Evoke Chapter Four: Forlorn

[cerespallas]

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This particular chapter contains explicit (bloody) material.

Chapter IV

Forlorn

-x-

"Squall… Not everyone can get by on their own, you know."

"Says who?"

Looking down and tracing her steps on the sand, Quistis wondered at what point it went wrong.

We think we should reconsider your qualification as an instructor, Miss Trepe.

Reconsider? Why don't you just tell it like it is. I failed. Why exactly am I failing? Why nobody bothered to tell me?

"Then go talk to a wall."

...I see. I did fail that one.

Gentle tune from the building behind her accompanied her lone pace. Three more footsteps dug into the sand before she saw something that didn't belong to the beach landscape sitting with his back on her. His head buried between his knees; she saw nothing of the man who stood tall and proud only a few hours earlier.

"Is this seat taken?"

His head turned to the source of the voice. The corner of her lips formed a small dent upwards and his shoulder gave a halfhearted shrug.

Sitting beside Seifer, Quistis cuddled her knees.

"Finished with Puberty Boy, Instructor?"

"We haven't even started anything yet. And I'm no longer an instructor."

His eye darted at her, questioning.

"No, I don't know why." Her hand snatched a fistful of sand and squeezed them, wishing it was someone else's neck… preferably someone in the Faculty. "Something about being too close to the cadet."

"So they did notice you and your sulky boy." He focused on the lazy waves coming close to their sitting spot. The dark cerulean waves halted and turned back just before their feet. "You are not an instructor and I am not a SeeD. Sometimes Hyne is fair."

"Hyne is fair if you become a SeeD."

His eyes flickered before turning towards her.

"How long did you wish for it to happen, Seifer?" Quistis placed her hand in front of her feet and opened her palm, letting the abused sand fluttered in the night breeze. Who knows what you will be if you quit now. Someone with skill and power like you shouldn't be allowed to be anything but SeeD.

"Did you become a human once you stepped down from your instructor throne? They should do this a long time ago." His feet burrowed deeper into the sand. "Doesn't matter, it's not my goal anyway."

"Goal?" She supported her cheek with her sandy palm and caught a better look at his expression, "What kind of goal are we talking about? You don't want to be a SeeD?"

His lips formed a bitter grin, Seifer stood and stretched. His ear catching the flow of the gentle waltz from behind, his head turned to regard the blue building standing behind them. "Let's dance."

Her head tilted a bit to the side. "Your goal is to dance with me?"

He smirked. "Wouldn't that make you feel proud, ex-instructor?"

Rolling her eyes, Quistis pushed her body up with one hand. "Just one song. I need to get back. Tomorrow I have a morning class-" Her voice faltered, her hand reached for his offered palm. "Anyway, still just one song."

"How painful does it feel, ex-instructor?" He drew her body closer to his. "To have something you rightfully own taken from your hand?"

"Not as painful as my heel digging through your foot if you keep that up." She felt his chest shaking from silent laughter. "My case is different from yours, Seifer. You are never a SeeD."

She heard his sharp breath. "Way to kick a beaten puppy, ex-instructor. Remind me to wake you up tomorrow to see the new instructor teaching your morning class."

"Are you going to move or what?" She waited until his foot led their movement.

"I prefer slow and gentle, instructor. I know from your choice of weapon you like it a bit rough. We can do it that way too if you'd like."

"My whip told me even he has a favoured choice of enemy to strangle." Seifer smelled of ammunition oil and hair gel. Quistis felt his glove on her back, keeping her close to his body. His coat looked old and soft. She didn't recall ever seeing him without it. "This brings back memories, isn't it?"

"You mean our first dance lesson before you become a SeeD?" He scowled. "Yes, this sure brings back memories when you punched me on the jaw then walked out on me."

"You called me a stuck-up bitch."

"What kind of dance it was if you didn't want to be held closer than the length of your arm?"

"Half-length. You're the one who pulled me until my nose hit your collarbone."

"It's not my fault Aki told us to move when you looked like your feet were frosted onto the floor."

"That was the worst dance lesson I ever have."

"That's my only dance lesson, ever." With Quistis rolling her eyes, Seifer took a deep breath and dipped her. She bent backwards; her hair clip fell down to the sand. She pulled herself up with his help and pushed him away in an effort to pick her clip. "I see you like your present."

She frowned at him from the corner of her eyes. "I don't have any other hair accessories but this."

"Yeah, yeah, welcome back for the thanks. I'm glad you like your present too." Seifer moved closer to her. His finger twirled on the loose hair as she tried to clip them up. With a smack from her palm, he drew it back. "You're more beautiful with your hair loose."

Her movements stopped. She looked at him with her hands tangled in her hair and the hair clip between her teeth. "Am no long'r n instruct'r n can't give y'u gred fer dat," she said through her teeth.

He gave a strange smile, something she had never seen before. It wasn't his usual degrading smirk, nor was it a self-assured grin. "Why do you think I gave you a hair clip?"

Was the air felt warmer because the season would change soon? Or was it because… the only person around was walking closer and…

"Wha're you doin'?" she said when his hand caressed and took her tangled hair into his palm. Another hand of his removed the hair clip from between her teeth.

"Helping you. What do you think I am about to do?" He was in no hurry when he twirled her hair and tucked it safe between the ornaments.

"Thank you."

There was no reply. Instead, she felt a gentle circle drawn on her nape. Something soft pressed against her skin. It was warm. It was inviting.

It was something that shouldn't be.

The arms of the man almost circled around her when Quistis took two steps forward, breaking the contact.

"Thank you for the dance, cadet. Good night."

She didn't look back. She didn't want to see his eyes. She didn't want to stay.

No. She should not stay.

What will happen if I do?

-x-

She opened her eyes. Listening to Matron's soft breath beside her, Quistis smiled and looked to her side. The black-haired woman lay on her side; her lidded eyes moving as if searching for something in her dream.

Quistis bit her lips, her hand still tracing the back of her neck, outlining the circle that was never there. Counting down the squares painted on the ceiling, she wondered what will happen if she stayed.

If she kept her feet on the ground, then perhaps…

Perhaps he would laugh, push me away and mock me for thinking more into it. That is what's going to happen.

Quistis turned on the lamp beside her bed, sat and put her feet on the floor. Placing her elbows on her knees, she gazed at the massive door separating the guest room and the hall.

Why am I still here?

-x-

Ellone shook her head when Quistis turned her question-filled eyes from her stomach to her face. "I can't tell you. I promised not to tell anyone."

"Not even to me?"

Ellone's arms covered her abdomen, as if shielding the growth of her baby from the world. "I'm sorry. I can't help."

Quistis frowned. "Please. Just once. I just need to know one thing."

"It might endanger my pregnancy," Ellone said, sitting back on the bed. "I am so sorry. I wish it happened when I'm not…"

"You wish? You wish Seifer is dead when you are not pregnant?"

Ellone covered her mouth. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean…"

Quistis studied the swollen stomach. "How many months?"

Ellone looked down. "This? Only about two weeks from now." She beamed and stroked her belly.

"Then you'll be able to bring me to the past again?"

Ellone's smile disappeared. "I'm not sure. I can't be sure my power isn't going to be transferred to the child once I give birth."

"I see." Quistis stared at Ellone, her eyes betrayed no emotion churning inside. "Then at what age is your child going to be able to help me?"

"Quistis!" Ellone clutched her stomach, her body shaking. "I can't believe you're going to put my child through this too!"

"At what age?"

"No!" Ellone glared at her little sister. "What is going on with you? Why are you so adamant about looking at his past? Since when have you become so selfish like this?"

Quistis's upper and bottom teeth clanked against each other before she said, "Since when did you think you know me?"

-x-

I need to see him.

She peeked one last time around the room before closing the door.

There was still no guard on the hall. When she reached the entrance to the palace, nobody was guarding the door either.

Ever since Esthar was known to the world and Laguna told the media that Squall Leonhart was his son, there was never a day went by without at least four guards in the entrance. The media wanted to know about Laguna and his relationship with the Commander of Balamb Garden. The Second Sorceress War also put people on edge and there were massive numbers of armies placed between the city and The Tears Point.

This empty palace was something neither Quistis nor Edea expected when they first arrived. It did help Quistis when she walked out of the Presidential Palace and travelled into the Lab.

Something must be done about the security in this place. I can't let Seifer stays here without anyone to make sure he isn't going to be stolen. Although who wants to steal him but Odine was beyond my comprehension.

Arriving outside Seifer's chamber, Quistis tried to peek inside. The glass door was blurry. Her hand reached to the side of the door and pressed the code she had acquired from Odine.

The door hummed and slid to the left, presenting Quistis with a view she would likely never forget.

The tube was shattered in pieces. The naked man with the golden hair was lying face down on the floor, fragments of glass, blood and white liquid pooling around him. The machine beside the tube let out a strange noise, trying to energize the liquid inside the tube that was no longer there. Blood and thick white liquid sprayed the steel wall. Two bloody hand marks printed near the struggling engine. The bigger mark of thick crimson fluid smeared between the handprints with parts of it drop down to the floor.

Near Seifer, lying half atop the bloody electronic switch that powered the machine, a man with a crimson-soaked white suit stared in the direction of the tube with lifeless gaze. His face frozen between surprise and fear, his jaw slacked open and blood that flew out from inside his mouth had dried on the board switch. His neck twisted into an unnatural position, blood covered half side of his body and several protruding bones came out of their place in his flesh. His slack hand was near the alarm switch. The office chair behind the electronic switch turned in circles, as if someone had just sat on it before.

She looked down to the floor, carefully choosing to step on a place where the ground was bare. Crouching down near Seifer, she pushed his body a little upwards so she could look at his face.

Half-expecting to see his eyes open, she had to swallow back her hope when she saw his face. He looked just as peaceful as when she left him earlier, minus the blood.

Quistis turned to the opened door.

"Guards!"

Standing up, Quistis walked to the lab assistant. With one hand checking his pulse and the other turning the alarm switch down, she waited for the sound to blare within the lab.

There was nothing.

Quistis pulled the alarm switch up and pushed it down again, receiving nothing for her effort. She peeked at the dead assistant and then to the naked blond behind her.

What happened here?

How long was Seifer out of the tube? This might ruin all the effort of carrying him here.

Quistis bit her lips and moved her head closer to inspect the dead assistant.

"There is no hard feeling."Her hands looped around the body, reached to the dead assistant's belt and opened it. She zipped down the pants, unbuckled it and removed the pants from the owner. Without bothering to look back, Quistis tiptoed to Seifer and crouched between his legs. Telling herself that this was necessary despite the bizarre situation, she set his legs into the pants' holes and started dressing him.

I am crazy. She turned his body that his chest now faced her. Two dead bodies, one newly dead and I am switching their clothes. She buckled his pants and pulled up the zipper. I need to set my priorities straight.

Quistis stood and moved to the door, looking to the left and right of the hall. Nobody was around. She turned her attention to the bloody chamber inside and placed her temple on the doorframe.

"Now what?"

Walking back to stand beside Seifer, Quistis looked down. Despite the mass pool of blood and bits of glass he was lying in, his body was intact. The blood must have been coming from the dead assistant hanging on the electronic switch.

Who did this?

She moved back to the dead assistant's side and turned the switch several times. Nothing happened. Frowning, Quistis walked back to Seifer. Crouching down, she took his arms and looped it around her before setting his body onto her back. Grabbing his arms above her shoulders, she stood up and settled his upper body into a comfortable position behind her.

He was light.

"It's a strange incident," Quistis said while carrying Seifer out of the chamber. "But there is no way I'm going to let you be blamed for all this." She looked behind her when they were out of the room, making sure Seifer's feet didn't drag the trail of blood. Once she saw that they did, she hunched, pushed Seifer's body upwards and grabbed the back of his knees with her arms.

Seifer's face nestled in the crook of her neck while she walked to the lab entrance, his arms hanging loose around her. Quistis frowned, wondering if her imagination before did mean something.

"You remember a year ago when we danced on the beach?" She looked right and left at every turn, now hoping no guards would catch them. "I wish it was my first time being hugged like this."

Not now, not with you like this.

"Why are we here, Seifer?" Quistis bit her lips. The entrance was close. "What kind of mess have I put you into?"

In front of the entrance, Quistis stopped and observed the glass door. When she entered earlier, it was sliding open. She stood below the red laser, waiting for the glass to slide and let them out.

This time, nothing happened. Quistis nudged the door with one of her feet, trying to trigger something. The glass door refused to budge.

"There she is."

Before she had a chance to turn back towards the source of sound, a dull object crashed against her temple. Quistis staggered forward and pounded her body to the wall. Seifer fell onto the floor as her hands extended down for her weapon.

Whip… bed… room. No.

The dull object rammed her once more, and she fell onto the floor. With hazy vision, Quistis looked up and strained to focus on her attacker. Three standing figures in front of her looked daunting. One clenched a big block of wood. The other two were behind him, one of them dragged Seifer by the pants.

"No, don't," Quistis said, holding Seifer's arms. "Don't."

"She ain't a scientist," said one of them. The other who was towing Seifer by the pants managed to seize him as the man with the wooden block stomped Quistis's hands, forcing her to release the blond. Quistis studied her attackers while looking for anything that could be used as a weapon. Her sight blurred, she felt a throbbing pain on the side of her head.

"This one's dead," said the man who checked on Seifer, knocking the body to the wall. Seifer's head crashed against the glass surface, his body slumped onto the floor.

The man with the wooden block crouched in front of her. "Do you know Odine?"

Quistis blinked a few times as a familiar crimson fluid started to fill her sight. "Who?"

"Odine. The one who has this lab. You know him?"

Taking a shaky breath, Quistis shook her head.

"Then you are useless to us."

She should have seen it coming. Lying on the floor, Quistis shut her eyes when the wooden block coming onto her, her arms paralysed on her side unable to block the rain of assaults.

One. Two.

It hurts. Why am I doing this?

Three. Four. Five.

Odine, you better build another chamber for him.

Six. Seven.

There is no way I'm dying here.

Eight-

"What the-aaah!"

Quistis peeked with one eye when the next attack she waited for didn't come.

"What is this?" The man shouted. "Get him off me!"

Something climbed on the man with the wooden block. The creature was mangled; its head tilted to the side. It crawled up to the man's side and clung onto his neck. The man screamed when the creature placed its head to the man's neck.

Quistis blinked the blur and blood from her eyes.

It was Seifer.

With a strange motion, Seifer's mouth clung to the vein on the man's neck. The man's friends gaped at the incident, unable to comprehend what happened. The man shook his body back and forth, trying to remove Seifer away from his neck. The scream he let on getting higher and more frantic the longer Seifer clung to his neck.

When Seifer released his bite, the wound on the man's neck sprayed blood. The man's friends cried and tried to hit Seifer's head and body, struggling to help their dying friend.

The wooden block fell from the man's hand, and as Seifer released him, the man collapsed face down to the floor. Seifer ogled the man and the pool of blood flowing from the man's neck, his eyes blank. One of Seifer's feet was kneeling while the other was ready to stand; Seifer crooked his head to the other two men. His head tilted to the side, as if not being supported by his bone. His body lurched forward and quivered.

"What-What the…" One of the men spun around and ran deeper into the lab, the other following not far behind as Seifer lurched to them.

Pushing herself to sit, Quistis put her back on the glass door staring at the dead man and Seifer, who made no further move of following the others. Seifer crooked to look at her. His eyes were bloodshot and dull. His lips were pale and agape, blood still flowing from his fangs. The rest of the crimson and the thick smell of tangy metal coated his frame, both fresh and from the incident at his chamber.

She wanted to hug him.

Seifer dropped to the floor. With both palms on the ground, he pushed his hips against the steel floor and crawled to her. Quistis didn't move, nor did she feel anything when he stopped in front of her and stared up at her.

"Seifer?"

He blinked. Something changed in his hollow expression.

"It's me." Quistis shut her eyes when he positioned his bloody lips on her neck. "Seifer, it's me."

His arms wrapped around her, his body shaking.

"Quis… elp me…"

She felt a loud bang on the glass door before her body fell backwards.

"Quistis!" Laguna crouched in front of her while two soldiers pushing the glass door wide open. "What happened? Quistis! Are you all right?"

Hearing several footsteps entering the lab, feeling Seifer's body on her chest and his frozen lips on her neck, Quistis breathed a shaky laugh.

-x-

"I'm really sorry for all this."

Edea tied the end of the bandages around Quistis's head before turning to Laguna with a smile. "It's not your fault. If this child didn't go to the lab all by herself, she wouldn't get injured."

Quistis was staring at the bridge door.

Standing in front of the pilot seat and shifting his weight between his feet every now and then, Laguna gave a goofy grin. "Well, at least everything is well."

Well?

Edea leaned back on the chair. "See what I told you, Quistis? It's better to let him rest in Centra than to carry him all the way here, isn't it?"

Quistis didn't answer; her eyes kept staring at the pilot door. Behind the closed door, the airport crews were busy placing Seifer's body on the available bed inside one of the crew cabin.

"I think you should listen to your Matron," said Laguna. "Since this afternoon, Odine was missing and we're now investigating the attack to the lab. Nobody can manage the preservation of a body without Odine."

"There is nothing else we can do here, Quistis," Edea said holding the arm of her child, trying to get her attention away from the door. "Let's go home to Centra. You can stay as long as you like."

Without breaking her stare from the door, Quistis stood from Ragnarok's pilot seat. "I need to bring Seifer to see Ellone for the last time."

"What?" Laguna shook his head. "No! You can't! She's-um, she…"

"If one of my little siblings is dead, I will want to know."

Edea nodded. "Then go see her."

"If I don't bring Seifer, she won't believe me." Quistis moved towards the door.

"Wait! Wait! Not now! She's uh…"

Quistis glanced to her back. "I know. I'll be back soon."

"You do? Wait, then you-agh!" Quistis marched away, the door closed behind her. Laguna groaned at his sudden leg cramp, peeking back to the cabin seat and grinned to the frowning Edea.

-x-

Ellone opened the door, staring at the girl with a lifeless body on her back.

"Quis, I… I told you I can't help." She noticed the bandages on Quistis's head. "What happened to you?" Ellone covered her nose when she smelled something she hated the most during her pregnancy. "Blood? How come Seifer-"

Ignoring the hesitation of the room owner, Quistis charged in and dropped Seifer who was smeared with dried blood on her bed.

"Quisty!"

"Just this once," Quistis said closing the door. "Please, Sis. I never asked you for anything until now. Just this once."

The pregnant woman grimaced, seeing Seifer on the bed and the haphazard condition of the instructor. "What happened?"

"The lab was under attack," Quistis said grabbing the woman's hands. "Sis, please."

"No. I told you no." Ellone pulled back her hands and turned away from the instructor. "I can't. I'm not sure it won't hurt me or my baby."

"You're not sure."

"I can't be sure I can do it in my condition, either." Ellone heard a thud and looked behind her.

On her knees, Quistis looked up at her, arms at her side. "What should I do to make you help us?"

"What?" Ellone shook her head. "Quistis, stand up. Please, I can't…"

Quis… elp me…

"Should I kiss your feet?" Quistis dragged her knees to where Ellone stand. "Will that make you help us?"

Ellone looked like she was about to cry. "Please. I'm not even sure I can do it again." She staggered back when Quistis bowed in front of her.

Quis…

"Please…" Quistis bowed her head low, her hands formed fists on the floor. "I can't do anything else for him."

…elp me…

Ellone rested her back on the wall across Quistis. "…Why?"

Quistis didn't raise her head. "Because I have to."

"Look at me, Quisty." Ellone waited until the girl raised her head and looked at her. "Please don't cry."

Blinking, Quistis raised her hand to her cheek and wiped down her unconscious tears.

Ellone bit her lip and stared at the dead body on the bed. "Once. Just once, and if it doesn't work, we won't try again."

-x-

Ready?

Yes.

Where do you want to go?

The last time… Time when he was killed.

…Are you sure? You're going to look at the event from his eyes.

Yes.

Then…

-x-

Ellone breathed in to focus her attention to what she was doing, but the scent of dried blood was too severe that she felt nauseous. Trying to ignore the source of smell lying beside her, she held the hand of the girl lying unconscious on her other side.

"I'm going to carry you to the past. This is going to be a bit shaky." Ellone breathed in and covered her nose when the smell flew into her nostrils again. Bad habit. She coughed. "It's been a while since I did this. Now…"

Feeling a tug on her nightgown, she shook the hand tugging her clothes away. "Not now, Seifer… Seii-"

Her head snapped to the dead side of her. Staring straight into the hollow eyes of the late man whose past she was trying to look, Ellone's eyes rolled to the back of her head and she fell backwards, her head thumped against the head of the bed.

-x-

Ellone? Ellone?

"Miss?"

Ellone? Where are you?

"Miss? Are you all right?"

With rough sand under her cheek and rousing sound of crashing waves on her ear, Quistis fluttered her eyes open. The shadow of a woman was above her, shadowing her from the stinging ray of sun.

"Are you all right?" The black-haired woman waited until Quistis sat. "Why are you sleeping in here?"

Quistis glanced around her. She was on a beach, half of her body damp from the seawater. Looking down to her body, Quistis had to swallow back the disappointment.

It didn't work.

Ellone just sent her to Dollet.

"I'm sorry," Quistis said, trying to stand up. Her head was spinning. The woman held onto her arm, trying to balance her new found sea treasure. "I'm-I'm just a bit dizzy. I need to get back home now."

"Home?" The woman still held onto her arm. "Where are you coming from? I haven't seen you around before."

Quistis nodded her thanks and tried to get her arm back from the woman's grip. "I'm from Balamb. I… I guess my boat left already."

"When is the next boat coming?"

Quistis smiled. "Maybe tomorrow. Anyway, I can catch the train if there is no other boat."

"Train? Haven't you heard?" The woman shook her head. "Estharian soldiers took control of the train. There is no train coming or going this part of the island for a week already."

Wait, what? Estharian? How come… Laguna wouldn't do tha-aaa...

Quistis replied with a loud sneeze.

"Ah, figures. You've caught a cold. You must be lying down there for hours." The woman patted the sand from Quistis's clothes. "You need a change of clothes. Let's come to my house for a bit. I think we have the same size."

"Um, no, thanks, I don't want to bother…"

"Nonsense." The woman turned and waved for her to follow. "It's just me and my son anyway, there's nobody else at home. It's good to have a guest at times like this."

I need to get back to Balamb, and then figure out a way to retrieve Edea, Seifer and Ragnarok from Esthar. Squall's going to yell at me again.

Quistis sneezed.

Oh, all right.

Trailing the woman into the town of Dollet, Quistis noticed some changes in a town she had just visited a few weeks ago.

"Are they renovating the city?"

The woman in front of her frowned when looking back at her. "Who's going to renovate in the middle of a war?"

War?

In front of the plaza, the woman stopped and spreading her arms wide, exaggerated movement to show her house.

"Ta-Da!"

Blinking a few times, Quistis held back from comment. She was sure this used to be a café. Just a few weeks ago, in front of it she sat on a patio chair and played with a tiny puppy while drinking latte with Zell and Selphie.

The woman fished out a key from her pocket and unlocked the front door without a problem. "Come on in! My husband's out."

Walking into the house, Quistis studied her surroundings. It was different. "You make a huge renovation on it, didn't you."

The woman tilted her head while closing the door. "Are you sure you're all right?"

A row of frames on top of a large black drawer drew Quistis's attention. Her smile at seeing the family disappeared when she saw the woman's husband and child.

"Who-what's your husband's name?"

The woman was already on the second floor. "Reno. He's in Dolletian Army."

Quistis released a breath she didn't realize she was holding until then. Placing back the frame with a picture of blonde soldier and black-haired woman on the drawer, she continued studying the son of the family.

"Is pink okay?"

"Yeah, it's fine. Your son is so...little."

The woman walked down the stairs, carrying pink clothes. "He just turned three last month. That kid runs all over the place, breaks my neighbours' items and swims with his full clothes on. I don't know why he can't be just like his father."

Quistis smiled. "Sounds like a normal boy to me." She accepted the clothes from the woman. "Thank you."

At that moment, the door swung open. A little kid barged in and collided face first against Quistis's knees, falling to the floor with a thud.

"Seifer!" The woman huffed, arms on her hips. "What did I tell you about walking into our home? Now say something to the lady."

The boy scowled to his mother, then looked up. With his verdant eyes and bright smile, the blonde-haired boy gave a toothy grin to paralysed Quistis.

"Hello! I'm Seifa!"

-x-

To be continued…

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