Disclaimer: I do not own the songs, or FF VIII stuff…
Note: Darker, but not a pitch-black chapter. Some more c—p is resurfaced, and such. Mental defense mechanisms, and other stuff is brought up. Enjoy! evil laugh Also, it may seem really f---ed up, and confusing, but it will make sense later on. Be patient, okie days?
Chapter 49: Reminiscences of a Twisted MindRain poured down on the Venus, streaming off of her sleek curves. The blood red paint stood out against even the fog that lay on the ground like a gray soup. They got off, Ocea looking up at the daunting sky. A chill ran up her spine, and she caught up with Squall, her arm in his. The soft, worn leather was warm to her arm, and face.
"The book is in the floorboards under the stove in the house. The candles are in the floorboards in the garage under the large box labeled "Ardente veritate" The other things are labeled in the list which is with the book."
The town seemed shut down; no one was outside of their four walls. Squall, and Ocea led the way to Raine/ Ellone's house. The woman that lived there was grumpy at her intruders, but recognized the unaging Ocea. It had been years, when the lady had been in her youth when the saw each other last. The old woman smiled, and began reminiscing with Ocea about the "good ol' days." The old woman's wrinkles became more evident as she smiled against the candlelit room. She led them upstairs, and the men moved the stove from its place. Zell grunted, and moaned about it being heavy, but the other two men only shook their heads, and carried on. Ocea removed the floorboards carefully, dust flying into the air. She shielded her face from it, and returned to her work. However, the humidity from the rain, and fog made the dust thick, and even harder to breathe with. They gagged, and hurried. Selphie held onto the book that Ellone had gotten earlier, the stone set in its cover glowing am ominous red.
They said farewell, and went into the garage that belonged to Laguna. They searched for the box, high, and low. Half an hour passed, and Selphie said that the stone was glowing again. Under the stairwell was a hidden room. Ocea removed the stone, and held it before the door. It levitated, and found a hidden hole in the wall. A door opened, and Ocea removed the stone, going inside.
Cobwebs hung over them like a lower ceiling. Zell pushed one away, only to be caught in it. A large spider went in for the kill, but Ocea stood between the two, giving a malevolent look to the arachnid. It hissed, and scurried back to its hiding spot, venom dripping to the ground with a hiss. Ocea moved on unfazed, but Zell sat on the ground panicked. Quistis helped him up, dusting off his behind.
Ocea felt guided by the room, magic showing her where the candles, and such were. The box clearly marked lay at her feet. A thick coat of dust covered it, and she blew it off. Squall moved it, and Ocea removed the floorboards. Almost as if in a trance, her body swayed gently. Squall looked at her concerned, and helped her remove the metal box from the small hole. Ancient ruins covered it, sealing out any power of evil, or ill will. She placed her palm before it after the set it upon a different box; Irvine, and Zell repairing the damage to the floor
A beam of light came from the box to her hand, reading the lines of it. It shot open, a flash of white light illuminating the room. Candles flickered on, and all could see visions of the past, but Ocea stood as if nothing was happening. Squall looked around, and saw an illusion of his mother. She had a round table in the corner, set of tarot cards. Ocea sat with her, and they gave each other readings. Laughs came from the two woman until the Tower card appeared. They hushed, and looked at each other in fear. The vision faded, and Squall turned.
He then saw them, and Ellone hiding from the Esthar soldiers. A baby form of Squall was held in Raine's arms. Ocea stood between the soldiers, and her friends, but Raine gave Squall to Ellone, not letting Ocea go down with out a fight. The two women fought, but in vain. Raine died from a gunshot wound to the chest. Ocea was weak, and heart broken as her friend fell at her feet. She charged at the soldiers, only to be shot numerous times. She was taken away, and the children as well. Later they would be sent to Centra at the orphanage. Ellone remembers little of those years, but she relives them through Raine's eyes, and her own (she can use "connect" on herself).
Squall looked over at Ocea, her hand pulling out candles from the box. Two of red, made of blood from an innocent. Two of darker red, from the blood of evil. Two of white, to represent lost purity. Two of blue, to represent her dominion over water. Two of black, to represent her corruption. And two of each of the four elements. She finally pulled out a last object. It was silver, from Deluge's sword, and glass from the frozen tears from her eyes when her heart froze. Inside was a burning liquid from the tears of her sorrow. She had kept the sword with her for her entire life, not letting even Death take it away from her. Raine had a villager craft it for them, and it would represent Ocea's sorrow.
Selphie looked at a small version of Ellone on the ground, Ocea teaching her how to use "connect." Ellone had shown potential to be a sorceress since birth, and Ocea had helped her honed her skills without using actual magic. Irvine looked at Raine crying, knowing her fate, and missing Laguna terribly. Raine's tears fell from her cheek, and into a small scrine.
The others looked at other memories form the past, and a somber mood enveloped them. Ocea grabbed a small key from the bottom of the box, long forgotten by even Raine. She held it up, it's glass like metal shone in the candlelight. She replaced the articles in the box, closing the lid. She left the room hurriedly, taking no heed of her surroundings, or so it appeared.
Fighter
When I, thought I knew you
Thinking, that you were true
I guess I, I couldn't trust
'Cause your bluff time is up
'Cause I've had enough
You were, there by my side
Always, down for the ride
But your, joy ride just came down in flames
'Cause your greed sold me out of shame, mmhmm
After all of the stealing and cheating
You probably think that I hold resentment for you
But, uh uh, oh no, you're wrong
'Cause if it wasn't for all that you tried to do
I wouldn't know just how capable I am to pull through
So I wanna say thank you
In all reality, she had been keeping one eye before her. No one had noticed that scene that was playing out. *She kneeled at Hades feet, his black cloaks surrounding him like a black fog. She sat crying, and pleading for the Squall's life, them both knowing his true identity. Hades laughed mockingly, and kissed her, his defiled tongue slipping into her mouth. She attempted to slap him, but he caught her hand before contact was made.
'Cause it makes me that much stronger
Makes me work a little bit harder
It makes me that much wiser
So thanks for making me a fighter
Made me learn a little bit faster
Made my skin a little bit thicker
Makes me that much smarter
So thanks for making me a fighter
Oh, ohh
His teeth removed the glove from her hand, the black leather tasting pleasant to his foul mouth. Latisha had been summoned, her wrath unquenched. She used her other hand to strike him, but he caught that one too. She looked at him in hate, and lust, his own red, and black eyes peering into her soul. She trembled, but held her ground. Rising to his eye level, her jaw clenched, her hormones, and hate raging a battle in her shattered soul. His hand ran through her black, and blue hair, brushing against her cheek. She looked at him furiously, jerked her face away, and told him to let Squall live. He smiled, and took her, her arms pushing him away in vain, her teeth sinking into his neck, black blood oozing from his wounds. She desperately tried in vain, screaming, and tearing into his back with her claws to be released, but soon her spirit was completely broken, and gave up. He tore at her, her shredded clothes falling away like feathers.
Never, saw it coming
All of, your backstabbing
Just so, you could cash in
On a good thing before I realized your game
I heard, you're going around
Playing, the victim now
But don't, even begin
Feeling I'm the one to blame
'Cause you dug your own grave, uh huh
Raine rushed into the room, sealing the evil out. Chants fell form her lips as if water. Hades left, annoyed that a mere mortal could make him leave; he swore revenge, and left in a small portal.
After all of the fights and the lies
Yes you wanted to harm me but that won't work anymore
Uh, no more, oh no, it's over
'Cause if it wasn't for all of your torture
I wouldn't know how to be this way now, and never back down
So I wanna say thank you
Latisha lay on the floor, but arose. A new flame of hate, and betrayal filled her eyes, a new will to avenge set. She had given up momentarily, but her new will for his death would keep her going a little linger. She decided then he would be slain too, and that she would be the one to slaughter him. Her scratched, and barely clothed body stood stiffly in the moonlight, blood trickled down her leg, and she cried out in hate at him.
'Cause it makes me that much stronger
Makes me work a little bit harder
Makes me that much wiser
So thanks for making me a fighter
Made me learn a little bit faster
Made my skin a little bit thicker
It makes me that much smarter
So thanks for making me a fighter
She never explained to Raine why he had come, feeling it would only worry Raine more, and that she would blame herself for being with child. Ocea became with child herself that night, but none knew. By then she had secluded herself from all, and the child died at birth, joining its father in the underworld. *
Ocea sat on a box by the car, clutching the box. The day that the child died was the day that Latisha had killed Julia. Even then the end of that memory hurt he deep. The others came out after her since the memories stopped when she shut the box. Tears streamed down her cheek, and she zoned out. Quistis saw her first, and tried to console her. However, Ocea never stirred, but remained motionless, and oblivious to those around her. Squall eventually picked her up, and took her to the Venus, the stair door shutting automatically.
They boarded in silence, and left to Esthar. When they lifted off, she regained her composure, acting as if nothing was wrong. Here will for revenge was rekindled, her longing for suicide lessened. She would kill that mother f---er if it were the last thing she'd do. Latisha kept that from her, the one half protecting the other. Latisha had dressed, and let Ocea take over after her wounds had healed. But soon Latisha found of her condition, and took over until the child had died, and Ocea never realized what wrong had been committed against her. Her own set of fangs grew long, her hands clenched as blood poured from them onto the ground.
Squall sat next to her, and put his hand on hers. She looked at him, her eyes dilated with hate, and her chest rose, and fell furiously as she hyperventilated. He realized that she was fighting herself to a degree, holding onto her temper. He looked into her eyes, her seething rage that Ocea rarely showed evident.
[Dizzy]
You're cynical and beautiful
You always make a scene
You're monochrome delirious
You're nothing that you seem
I'm drowning in your vanity
Your laugh is a disease
You're dirty and you're sweet
You know you're everything to me
Squall: Latisha?
Everything you are
Falls from the sky like a star
Everything you are
Whatever ever you are
Ocea (shakes her head): mildly laughs at his question No.
Squall: What's wrong?
Ocea: …
Squall: Tell me, I'm here now.
I wanna kick at the machine
That made you piss away your dreams
Tear down your defenses
Til' there's nothing there but me
You're angry when you're beautiful
Your love is such a tease
I'm drowning in your dizzy noise
I wanna feel you scream
Ocea (opening her mouth, exposing her fangs): I'm a little pissed right now.(returns to her thoughts)
Squall: That's the understatement of the year…. What's wrong?
Everything you are
Falls from the sky like a star
Everything you are
Whatever ever you are
Ocea: Memories that have been long ignored. Things that have resurfaced that should have died away. I will deal with it… in my own way.
Her jaw clenched once more, her eyes staring ahead into nothingness. He sat, staring at her in confusion, unknowing to what had happened so many years ago.
Note: I had to work in "Dizzy" somehow. The lyrics was so cool, and I liked it, and why am I even explaining this? Oh, so I don't sound conceited. I am not conceited, but sometimes selfish (aren't we all?).
