Time's Scars
Chapter Sixteen: A prison for the mind
Rinoa watched quietly as his chest rose and fell in his sleep. Once again, they were in the infirmary, a place she'd hoped they wouldn't need to return to.
Shortly after he'd collapsed, a response team answered her panicked call. Doctors were stunned. They had no idea why this was happening. His tests had all come out normal an hour ago. Why was he sick now?
Dr. Kadowaki came into the room, a clipboard in her hand. Rinoa at first became hopeful, but she knew the expression on the doctor's face was grim.
"Did you find anything?" She asked.
"Well, I think we need to do an MRI and an EEG. His brain activity is off. We don't know why. All we know is that it is affecting his whole body. Even being as strong a fighter as he is, I'm afraid he may not survive."
Rinoa's eyes welled with tears. He had to survive! "Why do you think that?"
"Well, his body is producing abnormal antibodies. The brain has somehow ordered his immune system to attack his organs. There is no explanation. But, if we can't get it under control soon, he won't make it. We'll have to put him on artificial life support in a few hours. We're going to take him for the tests, so you might want to wait somewhere else. Go get some sleep. You look exhausted."
Rinoa shook her head, "No. I'm not leaving until he's awake and okay. I'll be in the waiting room outside."
*********************************************************************************************
Quistis grumbled in frustration and threw the papers she was reading. She was trying desperately to find out if this condition Squall was in had ever hit anyone before. And, more importantly, if it was connected to Saruman. But she had nothing. No clues, no leads, nothing.
If they didn't help Squall within the next few days, he'd die. She saw his tests. His immune system was attacking his organs at an astonishing rate. It was extremely aggressive, and doctors had no clue why. Not even immunosuppressants could slow the relentless attack.
*********************************************************************************************
"I know you hear me, boy. You're aware now."
"Who are you? What do you want from me?" He screamed back.
"Oh, such a feisty one. I think you know me very well. After all, you were the one I chose to help me obtain the precious ring."
"Saruman! You bastard! Leave me alone, get out of my mind!"
"Cry all you want, you can't get rid of me. Squall, we can make this so easy, so painless. Just cooperate with me."
"Never. I won't cooperate, not with you."
"Alright, maybe more convincing will change that. Your body is dying, Squall. Slowly, and she has to watch it all."
Suddenly, Squall could see his surroundings. Rinoa was there, her head on his chest. She was weeping and kept whispering, "Don't leave me."
"Look how she cries over you. You can end her pain. She's suffering, and it's all your fault."
"You're a liar. I won't help you fulfill your sick little fantasy."
"Oh, you will. Whether you want to or not does not matter. You have no choice. I tried to make it easy, young Elf. Now, I will have to do this the hard way."
"I'm not scared."
"You will be."
He wanted so badly to console her, to comfort her. He wanted to make it better, but he could not move.
Suddenly, Rinoa was flung into the wall by an unseen force. She tried to scream, but it was clear that her air supply was being cut off. It was one of Saruman's minions.
"No! Don't hurt her! Let her go!"
"I will, when you surrender yourself."
"I can't!"
"Then she dies. You must choose, Squall. The fate of the world, or the fate of the person who is your whole world?"
"No! I don't believe you!"
She was growing weaker now, and began to stop struggling.
"No!"
"You have the power to save her."
*********************************************************************************************
Rinoa came back into the room Squall was being kept in. The test had shown abnormal brain activity, similar to hers when she was possessed. However, he was more aware.
He seemed to be seeing something. His hands clenched and he had broken out into a sweat. It was like he was fighting something.
The doctors had strapped him down, afraid he might hurt himself. But he still struggled.
She sat down and took his hands.
"Squall," she whispered, "don't listen to him. Saruman is a liar. Whatever he's showing you is an illusion. Fight! You have to, for the sake of the world."
He had no response to her reassuring words.
A/N: Okay, got another one out. I'm liking the twist this is taking. I hope you all like it. Please review! I'll update sooner! Pretty, pretty please!