Nothing as It Seems
VI
Summary: They're gone, all of them but three. It's better than it was but how long can they last?
Disclaimer: Everything except obvious Squaresoft stuff.
Rating: R for language
AN: This is it, the last chapter, and I know from reading the reviews you are all expecting a little more. But I'd like to thank all of the reviewers and readers for staing with me on this, and I'm sorry there's not more. So, enjoy!
Seifer jumped around the corner ready to beat who ever was stupid enough to follow them. The intruder screamed.
"Grace?"
She looked up at him through terrified eyes.
"Grace what the hell are you doing here? You with anyone?" Seifer relaxed his fist and looked down the hallway.
"No, I'm alone, but I wouldn't count on this spot being secret for too long," Grace nodded her head up to the surveillance camera.
"Alright, now what?" Seifer leaned against the wall.
Grace turned to Squall. "I can get you out of here and give you money, a hotel room, and a car, but we have to go now,"
"I can't ask you to put your ass on the line for us. We're highly trained SeeDs remember, we'll manage,"
Grace took his hand and held it tight. "Trust me, please. I've been behind the scenes of the operation the entire time, you need my help,"
Squall looked at her, not really knowing what to say. Seifer stepped in.
"Lets go already, and Squall? Wake up and smell the escape," Seifer pushed Grace in front of him and held Quistis's hand. "Lead the way,"
The four ran through a series of hallways and then down the fire escape stairs and out a back door. A navy blue tempo was parked outside.
"Alright, here is your room key, and the address for the motel is on this card," Grace tossed the key to Seifer.
"You're not coming with us?" Quistis asked.
"I'll wrap up a few loose ends here and meet you later tonight," She walked toward the fire exit.
Seifer nodded and started the car; Quistis sat in the passenger seat. "Squall, we need to go," he called from the open window.
"One sec. Grace, wait," he ran over to her. "I wanted to thank you, for everything you're doing for us,"
"Squall, after I've seen what it does to people, how could I not help you? I feel partially responsible," Grace looked up at him through starry eyes. "I'm sorry, I wish I'd never been a part of it," She closed her eyes and a tear rolled down her cheek. "So, I'll see you later tonight," she turned and left through the open door. Squall waited for the click of the lock before heading for the car. He opened the back door and slid in.
Squall sat motionless, looking out the window as the building's passed. He hadn't said a word and the silence was becoming unbearable. Quistis turned around and looked back to him.
"What did you say to her? She looked upset when she left," Squall shifted his eyes to meet hers.
"I thanked her for her help,"
Quistis didn't push the matter, she knew she wouldn't get anything more from him.
"I can't stand this fucking silence," Seifer turned on the radio and tuned it to a music station at a very convenient time. "This is the 11:00 news. Police are on the lookout for three fugitives in the area. Two males and a female were seen leaving the Bio Research Center no more then a half-hour ago. We can't tell you anymore, but police consider them armed and dangerous,"
"Shit," Seifer switched the radio off. "Well, at least they're paying attention to us now,"
"Turn left at the next light," Quistis sighed.
The car rolled into the motel parking lot and the three got out. The room had two double beds and a TV. Squall immediately flopped on one of the beds and kicked off his shoes. He assumed his all too familiar position when lying down; hands behind his head, one leg stretched out and the other bent. He leaned more toward the other bed, knowing someone would strike a conversation relatively soon. Quistis and Seifer sat on the other bed.
"How's your face?" Seifer asked hesitantly.
Squall smiled. Whenever Seifer was hesitant, and worried, you knew the situation was hopeless. "I think I'll manage,"
Seifer stood up and walked to the front of the room. "Look, I don't know about you two, but I think we're screwed. What's going to happen if they find us? More tests, more security, more mind shit. And what if we run? They'll get our pictures on the news eventually; we have no ID's, licenses or any kind of proof that we're real people. We're fucked,"
"Well what do you want us to do!" Quistis screamed as she stood up. "If we're so 'fucked' as you put it, then what do you propose we do?" She glared at him.
Seifer stood silently.
"I need a drink," She sat back down and buried her face in the pillow.
Squall spoke up. "I know about you, but I don't see anything here for us. We'll either be locked up, or on the run, and neither of those options works for me," He sat up. "So the question is what to do? I say we take that blue car out there and drive it off the overpass and into the heart of the Bio Center,"
"Squall," Quistis spoke with a tremble in her voice. "I know you've been through more emotionally then anyone should tonight, but think about what you're saying,"
"No, it's perfectly clear to me what I have to do, but I don't expect you to follow me. I was in love with an Idea, a lie. A lie I would have died for. No, there's nothing here for me. But at least this way we can stop this from happening to some other unfortunate children who's parents don't know what they were getting them into," He sighed. "Look, I'm not asking you to give up your lives for this, I guess . . . I guess I'm saying good bye." He stopped, taking in himself, all that he was saying. " I need some time to think. I'll be outside,"
Quistis sat in awe of what just happened.
"Fuck, do you know what he just asked us?" Seifer paced the room
"Yes, Seifer, I know what he just asked us,"
He stopped and sat on the bed across from her. "Well?"
Squall entered the cool air of 12:00 AM wondering if he should have just kept his mouth shut. He couldn't ask them, or even imply for that matter for his friends to drive a car with him into a building. It wasn't fair for them. Who was he kidding?
Grace pulled up in a taxi, as if on Que. "Hey Squall," Her smile was the saddest he'd ever seen on her, even from all the crap she took from him earlier on.
"Hey,"
She sighed. "I … I know something's going to happen tonight, I don't know what, but I'm scared,"
"You don't have to be scared, it's . . ."
"I'm scared I'll never see you again. There's so much I want to say to you but I can't find the words, and I feel like tomorrow may be too late, and . . ." Grace stopped herself, and sat on the concrete curb.
Squall knelt in front of her.
"Well, pretend like this is the last time you'll ever be able to tell me all things you cant put to words,"
She was silent as she gathered her thoughts.
"It's ok, I'm listening,"
"Well . . ." she began. "I feel like I've known you all me life, but you don't know me at all, and…"
"And . . . what?"
Grace stared intently at the ground.
"And . . . I think I love you. And it scares me that you don't feel the same way. I don't know what to do. You were in love with Rinoa and you still are and I don't know if you'll ever be over her, and . . . " she stopped when she realized he was looking into her eyes.
Squall leaned closer until his lips touched hers. Grace trembled, but returned the kiss without a second thought.
"Wait," she whispered. "Why? Why the change of heart? I thought you hated me,"
He sighed sat beside her.
"Tonight is the last time you'll see me. After I say good bye to Seifer and Quistis, I'm taking that car, and driving it off the overpass into the Bio Center," Her eyes widened. "I figured I might as well do something nice for you before I leave. It's the least I could do,"
Grace didn't say anything, but she didn't have to, her eyes said it all. Tears rolled down her rosy cheeks as she sat in disbelief.
"You… You can't, you can't," she looked at him threw blurry eyes. "Please, I…"
"I'm sorry. You know better then me there's nothing left for me here," He took her into his arms.
"And, Quistis and Seifer?"
"I don't know," He stood up and knocked on their room door.
"One second!"
He heard rustling from inside. Quistis opened the door wearing only a sheet.
Squall rolled his eyes. "I'm leaving now, I came to…"
Seifer opened the door wider wearing the other sheet around his waist. "Hold on. We've decided to come with you. All the way,"
The four piled back into the car and began the last journey of their lives.
"So, we'll drop you off at that gas station," Seifer said, looking at Grace through the rear view mirror.
"Actually, I'm going too," She said quietly.
"Grace, come on, this is ridiculous. You have to get out at the gas station,"
She shook her head. "I can't. You three were my life, and if you go, so do I,"
Squall took her hand. "You can't do this with us, it's . . . "
The sudden blare of sirens, and red and blue lights in the mirrors nearly made Seifer go off the road.
"Well you can't stop the car now," Grace winked at Squall, and sat closer.
"Hey, how much farther to the overpass?"
"Seven minutes, give or take,"
Squall pulled out a wrinkled piece of paper and a pencil, and began writing viciously using his leg as a table.
Seifer was sped up when he saw a second and third squad car join the other one in his pursuit.
"We got a party going on back there!" he yelled. "What are you writing back there?" Squall didn't answer.
"There, done," he tied the paper to his shoe, rolled down the window and threw it at the squad cars. Quistis looked at him questioningly. He shrugged. "Some kind of suicide note, don't worry about it. So why did you guys decide to come?"
Seifer laughed. "We talked, momentarily, and realized you were right. Everything you said was right. And, if we had to see your dead face plastered all over the news everyday and have to put up with all those reporters, we'd end up slitting our own wrists within a week anyway so, what's a week right?"
He looked back to the road.
"Oh shit guys, were almost there. Say your good byes now!"
Squall kissed Grace's forehead and held her close.
"I'll see you all on the other side,"
Quistis hugged Seifer's chest and shut her eyes tight.
"I love you Seifer,"
Seifer put his arm around her.
"I love you too, Quisty." He laughed. "It's funny how this was your idea Squall. But I'm the one driving. Alright guys, here it comes!" Seifer accelerated the gas and spun the wheel to the right. The car broke through the aluminum guardrails and soared off the overpass.
"This is Sheryl Spence reporting to you live from the Bio Center where a tragic accident occurred involving the deaths of four young people. The car lost control and went off the overpass landing in the computer research lab of the Bio Center. Everything involved in this accident has been destroyed: the four victims, the car and the very important research lab. This is Sheryl… wait, wait, I have just been presented with new information. A shoe was thrown from the vehicle moments before it went off the road. Inside this shoe is a letter, unseen by even the investigators. I will read it to you now."
To whom it may concern:
We, the subjects of the Bio Center ongoing sleep experiment, are deeply outraged that such a high disregard for human life was displayed during the duration of this experiment.
Because of this, we have taken it upon ourselves to 'enlighten' our superiors by making them aware of the pain we are feeling so that they may consider our ideas for modifying the lab.
PS. Don't mind the car on the third floor, it's part of the modifications.
Squall, Seifer, Quistis
"Well there you have it folks. This tragic accident has turned into a tragic suicide directed to the scientists of the Bio Center. What message was trying to get across? And why did the test subjects retaliate? More on this story tomorrow at 6:00.
I'm Sheryl Spence."