Chapter XVIII: I'll Cover You

Zell pulled himself forward and fell through the shattered windshield into the front passenger seat. Kicking the back of the seat so hard that it snapped off, he managed to upright himself. Rinoa shrieked and screamed the entire time, angry that her prey had ruined her opportunity to run him down. Forgetting to steer, she let go of the wheel and pounced upon Zell.

Zell yelped as not only the insane creature dug her nails deep into his wrists, but bit hard into his right shoulder. She was no longer human in appearance. She had become a rabid jackal, concerned with only succeeding in the kill.

As the car swerved violently across the road, Zell looked ahead and saw the sign: BRIDGE OUT TWO MILES AHEAD. He had only minutes to escape. If he didn't stop her, Rinoa would kill them both.

Zell took his left fist and slammed it into Rinoa's temple. She hit the dashboard and appeared stunned for a few moments, but the woman was so full of adrenaline that she recovered and leapt back at him. Zell dealt another hard blow, this time breaking her nose. Even as the blood flowed like a river from her nostrils, she was unfazed.

"You can ruin my face all you want, you filthy skank," she spat at him. "I'll still make sure you never feel Seifer's cock up your ass ever again!"

BRIDGE OUT ONE MILE AHEAD. Zell saw the sign out of the corner of his eye.

"Rinoa, stop this madness!" Zell yelled. "You're going to get both of us killed!"

"What do I care?" she wailed, the blood from her nose, further staining her soiled formerly white dress. "I have nothing left to lose. You took Squall and Seifer away from me. They were the only two men I have ever loved. You ruined my life!"

BRIDGE OUT HALF MILE AHEAD.

"I'm sorry, Rinoa!" Zell was desperate to get her to stop the car. "Please understand I fell in love too. I loved Squall more than anything, and I love Seifer just as much. I didn't make them leave you."

"So you're saying that it's my fault they picked you over me?" Rinoa slapped him hard across the face so quickly that he had no chance to block the attack. "How dare you! How dare you tell me that they picked a whore like you by choice when they had me!"

BRIDGE OUT ONE HUNDRED FEET.

Zell could see the end of the bridge in sight. He knew Rinoa wouldn't stop the car. He wasn't sure if he could make it in one piece, but he knew he had to get out of the car right away. He kicked Rinoa swiftly in the chest, sending her slamming against the door on her side, and then unlocked the passenger side door. Rinoa realized what he was doing and lunged for him, but he kicked her back again.

"By the way, Rinoa," Zell said, "Seifer and I made love for the first time the day before your wedding, and the bridge is out right ahead."

"The bridge is out!" Rinoa cried. Zell opened the door and leapt from the car, hitting the asphalt and rolling. Seconds later the car flew off the bridge, aiming directly for one of the supporting pillars.

"Oh shit…" Rinoa said in one last gasping breath.

The car hit the cement pillar with such force that it burst into flames upon impact. The burning metal heap slid down into the water, and a huge cloud of black smoke rose into the air. Zell weakly lifted his head and gasped. There was no way Rinoa could have survived that crash. In her rage, she had destroyed herself. He was still alive.

Exhausted and wounded, Zell slumped over and lost consciousness.

"Zell… Zell…"

Zell opened his eyes and found himself lying in a hospital bed. A nurse was checking the IV that stuck out his arm, but his hand was clenched by another warm hand. Seifer was in the neighboring bed, and it had been pushed closer to Zell's so that the two lovers were nearer to each other.

"The nurses moved the bed for me," Seifer explained.

"Yeah, would you believe this guy?" the nurse said exasperatedly. "You came in looking so beat up that he was a wreck. He kept trying to get out of bed to come over and hold you, so we finally just moved the bed. I threatened to tie him down if he didn't behave himself."

"Seifer..." Zell felt his eyes fill with tears. "I thought Rinoa was going to kill me."

"You're still here," the taller man said soothingly. "She failed, and her end was no one's fault but her own."

"I was so scared..."

"Shh," Seifer smiled. "It's over now. No one can ever come between us ever again."

"You mean that?"

"It's a promise, Zell," Seifer reassured him. "Because you see the things they never see. All you want, I can be, because now you know me. And I'm not afraid."

"I'm not afraid, either," Zell said. "Anymore."

A long moment of silence passed, the two men staring quietly at one another, smiling. The feeling was strange. The johns, pimps, and ex-fiancées were gone from their lives forever. Now it was just the two of them, alone and unafraid of danger. It seemed so strange for there to be only peace on the path ahead.

"Hey, Seif," Zell thought. "Where will we live?"

"We'll manage," Seifer said in a matter of fact tone. "Until then, I'll be you shelter." He winked. "Just pay me back with one thousand kisses."

"Sweet kisses I've got to spare," Zell said happily. "I'll be there and I'll cover you."