Hunted By The Shadows

Chapter Ten

The endless white fields of snow expanded on the horizon. Mountains in the distance had new snow settled on their peak, reflecting off the sun high in the sky making it seem to almost glow. Rinoa starred out the train window, admiring the beautiful scenery that was presented outside. The temperature had dropped dramatically, compared to when they had left Deling City a few hours ago, yet the cold temperature in Trabia didn't bother her at all. She admired the beautiful landscape around her.

Seeing some buildings in the far distance she turned to face her companion. "Looks like we're nearly there" she said watching the quiet man beside her. He hadn't spoken most of the journey, however she didn't care, she was glad he had agreed to come with her here in the first place.

Squall looked up from the book he had been reading throughout the journey, and looked out in the distance. "We'll probably arrive in a few minutes," he stated simply, then returned back to his book.

Rinoa frowned at his lack of communication and observed the book he was reading. It was the same book he had showed her when he had explained everything to her. The day she found out she was going to die. The memory made her mouth go dry, she still didn't want to think about it. Taking her mind away from the thought she returned her gaze back on Squall, he looked so serious. "You know, reading that same story over and over again isn't going to get you any closer to solving this" she said with a smile, hoping to make some conversation.

"Maybe not" he stated plainly, looking up to meet her eyes briefly before returning back to his book.

"Then why do you keep reading it?" she asked "You must have read it enough times in the last two hours we've been sat here, you probably could recite it" Her response from Squall was a shrug of the shoulders. Sighing in defeat from trying to make simple conversation, she returned her attention back out of the window. The once vast area of frozen tundra had now formed into many buildings, as they entered the outskirts of the town. She was distracted temporarily as she heard the crackling from the speakers, as the driver spoke.

"We are about to be arriving in Trabia in approximately two minutes. Please collect all of your belongings and make sure no items are left before you exit the train. We hope you enjoyed the train journey, and thank you for travelling with Trabia Rails"

From the side of her, Rinoa laughed as she saw Squall frown from the tacky sounding announcement. He looked at her for a moment, confused at what she was laughing at, then stood to collect his belongings together ready for the departure. The train slowed down and stopped with a sudden halt as they entered the station.

Departing from the train, Rinoa stopped suddenly as a bitter cold wind ran through her hair. The ice breeze pressed against her skin like a mask, as if trying to suffocate her. She watched as a small cloud of smoke escaped her lips as she exhaled, her hot breath mixing with the cold air that surrounded them. She instinctively wrapped her arms around her chest as she tried to warm herself.

Squall turned to look at her. "It's not that bad, once you get used to it."

"You've been here before?" she asked, still trying to keep herself warm.

He nodded. "Once or twice," he said turning on the souls of his feet and making his way in the direction of the exit leading out of the station and into the sub-zero town. Once out in the streets he turned back to Rinoa. "Have any idea where you're going?"

Taking out a small folded piece of paper, Rinoa looked at the address "Do you?" she asked, remembering him saying he had been here before.

Squall shook his head "Maybe we should find a hotel first, I'd hate to spend the night sleeping on the streets in this weather," he said watching a visibly freezing Rinoa "Then maybe we can ask someone where we need to go"

She quickly agreed and followed as Squall began to walk down the street. "There's one just around the corner," he said without slowing down. He quickly turned into the next street and as Rinoa tried to change direction found her feet give way beneath her as she slid along some ice. She landed hard on the ground with a thud. Her cheeks quickly turned a crimson red as she looked up to see an amused looking Squall, she swore for a moment she saw a slight smile on his face.

"Well I'm glad I could entertain you," she said sullenly as she stretched a hand upwards. "Care to give me a hand?"

Squall stood suddenly feeling awkward for a moment as the gesture was presented to him. He stiffly reached his gloved hand out to her bare hand and helped her back on her feet. He looked at her hand, looking a light shade of pink from the cold as it sat, still placed in his own hand. His eyes locked in hers for a moment, and he found himself unable to look away. He could still feel the contact of her hand in his, bringing a foreign comfort to his senses. "Maybe you should get some gloves" he said pulling his hand away and returned back to making his way towards the hotel.

Rinoa stood still for a moment, watching as he walked away from her. A strange sadness filled her, but she quickly discarded it as she saw him make his way to a building, which she assumed to be the hotel. She began walking at a quick pace, yet at the same time watching where she placed her feet, in case she stood on ice again. As she entered the hotel she felt a warm breeze blow on her face from the heating inside.

Rubbing her hands together, she stepped further into the reception area. Looking around, she saw a wooden receptionist desk in front of them, a woman stood behind it. Her red curly hair stretched down to the middle of her back. She smiled as she saw the two guests approach the desk.

"Hi there," she said sweetly. "How can I help you?"

"Have you got any spare rooms for the night?" Rinoa asked.

She looked down to the checking book behind the desk. "Yes, we do," she said smiling brightly "Would that be a room for the two of you lovers?"

"Actually we're not-"

"Okay, I'll just get the key for you" the bubbly woman said cutting Squall off half way through his sentence. She grabbed a key from the wall and handed it over to Squall. "You're expected to be out your room by 4pm tomorrow, or if you need to stay another night you should book before noon. Have a nice stay."

Rinoa saw the angry look on Squall's face as he snatched the key from the happy receptionists hands. She followed closely as they made their way down the corridor towards where their room was located, and paused for a moment as Squall unlocked the door. "It's not that bad sharing a room with me is it?" she asked observing his miserable face.

Squall frowned as he looked at Rinoa. He twisted the doorknob and entered inside the room, placing his bags down on the floor by the wall in the corner. Rinoa looked around the room. It was simple by taste; a sofa sat at the edge of the room. Above the sofa there was a large window that looked over the snowy mountains, covered in virgin snow at their peak. On the left- hand wall there was a door that led to the bathroom. Against the right wall there rested a double bed, which Squall took liberties at by scowling at it.

"I'll sleep on the sofa," he said studying the stunning views out of the window. He looked over his shoulder to see Rinoa place her bags down, and sat on the bed. She saw Squall looking at her and smiled, taking off her jacket. She looked at her watch to see it was 5pm.

"I think it would be best visiting Selphie Kinneas tomorrow," she said smoothing imaginary creases on her black trousers. "It is getting a little late now" Rinoa looked in the distance to the gradually darkening sky in the horizon. It was too early to go to sleep, and sleep was the last thing she wanted right now, for that would mean that her dreams would come once more.

Squall nodded. "Do you know what you are going to say to her yet?"

Rinoa shook her head. "I'm not sure," she said looking to the ground "I guess I'll just have to say that I want to help her find out exactly what happened to her husband, and see how much she does actually know herself"

"And what happens if she doesn't know anything, or you upset her?" he asked, his voice sounding monotone.

Rinoa shrugged her shoulders slightly "I guess it's a risk I'll have to take," she looked over to Squall who was leaning against the far wall. "You don't think it's a good idea do you?" she asked, "You don't want me to go?"

Squall looked to the ground "You do whatever you want. I'm not going to order you around"

Rinoa sat silent for a moment, after hearing Squall's last comment. She decided to leave the conversation topic at hand, for she knew Squall didn't want to visit this victims wife, she could tell by the look in his eye. Deciding to change the subject she stood from her place at the end of the bed, and rummaged through her belongings to get a warmer coat.

"You said you had been here before" she stated, pulling on her coat "Maybe you can show me around, it seems like a nice town"

Squall looked at her for a moment, and then decided that he should take her offer. At least being outside would make a change from being stuck inside this small room for the rest of the night.

The two made their way out of the hotel, and back into the freezing temperatures. The sky had darkened since they had first arrived; the sun was turning a darker shade of red as it lowered in the sky behind the mountains. She followed behind Squall quietly, observing the town around her. He was always so serious, she had noticed this the first few times they had met. The only time she had ever seen him smile, even though it was for a split second, was today at her own misfortunes. She couldn't help her lips curl up into a smile at the thought that crossed her mind.

Squall walked intently along the streets of Trabia, he hadn't visited for a long time. The few times he had visited he had been alone, now he was here with someone he had only recently met. He could hear her footsteps a few paces behind him. Why had he agreed to come here with her? The reason he came before was because it was such a quiet town, and most people kept their distance. It had been a kind of quiet solitude, which he had discovered; he came when he wanted some time away from the busy Deling City.

He was here with Rinoa, to see a wife of a victim. He didn't want Rinoa to come here and visit her, for he knew that it wouldn't bring any good. He didn't need to visit someone who had experienced the same death they were going to experience. His mind suddenly became plagued with the thoughts of the girl in his dreams. He had been there, seen her fallen body collapsed on the floor. He had already been through the experience of seeing someone close to him die because of these dreams. Whatever was behind the dreams, he knew he had to find out.

He stopped in his tracks suddenly as he realised he could no longer hear Rinoa's footsteps behind him. He turned around, only to be greeted with a freezing sting arouse on his face suddenly, and the sound of laughter emerging. Wiping the snow off his face he turned to see Rinoa trying to look innocent as she tried to hide the smile on her lips. She looked up to see a not-so-amused Squall staring back at her. This caused her to lose control of herself as she burst out laughing.

She put her hands up in defeat "Sorry Squall," she said still laughing "I couldn't help myself, it was an urge."

Authors note: I was going to write them visiting Selphie, and then I got carried away developing the relationship between Squall and Rinoa. So you'll have to wait until I next update! Ha! I'm so evil, but I really don't want to rush things, because the story will start to quicken up its pace after this and I want this experience writing this story to last a little longer than it would. Seriously, I'm really enjoying writing this, and I'm not really bothered about how many reviews I get. After all, I'm writing this for myself, and not to see how many reviewers I can get, but that doesn't mean I don't want any reviews... :)