Chapter 3: Noise And Demons

Whoever has watched the movie "the advocate" (the one starring keanu reeves) and has somewhat knowledge of thought provoking demons should have an idea of how serious this chapter is and how it helps bring Paine out of her inner demons. This story implements the need of help in any given situation. And can prove just how hard it is to deal stuff alone, and the guilt of selfishness.


Paine laid on her bed, staring blankly at the tainted glass window before her eyes. The slow soft whispers of raindrops ever so lightly smashing up against the glass, as if trying to break into this prison. The stars were slowly beginning to show their color, slowly overcoming its misty counterpart. Rikku had left Paine alone in her own private room to sulk to herself, while Rikku happily chatted the night away with Tidus and Yuna.

"Ya, um, ya know Yunie," Rikku said stuttering, "Paine's been really weird, and I'm not talking about her usual gloomy state, she's like, weird scary, like she's some enigma. You think you know anything about this? It's really creeping me out!"

Yuna eyed Rikku hard before opening her mouth, "Rikku… I think you just need some fresh air, girl's go through stages in life, and this happens, Paine's just experiencing hers at this moment, just leave her alone."

Tidus jumped at the opportunity and reminded the two young women of a celebration held at Besaid for some religious belief, "So ya wanna go ladies?"

Rikku quickly nodded and began jumping up and down with immediate excitement. Reminding both Yuna and Tidus of a wild Chocobo on the loose.

"Yippe Yippe! Par-Tay!!" Rikku gleamed.

"Don't forget Rikku… Paine is still here, you might want to ask her before we go anywhere, it'll be a pain in the ass to wake up and find that everyone is gone." said Yuna.

"Yeah I know, don't go worrying yer ugly little head off, I made sure that Paine would be fine! I visited her earlier before we had this oh such wonderful conversation!"

"Well with that being said… let's go to the celebration then!" Yuna said while pumping her fist in the air, and while grabbing hold of Tidus arm tightly.

Sweat, heat, and stuffiness baffled the young platinum haired warrior she clenched her fist tightly together and put them up against the wall. Paine felt as if she was going to meet her demise, her breathing became quick atrocious inhalation. Beginning to lose her consciousness, Paine slowly opened the door leading to the original 3 beds Yuna, Paine, and Rikku used to sleep in.

The ground eerily creaked after each step Paine took towards the ever so far stairs.

'Look at what you've done you wretched witch outcast!…'

Paine stumbled to simply reach the stairs, which was short a few feet away, her short gasp for air quickly wore on the warrior, the feeling of dying. Paine had the need to rid of the unknown burden confined within her. A brilliant flash of lightning displayed Paines hurt expression trying desperately just to reach one simple goal. Paine shook her head vigorously, trying to get the ringing that was forming in her mind.

"RIKKU COME HERE! I…I can't BREATHE, Rikku! Brother…anyone?!"

The crew of the ship had already left for the shores of Besaid for a celebration… they had left way before Paine had any saying in this situation.

"You can't be," Paine began, with a noticeable voice of stress, "Fucking serious!" The young warrior collapsed. Her hand acted as if they had butterflies within them, they shook like fiercely, still trying to get a grab of the handles of the stairs. Paine stared hard at the handle, focusing in a meditating matter. She finally reached the paradise of the handles, and began lifting herself up, and towards the steps…

Thud, thud…

Paine snapped her head towards the sudden source of noise, cautiously eyeing every corner of the awkwardly dark room. She laid her eyes suspiciously at the very strangely dim lighted corner of the room. Suddenly a flash randomly flew right by Paines slow reacted eyes.

She felt sweat build up within herself, Paine had a distinct feeling that some terrible entity would come and take her away to kill her. Even with the stills of the wind blowing against the ship calmed Paine down considerably, it still was not enough to shake her thoughts out of her head.

"What in the-" Paine thought out loud. Wild thoughts of murder sprung up in her mind, as the strange noise were to loud, it was as if the noise was straight ahead of her feet.

"Hiya Dr. P! Whatcha up to?"

Paine stared at the shadowy figure which seemed to sound a lot like Rikku, and look like her. The unusual sound of silence began to plague the two. Only broken by the repeated question of 'Rikku'. Much like a broken record player, the strange entity still continued its now annoying favorite phrase.

"Hiya Dr. P! Whatcha up to?!"

Paine could already sense the tension between her and this entity. She had no freaking idea who or what the hell this thing was. Just then the figures face appeared right in front of Paine's sight, which in the process pushed Paine further back, furtherer away from the stairs.

The sight was a horrible one… the face of a demon, staring evilly at the poor women before it. Snarling, and snapping its terrible teeth together, Paine watched as the demon repeated it's sentence with a distinct sense of deja vu . Paine could see that this face was beginning to become emotionless, and more transparent. And began to pick herself up, prepared to run to safety.

"Rikku! Yuna…Please Anyone!" Paine's useless shouting became less frequent, "Please, someone help me…" At this point Paine had finally cracked, she broke down in the middle of the room and curled into a ball.

Paine dared not take a peek at the sight of that awful monster she saw beforehand. But here she is thinking about death again, ruined and crumbled upon the floor, the cold hard floor, much like suffocating, Paine felt. Her only true desire is to get the hell out of this damned place and find her friends.

'Friends… yes, friends… Yuna and Rikku… no, not Yuna. Just Rikku.'

'Paine… you have no friends remember… you called me your one and only friend remember? Our unbreakable friendship together?'

Paine had just about had enough, hearing her inner demons is bad, but getting Baralai's voice within her mind was just plain crazy, not to mention pathetic.

Still yearning to get out, Paine painfully tried to maneuver her way out of the airship, now with the condition that her legs and mind are totally wrecked beyond immediate and full usage, but with the picture of that demon still lingering within the depths of her thoughts, Paine pushed on that thought, helping her move towards the elevator. Paine had finally managed to reach the elevator, but with no avail… the powers to the damn ship was not working.

Paine laid her back towards the control panel to work the elevator and sighed in deep, seemingly lost in thought.

The party seemed to be at its climax point, from above, the small island of Besaid seemed like it was caught in a thousand miles of fire, glaring the views of any who would dare take a peek at the highlight of a celebration. Rikku, as usual was the center of attention, basically grabbing any guy in her line of fire and dancing her heart and soul out, still she dared not grab Tidus, for she feared what her cousin would unleash upon her.

Out of the shadows Tidus immediately grabbed Rikku's shoulder turning her around abruptly, and interrupting Rikku from her bump-and-grinding (A/N: otherwise known as freak dancing ) )

"Rikku…don't you think you should check on Paine? I mean, she must be awake and pretty upset that you just left with telling her about anything," Tidus stated at the buck wild Rikku, "I don't even think you spoke to Paine about this party at all… not that most of us remembered about it, but yeah, you get the idea."

The music grew only louder, deafening the sound of Tidus' voice, barely able to hear anything but a whisper from Tidus, Rikku got the message and walked towards a table where Yuna was seated, with a whisky in hand. (A/N: I don't know about you guys, but when I think of Yuna with a whisky, I just have to laugh my ass off.)

"Hiya Tidus and Yunie, whats up?" Rikku announced tiredly, her quick and rasp breaths only made her more tired, and less able to hear Tidus and Yuna.

Yuna peeked over to Tidus, and took the split second to begin talking. "Look Rikku, I'm glad you're having such a wonderful time, but I think it's time for you to check up on Paine, and as a friend, and as a cousin, I think you should stick around there, and wait for Tidus and I to return to the ship."

To Yuna and Tidus dismay, Rikku pouted and kicked dirt onto their shoes. "WHAT?! Are you expecting me to help her now?! In such a crucial time? At the time I'm having the most fun in the point of my life before my mid-life crisis kicks in, are you nuts?!"

Yuna nodded buoyantly, "Well of course! It happens Rikku. I apologize, maybe tomorrow I'll go buy you ice-cream or something."

Rikku spoke up, "I can't," without evening reaching mid-way towards her sentence, Rikku began to stutter, "I-I c-ca-ca-can't b-believe you Y- Yunie! My own family?!"

Tidus giggled and took this opportunity to respond to Rikku's slow reactions to head over to the ship. "Well what are you waiting for? A written invitation? Get your butt over to the ship! Pronto!"

Rikku was finally kicked to the curb, and began walking towards the ship, with the sound of crickets in the background, and the source of relaxation, from the peacefulness of the Besaid cool and calm jazz music session booming from the party.

'Why should I go help Paine… I mean, what if she's not even awake?! Stupid Tidus, making me do this and that… just so he can get into Yunie's pants, that jerk.

"Damnit Paine, you are a pain in the ass!." Rikku's thoughts have leaked out of her mouth, "I can't believe you! If only you weren't such a pain I would be enjoying myself! UGH."

That's it, I'm going back to the party whether anyone likes it or NOT!"

Rikku turned around sharply, not even giving a glance back towards the airship that was right before her, and begin walking back towards the party at a brisk pace.

Paine had seen this from the small window she had managed to crawl up to and look for assistance. But according to Paine's eyes, Rikku had left her for dead here, in a demon infested wormhole… to die.

Yes Paine…did you just not witness that? Your so called friend had walked out on you, not even glancing or checking to see whether you were alive or dead. Now, leave with me, leave with me!

Paines eyes gazed longingly at the unpaved roads of Besaid, staring so hard, she almost felt as if her inner spirit was actually outside, enjoying life, rather than sulking within it. The roads began to blur, and whiten.

'Are these tears? The moons reflection? The final hour? So is this what my Baralai experienced before his death…? I hope Rikku can live without me then. Let this death be a lesson for her.'


WHEW WHAT a chapter huh?! Goddamn, I had this chapter plotted so long ago but could never get the time to type it up, high school, hw, cs, and all of the normal teenage stuff. Anyways im sorry for the delay in this chapter, I promise it will not take this long ANYMORE! Please r/r!!!!