Time's Scars

Chapter Eighteen: Into the Abyss

Rinoa lay on a metal table, side-by-side with Squall.  Ellone also lay on a metal table nearby.  Her power would help strengthen the connections between the minds of Squall and Rinoa.

"Are you sure?" Odine asked her.

"I'm sure."

And then, she saw brilliant colors flashing before her.  It was like going through some kind of tunnel.  She could see the end of it, Squall's mind.  It was black and unwelcoming.

She took a deep breath, and allowed herself to fall into the whirlwind, and into his mind.

She landed hard in a meadow.  The force of the impact knocked the wind out of her.  After regaining her strength, she rose to her feet, surveying the landscape around her.

It was not a normal meadow.  A thick gray fog blanketed everything.  She couldn't see very far in front of her.  The air was heavy, bearing down on her shoulders and chest.  Breathing was difficult, but possible.  Though she was scared, she was determined.  Squall was in here.  She had to find him, he needed her.

"Squall?" She called out, hoping for an answer.  There was none.

Hesitantly, she took a few steps forward.  She did not know where she was headed, but she made sure to keep her mind and heart focused on finding him, like she had done in time compression.

As she slowly walked, she got the eerie feeling that someone, or something, was watching her.  She tried to look for it, but the dense fog limited her view.  "Hello?" She called out.

"Go away!" cried a young voice, hidden in the mist.

"Who are you?  Please, let me see you."

The fog in front of her parted, and a little boy came through.  He had brown hair, and deep blue eyes.  She knew right away that he was Squall, as a child.

"You have to leave here." The boy repeated.

"No.  I'm looking for someone.  Why do you want me to leave?"

"You're too late.  He's already in the wizard man's control.  We don't want you to get hurt.  You can't stay.  Please go."

She shook her head.  "I can still save him!  Who is 'we'?"

The boy sighed.  "I'm a part of him, a part of his personality.  There are a lot of us.  We're all looking for him.  But the wizard is too strong for us.  We tried to fight him."

"Listen to me.  If you show me where he is, I can save him.  Please, I need your help."

"I told you already.  It's too late."

"No, it isn't.  What is your name?  Please, I need your help.  Don't give up."

The child folded his arms, "I'm Squall's strength.  I used to be big.  Now, I'm a child.  I've fought as hard as I can.  This meadow…it used to be so nice. Full of flowers and birds.  I loved it.  Now, it's so bleak.  That's how it was before you came here, too.  I guess I can help you some.  You can lift the fog."

She smiled, "Okay, now we're talking.  Where is he?"

"There's a tower to the north.  He's held captive in there.  But Saruman is guarding him."