Chapter Two: Unbelievable
Lloyd could only watch helplessly as Colette's sweet, blue eyes widened in shock. "L-Lloyd?" Her voice shook a little and she took a step forward.
"Lloyd!" Genis shouted and ran towards his body, Colette following close behind. Lloyd floated close behind them, wishing there was someway he could talk to them, wishing he didn't have to see this. Genis and Colette crouched beside Lloyd's body. Genis extended a hand towards Lloyd, his eyes filled with worry and fear. "Llo-" He broke off, seeming to be afraid to say his name. Colette had her hands clutched to her chest, a look of this-can't-be-happening on her face. Slowly, Genis reached for Lloyd's wrist.
"Ugggh..." The hand twitched! All eyes widened in surprise. Slowly, Lloyd? sat up and held a hand to his forehead.
"Lloyd!" Overjoyed, Genis and Colette glomped onto him. Lloyd? reeled back, obviously taken by surprise. A few feet away, the real Lloyd couldn't believe his eyes. How...
"B...But I..." He stammered. "I'm here..." His voice shook and he trembled. Wordless noises escaped stricken lips as he floated forward, reaching out to himself. Of course, his hand touched nothing and simply passed through his own chest. Colette and Genis were nearly sobbing so great was their relief.
"I-I thought you were dead!" Genis said, looking at Lloyd?. The faker laughed and lightly punched Genis on the arm.
"No, of course not! I fell down and I guess I hit my head or something. I'm sorry to worry you." He told them, smiling. Colette laughed weakly.
"I-I guess it was a little silly to jump to conclusions like that but it's just...you looked like you really were...dead..." Her voice shook on the word and she clutched Lloyd?'s arm for comfort. "Not only that but some of the townspeople have been saying they've seen something...weird up here recently." Lloyd?'s face darkened briefly.
"Something weird? No, I haven't seen anything like that, although Noishe has been acting a bit strange lately..." He said, a thoughtful look on his face. "The woods have been really peaceful recently." He laughed. Genis and Colette laughed along with him, again at ease and full of relief.
"N-no!" Lloyd shouted. "Guys, that's not me! I'm over here! Not there! Look at me!" He shouted desperately and tried to grab their attention but nothing he did worked. "Colette! Genis!" His words fell to deaf ears. He tried to grab Genis' shoulder, tried to get Colette's attention by waving his hand in front of her face but nothing happened. They were still talking to the body thief, oblivious to the real Lloyd's shouting. Finally he gave up and fell to his knees, pounding a fist against the ground. "Dammit! Why can't they hear me!?"
"We better be getting back to the village, or we'll be late for school." Lloyd? rolled his eyes as he got up. Genis and Colette stood up, standing beside him.
"Yeah, sis can get really scary if you skip..." Genis muttered. Laughing and talking like nothing was wrong, the three of them headed down to the village.
"No! Come back!" Lloyd scrambled up and floated after them. Despite his pleas the three continued on. Slowly he stopped. "..." His fists clenched painfully. As he looked up, Lloyd? turned around a shot a cold smirk his way.
"Thanks for the body." He whispered, then turned back and continued chatting with Colette and Genis. Lloyd's eyes widened in shock.
"You...You bastard!" Rage bubbled up in his chest. "You stole my body! Give it back to me!" He drew his swords and uselessly hacked at the body thief. As each slash harmlessly passed through he felt despair starting to creep in. Finally his swords fell to his sides. "What do I do?" He whispered, watching the three of them get farther and farther away.
"I don't know. I guess you should come with me hmmm?" Startled, Lloyd looked behind him...