Panic! III

Volarion chugged at his coffee, staring at the posters on his moghouse wall. Sitting was a lot better than sleeping for him, he was terrified anytime his eyelids closed. He didn’t know if he was really being hunted or if it was just in his imagination. But everywhere he went, that Quaduv seemed to follow. Not physically, but mentally. His moogle looked at him, scared for he sensed his masters fear. Vol never knew what he was getting into, despite saving his good friend Chell, that was a head butt he would regret for the rest of his life. “You have a message.” His moogle dinged. “Hey Chell.” “Vol you’re still woke.” She replied. “I can’t sleep, you know that.” He replied. “Have you seen Big.” She asked. Vol puzzled the question, he hadn’t seen or heard from him all day. “Not a chance, why?” he pondered. “Because he left us an hour ago to get something to eat, and he never returned.” Vol’s mind flashed back to the day in Zi’Tah, he winced as he remembered Go’Bhu impaling Big upon his sword for being a hero. “What do you think happened to him?” “Fal and I just left his house, his moogle says he hasn’t been in yet.” Chell spoke, Vol could pick up that she was worried. His eyes glared at the poster, there sat a Blue Mage in his full Artifact armor, he showed strength and pride as he stands atop the ocean. “Vol.” Chell called to him. “I don’t know where he can be.” Was all he could say to her. “Take care of yourself Vol, I’m heading in for the night, hopefully he’ll show up.” “He’s been drinking so he’s probably passed out near the fountain again.” Chell added with a laugh. As she hung up, Vol sighed. He decided to call it a night, he would suck in his fear, and he would go to sleep. He flipped the light off, set his moogle to Guard-House and got into his bed, reluctantly, he closed his eyes. “Your soul belongs to me Volarion.” He heard a voice cry, he peeked from his bed and was surrounded by trees, and his setting seemed really familiar. “Run as much as you like, you are mine.” It called out to him again. Fear almost caused his heart to stop in his chest, it skipped beats as he walked around the area confused. A gust of wind blew by and it was strong enough to make him teeter. “Where is she?” the voice called to him again. “Who?” he braved up to ask. “You know who I want.” The voice said as he moved his way around the Sanctuary. Each step making him cringe on the inside, why was he here? He knew the minute he goes to sleep this would happen. At least this time Go’Bhu wasn’t chasing him, catching him and beheading him like the previous dreams.

“Bring me her, and I shall set you free.” “Set me free?” he asked, he was a bit startled. “Relinquish you from your fears, all I want is Xchelly.” Go’Bhu said. He appeared in front of Vol, who jumped back. He went to equip his swords but they weren’t there. “What do you want from her.” He asked as he stared into his face. He had nowhere to run to and had no choice but to brave up to him. “Her blood, she’s so ripe and ready, so young…” “Never!” Vol cut him off, “She’s my friend and you will get her over my dead body.” He felt a pain inside of his ribcage and he doubled over to take care of it. Pain shot into his brain as he arose from his bed. His breath was rugged as he struggled to breath, his moogle rushed over to him and tried to get him back to health. He decided to go take a breath of fresh air, which would help him get his mind off of things. He put on his vest and walked to Port Sandy, gathering the fresh air around the docks. He sat on the peer, glaring into the water. His mind raced, he knows this NM will never leave him alone until he get Chell, but she was his friend and he couldn’t let her die, not while he had a breath in his body. He sat along the edge, letting his feet dangle overtop the water. As his mind drifted he felt tugging. Something was tugging as his legs, trying to grab him into the water, he fought back, but he wasn’t strong enough to push whatever it is away. His body crashed into the freezing water, then he went under, down and down he was pulled as he looked horrified. Air was scarce and he tried to breathe, he wanted anything but a watery grave. With that, he blanked out, his eyes closed and he took a breath, water clogging his air pipes, he lost consciousness. He felt the warm sun on his skin as he awoke, his was alive and Vol was very thankful for that. The sun shone through the trees of The Sanctuary of Zi’tah. He tried to move his hands but they were tied behind his back, he looked at his surroundings. “Where’s Go’Bhu.” He wondered aloud, he scanned the area, and then he caught a glimpse of something familiar. He stared at the tree he hung from, arms tied around it, mouth taped up. “Bigby.” Vol thought aloud……