Someone Like Me
Chapter 10: Zell
Oi... sorry it took so long! ^_^ I have a slight case of writer's block. I think I am coming out of it... slowly. I dunno. Sorry if this one is boring. But I think it makes it a little more suspenseful. hehehe, and yes, we will still hear from Fuujin's POV... I think. ehehehe ^_^ Thank you to all! I would love to see the drawing you did, HeartOvaLion! That makes me feel so special! ^_^ thankies! Well, enjoy.
Blood... Why is there so much blood? This feels like a dream... It must be... Where's Fuujin?
"ZELLLLLL!!!" I jolt awake, sweat streaming down my face. Where am I? That's right... I'm in Fuujin's dorm room. I glance at the spot next to me on the bed, but Fuujin is not there.
"Fuujin?" I say aloud, wondering if maybe she was in the shower or something. There was no water running, though, I noticed, and the bathroom door was wide open. I quickly check the clock.
"Sh, shit!" I cry. I roll out of the bed practically falling to my feet. Ten thirty!? Classes start at eight!!
Why didn't she wake me? I can only assume that she didn't wake me because her classes start at seven and she wanted to let me rest an extra hour.
I clumsily sneak into my Third Degree Elemental Magic class and take my seat next to Rinoa. She holds back a giggle as I fall out of my chair instead of actually sitting on it.
"It is bad enough you are late, Mr. Dintch. Could you take your seat a little quieter, please," our teacher scolds. I can feel myself blush as I take my seat correctly.
"Where have you been?" Rinoa whispers.
"I over slept." I whisper back to her. The teacher continues his lesson but I barely pay attention. I think of the dream I had and the absence of my love, Fuujin.
After class is over, Rinoa and I go to Fuujin's classroom to walk her to lunch. This is becoming a daily routine; and I notice that Fuujin gets along better with Rinoa than almost anyone else. Rinoa and I get closer to Fuujin's classroom but stop when a couple of chatting students catch our ear.
"It's a bit strange for Instructor Fuujin not to show up for class, don't ya think?" one student says.
"I know! Maybe she's ill," the other student adds. My emotions over power me, as they often tend to do.
"She's not sick!! Where is she!?" I exclaim frantically. The students jump slightly at my explosion.
"Calm down, Zell. Maybe she had something to do," Rinoa tries to comfort. It doesn't help. The students quickly scoot away. I hang my head.
"I can feel something is wrong... Haven't you ever felt like that with Squall?" I say gently. Rinoa puts her hand on my should. I quickly look up and begin running down the hall from her.
"Z... Zell! Where are you going?" Rinoa calls as I leave. I don't look back.
"Gotta find Squall!" I call as I round the corner. I run towards the quad where we usually hang out for lunch. Not there. I head towards his class that he has before lunch. Aha! Great, he's there!
"Sq... *pant* Squall! Fuujin... *huff*" Tch! I really need to work on the breathing thing.
"What's up with you, Zell?" Squall asks walking past me.
"Fuujin's... missing!" I boom suddenly. Squall stops.
"She may be out running an errand. Don't get so worked up. You'll end up having a heart attack before you're twenty," Squall replies. I sigh deeply.
"You're my best friend, Squall... You have to help me... I know something is wrong. She should be here," I say. Squall looks at me for a moment before shaking his head and bringing his hand to his temple.
"*sigh* Alright, I'll ask Headmaster Cid if we can go look for her. Get the others and meet me at the front," Squall sighs. I smile. I can always count on my best buddy.
"Thanks a lot, Squall," I give him a gentle smack on the back and race of to find the others.
It wasn't difficult to convince the others to ditch the last half of school to help me look for Fuujin. Seifer wasn't too happy, though. I stopped back at Fuujin's room to see if maybe I missed a note or something; but there was nothing. I walk towards the bed and notice Fuujin's eye patch on the floor. She never goes out without it... I pick it up and put it in my pocket. On my way out I also grab her flute from the dresser top. I then go to the front of the school to meet the others.
"So, what are we going to do?" Seifer asks bitterly. Everyone looks at Squall.
"Hey, why is everyone looking at me? This is Zell's search party," Squall defends.
"Something happened to her. I don't care if you believe me or not. But she never leaves without her eye patch... and I have a bad feeling..." I explain.
"Oh no! Maybe she got kidnapped!" Selphie cries. I shake my head at her stupidity.
"No, dummy, she probably ran away to get away from Chicken Wuss," Seifer growls. I look at him in shock as Instructor scolds him. I drop to my butt and tears start flowing. I couldn't help it... That was mean and I couldn't hold back.
"She... she wouldn't do that... We... are getting married... and having a child together... She wouldn't leave me like that... I have to take care of her..." I say in tears. So much for keeping secrets... and not being a baby... Oh well. No one says anything. I look up and see Irvine's mouth hanging open.
"Stop it, Zell. Let's go into town and look for her. Maybe your mom has seen her," Squall suggests changing the subject.
"All right."
We arrive in Balamb and there is no sign of her. I even go to my house and speak to my mother about Fuujin's disappearance. No help there.
"What should we do now, ya know. Fuujin is smart, ya know. If she didn't want to be found..." Raijin starts. He is interrupted by my groans of pain as I hunch over. I am over come with this sickening feeling... a hateful and awful feeling. Squall and Irvine come to my rescue and hold me up.
"Are you alright?" Instructor asks. I take a few deep breaths and stand up straight.
"She... she's here..." I say. It was the truth. I can feel her... I can feel something definitely wrong... but I know she is here.
"We've looked everywhere in town. She isn't here," Squall says. Seifer steps towards me.
"If she is really here like you say... I may know where she's at..." he tells me looking desperately into my eyes. I grab his arm and stare back.
"Really?" I ask. He nods.
"Show me..." With a quick nod he leads us towards the shore. There is a tiny path beyond the docks that is barely noticeable. We follow Seifer down the path, which leads to a large cove. There is an entrance to a cave not far in front of us.
"What is this place?" Rinoa asks. There is silence for a moment.
"Home..." Raijin says strangely. I look at Seifer.
"This is where Fuujin, Raijin and I stayed... after..." he trails of without looking at anyone. He didn't need to finish. We knew what he was talking about. This is the place they hid until they were aloud back into society... Why would Fuujin come here?
"Let's go. She's in there," I say as I lead them into the cave.
When we get into the main area of the cave, I thought I was going to die right then and there. Before us, sits a woman on a throne, so to speak, of crystal and rock. She has pale skin and silvery-white hair that flows to the floor. She is wearing some sort of white dress-robes and a strange crown made out of crystal, I imagine. She appears to be pregnant... that or fat... but I don't think that is right. Her eyes... they are white... completely white. She lets out an awful, high-pitched laugh.
"Hohohoho! I have visitors," she speaks. Her voice is strange. It booms a high-pitched tone as another voice, softer and more familiar, speaks along in unison.
"Wh, what the hell are you?" Squall asks. The woman appears hurt that such a question was asked.
"I am Azreal, Sorceress of Destruction. Mother of the albino Wind Children," Azreal replies. A strangely evil smirk spreads across her face. All we can do is stand there in shock.
"You must be the one she spoke of..." Azreal adds as she points to me. I suddenly grow angry.
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO FUUJIN!!" I scream as I charge at her. She holds out a hand to me and blasts me backwards. I crash into the others then fall to the floor.
"Tsk, tsk, mortal... You should think before attacking..." Azreal says with that horrible voice of hers. I glare hatefully at her and at the moment that is all I can do...
So, what do ya think?? Teehee. sorry... most of it was pointless until the end... but, oh well... I think I am back on a roll... or at least I will be when I write the next chapter. Again, R&R and sorry it took so long! -_-; thank you to all! ^_^