Disclaimer: If I owned Star Ocean, this would be the sequel, not a fanfiction. Therefore, we can conclude I don't own Star Ocean. Or Advil.
Date Posted: Februrary 4, 2006
Author's Note: Ah, yes. The chapter we've all been waiting for. It's a bit like the last one, maybe a tad repetitive, but the next one is very long and pretty awesome and action-filled. I think all you blood-thirsty readers will like this one though. ;;
Chapter 8: Perfection"You know you never stood a chance," Albel remarked, gun still pointed at Sophia's head. She lay on the floor, shaking, but otherwise remaining still. "You knew you were up against a man who kills for a living. So why bother?"
"BECAUSE EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE PERFECT!" Sophia yelled, looking panicked.
Albel threw his head back, laughing humorlessly. "THIS is your idea of perfect? My Fayt is dead! Not because he stood up for himself or fought, but because he couldn't stand to live! Where's the perfection!" Albel slammed the gun into Sophia's forehead, causing her to wince in pain. "Answer me, maggot. Is this really perfect?"
"I….well…" Sophia trailed off, looking as though she was thinking hard.
Albel smirked. "It's not. Even you can't pretend everything's ok now."
He reached into his right boot and yanked out a knife, turning it, watching the light play on it's surface. "Knives kill much more slowly than guns," he informed Sophia, tossing the blade into the air and catching it with ease. Sophia watched as it spun, the fear in her eyes obvious.
With one swift movement, Albel expertly threw the knife, allowing it to slash Sophia's leg open, creating a long, red line. She shook violently with fear, whimpering and pulling away as Albel retrieved his knife, satisfied.
"I've wanted to see your blood for a long time. It's proof you're just like the rest of us. See, it doesn't sparkle with perfection." Albel smirked, wiping blood off the knife. "The only things all people have in common- blood and death. I intend to familiarize you with both by the end of the night."
"Look, Fayt's dead," Sophia said in a falsely gentle voice. "Maybe we can get on with our lives now? We both spent so much time with him, and with this whole incident, maybe it's best if we just moved on."
"I can't move on. Fayt was my life, I have nothing to move on to!"
"I'll give you a normal life to move on to. You can have a job as one of my gun men and forget all about this. You don't have to protect Fayt anymore." Beneath the false calm, there was pure fear in Sophia's voice.
"Shut up, bitch! YOU could never understand! I didn't have to protect Fayt, I lived to protect him! He was the only thing I had, and the only thing I needed!"
"Do you want someone new to protect?" Sophia asked softly, backing away.
Albel sighed angrily. "No." He pointed the gun at her head, and Sophia flinched. "You talk too much. I know what you're trying to do. Calm down the crazy serial killer by offering him what he wants. Do you know what I want, Sophia?"
She looked thoughtful for a moment. "Money?"
"No, you bitch! I want him back! I want you DEAD!" Albel yelled, kicking Sophia.
Sophia whimpered, but continued her attempts at negotiating with Albel. "So you failed in protecting him and now you want to kill me for it?"
Stupid bitch, I know I failed, now shut the hell up about it! Albel pointed the gun at Sophia again, knife still clenched firmly in his left hand. "I thought I told you, you talk too damn much. If you're trying to make me feel guilty, give it up."
"You don't feel like you could have stopped him?"
I know what she's doing, I know it. I do it all the time. "I blamed myself for screwing up a long time ago. I should have left Fayt before anyone found out about us." Albel glared at Sophia, watching with satisfaction as her green eyes widened in what looked like fear.
"And why didn't you? Maybe you can make up for it now," Sophia said, her voice now painfully fake.
"Quit that damn fake happy voice. I don't have to explain myself to a maggot like you!" Albel snapped, waving the gun a little as he spoke.
"Is it because you don't have an explanation?" Sophia asked softly, her voice more real now.
"I don't fucking know why I didn't leave him!" Albel yelled. "I stole his chance to live and be happy, because he fell in love with me!"
Sophia smiled. "So the mighty Albel Nox failed."
Albel kicked Sophia again, harder this time, silencing her. "Shut up, maggot." She shouldn't be much a problem. Weakling. But what am I trying to do now?
Albel looked down at Sophia, examining her. Fayt's dead now. There's nothing left for me… I should have done this the right way before I met him.
"Sophia, do you have any bleach?"
"Bleach? Well, um, yes…"
Didn't think someone like her would wear white without carrying some bleach. "Hand it over," Albel ordered, raising the gun a little to make his point clear.
Sophia reached inside the white sweater she had put on after the wedding and pulled out a small bottle of bleach, handing it to Albel. He shook the container, listening to the liquid swish. Not enough to die.. Maybe she has more.
"Bleach kills when you drink it," Albel remarked.
"Suicide?" Sophia asked.
"None of your business, maggot," Albel snapped back.
Sophia looked uncertain for a moment before speaking again. "Wasn't Fayt annoying anyway?"
Oh, that's it bitch! Albel dropped to the floor instantly, punching her firmly in the face. Sophia cried out in pain, but he brought his fist against her face one more time before leaping back up, gun pointed at Sophia.
"I'm starting to get annoyed with YOU. YOU'RE trying to make me not love Fayt. You're afraid I'll kill you, aren't you?" Albel smirked at Sophia, who was clutching her nose, which looked broken. She didn't answer, so Albel continued. "It won't work. You stupid bitch, you'll never stop me from loving him."
Their eyes met, Sophia's afraid. Good. I want her to be afraid. I want her to wish her death would come faster! She's a coward. Albel narrowed his eyes at Sophia. Maybe I should just give her what she wants. If Fayt's dead, what does it matter?
"Take it." Albel loosened his grip on the gun and held it out to her. Sophia stared, wide-eyed, but slowly took it, hands shaking. "If this is what you wanted, go for it." Albel smirked. "Shoot me."
Sophia's hand trembled more violently and she nervously bit her lip. "I don't have a secret plan," Albel said. Still, she made no move to fire. Just as I thought. "Ah. So you can't kill. Not a rare thing."
"I-I can. But I…" Sophia's voice trailed off.
Albel laughed dryly. "Then shoot me, you stupid bitch. Shoot me."
"T-that would ruin the perfection."
"What the hell kind of perfection is this! You know you caused Fayt's death, you know you raped him, but you can't kill the man you've hated for so long!" Albel's eyes were wild, staring at Sophia.
"I was d-doing the right thing. I was trying to… to make him better. I only wanted to cure him. I'll be forgiven." Sophia smiled slightly. "I've still got perfection."
"You sick bitch. Fayt didn't need to be cured. He was MINE! All mine, and anything wrong with him was just a scar from his past. I treated him well, it was you who ruined him, who broke him down. You never had perfection!"
Sophia's eyes widened. "I need perfection. He was part of the perfection. He was nice and sensitive; the perfect man. Just what I needed to complete my perfection."
Albel glared at Sophia, kicking her again. "Fayt was perfect, but not once you stole him. You're lucky he didn't try to commit suicide before this."
Sophia looked down. "We kept him locked up in the mansion for most of the first two years. By then, I don't think he minded so much."
"You don't think he minded! He hated being with you!" Albel yelled.
"But… I loved him." Sophia's voice was soft, afraid.
Could she have really had feelings for him? She makes it sound like he was perfect for publicity, but maybe there was more? Albel stared down at Sophia, before answering in a low voice,"If you really did love him, that's the only thing we'll ever have in common." Sophia nodded, still looking afraid.
"Now, do you have any other poisons?"
"Why would I carry poison?"
"Pills, maybe?" Albel gestured at the white purse slung over her shoulder. Sighing, Sophia pulled out a full bottle of Advil. Albel smirked, taking it. "Perfect."
"Fayt's not worth it. He's not worth your life."
Albel laughed. "And you say you loved him. He was my life. Why not let me die, anyway?"
Sophia smiled, looking confident. "I'm saving you."
"I'm already going to hell. Don't bother."
"But I want everything to be perfect. Don't you? Religion…it, it offers some standard for perfection. A good one." Sophia's voice shook, and she stared at the gun pointed at her as she spoke.
"Well hallelujah. Now, are you going to kill me or not?"
Sophia shook her head. "I'm going to save you. Don't do this, or I'll fail in saving you."
Albel spat on the ground, eyes blazing with the fire of anger. "You sound just like Fayt's family. They're dead. I made them die."
"And yet, you think you loved one of their family. It would be so easy to leave your wrong ways behind and hate him, too. He's dead anyway." Sophia sounded more afraid at the mention of Fayt's family.
Albel turned his glare from the floor to Sophia. "I told you, I won't stop loving Fayt. I would have died for him, I would sell my soul just to see him one more time. Nothing you do can change that. I'm going to die, and you can't stop it." He smirked. "But you can help it. Shoot me."
Albel's crimson eyes challenged Sophia to shoot him. She tightened her grip on the gun, but didn't pull the trigger. She's too set in her ways. She'll take more convincing if she's going to shoot me.
"Haven't you always wanted to kill me? Remember when we were younger, when you wanted Fayt so badly but I had him?"
Sophia nodded, adjusting her finger, gripping the gun.
"Didn't you want to kill me then? You would have done anything to steal him from me. After we ran off together, then did you wish I was dead? Wish I was never born?"
Sophia's eyes widened. "I-I don't know. That's all in the past…"
Albel glared at her. "Shoot me, damn it. Just shoot me."
"Are you begging me to end your life?" Sophia was clearly afraid to pull the trigger.
"I'm telling you I don't care if you do. I can end my own life if I need to, but you've spent so long trying to have me killed, why not do it yourself?" Albel's glare challenged her to answer him, to fire at him, but she did nothing.
That stupid bitch won't do it. She might as well have shot Fayt, but she won't kill me, not directly. She's caused all this destruction anyway, why the hell won't she shoot? She's a coward.
Sophia now looked as though she were considering it, staring at the gun, running a finger along it.
Maybe I can scare her into it… or just finish her off.
"Damn you!" Albel yelled, bringing the knife down, slashing Sophia across her neck and down to her shoulder, blood pouring out of the wound and onto the knife and his hands. Sophia screamed, letting the gun fall from her hands. "You killed Fayt, you know you killed him!"
"No!" She screamed. "I didn't kill him, he killed himself, it wasn't me!"
Albel ignored her screaming, swinging the blade wildly at Sophia, blood pouring everywhere, staining his hands, splattering onto his face. Sophia attempted to fight back, kicking and punching and screaming. Albel brought his knife across her skin over and over, intent on seeing more of her blood.
"Shut up, you murdering bitch, do you know what you did to MY Fayt! You killed him!" Albel was in a blind rage now, tossing the knife aside and punching her. Both were fighting wildly with their bare hands, Sophia trying to fend off Albel, who attacked relentlessly.
Albel kicked her aside, leaping up. He was breathing heavily, and Sophia's blood covered his hands. "Changed your mind yet? Want to kill me now?" Albel's voice carried a mocking tone to it, still challenging her to shoot.
Sophia was lying on the floor, bleeding, obviously in pain. Blood dripped onto the floor slowly, forming bright red puddles around her.
Maybe not enough to kill her, but enough to hurt badly. She won't ever forget this.
"I didn't kill Fayt," Sophia answered, whimpering slightly. "I didn't want him…dead. Just you. You're always in my way. Stopping me from getting to Fayt. I was meant to be with him, not you."
"It's too late for that now, bitch. You've let him die."
"I'm going to win this time, Nox! I'm going to beat you!" Sophia yelled, green eyes wild.
Albel only laughed dryly, and pointed at the gun lying on the floor next to her. "If you really want me dead, just shoot me. I'm giving you the chance to kill me, take it if you want it!"
"I can't become a murderer," Sophia answered shakily. "It wouldn't be right."
Albel's glare turned cold. "We're beyond right and wrong, don't you think? We're fighting over a dead man. You want me dead, but you won't shoot me because you think you still have a chance at perfection. What is it you're hanging onto?"
Sophia looked away. "I'm hanging onto the perfection I can still keep. Maybe you've lost everything, but I can come out of this alive, and I can get my publicity. It's you who has nothing, not me."
"You think I don't know that!" Albel snapped. "You stole everything I had. Go on and take your publicity, your perfection. I'll be happy with death. Shooting me won't taint you."
"Murderers are crazy. They kill people, they love killing people. I can't become one, I can't be like you." Sophia's voice shook violently as she spoke.
"Don't want to be like me, hm?" Albel smirked. "I got Fayt. You didn't. Maybe it was a gender thing, but he still loved me more."
"You're a murderer," Sophia whispered.
"You're too weak to kill me. Too god damn scared of ruining something that only exists in your mind." Albel walked to the broken door and turned to Sophia. "Kill me now, or let me kill myself. I don't care either way, I just need to get out of this life."
She picked up the gun and raised it.
Finally, she's breaking down. She's going to shoot me. Albel smirked, waiting.
Sophia lay there, gun pointed at Albel, eyes thoughtful. After a long pause, she dropped the weapon.
"I won't," she said simply. "I'm no murderer. It's too…tainted."
Albel glared at her. "So you can't do it?"
"As long as you die, I might as well save myself and not become a killer."
"Suit yourself. But don't think you've won. I still had Fayt." Suicide it is then. "I suppose you'll get your precious publicity after all." He paused. "If you don't die of blood loss."
She probably will. She's too hurt to get help. Serves the bitch right, too.
Albel glared at Sophia, savoring the look of complete fear in her eyes for a moment. Blood surrounded her, a thin layer of red on the floor, falling off her pale skin to add a crimson backdrop as she lay in absolute fear, death suddenly a very real possibility.
Albel turned to the door and walked out. He was greeted by the mass of dead bodies- all his kills. She won't have many left to defend her after this. There were bloody footprints on the floor where Fayt must have run out. Fayt… don't worry Fayt. I'm coming for you.
He dashed out of the restaurant, knowing exactly where he needed to go. The cliff the city sat on. The cliff Fayt had already jumped off.
Author's Note: Cue the mass panic of the Albel fans. Heh. Oh, I forgot to mention, this is probably the last chapter I'll write entirely with this computer. Yes, there comes a time when we all must move on to better computers. In other words, I'm getting a laptop. Yay. Next chapter will be awesome beyond reason. Or, um, at least really long. And lots of stuff will happen. Sounds like fun, yes? So review. I like reviews. I like people who review.
