Chapter 1 Accidents Do Happen...
Author's note: Heheh... due to a sudden burst of inspiration, and the fact that I'm about to continue studying, I've come up with yet another quall (squinoas don't kill me...) to replace 'Raising the Curtains', which has finally ended its long saga. Also to note that 'Dawn of Black Light' has uh... sort of drained me, and I'll have to halt that one first. Anyway, hope you will enjoy this one also, thank you!
Disclaimer: Any names, places, and characters you might seem familiar belong to Square. Anything you don't belongs to me.
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The grass flew under her feet, rustling noisily. The undergrowth scratched her bare legs as she stumbled on, groping in the dark. The night sounds were the least of her concerns, however. She could still hear them. Still feel them hounding her, like a fox on a hunt. Her heart was beating so loud she was sure they were more listening than sniffing her scent. Gripping her bag harder, she pushed herself to run faster.
"Darned reception..." Squall growled as he repeatedly tried to find a strong radio signal. Trust lonely country areas to have weak signals. He continuously flipped the station, all the while keeping his eyes on the road. It wasn't his idea of a scenic drive, but he needed to get back to Esthar - fast. And his flight has been confirmed departing from Timber at eleven the following morning. Damn, he swore. Winhill to Timber isn't a highway!
She continued to run, not caring about her stinging skin anymore, wanting desperately to sprout wings and fly free. Up ahead, she could see the forest begin to clear - a road! There must be houses there!
Squall stole a look at the dashboard clock. Two a.m. There's a port town about ten miles up - he could take a rest before boarding the first ship to Timber. In a way, he was relieved. He had spent a good part of the drive avoiding stupid hedgehogs and possums. At least they were just stupid possums -
She burst through the undergrowth and was instantly blinded by bright lights. Shielding her eyes, she suddenly screamed when she realized it was a car. Stumbling back, she fell and braced herself for impact.
Squall hit the brakes hard and swerved frantically, trying to keep his car under control. It seemed like an eternity when the car finally screeched to a halt. He still gripped the steering wheel with white knuckles, breathing hard. What in hell was that? It was too big for a possum, and it came out of nowhere -
Outside, on the road, the girl cowered with her arms shielding her head, shaking hard. Am I dead already? The vision of the huge headlights coming at her like a monster on a rampage was still playing in her mind, gripping her in icy terror. Hyne, please, let me die... just let me die...
"Hey!" Squall crouched down next to her and shook her hard. "Hey, are you okay? Answer me!" He tried to pry her arms away from her head to check if he had injured her, but the girl refused to budge. Squall was about to give up and leave when he heard shouting - a great many people. Looking at the bushes lining the roadside, he could faintly see the glimmer of torches, and people yelling. The girl suddenly jerked up in horror and wildly tried to break free of his grip. "Let me go!" She gasped, breathing hard. "Please, let me go!!!"
Squall tried to calm her down, desperate for assurance that she was not injured. "You sure you're alright? You look - "
"No!" She cried out, still struggling. The voice were coming nearer, and she could see the faint glow of torches coming her way. She suddenly gripped his shirt, wild-eyed. "Help me - " She gasped. "Help me, please - " She kept looking to the source of light, her eyes wide with terror.
Squall frowned. What is she so afraid of? He quickly assessed her conditions. She was badly scratched; she looked like she had been running for a while. But he could sense she didn't care about her scratches. Making up his mind, he grabbed her wrists and urged her to stand. "Come on."
She stared at him, eyes wide. He shook his head impatiently. "Hurry, or they'll catch you!"
She didn't need further explanations. She clambered into the backseat and Squall pressed on the gas pedal; hard - just as a group of rowdy men burst through the bushes. Pretty soon they had left their pursuers biting dust.
The girl peeked out through the back, eyes still wide. "They're not following!" She said shrilly.
"If they are I'd be out of options." Squall remarked dryly. The girl slumped back on the seat and uttered a long sigh. "I'm sorry for troubling you, Mr - "
Squall was silent for a while. Why was she running away? Did she commit a crime or something? Looking at her through the rearview mirror, he couldn't help noticing that she was quite a knock-out; provided she was cleaned up. But right now, she cold have been a tramp and anybody would have agreed so.
"Thank you."
He snapped out of his thoughts and frowned. The girl was blushing a little. "I troubled you. Did you just happen to pass?"
Squall grunted in reply. "One of them?"
Her eyes clouded. "I'm running away." She muttered. "I was being forced into marriage."
"Girls like you should." He commented off-handedly and completely missed the murderous look she gave him. He concentrated on driving. Maneuvering before was hard enough - going at top speed was sheer torture. He couldn't help but to run over a couple of hedgehogs - he hoped they wouldn't bust his tires. "What's your name?"
She hesitated. Okay, I'm in a car, going to goodness-knows-where with a complete stranger - who just saved my life (that's a plus) but what's gonna happen now? It's like one of those horror thrillers...
"Quistis." She finally answered. He nodded slightly. She was becoming decidedly uncomfortable. This guy is creepy, she thought. A real silent one. Eep! Aren't rapists always creepy?! "Um... maybe you can drop me off at the nearest town? I mean... I don't want to trouble you anymore..."
"The next town's about a couple of miles away from here." He said brusquely. "In any case, I'm headed there anyway."
He could almost feel her panic. Did she think I'm gonna do anything to her?! Typical woman. "Don't fret." He sighed. "I'm not what you think. If it makes you feel better, I just divorced my wife. I should be in the position to hate all women."
She giggled slightly. "Okay... so, I'm Quistis." She reintroduced herself. He looked at her for a moment. He wondered if he should tell her his name - perhaps she knew him (he was notorious). His ex-wife made a point to make him well-known.
"Leon." He said finally. She used to call him that. Besides, it's a name nobody would remember.
"Leon..." She rolled the name on her tongue, thinking. "Okay. Leon."
Some four hours later Squall pulled up in front of the train station. His rental-car office still hadn't opened up, but he figured he might as well leave it there. "Wake up." He nudged Quistis and the girl sleepily got up, wincing. "Where are we?"
"Timber." He answered shortly and lifted his overnight case out of the trunk. It was one hour before dawn. He might as well make the best of it.
She walked uncertainly behind him, not sure of what to do. He walked with a stride of a person who knew the place inside out - he must be an avid traveler. She on the other hand, had not gone around much.
"Welcome, sir." The receptionist greeted him warmly. "A single room?" She eyed Quistis and the girl flinched. She knew what she must look like - she had been running in the dark for ages and her arms and legs felt sore. Squall shook his head. "Two rooms please."
"I'm sorry, separate room are not available." She said sympathetically. "But we do have a family suite - two interconnecting rooms."
"I'll take it." Squall growled. Lack of sleep was making him decidedly grumpy. He tossed his credit card on the desk and the receptionist's eyes went large. "Mr. Leonhart sir! An honor!" She blushed and hurriedly registered his name. Quistis frowned. Leonhart? What's so special about him? She studied his back as they walked to the elevator. An actor, perhaps? He looked suited enough. But if he was she could have recognized him. He had a tall, broad shouldered frame and hair so silky her fingers itched to touch them.
"Sleep all you like." He opened the door to her room. "I'll be up by ten, so feel free to knock."
Ten?! She frowned as she went inside the bathroom. Wow... she could get used to this...
Yet she questioned the motives of her savior. Why did he rescue her? He was newly-divorced, wasn't he? Did he think she would be some kind of mistress?!
"Well, better make the best of it..." She sighed as she sank into the warm bath. Luxuriating in the warm water, she slowly reflected the day's horrible events.
~^^Flashback^^~
"I can't marry you." Seifer declared flatly. Quistis stared bewilderedly at him. "Why? Seifer, you promised me - "
"Things change." He interrupted, clenching his jaw. He roughly shoved his hands into his pockets. "You'll have to forget it."
She stared at him, not able to understand it. Seifer... she had known him for - ages! And he had never turned back on her, all these years. She refused to go to college because he promised he would marry her - "Wha - what's going on...?"
"It's non of your business." Seifer growled. "Look, it just doesn't cut it, okay?"
She still couldn't accept it. What happened to him? Suddenly her loving, playful Seifer was cold and distant. Ever since he returned from Deling...
"You met someone in the city, haven't you?" She asked in a half-whisper. She saw his face harden. Tears of anger welled in her eyes. "You left the country mouse for a city mouse, Seifer?! What kind of a man are you?!" She shrieked in his face and drew her hand back to hit him, but he stopped her. "That's no business of yours, I said!" He hissed. "Your father didn't approve of me anyway. He's gonna give you to Old Man Cid, so get ready."
"Old Man Cid?!" Quistis tore her hand away from his grasp. "I get it now! He sold me, didn't he?! How much did he pay you to keep away from me, you bastard?! How much did that drunken laggard give you?!!!" She screamed.
"Laggard's got nothing to do with it!" Her father roared when Quistis confronted him. "You've done nothin' here with your books an' your ideas." He shouted roughly. "Old Man Cid's gonna make a woman out of you, so there!"
"I'll be a dead woman before he lays his filthy hands on me!" She hissed in return. "Hyne I wish you'd die in your drink, Papa!"
"I cared for ya!" He roared, slapping Quistis hard; so hard she was thrown back. "I took you in when your father and mother died in that stupid accident - "
"I'm not your daughter." She hissed, her lower lip trembling in anger. "I'm a Trepe. I'm not some filthy drunk's daughter!"
"How dare you...?!" He raised his arm again but Quistis had scrambled up and ran through the door. Ran, away from her miserable existence. Ran, and ran... and ended up here. Under the care of a stranger she had never known. Would he treat her like the others? "I'm a Trepe." She repeated to herself bitterly. "I won't be used. Never!"
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The phone rang loudly. Cursing the bright sunshine pouring in through his window, Squall felt for the receiver. "'Lo?" He grumbled.
"This is your wake-up call. It is now ten a.m. Good morning sir!"
"Darn it!" He slowly got up and scratched his head. After a quick shower, he grabbed his bags and presently remembered the girl next door. "Quistis?" He knocked. No answer. Maybe she's still asleep, he thought. Maybe I should just let her rest here. But something told him the room was empty. Cursing softly, he headed to the lobby.
"The girl, sir?" It was the same receptionist. "She had left already, but she did leave this for you." She handed him a neatly folded letter. Squall looked at it for a moment before accepting. 'When did she leave?"
"Around eight, Mr. Leonhart."
Squall took the letter and slipped it into his pocket. So...
He had lost her.
Quistis looked out of the window, watching the countryside pass by. She had boarded the first train to Balamb Town, where she could get a ship to Fishman's Horizon. From there, a train would take her to Esthar. She carefully unfolded the letter she had been carrying. Her admission letter to Esthar Institution of Art.
Her future.
She reflected back on her hasty departure. She felt slightly guilty of leaving him, but she couldn't afford to burden him anymore. Not to mention she was still unsure about his motives. Better flee while she could.
But he didn't have to help you, yet he did, A part of her mind argued. And he was respectable enough not to book the same room - doesn't that make him a nicer person? He saved your life! You should at least say your thanks.
"I left him a letter." She sighed aloud, perhaps to calm her squirming feelings.
To Leon,
I'm sorry for leaving like this, but I don't want to bother you further. I'm forever grateful for your help. Maybe we will meet again someday.
Love, Quistis Trepe.
Squall folded the note again. The memory of cerulean eyes haunted his thoughts.
Help me... She had pleaded, and her voice had shook his heart. Help me... please...
"Mr. Leonhart?"
He looked up into the pretty stewardess' face. He would have thought she was attractive, but after his failed marriage, women did not interest him much anymore.
He ordered sky juice and settled back against the plump seat. Outside, the sky was an endless expanse of bright blue with fluffy clouds spread below him.
For some reason the color reminded him of the girl he met in a lonely country road.
Author's note: Oh man... me and my scheming brain. Let's give it some food for thought. Review please, I accept everything, including flames!
Author's note: Heheh... due to a sudden burst of inspiration, and the fact that I'm about to continue studying, I've come up with yet another quall (squinoas don't kill me...) to replace 'Raising the Curtains', which has finally ended its long saga. Also to note that 'Dawn of Black Light' has uh... sort of drained me, and I'll have to halt that one first. Anyway, hope you will enjoy this one also, thank you!
Disclaimer: Any names, places, and characters you might seem familiar belong to Square. Anything you don't belongs to me.
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The grass flew under her feet, rustling noisily. The undergrowth scratched her bare legs as she stumbled on, groping in the dark. The night sounds were the least of her concerns, however. She could still hear them. Still feel them hounding her, like a fox on a hunt. Her heart was beating so loud she was sure they were more listening than sniffing her scent. Gripping her bag harder, she pushed herself to run faster.
"Darned reception..." Squall growled as he repeatedly tried to find a strong radio signal. Trust lonely country areas to have weak signals. He continuously flipped the station, all the while keeping his eyes on the road. It wasn't his idea of a scenic drive, but he needed to get back to Esthar - fast. And his flight has been confirmed departing from Timber at eleven the following morning. Damn, he swore. Winhill to Timber isn't a highway!
She continued to run, not caring about her stinging skin anymore, wanting desperately to sprout wings and fly free. Up ahead, she could see the forest begin to clear - a road! There must be houses there!
Squall stole a look at the dashboard clock. Two a.m. There's a port town about ten miles up - he could take a rest before boarding the first ship to Timber. In a way, he was relieved. He had spent a good part of the drive avoiding stupid hedgehogs and possums. At least they were just stupid possums -
She burst through the undergrowth and was instantly blinded by bright lights. Shielding her eyes, she suddenly screamed when she realized it was a car. Stumbling back, she fell and braced herself for impact.
Squall hit the brakes hard and swerved frantically, trying to keep his car under control. It seemed like an eternity when the car finally screeched to a halt. He still gripped the steering wheel with white knuckles, breathing hard. What in hell was that? It was too big for a possum, and it came out of nowhere -
Outside, on the road, the girl cowered with her arms shielding her head, shaking hard. Am I dead already? The vision of the huge headlights coming at her like a monster on a rampage was still playing in her mind, gripping her in icy terror. Hyne, please, let me die... just let me die...
"Hey!" Squall crouched down next to her and shook her hard. "Hey, are you okay? Answer me!" He tried to pry her arms away from her head to check if he had injured her, but the girl refused to budge. Squall was about to give up and leave when he heard shouting - a great many people. Looking at the bushes lining the roadside, he could faintly see the glimmer of torches, and people yelling. The girl suddenly jerked up in horror and wildly tried to break free of his grip. "Let me go!" She gasped, breathing hard. "Please, let me go!!!"
Squall tried to calm her down, desperate for assurance that she was not injured. "You sure you're alright? You look - "
"No!" She cried out, still struggling. The voice were coming nearer, and she could see the faint glow of torches coming her way. She suddenly gripped his shirt, wild-eyed. "Help me - " She gasped. "Help me, please - " She kept looking to the source of light, her eyes wide with terror.
Squall frowned. What is she so afraid of? He quickly assessed her conditions. She was badly scratched; she looked like she had been running for a while. But he could sense she didn't care about her scratches. Making up his mind, he grabbed her wrists and urged her to stand. "Come on."
She stared at him, eyes wide. He shook his head impatiently. "Hurry, or they'll catch you!"
She didn't need further explanations. She clambered into the backseat and Squall pressed on the gas pedal; hard - just as a group of rowdy men burst through the bushes. Pretty soon they had left their pursuers biting dust.
The girl peeked out through the back, eyes still wide. "They're not following!" She said shrilly.
"If they are I'd be out of options." Squall remarked dryly. The girl slumped back on the seat and uttered a long sigh. "I'm sorry for troubling you, Mr - "
Squall was silent for a while. Why was she running away? Did she commit a crime or something? Looking at her through the rearview mirror, he couldn't help noticing that she was quite a knock-out; provided she was cleaned up. But right now, she cold have been a tramp and anybody would have agreed so.
"Thank you."
He snapped out of his thoughts and frowned. The girl was blushing a little. "I troubled you. Did you just happen to pass?"
Squall grunted in reply. "One of them?"
Her eyes clouded. "I'm running away." She muttered. "I was being forced into marriage."
"Girls like you should." He commented off-handedly and completely missed the murderous look she gave him. He concentrated on driving. Maneuvering before was hard enough - going at top speed was sheer torture. He couldn't help but to run over a couple of hedgehogs - he hoped they wouldn't bust his tires. "What's your name?"
She hesitated. Okay, I'm in a car, going to goodness-knows-where with a complete stranger - who just saved my life (that's a plus) but what's gonna happen now? It's like one of those horror thrillers...
"Quistis." She finally answered. He nodded slightly. She was becoming decidedly uncomfortable. This guy is creepy, she thought. A real silent one. Eep! Aren't rapists always creepy?! "Um... maybe you can drop me off at the nearest town? I mean... I don't want to trouble you anymore..."
"The next town's about a couple of miles away from here." He said brusquely. "In any case, I'm headed there anyway."
He could almost feel her panic. Did she think I'm gonna do anything to her?! Typical woman. "Don't fret." He sighed. "I'm not what you think. If it makes you feel better, I just divorced my wife. I should be in the position to hate all women."
She giggled slightly. "Okay... so, I'm Quistis." She reintroduced herself. He looked at her for a moment. He wondered if he should tell her his name - perhaps she knew him (he was notorious). His ex-wife made a point to make him well-known.
"Leon." He said finally. She used to call him that. Besides, it's a name nobody would remember.
"Leon..." She rolled the name on her tongue, thinking. "Okay. Leon."
Some four hours later Squall pulled up in front of the train station. His rental-car office still hadn't opened up, but he figured he might as well leave it there. "Wake up." He nudged Quistis and the girl sleepily got up, wincing. "Where are we?"
"Timber." He answered shortly and lifted his overnight case out of the trunk. It was one hour before dawn. He might as well make the best of it.
She walked uncertainly behind him, not sure of what to do. He walked with a stride of a person who knew the place inside out - he must be an avid traveler. She on the other hand, had not gone around much.
"Welcome, sir." The receptionist greeted him warmly. "A single room?" She eyed Quistis and the girl flinched. She knew what she must look like - she had been running in the dark for ages and her arms and legs felt sore. Squall shook his head. "Two rooms please."
"I'm sorry, separate room are not available." She said sympathetically. "But we do have a family suite - two interconnecting rooms."
"I'll take it." Squall growled. Lack of sleep was making him decidedly grumpy. He tossed his credit card on the desk and the receptionist's eyes went large. "Mr. Leonhart sir! An honor!" She blushed and hurriedly registered his name. Quistis frowned. Leonhart? What's so special about him? She studied his back as they walked to the elevator. An actor, perhaps? He looked suited enough. But if he was she could have recognized him. He had a tall, broad shouldered frame and hair so silky her fingers itched to touch them.
"Sleep all you like." He opened the door to her room. "I'll be up by ten, so feel free to knock."
Ten?! She frowned as she went inside the bathroom. Wow... she could get used to this...
Yet she questioned the motives of her savior. Why did he rescue her? He was newly-divorced, wasn't he? Did he think she would be some kind of mistress?!
"Well, better make the best of it..." She sighed as she sank into the warm bath. Luxuriating in the warm water, she slowly reflected the day's horrible events.
~^^Flashback^^~
"I can't marry you." Seifer declared flatly. Quistis stared bewilderedly at him. "Why? Seifer, you promised me - "
"Things change." He interrupted, clenching his jaw. He roughly shoved his hands into his pockets. "You'll have to forget it."
She stared at him, not able to understand it. Seifer... she had known him for - ages! And he had never turned back on her, all these years. She refused to go to college because he promised he would marry her - "Wha - what's going on...?"
"It's non of your business." Seifer growled. "Look, it just doesn't cut it, okay?"
She still couldn't accept it. What happened to him? Suddenly her loving, playful Seifer was cold and distant. Ever since he returned from Deling...
"You met someone in the city, haven't you?" She asked in a half-whisper. She saw his face harden. Tears of anger welled in her eyes. "You left the country mouse for a city mouse, Seifer?! What kind of a man are you?!" She shrieked in his face and drew her hand back to hit him, but he stopped her. "That's no business of yours, I said!" He hissed. "Your father didn't approve of me anyway. He's gonna give you to Old Man Cid, so get ready."
"Old Man Cid?!" Quistis tore her hand away from his grasp. "I get it now! He sold me, didn't he?! How much did he pay you to keep away from me, you bastard?! How much did that drunken laggard give you?!!!" She screamed.
"Laggard's got nothing to do with it!" Her father roared when Quistis confronted him. "You've done nothin' here with your books an' your ideas." He shouted roughly. "Old Man Cid's gonna make a woman out of you, so there!"
"I'll be a dead woman before he lays his filthy hands on me!" She hissed in return. "Hyne I wish you'd die in your drink, Papa!"
"I cared for ya!" He roared, slapping Quistis hard; so hard she was thrown back. "I took you in when your father and mother died in that stupid accident - "
"I'm not your daughter." She hissed, her lower lip trembling in anger. "I'm a Trepe. I'm not some filthy drunk's daughter!"
"How dare you...?!" He raised his arm again but Quistis had scrambled up and ran through the door. Ran, away from her miserable existence. Ran, and ran... and ended up here. Under the care of a stranger she had never known. Would he treat her like the others? "I'm a Trepe." She repeated to herself bitterly. "I won't be used. Never!"
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The phone rang loudly. Cursing the bright sunshine pouring in through his window, Squall felt for the receiver. "'Lo?" He grumbled.
"This is your wake-up call. It is now ten a.m. Good morning sir!"
"Darn it!" He slowly got up and scratched his head. After a quick shower, he grabbed his bags and presently remembered the girl next door. "Quistis?" He knocked. No answer. Maybe she's still asleep, he thought. Maybe I should just let her rest here. But something told him the room was empty. Cursing softly, he headed to the lobby.
"The girl, sir?" It was the same receptionist. "She had left already, but she did leave this for you." She handed him a neatly folded letter. Squall looked at it for a moment before accepting. 'When did she leave?"
"Around eight, Mr. Leonhart."
Squall took the letter and slipped it into his pocket. So...
He had lost her.
Quistis looked out of the window, watching the countryside pass by. She had boarded the first train to Balamb Town, where she could get a ship to Fishman's Horizon. From there, a train would take her to Esthar. She carefully unfolded the letter she had been carrying. Her admission letter to Esthar Institution of Art.
Her future.
She reflected back on her hasty departure. She felt slightly guilty of leaving him, but she couldn't afford to burden him anymore. Not to mention she was still unsure about his motives. Better flee while she could.
But he didn't have to help you, yet he did, A part of her mind argued. And he was respectable enough not to book the same room - doesn't that make him a nicer person? He saved your life! You should at least say your thanks.
"I left him a letter." She sighed aloud, perhaps to calm her squirming feelings.
To Leon,
I'm sorry for leaving like this, but I don't want to bother you further. I'm forever grateful for your help. Maybe we will meet again someday.
Love, Quistis Trepe.
Squall folded the note again. The memory of cerulean eyes haunted his thoughts.
Help me... She had pleaded, and her voice had shook his heart. Help me... please...
"Mr. Leonhart?"
He looked up into the pretty stewardess' face. He would have thought she was attractive, but after his failed marriage, women did not interest him much anymore.
He ordered sky juice and settled back against the plump seat. Outside, the sky was an endless expanse of bright blue with fluffy clouds spread below him.
For some reason the color reminded him of the girl he met in a lonely country road.
Author's note: Oh man... me and my scheming brain. Let's give it some food for thought. Review please, I accept everything, including flames!
