Hunted By The Shadows
Chapter Six
The black material trailed its way to the ground. She looked at it nervously for a moment in the mirror. Why did she feel so nervous? She didn't know the answer. Her eyes stayed fixed on the long flowing material, it felt silky under her fingertips. She took a step back examining it once more. The long black dress hung off her body curves and flowed freely to the ground. It showed a tasteful amount of cleavage and a slit on one side of her dress revealing one of her legs. She hadn't been one for wearing revealing clothes, but she was single and she knew you only live once. Why not live a little?
She took one last look at herself in the mirror before stepping out of her room. She saw Amy look up from the magazine she had been reading to study her friend. A smile formed on her lips as she studied her friend. "Wow, get you," she said to the raven haired girl, "You're certainly going to have guys crawling on the floor for you tonight"
Rinoa shook her head and rolled her eyes at her friends comment. Amy gave a wink and walked to the window in Rinoa's apartment. She was dressed in a navy blue dress, which flowed freely down to her ankles. "You think Zell can find his way here?" Rinoa said picking up a brush and running it through her hair.
"Probably, if he knows where I live I'm sure he'll find his way here. He's probably just been held up," she said turning to Rinoa. "So... this guy Zell keeps talking about, you think he's going to show up tonight?"
Rinoa looked at her friend confused at whom she was talking about, then her expression dropped as she realised who. She couldn't help her gaze turn to the ground as she remembered what had happened the day before. Why had he left like that? They had only just met, could she really scare him off that quickly? She remembered his face, those stormy blue eyes and that scar. It was a face she would remember, one she couldn't get out of her mind. His expression had changed; she wasn't sure what it was. Fear? Why would he go from that serious expression, to fear? Some things didn't make sense.
Her thoughts stopped as she realised Amy was still expecting an answer from her so she simply shrugged her shoulders "Who knows" she said trying to sound as thought she didn't care "Maybe, but he'll probably be with someone anyway."
Amy studied Rinoa for a second, then shook her head "I doubt it, he's in the library everyday. He's always alone, until Zell started talking to him anyway" she said thinking about the mysterious man "Come to think of it, he must be there nearly all day. Why would anyone want to be there all day?"
"Maybe he's studying" Rinoa said as she saw her friends bemused expression. She watched as Amy looked at her in doubt, "People study" she said pointing out the obvious still unsure why she was defending a guy she had only met once. Their conversation was interrupted when there was a knock at the door. She turned from her friend and walked towards the door. Zell stood wearing a black tuxedo with a rose in his hand, obviously for Amy.
He smiled when he saw Rinoa at the door "Hey Rin" he studied Rinoa "wow, you're really going to knock Squall out tonight". He gave Rinoa a wink as the smile widened on his features. He walked assertively towards Amy and handed her the rose before holding his arm out. Amy linked arms with him to complete the gesture. "Sorry it took me a long time to get here. It's just so hard to walk with this damn suit, plus there was the traumatic experiences of looking like a penguin"
The two girls couldn't help but laugh at his behaviour. He looked at the two girls in shock "I'm being serious you know" he said with a playful tone in his voice. He eyed the two girls before returning back to a happier expression "Lets go party then" he said before stepping out of the door.
The car pulled up outside the ballroom. Zell quickly opened the door and held it open for the two women. The night sky had begun to pull it and a cool wind was beginning to pick up. Rinoa looked up the stone steps to the large building in front of them. Large wooden doors stood at the top, and music was emanating from the inside.
Zell once again linked arms with Amy, whilst Rinoa walked alongside her two friends. As they reached the top Zell pushed open the doors and was greeted with an overwhelming view. The ballroom was decorated in elegant golds and silvers, the colours appeared throughout the room. In the centre of the room a large chandelier hung gracefully above the dancing couples. At the front of the room a large band was playing, their music danced across the entire room.
Immediately a waitress walked towards them, smartly dressed for the occasion. On her hand was a silver platter with several glasses of champagne. She proceeded to grant a glass to the three friends. Zell smiled as they walked away from the waitress. "Wow, free drinks as well...this looks like it's going to be an even better night than I imagined."
Amy frowned at his comment. "And I suppose you expect to help you walk home when you've had too much to drink."
Zell seemed to misinterpret this as he leaned in to hug her. He then turned to Rinoa. "See how much she loves me?" he said with a wink only to be playfully hit in the stomach, in response Zell acted injured for a moment before returning back to his normal stance. He then spun around as though he was looking for something. "Hmm...doesn't look like Squall is here yet," he said as he scanned the room.
"Maybe he's not coming" Rinoa said trying to sound cold, although deep down she couldn't help the budding feelings of hope that he would turn up tonight.
"Well, if not I'm sure there will be loads of other guys who want to dance with you" Amy said as she studied the people surrounding the dance floor then returned her attention back to her friend and smiled reassuringly. Zell took a step near Amy and took her hand in his own with a playful smile on his face.
"Would you care to dance?" he said placing a kiss on the top of her hand. He looked up to see her smile and roll her eyes at his attempts to be romantic. He couldn't help but be in a good mood tonight, the young woman standing in front of him was his date for the ball. He had finally found the courage to ask her that day at the library after his conversation with Squall, since then he had felt on top of the world.
Amy smiled down at Zell at his offer, she wanted dance with Zell, but she couldn't help feeling guilty leaving her friend alone. She turned her attention over her shoulder to Rinoa. "Is that okay?"
Rinoa looked at her friend "You don't have to ask permission from me, he is your date" she said with a reassuring smile at her friends concern, her tone turned more playful "Now go and have fun" she said pointing to the dance floor looking stern whilst trying not to laugh. She watched as the couple moved towards the dance floor and leaned against the pillar behind her.
It was then that she did what she had wanted to do since she had first entered the building. She scanned the room for the mysterious man whom she felt she had scared off the other day. She remembered Zell had said his name was Squall when they had been introduced. Squall. He looked so serious when he had turned around to face her. His facial expression only faltered just before he left. Since then, she had wanted to speak to him again, even if it was just to say sorry for whatever she did, and never see him again. She just really wanted to see him here, tonight.
She felt a presence coming near her and turned her attention back to the ball. A man was stood in front of her, his hair was black and spiked up and he wore an expensive looking tuxedo. "Hi" he said smoothly "I couldn't help you noticing you were alone and thought maybe you'd like to dance? A pretty girl like yourself shouldn't be by herself."
She stared blankly at the tall man stood in front of her for a moment unsure if she should take his offer. No harm could come of it, it's not like she was with anyone. Squall wasn't even here and there was no point going to a ball if she didn't even have at least one dance. Yet, she couldn't help stubborn thoughts in her mind telling her that she didn't want to dance, not with the man stood in front of her anyway. "Maybe later," she said slowly "It's just I'm supposed to be meeting someone".
It hadn't been a complete lie; Zell had said Squall would come. So in a way they would be meeting, but he just wasn't here. She really hoped that the man would accept her excuse and not see the guilty look on her face. She watched as he looked around him, and then back to Rinoa "This person you're meeting doesn't seem very good at keeping promises, and I'm sure he won't mind if you have one dance with someone else"
Rinoa looked up at the dark haired man and shook her head "I'm sorry, I just don't want to dance yet" she said walking away from him slowly.
"Won't you even let me get you a drink?" she heard his voice say behind her.
She turned to look at him over her shoulder "Sorry" she said amazed that this man was still pestering her "I just don't feel very well, so I'm going to go get some fresh air outside". Once again, she felt an idiot for lying to this stranger who was only trying to be nice.
"If you feel ill, perhaps I should come with you, so I know you're okay" he said softly, his eyes trailing down her body.
"My friends are here, I'll come to them if I feel any worse" she said before turning away from him and walking quickly in case he said anything more. She made her way through the crowds of people and sighed in relief when she saw the exit close by.
Once outside, she felt the freezing temperature on her skin making her shiver. She wrapped her arms around herself and leaned against the brick wall of the building. She turned her head up towards the sky amazed by how beautiful the moon looked as it glowed in the night sky. She looked deep into the sky at the stars, something that she used to do as a child. She always used to look to the stars, as if searching for something. She could still hear the music from inside the ballroom as if floating around her in the cold outside. A lone star flew through the sky leaving a trail behind it. A shooting star.
Rinoa turned her attention down from the sky as she heard footsteps near by. Turning her head to the right she was faced with a brown haired man. His stormy blue eyes looked back at her. "Squall" she said softly as she saw him step closer to her "I didn't think you were going to turn up tonight". She couldn't help the relieved feeling inside of her.
"I wasn't," he said simply, turning his attention away from her and up to the sky.
She studied him closely; he was dressed in a smart suit and tie. The dress attire that would be expected at a formal event such as this. "Then why are you dressed up?" she said slowly, feeling curious about what she should say. The feelings still lingered from the day before in the library, and she didn't want to scare him off again.
There was a long pause as Squall kept his attention at the sky. She gave up on expecting an answer and thought he probably hadn't heard what she had said. So she stayed there silent with him, stood in the freezing night, trying her hardest not to shiver too much.
"You cold?" he said. She turned to see him looking at her; she nodded her head wrapping her arms even tighter around herself. "Maybe you should go back inside, it might be warmer in there".
She looked back towards the door, which led towards the ballroom, then back to Squall, "Now that you're here, why don't you come in with me?" she said.
Squall slowly nodded his head before the two headed inside the elegant building. Once inside Squall studied the inside of the ballroom, he couldn't help noticing how stunning it looked. He saw Rinoa look back at him over her shoulder and smile before heading over to her two friends.
Zell looked at Rinoa then to Squall with a smile. "Yo Squall, you finally made it then" he said with his usual energetic emphasis and watched as Squall simply nodded in silent response.
Squall couldn't help but feel slightly uncomfortable stood with these three people stood by him. He watched as they talked and joked around with each other, although not listening to what they were saying. The thought still lingered in his mind of why he was actually here? It was the same thoughts as why he had walked that night past the Galbadia Hotel and stopped in his tracks to enter inside. Why had he gone to these places? Still he felt the same feelings inside him as if some kind of spell luring him into these places.
Today he was here for one reason only, although he wasn't sure how to approach the subject. So he tried the first thing that came to his mind, he slowly took a step closer to Rinoa "Would you like to dance?"
Rinoa turned her attention to Squall and couldn't help the smile form on her lips. "I'd love to," she said, her voice turning shy. She carefully took hold of his hand and led him towards the dance floor. She stopped as she found a place and turned to face Squall who looked increasingly uncomfortable in his current situation.
He watched as she took his arm and positioned his hand on her hip, he felt the warmth of her body and the silky feeling of her dress seemed to dance on his fingers. She then placed his hand in her own and they began to move with the music. The couple span around the room, their bodies moving in perfect synchrony.
He couldn't help but find himself staring into her eyes; he could feel himself getting lost within those chocolate-coloured eyes. Squall knew this would have to be the time to talk to her so he inhaled deeply before talking "That symbol" he said quietly "Why was it there on that piece of paper in the library?"
It felt like a dagger had pierced her skin as soon as the words left his lips, why was he asking such things? "I drew it," she said slowly, trying to erase the thoughts of the sword, which the symbol was on. The short sword, which the figure carried in her dreams.
He looked at her curiously "Why did you draw it?" he said seeing her eyes turn to the floor. They were no longer dancing, just stood there on the dance floor. He watched as she took hold of his arm and dragged him away from the dancing couples. The happy music now contrasting with the subject they were getting on to.
She led him back outside where they had met earlier and stood in silence for a moment before turning to look him in the face. "If I tell you, you'll probably think I'm crazy," she said quietly and turned her eyes to the floor. She wasn't sure why he was asking her this. "I saw it in a dream"
Squall looked down on her form as he saw her shivering from the coolness of the night. "Just one dream?" he said questioning her further. He saw her shake her head, he feared that would be the answer "The symbol, it comes in your dreams every night, doesn't it?"
Rinoa turned her eyes from the ground back up to Squall in confusion "How did you know that?" she asked. She looked on as she saw Squall suddenly look uncomfortable and turned his head away from her. It was then she felt the fear come over her "It's just a dream though, it doesn't mean anything" she said trying to ignore the way he had reacted.
Squall scoffed at her comment and stared down at her "It's not a dream Rinoa" he said raising his voice in anger "and it does mean something". He saw Rinoa look at him in fear and suddenly he felt guilty for raising his voice at her "I don't know what it is yet, I'm still searching for the answers" he said, softer this time.
Rinoa stared back at him "Why?" was all she could say "How?" Nothing made any sense to her anymore, she had been telling herself it was nothing more than a dream, and now he was telling her it was something more?
"I don't think they've been after you for that long, but they don't have a time limit," he said more to himself than to Rinoa "They've been haunting me since I was eight years old. I've been trying to find a way to stop them for the last few years"
Rinoa looked at Squall in shock "You have the dreams too?" she said slowly. Squall nodded his head and looked out in the distance.
There was a silence for the next few minutes where the two stood unsure of what to do or say next. Rinoa went through the conversation in her mind over and over. What did he mean when he said they? She couldn't help but feel sympathy towards Squall, she had only had these experiences for a while, but since he was eight years old? It was amazing how he never showed any fear at all. The thought suddenly struck her, was that why he had left in such a hurry when they were in the library? She played the scene over in her mind again; he had shown fear when he had seen the symbol.
"When I got here you asked me why I was dressed up" his voice said. She turned towards him to see him looking at her "I was going to come here, then when I got here I realised it wasn't something I would enjoy. I was just about to leave until I saw you stood outside alone" His voice trailed off and he returned back to silence once more as the darkness lingered around the pair of them.
Authors note: Longest chapter written so far! I hope it has made sense; things will start to reveal themselves as we write more. Please leave a review as they make me happy and give me encouragement to write more. Thank you!