It seemed, over the remainder of the day, that the spell grew stronger. However, it only seemed to be affected Zell as his stomachache had not lessened and he felt even more numb than he had in the daytime, while Rinoa showed no symptoms at all, carrying out her errands and such with much ease. By the end of the day, it seemed that Zell had become completely usurped by the potion--he was some kind of machinery programmed to respond solely to Sadie's voice. He'd met her in the hallway by evening and found himself unable to move until she approached. Damn it, she's frikken everywhere today, he thought, but said, "Hi Sadie..."
"Hey there, Zell! How have you been? Oh, never mind that, look... I have a favor to ask of you... We're good friends, right?" she asked in a rather playful manner that sickened Zelleven more. Sadie felt it was time to put her little potion to the ultimate test--the one "favor" that would claim once and for all, Zell as her own. Zell said yes in reply, but it was so subtle that it was hard to tell. Inside, he was fighting with his legs as hard as he possibly could. "Well... are we.... more than good friends?"
"HELL NO!" Zell half yelled so loud that students minding their own business nearby couldn't help but glance at the scene and what exactly was going on. He couldn't control himself at this point--he was becoming a mindless drone and so automatically, his mouth spit out the venomous words, "Yes." Sadie smirked--just as she expected. She didn't care how she got her hands on Zell Dincht, only that she did and this would be the way. As of today, she knew things would be different--better--for her.
"Can you do me a favor?" Sadie asked. "It's a big favor, but I really need you to do it because I really, really like you, Zell." Well I don't like you so shut the hell up and leave me alone, bitch, Zell thought. "I know being more than good friends--as you've agreed on--is swell and all, but we can't quite make it final because of a little bump in the road named Lina Heartilly." Her voice cracked when saying Lina's name.
"NO," Zell said. This was clear in his mind. He'd take control of this situation from here on if it killed him--he was not dumping Lina--not ever.
"Come on!" Sadie was mad--stupid love potion--WOOORRRK. "Please, Zell..." she grabbed his arm and the moment her cold hand touched him he froze up.
"Damn you," was all he could say before his feet dragged him away down the hallway towards Lina's room. No, he had to fight this--whatever this possessive phenomenon was. He stumbled with all his might away from the door, but found himself knocking.
Lina answered the door, smiled her beautiful smile that shattered him into a million pieces and said in her usual melodic tone, "Hey Zell. What's up?" Without thinking, he grabbed her two arms, an attempt to break this madness.
"Lina... Um... No, Lina..." Zell stuttered. She looked at him closely--there was something about his grasp on her that felt like he was struggling. Zell was panicking beyond belief now--his legs had him standing here in front of his love with the intention to break the bonds which kept him so happy each day, each minute. "I... want to break up... Sadie um..." It came out like that. Inside he was crying, NO! DON'T LISTEN TO ME! IT'S NOT ME SPEAKING! Lina frowned and looked down the hallway at a smiling Sadie.
"Zell, what's going on?" Lina reached for him. "Zell, look at me--what's wrong?" He was relieved--she could tell there was something wrong, but he still couldn't fight it, for some reason something in him had cracked.
"You... heard me," he muttered and suddenly he started to back away--towards Sadie, but the grasp on Lina's arms just before he left were so helpless, he was torn. Lina stood in her doorframe, watching him and Sadie leave together. The last thing she could remember before she past out was Sadie's one smirk--that one little gesture that sent the sorceress spiraling out of her.
In her dream, Lina was struggling to beat herself down. Sorceress Lina Heartilly was running towards the library in Garden, but Lina was fighting with every ounce of her power, thinking, No! I won't let the evil take over me! No matter how hurt I am. Not even to Sadie who barely deserves anything. She wasn't sure how anything happened--all she could recollect was her image standing at the heart of the library, then a giant flash of light from wherever, she wasn't sure.
In reality, after the library had been completely destroyed, they discovered that Lina had eventually won that battle with herself--for no one was hurt, no one was injured, but an emotionally hurt Lina walking calmly out of the library in a more of a daze, tears leaking from her eyes. As Squall had tried to call her name to ask her what happened, she just kept walking--back to the Dormitory.
"Lina! What the hell happened?" Squall asked again and grabbed her arm, but in a split second her outline flashed a bright light and he was thrown back ten feet. The next thing Lina would remember would be waking up in her bed with a headache and cold fingers; and then she'd spend the rest of her day in her bed, huddled up in blankets with a novel and a cup of hot tea to help her wound heal.