Chapter 4
Quistis, Selphie, and Zell got off the ramp connecting Garden to FH. Selphie fingered her hair nervously.
"I hope Irvine's alright," she said. Quistis put a comforting arm around her.
"I'm sure he's fine," she said. Zell nodded.
"Yeah. That guy can get himself out of any situation." Selphie smiled.
"Thanks guys." Zell turned around.
"What are we supposed to do again?" he asked.
"We're supposed to split up, remember? Zell, you go and hang out in the middle of town, Selphie, you go to the east entrance, and I'll cover the west one." Quistis said.
"Do you think we need our weapons?" Selphie asked.
"Better to have them around in case something happens." Quistis said. "Just don't have them too obvious." Zell and Selphie nodded, then left.
Squall looked out the window. The fog had settled in around FH.
"If you didn't know that was an illusion, that would have been one heck of a storm." Nida said. "How is Rinoa, by the way?"
"Fine. Dr. Kadowaki says the spells should go away soon."
"That's good." Nida said. He checked the instruments on the panel next to him.
Zell leaned against the wall. Looking around, he saw nothing of interest. Kissing his teeth, he put his head back against the wall.
"Guess what I heard!"
"Huh?" Zell thought.
"I heard that Galbadia's doing something down in the Centra region!" Zell poked his head around the corner.
"What do you mean they're doing something down there?" This question came from a teenage boy.
"I dunno. But my cousin, she's a SeeD in Garden…"
"Which one?"
"Galbadia Garden."
"Bet your family didn't approve."
"They didn't. But anyway, she heard that there were some ruins in that area, and that the G-Army went to investigate them."
"What ruins? The only ruins there are the Centra ones!" Zell thought in disbelief.
"I never heard of ruins up there," a blonde-haired girl said.
"Apparently they've been up there for ages. What's funny is what would the Galbadians want up there. It's a breeding ground for monsters!"
"I'd better get back to Squall and the others about this!" Zell thought. He turned and ran off.
At the west entrance…
Quistis looked around. Her Chain Whip was loosely folded up at her waist. Her eyes darted back and forth, expecting some unknown danger to pop up at any moment.
"That's strange…" She checked her watch. "Irvine should have been here by now…" All of a sudden, the sound of motorcycles rent the air. Irvine came barreling down the tracks, several Galbadians right behind him.
"Quistis!" he yelled. Quistis grabbed her whip and dashed forward. Folding her arms, she faced the soldiers.
"Gatling Gun!" she cried. A hail of bullets attacked the soldiers, forcing them off their bikes.
"Irvine! Head for the Garden! I'm right behind you!" Irvine sped past as Quistis touched an earpiece in her ear.
"Quistis Trepe to Balamb Garden! Selphie, Zell! Get to the Garden now! Galbadians are here!"
At the entrance to the Great Salt Plains, Selphie grabbed her earpiece as she heard Quistis.
"Quistis! Did Irvine make it?"
"He's on his way there now. Go give Zell some help!" Selphie swung out her Strange Vision as she ran into town.
Irvine pulled the bike over to the side. Getting off, he grabbed his gun and ducked behind a crate. Quistis dropped beside him.
"What are you doing? Go to Garden!"
"I'm not letting them come in here." He chanced a quick glance over the crate. Zell ran up.
"Yo, what's going on?"
"Galbadians followed Irvine from Timber. We need to keep them out of FH!" Quistis said.
"Quistis?" Selphie's voice came over the earpiece.
"Selphie?"
"Quistis, you gotta go back to the Garden now! Squall says they're getting ready to leave!"
"Go! I'll cover you!" Zell said. Selphie, Irvine, and Quistis nodded, then ran off. Zell got up and faced the incoming soldiers.
"Alright! We're leaving now, so you're just gonna have to leave as well."
"You and your punk friends are gonna pay!" one solider snarled.
Zell shrugged.
"Like Squall says, whatever. Pandemona!"
A tall purple and blue GF appeared. A powerful wind vortex appeared, drawing in the soldiers in a windstorm, and then spitting them out high into the air.
"Yeah!" Zell cheered. Pandemona looked down at him.
Master, I believe it is wise for us to leave. They might have called for reinforcements.
"You got a point there. Let's go!" Zell said.
In the Garden's infirmary…
"Aside from that cut on his arm," Dr. Kadowaki said, "he's fine."
"Yeah, but just happened isn't." Irvine said.
"Did you hear what Zell told Squall?" Quistis asked.
"That is something that does not make sense." Rinoa said.
"Uh, excuse me. What did Zell tell Squall?" Irvine asked.
"Zell heard that Galbadia's been doing excavation work up at the Centra region." Selphie said.
"Huuhhh? There? But…but…there's nothing up there!"
"Exactly. The only things there are monsters and that…that…that…"
"Say it, Rinoa, it is not going to kill you." Irvine said.
"That…that…thing!"
"It's not a thing, it's a Guardian Force."
"IT'S A THING! And I am never going in any dungeon with you and Squall again!" Rinoa said. "Odin was bad enough, but no, you had to get that…that thing!"
"Getting off the subject of the thing, now what?" Dr. Kadowaki asked.
"Well, we certainly…huh?" Irvine stopped as the Garden rumbled.
"What the…ahhh!" Selphie said as the Garden shook again.
Squall sprinted towards the bridge.
"What's going on?"
"It's the Galbadians. Even with Rinoa's powers they caught up with us!" Nida said.
"No…somehow they found out about Irvine." Squall said. He grabbed the microphone.
"Attention all Garden personnel," At this, everybody stopped what they were doing and listened.
"We have a problem. There is a Galbadian ship that has been following us for the past several hours, and now they are starting to attack us."
In the library, Rinoa looked up towards the PA system as Squall continued.
"Our course of action will be the following: Students with an even ID number report to the quadrangle. Students with an odd ID number go to the front gate. Medical teams, take your positions."
"What about the magic users?" Rinoa thought. Squall's next set of orders cleared up her puzzlement.
"All magic users report to the front gate as well and wait for your assignments there."
Rinoa bit her lips, and then hurried out the library. She didn't head for the front gate, however.
Squall put a hand to his forehead.
"Am I missing something?" he wondered.
"Yeah. Us!" An irritated voice called. Squall looked down, and then got on the elevator.
"Just when were you going to call on us?" Quistis asked as Squall arrived.
"You really think they're gonna try to board us?" Zell asked.
"Why do you think they fired at us for? To say hi?" Squall asked.
"Well, Commander, what do you want us to do?" Selphie said.
"Quistis, you're in charge of the magic users. Zell and Irvine, you have the even and odd groups respectively. Selphie, you're in charge of the junior classmen."
"Right!" Selphie said. Xu looked around.
"Where's Rinoa?" she asked.
Rinoa hurried into the quadrangle. Looking around, she sprinted over to the balcony.
"I have only a few minutes before all of the students come here," she thought. "I'd better hurry!"
On the bridge of the Galbadian ship, the captain eyed Balamb Garden through a pair of binoculars
"Continue firing. Aim at their tail," he said. "Hmm?" He saw Rinoa run out onto the quadrangle.
"So that's where they're sending their troops. Aim at the left side of the Garden!"
Rinoa looked around. The fog that she had created was still around the Garden and the surrounding area. If it weren't moved, it would prove to be a serious disadvantage.
That is true, but leaving it would cause problems for your enemies.
"That's a good point, Quezacotl." Rinoa said. The Guardian Force appeared, and then rose into the air above her. Closing her eyes, she slowly exhaled and concentrated. Then…
"Hey! What the…" A blond-haired boy ran in and stopped when he saw Rinoa at the balcony.
"What's going on?" another person asked.
"The students are coming! I'd better do this fast!" Rinoa thought. Raising her hands, she stretched them out straight in front of her.
"Hey… isn't that the sorceress?" Rinoa ignored this and desperately increased her power. Behind her, Quezacotl swooped down and prevented a student from getting any closer.
Stay away! he snarled at one girl. Irvine ran in.
"What's going on?" He stopped when he saw Quezacotl and Rinoa.
"Rinoa! What the…stop it!" He dashed forward, and then pulled up sharply when a small strip of lightning stuck the ground in front of him.
"Rinoa!"
Rinoa kept her eyes shut. Her fog had become entangled in the wind, and it didn't want to let go.
"Come on!" she thought, fighting for control. Quezacotl suddenly whirled around.
Master, look out! he cried. Rinoa opened her eyes to see a missile, and it was heading straight for the quadrangle.
"Look!" someone screamed, pointing. At the sight of the missile, students started to panic and run away. Before it could hit its target however…
A strip of lightning blazed out of nowhere and hit the missile in mid-air, causing it to explode. Students covered their faces as debris rained down on them.
On the bridge, Squall thought to keep his balance as the Garden shook again.
"That one was aimed at the quad!" Nida said. Before Squall could react, the Garden shook again. A blast of light shot up from the left side.
Irvine got up. In front of him was Rinoa, her wings extended.
"Oh my…" Rinoa didn't pay attention. As her wings disappeared, a summoned a ball of lightning.
"Quezacotl, go!" she cried. The Guardian Force rose high into the air in front of the Galbadian ship, and unleashed a powerful blast of thunder. The sudden burst of energy blew away the remaining fog, revealing the Galbadian ship.
The captain grabbed onto a rail for balance as the energy shockwaves rocked the ship from side to side.
"What's going on?" he bellowed.
"Sir! I'm getting high-level magical readings from the Garden!" one solider called.
"What?"
"It's off the charts! MGL estimated at 5000 and rising!"
"5000?! But that could only mean…" The captain trailed off as the realization sunk in. His eyes widened.
"Pull back! Pull back now! Plot a course for Galbadia now!"
Rinoa watched as the Galbadian ship turned around. A horn blast startled her out of her thoughts. The White SeeD ship appeared, following the Garden's wake.
In a room…
The mysterious woman looked on as the White SeeD ship pulled up alongside Balamb Garden.
"Quite the sorceress, Rinoa. So much power for one so young." The image faded away. She looked towards the door, lip curled in scorn.
"This man has no idea of what is happening. Not to say he isn't useful…" A slow smile started on her lips.
"Yes…useful indeed."
1.1.1 In Another World…
Right at that same minute…
Raine held her head. The voice had come through clearly in her thoughts just a few minutes ago.
"Raine? You ok?"
"Yeah…I'm fine. What was it you said, Sabin?" A pair of blue eyes narrowed.
"You sure? Tifa said you nearly collapsed during practice this morning." Raine rolled her eyes.
"And my parents say that I have a big mouth. What did she have to go blab that for?"
"You did collapse!"
"No, you. I just got a little short of breath. It happens to me sometimes. Now what was it you said again?" Sabin grinned. He was the look-alike of his father Zell, only with the exception of his hair being a little darker.
"I wanted to find out how your parents were doing."
"They're fine." Raine said.
"Tell you one thing, your mom defiantly needed that vacation." Raine bit her lip at that. Over the past several months, Rinoa Leonhart had been ill at various times, which was unnatural because she rarely got sick. Worried, Squall arranged some personal time and left, taking Rinoa with him. Raine had been left behind due to the fact that she was still in school. Even now, something about that didn't ring true to Raine.
"Hello? Garden to Raine, Garden to Raine, come in pl…oww!" Sabin yelped, grabbing his arm.
"Leave her alone, Sabin." The speaker came in, rolling up a whip. Black eyes shone gleefully in a face the color of mahogany. Raine smiled.
"Celes!"
"That's my name, please don't waste it." Celes quipped. She was Quistis Trepe's protégé, and was a powerful magic user.
"Tifa, I.J., and I are going down to Balamb. You guys want to come?"
"Sure!" Sabin said.
"Give me a minute." Raine said. "I need to go get my Gunblade."
"In case of monsters, huh?" Celes asked.
"That, and I need to get it checked over." Raine said, rising from the table. Celes frowned at the retreating back of her friend.
Raine placed the Gunblade case on her bed. Opening it up, she took out the weapon, examined the blade, and then hooked it on her belt.
"Raine?"
"Yeek! Celes!"
"Sorry." Celes said, coming in.
"Don't scare me like that!" Raine said, snapping the case shut. Celes eyed her friend.
"Something's wrong with you."
"What? Nothing's wrong." Raine said.
"Raine, don't start that. I've known you ever since Jamie Madison mysteriously ended up in the girls locker room." Raine smirked.
"You win." Sighing, she plopped down on the bed. Celes crossed her arms.
"Mom…you know my mom's been sick lately, right?" Celes nodded. "Well…I've been having these weird dreams. They started right after Mom and Dad left. And even before that, when she was sick, I would get these strange feelings."
"When she was sick?" Celes asked. Raine nodded.
"It's very hard to describe, but…I would feel cold all over. Like I had been frozen. And I couldn't get warm."
"Isn't that the feeling your mom said she gets when she feels something evil is nearby?"
"No…that's the feeling when something is wrong. Really wrong." Raine said, running her fingers through her hair.
"HEY! ARE YOU COMING OR NOT?" Celes went over to the window.
"We're coming! Keep your shirt on, Sabin!" Raine got up off the bed.
"It's probably nothing, Celes." Celes turned to look at her friend.
"I hope not," she said.
Quistis, Selphie, and Zell got off the ramp connecting Garden to FH. Selphie fingered her hair nervously.
"I hope Irvine's alright," she said. Quistis put a comforting arm around her.
"I'm sure he's fine," she said. Zell nodded.
"Yeah. That guy can get himself out of any situation." Selphie smiled.
"Thanks guys." Zell turned around.
"What are we supposed to do again?" he asked.
"We're supposed to split up, remember? Zell, you go and hang out in the middle of town, Selphie, you go to the east entrance, and I'll cover the west one." Quistis said.
"Do you think we need our weapons?" Selphie asked.
"Better to have them around in case something happens." Quistis said. "Just don't have them too obvious." Zell and Selphie nodded, then left.
Squall looked out the window. The fog had settled in around FH.
"If you didn't know that was an illusion, that would have been one heck of a storm." Nida said. "How is Rinoa, by the way?"
"Fine. Dr. Kadowaki says the spells should go away soon."
"That's good." Nida said. He checked the instruments on the panel next to him.
Zell leaned against the wall. Looking around, he saw nothing of interest. Kissing his teeth, he put his head back against the wall.
"Guess what I heard!"
"Huh?" Zell thought.
"I heard that Galbadia's doing something down in the Centra region!" Zell poked his head around the corner.
"What do you mean they're doing something down there?" This question came from a teenage boy.
"I dunno. But my cousin, she's a SeeD in Garden…"
"Which one?"
"Galbadia Garden."
"Bet your family didn't approve."
"They didn't. But anyway, she heard that there were some ruins in that area, and that the G-Army went to investigate them."
"What ruins? The only ruins there are the Centra ones!" Zell thought in disbelief.
"I never heard of ruins up there," a blonde-haired girl said.
"Apparently they've been up there for ages. What's funny is what would the Galbadians want up there. It's a breeding ground for monsters!"
"I'd better get back to Squall and the others about this!" Zell thought. He turned and ran off.
At the west entrance…
Quistis looked around. Her Chain Whip was loosely folded up at her waist. Her eyes darted back and forth, expecting some unknown danger to pop up at any moment.
"That's strange…" She checked her watch. "Irvine should have been here by now…" All of a sudden, the sound of motorcycles rent the air. Irvine came barreling down the tracks, several Galbadians right behind him.
"Quistis!" he yelled. Quistis grabbed her whip and dashed forward. Folding her arms, she faced the soldiers.
"Gatling Gun!" she cried. A hail of bullets attacked the soldiers, forcing them off their bikes.
"Irvine! Head for the Garden! I'm right behind you!" Irvine sped past as Quistis touched an earpiece in her ear.
"Quistis Trepe to Balamb Garden! Selphie, Zell! Get to the Garden now! Galbadians are here!"
At the entrance to the Great Salt Plains, Selphie grabbed her earpiece as she heard Quistis.
"Quistis! Did Irvine make it?"
"He's on his way there now. Go give Zell some help!" Selphie swung out her Strange Vision as she ran into town.
Irvine pulled the bike over to the side. Getting off, he grabbed his gun and ducked behind a crate. Quistis dropped beside him.
"What are you doing? Go to Garden!"
"I'm not letting them come in here." He chanced a quick glance over the crate. Zell ran up.
"Yo, what's going on?"
"Galbadians followed Irvine from Timber. We need to keep them out of FH!" Quistis said.
"Quistis?" Selphie's voice came over the earpiece.
"Selphie?"
"Quistis, you gotta go back to the Garden now! Squall says they're getting ready to leave!"
"Go! I'll cover you!" Zell said. Selphie, Irvine, and Quistis nodded, then ran off. Zell got up and faced the incoming soldiers.
"Alright! We're leaving now, so you're just gonna have to leave as well."
"You and your punk friends are gonna pay!" one solider snarled.
Zell shrugged.
"Like Squall says, whatever. Pandemona!"
A tall purple and blue GF appeared. A powerful wind vortex appeared, drawing in the soldiers in a windstorm, and then spitting them out high into the air.
"Yeah!" Zell cheered. Pandemona looked down at him.
Master, I believe it is wise for us to leave. They might have called for reinforcements.
"You got a point there. Let's go!" Zell said.
In the Garden's infirmary…
"Aside from that cut on his arm," Dr. Kadowaki said, "he's fine."
"Yeah, but just happened isn't." Irvine said.
"Did you hear what Zell told Squall?" Quistis asked.
"That is something that does not make sense." Rinoa said.
"Uh, excuse me. What did Zell tell Squall?" Irvine asked.
"Zell heard that Galbadia's been doing excavation work up at the Centra region." Selphie said.
"Huuhhh? There? But…but…there's nothing up there!"
"Exactly. The only things there are monsters and that…that…that…"
"Say it, Rinoa, it is not going to kill you." Irvine said.
"That…that…thing!"
"It's not a thing, it's a Guardian Force."
"IT'S A THING! And I am never going in any dungeon with you and Squall again!" Rinoa said. "Odin was bad enough, but no, you had to get that…that thing!"
"Getting off the subject of the thing, now what?" Dr. Kadowaki asked.
"Well, we certainly…huh?" Irvine stopped as the Garden rumbled.
"What the…ahhh!" Selphie said as the Garden shook again.
Squall sprinted towards the bridge.
"What's going on?"
"It's the Galbadians. Even with Rinoa's powers they caught up with us!" Nida said.
"No…somehow they found out about Irvine." Squall said. He grabbed the microphone.
"Attention all Garden personnel," At this, everybody stopped what they were doing and listened.
"We have a problem. There is a Galbadian ship that has been following us for the past several hours, and now they are starting to attack us."
In the library, Rinoa looked up towards the PA system as Squall continued.
"Our course of action will be the following: Students with an even ID number report to the quadrangle. Students with an odd ID number go to the front gate. Medical teams, take your positions."
"What about the magic users?" Rinoa thought. Squall's next set of orders cleared up her puzzlement.
"All magic users report to the front gate as well and wait for your assignments there."
Rinoa bit her lips, and then hurried out the library. She didn't head for the front gate, however.
Squall put a hand to his forehead.
"Am I missing something?" he wondered.
"Yeah. Us!" An irritated voice called. Squall looked down, and then got on the elevator.
"Just when were you going to call on us?" Quistis asked as Squall arrived.
"You really think they're gonna try to board us?" Zell asked.
"Why do you think they fired at us for? To say hi?" Squall asked.
"Well, Commander, what do you want us to do?" Selphie said.
"Quistis, you're in charge of the magic users. Zell and Irvine, you have the even and odd groups respectively. Selphie, you're in charge of the junior classmen."
"Right!" Selphie said. Xu looked around.
"Where's Rinoa?" she asked.
Rinoa hurried into the quadrangle. Looking around, she sprinted over to the balcony.
"I have only a few minutes before all of the students come here," she thought. "I'd better hurry!"
On the bridge of the Galbadian ship, the captain eyed Balamb Garden through a pair of binoculars
"Continue firing. Aim at their tail," he said. "Hmm?" He saw Rinoa run out onto the quadrangle.
"So that's where they're sending their troops. Aim at the left side of the Garden!"
Rinoa looked around. The fog that she had created was still around the Garden and the surrounding area. If it weren't moved, it would prove to be a serious disadvantage.
That is true, but leaving it would cause problems for your enemies.
"That's a good point, Quezacotl." Rinoa said. The Guardian Force appeared, and then rose into the air above her. Closing her eyes, she slowly exhaled and concentrated. Then…
"Hey! What the…" A blond-haired boy ran in and stopped when he saw Rinoa at the balcony.
"What's going on?" another person asked.
"The students are coming! I'd better do this fast!" Rinoa thought. Raising her hands, she stretched them out straight in front of her.
"Hey… isn't that the sorceress?" Rinoa ignored this and desperately increased her power. Behind her, Quezacotl swooped down and prevented a student from getting any closer.
Stay away! he snarled at one girl. Irvine ran in.
"What's going on?" He stopped when he saw Quezacotl and Rinoa.
"Rinoa! What the…stop it!" He dashed forward, and then pulled up sharply when a small strip of lightning stuck the ground in front of him.
"Rinoa!"
Rinoa kept her eyes shut. Her fog had become entangled in the wind, and it didn't want to let go.
"Come on!" she thought, fighting for control. Quezacotl suddenly whirled around.
Master, look out! he cried. Rinoa opened her eyes to see a missile, and it was heading straight for the quadrangle.
"Look!" someone screamed, pointing. At the sight of the missile, students started to panic and run away. Before it could hit its target however…
A strip of lightning blazed out of nowhere and hit the missile in mid-air, causing it to explode. Students covered their faces as debris rained down on them.
On the bridge, Squall thought to keep his balance as the Garden shook again.
"That one was aimed at the quad!" Nida said. Before Squall could react, the Garden shook again. A blast of light shot up from the left side.
Irvine got up. In front of him was Rinoa, her wings extended.
"Oh my…" Rinoa didn't pay attention. As her wings disappeared, a summoned a ball of lightning.
"Quezacotl, go!" she cried. The Guardian Force rose high into the air in front of the Galbadian ship, and unleashed a powerful blast of thunder. The sudden burst of energy blew away the remaining fog, revealing the Galbadian ship.
The captain grabbed onto a rail for balance as the energy shockwaves rocked the ship from side to side.
"What's going on?" he bellowed.
"Sir! I'm getting high-level magical readings from the Garden!" one solider called.
"What?"
"It's off the charts! MGL estimated at 5000 and rising!"
"5000?! But that could only mean…" The captain trailed off as the realization sunk in. His eyes widened.
"Pull back! Pull back now! Plot a course for Galbadia now!"
Rinoa watched as the Galbadian ship turned around. A horn blast startled her out of her thoughts. The White SeeD ship appeared, following the Garden's wake.
In a room…
The mysterious woman looked on as the White SeeD ship pulled up alongside Balamb Garden.
"Quite the sorceress, Rinoa. So much power for one so young." The image faded away. She looked towards the door, lip curled in scorn.
"This man has no idea of what is happening. Not to say he isn't useful…" A slow smile started on her lips.
"Yes…useful indeed."
1.1.1 In Another World…
Right at that same minute…
Raine held her head. The voice had come through clearly in her thoughts just a few minutes ago.
"Raine? You ok?"
"Yeah…I'm fine. What was it you said, Sabin?" A pair of blue eyes narrowed.
"You sure? Tifa said you nearly collapsed during practice this morning." Raine rolled her eyes.
"And my parents say that I have a big mouth. What did she have to go blab that for?"
"You did collapse!"
"No, you. I just got a little short of breath. It happens to me sometimes. Now what was it you said again?" Sabin grinned. He was the look-alike of his father Zell, only with the exception of his hair being a little darker.
"I wanted to find out how your parents were doing."
"They're fine." Raine said.
"Tell you one thing, your mom defiantly needed that vacation." Raine bit her lip at that. Over the past several months, Rinoa Leonhart had been ill at various times, which was unnatural because she rarely got sick. Worried, Squall arranged some personal time and left, taking Rinoa with him. Raine had been left behind due to the fact that she was still in school. Even now, something about that didn't ring true to Raine.
"Hello? Garden to Raine, Garden to Raine, come in pl…oww!" Sabin yelped, grabbing his arm.
"Leave her alone, Sabin." The speaker came in, rolling up a whip. Black eyes shone gleefully in a face the color of mahogany. Raine smiled.
"Celes!"
"That's my name, please don't waste it." Celes quipped. She was Quistis Trepe's protégé, and was a powerful magic user.
"Tifa, I.J., and I are going down to Balamb. You guys want to come?"
"Sure!" Sabin said.
"Give me a minute." Raine said. "I need to go get my Gunblade."
"In case of monsters, huh?" Celes asked.
"That, and I need to get it checked over." Raine said, rising from the table. Celes frowned at the retreating back of her friend.
Raine placed the Gunblade case on her bed. Opening it up, she took out the weapon, examined the blade, and then hooked it on her belt.
"Raine?"
"Yeek! Celes!"
"Sorry." Celes said, coming in.
"Don't scare me like that!" Raine said, snapping the case shut. Celes eyed her friend.
"Something's wrong with you."
"What? Nothing's wrong." Raine said.
"Raine, don't start that. I've known you ever since Jamie Madison mysteriously ended up in the girls locker room." Raine smirked.
"You win." Sighing, she plopped down on the bed. Celes crossed her arms.
"Mom…you know my mom's been sick lately, right?" Celes nodded. "Well…I've been having these weird dreams. They started right after Mom and Dad left. And even before that, when she was sick, I would get these strange feelings."
"When she was sick?" Celes asked. Raine nodded.
"It's very hard to describe, but…I would feel cold all over. Like I had been frozen. And I couldn't get warm."
"Isn't that the feeling your mom said she gets when she feels something evil is nearby?"
"No…that's the feeling when something is wrong. Really wrong." Raine said, running her fingers through her hair.
"HEY! ARE YOU COMING OR NOT?" Celes went over to the window.
"We're coming! Keep your shirt on, Sabin!" Raine got up off the bed.
"It's probably nothing, Celes." Celes turned to look at her friend.
"I hope not," she said.