Final Fantasy: Rosas Journey

Rating: PG
Genre: Adventure/ Mystery
Setting: Technically the world of FF9, but it also travels all over the place
Main Characters: Rosa, Tog

Part 6

Rosa's breathing slowed as the footsteps passed and died away down the corridor. Only then did she turn slowly. Facing her was a girl, a petrified look in her eyes. Rosa gave a start as she realised that the girl was tied to a chair. Clearly terrified the girl whispered softly.

"Who are you?" Rosa thought to herself. Clearly, this girl was not an enemy; she seemed too young and unthreatening to harm anyone. She must have been fourteen, fifteen maybe. But then, that meant whoever owned this house was an enemy. She had felt unwelcome by the butler, and maybe this girl was the reason why. Listening carefully to make sure that nobody was coming, she answered the girl quickly.

"My names Rosa. Who are you and what are you doing here?" The girl looked shocked to be questioned again, but she stuttered out an answer.

"I'm Alicia. They kidnapped me." That wasn't the answer that Rosa wanted to hear. That meant the owner of this house was indeed someone to be wary of. It would probably be better to just leave now while she had the chance. But she couldn't just leave the girl here. Could she? The girl was likely to slow her down, and something told Rosa that wasn't a good thing at this moment. But then again, it may be useful to have a companion. She still couldn't forget that last time she had been alone it had been hell getting as far as this house. Her thoughts drifted from the immediate predicament, to Tog. What had happened to him? And who was the cloaked figure who had sent her here? She recalled Togs terrified squeaks as the room had vanished. With a sigh, she turned and walked to the girl. She knew she would feel guilty if she didn't help. She knelt by the ropes and started to pick them open.

Time ticked past all too quickly for Rosa's liking. The ropes were knotted in a complicated way. Alicia suddenly hissed at Rosa.

"Hurry up, I can hear someone coming!" sure enough, footsteps were gradually coming nearer. Panicking, Rosa fumbled with the last knot. She wasn't going to get it undone in time. With a last desperate attempt, she ripped t the knot. Fortunately, it slipped free, and the girl jumped to her feet. But just too late. The door at the far end of the room opened slowly. Rosa swallowed before grabbing Alicia's arm and dragging her to the opposite door. She ripped it open and hauled the girl into the corridor. She pushed the door closed, just at the same time as a yell sounded from the room. Alicia turned and touched the keyhole of the door. Rosa heard a low grating sound, before the girl turned back to Rosa and said, hastily.

"Let's get out of here."

The two ran down the passage, Rosa listening desperately for sounds of a chase. But there was none. The two girls ran through the house, Rosa praying that they would find a way out soon. It was disturbing that there were no sounds of riot, confusion or a chase. Rosa just hoped that something worse wasn't going to happen. The passage split in two up ahead. One passage was far darker than the other. Rosa sprinted immediately up the lighter passage, Alicia just behind her. A door loomed up ahead. Relief flooded through Rosa's mind. Too soon.

With a crash, something fell from the ceiling. It seemed bluish in colour, and formed of a rocky substance. It had four long legs, ending in stumps instead of feet, and each leg thick and sturdy. Its body was round, and there seemed no distinction to where the body stopped and the creatures head began. It had three eyes, each one a bloodshot slit across the centre of the creatures face. It opened its mouth, which sported two fangs, dripping with saliva and let out a sound somewhere between a roar and a screech. It took two steps forward, its weight causing dust to fall from the ceiling. Rosa swallowed. The monster looked a tough match, but it was clearly slow. She head Alicia mutter a word behind her.

"Protect" so the girl was a white mage. That could prove useful. She shouted orders to the girl.

"Alicia, use any supportive magic you can. I'm gonna attack this bastard!" she drew her sword, waiting for the creature to make the first move. It swung one of its legs in a wide arc, aiming at Rosa's head. She dodged, rolling to one side and straightening up close enough to smash one of the creature legs with her sword. It swept the leg she struck outwards, knocking her back against the wall, and driving the breath from her body. She gave a gasp. Her blow had done little damage. She clambered to her feet, before running to it and attacking again. The creature merely swept her aside like an annoying fly. She couldn't damage it! How were they going to escape with this creature blocking there path.

END OF PART 6