Chapter 5: Ransacked (Laguna)
I thought I heard somebody cry--Somebody might be lost
I thought I heard somebody cry--Somebody might be lost
I thought I heard somebody cry--I thought I'd go and see
I thought I heard somebody cry--Somebody might be me
I walk towards the house Selphie...er, Sarah, explained was hers last night. I want to talk to her without everyone else around, so I left the hotel early. She seemed more willing to talk to me when we were alone yesterday, so I'm hoping that will still be the case today. I told Kiros where I'm headed, knowing he won't tell anyone. Seeing the house makes me smile. Raine always talked about how she would love a house out here. It's a beautiful house, a country style with light grey siding and a wrap around front porch. I wonder for a minute why Selphie would need this big house, but I dismiss it, thinking maybe it is the only house that was available.
As I get nearer to the house I get a bad feeling. Knocking on the door receives no answer. After trying again to the same result I try the doorknob and it turns. Opening the door I look around. The keys are right by the door in a pretty, oriental looking ceramic tray. She has to be home.
"Selphie? Hello?" Still no answer. I walk into the house more and then up the stairs. "Selphie?" Where is she? There is a sitting room in front of me, but it's empty. Looking to the left I freeze.
There is an overturned table in the room at the end of the hall and a picture is on the ground. Walking into the room my eyes take in the room full of exercise equipment and then I lean down to pick up the picture frame, staring at a collage of pictures. The shock is not that the pictures are all of Selphie and her friend Sheena; it's that in some she has a round stomach, as though she was pregnant, and in some she is holding a baby.
I shake my head, a frown spreading across my face. Now why wouldn't Elle know about this? Wouldn't Squall or Rinoa have mentioned that? Hanging the picture back onto the hanger on the wall I exit the room, racing down the stairs. After I enter the living room my frown deepens. The double doors out onto the back porch are wide open, but other than that everything is in order. I can't shake the bad feeling I have, though.
Striding into the kitchen, I look around. There is a door to the back yard, and another door. I open it and find the pantry, but there is something odd about it. Entering it I look around before spotting a door and upon opening it I find a staircase.
"Selphie!" Still nothing. My feet travel down the stairs and as my shoe touches the concrete I hear a baby crying. Where is that coming from? The cries lead me to a locked door. Kicking the door open is the only option and then I rush over to the crying infant. She quiets a little in my arms, but I can tell she needs to be changed and probably fed. I head back up to the kitchen and then proceed upstairs where I search for a baby's room. When I find it I walk in and find a clean diaper. After changing the little girl I carry her down to the kitchen again where I open the fridge to find bottles ready to be heated up. Once she has eaten the baby settles down and I can think again.
After the time they spent in Esthar, I think I know Selphie well enough to know that she is not a SeeD anymore. I thought at first that she was here on a mission and had wracked my brain to figure out what for. But this little discovery sets the record straight. My mind pulls forward a piece of information long forgotten. The policy for pregnant and unwed SeeD was either a resignation or giving up the baby, although I have a feeling that if Selphie had told Cid of her condition that policy would be null and void right now.
My mind is pretty confidant in my knowledge of Selphie, and it tells me that this little girl means everything to her if she would give up being a SeeD for her. That is why I'm worried now: Selphie would never leave such an important piece of her life locked in a basement room for no reason. I find a phone and call Kiros.
"Hello?"
"Kiros, there's a problem."
"Can you not find the house?"
"No, I found the house just fine. It's Selphie—she's not here."
"So go back later, maybe she took a walk or something."
"No, Kiros, I think you should come over here. You know where it is."
"Okay, I'll be there."
The couch beckons as I wait and I take a seat with the angel in my arms. She yawns and looks up at me with clear blue eyes that seem familiar. She has darker strawberry blonde hair and is the cutest baby I have ever seen, and as president of Esthar I've seen quite a few.
I'm so caught up in examining her that I don't hear Kiros enter. He stops short when he sees the baby.
"Where did that come from?" He hesitates in the doorway. A smile comes to my face, and then I laugh. When I hear the light tinkling of laughter from the little girl in my arms I get quiet. Kiros and I both stare at her, entranced as she smiles up at us.
"Selphie has a baby?" Kiros questions. It's unmistakable, this happy child has to be the offspring of the always up-beat Selphie.
"Yeah, she was in a locked room in the basement and Selphie is nowhere to be found. There's nothing really out of place except a picture frame was on the floor upstairs and a small table was on its side." Kiros leaves me with the baby and goes to search the house for clues. He comes back carrying a pair of shoes.
"These were in the kitchen, off to the side a little but still in the middle of the room. Were those doors open when you came in?"
"Yeah." Kiros walks over and out the door, stopping long enough to turn around and holler for me to follow. We look around, but don't see anything. The doorbell rings and I go to answer it. Selphie's friend is standing there.
"Uh, hi…is Sarah here?" She looks confused as she stares at me. Just as I'm about to answer, two kids come running past me into the house and a man excuses himself as he runs after them.
"I came here looking for her this morning and she wasn't here."
"But Tessa was?" I nod, figuring that Tessa is the child in my arms. "Something must be wrong then—Drex!" The man comes back with a little boy in his arms. "Drex, Sarah's missing. Why don't you and…Sir Laguna go out and search the hillside and surrounding area. Here, I'll take Tessa." The man looks at me and then turns and leads the way out the double doors. Kiros joins us and we spread out. After an hour of looking we find blood on the ground near Raine's grave, but just as we make this discovery we hear a woman scream. We all run back towards the house, and there is Elle kneeled down holding her head.
"Elle, are you okay?" I run to her side and she looks up at me.
"The woods, go to the woods before—" She passes out before she finishes. Picking her up I marvel at how her powers have grown, then I place her on the couch. Drex, Kiros and I run out and towards the only woods we can think of. We spread out and look, and just as we're about to give up, Drex shouts.
We all run over to where he's standing and I turn away, my leg cramping up at the image in front of me. Selphie is hanging by her wrists from a tree, her shirt has been removed and there are marks all over her body from a whip and a couple that appear to be stab wounds. Her head hangs forward and her one arm is broken, twisted to an unnatural angle. Her hair has been chopped into many lengths and her shorts are nowhere to be found. She is only in her underwear, and the grass below her is red from all the blood. Kiros runs back to the house to get a blanket and a doctor while Drex walks over to the body.
"She's still breathing. Help me get her down from here." I stagger over, the scene still making me sick. Drex holds onto Selphie as gently as he can and lifts up while I untie the rope. With the rope undone, Drex lowers her to the ground and feels for a pulse. It is the first time we see her face. It's swollen from bruises and there is a cut right above her eye, going through her eyebrow. It isn't a very big cut, but it will leave a scar. Her earrings are missing, as is her necklace. Her eyes open and she jumps when she looks up and sees two people. She must identify us though because she starts to cry. The more she cries, the harder she shakes and it doesn't take us long to figure out she has a broken rib or two. Just as I think she may stop crying, she sucks in enough air to fill her lungs and screams. Her scream sends chills down my spine, it sounds so terrified and full of pain. The scream fades back into sobbing and that fades into a constant trail of tears and whimpering.
Kiros runs back with Ward and they have towels, a board and a blanket. We cover the board with the blanket and place Selphie on it, then cover her with the towels, applying pressure to bigger wounds that we can see. Lifting the board up we carry it back to the house.
By the time we arrive the doctor is there. He directs us to put her on the portable medical table he brought that is in the kitchen, and then we wait. I watch as Sheena tends to her kids and Elle is holding Tessa, telling her that she is her aunt Elle, and her mommy is going to be just fine. Pulling my cell phone out I stand up.
"Who are you calling Uncle Laguna?" I stop and look at Elle. She looks like she's aged five years in the last few hours. I've always known that she would be a wreck if anything happened to any of her adopted family. But the haunted look in her eyes is almost too much for me. I don't know what she saw, and I'm not sure if I wish she hadn't seen it or not. Without her vision we might not have found Selphie in time. But the fact that it has so obviously scarred Ellone almost makes me wish she had not had a vision.
"I'm calling Cid—I'm going to see if he can send a team out here to investigate."
Sheena comes to life, "You mean SeeD? Are you sure that's a good idea? Sarah hasn't been in touch with any of them in quite a while. I don't think she wants to see them, especially not now. She left for a reason, even if it was one she didn't talk about."
"But they're the best," I argue.
"Well, I'm sure they are, but can you…avoid direct contact between them and Sarah? You haven't been here with her like I have, you haven't heard what she says. I think it would be best not to put her in a situation of explaining after what just happened. She's fragile as it is, which I know sounds weird since she was a merecenary and everything...she's just...she's breakable just like everyone else."
I think about this, then, "I guess we could get her to say her statement on tape and give it to them, and they never have to know that they're working for me or that Sarah was the victim." I'm proud of myself that remembered to change her name.
She nods her consent to this and sits down beside Elle, looking down at Tessa. The number for Balamb Garden is familiar and I punch it into the phone, waiting for someone to answer. They transfer me to Cid's private phone and he soon answers the phone.
"Headmaster Cid, what can I do for you Laguna?"
"First, are any of the kids in there with you?"
"No, it's just Edea and me. Why?"
"Well, I have a situation that could use an investigation."
"Okay, what is it? I'll dispatch someone right away."
"There's a catch. There was an attack, but the victim doesn't want to have any direct contact with SeeD. She's understandably shaken and would rather not be around a lot of strangers right now."
"Who was it? Did this occur in Esthar? I didn't hear anything about an attack in Esthar."
"No, I'm currently in Winhill. It was one of the residents here."
"Was it a monster attack?"
"No, it was carried out by people. It occurred in Winhill, and here's what I need. I need the best, which means Squall and all of them. But they have to know that the victim won't be actively engaged in the investigation. That means they can't interview her, meet her, anything. I'll have Kiros or Elle record her account of what happened, but there is to be no direct contact, as I've said, unless she decides otherwise. But that does not look like it will be happening any time soon, as she has been unconcious since shortly after we found her."
"Well, if that's what you want I'll make it work. I'll call Squall and Quistis up here right now and Zell and Rinoa later: they're late sleepers. Irvine is already on another mission from Galbadia Garden and we have no way of contacting him."
"That's good enough for me, but what about Seifer?"
"Ah yes, him, too. They'll be there tomorrow." The doctor comes out and all eyes in the room go to him.
"Thanks Cid, and get them out here as soon as you can, okay?"
"Will do."
I hang up and focus all of my attention on the doctor.
"She's in bad shape. She lost a lot of blood from all of her cuts, most of which I had to stitch up so they won't leave scars. Just, what she had to have gone through in order to get those wounds, I don't even want to imagine. Her arm will have to be operated on: it's broken in two places and then twisted out of place. I tried to set it, but I couldn't get the bone to turn the right way. She's just a human gauze bandage. She hasn't woken up, she's doped up on pain killers. Right now we need to get her to Galbadia Garden: it's the closest place that has what we need."
"What about Timber? It's closer than Garden," Marti, Ward's wife asks, wringing her hands.
"Well, Timber is closer, but it doesn't have what we'll need. They don't have a good enough medical center, plus the Garden is safer with all those SeeD around."
Sheena glances at me, nervous, and I know what is going through her head: that's probably where the Balamb SeeD will be dispatched to. Well, we'll just have to deal with that when it occurs. She stands up slow, what with having a basketball in her middle and takes a step forward before her face goes white. Her husband, Drex jumps to her side as she starts to slip to the ground. Her breathing is ragged and tears start to slip down her face.
Doctor Skeet looks a little panicked as he rushes over. "Now, Sheena, I thought I told you to go to Deling City. We can't deliver this baby here, it's too big of a risk."
"We were heading out this morning, Doc, but then we came here to drop off Markus and Sarin and Sarah was missing," Drex explains, holding his wife in his lap as she suffers from what I guess is a contraction. The old doctor nods his head.
"Well, she can go to Galbadia with Selphie: Galbadia is closer than Deling City." He turns to me, knowing me from the times I've visited. "You have a car, right?" I nod. "Can you get them to Galbadia?"
"Of course we can, lets hurry." Drex helps Sheena into town and eases her down into the front seat of the car before rushing back to help carry Selphie on the stretcher to the automobile. It's a good thing we had a lot of people with a lot of luggage this time, or I would have gotten a smaller car. We put Selphie in the back and then I climb into the back with her and Ellone, Drex sits in the back seat with Kiros and Ward drives. Marti and Mischa stay behind to watch the kids and search Selphie's house for any clues.
Ward is a genius behind the wheel and before I know it we're in sight of Galbadia Garden. The whole ride I've been trying to comfort Elle, telling her that her 'little sis' will be okay. Memories of specific incidents run through my head, like when I first met the gang from the orphanage. That's when Selphie first called me Sir Laguna; I was confused about the title at first, wondering how she knew me. But then I found out and everything was cleared up. She's too in love with life to let go, I keep telling myself. Why does it feel like I'm trying to convince myself of this? Two years ago she was the most alive person I've ever met, but this time…there was something missing when she laughed, and her smile just didn't seem as happy.
The car stops and I climb out, meeting the doctor that rushes out. Dr. Skeet called ahead for us, so they would be ready. The doctor instructs two cadets to rush Selphie to the ER wing of the medical center, and Sheena is taken to the high risk sector. I look around me. This is the first time I've had to come to Galbadia Garden since the end of the Sorceress War. It's changed a lot, namely the addition of the enormous medical ward. It's become more of the Garden where people who want to learn to heal and be doctors go instead of fighters, though there are still a lot of fighters. Elle looks at me.
"Uncle Laguna, she's going to be okay, right? Who would do such a thing to Sefie! She's never done anything to anybody, how could she deserve this? I can't…Uncle Laguna, I could send someone back. Maybe I could send Quistis back and have her see who it was—"
"Elle—"
"I can do it, it's the only way Uncle Laguna!"
"Elle, you're not supposed to use your powers—"
"This is for Selphie, Uncle Laguna! She's like a little sister to me, I'd do anything for her!"
"Elle…" I sigh, "Only as a last resort. If Squall and them can't solve it after we get a statement from Selphie, then…maybe." She nods her head, and I know that if this isn't solved soon, she'll be putting herself at risk again. Another cadet comes up to us.
"Excuse me, could you follow me to the waiting room, please?" We all follow: a somber crowd. Once in the waiting room I pull out my cell phone and place a call. A man answers on the other end and I make sure to speak soft so that the others won't hear me.
"Leonard, this is Laguna. Can you do me a favor and see what name is on the deed for that house out on the plain?"
"The house out on the plain? Well, Mr. Loire that's Sarah's house, Sarah Talbucks. Why do you inquire?"
"Miss Talbucks is an old friend of Elle's and there was an incident last night. There's going to be some people coming around to investigate what happened. Just tell them everything that you know about what Sarah has been doing since she got to Winhill." But the more I think about it, the more likely it becomes that what happened to Selphie happened because she is Selphie Tilmitt, not because she is Sarah Talbucks.
"Sure, now what was this incident?"
"She was attacked. I've called in some SeeD, but she's going to need to be called by her legal name in all proceedings. Can you spread that around? Let everyone know that they should answer the questions the SeeD have. I know a lot of people in town are still hostile to anyone associated with the military coming in there, and it would be easier if they all cooperated."
"Is she okay? She's such a lovely young lady, I don't know why anyone would attack her."
"She's in the ER at Galbadia Garden: it was pretty bad. Can you spread that around for me, about being cooperative?"
"I sure can, I'll tell everyone personally."
"Thank you Mr. Leonard." I hang up and a nurse comes in with a stack of papers.
"These need to be filled out so that we can put them with her chart please." Elle takes them, and as she starts to write in the name I tell her to change it.
"Elle, make sure to write Sarah Talbucks: that's her name in Winhill." She nods and finishes the paperwork. After that there's nothing to do but sit, pace, and wait. After an hour, a doctor comes in. She walks over to our group and looks at two charts in her hands.
"Sel-Sarah, is she okay?" Elle almost slipped.
"She is stable, but she has slipped into a coma. Now, it is common for such an occurrence, so right now we aren't too worried. But, if she doesn't wake up within seventy-two hours there's the possibility that there is brain damage and some decisions will have to be made after an additional forty-eight hours have passed."
"Decisions? You mean, deciding whether we're going to pull the plug and let her die? I can tell you now—" Elle starts.
"We'll wait and see what happens. After the forty-eight hours we'll do a scan to see if there is any brain activity and you'll have to choose. If we find no activity, you have to face the fact that she won't wake up. And if she did, she would be heavily dependent on machines and would be a vegetable, unable to move herself. Many patients would rather be dead than be subjected to a life of being trapped in a cage that is their own body. But that is something you'll have to wait and see about. She may wake up tomorrow."
"And what about Sheena?" Elle asks, tears standing in her eyes.
"Mrs. Nova is in surgery—it was too risky to let her give birth due to her complications. Her husband is with her, but it shouldn't be much longer until they're done. I'll let you know when she comes out of surgery."
"Thank you." She nods her head and turns, exiting the waiting room. My phone rings and I pull it out.
"Hello?"
"Laguna, it's Cid. The kids are already on their way there; they'll be there in about a half hour. If you could meet them there it would be great. Just explain to them about the victim not wanting to be interviewed directly."
"Okay, I'll tell them, but right now it's a moot point because she's in a coma. Thanks Cid." I hang up the phone and stare at the ground for a minute before standing up.
"Elle, you stay here and call me when there's any more news. I have to get back to Winhill before Squall and them get there or they'll get suspicious of something. We don't need them figuring anything out as far as Miss Tilmitt's identity."
"Okay, I'll call as soon as the doctor says anything. Why don't you let Kiros drive; you may get lost." I smile at her and Kiros and I leave.
Author's Notes: I know that I used an awful lot of 'I blah blah blah…' and I'm sorry. I didn't read through this before I posted it because it was late and I was tired (much like now). But I hope its better now. Things like that annoy me when I read stories, and I'm sorry to all of you who had to read that! I should have read through it and posted a day later! My editor is out of town this week and next week and doesn't have computer access, otherwise I would have been peachy after she read through it. And to Juicemaloose: As I said in an earlier chapter, people in Winhill aren't nosy, so when Laguna requested for them to call Selphie by her (as far as they know) given name they figured it wasn't any of their business to snoop around about it. She got the house easy because not many people come to Winhill to stay, they just pass through. So once that couple moved away, it sat empty for quite a while. And, since Selphie is a SeeD she has all of her meals provided and a place to live, so she doesn't have to spend her money on anything but clothes, and she even has the uniform for special occasions. The song is Heard Somebody Cry by Oingo Boingo.
-Gilly Bean the tired.
Edited 11/23/08