoa said, looking around to make sure they were alone.
"There'll be people guarding the doors," Squall said. "There has to be some other way."
"We have to get at least one container of the chemical to bring with us. We may not get another chance at this," Alicia said. She darted into one of the unoccupied rooms where a container had been left, and began pulling it with her.
The three ran into the nearest door, and found they were in a janitors closet. Luckily, it had an lift of its own, to save the janitors the trouble of climbing stairs. They piled onto the lift and pushed the button for the very bottom.
When the lift reached the bottom floor, they found themselves in what looked, and smelled like the sewer.
"At least we're out of there," Rinoa said, as they began walking along the narrow stone paths.
"I hope we can find a way out of here," Squall mumbled.
"I think I have an idea," Alicia said. "We could pour this stuff into the town's water supply. That way, even if none of them drink from their sink today, they will drink from the fountain."
"What about all those other innocent people!?" Rinoa exclaimed.
"This stuff will be harmless to them, trust me. And it should dissolve in the water, and mix in with it. It will be there, but it won't be seen."
"It sounds like our only option," Squall replied before lifting himself onto a ladder and looking up through the grate in the ceiling. "Looks like we're free. And right next to the water tower. That way, it won't have to go through any purifying."
He removed the grate and pulled himself up, followed by Rinoa, the container, and then Alicia.
"Well, let's hope this works," Alicia said, gazing up at the water tower.
+++++++++++++++++++
11:45 P.M.
"It's strange how some experiences can change your outlook on things. Death is something I've always feared. Most people do. But after all that's happened, and all that I've been through, I'm not afraid anymore. I've dated a mass murderer, moved to a town invaded by flesh-eating demons, fallen in love with a man that's part demon, and who's half-sister is the leader of the demonic uprising. At this point, you wouldn't think that I would care about life anymore. But I have so much to live for. I have him. That's really all I need. But, if I do die, then at least I know that I've lived a full life. Some people go a century without knowing what it is to love, or be loved, yet here I am, twenty-two, and I've already found it. That's why I won't be scared. I'll live, or I'll die in peace."
Rinoa sighed, and put her pen and journal away, before laying back on the bed. They'd all gone to what was left of Rinoa's apartment, and taken a shower, and eaten. Rinoa and Alicia took the oppurtunity to get a fresh change of clothes, as well. Afterward, they had checked into the motel outside of Balamb and rested, for the first time in days. Somewhere around eleven-thirty, Alicia awoke, and decided to go check things out in Balamb, since she was the only one that could go out amoung her fellow species without catching someone's attention.
Just as Rinoa was beginning to fall asleep next to Squall, who had been sleeping most of the time, she heard the phone ring and rushed over to answer, knowing who it would be.
"Hello?" she said, trying not to let her nervousness show in her voice.
"Rinoa?" came Alicia's voice on the other end. "Everything's right on shcedule here, so you and Squall had better come down here, okay?"
"Yeah, alright," Rinoa replied. "We'll be there soon, okay. Bye."
"Bye," Alicia repeated, struggling to keep her voice steady as she hung up the phone with a distressed sigh.
For a long moment she stared into the darkness ahead of her, not wanting to turn her head. She wished she was invisible in that darkness, so that no one could see the tears slip down her slightly wrinkled cheeks as she leaned against the table where the phone rested, her body slumped in mournful weakness.
Lost in her remorse, she temporarily forgot where she was, until a small clinking sound caused her head to jerk in that dreaded direction, just in time to see the gun's clip fall away, and the bullets, outlined in the light of the town below, scatter to the floor.
A slight breeze blew through the shattered remnants of the sliding glass door, causing the long, white drapes to billow out, in a morbidly humerous display that was reminiscent of wandering spirits, hiding beneath a faceless facade.
"You of all people should've understood this," came the voice across the room. "Isn't that what you wanted when you were young? Power. This is my chance at your dream. Don't you see?"
"This isn't your chance at anything," Alicia replied in a strained voice. "If you think you're going to succeed, you're wrong. If Rinoa and Squall don't destroy you, you'll destroy yourself in time. Power is deadly."
"It's more than that. It's more than power."
"You're blind," she whispered in reply.
Alicia studied the silhouette that stood, facing the light, with her thin arms outstretched and leaning against the frame of the door, her radiant red dress flowing in the wind, her dark hair in a messy pile atop her head, and her ruby lips shimmering as she turned her head somewhat to the side.
"All I ever really wanted was a family. Is that so much to ask for?"
"You had a family!" Alicia hissed. "His name was Squall, and you used and decieved him!"
"I was trying to do what was in his best interest," Ellone replied softly. "What do you ask of me, mother? What was I to do? My father killed himself, my mother was locked away, never to be seen again. And you question me about how I turned out?"
"Squall went through the same thing, and look at him, now."
"Yes, his heart a slave to some beastly woman, his mind blank save what she tells him to think. He is an empty shell, nothing more," she sneered.
Alicia couldn't help the smile that graced her features as she said, "You try to justify what you do by blaming your childhood. Why? Aren't you just staying true to your primal instincts?"
Ellone finally turned to face Alicia, her once brown eyes glittering a sickly goldish yellow that easily penetrated the darkness. "There's something you're not telling me, isn't there?"
"Deep down, you already know."
++++++++++++++++++++
11: 58
Squall and Rinoa walked down the mostly empty streets, heading into the center of town to see if their plan had worked. As they walked, holding each others hands, they could hear the commotion up ahead, signifying the beginning of the ceremony.
They had agreed that they should split up once they entered the area, so they wouldn't look suspicious, then they would meet beside Rinoa's old apartment buildling.
Rinoa walked off on her own, feeling the fear start to freeze her heart now that Squall wasn't with her. Something was going to happen, she knew it. But she fought the feeling as best as she could and continued to push her way through the unwelcoming crowd, careful to keep her head down, and face out of sight. As she neared the entrance to the apartment complex, she felt a cold hand grab her tightly by the wrist and yank her into the shadows, putting their free hand over her mouth.
She laughed slightly, thinking it was Squall again, but began to change her mind when she was pulled into the building and shoved into the elevator. The person that had grabbed her wore a long robe, and a hood that kept their face in the shadows. Rinoa was too terrified to say anything, and her captor seemed to have no interest in her.
When the elevator finally came to a stop, on the top floor, she was shoved out of the elevator and into a dark room, which she was locked into. For a moment, all was silent, but as her vision began to adjust, she realized who occupied the room.
"Alicia?! Why are you....?" she began, her eyes darting from Alicia to Ellone and back again.
"I'm not a traitor," Alicia whispered shakily. "I had no choice. She found me. She forced me to make the call."
"Enough of this!" Ellone yelled. She grabbed Rinoa and pushed her through the broken door and out onto the balcony.
Below, dozens and dozens of people were gathered, all of them searching above for their leader, and cheering loudly when they saw her. She was dressed in a nearly see-through red dress, with silk wraps drapped over her arms, and trailing down her back. Her hair was pinned up on her head, so that the ends stuck up at the top. Dark paint lined her snake- like eyes, and gold marks adorned her cheeks. Her lips pulsed with blood, and curved upward, in a smile that was dripping with poison, and her black wings stretched out a full ten feet behind her She held the top of Rinoa's head in one hand, and had the thick black claws of her other placed against her neck.
"Before I kill her," Ellone said, her voice somehow reaching every ear of the spectators below, "you will drink from the fountain that gave our town life."
People pressed forward and kneeled next to the fountain, each drinking a hand full of water. Amoung them stood Squall, who stared up at Rinoa, his face twisted with absolute horror. Around him, people walked away from the fountain, as if nothing were wrong.
In the darkened room behind Ellone and the captured Rinoa, Alicia was down on her knees, the muscles on her face spasming wildly as pain shot through her body. Something sinister was coming over her again, and for once, she didn't feel the need to fight it.
"Well, now that we have that out of the way, it's time to get rid of the pest, right?" Ellone was saying as she pressed a claw deeper into Rinoa skin, causing blood to trickle down her throat.
Then, as if it were some sort of chain reaction, someone below began to scream as their body slowly melted, and withered away to nothing, followed by more. While Ellone was distracted by this sudden turn of events, she heard a strangled scream spill out from the shadows behind her, and then suddenly there was an immense pressure at her back, and she was falling, even as splinters rained down behind them and showered their skin.
Rinoa looked down in amazment, the realization of what had just happened slowly registering in her brain. Alicia had just pushed Ellone off the balcony, and now they were both falling, in what seemed like slow motion, with peices of balcony railing following close behind.
When she had gotten over her initial shock at this sudden salvation, she seized the oppurtunity, and ran for the elevator.
Below, the two landed violently on the ground, an impact that would have killed any human. Alicia rolled onto her back, having gone unconcious. Ellone stood and quickly looked around her, prepared to call on her minions to help her. She found that they had all withered away to ashes and she was left alone. She did the next best thing and started running away, knowing that Squall wouldn't give chase until he was sure that Rinoa was safe.
A few moments later, Rinoa ran out of the building, the look of frozen terror on her face beginning to thaw as she caught sight of Squall and ran into his arms.
"Where is she?" Rinoa asked him.
"She ran, and I have a pretty good feeling I know where she went. Let's go. Alicia should wake up soon, so don't worry about her."
Rinoa nodded. "Yeah. But once we get there, what do we do? She doesn't die easily."
Squall picked up one of the sharp slivers of twisted metal that lay on the ground and dipped it into the fountain, smiling slightly when the immersed tip turned a black-green color. "She'll die by her own poison."
+++++++++++++++++++
Ellone stood before her grave, the concept of death finally beginning to sink in. Her only chance now was to kill them before they killed her. It was a long shot, she knew. In fact, whether she admitted it to herself or not, she had already given up. Now the only though on her mind was "What happens after this?" Death was so final, in a way that nothing else was. So much so that it often escaped her comprehension. Better not to think about, she had always told herself. Why think about something that won't happen for a long while? Why? Because any day could be your last.
As her mind was turning over the consequences of ignoring the question of death, she heard footsteps quickly approaching, and knew that these last few breaths she took would be her last. Still, she decided she wouldn't have her life slip away without a fight.
Once they were close enough to see her in the grave yard, she made a dash for the church, a place that made her immensly uncomfortable. She climbed the wall, and stayed there on the ceiling, waiting for her victims to arrive.
Outside, Rinoa and Squall stopped at the church entrance to catch their breath.
"Squall, give me that," Rinoa said, nodding to the poisoned metal in his hand.
"Why?"
(Because this is my punishment to face. My burden to bare. I don't want to drag you into this any more than I already have.)
"I know it will be hard for you to do that to your sister," she lied.
He shook his head. "She's not my sister."
"Still... I think it would be easier this way."
"Are you sure?"
(Am I sure I want to take the full weight of the punishment that's about to befall me? Am I sure that I want to be condemned instead of you?)
"Yes," she answered firmly.
"Okay," he relented slowly and handed the weapon to her before throwing the church doors open and slowly stepping inside.
As Rinoa was stepping forward, Ellone luanched herself from the ceiling and pinned Rinoa to the ground for a moment, before Squall pulled her off. Rinoa rolled to her knees, and raised the metal above her head, taking a deep breath as she heard that ever-present music rise into a haunting shriek just as she plunged the venomous debris into Ellone's heart.
Squall looked on with amazement as Rinoa raised the sharp splinter of steel over her head, thinking that the moment would never come when they would actually be free from trouble. He watched as she brought it down with determined force, and just as it hit its intended mark..... everything went white.
++++++++++++++++++++
In the memory you'll find me
Eyes burning up
The darkness holding me tightly
Until the sun rises up
--- Linkin Park "Forgotten"
A light breeze blew over the field, causing the long grass to ripple. At one time, years ago, flowers grew rampant in that same spot, spreading infectious colors from the forest to the horizon. But the flowers had withered and died since then, and the birds had flown away, taking with them their cheerful music. Even the sun didn't seem as bright as it did before.
The breeze that blew scattered the tops of the weeds in all directions before making its way up to the hill, where the grass was always short and well trimmed. On that hill stood a lone tombstone, and stretched out beside it, an unconcious visitor.
Perhaps the first thing that startled his weary mind was the silence that enveloped the surrounding area, or maybe it was the fading sun beating down on his face. Either way, he forced open his heavy eyelids, and was greeted with a tiny, girlish face looking down from above him.
"You made it," she whispered, a mixture of awe and relieve dominating her voice.
"Where am I?" he asked of that familiar little form that sat at his side.
"You're home, Daddy," she answered happily.
He sat up quickly, his last memories returning to him in a violent rush. "How did I get here? Where's Rinoa?"
Ethereal's youthful face darkened, adding years to her appearence. "Mommy... she hasn't come back. I don't know why. You'll have to ask Aunt Alicia. She inside the house right now."
Squall stood from his spot in the grass and followed behind his daughter, a dazed feeling coming over him as he thought about the possibility of Rinoa not coming back to him. In a few short moments, they reached the humble little house where Ethereal had spent her life waiting for her beloved parents' return. Upon opening the door, they found Alicia sitting by the window in her chair, a few gray streaks coloring her dark hair, and a few more wrinkles lining her face.
Ethereal walked up to Alicia and gently tapped her on the shoulder to shake her from her dreamy state. Alicia looked up, noticed Squall standing only a few steps inside the house, and smiled.
"You're back. You made it. I was really beginning to worry, but all is right now," she said, her smile widening.
Squall shook his head. "No it isn't. Where's Rinoa? And where am I? I've never seen this place before."
Alicia looked down at her friend's daughter that she had taken care of for so long, and said, "Why don't you go to your room and play for a little bit. Daddy will spend lots of time with you later, but right now he and I need to talk."
As soon as Ethereal was gone, Alicia motioned for Squall to take a seat in the chair near hers. Once he had uneasily seated himself, she began to talk.
"You've been through so much, yet you're so young. It's a shame."
"Just cut to the point!" Squall snapped.
"It's said that history repeats itself," she said, her eyes looking out the window again to some time and place that was far away. "That is expected. A particular event will repeat itself time and time again, until somebody puts an end to it. This was your battle, and your battle alone. It was all about you and Rinoa. It was up to you to end the cycle of death, destruction, and evil's rein. You think you've been through it only once before, but in truth, you've been through it, time and time again. There are so many memories within you that are too far away to reach. You failed so many times, and all because of one decision. Rinoa had to decide, just before every final battle with Ellone, if she would take the fall for you. If she would take your punishment for you. She thought before it would be best if you faced it together, but this time, she decided she would die for you."
"Die for me?" he repeated. "How does that make any difference in the outcome?"
"Ellone is not what you think she is. She does not die. If Rinoa would have allowed you to make that final blow, as she had so many times before, history would've repeated itself yet again."
"I don't understand."
"Ellone's lived for centuries, though she doesn't remember. She is, in a way, immortal. She was born a special breed of angel, which is called a fallen angel. They are very fragile beings, when it comes to their spirits. They can easily be turned to evil, as Ellone was. But with each of you lifetime's that passed, she forgot more and more, until she could no longer remember what she was. All she knew was the evil urges within, so she began to think of herself as a demon. Now, here's where Rinoa's decision comes in. All those times before, the same thing happened. The two of you went in, you with the weapon, and Ellone pounced on Rinoa. You threw down the weapon so that you could come to Rinoa's aid, and Ellone took the oppurtunity to grab your weapon and use it against the both of you. Somehow, I think, Rinoa had a feeling like something would happen to the holder of the weapon. She was right. She had the weapon this time, and was able to make the killing blow, but Ellone's immortal. She can't be killed. Only trapped."
"What does that mean?"
"Rinoa trapped both herself and Ellone in that single moment of time. It's a purgatory all their own. It was the only way to stop Ellone."
"Isn't there any way to save Rinoa, and keep Ellone trapped?"
As Alicia shook her head, Squall's head fell into his hand, and he had to pull in a deep breath to keep from sobbing in front of her. After all he'd gone through to be with her, he'd still lost her.
"I know this is hard for you, but you have to be strong. You have a daughter, now. You have to take care of her, since I won't be here."
"Where are you going?"
"This sickness is devouring me. Killing me, slowly, painfully. I talked to some doctors in Balamb, and they've decided to help me. Basically, it will be the equivilant of when a veternarian puts a dog to sleep. It's quick and painless. I have to do it today, before this thing takes me over."
Squall nodded. "I understand."
"Very well. Will you and Ethereal please accompany me there? I'd hate to go alone."
"Yeah, we'll go with you."
"Thank you, Squall. Now, go, get your daughter, and meet me outside."
Squall slowly stood and crossed the room to the door he'd seen Ethereal dissapear into. He took a deep breath, then opened the door just a crack, making sure it was okay to come in. He opened the door all the way, and stood there for a moment, watching her as she built a tower of blocks, her back turned to him. As much as he tried to make his mouth move, it wouldn't obey him. A powerful emotion was overtaking him as he watched her, so innocent, and care-free. It reminded him of her mother, when she was that age.
Finally, Ethereal turned around and smiled at her father before jumping to her feet and running up to him. "Is everything alright, Daddy? You look sad," she said, gazing up at him with genuwine concern.
"Yeah," he choked out. "We just have to take Alicia somewhere, then we'll come back here, okay?"
"Where's she going?"
"We'll see when we get there."
++++++++++++++++++++
Alicia gazed up at the tall white building as she stood outside it, Squall and Ethereal beside her.
"Well, it looks like this is it," she said with a sigh.
"We'll see you inside," Squall said, and followed her as she started for the door.
Inside, there was a narrow hall way, lined with blue-cushioned chairs on one side. The front desk was on the other side, right inside the door. Alicia stepped up to it and signed her name on the clip board. She was about to sit down when the nurse said, "Oh, it's you. No need to wait. Everything's set. But are you sure you want to go through with this?"
Alicia nodded. "It's the only way."
"Very well," the nurse said, stepping out from behind the desk. "Follow me."
The three were taken down the narrow hallway, down another hallway, then stopped just outside of one of the rooms.
"This is it," the nurse informed them. "Say whatever you need to say, then come in when you're ready."
Alicia first turned her attention to Ethereal, and bent down to see her better. "Ethereal... you know that Aunt Alicia's sick. Well, I need to get help for it. So I'll be going now. I love you, and I want you to be a good girl. Mind your father, okay?"
The little girl nodded, then gave Alicia a tight hug. "I will, I promise."
Alicia then stood and looked at Squall. Knowing he really wasn't the huggable type, she extended her hand and said, "It's been a long, tiring journey, but you made it. Take good care of Ethereal. And don't worry. Your wounds will heal in time."
After shaking Squall's hand, she went into the room, and laid down on the table while the doctors crowded around her.
Squall took Ethereal's hand and led her down the hall, pausing only once to look back through the window into Alicia's room. They had put a mask over her face, and strapped her arms and legs down, so that the beast within her wouldn't come out to fight.
Another night follows the day
Like a child does to its mother
And everywhere I look I see your face
On the face of others
Once they were back in the first corridor, Squall picked his little girl up and carried her out the door, a million thoughts rushing through his head at once. He buckled her into the passenger seat of the car and slid into the driver's seat, trying to fight the rising lump in his throat.
Even as he sat in the middle of traffic, his eyes kept wandering over to the child next to him, and he dearly wished they wouldn't. Every time he looked at her, he saw Rinoa. She had the same face, the same attitude, even the same lively spark in her eyes. How would he ever survive with this constant reminder at his side? How could he fight the pain?
And I can't escape the pain
All the questions I went through
I never told myself the truth
I turned my back on you and me
'Cause I was scared to see
That we weren't who we use to be
After a drive that seemed to stretch on into eternity, they arrived back at the quiet little house where they were to live, just the two of them.
He unlocked the door with the keys Alicia had left him, and set Ethreal down, allowing her to walk in on her own. For the first time that day, he took a moment to observe the house and its contents. It was very simple, and the house was somewhat small, but it was cozy, just like Rinoa would've liked it.
As he stood there, unsure of what to do, or where to go, he suddenly felt like a lost little child, left out in the rain to fend for himself.
(I was a lost child once) he thought to himself. (But then she came along. She helped me. Who's going to help me now?)
So now I'm
Trying hard to let go
Let you go
But I can't seem to loosen my grip
Ethereal noticed her father standing against the closed front door and ran up to him, somehow sensing his discomfort with the new home of his.
"Daddy, it's okay. You can come in. Aunt Alicia said you're going to live here now, too," she said sweetly.
He gathered the strength to smile for her then said, "I know, I've just never been here before. I don't know how you were use to doing things with Aunt Alicia, either. You're going to have to show me."
She smiled and took his large, rough hands in her tiny, delicate ones. "Well, it's about dark now. That means that I'll be going to bed soon. Aunt Alicia would always tuck me in and tell me a story. She would tell me about you and Mommy when you were younger."
Squall had to squeeze his eyes shut to keep those ever-present tears from over-flowing. Yeah, the way they used to be, when they were together. That was back when he used to be whole.
I feel the emptyness inside
A part of me already died
When I pretend that you go on
Like everything's okay
"So, it's your bedtime now, huh?" he said once he'd regained his composure.
"Yep!" she exclaimed and began pulling him toward her room.
Once they were inside, she turned on her lamp and pulled her pajamas out of her dresser before skipping off to the bathroom to change into them. She came back in to see her father sitting on the floor against the wall, next to her bed side table. In his fingers he held a long stemmed, red rose that had been in the vase on her table. Alicia had always taken Ethereal out to a place where the flowers grew to pick some, and the prettiest she found that day would go in her vase. She'd just happened to find a patch of red roses growing next to the broken remains of the church.
"Daddy, are you okay?" she asked softly.
He looked up at her, his usually clear blue eyes clouded with pain as he reached a hand up to wipe at his eye. "Yeah, I'm fine," he lied as he set the rose down. "Are you ready to go to sleep now?"
She nodded and jumped into her bed before pulling the covers up to her chin. "Before I sleep can you tell me a story?"
"Sure. What do you want to hear?"
"Tell me about Mommy."
When all we built began to fall
As I began to lose it all
I shut my eyes to set me free
'Cause I was scared to see
That we weren't who we used to be
Squall kneeled down next to her and thought for several minutes before speaking. "Well, she had long, black hair, and big brown eyes. Even when she was upset, there was so much life in her eyes. Always this look of sweet innocence. And her smile... it made me feel like I was flying everytime I saw her smile. Just to know that she was happy, made everything alright. Just to know that she was safe. When I was with her it was like finding heaven. Just her presence made me feel like I could do anything, be anything. She gave me so much confidence without even having to say anything. And she could always sense when I was upset, and she always knew how to make me feel better. She was the kindest, gentlest person I'd ever met, and I loved her for it. I loved her for everything. Even when she was angry, and would yell at me... even then I loved her. I would give anything just to hear her yell at me one more time."
Ethereal saw the sadness in his eyes, and reached out a hand to pat him on the arm. "I know you loved Mommy. And Mommy loved you. She still does."
"Ethereal, your mother-"
"She loves you. And so do I. I like your story about her. You'll have to tell it to me again. But I'm sleepy right now. So good night, Daddy."
"Good night," he replied before ackwardly bending down to kiss her on her forehead.
Ethereal watched her father walk out of the room, before getting out of her bed and peeking around the door, just in time to see Squall go out the front door.
So now I'm
Trying hard to let go
Let you go
But I can't seem to loosen my grip
Squall walked outside, into the unforgiving cold that had settled over the quiet feild. It used to be their flower field, where they had played, and laughed, talked and made love. Now it was just a bunch of over- grown weeds that constantly threatened to swallow the last physical evidence that remained of Rinoa Heartilly. Had it not been for Alicia's devotion to her friend, and the preservation of her only mark on earth, the weeds would long ago have over-taken it, and the angel he adored would be forgotten.
(Forgotten to all but me) he thought sorrowfully as he aproached the sacred area where she lay. (After I'm gone, how will your memory survive? You deserve to be known, never forgotten. You deserve to live, instead of me.)
He crouched down next to the grave for a moment, carefully reaching out a hand to run his fingers over the cold granite where her name was engraved. It was so hard to comprehend that she wouldn't just burst through the door one day. So hard to believe he would never hold her again.
Suddenly, he couldn't take it anymore. He lay down over her grave, curled up into a ball like the lost, confused little boy that this tragic event had reduced him to.
(I said I would be with you until the day I died) he thought as he lay there amoung the frozen earth. (Should I just lay here now and wait until my life is over?)
He knew he couldn't do that, as much as he wanted to. He had responsibilities, whether he liked it or not. Another human being was depending on him for life. But for the time being, all he could do was lay there, steam billowing out from his mouth and his cheeks stinging as his tears froze.
You're everything that I wanted
You're everything that I need
So now it's finally over
Time for goodbyes
I needed so now I'm
Ethereal gazed at the window, feeling her heart break as she watched her father mourn. She sat there by her window, watching his back rise and fall erractically, until at last it fell into a steady rythm. She stood up, then, and went to one of her special drawers, where she kept all of her secret things. When she found what she was looking for, she pulled it out, and held it tightly in her palm as she padded across the hard wood floor to the front door.
She crossed the field, not noticing the bitter cold as it blew her hair in front of her face, and numbed her toes. Instead, she continued on until she was standing next to the spot where her father slept. She carefully opened one of his hands and dropped a small chain necklace, with a little golden cross strung on it, into his palm, before closing his fist tightly over it.
As he slept, he began to dream of a place, a moment, frozen in time forever. He saw everything clearly. Rinoa kneeling over Ellone's fallen body, the peice of metal still gripped tightly in her hand, even as it peirced Ellone's chest. Everything was still, as if it were some sort of sick photograph. Even Ellone's mouth was open, as it froze in mid-scream. It was so much to take in, even if it remained the same, unchanging the entire time he looked at it. In fact, he studied it so intently, that he didn't notice the burning sensation in his palm until he noticed that Rinoa's own, stilled palm had begun to smoke as an image was burned into it. A cross.
Abruptly, Rinoa's head jerked up, startling Squall even in his dream. He saw her stand, and watched as she was bathed in beautiful white light from the full moon. The platinum circle that hung on her chest began to shine, and the front of it fell off, revealing a silver cross on the inside. Then, just as it had before, the room was covered in bright light.
Trying hard to let go
Let you go
But I can't seem to loosen my grip
Trying hard to let go
Let you go
Let you go
Go
Squall's eyes slowly opened, the early morning light casting a soft pink glow on his face. He sat up, part of him wondering how he managed not to freeze that night, and stretched his tired, tense muscles out. It was time to try and work through another day alone.
As he stood, he noticed the necklace in his hand and felt the burn mark on his palm. Before he had the chance to inquire over it, he heard a voice call out to him from behind.
"Maybe you should try sleeping in a bed next time. You have grass in your hair," a gentle, laughing voice said.
He turned to see his angel behind him, in all her glory, and couldn't help but rub his eyes as he wondered if her was hullicinating.
"Or just going to stand there and blink?" she asked, before talking a few steps to close the small gap between them.
"Rinoa.... How?" he stammered.
"I took the punishment for all the wrong that had to be done. I thought that was what I deserved. But I was forgiven. I have a chance to live again," she said before jumping into his arms. "I think our daughter had something to do with it, somehow."
"Yeah. She is a bit strange to be five. I wonder...."
"Wonder what?"
"Nevermind," he replied, pushing Alicia's words about the immortal angels out of his head. "Let's just get inside before our daughter wakes up."
She smiled and leaned up to give him a kiss. "Yes, my precious demon. Let's go inside. I've missed you terribly."
"I've missed you, too," he whispered back, tightening his grip on her, "my angel."
++++++++++++++++++++
Final Note: I can feel the flames already. Anyway, I just wanted to say that I hope no one was offended by the cross thing. I happen to be a Christian, but I still support Jews, Buddhist, Muslims, and pretty much every other religion out there. So, I hope you liked it. It's been fun, kids, and for the time being, I have nothing else lined up for you to read, so.... See ya!
A/N: Well, what do you know? The last chapter kinda crept up on me. So, here it is. The last installment of this fic. Also, I've redone all the chapters, so they're better than they were before (I hope). Enjoy the last chapter!
"Human psychology, and everything in the world, is made up of two opposite facets, two sides of the same coin. After all, humanity is always living side by side with the "pair" called "life and death." --- Yuu Watase
Chapter 14
The house was silent, save the youthful laughter that floated through the air. In the spacious kitchen, sat a young girl on the floor, her clear eyes shining like the cloudless sky during daytime, and her tiny pink lips curved upward in a wide smile. Next to her sat an older lady, old enough to be her grandmother, who smiled along with her as the two played together.
The younger of the two studied her companions face a moment before pointing out, "Aunt Alicia, you're face is twitching again."
The older playmate emitted a sigh before climbing to her feet and bending down to look the little girl in the eye.
"You know the drill," she said. "I'm going to my room for awhile, sweetie. You'll just have to play by yourself for a little bit. And remember, no matter what I do or say, don't open the door."
She nodded. "I know. Do you think you'll get better sometime soon?"
"I don't know. I really don't know."
That said, Alicia straighted up and walked into the nearby room, closing the door behind her. The door gave a small click as it was locked, and for a brief moment, all was silent. Ethereal sat there, motionless in the same spot Alicia had left her, as she watched the door and held her breath, hoping the rein of mental deterioration that so often took control of her only guardian had ended. Hoping the sickness had run its course.
The calm was shattered with a painful scream from behind the door, and the sound of glass breaking forcefully against the wall. Shrieks of profanity, broken only by tortured sobs, poured through the walls as objects collided violently with each other. Wickedly curved claws screeched unbearably down the barrier that seperated the two, as she peeled at the wall paper and left deep indentions in the wood, uncaring of the splinters that tunneled into her skin.
Ethereal listened for only an instant more before walking, head hung down, over to the small oak table where a bunch of wild flowers lay. She gathered them up in her arms and walked out the door with them, heading for the two tombstones outlined in the fading light of the sun.
++++++++++++++++++++
3:35 P.M.
The three tired travelers had remained silent throughout most of the trip, the mood having been to solemn to lighten with petty conversation. Squall sat against one of the tall metal crates with Rinoa in his lap, and their hands entwined, both lost in their own dreams of the future. Alicia sat opposite of them, wondering over this feeling that crept so suddenly upon her. This feeling that something dark, and dangerous lay dormant at her core, waiting in its rage-filled state until the slightest provaction would free it from its forced confinement.
Alicia was distracted from her thoughts when she looked up and noticed the seal of the Estharian Institute. She hadn't paid much attention to the contents of the car up until then, and now that she did, it was like an electric shock going through her veins. They were the same ones from the first train. They must've been transfered after the first train had trouble.
"These boxes are from Esthar," she said out of the blue.
"What?" Rinoa asked, broken abruptly from her dreamy meditation.
"These boxes. I saw them in a locked room on the train from Esthar. They're from the medical institution."
Rinoa's face darkened. "What do you think is in there?"
"I don't know. I've been in that place for a long time, and I've never heard of them shipping anything. The only thing that ever got out of that facility were stock shares, and the occasional auctioned test results."
"Whatever's in here has to stay cold," Squall pointed out. "It's probably some kind of chemical."
Alicia nodded. "We need to track it, reguardless."
"It's not our problem," Squall argued.
"It might become our problem," Alicia replied. "This stuff is probably dangerous, and it's headed for Balamb. We don't want it to fall into the wrong hands."
At that moment, four guards marched into the car for their routine inspection. Before any of the three had a chance to move, they were spotted, and the guards drew their guns.
"Wait, don't shoot us!" Rinoa exclaimed, throwing her hands up in surrender. "We just needed a ride to Balamb."
"There's no excuse for the three of you being in here. This is a restricted area."
"Then maybe you shouldn't leave the door open," Alicia mumbled.
"You two go check and see if anything's missing, or messed up," the head guard ordered over his shoulder.
Once the other two guards dissapeared, the remaining pair nodded to each other then stepped closer to the trio as they were backed closer and closer toward the opened door.
"I don't know what the three of you think you're doing here, but no one gets away with this kind of thing on our shift."
"Oh, but you must not know who we are," Rinoa said.
"I don't really care."
"We're escapees from Esthar. If you let us live, and turn us in, they'll give you a good reward," she said.
"I don't trust you."
"Fine then. Shoot us and hate yourselves for it latter. Yeah, I'm sure you have an interesting story lined up for why you shot three unarmed stow-aways."
Before either one of them could answer, the other two guards returned. "Everything's fine... Hey, what are you doing! They're unarmed. You know we'll get fired for that!"
The other two backed away from the door slowly, so it would not appear that they had murderous intent. Squall took the oppurtunity to grab Rinoa's hand and pull her behind one of the large steel crates. Alicia, taking the hint, ran the other way, and lost herself within the maze of cold chrome. Immediately, the guards split up to look for them.
Alicia dodged past the officers and ran out into the open for a split second, just long enough to slide the door shut, so that there was hardly any light. She knew that she, Squall and Rinoa would be able to see reguardless. Squall backed Rinoa up into a cornor and squinted into the darkness, waiting for his vision to clear. Just as he was able to see, he noticed a guard heading right for him, shining a flash light to illuminate his path. Squall rammed him into the nearby crate and watched as he fell to the ground unconcious.
Alicia stuck her newly protruding claws into the smooth metal in front of her and quickly scaled the side, until she was crouched comfortably on the top. Looking up at the nearby ceiling, she noticed the hooked ends of several chains dangling in the air. They were usually used to fasten the boxes in place, but this one in particular was held steady by a length of stronger chain that wrapped around it. Upon looking down, she noticed one of the men was about to pass her. She grabbed hold of the nearest hook, and flung it over the side. The chain unraveled and the heavy hook slammed into his head with devastating speed, and a sickening crack as it demolished his skull.
As she was jumping down from her place atop the crate, she heard the deafening sound of a gun firing at close range. It went off twice, and then all that was left was silence. She slowly walked over to the door and slid it open again, allowing the light to flood inside.
She heard footsteps approaching from the otherside and drew in a sharp breath, worried about who she would have to face. She nearly collapsed in relief when she saw it was only Squall and Rinoa.
"You worried me," she sighed.
"Yeah. But we made it. Rinoa took down the other two guards," Squall said. "It looks like we're coming up on Balamb. We need to get rid of the evidence, and we'll use their uniforms as a disguise."
"And then what?" Rinoa asked.
"Then we try to see this thing through," he replied.
"God help us."
++++++++++++++++++++
4:07 P.M.
It hadn't been a difficult task to convince the authorities of the Balamb train station that they were the guards appointed to take the valued cargo to its intended destination. After all, even after the boxes were unloaded, the dead or unconcious bodies of the original guards were no where to be found.
They were told to deliver the mysterious boxes to the Balamb Medical Lab, where the lab's staff would take over. They each drove in an over- sized truck to the back of the small, white-washed building, where several men in work clothes, and a woman in a white coat with a clip board waited. The three jumped out of the trucks, and headed over to the stern-faced woman.
"You three can just wait in your trucks until they've finished unloading. Then you can leave," she said upon their approach.
"We were told to see that this shipment gets to the right place," Squall explained.
She frowned at the group and shook her head, causing her long pony- tail of auburn hair to swish back and forth behind her. "I cannot allow you permission to go in there. Its a restricted area."
"You don't understand," Squall persisted. "We have special orders."
The woman studied him for a moment, then Alicia, but frowned as she looked upon Rinoa. "Well, I somehow feel that this will be going against my better judgement, but I'll allow you entry. Go through that door there, and help them unload the individual containers. Here's a list of rooms that you're supposed to take them to," she said, handing them a peice of paper with room numbers scribbled on it.
As Squall led the group away, she watched them leaving, her senses screaming at her that there was something she just wasn't getting. A light breeze blew, and a familiar scent caught her attention. She took a few steps forward, and could vaguely hear the remainder of the angelic interruption upon the underwordly rythm she knew so well. Taking notice that the three had already dissapeared into the loading dock, she shook her head slowly, knowing that if word got out about her letting an imposter in, it would mean her destruction. Instead she just stood there in place, deciding, with a cruel little smile distorting her stony features, that someone else would take the blame this time.
Meanwhile, Rinoa and the others stood in front of one of the huge boxes as it was being pried open. Puffs of freezing air escaped as one side of the box fell open. The inside vibrated violently, and was flooded with bright green light that illuminated the numerous four foot boxes that were stacked inside.
They pulled them out, one by one, and loaded them onto carts so people could deliver them to one of the assigned rooms. As Squall, Rinoa, and Alicia were pushing their carts away from the loading ramp they decided they would have to split up, deliver the containers, and if the chance presented itself, they were to study the contents of it.
Alicia was the first to find an unoccupied lab, and hastily pushed her load inside, knowing time was short. She pulled at the container's tight lid until, at last, it popped off to reveal small, closely packed trays of chemical tubes filled with a thick, muddy green liquid that looked awfully familiar to her.
Alicia was no science expert, but she had learned a few things about chemical injections while she was trapped in the facility. She pulled a microscope from a shelf underneath one of the table and plugged it in before going of to find some syringes and slides.
When she had everything she needed, she opened one of the tubes and carefully took a small sample of it to put on one of the slides. She slid it underneath the microscope and studied it for a moment, though she didn't understand what she was looking at. She then took a small sample of her own blackish-red blood and placed it between the two peices of glass. Looking at the two side by side, it wasn't hard to see the similarities. It was similar to the same chemical she'd been injected with during the one experiment that changed her life.
They had studied her and her powers relentlessly, trying to find some way to enhance it, or at least duplicate it. Their theory was, that if they could find a way to perfect the strengths of demons, they could make an unstopable army for Esthar. At least, that's what they told the government. After such a long time of studing, they thought they had finally found their break through, and they intended to test it on Alicia. In the end, the chemical did not enhance her powers after transformation, with the excpection of the incident during her escape. Instead, it made it so that her body rejected the transformation. That was fine so long as she was kept away from blood or fresh meat, which would force her into attempted transformatiom. Afterwards, they used it as a tool for punishment.
Upon studing the cells of her blood for a moment more, she noticed they were changing. They were becoming something powerfully self- destructive. That had to be the cause for her sudden sickness. It all went back to the failed experiment. Upon further examination, she realized that the more her own cells changed, the more they looked like the chemical. It was some kind of super-charged version of their enhancing chemical, but this time, it was even more dangerous. Whatever demon had this injected into their blood stream would die almost immediately.
++++++++++++++++++++
Rinoa wearily pushed her cart down an empty hallway, the sound of her own footsteps ringing in the silence causing her adrenelin to pump. She had a sinking sensation in her chest, and she just knew that something was going to go wrong.
As she passed by one of the labs, she came to an abrupt halt and crouched down, so that she couldn't be seen through the window in the top. Pressing her ear to the icy metal, she could faintly hear voices comeing from the room on the otherside. It was Ellone and the woman they had met outside.
"We're going to test ever batch of it," the woman was saying. "There's no trusting those Estharian doctors. They could've sold us some bad stuff."
"We were lucky to get it at all," Ellone replied. "Had it not been for my connections, we wouldn't have."
"I understand. But we can't be too sure. All of it has to be tested first. But don't worry, it will all be ready by the ceremony tonight, just like you wanted. I promise you that."
"I hope you're a woman of your word," Ellone said. "I would hate for the ceremonial drinking from the fountain to be posponed. But it's awfully tedious work, to have to inject them, one by one. Is there not some easier way of doing this?"
"Of course. We've already taken it all into consideration, and come up with a way that should be suitable. Everyone will get their share, without having to stand in a line and wait for days."
"And this would be?"
"Well, we were told that the original version while effective, were not very strong, and had to be injected directly into the blood stream. This improved version is supposed to be able to sink in through the skin. It doesn't take but a little bit, either, so we could probably just hand out the vials and have them apply it themselves. After it's been properly analyzed, of course."
"Of course," Ellone replied coldly. "And how long will it take you to study every little vial of it?"
"I've got everyone in my staff working on it. Please, don't worry."
"Very well, then. I'm off to feed. I'll return to check your progress later."
Upon hearing these words, Rinoa got up and fled, not thinking twice about leaving her cart in the middle of the hall. At the moment, she was more concerned about finding Squall and telling him what she heard.
As Ellone stepped out of the room, she noticed the cart sitting idley in the middle of the floor. "This is what you call working?" Ellone asked of the young doctor.
She gave a nervous laugh. "Well, it appears that some of my staff members are slacking off. I'll have to find the one responsible for this and see that he gets his proper punishment."
Ellone ignored her words and took a few more steps into the corridor, inhaling deeply as she did. "Do you smell that?" she asked. "I hope this was no staff memeber of yours. But, if they weren't, how did they get in here?"
The doctor hesitated for a moment, realizing she'd been caught in a lie. When her lips were finally able to form words, she attempted to stutter out, "P-perhaps there's a traitor amoung my-"
She was cut of when Ellone rammed her claws through her stomach until they tore out through the other side of her back. "Yes, there is a traitor amoung us. I have the undeniable feeling it's you."
+++++++++++++++++++++
Rinoa didn't stop running until she bumped into something tall and hard in the middle of the hall. She stumbled back, her paranoia getting the best of her, and started to run. She felt arms wrap around her waist, and she was pulled back into someone's chest.
"Let go of me!" she screamed, just before a large hand covered her mouth.
"Shh. Calm down, it's just me," she heard a familiar voice say in her ear. She turned around to see Squall giving her a questioning look.
"Sorry," she said. "I just saw Ellone, and it kinda shook me up."
"You did? Where?"
"Somewhere down the hall. She was talking with that woman from outside. I learned some stuff about the shipment from Esthar."
"Did you learn what is was?"
"No. But they intend to give it out at some kind of ceremony tonight. The doctor said all of it had to be tested to make sure it wasn't dangerous."
The two were disrupted when a door swung open and shut with a loud creak. They turned to see a troubled Alicia standing in the hall.
"Alicia, did you find anything out?" Rinoa asked as she approached the older woman.
She nodded. "The chemical... it's an improved version of the chemical they used on me. It's supposed to enhance the powers and strength of a demon after transformation, but it failed. It made my body resist the transformation, instead. It's the cause for my sickness. This stuff is the same, only stronger. It will kill any demon that comes in contact with it immediately."
"Then all we have to do is let them go on with this ceremony Ellone was talking about. They'll kill themselves," Squall pointed out.
"No," Rinoa said sadly. "The doctors are studying it as we speak. They'll see that something's wrong with it and dispose of it. If anything is going to be done, we'll have to do it."
"This is our one oppurtunity," Alicia said. "Our only chance at redemption is to go through with this necessary evil."
Rinoa and Squall both nodded.
"How should we go about this, then?" Rinoa asked.
"You said they were having a ceremony. I would assume that it's the traditional ceremony of praising the new leader, and then drinking from the fountain?"
"Yeah, that's what Ellone said," Rinoa replied.
Alicia opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off when a siren started blaring, and the sinister voice of Ellone could be heard on the building's intercom.
"There is at least one intruder in this building. You will know them when you get close to them. When you find this person, bring her to me. That means now!"
"We have to get out of here," Rinoa said, looking around to make sure they were alone.
"There'll be people guarding the doors," Squall said. "There has to be some other way."
"We have to get at least one container of the chemical to bring with us. We may not get another chance at this," Alicia said. She darted into one of the unoccupied rooms where a container had been left, and began pulling it with her.
The three ran into the nearest door, and found they were in a janitors closet. Luckily, it had an lift of its own, to save the janitors the trouble of climbing stairs. They piled onto the lift and pushed the button for the very bottom.
When the lift reached the bottom floor, they found themselves in what looked, and smelled like the sewer.
"At least we're out of there," Rinoa said, as they began walking along the narrow stone paths.
"I hope we can find a way out of here," Squall mumbled.
"I think I have an idea," Alicia said. "We could pour this stuff into the town's water supply. That way, even if none of them drink from their sink today, they will drink from the fountain."
"What about all those other innocent people!?" Rinoa exclaimed.
"This stuff will be harmless to them, trust me. And it should dissolve in the water, and mix in with it. It will be there, but it won't be seen."
"It sounds like our only option," Squall replied before lifting himself onto a ladder and looking up through the grate in the ceiling. "Looks like we're free. And right next to the water tower. That way, it won't have to go through any purifying."
He removed the grate and pulled himself up, followed by Rinoa, the container, and then Alicia.
"Well, let's hope this works," Alicia said, gazing up at the water tower.
+++++++++++++++++++
11:45 P.M.
"It's strange how some experiences can change your outlook on things. Death is something I've always feared. Most people do. But after all that's happened, and all that I've been through, I'm not afraid anymore. I've dated a mass murderer, moved to a town invaded by flesh-eating demons, fallen in love with a man that's part demon, and who's half-sister is the leader of the demonic uprising. At this point, you wouldn't think that I would care about life anymore. But I have so much to live for. I have him. That's really all I need. But, if I do die, then at least I know that I've lived a full life. Some people go a century without knowing what it is to love, or be loved, yet here I am, twenty-two, and I've already found it. That's why I won't be scared. I'll live, or I'll die in peace."
Rinoa sighed, and put her pen and journal away, before laying back on the bed. They'd all gone to what was left of Rinoa's apartment, and taken a shower, and eaten. Rinoa and Alicia took the oppurtunity to get a fresh change of clothes, as well. Afterward, they had checked into the motel outside of Balamb and rested, for the first time in days. Somewhere around eleven-thirty, Alicia awoke, and decided to go check things out in Balamb, since she was the only one that could go out amoung her fellow species without catching someone's attention.
Just as Rinoa was beginning to fall asleep next to Squall, who had been sleeping most of the time, she heard the phone ring and rushed over to answer, knowing who it would be.
"Hello?" she said, trying not to let her nervousness show in her voice.
"Rinoa?" came Alicia's voice on the other end. "Everything's right on shcedule here, so you and Squall had better come down here, okay?"
"Yeah, alright," Rinoa replied. "We'll be there soon, okay. Bye."
"Bye," Alicia repeated, struggling to keep her voice steady as she hung up the phone with a distressed sigh.
For a long moment she stared into the darkness ahead of her, not wanting to turn her head. She wished she was invisible in that darkness, so that no one could see the tears slip down her slightly wrinkled cheeks as she leaned against the table where the phone rested, her body slumped in mournful weakness.
Lost in her remorse, she temporarily forgot where she was, until a small clinking sound caused her head to jerk in that dreaded direction, just in time to see the gun's clip fall away, and the bullets, outlined in the light of the town below, scatter to the floor.
A slight breeze blew through the shattered remnants of the sliding glass door, causing the long, white drapes to billow out, in a morbidly humerous display that was reminiscent of wandering spirits, hiding beneath a faceless facade.
"You of all people should've understood this," came the voice across the room. "Isn't that what you wanted when you were young? Power. This is my chance at your dream. Don't you see?"
"This isn't your chance at anything," Alicia replied in a strained voice. "If you think you're going to succeed, you're wrong. If Rinoa and Squall don't destroy you, you'll destroy yourself in time. Power is deadly."
"It's more than that. It's more than power."
"You're blind," she whispered in reply.
Alicia studied the silhouette that stood, facing the light, with her thin arms outstretched and leaning against the frame of the door, her radiant red dress flowing in the wind, her dark hair in a messy pile atop her head, and her ruby lips shimmering as she turned her head somewhat to the side.
"All I ever really wanted was a family. Is that so much to ask for?"
"You had a family!" Alicia hissed. "His name was Squall, and you used and decieved him!"
"I was trying to do what was in his best interest," Ellone replied softly. "What do you ask of me, mother? What was I to do? My father killed himself, my mother was locked away, never to be seen again. And you question me about how I turned out?"
"Squall went through the same thing, and look at him, now."
"Yes, his heart a slave to some beastly woman, his mind blank save what she tells him to think. He is an empty shell, nothing more," she sneered.
Alicia couldn't help the smile that graced her features as she said, "You try to justify what you do by blaming your childhood. Why? Aren't you just staying true to your primal instincts?"
Ellone finally turned to face Alicia, her once brown eyes glittering a sickly goldish yellow that easily penetrated the darkness. "There's something you're not telling me, isn't there?"
"Deep down, you already know."
++++++++++++++++++++
11: 58
Squall and Rinoa walked down the mostly empty streets, heading into the center of town to see if their plan had worked. As they walked, holding each others hands, they could hear the commotion up ahead, signifying the beginning of the ceremony.
They had agreed that they should split up once they entered the area, so they wouldn't look suspicious, then they would meet beside Rinoa's old apartment buildling.
Rinoa walked off on her own, feeling the fear start to freeze her heart now that Squall wasn't with her. Something was going to happen, she knew it. But she fought the feeling as best as she could and continued to push her way through the unwelcoming crowd, careful to keep her head down, and face out of sight. As she neared the entrance to the apartment complex, she felt a cold hand grab her tightly by the wrist and yank her into the shadows, putting their free hand over her mouth.
She laughed slightly, thinking it was Squall again, but began to change her mind when she was pulled into the building and shoved into the elevator. The person that had grabbed her wore a long robe, and a hood that kept their face in the shadows. Rinoa was too terrified to say anything, and her captor seemed to have no interest in her.
When the elevator finally came to a stop, on the top floor, she was shoved out of the elevator and into a dark room, which she was locked into. For a moment, all was silent, but as her vision began to adjust, she realized who occupied the room.
"Alicia?! Why are you....?" she began, her eyes darting from Alicia to Ellone and back again.
"I'm not a traitor," Alicia whispered shakily. "I had no choice. She found me. She forced me to make the call."
"Enough of this!" Ellone yelled. She grabbed Rinoa and pushed her through the broken door and out onto the balcony.
Below, dozens and dozens of people were gathered, all of them searching above for their leader, and cheering loudly when they saw her. She was dressed in a nearly see-through red dress, with silk wraps drapped over her arms, and trailing down her back. Her hair was pinned up on her head, so that the ends stuck up at the top. Dark paint lined her snake- like eyes, and gold marks adorned her cheeks. Her lips pulsed with blood, and curved upward, in a smile that was dripping with poison, and her black wings stretched out a full ten feet behind her She held the top of Rinoa's head in one hand, and had the thick black claws of her other placed against her neck.
"Before I kill her," Ellone said, her voice somehow reaching every ear of the spectators below, "you will drink from the fountain that gave our town life."
People pressed forward and kneeled next to the fountain, each drinking a hand full of water. Amoung them stood Squall, who stared up at Rinoa, his face twisted with absolute horror. Around him, people walked away from the fountain, as if nothing were wrong.
In the darkened room behind Ellone and the captured Rinoa, Alicia was down on her knees, the muscles on her face spasming wildly as pain shot through her body. Something sinister was coming over her again, and for once, she didn't feel the need to fight it.
"Well, now that we have that out of the way, it's time to get rid of the pest, right?" Ellone was saying as she pressed a claw deeper into Rinoa skin, causing blood to trickle down her throat.
Then, as if it were some sort of chain reaction, someone below began to scream as their body slowly melted, and withered away to nothing, followed by more. While Ellone was distracted by this sudden turn of events, she heard a strangled scream spill out from the shadows behind her, and then suddenly there was an immense pressure at her back, and she was falling, even as splinters rained down behind them and showered their skin.
Rinoa looked down in amazment, the realization of what had just happened slowly registering in her brain. Alicia had just pushed Ellone off the balcony, and now they were both falling, in what seemed like slow motion, with peices of balcony railing following close behind.
When she had gotten over her initial shock at this sudden salvation, she seized the oppurtunity, and ran for the elevator.
Below, the two landed violently on the ground, an impact that would have killed any human. Alicia rolled onto her back, having gone unconcious. Ellone stood and quickly looked around her, prepared to call on her minions to help her. She found that they had all withered away to ashes and she was left alone. She did the next best thing and started running away, knowing that Squall wouldn't give chase until he was sure that Rinoa was safe.
A few moments later, Rinoa ran out of the building, the look of frozen terror on her face beginning to thaw as she caught sight of Squall and ran into his arms.
"Where is she?" Rinoa asked him.
"She ran, and I have a pretty good feeling I know where she went. Let's go. Alicia should wake up soon, so don't worry about her."
Rinoa nodded. "Yeah. But once we get there, what do we do? She doesn't die easily."
Squall picked up one of the sharp slivers of twisted metal that lay on the ground and dipped it into the fountain, smiling slightly when the immersed tip turned a black-green color. "She'll die by her own poison."
+++++++++++++++++++
Ellone stood before her grave, the concept of death finally beginning to sink in. Her only chance now was to kill them before they killed her. It was a long shot, she knew. In fact, whether she admitted it to herself or not, she had already given up. Now the only though on her mind was "What happens after this?" Death was so final, in a way that nothing else was. So much so that it often escaped her comprehension. Better not to think about, she had always told herself. Why think about something that won't happen for a long while? Why? Because any day could be your last.
As her mind was turning over the consequences of ignoring the question of death, she heard footsteps quickly approaching, and knew that these last few breaths she took would be her last. Still, she decided she wouldn't have her life slip away without a fight.
Once they were close enough to see her in the grave yard, she made a dash for the church, a place that made her immensly uncomfortable. She climbed the wall, and stayed there on the ceiling, waiting for her victims to arrive.
Outside, Rinoa and Squall stopped at the church entrance to catch their breath.
"Squall, give me that," Rinoa said, nodding to the poisoned metal in his hand.
"Why?"
(Because this is my punishment to face. My burden to bare. I don't want to drag you into this any more than I already have.)
"I know it will be hard for you to do that to your sister," she lied.
He shook his head. "She's not my sister."
"Still... I think it would be easier this way."
"Are you sure?"
(Am I sure I want to take the full weight of the punishment that's about to befall me? Am I sure that I want to be condemned instead of you?)
"Yes," she answered firmly.
"Okay," he relented slowly and handed the weapon to her before throwing the church doors open and slowly stepping inside.
As Rinoa was stepping forward, Ellone luanched herself from the ceiling and pinned Rinoa to the ground for a moment, before Squall pulled her off. Rinoa rolled to her knees, and raised the metal above her head, taking a deep breath as she heard that ever-present music rise into a haunting shriek just as she plunged the venomous debris into Ellone's heart.
Squall looked on with amazement as Rinoa raised the sharp splinter of steel over her head, thinking that the moment would never come when they would actually be free from trouble. He watched as she brought it down with determined force, and just as it hit its intended mark..... everything went white.
++++++++++++++++++++
In the memory you'll find me
Eyes burning up
The darkness holding me tightly
Until the sun rises up
--- Linkin Park "Forgotten"
A light breeze blew over the field, causing the long grass to ripple. At one time, years ago, flowers grew rampant in that same spot, spreading infectious colors from the forest to the horizon. But the flowers had withered and died since then, and the birds had flown away, taking with them their cheerful music. Even the sun didn't seem as bright as it did before.
The breeze that blew scattered the tops of the weeds in all directions before making its way up to the hill, where the grass was always short and well trimmed. On that hill stood a lone tombstone, and stretched out beside it, an unconcious visitor.
Perhaps the first thing that startled his weary mind was the silence that enveloped the surrounding area, or maybe it was the fading sun beating down on his face. Either way, he forced open his heavy eyelids, and was greeted with a tiny, girlish face looking down from above him.
"You made it," she whispered, a mixture of awe and relieve dominating her voice.
"Where am I?" he asked of that familiar little form that sat at his side.
"You're home, Daddy," she answered happily.
He sat up quickly, his last memories returning to him in a violent rush. "How did I get here? Where's Rinoa?"
Ethereal's youthful face darkened, adding years to her appearence. "Mommy... she hasn't come back. I don't know why. You'll have to ask Aunt Alicia. She inside the house right now."
Squall stood from his spot in the grass and followed behind his daughter, a dazed feeling coming over him as he thought about the possibility of Rinoa not coming back to him. In a few short moments, they reached the humble little house where Ethereal had spent her life waiting for her beloved parents' return. Upon opening the door, they found Alicia sitting by the window in her chair, a few gray streaks coloring her dark hair, and a few more wrinkles lining her face.
Ethereal walked up to Alicia and gently tapped her on the shoulder to shake her from her dreamy state. Alicia looked up, noticed Squall standing only a few steps inside the house, and smiled.
"You're back. You made it. I was really beginning to worry, but all is right now," she said, her smile widening.
Squall shook his head. "No it isn't. Where's Rinoa? And where am I? I've never seen this place before."
Alicia looked down at her friend's daughter that she had taken care of for so long, and said, "Why don't you go to your room and play for a little bit. Daddy will spend lots of time with you later, but right now he and I need to talk."
As soon as Ethereal was gone, Alicia motioned for Squall to take a seat in the chair near hers. Once he had uneasily seated himself, she began to talk.
"You've been through so much, yet you're so young. It's a shame."
"Just cut to the point!" Squall snapped.
"It's said that history repeats itself," she said, her eyes looking out the window again to some time and place that was far away. "That is expected. A particular event will repeat itself time and time again, until somebody puts an end to it. This was your battle, and your battle alone. It was all about you and Rinoa. It was up to you to end the cycle of death, destruction, and evil's rein. You think you've been through it only once before, but in truth, you've been through it, time and time again. There are so many memories within you that are too far away to reach. You failed so many times, and all because of one decision. Rinoa had to decide, just before every final battle with Ellone, if she would take the fall for you. If she would take your punishment for you. She thought before it would be best if you faced it together, but this time, she decided she would die for you."
"Die for me?" he repeated. "How does that make any difference in the outcome?"
"Ellone is not what you think she is. She does not die. If Rinoa would have allowed you to make that final blow, as she had so many times before, history would've repeated itself yet again."
"I don't understand."
"Ellone's lived for centuries, though she doesn't remember. She is, in a way, immortal. She was born a special breed of angel, which is called a fallen angel. They are very fragile beings, when it comes to their spirits. They can easily be turned to evil, as Ellone was. But with each of you lifetime's that passed, she forgot more and more, until she could no longer remember what she was. All she knew was the evil urges within, so she began to think of herself as a demon. Now, here's where Rinoa's decision comes in. All those times before, the same thing happened. The two of you went in, you with the weapon, and Ellone pounced on Rinoa. You threw down the weapon so that you could come to Rinoa's aid, and Ellone took the oppurtunity to grab your weapon and use it against the both of you. Somehow, I think, Rinoa had a feeling like something would happen to the holder of the weapon. She was right. She had the weapon this time, and was able to make the killing blow, but Ellone's immortal. She can't be killed. Only trapped."
"What does that mean?"
"Rinoa trapped both herself and Ellone in that single moment of time. It's a purgatory all their own. It was the only way to stop Ellone."
"Isn't there any way to save Rinoa, and keep Ellone trapped?"
As Alicia shook her head, Squall's head fell into his hand, and he had to pull in a deep breath to keep from sobbing in front of her. After all he'd gone through to be with her, he'd still lost her.
"I know this is hard for you, but you have to be strong. You have a daughter, now. You have to take care of her, since I won't be here."
"Where are you going?"
"This sickness is devouring me. Killing me, slowly, painfully. I talked to some doctors in Balamb, and they've decided to help me. Basically, it will be the equivilant of when a veternarian puts a dog to sleep. It's quick and painless. I have to do it today, before this thing takes me over."
Squall nodded. "I understand."
"Very well. Will you and Ethereal please accompany me there? I'd hate to go alone."
"Yeah, we'll go with you."
"Thank you, Squall. Now, go, get your daughter, and meet me outside."
Squall slowly stood and crossed the room to the door he'd seen Ethereal dissapear into. He took a deep breath, then opened the door just a crack, making sure it was okay to come in. He opened the door all the way, and stood there for a moment, watching her as she built a tower of blocks, her back turned to him. As much as he tried to make his mouth move, it wouldn't obey him. A powerful emotion was overtaking him as he watched her, so innocent, and care-free. It reminded him of her mother, when she was that age.
Finally, Ethereal turned around and smiled at her father before jumping to her feet and running up to him. "Is everything alright, Daddy? You look sad," she said, gazing up at him with genuwine concern.
"Yeah," he choked out. "We just have to take Alicia somewhere, then we'll come back here, okay?"
"Where's she going?"
"We'll see when we get there."
++++++++++++++++++++
Alicia gazed up at the tall white building as she stood outside it, Squall and Ethereal beside her.
"Well, it looks like this is it," she said with a sigh.
"We'll see you inside," Squall said, and followed her as she started for the door.
Inside, there was a narrow hall way, lined with blue-cushioned chairs on one side. The front desk was on the other side, right inside the door. Alicia stepped up to it and signed her name on the clip board. She was about to sit down when the nurse said, "Oh, it's you. No need to wait. Everything's set. But are you sure you want to go through with this?"
Alicia nodded. "It's the only way."
"Very well," the nurse said, stepping out from behind the desk. "Follow me."
The three were taken down the narrow hallway, down another hallway, then stopped just outside of one of the rooms.
"This is it," the nurse informed them. "Say whatever you need to say, then come in when you're ready."
Alicia first turned her attention to Ethereal, and bent down to see her better. "Ethereal... you know that Aunt Alicia's sick. Well, I need to get help for it. So I'll be going now. I love you, and I want you to be a good girl. Mind your father, okay?"
The little girl nodded, then gave Alicia a tight hug. "I will, I promise."
Alicia then stood and looked at Squall. Knowing he really wasn't the huggable type, she extended her hand and said, "It's been a long, tiring journey, but you made it. Take good care of Ethereal. And don't worry. Your wounds will heal in time."
After shaking Squall's hand, she went into the room, and laid down on the table while the doctors crowded around her.
Squall took Ethereal's hand and led her down the hall, pausing only once to look back through the window into Alicia's room. They had put a mask over her face, and strapped her arms and legs down, so that the beast within her wouldn't come out to fight.
Another night follows the day
Like a child does to its mother
And everywhere I look I see your face
On the face of others
Once they were back in the first corridor, Squall picked his little girl up and carried her out the door, a million thoughts rushing through his head at once. He buckled her into the passenger seat of the car and slid into the driver's seat, trying to fight the rising lump in his throat.
Even as he sat in the middle of traffic, his eyes kept wandering over to the child next to him, and he dearly wished they wouldn't. Every time he looked at her, he saw Rinoa. She had the same face, the same attitude, even the same lively spark in her eyes. How would he ever survive with this constant reminder at his side? How could he fight the pain?
And I can't escape the pain
All the questions I went through
I never told myself the truth
I turned my back on you and me
'Cause I was scared to see
That we weren't who we use to be
After a drive that seemed to stretch on into eternity, they arrived back at the quiet little house where they were to live, just the two of them.
He unlocked the door with the keys Alicia had left him, and set Ethreal down, allowing her to walk in on her own. For the first time that day, he took a moment to observe the house and its contents. It was very simple, and the house was somewhat small, but it was cozy, just like Rinoa would've liked it.
As he stood there, unsure of what to do, or where to go, he suddenly felt like a lost little child, left out in the rain to fend for himself.
(I was a lost child once) he thought to himself. (But then she came along. She helped me. Who's going to help me now?)
So now I'm
Trying hard to let go
Let you go
But I can't seem to loosen my grip
Ethereal noticed her father standing against the closed front door and ran up to him, somehow sensing his discomfort with the new home of his.
"Daddy, it's okay. You can come in. Aunt Alicia said you're going to live here now, too," she said sweetly.
He gathered the strength to smile for her then said, "I know, I've just never been here before. I don't know how you were use to doing things with Aunt Alicia, either. You're going to have to show me."
She smiled and took his large, rough hands in her tiny, delicate ones. "Well, it's about dark now. That means that I'll be going to bed soon. Aunt Alicia would always tuck me in and tell me a story. She would tell me about you and Mommy when you were younger."
Squall had to squeeze his eyes shut to keep those ever-present tears from over-flowing. Yeah, the way they used to be, when they were together. That was back when he used to be whole.
I feel the emptyness inside
A part of me already died
When I pretend that you go on
Like everything's okay
"So, it's your bedtime now, huh?" he said once he'd regained his composure.
"Yep!" she exclaimed and began pulling him toward her room.
Once they were inside, she turned on her lamp and pulled her pajamas out of her dresser before skipping off to the bathroom to change into them. She came back in to see her father sitting on the floor against the wall, next to her bed side table. In his fingers he held a long stemmed, red rose that had been in the vase on her table. Alicia had always taken Ethereal out to a place where the flowers grew to pick some, and the prettiest she found that day would go in her vase. She'd just happened to find a patch of red roses growing next to the broken remains of the church.
"Daddy, are you okay?" she asked softly.
He looked up at her, his usually clear blue eyes clouded with pain as he reached a hand up to wipe at his eye. "Yeah, I'm fine," he lied as he set the rose down. "Are you ready to go to sleep now?"
She nodded and jumped into her bed before pulling the covers up to her chin. "Before I sleep can you tell me a story?"
"Sure. What do you want to hear?"
"Tell me about Mommy."
When all we built began to fall
As I began to lose it all
I shut my eyes to set me free
'Cause I was scared to see
That we weren't who we used to be
Squall kneeled down next to her and thought for several minutes before speaking. "Well, she had long, black hair, and big brown eyes. Even when she was upset, there was so much life in her eyes. Always this look of sweet innocence. And her smile... it made me feel like I was flying everytime I saw her smile. Just to know that she was happy, made everything alright. Just to know that she was safe. When I was with her it was like finding heaven. Just her presence made me feel like I could do anything, be anything. She gave me so much confidence without even having to say anything. And she could always sense when I was upset, and she always knew how to make me feel better. She was the kindest, gentlest person I'd ever met, and I loved her for it. I loved her for everything. Even when she was angry, and would yell at me... even then I loved her. I would give anything just to hear her yell at me one more time."
Ethereal saw the sadness in his eyes, and reached out a hand to pat him on the arm. "I know you loved Mommy. And Mommy loved you. She still does."
"Ethereal, your mother-"
"She loves you. And so do I. I like your story about her. You'll have to tell it to me again. But I'm sleepy right now. So good night, Daddy."
"Good night," he replied before ackwardly bending down to kiss her on her forehead.
Ethereal watched her father walk out of the room, before getting out of her bed and peeking around the door, just in time to see Squall go out the front door.
So now I'm
Trying hard to let go
Let you go
But I can't seem to loosen my grip
Squall walked outside, into the unforgiving cold that had settled over the quiet feild. It used to be their flower field, where they had played, and laughed, talked and made love. Now it was just a bunch of over- grown weeds that constantly threatened to swallow the last physical evidence that remained of Rinoa Heartilly. Had it not been for Alicia's devotion to her friend, and the preservation of her only mark on earth, the weeds would long ago have over-taken it, and the angel he adored would be forgotten.
(Forgotten to all but me) he thought sorrowfully as he aproached the sacred area where she lay. (After I'm gone, how will your memory survive? You deserve to be known, never forgotten. You deserve to live, instead of me.)
He crouched down next to the grave for a moment, carefully reaching out a hand to run his fingers over the cold granite where her name was engraved. It was so hard to comprehend that she wouldn't just burst through the door one day. So hard to believe he would never hold her again.
Suddenly, he couldn't take it anymore. He lay down over her grave, curled up into a ball like the lost, confused little boy that this tragic event had reduced him to.
(I said I would be with you until the day I died) he thought as he lay there amoung the frozen earth. (Should I just lay here now and wait until my life is over?)
He knew he couldn't do that, as much as he wanted to. He had responsibilities, whether he liked it or not. Another human being was depending on him for life. But for the time being, all he could do was lay there, steam billowing out from his mouth and his cheeks stinging as his tears froze.
You're everything that I wanted
You're everything that I need
So now it's finally over
Time for goodbyes
I needed so now I'm
Ethereal gazed at the window, feeling her heart break as she watched her father mourn. She sat there by her window, watching his back rise and fall erractically, until at last it fell into a steady rythm. She stood up, then, and went to one of her special drawers, where she kept all of her secret things. When she found what she was looking for, she pulled it out, and held it tightly in her palm as she padded across the hard wood floor to the front door.
She crossed the field, not noticing the bitter cold as it blew her hair in front of her face, and numbed her toes. Instead, she continued on until she was standing next to the spot where her father slept. She carefully opened one of his hands and dropped a small chain necklace, with a little golden cross strung on it, into his palm, before closing his fist tightly over it.
As he slept, he began to dream of a place, a moment, frozen in time forever. He saw everything clearly. Rinoa kneeling over Ellone's fallen body, the peice of metal still gripped tightly in her hand, even as it peirced Ellone's chest. Everything was still, as if it were some sort of sick photograph. Even Ellone's mouth was open, as it froze in mid-scream. It was so much to take in, even if it remained the same, unchanging the entire time he looked at it. In fact, he studied it so intently, that he didn't notice the burning sensation in his palm until he noticed that Rinoa's own, stilled palm had begun to smoke as an image was burned into it. A cross.
Abruptly, Rinoa's head jerked up, startling Squall even in his dream. He saw her stand, and watched as she was bathed in beautiful white light from the full moon. The platinum circle that hung on her chest began to shine, and the front of it fell off, revealing a silver cross on the inside. Then, just as it had before, the room was covered in bright light.
Trying hard to let go
Let you go
But I can't seem to loosen my grip
Trying hard to let go
Let you go
Let you go
Go
Squall's eyes slowly opened, the early morning light casting a soft pink glow on his face. He sat up, part of him wondering how he managed not to freeze that night, and stretched his tired, tense muscles out. It was time to try and work through another day alone.
As he stood, he noticed the necklace in his hand and felt the burn mark on his palm. Before he had the chance to inquire over it, he heard a voice call out to him from behind.
"Maybe you should try sleeping in a bed next time. You have grass in your hair," a gentle, laughing voice said.
He turned to see his angel behind him, in all her glory, and couldn't help but rub his eyes as he wondered if her was hullicinating.
"Or just going to stand there and blink?" she asked, before talking a few steps to close the small gap between them.
"Rinoa.... How?" he stammered.
"I took the punishment for all the wrong that had to be done. I thought that was what I deserved. But I was forgiven. I have a chance to live again," she said before jumping into his arms. "I think our daughter had something to do with it, somehow."
"Yeah. She is a bit strange to be five. I wonder...."
"Wonder what?"
"Nevermind," he replied, pushing Alicia's words about the immortal angels out of his head. "Let's just get inside before our daughter wakes up."
She smiled and leaned up to give him a kiss. "Yes, my precious demon. Let's go inside. I've missed you terribly."
"I've missed you, too," he whispered back, tightening his grip on her, "my angel."
++++++++++++++++++++
Final Note: I can feel the flames already. Anyway, I just wanted to say that I hope no one was offended by the cross thing. I happen to be a Christian, but I still support Jews, Buddhist, Muslims, and pretty much every other religion out there. So, I hope you liked it. It's been fun, kids, and for the time being, I have nothing else lined up for you to read, so.... See ya!