Chapter 11 - Quisty's Back!
Staring at the unmoving figure propped up against the wall beside his dorm door, Seifer could hardly believe his eyes.
Quisty?
He wanted to cry out her name, but his voice wouldn't yield to his command.
Instead, he crouched down next to her, caressing a cheek here, stroking her head there, trying to feel for himself that she had indeed returned; that it was really Quisty in front of him.
This isn't a dream... is it? He found himself asking repeatedly.
He couldn't hold back the urge any longer. Going forth with a great urgency, he gathered her into his arms and squeezed her tightly against him, as if trying to meld their bodies together.
"Quisty! It's really you! I'm glad... so glad!" He cried hoarsely, as a lump positioned itself in his throat.
He released her after a while with more than a little alarm. For she had remained motionless, not responding even a little to his calls and hugs.
She's so cold!
He realized that her entire body was devoid of warmth... the feeling he had gotten so used to before she disappeared.
NO!! She can't be d...!!
As a stray worry entered his mind, uninvited and overstaying its welcome, he chased it away quickly, heaving a long sigh of relief when he saw her chest rising ever so slightly as she took in each faint breath.
Wasting no time at all, he cradled her in his arms and raced off towards the direction of the infirmary.
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"My good pal, big brother, Higher-ranked Angel, whichever title you want I could care less... how are you doing? By the time you hear this, I suspect that Quis would have already returned to the Garden, and in return, I would have disappeared entirely from your sight. Fear not... I am not yet dead. At least not for the next few months, as I can foresee. Do not attempt to find me. I will grovel my way back, with no help from anyone, thank you. Which means, DON'T YOU DARE TO DISOBEY ME BY COMING AND RESCUE ME! Got that? Good. Anyway... the reason for all this mess lies with me, and so I vow to be the one who resolves it.
But...a big but, mind you... if in the feverishly unpredictable future I should turn into a Celestine that nobody recognizes, and you find that there is no other way for the old me to return... please... get rid of me with your own hands.
For it would kill me to know that I'll be hurting my beloved human folk, or you... or any of my friends..."
It was right here that she paused abruptly. It was faint, but Damien could hear little sounds of sniffling in the background.
She had not said it plainly, but being an expert in reading between the lines, Damien knew beyond doubt that she had feared hurting Zell the most of all.
"And to my darling Zell... tell him that I'm sorry. That I love him to the bottom of my heart even if I might turn into something else... that if I were to ever harm a single hair of his... he must take my life. For it is then that Celestine no longer exists......"
That was the last of the recorded message, for the speaker had suffered from an acute case of the lump-stuck-in-throat syndrome, as was common to those with agitated emotions.
Damien flung the recorder against the ground, half-furious at Celestine for not saying a word to him beforehand.
But the other half knew too well that if she had not behaved as thus, she would not have acted in the true manner of Celestine Angelwing.
At the far end of the room, a silent and dazed Zell stared into space, unable to accept the transpiring events. It was too, too much news for him to digest in such a short time, especially since he had been totally unprepared for it.
The only thing that ran through his mind was a huge question mark.
This was then followed by a great spurt of indistinctive emotions, ranging from frustration, grief, fury, to shock.
It took complete dominance over his reflexes, causing him to slam his fist against the concrete wall.
Mercifully, his fingers were protected by his Ergheiz glove, which offered some protection, however meager it was, thereby reducing the damage to a few ugly bruises on his knuckles.
He looked at Damien wordlessly.
"That's the way she's always been... once she's made up her mind, not even Hyne can stop her." The latter spoke with sighs punctuating his words ever so frequently.
"How can you expect me to accept it as it is? From what she's saying, it is clear that she's in some kind of danger! What if she goes missing for many months? First Quistis, now her! WHAT is going on? Tell me!"
Damien only gazed at him at a loss, unable to give him the answer he needed.
"Okay... so you won't, or can't tell me anything. Fine... I shall look for her myself. Don't try to stop me! I don't care what she says, and neither do I care about what she would do to punish me for not listening to her... just as long as she's well enough to do it, what else matters? I can't stand around knowing she's in danger, and yet not doing a thing to pull her out of it!" He started out towards the door.
"Who says I'm going to stop you? In fact, let me come along, for I suspect there's some entity behind all this... one that doesn't possess a benevolent nature, I'm certain. It would be too much for you to handle. How am I supposed to face her if anything were to happen to YOU?"
"Suit yourself... but I don't need any babysitting, no thank you! Just don't get into the way, that's all I ask." He yanked the door open, only to come face to face with... Waterlily.
"WHOA! WL, what are you doing here? I almost stepped on your feet, for Hyne's pity!" Zell exclaimed loudly as he applied his emergency brakes immediately.
"Quistis is back. Infirmary." She spoke in a disjointed manner, turned on her heel, and proceeded to walk off briskly towards the corridor's direction.
The two were left staring in astonishment at the now-empty doorway.
It was Damien who first recovered from his immobilized state.
"Let's go! We have to find out how she is! And who knows... she might have some clue about Celestine's whereabouts!"
"Now you're talking sense! Come on!"
They sped off towards the infirmary with rocket-powered feet.
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"Hey, Seifer! How's Quisty?" Zell asked anxiously the moment he saw the golden head.
"Not good, Zell. I don't know what's wrong with her... she just won't wake up!"
"What? Why?"
"I've asked Dr. Kadowaki to take a look at her, but even she could not find a cause for it..."
The kindly doctor walked up towards them.
"It's no use. I think you had better send her to the hospital, for the equipment I have here is not extensive enough for thorough checks. Poor dear... looks like she's suffered quite a bit..."
Indeed, although she appeared to be quite normal at first sight, Seifer had noticed that she had lost a lot of weight, showing up in the gauntness of her face, her high cheekbones jutting out against the pale skin.
"My poor Quisty... how I have let you down! Why couldn't I find you soon enough, and get you out of harm's way? I promised to protect you, but I failed!" He grabbed her hand and pressed it tightly to his lips, trying to rouse her with his gentle pecks.
"Master, it's none of your fault!" Damien tried to allay his Master's worries... a difficult task since he feared for his Lady as well.
The doctor stared curiously at Damien, having never seen him before.
What's this stuff about his Master? Am I missing something here?
Her suspicions must have showed up in her expression.
"Oh... Um... he's Celestine's brother, Damien." Zell muttered, trying to cover up the loopholes. "Speaking of which... she's missing too! I have a strong feeling that she exchanged herself for Quisty's return..."
"WHAT?" Seifer looked up from his bowed position in disbelief. "Why would she do that?"
"It appears, my Master, that Celestine was related to the whole incident."
"But why didn't she enlist our help then?"
"I think... that the Mastermind behind this had used my Lady as bait to lure Celestine there, on the condition that she went alone. And stupidly she did, recklessly she gave in to his threats!"
"How foolish of her! I'm sure that Quisty would have been mad at her for doing it, as I am! Zell... what are you standing around for? Go look for her!" Seifer shoved the spiky-haired guy on the shoulder.
"I was about to, but WL told me about Quisty being back! I HAD to rush here... and I had hoped..." He left the sentence unfinished, diverting his glance at Quistis.
"... I guess she wouldn't be of much help to you now..." Seifer followed his line of vision, his eyes dimming considerably as he looked at her.
"First things first! You've got to get her to the hospital for immediate attention!" Dr. Kadowaki interjected sharply.
That got them running, for without realizing it, a considerable length of time had passed them by, such that they were almost getting used to the powerful medicinal odour of the room.
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Author's notes: Am I moving too slow? But I have to write slowly cos the ideas aren't that forthcoming... plus this is my first attempt at something of such proportions... I was afraid of missing out something here. Please be patient... Redrumiel's plan will come out soon. Meanwhile, the plea for you to please review still goes on.....