Chapter 3
Cocoon beach is simply a breathtaking place. The beach held exotic flowers, lush white sands and a beautiful dark blue ocean. Oranges, reds and pinks dotted flowers in vivid colors. People of all ages walked among the beaches white sands. Voices drifted from the nearby boardwalk shopping center, but my destination was the edge of the sand. The places were the ocean lapped my feet and I could feel the coldness on my toes. Looking towards the horizon as the beautiful sun began to set. The bursts of dark and light oranges greeted the darkening cloudless sky. I sat down on the sand not caring if my clothes became wet. I only cared about that I could finally cry by myself.
Tears slowly went down my face as I curled my arms around my knees as I rested my head on my kneecaps. I bet I looked childish, but truth is I was done. I wanted to scream outloud "Why?" Why did this have to happen to me; I'm not sure how longed I stayed like that. I had to be strong for Serah and crying had to stop. I had to grow up. I had to figure out what to do. I needed to find out the whys, and how's. I wanted to blame a lot of people. But mostly I wanted to blame PSICOM. Why didn't they protect the citizens of Cocoon better? Why weren't they giving me the answers I so deserved? I stood up as I wiped the tears from my cheeks. I started to walk towards the PSICOM headquarters right off the beach. I knew they would be open. I walked up the wooden steps to the glass building and opened the door. I looked around to see a front desk with a tired looking women typing on a computer. Her brown hair was frazzled and her green eyes looked haggled. She glanced at me when I walked towards her desk.
"The tour for the Academy is for tomorrow." She spoke in a bored tone as she went back to typing.
"I'm here to talk to someone about my Parents death." The receptionist looked at me as she sipped her coffee. "Please? There names were Alexander and Jessica Farron."
"I'm sorry Miss but that's private information we just can't give that out to anyone." She flipped her hair as if she didn't have a care in the world except her pot of coffee.
"Please tell me I have a right to know!" my fist slammed on the counter, enough force to make her coffee slosh onto the papers she had. She had no clue what I was going through and yet for her to disregard me as if it was nothing.
"Miss, you have to calm down." She stood up and glared at me for ruining her coffee. I took a deep breath and tried to calm down.
"Mrs. Janson, you can let the girl come into my office." A voice spoke on a small PS system as I glanced in surprise. Mrs. Janson pressed the button to respond.
"Yes Commander Jacobs." She pressed another button and a set of metal double doors opened and she pointed to it. "Be respectful to him at least" she muttered.
I smirked as I walked through the double doors. The office was magnificent. Glass windows overlooked the beach but what really took my breath was the Commander. He sat behind a huge brown desk filled with papers and a computer. Flat screen was on with news on mute and Jacobs looked at me expectantly.
"Claire Farron." He said my name as if he knew everything about me. I stared at him as I pushed my bangs from my eyes. "I am sorry for your loss." He spoke softly as his pale green eyes regarded me.
"You and everyone else, so when will I receive my card from the dollar store?" I muttered. He barked a laugh at me as I glared at him.
"How old are you?" he asked, staring at me intently.
"Don't you already know?" I countered. "You are technically with the government."
"Just answer my questions." His pale green eyes narrowed slightly.
"18." I responded.
"Grades?" he drilled.
"A's and B's." I spoke in a bored tone. "Does this have a point to it?"
"Ever thought about the Academy?" I stared at him in surprise. The Academy was a hard fleet to achieve. "Look you seem like a tough cookie. I must admit it was amusing to watch you barge into the front desk and bark at Mrs. Janson like that. You're 18, you can join and I'm 99.9% sure you can handle fighting. Can you fight?" he asked.
"I know some." I winced as I thought of the cat fights Serah and I got into from school. Mostly it was defending Serah from pitiful bullies. The commander studied me intensity.
"Do you know of the L'Cie?" he asked softly.
"Everyone does." I replied thinking of the sudden switch of conversation.
"Well, though this is against some stupid rule, but who cares? I know the feeling when something you love is taken away from you." His green eyes glanced at two picture frames sitting on his desk. "Sometimes to beg for redemption its best to give another a better choice." He murmured.
"If you wish I can grant you a slot for the academy. Because of this you can support yourself and your sister. Befits include housing, money, food for your family. It would be wise choice Claire." He spoke with simplicity as if he knew the answer. My mind raced with thoughts. Serah could finish school and money to survive. No foster care! But wait…
"What's the catch?" I asked suspiciously.
"No catch. I'm giving you a tool to fight the very monsters that killed your parents. A tool to fight to help with your sister and yourself, you can handle it I believe." He spoke so sure as if he already knew the outcome of the events. "You have until tomorrow to decide. Dismissed." I blinked in confusion.
"What the?"
"Go home Claire. Think this through." He got up and showed me the door.
Well..I hoped you enjoyed. ._. Review. Please?