Part 29:

The comrades were as silent as ever. It seemed as if they were travelling to their own doom. Balamb Garden was gone, Cid was nowhere to be found, practically every town was being taken over and destroyed and innocent people died as every minute went by…

All they could do right now, was do their best and find this evil man who wanted the sorceress's sacrifice so much he was willing to kill every single person on earth until he found her. Their hearts were broken, feeling fragile and vulnerable by knowing what was left of their lives back home. But there had to be strength, they had to save what was left of it and try to rebuild when everything was right again…

The SeeD's had started to make their way into the downhill forest that leaded to the gigantic water-filled crater.

The forest was very humid here, there was a thick fog covering the tree tops and it had stopped snowing. The climate here was extremely weird and unbalanced.

The comrades tried to hurry through the dense forest with soft swift steps, guiding themselves by a compos Zell carried around his wrist. They were being successful so far.

After what seemed like hours of speeding through the forest, dawn had approached and as the sun rose slowly, they decided to make a fire and rest their legs for a while.

Laguna and Irvine had occupied themselves with building a fire and Quistis talked to Squall softly, while Rinoa sat on small stone near Laguna and Irvine listening to their casual conversation about different methods of starting a fire or thinking about what she was to face sooner or later. Zell had gone to look for water, seeing this as an excuse to be on his own. He felt terribly down, like his life had been torn out of a book and thrown into the flames of a hungry fire. Mother Zincht could be dead or hurt and just the though of that made him want to run back home to look for her. But this mission was far from accomplished and these two matters divided him painfully into two halves. There was nothing that could ever make him smile again, he thought. His home was destroyed, Garden was gone, and the two things with greater importance in his life had silently disappeared. Right now, his only strength was the hatred and despise he had for who had done this to him and the intense want of getting revenge. This strength was so strong; he could feel the veins in his wrists and arms throb every time the name of that man was said.

When everything was ready, they had gathered around the fire, waiting for Zell to return.

'Zell's gone to fill the deposits of water…he should be back soon if he's lucky enough to find some.' Said Selphie to whom Zell had talked before leaving, with a gloomy expression on her face as she sat down besides Laguna.

'He's mad…' Irvine said who sat on the other side of Laguna.

'He's trying to help. You know well we can't go without it…' Selphie answered back not bothering to look at him.

'One wouldn't think this place had any rivers…he's probably up to something, I'd say!…' Irvine said.

Selphie turned her neck and gave him a dirty look.

Irvine looked at Quistis and shrugged his shoulders bleakly.

After a few moments of silence, Squall who sat next to Rinoa, looked at her tightly embracing her legs with her chin leaned on her knees, staring into the flames as if they were more than what met the eye.

He didn't know what to do. He didn't know where to leave her in safety. He didn't know if leaving here on her own was a good idea…Nothing was planned, this was all very recent and he didn't know if anything would turn out as he hoped they would. At this point he wasn't sure of anything and it cost him his heart to just leave her in some unknown place to herself. He didn't want her to feel what he felt a while ago. Completely alone and forgotten. It wasn't her case, but he was sure that if this mission took as long as he knew it would take, he was certain that loneliness and a feeling of loss and abandonment would torment her at night. It was the way things were, whether they liked it or not. It was hard, but it had to be done. For everyone's good. The selfish need of wanting to be in each others arms and forgetting about the world was right now to be put aside. This cost Squall a greater deal than anyone imagined. It was fear of loss that haunted him. Fear of leaving her here and knowing there was a possibility of this war being lost and him not being able to say goodbye. Fear of never looking into those pure loving eyes again. It was a sensation similar to a creature grabbing his insides and squashing them with all its force. But one had to go on…

Zell had walked quite a distance away from the others, following the rocks that seemed to be more abundant to the Northwest, hoping he'd find something. Thoughts of violence ran through his head, painful ones too, but he tried to shove them out of his head, for he knew these would just weaken him. He preferred to feel furious and full of rage and hate. It was when his strength was at its top. And though inside, he felt numb and hurt, thoughts of revenge would keep him going until he found something that would truly give him strength to go on living. But he doubted that something would ever exist. His life was in Balamb. Nothing could replace home, he thought. It was his whole past that had been erased without his consent, leaving behind nothing but slums. He felt as if once this revenge was taken, the meaning in his life would be gone. His job would be done and there was no more to live for. That was the way things would go now…

At a certain point of following the traits of rocks, he had discovered caves, covered with moss and ivy, practically unidentifiable if not observed with proper attention.

A small frown had appeared on his face as he stood there observing the caves. He then approached slowly, intrigued by its complexion and entering the dense cover of creeping plants and finding himself in a totally darkened ambient, it smelled intensely like wet earth in there and a peaceful crinkling sound was heard from a little deeper into the cave.

'Water…' he whispered to himself as he reached to guide himself towards the sound by the walls.

The earth beneath his feet was hard and as he went deeper, it had become of stone as he expected. Zell reached for the torch in his belt and turned it on, scouring around for the source of fresh water he was hearing. Finally, when he moved his torch a little further, he could see something shining in the distance, hidden between rocks on an elevation that started right by his feet. If he hadn't turned on the torch, he would have tripped and hurt himself. He now with the torch in his mouth, climbed the rocks as the sound became clear and louder. He was thirsty and was ready to collect bottles for the others too. When he reached the top, he found himself on sort of miniature cliff, where beneath him was a small current of crystal clear water and on the other side a cascade of water feeding the little creek.

'Whoa…' he whispered as he walked towards the cave's walls to try and reach the miniature fall of water and fill his deposit. He then, dropped the torch that now remained on, supported himself on the wall, stretched his arm and felt the cool fresh water touch his hand. This caused a soft smile of delight on his face, like a little boy who is presented with a brand new toy car... He then greedily clapped his hand to his mouth and drank, closing his eyes and holding the water in his mouth enjoying its cool taste and swallowing it finally when he was ready for more. He had no idea how thirsty he was until the moment that water had touched his lips.

When he finally drank himself to satisfaction, Zell reached for the deposit that hung from his belt. He slid the lid open and stretched it towards the waterfall to get it filled, but as he almost got to it, he felt overwhelming pain in his side, making him gasp with pain, taking all the air out of his lungs. He turned around to look at his side and saw that he had a small and delicate wooden arrow stuck in his flesh and then he looked behind him and saw a shadow of a small person with long wavy hair. He now felt the deposit slip out of his hand as the pain spread through his whole body. His feet gave in, the deposit now hung from his belt dangling violently and not knowing anymore what was happening to him, he accidentally moved backward, unbalanced as he was, kicking the torch down the small creek. And now as he closed his eye-lids, feeling himself drift away into unconsciousness, he fell of the rock and dived backward into the water unconscious. The water made way; pulling him in, taking him to the bottom as now he was completely submerged. With no air in his lungs he sunk down slowly, his blond hair covering his face like silky seaweed and his lifeless limbs stretched before him vulnerably.

Rinoa felt she was being watched, turning her face slightly to confirm her intuition and found herself looking into his eyes. Squall's expression was grave and thoughtful. She gave a reassuring smile that cost her all the scraps of happiness that remained in her, but Squall knew what she felt. He stretched his arm and slid his hand around hers, crossing his fingers through hers and giving a firm grip that gave her a sensation of protection and comfort.

Squall then loosened their grip and faced the others.

'It's time we find a place for Rinoa to stay…' said Squall curtly.

Rinoa's mouth went dry…

'But Zell's not back yet…' Irvine said with a tone of worry in his voice.

'We don't have much time. Let's just hope we'll find him on our way… ' Squall answered him.

His body felt as if it were numb and a shadow of a small figure with long wavy hair replayed itself in his mind over and over again. Then he could see the arrow pierced into his flesh and the veins under the skin turn blue. A feeling of burning up, and then a sudden numbness invading his body. Helpless, falling backwards, the water sucking him in to its deepness and an underwater cave revealed that prolonged itself infinitely into complete darkness. The last bits of oxygen were vacuumed out of his chest. And then, a hand grabbing him by the scruff of his neck and a sudden defining silence…

His eyes opened wide and he gasped for a sore, deep breath as if he hadn't been breathing for a long time…

It was dark, but he could make out where he was. He was still in the cave. He still struggled to breath and when he looked sideways, he saw the same shadow with long wavy hair. Zell kept silent and tried to get up, but felt an excruciating pain on his side as he tried to. He noticed that he was sopping wet and somehow the heaviness of his clothes was unbearable.

'Keep still…' said a familiar soft sweet scratchy voice.

'Urgh…' Zell moaned as he dropped back onto the floor.

He now realised that she was kneeled next to him.

'W-Who… are you?' Zell winced grabbing his side.

'I'm sorry…' she said gravely.

Zell looked at the shadow.

'I thought you were one of the Serpents…that's why I aimed at you…' she explained.

'I don't suppose I look like one…!' Zell grumbled.

'No…actually you don't…the serpents are… taller…' she said as a matter of factually.

'Hey…urgh..what are you insinuating!' he winced.

'Don't move…you're still very tense. The poison isn't totally neutralized!' she said worriedly as she pushed him back onto the ground.

'Ouch…' he wined.

'Just keep still or you'll damage your muscles…' she said.

'You put poison on those things!' Zell asked astonished.

'Well, yes…its more effective, you see…but I said I'm sorry, I really didn't know it was you…' she explained in a worried tone.

'You…didn't know it was me? How come?... Do we know each other!' Zell asked now very curious.

'Well…not really. We met once…I mean…actually…' the girl tried to explain but was interrupted by Zell.

'I want to see you…' Zell winced as he tried to sit up.

'No! keep still!...'her voice raised in worry, placing her hands on his chest to push him back down, but unsuccessfully.

'Urgh…' Zell had sat up with some effort, feeling the flesh on his side hard as a brick.

Zell then without a word reached for his torch, but realised he had lost it…

'Where's my torch!' he grumbled.

'I couldn't find it…I think it got washed away into the underwater cave…'

'I need to see you…' he said softly.

'Nonsense…just rest, alright? I'm gonna get you some water. I'll be back now.' She said, lifting up and walking away.

'Urgh…' Zell dropped himself back onto the ground, closing his eyes.

Suddenly the ground had escaped from him and he felt as if he were falling, and now a hand had grabbed his arm gently, he woke up.

'Ah...' he opened his eyes wide.

'Calm down…it's just the poison wearing off, don't worry. Here, drink this…' she had come back.

Zell got up with her help and took small sips from a small bowl.

The girl walked away and when she came back a spark was born on the ground next to Zell. A little fire was consuming the twigs she had placed unevenly on the ground. Zell could now see the way she was dressed. She had her back faced to him.

This girl had long dark wavy hair until her elbows that had a beautiful peculiarity of finishing in shiny little spirals. She was wearing a grey tunic tightened around her hips with a leather belt and pair of baggy black pants with knee-high leather boots that never made the faintest sound while she walked, unless the ground was sandy.

'Let me see you…' asked Zell softly, supporting himself on his elbows.

The girl turned around and walked up to him.

'There's nothing to see…I'm just a girl. Like any other.' She smiled kneeling next to him and pulling his waistcoat open to look at the wound.

'I-It's you…' he whispered in surprise.

'Do you recognize me, now?' she asked smiling and washing the wound with a damp cloth.

'We met a few hours ago…I caught you!...by accident…' he said the last words shamefully.

'Oh, yes and you left some bruises too…couldn't forget about you, could I?…' she chuckled, showing her wrists.

'I did! I'm so sorry…' Zell got up, gave a quick wince and took her hands into his, rubbing them with his fingers gently.

'I-It's ok…' she pulled her hands back shyly.

'I'm tough. I just…bruise easily, that's all…' she smiled nervously.

Zell stared at her, while she took care of his wound.

'Who are you?' he asked gently taking her face into his hand and making her look at him.

He saw now how truly beautiful she was. Her gleaming, peculiarly coloured eyes that reminded him of the sea on a stormy day, her round little nose and her small rosy lips that almost never broke into a smile. Her serious expression was so intriguing, it made Zell want to observe her all day. The weirdest of all, was that this pale, beautiful face was hurt. She had small injuries that were almost healed, like scratches and small sores on her forehead like she had been knocked on her head a few times.

She stared into his eyes for some time, thinking. But then a frown grew upon her face and she turned her face away and got up.

'Why won't you tell me?' Zell murmured frowning.

'There's no time for this…you must get out of here before they find you...it's too dangerous out here. I can't keep you here…' her voice went frighteningly serious and cold.

'What?' Zell tried to get up, but having his knees weaken. He got on his knees and slowly got up and walked over to her.

'Too dangerous?...Girl, do you even know who I am?' Zell was now right behind her.

'I know you shouldn't be here…' she said gravely.

'You must think I'm here because I had nothing else to do…well then, know that I'm on a mission…a very important one…' He said proudly.

The girl turned around to look at him.

'You? On a mission?' the girl said in disbelief.

'Yeah…' he said with a small grin, thinking it would impress her.

'I'm a professional mercenary…' he explained.

The girl stared at him and seemed to have noticed something that shocked her.

'Don't you play the fool with me, boy!' the girl reached for a knife out of her belt and leaned it against his throat threateningly.

'Whoa, whoa…hold on!' Zell froze swallowing dryly.

'Who are you!... You've followed me! Haven't you!...' she groaned through her teeth giving him a shake on his arm.

'Hey…I'm a good guy! I-I mean no harm to you…'

'What? You expect me to believe you when you wear a spy's clothes?' the girl grabbed a little broche he carried on his waistcoat with an odd symbol that resembled knots and spirals.

'You don't understand! It was part of the mission to…'

'You lie!...' she groaned furiously.

'No I don't!' Zell said frustrated, grabbing the knife out of her hand and taking her wrists in his hand and throwing the knife into one of the walls.

'I didn't follow you…' Zell gasped.

'You're a spy! You're being paid to find every last one of us and take us into that hell hole and turn us into his prisoners! I know a spy when I see one!' she hissed.

'Is that so?' Zell was loosing his patience.

'Well then your eyesight must be quite bad...' he now dragged her out of the cave and they were now in the light.

The girl moaned with the brightness of the light, covering her face with her arm.

'It seems you've been in there too long…' he said to himself observing her reaction to the light.

'Look at me!' he took her face in his hand again.

She looked at him, puffing with rage.

'You're going to pay for what you've done to us…helping the Serpents…destroy my home!'

'What are you saying?' Zell pulled her closer.

'I've seen a guy like you once…turning into one of them…I know your type…you'll do anything to be the most powerful one's right arm!' she hissed.

'Who are you talking about?' Zell asked puzzled.

'Almasy…Seifer Almasy…a traitor to his people and to us!'

'I knew it!' Zell whispered victoriously shaking his fist.

'Oh…and I see you were friends too...well I hope you both get what you deserve! Murderers!' she yelled trying to shake herself loose.

'Hey! Speak softly! I can hear what you're saying just fine!' he yelled back at her.

'Let go of me…traitor…' she gave him a threatening look.

'Look at me, girl!' Zell's voice went serious.

The girl was pulled closer to him and now was face to face with Zell.

He looked down at her, right into her deep indigo eyes and she looked into his electric blue ones.

'Do you see a traitor?' he murmured not blinking once.

The girl kept silent and then swerved her eyes.

'Na-ah!' Zell said now forcing her face him.

'What do you see?' he asked softly.

'I shouldn't have annulled the poison…you don't fool me…' she whispered.

'I don't have to…spys never look you in the eye, do they?…it makes them vulnerable…you should know that, seeing as you're so sure I'm one.' Zell murmured harmoniously.

He sort of enjoyed this moment. Her eyes made him curious and gave him a weird feeling inside. He just couldn't keep his eyes off hers. He refused to end the moment, now that it was just the both of them.

'You're a good one…I saw your lying grin…I recognised it…I know you better than you think…I can't tell…' she started, but was cut off by Zell

'What can you tell of me?' he asked.

The girl kept silent.

'I thought so…' Zell said triumphantly.

'I should've let you drown…' she said through gritted teeth.

A few dark silent moments went by and the girl was now tired, trying to fight back her tears of fury and anger.

Zell looked at her and then feeling guilty for what he was submitting her to, he looked away and bit his lip nervously.

'Hey…look…please don't…how am I going to tell you that I mean you no harm?' he asked more to himself than to her.

'I'm here on a mission with some other mercenaries, friends of mine…we've come to free your people, to stop the mad guy from destroying what's left…to kill him before…the end of everything comes…' he said now in a shallow voice.

Expecting her to calm down, Zell let go of her. But to his horror she took advantage of this moment to fragilise him. She gave him a knee kick in the area any man would rather ask not to. This made Zell get weak in his knees and collapse in pain. But before she could get away, he grabbed her foot and pulled her down. She tripped and fell right beside him with a squeak.

Zell grabbed the back of her neck, still wincing in pain and forced her to look his way…

He now saw tears in her eyes. Of what? He didn't know. Maybe of hatred, pain, rage, fury, fear, desperation, and anxiety…he couldn't tell. Her eyes did not only flood in tears, but also cried for themselves. He noticed it there, in her eyes, a burning pain and distrust like no other.

She stared back at him as if to tell him, no matter what he did, she'd never fall in his game. What game! There was no such thing! He was honest. He meant her well…!

Then something strange happened. Time seemed to move slower in that moment of crossed stares. Zell tried to tell her through his mind that he wasn't who she though he was. That since the last time he saw her, he couldn't get those bright indigo eyes out of his mind. But then he limited himself to stare at her, his hand around the back of her neck, where he could feel the warm soft touch of her angelical hair and skin. And before he knew it he was asking her something she could not answer…

'Where have you been?' he whispered breathing slowly and continuing to gaze into her indefinable coloured eyes. He could sense she was frightened, but there was no reason to, was there?

'All this time…where have you been…?' he whispered now caressing her hair.

The girl's eyes now showed panic…

'I won't hurt you…' Zell said now pulling himself closer to her, so she could feel his breath on her face. Zell didn't know what he was doing. He had never had dared to do this to anyone else, but the impulse in him was so strong; he could not deny it…

'Just…' his expression now was of a sweet smile.

He came closer, so that his torso laid over hers. The girl's heart thumped so intensely you could almost hear it. But she could've pushed him away if she wanted to. But that wasn't the case, was it? She lay there with her hair splashed on the ground, her small lips parted slightly and her eyes wide open, observing him attentively. She saw something in his eyes, she had never seen before. What it was, she didn't know, but it was what she silently longed for deep in her heart. That rare gentle look that promised something she could not hear…

Zell stared at her lips and then back into her eyes.

'Will I ever see you again?' Zell whispered.

The girl remained silent staring into his eyes.

'What now?...you don't speak?' Zell smiled.

The girl kept her gaze on him.

'Get off me…' the girl murmured watching him attentively.

'Get up…I'm not stopping you…' he smiled.

The girl narrowed her eyes and with a brisk move she raised her head from the ground, guessing that he would move out of the way...but he didn't and before she new it her face was touching his and he had his lips on hers in a small sweet kiss. And then he parted to observe her reaction. She stared back in his eyes and seized his bottom lip between her teeth, making Zell panic when she gave it a painful nibble which made him moan and become limp. Then when she finally let go she pushed him away, making him fall on his back as she got up furiously.

Zell who still lay on the ground, let a wide smile grow on his face, touching his lips with his fingers and realising he was bleeding..

'Argh!' he heard the girl scream in distress.

Zell, confused turned around to stare at her and saw three hooded figures. Serpents, he thought. And one had taken hold of the girl. She tried to fight her way out of his reach by wailing her arms and legs. Then he stared at the other two and saw that they had their crossbows pointed at him. And before he knew it the creaking sound of the bow had released an arrow and next was a painful sting in his stomach and a excruciating pain spreading through his whole body. But he got up. He stared down and realised he had just been shot with an arrow.

'Urgh…!' he felt pain when he tried to breathe in.

'Let go of me!' she yelled after hitting one of the Serpents with her elbow in the face.

Zell bit his already bleeding lip and with all his might, he pulled the arrow out with a strong, firm grip and threw it aside after giving a loud yell.

He looked back at the Serpents and saw that they still had their arrows pointed at him and then at the girl who was being held by one of the Serpents and tried to fight herself out of its reach. She managed to weal herself out of the hooded man's reach by this time punching him in the stomach with her elbow…

Zell then, feeling rather weak, marched up to the one that gave the girl trouble and punched him in the face, blowing him onto the ground brutally. Then he felt the other serpent's hands from behind trying to strangle him. Zell grabbed its arms and squeezed them as tight as he possibly could until he managed to hear the Serpent emit a muffled sound of pain and let go of his neck. He then grabbed the Serpent's arms and swung him over his head, into the air and BANG right on the ground creating a cloud of dust. He then looked for the other Serpent but he had got up and disappeared. Zell turned around and saw that it had insisted to bother the girl, so he crept up behind it and kicked it in the back, making it jerk to the front as if broken in half and fell onto the ground with a loud thump.

'You ok?' he asked wincing and before she could even open her mouth, Zell, holding tight onto his stomach where he had been hit, marched up to the other Serpent who tried to get up and made his famous heel drop…and the Serpent had disappeared. It was on that instant that he felt a blow on his head, making him fall flat face onto the ground and feeling as if his head were to fall off.

But he eyes opened when he heard the girl gasping as she fought. Zell grabbed the last bits of strength in him and got up. He turned around and found himself face to face with another Serpent and immediately took a fighting position, jumping up and down slightly and shaking his head to keep conscious.

The Serpent threw a fist at him, but Zell as the expert in martial arts, swerved it and took hold of its arm, danced to its side and thrust his elbow into the Serpent's stomach and then he punched him in the face until the fell onto the ground and disappeared.

Zell bent forward and supported his hands on his knees, taking in a breath or two and without a blink he was limping himself up to the other Serpent that now had about three of the girls arrows in its flesh, but kept a tight grip on the girl's wrists.

And without making himself seen, Zell grabbed onto the Serpents shoulders and tightened his grip so that it would let go of the girl. And when the Serpent turned around to fight Zell, he had banged its head between his hands, making the Serpent bend forward and growl in pain.

Zell, clutching his hand to his wound still managed to express a triumphal grin on his face. But he didn't expect the Serpent to react too quickly.

Before Zell could defend himself the Serpent had grabbed him on his arms and lifted him into the air and next he was forcing him against a tree trunk. Zell already feeling weak, jerked his head a few times, trying to release himself but the Serpent was now in control and now with its hand holding the collar of his neck was taking a dagger out of its cloak. This wasn't any old dagger; it had a creature on the handle that growled in his face. Zell felt cold sweat drip from his forehead as he focused on the disgusting drooling creature. He took all his might and with a loud yell, he clutched his hands around the serpent's ones with all the strength he had left, tried to undo its grip on him. But he was too weak, after this he was exhausted and the dagger was closer to his neck.

Zell shut his eyes tightly. Now he felt the grip around his neck weaken and he had now had dropped down at the tree's feet.

Zell opened his eyes and realised that the Serpent was now at his own feet too. And the girl stared down at it with horror in her face and a small steel axe had fallen from her delicate hands onto the ground.

Zell stared at her and realised that she had just saved his life. But at the precise moment when he tried to get up, he felt his stomach tighten. He supported himself against the tree and stared at the ground as he felt a unexplainable pain travel through his whole body again. He closed his eyes and blinked, his stomach tightened again, this time so painfully he gasped. The girl started to worry.

Zell feebly stepped over the Serpent's dead body and walked limping away from the girl.

Feeling his limbs numb, he dropped onto his knees as he gasped tiredly…and then as he heard the girl walk up to him, he feebly tried to get back up on his feet and with all his might, he put one foot in front, bending forward a little with the intense pain in his stomach. The girl, suffering a brutal change of heart, tried to help to support him under his arm, but Zell stretched his arm backwards and signalled for her to keep away and walked feebly away into the forest, clutching his stomach and wincing as he went and disappeared…

He walked feebly into the woods, his hand tightly clutched to his stomach and leaning against trees as he felt himself weaken, bit by bit.

'Whoa…' he murmured to himself as he felt his open wound burn so painfully it brought tears to his eyes.

He had walked quite some paces away from where the girl was and realised he was not apt to go any further. He didn't know what was happening to him, but he knew it had something to do with the arrow that had stung into his flesh earlier by one of the Serpents.

Zell wrapped one arm around a tree trunk, fearing he'd loose his balance and fall. Next was his stomach contracting so tightly, he bent forward with the intense pain and before he knew it, he was retching.

It was a horrible sensation and it seemed to not want to stop…his stomach would contract after trying standing up straight, it almost felt as if he were going to regurgitate his own stomach if he couldn't stop… His already sucked in tattooed face was as pallid as it had never been before…

He was really not ok. And the last thing he wanted was for anyone to see him like this.

To be continued…

Was that or wasn't it an original way for a chapter's end:D

Well I hope it got a little more interesting for you. At least this part! Please review! I've got my PC and internet back! Yay! Hope you enjoyed this! Thank you so much for reading! Really :') It makes me so happy. Thanks to all the reviewers!