Here's the next chapter! Enjoy!
Chapter 5
"So… you're a seer, eh?" Cid growls as he leans across the table to squint into my face. "…Never heard that one before. You must be pretty one-of-a-kind to—DANG IT, YUFFIE!! SHUT THAT CRAP DOWN BEFORE I TOSS IT DOWN THE GARBAGE DISPOSAL!!—be able to do that kind of hocus pocus."
The way he switches subject focus and temper without missing a beat never fails to make me jump out of my skin. From the other side of the room, Yuffie grudgingly turns the volume of her blaring techno music down a few notches. She makes a face at Cid's back and sticks out her tongue in defiance. I quickly look away, feeling slightly uncomfortable. Around the table also sits Squall and Aerith, both looking very grim and somewhat foreboding. Sora is seated beside me, beaming in every direction as the others take in his proud retelling of past events.
Donald and Goofy are out repairing some damages to their Gummi Ship, and I am beginning to miss Goofy's warmly furry presence. But Sora's bright enthusiasm is a great comfort, as he explains my supposed "power" and the importance I could attest to this mission. I'm unduly relieved that I don't have to speak for myself in the conversation, since it already feels like I've lied enough for one day. The guilt I experience for tricking these people is beginning to feel somewhat less burdensome, and I continue to remind myself that this probably is just a dream—that it doesn't matter because in a few minuets I'll wake up and leave it all behind me.
After a few seconds of silence, Aerith raises her head and speaks aloud in a calm, reflective voice. "I think it's a very good idea to have Elise come along with you, Sora—she could prove vital in finding the King and your friends. But is that really what she wants?" Aerith's soulful gaze probes mine, and I almost look away in embarrassment at the sudden intensity of eyes concentrating on me from around the table.
"Uh… I… I want to go," I gulp nervously as my face blushes scarlet. "…I want to find my way back home."
"Alright, then." She appears satisfied, and leans back in her chair with resignation.
"Can I ask a question?" Squall suddenly asks from his place at the farthest end of the table.
He's been the quietest during our discussion, and the one I've been avoiding most. He's so much prettier then when displayed with pixels. Ah…! I feel my stomach drop to my toes in an instant, and barely manage to jerk my head in reply.
"How long have you been able to "see" things? Is this some psychic ability you've had from birth?"
Choices, choices. Knowing I have to give an answer, I simply nod.
Squall continues on. "Then you must have been able to foresee the destruction of your world by the Heartless, correct?"
Uh-oh. Darn. Snagged… I have seconds to formulate an answer, and with everyone watching expectantly, the pressure building in my head reaches its peak.
"Um… well… actually, I didn't." There's no point in lying in this case—I don't want to spin a web that'll only tangle me up later. "I'm not sure why… it's not like I choose the things that I want to see. They kind of… come to me on their own."
It wasn't exactly a lie…
"Well, that makes sense!" Yuffie pipes from across the room, hopping down from where she'd been perched on the front counter of Cid's shop. "I mean, I've never met a psychic before, but that does make a lot of sense. Right, Cid?" she stands beside the older man, hands on her hips, looking to him for support.
"Uh… I suppose so…" he rumbles, scratching his hair with one hand. "…I guess I wouldn't be one to judge."
Aerith shrugs. "It doesn't matter. She'll obviously be of some help on the quest, and every little bit counts."
"Yeah!!" Sora sits up quickly, nearly knocking his chair backwards. He turns to me with an enormous smile and wraps one arm around my shoulders. "We're sure to find Riku and Kairi with your help!"
"Right, then. You guys get some sleep now, so you can set off bright and early tomorrow morning," Cid directs as he stands to fill up his coffee mug for the third time tonight. "…Got that?"
"Yes sir!" Sora grins, saluting with his right hand before dragging me out of the room and up a flight of shadowy stairs. "You can sleep here for the night," he says, pushing open a door to reveal a bedroom decked in feminine décor. "I think this is Yuffie and Aerith's room… you can share it with them!"
"Th-Thanks," I stutter, taking a shy, reluctant step into the specious chamber. "Um, where are you and your friends going to sleep?" I ask, turning to face Sora as he beams at me from the doorway.
"Oh, probably in Leon's room or something," he blithely replies.
"Ah." I nod and take another timid glance at my surroundings. "Are you sure this is where I'm supposed to stay…?"
"Yes, it is." Yuffie suddenly appears behind Sora, pushing him aside and bounding into the room beside me. "See ya later!" she calls, slamming the door shut in the younger boy's face.
"Oh, thanks again Sora!" I cry, and can hear his bright response as he treads back down the hallway.
Next to me, Yuffie immediately grabs my hand and hauls me over to the closet, babbling cheerful all the while. "…You know, we've really got to get you out of these clothes… they're so gross! Ugh!" she thrusts open the sliding closet doors with a thunderous BANG!; and begins to rummage through the river of clothing hanging down like a colorful waterfall from the overhanging rail. "—Let's see if we have anything that'll fit you in here…"
Good luck with that, I think to myself as I take brief stock of her small, slender build. I'm shocked when she withdraws something that actually appears as though it will fit over my head without bursting its seams.
"Bingo!" she cries. "Here, try it on! …Don't worry, I won't look," she adds with a roll of her eyes at my apparent hesitation.
"O-Okay." I quickly yank off my jeans and sweatshirt—and she is right, they're filthy with grime—and obediently pull on what she's handed to me. It's like a giant nightshirt, all white and frilly and just a tad bit scratchy. But still, it's something other then my soiled clothing—or my underwear—that I can sleep in.
A soft knock on the door later, and the next thing I know Aerith walks in with a tray of warm noodles and spicy tea. It's only when I catch scent of the food that I realize how ravenous I am—the last thing I ate was breakfast, so very long ago.
"Here, I thought you might be hungry," she says with a smile.
"Yes, thank you," I say, feeling utterly grateful as I take a bite of the soft, succulent ramen and sip the herbal tea.
"Man, just check out this get-up!" Yuffie scoffs in disbelief as she holds up my clothes by the very tips of her fingers, as though to touch them with as little of her skin as possible. "It's hilarious!"
"Yuffie!" Aerith chides, giving the girl a warning look. To me she says kindly, "You can take the extra bunk over there, Elise. I hope it's comfortable enough."
"Thank you so much," I say reverently, and watch as Yuffie disgustedly lugs my clothing out the bedroom door. "Where are you taking them?" I ask, feeling sudden worry. I don't want them burned or thrown away—I'm hanging onto the hope that I'll need them again someday.
"To the cleaners! They're filthy!" She says, wrinkling her nose in revulsion.
"Oh… thank you," I respond meekly.
"Yeah, sure," she sighs, waving off my gratitude with a posh flutter of her hand.
But to myself I can't help but smile.
--End of Chapter 5
Thank you so much for reading! See you in the next installment!