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At
an Arm's Length
A Final Fantasy VIII Story
by
Aligator
Chapter 13 - Games Children Play
“Quiiisstyyy! Quisty! Hurry up or Zell’ll try to follow us.”
“Shhh! If you yell like that, everyone will try to follow us, and they’ll find it,” she replied in a low, annoyed voice.
He made a face and conceded reluctantly, “You’re right. This time.”
The two, golden-haired children walked hurriedly, hand-in-hand across the dunes, occasionally turning around to confirm that they weren’t being tailed.
“Of course I am. I’m older than you –“
“Not that again. You’re only older by a couple of months. That doesn’t count.”
“Yes, it does. I’m seven. Anyway. . . today, it’s your turn, what do you think they left for you?”
He pondered the thought for a few moments as they continued their brief journey down the rocky beach to the third cavern on the left. “I don’t know, but they seem to try to keep it even. I mean, when they left you the dolls made out of sticks, they left me a raft for them later that month.”
The little girl regarded the small gold band and tiny blue stones that adorned her right hand. “They said it was my mother’s,” she murmured softly. “Maybe they’ll bring you something from your mom, too.”
“I miss her.”
“I know, but at least you can remember her. I wish I could remember my mom, even if it was only a little bit.”
Tears were just starting to brim up in her eyes, when her six-and-three-quarters-of-a-year-old companion grabbed her hand. “HURRY UP! We’ve got to make it back before Matron and Sis start looking for us. It’s OUR post office box – they said so.”
She held her breath as they reached the familiar knot in the cave’s stone wall. He put his hand in and withdrew a crumpled handkerchief.
It was quite old – but still a clean white – and had a small “A” embroidered on it. He carefully unwadded it to reveal a delicate gold chain, threaded through an equally delicate gold and silver cross, encrusted with tiny diamond chips.
A familiar blue glow surrounded them, and they heard a melodious adult voice. “Lad?”
“Yes,” he answered in a hushed voice.
“This belonged to your mother. She’d like you to have it now.”
Quistis quietly reached for his free hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
*****
Quistis shifted about in her sleep, as the morning’s first rays of light started to spill over the horizon, hitting her with their warmth. Half-conscious, she stretched but recoiled quickly when her hand hit something unfamiliar. Something immovable. Her eyes still closed, inquisitive fingers continued to search, and then she sat up quickly. Wide awake. Her hands flew to her face.
O.K. My glasses are on. I’m in my pajamas. I’m barefoot. I’ve got a blanket, but. . . I’m outside, in a cave along the beach?
“God, tell me I’m not going crazy,” she mused, as she stood up slowly. She could smell the familiar scent of salt in the air. She loved this smell. It always made her think of home. Wherever that is.
Her location was now fully illuminated. I must be on the other side of the point, just east of Edea’s House. How did I get here?
To no one in particular, she half-groaned, “I have enough issues, now I’m sleepwalking, too?”
She had just leaned against the nearest wall when her long fingers brushed against a small opening. She stepped back and dropped gently to her knees, staring at the low spot. There’s something in there.
Cautiously, she reached in and pulled out a blue bundle, childishly tied together with what once must have been a little girl’s pink hair ribbon. It looked pretty old.
Quistis regarded it carefully. For a second, she considered putting the package back in what was obviously its hiding place. But there haven’t been kids down here for at least ten years, she wondered. Then she noticed a grubby slip of paper poking out from the bundle’s corners. She gasped when she realized what was carefully printed on it.
“To: Quisty T.”
She pulled the end of the ribbon and spread out the blue square of cloth to reveal a simple, but elegant, chain and cross. She stared at it for what seemed like a very long time.
This all seems so familiar.
Far in the distance, she heard a shout. “Quistis?!”
Irvine. Without really thinking, she quickly put on the necklace and wrapped the blanket around her torso like a shawl.
“Quistis?”
He was getting closer. She absently reached beneath the folds of cloth to touch the cross. You’re a gift. To me. It feels right to keep you a secret, for a little while at least.
Her face flushed, she rose to meet Irvine before he was close enough discover her whereabouts.
But before she left, she slipped a small sapphire and diamond ring from her right hand, wrapped it up in the blue cloth and placed it in the . . .
“Post
office.”
To be continued.
. .
Next week: Chapter 14 – Dazed and Confused
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AN ARM'S LENGTH © 2002-2004 A.L. Roberts.
FINAL FANTASY VIII © Squaresoft. They own these characters,
I’m
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