Authors Note. I don't own any of the characters. Started a new story. Also working on my others. My computer passed away quite a while back and I had to save for a new one. I plan on posting regularly again. I hope you like this. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Exiled Mind
Chapter Three
"I can't tell what's wrong with him. His vitals are fine, and his brain activity is normal so far." Said Dr. Kadawaki as she finished examining Squall. He had been brought in with a semi-hysterical Rinoa attached to his side. After Squall collapsed Rinoa had managed to contact Balamb Garden and inform the Headmaster about had happened. Cid had then dispatched the Ragnarok with Quistis, Selphie and Irvine, who had arrived within hours of the call. From there they returned to Balamb Garden and transported Squall to the Infirmary.
Rinoa; seated next to Squall's bed in one of the infirmaries side rooms looked up at the elderly doctor with obvious frustration showing on her face. "What do you mean? Of course there has to be something wrong with him. You just have to look again!"
I'm trying everything I can Rinoa. We should know more once his blood work is done, but that will be at least another hour. In the meantime can you try to think of anything that could have caused his collapse? Possibly something in his food or a drink he had."
Rinoa sat quietly, holding Squall's hand, and for a moment Dr. Kadawaki thought she hadn't heard the question. She was about to repeat her question when Rinoa finally lifted her head and glanced at her. "We had lunch in Balamb at the little diner next to the hotel but we had the same thing. After that we caught the train to Timber. We had just checked into the hotel when Squall started looking pale. It happened so fast, I wasn't sure if he was even alive. One minute he was fine and then he just grabbed his head and collapsed to the floor. After I checked his pulse and tried curing him I called Headmaster Cid and he sent Quistis and the others out to get us."
"Alright then that should rule out poison since you don't appear to be affected." Dr. Kadawaki replied thoughtfully and then crossed over to Rinoa's side and placed a hand on the distraught girl's shoulder. "Rinoa, honey, why don't you let Quistis take you back to your dorm and try to rest. I will call you once we get the blood work back or if there is any change in his condition."
Rinoa simply gave a slight nod of her head and the doctor walked out to her office to call Quistis back to the infirmary.
Picking up her phone she dialed several numbers and within several rings was talking to Quistis. "This is Quistis." Answered the younger lady.
"Yeah this is Doctor Kadawaki, can you come take Rinoa to her dorm and see if you can't get her to rest. The poor girl looks like she might drop any second."
"Ok Dr. K. I'm on my way down right now." There was a slight pause on the other end and the sound of someone else speaking in the background before Quistis spoke again. "Doctor has there been any change in his condition?"
'No, I'm sorry I just can't tell anything as of yet. It's still to early, but hopefully we will learn something from the blood work."
"Thank you." Replied Quistis before hanging up the phone. The doctor did the same and sat down at her desk to wait for the results of the blood work.
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Quistis hung up the phone and turned back to the small gathering of people in her office. Selphie and Irvine were sitting in the two chairs in front of her desk and Zell was pacing back and forth near the door, stopping and shadow boxing every few feet. "The doctor said that there is no change in his condition but she does need me to come and get Rinoa so that I can take her back to her room and try to make sure she is ok."
Zell stopped his pacing and walked over to the desk to stand next to Irvine. "Is there any thing we can do to help?"
Quistis nodded her head before continuing. "Yeah, Selphie, I want you to come with me. Try to help cheer Rinoa up. Irvine and Zell, I want you two to make sure that there aren't any rumors running around Garden about Squall's illness. Check out some of the meeting areas and tell people that Squall wasn't feeling well and he is simply resting for a while in the Infirmary. He's become pretty popular since the Ultimecia incident six months ago and we don't want any panic starting."
With everyone clear on what to do the group split up and headed out to take care of each of their individual assignments. Zell headed for the cafeteria and Irvine turned towards the Quad. Each of them sharing very similar thoughts about their leader and close friend, and hoping that Squall would truly be alright.
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The first thing to return was a dim sensation of light on the edge of his vision. It started as a speck you would see after staring straight into the sun. Slowly it shifted into a single image and finally he found himself floating in a see of colors. Soon, all these colors faded until all that was left was black.
Then other sensations began to return. First was smell, and a strange yet familiar scent filled his noise. Unable to remember what this scent was, the man concentrated on his other senses. Soon he could feel wind rushing past his body and then finally he could hear it as well.
As all of this returned he sat up groggily and began to assess his situation. Looking around he tried to remember how he had ended up in this Hyne forsaken place.
Hyne? Who is Hyne? Why did I just think that?
With a burst of panic, the man realized he had no memories of who he was. His mind felt as if it had been wiped clean like chalk off a chalk board. He remembered basic things like how to walk and talk but not much else. Pushing himself to his feet he looked down and almost collapsed as a wave of vertigo washed over him. He found himself standing on nothingness. There was only black. He also noticed for the first time that he was naked as a newborn. Suddenly embarrassed he covered himself and looked around to see if he anyone had seen.
Where am I? What is this place?
I have your answers! A voice so loud it knocked him back to his knees. Blinking the flashes of light out of his eyes he turned trying to find the source of the voice.
Who are you?
I am the same as you. I am everything and I am nothing. I am black and I am white. Just as you now are.
His modesty forgotten, the man pushed himself to his feet and turned in the direction the voice seemed to flow from, almost as if it were being carried by the wind he felt in his face.
Enough of your riddles! Who are you? And who am I? Or is it what are you?
Do not worry child. You will get all your answers soon enough but first you have many other lessons to be taught. For now I will answer one question. Choose wisely.
Fine, I'll play along with this game for now but I want answers and I want them soon. I want to know my name?
Very well! You shall be called Graven from now on. You will be the first of my creations. And now for your first lesson I shall teach you obedience.
Even as these words were spoken the wind picked up and knocked the man to his knees. With the wind came a howling so intense it pushed all thought from his mind and crumpled him to the ground. And so began the corruption of his mind.
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Rinoa lay in bed exhausted but unable to sleep. She had been resting in her room ever since hearing the results of the blood work. They had found nothing in his blood, no chemicals, no poisons, nothing. And still he lay there without moving. Rinoa had stayed with him holding his hand until Quistis and Selphie forced her back to her room with the promise of waking her if there were any changes in Squall's condition. Giving up on sleep she sat up out of bed and walked into her bathroom. Turning on her shower she quickly undressed and stepped in. She stood under the hot water and stared at the wall in front of her. Rinoa found her attention fixed on the soap holder in front of her. Hanging from it was a back scrubber that she had bought Squall as a gag gift. Its handle was carved with a Griever emblem on it.
Seeing it caused her to think of Squall again. She had not cried yet and suddenly felt the dam burst open, she crumpled to the floor of the shower and hugged her knees sobbing. For how long she sat there she didn't know but when she finally heard her phone ringing she realized that the water had gone completely cold and she was shivering. Jumping out she grabbed a robe and dove at the phone by the bed.
"Hello?"
"Rinoa? It's Selphie. I'm in the infirmary with Squall. You better come down here."
"What's going on?" She asked, letting hope begin to build that Squall might have woken up. She felt that hope shatter though when Selphie answered her question.
"It's Squall. I'm sorry but his condition is beginning to deteriorate. Dr. K. doesn't know what caused it."
Rinoa didn't hear any of it though as she dropped the phone and hurriedly pulled her robe on and charged out of her room.
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Dr Kadawaki turned to Rinoa as they stood next to Squall's bed. "I was checking in on him when he started thrashing against the bed. It took Selphie and me to hold him and even then he would have rolled out of the bed if Irvine hadn't shown up. That's why we had to restrain him like this."
Rinoa didn't answer; she simply stared at her love, lying in bed and tied down with rope shackles on his hands and feet.
"I did several tests including checking his brain functions again." Dr K. continued. "This time though, I noticed that his brain wave was different. Before when I checked it had a good pattern but this time it is beginning to waver. Almost like his brain is faltering."
"What can we do?" asked Rinoa quietly. She looked up when no answer was forthcoming. She felt her heart skip in her chest when the doctor finally answered.
I don't know." She replied while putting her hand on Rinoa's. "But if we can't do something to stabilize him soon then I'm afraid we might lose him."
As if to confirm her statement, Squall's body began convulsing again. Only this time it was much worse. Rinoa tried to hold his hand but he thrashed so hard that she couldn't get a grip on it. His eyes could be seen rolling in their sockets and he quickly became sweat covered.
And the worst part for Rinoa was when he began screaming in unconscious pain.
To Be Continued…
Authors Notes: So how is it so far? I hope to have another chapter up soon so stick around. Thanks to the following people for their reviews. Make sure to check out all their stories too.
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