Power Of Pain

Chapter Eight

Zell awoke in the dark, confused and disorientated. He gasped as he felt pain rushing from his ass and up his spine. His memory came gushing back and he looked around for Squall, but saw no sight of him. 'Damn it! He lied to me.' He thought and dressed, then going downstairs. He saw his mother and sighed. "Mom, did you see Squall leave? He's not here." He said. "He's gone? Oh no. He was so sick." Ma Dincht said and Zell rolled his eyes. "Yeah, well I need to go. See ya later Ma." He waved and ran out into the chilly air. The rain stopped but it felt damp out.

"There you are!" Quistis said as she walked up to him. "Don't start Quistis. Squall was here, at my house." He said. "Did you catch him?" Zell shook his head. "No. Let's just say he tricked me and got away. Don't ask for details." Quistis nodded and sighed. "God damn it! I've been drowning in the fucking forests and you two are just pissing off!?" Irvine grunted and walked next to them. "Irvine, you're suppose to be outside." Quistis said.

"Yeah, yeah. Didn't find anything out there. Nothing." Irvine said. "Okay, fine. Let's go back to Garden." Quistis groaned and they got to the car and took off. "It's possible he took a train." Quistis said as she drove. When they got close to the Garden they noticed a plane with the Esther mark. "Laguna must be here." Irvine said and they drove into the parking area.

After getting out they headed to the Infirmiry, but saw a note telling them to come to what use to be Cid's office. So they went to the elevator and went up. Stepping out they noticed Laguna, Kiros, Ward and Ellone standing around with stoney faces. "So you told them already?" Zell asked and Cid nodded. "Yes. What did you find in Balamb?" Cid asked. "Well Squall was at Zell's house, but he tricked him and got away." Quistis said with a shrug. "We think he boarded a train out." She said.

"More than likely. Okay, I'll send some people out to the cities that the trains today were suppose to go to. First they need to get the list. Quistis, call the station and get the list." Cid said and she left with a bow. Seifer sighed and ran a hand through his close chopped blonde hair. "What are we suppose to do until then? Just sit around?" He asked. "I don't know Seifer." Cid said. "I should have spent more time with him. When those damn meetings popped up whenever he came to Esther I should have just told them to re-schedule it." Laguna said.

"Hey man, it's not your fault." Kiros said and Seifer snorted. "Yeah right. First you knock up his mom, then you leave. Second you let him get taken to a fucking orphanage god damn knowing you had a child in Winhill!" He yelled. "But nooooo, it was always about your precious fucking 'Elle'!" He growled and went to the elevator. Seifer punched to button to go down and Ward signed that he was an asshole. "No Ward. He's right." Laguna said and Ellone hugged him. "Hey, don't be like that Uncle Laguna." She said but he paid her no mind.

"I need to lie down." Laguna said and they took him to an empty dorm room. Selphie let her head hang and slowly walked out as did Rinoa, both going down the elevator. The Garden students were back in school, and sensed that something was going on. No one asked questions to the staff they just listened to them.

Meanwhile Squall got off the train and went up the stairs of the Deling City station. Stepping out he sighed and his hands shook slightly. 'I need money.' He thought. 'Thank Hyne I always keep my bank card on me.' He felt the slim plastic card in his pocket, taking it from the cloths he left at Dincht's. 'Fuckers. Who are they to tell me not to do anything. Before they couldn't care less, but now they have to have their noses up my ass.'

He realized he walked to the Hotel (or is it Motel? Eh) and went inside. He located the ATM in the corner and used his card, taking out close to 5,000 Gil. After stuffing it in his pocket he rubbed his nose. 'I need a drink.' Squall sighed and went down to the bar. At the counter he ordered a few drinks and the bartender handed them to him without a glance. After downing the hard liquor he decided he needed 'supplies'.

Walking out of the Hotel he walked over to the item shop and went inside. 'They don't have what I need.' He sighed and something caught his eyes. With sad blue eyes he picked up the package and bought it. Blades. The blades were his second form of therapy as the drugs were his first. He walked around a bit, ending up in an alley where many undesirables were hanging around. A woman with bad skin and toothy grin walked up to him with a chuckle. "What will it be?" She asked and opened a box with a variety of any drug imaginable.

"You're new here, but I can tell just by looking at you that you're into the Slap Crackle and Pop!" She cackled and Squall stared at the stash. He picked up a pill crusher, a few needles and picked out a few baggies. Crack, Heroine and other kinds. He paid her and hid the junk in his bag with the blades. He qucikly went back to the Hotel and got a room. With a groan he locked the door and took a spoon off the tray that was inside. Squall rolled up his sleeve and pulled out his belt. He tied it around his arm, making sure his vein stuck out and started to cook the stuff on the spoon.

When it was ready he got a syringe out and sucked the liquid up. After letting it cool for a few seconds he smoothly stuck it into the blue vein and jammed the plunger down. He cooed a few incoherent words as the warmth spread quickly around his system. Taking the needle from his arm and undoing the belt he laid back.

Taking out his newly purchased blades he opened them and took a small one out. He slid it across his shoulder, feeling his skin seperate as the metal cut through the delicate scarred flesh. Blood slowly slid down and he used it to trace patterns on his skin. The red blood worked as ink as he continued to draw, his fingers the paint brush and his body the canvas of pain. His pain. He liked having the power over his physical pain he created, but could never control the emotion pain he's been in for awhile.

"Power of my pain, power of my sin. What sin have I created within my body?" Squall asked the empty room. "That's right. The sin to want to be loved by those that treated me like shit." He said and put the blade up on the night stand. He closed his eyes and the drug stupor sent him into a black, dreamless sleep.

TBC...
Please R&R!