Just Focus (FFXIII)

Prologue

Twisted tendrils of glittering blue light stretched toward the endless mass of stars that separated land from sky. Towering creatures turned their tired eyes to the dancing ribbons as they extended from all directions across Gran Pulse and twined together, forming a pillar of light that cast a brilliant glow across the wild grasslands. Slowly, the tendrils bunched together, rippling and curling as they reconstructed the form of life that had been missing from the world below for far too many years.

The excess spirit of the fal'Cie poured into the creation of this new being, a collaboration of powers that morphed into the figure of a human infant, a rather delicate creature. With a final rush of energy, the beam of light shot up into the sky before vanishing altogether in a magnificent show of sparks, taking the child with it.

On the doorstep of an unsuspecting, perfectly content family lay an infant bundled in gray cloth. She appeared no older than a few months, but she stared at her hands in startled awe as if she'd never seen them before. In fact, everything from the lamp above the front door to the pebbles beside her face brought marveling wonder to her pale eyes. For the first time, she saw. Fortunately, the night was not cold. Unfortunately, the infant had yet to eat.

It was the angry wails that brought Amita Raines to the door. It was the startled scream that brought her husband, Patrus. It was the immediate adoration in their children's eyes that led them to keep the girl and raise her as their own for the fourteen years they had left.

~Bodhum, Day 11~

"Would you look at that!" my father cries, pointing toward the translucent bubble that shields us from the spray of the fireworks that burst over the sea. My mother squeals in delight, clapping her hands together excitedly with the rest of the gathering crowd.

"Beautiful!" She rests a hand on my shoulder, smiling down at me with happiness written clear across her face. Her eyes are bright for the first time in years. "Isn't it, dear?"

"It's something," I nod, turning back toward the firework show. Glittering sprays of blue and orange litter the night sky, dancing with the twinkling stars. Tonight's a seasonal celebration that takes place in Bodhum every year. Once, my parents took my brother; once they went by themselves; they took my sister twice, and now they're taking me in their biggest efforts to lift my long-fallen spirits. I've never been one for parties.

I look around at the bright, smiling faces, each flashing with the dazzling colors of the fireworks. Soldiers, children, bartenders... Each has their own way of relishing the festivities. A father and his son fight playfully. A woman stares out at the sea with silent pleas pooling in her eyes. A group of young friends laughs, shoving each other playfully.

The sand underneath my shoes shifts and I look up at my parents once more. A pair of devoted lovers pressed together by the promise of a picture-perfect family. From what they tell me, my unexpected arrival was less than unwelcome in the midst of their longing for a third child. Even now, after everything that's happened... After how they've hurt us... Sighing, I glance once more at the night sky before turning away. I'm still grateful. I'm just... lonely.

"Amarhi, where are you going?" Amita asks, her voice overflowing with motherly concern; I shrug, continuing my walk back to the room we rented at the nearby bar. We can't afford much now that my brother's moved out, so this beachside trip really is a treat. I just can't take the forced joy anymore. Not while he's gone, maybe even for good this time. Just like Cassie.

I push past the people drinking in the tiki bar and open the slatted wooden door to our room. Kicking off my black boots, I fall into bed and roll up in the rough, patchy covers. Through the open window, I can hear cheers and the explosions of the fireworks. Colored light flickers on the wall across from me. Huffing, I pull the covers over my head. Outside, guards mutter amongst themselves. I catch mentions of Pulse and fal'Cie before drifting off into restless sleep. My dreams are filled with ebony hair and glimmering gray eyes. Why did you go?

I jolt as a sudden crash snaps me out of my restless sleep. In the darkness of the room my family rented, beams of light flash about, blinding me. I raise an arm to shield my face, squinting, and sit upright. Muffled shouting and heavy footsteps echo through my foggy head. Suddenly, I get it. This is the Sanctum. My mother screams and clings to my father, who stares wide-eyed at the soldiers that fill our room and point their weapons at our heads.

"Get up!" one of them commands. "Slowly. Keep your hands where we can see them."

"What's going on?" my father demands, quickly obeying.

"No questions."

"You can't take them without telling us why!" I protest, the wood floor beneath my feet creaking as I stand, hands held up by my head.

"Shut it!" another soldier snaps, shuffling closer and waving his weapon about in my face. "To the door, now."

"Why?!"

"I'd keep my mouth shut, young lady," the first man shouts, gesturing to my mother with his gun. His helmeted head turns up to face his comrades. "You two, keep her here. The rest of us will take care of these ones."

"What are you doing?!" I demand, trying to force my way past the soldier block my path as my parents are led out of the room.

"Hey!" he shoves me back. "Captain, what do we do about this one? She'll cause problems on the train." Their captain chuckles, shaking his head and leveling his gun with my mother's temple.

"No, I don't think she will."