A/N: Seifer/Zell, one-sided Irvine/Squall, which means slash, though not explicit. This story is my version (not really going like the game does) about what happened during the time before Ultimecia's defeat, etc etc. It’s violent, has lots of blood and mind-controlling, and... blood.

Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VIII belongs to Squaresoft. The plot is mine.

Prologue

The bright light of the morning sun shone through the thin curtain, straight in the face of the young blond man lying on the bed. He frowned in discomfort, unconsciously wondering what was disturbing his sleep, and then turned onto his other side to avoid the light. He had a feeling that there was something he had to do, something important, but he had no idea what. In his sleepy state, he cursed aloud. Why did he have to wake up, when the bed was so warm and comfortable, and he couldn’t remember what it was that he had to do? In his opinion, it would be much wiser to stay in bed – he would remember what he had to remember, eventually.

As he turned, he was greeted by strong arms sneaking around him, pulling him against a naked chest, which made him jump slightly, in horror. He was sure that there hadn't been anyone in the bed with him when he had gone to sleep, and Hyne damn if there had been, he would be in trouble. He hadn’t cheated on his lover... had he? No, it was an impossible thought, he'd never do anything like that to someone he cared about...

There was a soft, amused laugh, and a gentle voice talking to him, “Good morning, the light of my life.”

He opened his eyes with a quick blink, finding himself staring deep into his lover's emerald green eyes. He couldn't hide the relief in his smile as he reached out to stroke his lover's cheek lightly. “Hey... You're back.”

The other man chuckled. “Obviously.”

“But what... when... weren't you supposed to—?” He stumbled over his words, confused, as he had thought that he had to be alone until the end of the week. Though he had a problem remembering why... maybe this was what he had been supposed to remember? That his lover was coming back early... from where, again? He opened his mouth to ask, but a finger on his lips made him shut his mouth. His lover smiled and shook his head a little, wordlessly telling him to be quiet. The arms around him tightened and he smiled back, snuggling against the warm body next to him. “I missed you...” he whispered, despite the silent order to be quiet.

“Shh, baby, I know...”

The blonde boy smiled in his sleep, pulling the blanket more tightly around him, in the place of his lover. A stuffed chocobo-toy lay on the bed next to him – he reached for it after unconsciously noticing its absence. After retrieving the plushie, he sighed happily and continued dreaming.

Suddenly the scene switched. The young blonde man blinked in confusion, looking around, not finding his lover anywhere. Bewildered, he called his lover's name and started to walk to a random direction. It was dark, and something was wrong, he could feel it... But why was he out at that time of the night, anyway?

He called out again, but now his voice held a tone of slight panic. “Hey, come on, this isn't funny...” He quickly turned around by a sudden rustling sound behind him, but saw no one. Only unnatural darkness. Not even the darkest nights in Balamb were this black.

A flash of grey caught his attention and he whirled around. Swallowing the lump in his throat, he started walking again, towards the direction where he had seen something – someone? His heart was thumping loudly in his chest, he was sure it could be heard by whoever there was outside with him.

He was sure that there was someone...

Suddenly the darkness lifted. Ah, yes, now he was able to see it; the form of the tall blonde man in a grey trench coat, his back facing him. He was about to call his name again, but the man was the first to talk. “You never really loved me, did you?” His tone was dull, indifferent... cold.

It made him shiver.

He wanted to answer, but no words would leave his mouth. Why was that, he didn't know. It wasn't like he had done anything wrong, but he still had this feeling, like he would have been caught doing something he wasn't supposed to do. “Baby, what are you—” he tried, suddenly on the verge of tears.

The older of the men turned around, his eyes held no emotion as their gazes met. “Shut up. I don't have to listen to you,” the man drew his gunblade, starting to walk towards him with long, quick steps.

He tried to move, but his body didn't work, his legs wouldn't listen to him! “N-no, don't—”

“I thought I told you to be quiet!”

As the gunblade slashed in the air, making a contact with his skin, he felt nothing, but he could see the tears running down his cheeks. It was like he was an outsider watching the scene – it couldn't be real... He slumped onto the ground and gasped for air.

The last time.

The gunblader snorted, drawing his gunblade back. He turned around, with a bored voice saying the only thing he had left to say.

“Cry-baby.”

Zell trashed in the bed, desperately trying to get out of the nightmare. He frowned, letting out a slight sound of desperation as he was killed in his dream – by his very own lover. To his fortune, he awoke to a feeling of someone shaking him.

“Zell! Zell, snap out of it!”

He gasped and snapped his eyes open. ‘Seif...’

tbc...