Author's Note: *looks at her reviews box* It's empty. Please…review this. I'm putting a lot of work into it. And with that, let's get on with the chapter.
Outbreak
Chapter 2
Alexandria Castle
Kuja Tribal:
I stared at my painting for a very long time…just studying it. I had to wonder if the vision was timed or something. How could I have known this was going to happen? I rubbed my arm gently, being careful not to aggravate the wounds there. You see, I didn't tell Zidane where the red paint came from. Heh, it wouldn't take him long to figure it out. Not long at all. All of the areas in the painting were connected by the blood and the little girl.
But Silver destroyed the girl. That meant that this was over, right? So why did I feel so unsettled? I got up from my chair and walked to the window on the other side of my room. I was on the side of the castle where the lake could be seen. I liked it that way. I mean…the lake was an excellent subject. It always has. I pushed my window open somewhat, letting some fresh air in. It ruffled some of my front feathers, but I didn't care all that much.
What bothered me was…the fact that Zidane's friends had seen it too. Why them? Was someone trying to kill me? Or anyone else? A brisk knock at my door, making me jump. I guess I was so deep in thought that sound wasn't familiar to my ears anymore.
"Yes…?"
My voice echoed throughout the room eerily.
"Hey Kuja, we're about to start the meeting. Are you still coming?"
Zidane. I threw my robe on the bed and double-checked my normal clothing underneath.
"Hold on, Zidane."
I picked up the painting from earlier and opened the door. Zidane nodded and started down the hallway. I followed after him slowly, letting my thoughts wander. What if someone was attacking those areas to flush people out? But if…something like a virus were released on Gaia…
"Catastropic," I muttered to myself.
Zidane stopped in front of a pair of large double doors and gave me a wary look.
"What was that?"
"Oh…um nothing."
"Are you sure?"
I nodded, wishing that he would just leave me alone. It wasn't like I was annoyed with him…I just wanted time to think. And that was just not going to happen. Zidane opened the double doors to the conference room with a huff. Several pairs of eyes just stared at me as if I was nonexistent…or dead. Had their reaction been anything less, I believe I would have shot myself. And then someone spoke.
"I don't believe you let him live, Zidane. He doesn't deserve a—"
It was Freya, the native from Burmecia who spoke first. Zidane and Garnet moved to interrupt her at once, but it was I who finally stopped it.
"I know you think that I don't deserve to live. I can read your expression just as well as I can paint. Now…stop wasting my time and get on with this meeting."
Silence. Good.
"Listen, we are all here to talk about the mysterious happenings at our homes," Zidane began.
"By the gods, everyone in Burmecia is dead. Killed by some…child!" Freya shouted.
"It killed all of the dwarves," Vivi said softly.
"And it got Dali," Zidane whispered.
I ducked in a corner and sat there, shrouded by shadows. Condie Petie…Dali…Burmecia…why? What did Qu's March have to do with it? All by a child…why? What significance did the child have? A sharp chill went through my body and my vision went blank. And then, I was in the center of Qu's March, knee-deep in march-water. Dead frogs littered the surface of the water all along my body. Cranes lay along with them, their bodies bloody and broken.
'What is this?'
'This is where it all started. You won't have long if you want to stop it and me.'
'What do you mean?'
Laughter. The frogs and cranes disappeared and the march began to bubble violently. Two long dead Qu bodies floated up to the surface. I gagged when I finally recognized who they were: Quan and Quina.
'What did you do to them?'
'I infected them and they died. Just like those after them…except for your friends.'
'You mean Zidane's friends.'
'They are equal prey.'
'Shut up. You act as if you have already defeated them!'
'…I've conquered you.'
My body erupted in pain almost immediately, turning my vision white. I grabbed the side of the chair, attempting to brace myself.
"Kuja!"
Another wave of pain shot through my body and I screamed. I had never felt pain like this before…and I wasn't sure how long I was going to last.
"Kuja what's wrong with you? Get up!"
I reached out with my hand and grabbed on to whatever I deemed appropriate.
"Zidane…I…I'm…having trouble b-breathing…"
"Cura!"
Pain rocked my body, bathing my vision in white hot fire. I shrieked.
"That's strange…Cura always works…"
I fought against the urge to scream 'Well it's NOT working' in her face. I doubt that would have helped.
"Kuja, tell us where it hurts."
Was that a stupid question? It hurt everywhere, especially my stomach.
"Everywhere…"
"Someone get an ambulance! Hurry!"
Conference Room-Two Hours Later
Zidane Tribal:
If you would have asked me to describe what happened within the last few hours, I would have said chaos, pure and simple. I wasn't sure I could leave him in the hospital alone. Kuja…had a problem with doctors hovering around his body. Well…I doubt he had enough power to be catastrophic. The others looked at me solemnly, knowing how I felt about my brother. They were kind enough to not mention his role in this mystery. I sat Kuja's painting down on the table softly. Dagger picked it up and stared at it.
"The red paint…it's blood," She whispered.
"Blood? Let me see," Freya muttered.
Dagger handed the painting over with a frown. Freya ran her claws over the surface lightly and grimaced.
"Whoever did this must have been stricken with creative madness. It's like the blood was mixed with the paint."
Oh…Kuja…I don't believe you. I knew he didn't tell me about that on purpose. It wasn't like he cared about me worrying about him, he just didn't want me in his business. He was just funny that way.
"Who made this, Zidane?" Freya asked.
"Kuja…did."
"How? Seeing as how Kuja cares more about his appearance than anything else, how would he obtain blood?"
"He said he had a vision while he was painting and when it was over, this was the end result."
"The child that attacked me…it's in all of them."
Eiko got up from her chair and stared at the picture.
"That's funny. I didn't see the child in Condie Petie."
Freya gave Eiko a concerned look.
"You didn't?"
"Nope."
A soft knock came at the double doors to the conference room, startling us all. I opened them with a sigh and saw…
"Mikoto."
"At your service."
She walked inside the conference room and brought out a large sheet of parchment paper.
"Read it."
I picked it up and scanned over it.
"'Greetings King Zidane and others. It may have come to your attention that many people have fallen ill…in various towns. And…Kuja has fallen ill as well. It's a disease you see. A disease you can't see. It infects the host within twenty-four hours and turns it's organs into mush. Heh…you'll barely have days to save him. Worried? Not as much as you will be when I say that there's no cure. But you knew that right? It's a shame that you can't find me…but oh well. I'll entertain myself by spreading the virus all over Gaia.'"
Author's Note: Cliffy. Muahaha. Want more? Review it.
