Chapter 3: Alone and Assault

Fujin's POV

The tall buildings towered above me like giants. Our chocobo trotted through the streets of the largest city I'd ever seen. Crowds of people were bustling through the small roads, all trying to get to their destination in the city. We passed through the hoards of people, pushing our way through annoying a lot of anger passers by. Rajin had gotten down to guide our chocobo and I was still riding on the back. Occasionally he got left behind as someone pushed past him, but he was never too far. I didn't notice that he ever strayed away from me. I was too busy taking in the wonder of all the buildings.

The chocobo seemed to know where it was going, so I wasn't worried about myself getting lost in such a huge city. Although I should be…

I suddenly noticed that Rajin wasn't actually with me anymore. He must have got lost in the crowd somewhere back in the main street. I looked around and scanned the area for my friend. There weren't as many people in this street. But Rajin wasn't one of them. I began to worry a little, but the chocobo kept on walking.

"Hey wait! Rajin isn't here!" But the chocobo still didn't change it course. I didn't know where it was going, but the streets were becoming a lot less crowded. Homes began to appear on the small roads, and people were returning to their houses in the fading sunlight. The atmosphere around here wasn't a very pleasant one. I got the feeling I was being watched, and the overcrowded buildings drowned out the sunlight. The houses themselves looked run down. Nothing like where I used to live…

---

Rajin's POV

'Where did they go? I need to find her otherwise who knows what could happen. These streets aren't that safe down here and I can't loose my chocobo. It took me ages to tame her!' I thought as I grasped my staff in my right hand. My eyes were darting round like wild trying to spot a yellow bird in the crowd. 'There are way too many people here!' I pushed through countless people not bothering to apologise. I heard people curse me and openly express their disgust at my behaviour, but I didn't care about what they thought. The only thing that was on my mind, was finding Fujin and my chocobo… After all that travelling I couldn't loose her now. The boat trip she took over here, the 2 day walk we both took. I can't loose her after taking her this far.

---

Fujin's POV

The people grew less and less in number as we kept walking. I could feel the chocobo grow less and less aware of where we were and I could feel the slight trembling in her feathers. There was nothing down here, only slums and trash. Rubbish was plaguing the streets and everywhere you looked there was always one bit of old newspaper, cans or waste on the sidewalk. The invisible eyes were still watching me behind my back. It was as if they were watching from the black and empty window above me, always disappearing when I looked round. I tried to put it to the back of my mind, but it wouldn't go away and I began to worry about Rajin.

'Where is he?' I thought. All of a sudden my chocobo began to panic. It cried aloud and began to flap its wings. I held on to it as tightly as I could, but it eventually threw me off. I landed on the hard, cold road with a thud. I looked up rubbing my head to see the chocobo looking around in fear. It was taking tiny steps backward as it was freaking itself out. It was as if there was something in the shadows that I couldn't see, and it was frightening the yellow bird. I never understood why animals got so uptight like that.

I got up and tried to calm the bird down. I stroked its neck in some effort to make it feel more confident, but that didn't help. If anything it made the situation worse, as all of a sudden I was on the floor again looking at my transport flee the barren street.

"Come back!" I shouted knowing in the back of my head that it wouldn't make any difference.

Without the company of my chocobo, I began to feel how cold and desolate the streets really were. The warmth from the animal had kept my unaware of the chilling wind that was running through the depths of Esthar City. The darkness was slowly encroaching on the walls of the houses, throwing shadows in every direction. Every one seemed to be coming for me, acting as if there was some restless spirit inside each figure of darkness. The wind picked up and blew its icy breath around my face. It brushed my skin with such gentle caress that it made me shiver from the lingering cold.

A drop of a can echoed through to streets. I didn't think that there was anyone here, but the creature lurking in the shadows showed itself. I could hear the footsteps, but the person was obscured from sight by the darkness. Another can dropped from somewhere else in the street. I turned round trying to see where it came from. One more sounded through the empty road. I didn't know who was there, but I felt for my pinwheel. Everything was making me feel very uneasy and having my hands on the grip of my weapon would make me feel better. But it wasn't there! The blood drained from my face and my eye went wide. I felt round where it should be, but every place I felt on my back was empty.

Laughing rang through my ears, mocking my foolish actions. It came from behind me, and I turned round to meet my onlooker. He could see him clearly in the little light from the alleyway that connected the small streets together. The blocked out light from above seeped through the small gaps, throwing odd light spots in various places. My enemy was of a big build. His sleeveless jacket showed his bulging muscles, and his tight trousers defined every leg muscle he had. He had a thick neck and a shaved head. Tattoos covered one arm in curving spiky patterns. He looked exactly like the person you wouldn't want to meet on a night like tonight.

"What do we have 'ere?" a different voice came from my right. A different man stepped out of the shadows sporting a mohikan hairstyle and small sunglasses. He was only a scrawny man who wore black baggy trousers with various patches and pockets in places and fingerless leather gloves were on his hands.

"Looking for this little girl?" yet another voice came from somewhere else. This time the owner of the taunting voice came from above me. He was sitting on the edge of the open window of one of the houses. He wore high military boots and dark baggy trousers. He too had a big build like the first and wore a similar sort of jacket. He dangled my pinwheel in his hand in the dim light.

"How'd you get that!?" I shouted. I had no idea how they managed to get my pinwheel without me noticing. They only replied by laughing. Why were they insulting me like that? I was beginning to loose my patience with these punks.

"Simple brat!"

"But if we told you, you probably wouldn't understand!"

"Stop it!" I shouted at them. "Gimme my pinwheel back!" They laughed again as the holder of my weapon jumped down from his hiding place. I walked in my direction and loomed above me like an ogre. He held out my pinwheel above my head, taunting me with childish games. I wasn't buying his knowledge of thinking I was stupid. I knew that if I jumped I would only a) miss it as he chucked it to one of his friends, b) tire myself out for what was to come if I followed my plan.

The brute chuckled as he teased me, but he soon stopped laughing. I kicked him in the shin causing him to drop my pinwheel, which I grabbed before it hit the floor. I glared at him but he began to laugh again as soon as he had recovered.

"Hey cyclops here thinks she's pretty good!" His crones laughed at his remark, but inside I was seething with hatred. How dare he call me that!

I kicked him again and turned to run from these idiots. I ran away from them, but unfortunately I didn't get very far. The thin member of the three blocked my path. He drew his head back and spat his cold dribble drooled down my face.

"Think you're going somewhere one eye?" Without notice he kicked me down to the floor. The pain in my stomach raged through my body and I couldn't get up. I felt myself skid along the cold road and I heard footsteps come towards my direction. Why was it always me? Why am I always punished? I couldn't move to retaliate as the punk kicked me over onto my back. I felt my pinwheel being lifted off of my back and I gritted my teeth. I wanted to stop them and do something about it, but his great hefty boot was placed firmly on my back, crushing me into the ground.

"Nice little toy you've got here. This would make a killer selling." My eyes shot open as he said that he'd sell my pinwheel. I wriggled under his foot, trying to break free. I couldn't let them sell it. That was the only thing I had, it was my one and only possession!

He kicked me again and I rolled helplessly along the dirty ground. A hand grabbed my jacket and pulled me up off the ground. Everything was happening so slowly. All the actions were sluggish and seemed as if they weren't not real. Another hand came around my neck and the other let go of my clothes. The amount of air around seemed to cut in half as I tried to breathe. I grabbed the hand with my two hands and endeavoured to pry them off, but it was no use.

I was too weak. I couldn't do anything to help myself. It's just like my mother said. 'I'm too petty and weak'. By now her words had drummed themselves into my head and they had rooted themselves into my brain. Every time something like this happened, those words would haunt my mind and it was a if she was there on the sidelines, not helping me, only shouting and putting me down all the time.

I saw the larger of the two remaining walk towards me. He held my pinwheel in his hand, which dangled by his side. He stopped just a few inches from my face. I could feel his disgusting breath tickle my face with each waft of air that exhaled out of his mouth. I knew what was coming now. I didn't need to be a rocket scientist to work out what he was going to do.

"Leave me alone!" I gasped intending to shout in his face, but it came out as a mere whisper. He ignored my comment and punched my stomach instead. I tried to move to avoid the blow, but the lack of air disabled my entire body. Again and again he punched me in the same place over and over. The torment seemed as though it would never stop. I closed my eyes, praying that something would happen to make this stop. I wish that Seifer was here to come to my rescue, but that was impossible now. I knew I the back of my mind that he'd probably forgotten that I even existed I his life. I didn't want that to be true though…