Chapter 7
"I heard a scream," the young girl explained, "As I was going to the bathroom. I quickly ran to the corridor and I saw..." Her voice trailed off, rising slightly.
"Go on please," Squall urged her. He sat at Headmaster Cid's old desk on the third floor on the Bridge. He tried not think of where he was. Old memories of Cid and Edea floated back to him.
Matron. A picture of her corpse entered his mind. She was face down, her blood slowly creeping in every direction. The hole in her back that went straight through her body. A tear slowly crept down Squall's cheek as thoughts of Edea came to his mind. He quickly wiped it away as the girl continued.
"She was falling forward and it wasn't until she was on the ground that I saw Cid. He collapsed also. I thought that he also might be hurt. I saw the hole through Edea and that's when I screamed."
"And you didn't see anyone else?" Squall asked.
"No." The girl sighed heavily, on the brink of tears.
"Thank you, you are dismissed." Squall subtly wiped another tear away from his face before anyone could see it. The girl stood up, saluted Squall, and quickly raced out of the room. Squall stood and forced more memories of Edea from his mind.
He walked out of the Bridge to see his five friends all standing around waiting for him. Rinoa cradled Cid in her arms, tears slowly streaming down her face. Selphie sobbed into Irvine's chest as a few tears ran from his eyes as well. Zell was sitting up against the wall, his head in his hands and his chest heaving in and out. Quistis was moving from person to person trying to comfort them all, but unable to hold back her own grief.
A tear ran from each of Squall's eyes at the sight of his comrades, and he instantly wiped them away. Everyone looked at Squall, waiting for answers. Who could have done this? Why Edea? Why wasn't Cid attacked? Squall shook his head, signifying that he had no answers, except...
Levi. The name popped into his head. Could Levi be real? Did he kill Edea? What's going on? Everyone was still staring at Squall while he was thinking. Why was everyone looking to him for answers? He had just as much knowledge as any of them, maybe less. Once again a question entered his mind, What's going on?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Squall sighed as he changed out of his SeeD uniform. It had been a long and tiring day. Edea's funeral had been honorable. It had taken place at the Orphanage and the entire Garden was there on the beach listening and watching as Edea was buried next to Cid next to the Orphanage, where they had been most happy. Nida had given a beautiful eulogy.
Of course, being at the Orphanage had brought more memories back to Squall, and he had cried twice. Selphie had run off during the funeral and Irvine had followed her. Zell had completely broken down and just stood there sobbing. Quistis had maintained her cool composure, but the occasional tear trickled down her face. Rinoa stood beside Squall, Cid still passed out in her arms. It seemed Cid had become attached to Rinoa since Edea had been found the day before. It also worried Squall that Cid hadn't woken up yet. Too many emotions filled Squall and it overwhelmed him. He couldn't think straight and was constantly gazing off into space. Too many questions were being asked inside his mind.
Squall pulled off his pants and tossed them onto the floor, standing in his underwear in front of his dresser. He pulled open a drawer and chose a pair of pants when he heard his door open. Rinoa stood in the doorway. Squall was surprised to see that Cid was no longer in her arms. He pulled on the jeans he had been holding and walked over to her.
"Are you okay?" Squall asked her. She looked straight up into his eyes. The stormy blue had always enticed her. It was what had drawn her to him in the first place. Now his eyes were questioning as they stared into hers. But they held more. They held worry and doubt. Rinoa guessed that her eyes held the same questions.
"I guess I'm just tired," Rinoa admitted.
"I'd be tired too if I held Cid for two days." Squall smiled at her. Rinoa didn't feel like she had the energy to smile back.
"Everything's gonna be fine." Squall leaned in a kissed Rinoa. She returned the kiss slightly, but she felt so exhausted.
I'll do it. Rinoa thought to herself, In memory of Edea. I'll do what she asked of me. I'll develop my sorceress powers.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Cid woke up in his bed. He looked around, trying to let his surroundings sink in. He finally recognized his room and questions began forming in his head. How did he get here? Where was Edea? What happened? The last thing he remembered was talking to Edea on the second floor when something happened. What had happened?
"Levi?" Cid called out. Silence.
"Oh, there you are." Cid turned toward his window, "What happened?"
"Levi? Why aren't you answering me?" Cid listened intently for an answer. Suddenly he cried out in pain. Something had hurt him, but he hadn't seen what it was. Cid cried out again. More pain. Cid began screaming from his room. So much pain was inflicted on him.
Someone help me! Cid's mind screamed. Tears fell from his face as he started to cry in agony. This was what had happened as he was talking to Edea. Sudden pain from no where. What was happening to him?
"Levi!" Cid cried out as everything went black.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Cid!" Squall pounded on his son's door. Cid's screams reached Squall and Rinoa, almost causing pain to themselves.
Why won't this door open? Squall stood back and rammed his shoulder against the door, barely budging it.
Why did I put him down? Rinoa thought to herself. She watched as Squall continued to beat on the door. It didn't move. Rinoa looked closer. Squall wasn't even reaching the door.
"It's a Protect spell!" Rinoa exclaimed. Squall stopped and turned towards her. "Protect has been cast on the door!" Squall ran off to find a GF so he could use magic to get rid of the spell, but Rinoa stayed where she was. Her son's screams continued through the closed door.
I must save him! Rinoa thought, I have to cast Dispel! Rinoa concentrated, trying to cast Dispel. She didn't want to use Angel Wing, because she would lose control of herself. She needed to open the door, now.
"Dispel!" Rinoa called out. Nothing happened. "Dispel!" Rinoa tried again to no avail. Cid's cried continued, but not for long. Soon it was quiet.
"DISPEL!" Rinoa screamed at the top of her lungs. A ring of green fire encircled around Rinoa's feet and blue sparks flew up from the ground as the spell was finally cast.
"I found Shiva!" Squall ran back to the door to see Rinoa cast Dispel. Squall dropped the glowing orb and rushed at the door, knocking it open. Both Squall and Rinoa entered the room looking around for Cid. They looked in the closet and under the bed. Cid wasn't there. He was gone.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"No I haven't seen him." Selphie answered. She turned and yelled into her daughters' room, "Kyra! Trina! Have you seen Cid lately?"
"No mom!" came the reply in unison.
"No, I'm sorry." Selphie looked from Squall to Rinoa and then back to Squall. Both looked wearied and upset. Something was wrong again.
"Okay, thank you." Squall turned to leave.
"Wait!" Selphie called after them, "If there's something you know, you should tell us."
"Rinoa looked at Squall and then said, "Cid's missing."
"Missing?" Selphie cried in disbelief.
"Let us know if you see him."
"Forget that." Selphie stated, "I'm gonna help you look. Actually, there's something I gotta do first. I'll join you in a minute." As Rinoa and Squall left, they could hear Selphie telling her daughters that she would out and that she wanted them to clean their room.
She sure has changed... Squall thought. After speaking with a few more people, Squall heard Selphie's voice come over the intercom, announcing that Cid was missing. Instantly everyone in Garden began to search for Cid. Squall smiled as he saw everyone looking for Cid. What surprised him was when he saw Seifer and Braza looking for Cid as well. When he saw Seifer act like that, like a normal person, he was pleased he let Quistis talk him into allowing Seifer to return to Balamb Garden with his son.
I guess Selphie isn't the only one who has changed...
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Thank you for inviting me down for this weekend." General Caraway smiled at his host.
"Well, I haven't seen you in a while." Martine smiled, "Plus, FH is such a peaceful place. I thought you could use a serene weekend away from the Galbadian Army."
"So, I assume you're glad you moved here?" Caraway smiled and Martine smiled back. They walked along the long railroad track that connected one continent to another.
"Well, it is very peaceful here." Caraway admitted as a cool sea breeze floated by. Suddenly Martine stopped as Caraway took a few more steps.
"What's wrong?" Caraway asked turning around. He gasped when he saw a chilling blade sticking out of Martine's chest. The blade slid back as Martine fell on the tracks. The sword was thrust toward Caraway, but the war veteran was used to battle and easily dodged it. The ice blade swiped at his neck, but Caraway avoided it as well. A few more thrusts until the sword finally made contact against Caraway's chest, causing an open gash down his torso. With that, the assassin was gone, leaving both men to die.
"Sir!" Caraway saw a few Galbadian soldiers rushing toward him. He didn't care about his wound or his attacker. He thought about one person.
"Rinoa..." Caraway whispered as all went black.
"I heard a scream," the young girl explained, "As I was going to the bathroom. I quickly ran to the corridor and I saw..." Her voice trailed off, rising slightly.
"Go on please," Squall urged her. He sat at Headmaster Cid's old desk on the third floor on the Bridge. He tried not think of where he was. Old memories of Cid and Edea floated back to him.
Matron. A picture of her corpse entered his mind. She was face down, her blood slowly creeping in every direction. The hole in her back that went straight through her body. A tear slowly crept down Squall's cheek as thoughts of Edea came to his mind. He quickly wiped it away as the girl continued.
"She was falling forward and it wasn't until she was on the ground that I saw Cid. He collapsed also. I thought that he also might be hurt. I saw the hole through Edea and that's when I screamed."
"And you didn't see anyone else?" Squall asked.
"No." The girl sighed heavily, on the brink of tears.
"Thank you, you are dismissed." Squall subtly wiped another tear away from his face before anyone could see it. The girl stood up, saluted Squall, and quickly raced out of the room. Squall stood and forced more memories of Edea from his mind.
He walked out of the Bridge to see his five friends all standing around waiting for him. Rinoa cradled Cid in her arms, tears slowly streaming down her face. Selphie sobbed into Irvine's chest as a few tears ran from his eyes as well. Zell was sitting up against the wall, his head in his hands and his chest heaving in and out. Quistis was moving from person to person trying to comfort them all, but unable to hold back her own grief.
A tear ran from each of Squall's eyes at the sight of his comrades, and he instantly wiped them away. Everyone looked at Squall, waiting for answers. Who could have done this? Why Edea? Why wasn't Cid attacked? Squall shook his head, signifying that he had no answers, except...
Levi. The name popped into his head. Could Levi be real? Did he kill Edea? What's going on? Everyone was still staring at Squall while he was thinking. Why was everyone looking to him for answers? He had just as much knowledge as any of them, maybe less. Once again a question entered his mind, What's going on?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Squall sighed as he changed out of his SeeD uniform. It had been a long and tiring day. Edea's funeral had been honorable. It had taken place at the Orphanage and the entire Garden was there on the beach listening and watching as Edea was buried next to Cid next to the Orphanage, where they had been most happy. Nida had given a beautiful eulogy.
Of course, being at the Orphanage had brought more memories back to Squall, and he had cried twice. Selphie had run off during the funeral and Irvine had followed her. Zell had completely broken down and just stood there sobbing. Quistis had maintained her cool composure, but the occasional tear trickled down her face. Rinoa stood beside Squall, Cid still passed out in her arms. It seemed Cid had become attached to Rinoa since Edea had been found the day before. It also worried Squall that Cid hadn't woken up yet. Too many emotions filled Squall and it overwhelmed him. He couldn't think straight and was constantly gazing off into space. Too many questions were being asked inside his mind.
Squall pulled off his pants and tossed them onto the floor, standing in his underwear in front of his dresser. He pulled open a drawer and chose a pair of pants when he heard his door open. Rinoa stood in the doorway. Squall was surprised to see that Cid was no longer in her arms. He pulled on the jeans he had been holding and walked over to her.
"Are you okay?" Squall asked her. She looked straight up into his eyes. The stormy blue had always enticed her. It was what had drawn her to him in the first place. Now his eyes were questioning as they stared into hers. But they held more. They held worry and doubt. Rinoa guessed that her eyes held the same questions.
"I guess I'm just tired," Rinoa admitted.
"I'd be tired too if I held Cid for two days." Squall smiled at her. Rinoa didn't feel like she had the energy to smile back.
"Everything's gonna be fine." Squall leaned in a kissed Rinoa. She returned the kiss slightly, but she felt so exhausted.
I'll do it. Rinoa thought to herself, In memory of Edea. I'll do what she asked of me. I'll develop my sorceress powers.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Cid woke up in his bed. He looked around, trying to let his surroundings sink in. He finally recognized his room and questions began forming in his head. How did he get here? Where was Edea? What happened? The last thing he remembered was talking to Edea on the second floor when something happened. What had happened?
"Levi?" Cid called out. Silence.
"Oh, there you are." Cid turned toward his window, "What happened?"
"Levi? Why aren't you answering me?" Cid listened intently for an answer. Suddenly he cried out in pain. Something had hurt him, but he hadn't seen what it was. Cid cried out again. More pain. Cid began screaming from his room. So much pain was inflicted on him.
Someone help me! Cid's mind screamed. Tears fell from his face as he started to cry in agony. This was what had happened as he was talking to Edea. Sudden pain from no where. What was happening to him?
"Levi!" Cid cried out as everything went black.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Cid!" Squall pounded on his son's door. Cid's screams reached Squall and Rinoa, almost causing pain to themselves.
Why won't this door open? Squall stood back and rammed his shoulder against the door, barely budging it.
Why did I put him down? Rinoa thought to herself. She watched as Squall continued to beat on the door. It didn't move. Rinoa looked closer. Squall wasn't even reaching the door.
"It's a Protect spell!" Rinoa exclaimed. Squall stopped and turned towards her. "Protect has been cast on the door!" Squall ran off to find a GF so he could use magic to get rid of the spell, but Rinoa stayed where she was. Her son's screams continued through the closed door.
I must save him! Rinoa thought, I have to cast Dispel! Rinoa concentrated, trying to cast Dispel. She didn't want to use Angel Wing, because she would lose control of herself. She needed to open the door, now.
"Dispel!" Rinoa called out. Nothing happened. "Dispel!" Rinoa tried again to no avail. Cid's cried continued, but not for long. Soon it was quiet.
"DISPEL!" Rinoa screamed at the top of her lungs. A ring of green fire encircled around Rinoa's feet and blue sparks flew up from the ground as the spell was finally cast.
"I found Shiva!" Squall ran back to the door to see Rinoa cast Dispel. Squall dropped the glowing orb and rushed at the door, knocking it open. Both Squall and Rinoa entered the room looking around for Cid. They looked in the closet and under the bed. Cid wasn't there. He was gone.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"No I haven't seen him." Selphie answered. She turned and yelled into her daughters' room, "Kyra! Trina! Have you seen Cid lately?"
"No mom!" came the reply in unison.
"No, I'm sorry." Selphie looked from Squall to Rinoa and then back to Squall. Both looked wearied and upset. Something was wrong again.
"Okay, thank you." Squall turned to leave.
"Wait!" Selphie called after them, "If there's something you know, you should tell us."
"Rinoa looked at Squall and then said, "Cid's missing."
"Missing?" Selphie cried in disbelief.
"Let us know if you see him."
"Forget that." Selphie stated, "I'm gonna help you look. Actually, there's something I gotta do first. I'll join you in a minute." As Rinoa and Squall left, they could hear Selphie telling her daughters that she would out and that she wanted them to clean their room.
She sure has changed... Squall thought. After speaking with a few more people, Squall heard Selphie's voice come over the intercom, announcing that Cid was missing. Instantly everyone in Garden began to search for Cid. Squall smiled as he saw everyone looking for Cid. What surprised him was when he saw Seifer and Braza looking for Cid as well. When he saw Seifer act like that, like a normal person, he was pleased he let Quistis talk him into allowing Seifer to return to Balamb Garden with his son.
I guess Selphie isn't the only one who has changed...
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Thank you for inviting me down for this weekend." General Caraway smiled at his host.
"Well, I haven't seen you in a while." Martine smiled, "Plus, FH is such a peaceful place. I thought you could use a serene weekend away from the Galbadian Army."
"So, I assume you're glad you moved here?" Caraway smiled and Martine smiled back. They walked along the long railroad track that connected one continent to another.
"Well, it is very peaceful here." Caraway admitted as a cool sea breeze floated by. Suddenly Martine stopped as Caraway took a few more steps.
"What's wrong?" Caraway asked turning around. He gasped when he saw a chilling blade sticking out of Martine's chest. The blade slid back as Martine fell on the tracks. The sword was thrust toward Caraway, but the war veteran was used to battle and easily dodged it. The ice blade swiped at his neck, but Caraway avoided it as well. A few more thrusts until the sword finally made contact against Caraway's chest, causing an open gash down his torso. With that, the assassin was gone, leaving both men to die.
"Sir!" Caraway saw a few Galbadian soldiers rushing toward him. He didn't care about his wound or his attacker. He thought about one person.
"Rinoa..." Caraway whispered as all went black.