Well, here's Chapter 3. I hope you enjoy it. That's all I have to say, people.
Lightning's Perspective.
I was tired, angry and lonely for the first time in my life. I had realized that I enjoyed having Hope near me, his presence constantly reminding me that I wasn't alone in this mess. Now that he wasn't there, I wasn't so sure anymore. I felt like I was on my own.
Why do you make me feel this way! Ahh, Maker damn you, Hope for making me like this!
I must get rid of these... thoughts I've been having.
I was interrupted from my thoughts by a Silver Lobo jumping at me. I dodged its claw swipe and beheaded it with one swipe of my saber. Moving onward, I flipped my gunblade and holstered it. Heading onward once more, I saw some Corps Gunners and I thought I would get the drop on them. Pulling my Blazefire out and switching it to gun mode, I managed to hit 3 with killshots before they even knew I was there. I ran up one of their corpses as it dropped and backflipped off of it, flipping my blade to sword mode and stabbing through a Gunner's face, killing him instantaneously and when I landed, I pulled the blade out. Another two shot at me, but I avoided the bullets with ease and cut both their rifles and them in half. The final one shot at me, the bullets whizzing past my face. I cut his head perfectly in half, the top piece sliding onto the floor. I holstered my blade, advancing through the Whitewoods. I knew Hope was dead, but for some reason I felt sad that he'd died. Vanille had told me about his mother, so I get why he hated Snow. But I guess he's happy with his mother now. I looked for a vantage point so I could see my surroundings, and I spotted one. I took a running jump and grabbed onto a loose rock. When I got to the top, I got out a mini-UAV and turned it on. I flew it around for a few minutes, watching it on a small screen, when I saw something climb out of the crater made by the explosion. I flew over to it and saw someone I didn't think I ever would again.
Hope was looking at the UAV. I could hear him speaking. "Err... what is this about?" I started the video-chat and he looked happier when my face popped up on the screen. I guess I did as well, judging by his expression. "Hey, Lightning."
"Why did you run off?"
"You know why I ran. I'm just a blockade to you. You said so."
"We both know that's only part of the reason."
"Wha... what? Who told you? ... Snow."
"Hope, you've got to face me about this."
"No, Lightning. No, I do not, because you will kill me. Now, I will take this with me so we can speak. Ok, Light?"
"... Ok."
The connection ended and I put the screen terminal away.
Hope's Perspective.
There was a sandstorm because of the blast so I couldn't really see anything, but I liked it this way because I couldn't be seen. I tied my bandanna around my face and kept on walking. Then I was being shot at. I dropped to the floor and looked for the shooter. I saw him, a PSICOM commando holding a prototype rifle. I crawled towards him, and when I was close enough, I hit him with high-power Fire magic which killed him. I picked up his rifle and Librascoped it.
"It's an AK-LX. This'll be good." I took it with me and searched the soldier. I found signs that there was a PSICOM outpost nearby. I headed for it with the intention of destroying it.
I knew it was nearby because I was forced to dodge bullets. I sprayed at them with the AK and heard screams of pain so I knew I'd hit the mark. Spotting a biohazard sign, I looked and saw a large barrel.
Fuck it.
I shot it and I was caught in another explosion. When I got to my feet, I shot down a group of what looked like PSICOM and moved on. "Why is it always explosions? Can't it be a magic pulse?" It really annoyed me that the PSICOM seemed to be infinite.
Do you need assistance?
No, not at the moment.
I unleashed a continuous fusillade of bullets at a battalion that had just emerged, killing them easily.
I decided to head into the main building. I kicked the door clean off its hinges, sending it crashing down. I followed it and when I reached the bottom, I froze.
I could use that help now.
Lightning's Perspective.
I could hear gunshots in the distance. "Hope." I smiled and headed on. I thought about what he was doing at that moment when a PSICOM soldier smashed through the trees and hit the floor, impaled on a tree stump. I looked at the angle, and saw that he'd been thrown from a few miles away. "What are you doing, Hope? What have you become?" I had no choice but to advance. I heard a PSICOM Reaver rush at me from behind and spun in one fluid move, beheading him. I landed perfectly and walked away. "Just another battle."
Hope's Perspective.
I guess you got wanted, Lightning.
No. Those won't be my last words. I will emerge the victor in this bloody, endless war.
I'd been submitted to just about every form of torture that ever existed. I was near my end and I could tell. I wasn't human anymore. No, I was an empty shell, a broken fragment of what I once was. Then for what must have been the 1000th time, the interrogators walked in. "Where are the other L'Cie!"
"Tell us!"
"You know we already have the L'Cie found in Nautilus in custody!"
"Where was the soldier scum that was with you!"
At that, something inside of me snapped, but I spoke only once. That was all it took.
"You just made the last mistake of your life. And prepare for agonising death."
I had regained more than enough strength almost instantly. I snapped the chains like paper and raised my left hand. They automatically fell to their knees, screaming and writhing in pain. After a short period, they died. It left me badly weakened and my legs lost their strength. I almost hit the floor but my arms stopped me. I saw a PSICOM Colonel walk in, twirling a baton in her hand. "Very interesting skill, Mr. Estheim. Just how did you learn to do that?" Then I lost sight.
I was awoken a few hours later. The first thing I saw was the colonel's face a foot away from mine. "If you're going to do this, can I at least know your name?"
"Estheim. I don't feel the need to tell you my first name. You probably already know anyway."
"I'm Colonel Jihl Nabaat. How old are you anyway?"
"14 years old. Why?"
She pulled out a mirror and when I looked, I realized that I was wearing only my boxers. I started screaming and tried to struggle out of my bonds, but it was no use.
"This room isn't watched and it's soundproof, so I can do what I want to." She pulled my boxers down and I prepared myself.
I so wish she was Lightning. But she's not.
So here I am.
Do you want my help?
No. Not yet. I wouldn't make it out in this condition. I have one request.
Yes?
Make sure I don't give in, please.
I shall do it.
Lightning's Perspective.
I wish she was Lightning. But she's not.
I somehow heard Hope speaking in my head.
Ahh! Get out of my head!
I attempted to figure out what it was about. My cheeks went red at one particularly vivid option.
No! It wouldn't be... that! Would it?
Confused over it all, I decided to do what I did best: kill anything hostile in my immediate proximity.