Disclaimer: I still don't own Final Fantasy VIII.
Author's Note: Thanks for the positive reviews! In this chapter the italicized words mean that the person is dreaming. Now, on with the story!
After the Dust Settles
Chapter 2- That Man
Rinoa's POV…
My head was spinning and I was completely confused. Where am I? All I could remember was being at the SeeD party laughing with my friends when the room had gone black. Someone had grabbed me and I screamed, but it was muffled by a gloved hand over my mouth. Now, I was locked up in some kind of room. I had no idea where I could be. The room has no windows, but is greatly furnished. There is a bed, a dresser, a closet, and various other objects. Who would want to kidnap me? Probably someone who is against me because of my Sorceress powers. Just relax, Rinoa, I said to myself. Squall will come and save me…
Squall's POV…
How could I have let this happen? Hadn't I vowed to be her knight, to protect her always? Some job I have done…I'm such a failure…
"Squall, don't go blaming yourself for this." Quistis said, pulling me out of my deep thoughts.
"Yeah, Squall, cheer up! We're gonna find Rinoa and get her back!" Selphie exclaimed.
"…whatever."
"Agh! The famous 'whatever' line has returned!" Quistis laughed.
"How can you possibly laugh at a time like this?! Who knows what Rinoa could be going through right now?! Let's all get off our asses and find her!" I shouted.
"What can we do Squall? How can we possibly know where they've taken her?" This time it was Cid.
"I don't know! All I know is that I'm not just going to sit here while Rinoa is in danger!"
"I understand where you're coming from, Squall, but shouldn't we at least wait until morning, when we have more information? Plus, it wouldn't hurt to get a good nights rest, either."
How can I possibly rest at I time like this? "………"
"Squall? Listen to the Headmaster…he's right." Quistis told me.
"…fine. We'll wait till morning, but as soon as the sun comes up, I'm leaving to find her."
"I can't argue with you there, Squall. Just…be careful." Headmaster Cid said.
"I will."
******************************************************************************************
"Squall…help me! Please come and save me!"
"Rinoa? Rinoa, where are you?!"
I was in a mansion, but I had no idea where this mansion was located. I could hear Rinoa's screams for help, but I couldn't reach her!
"Rinoa, hold on! I'm gonna find you!"
Come on, come on, I thought as I made my way up the stairs. Suddenly, I heard a piercing scream.
"RINOA?!"
I jolted up, out of my bed. It's was just a dream Squall, get a hold of yourself! There was something about the dream that made it seem all to real…wait a minute! Could Rinoa possibly have been trying to send me some type of message through this dream?! I tried to remember everything that had happened during the dream. There was some distinct sign, some feature that I knew I had to remember…what was it?! Suddenly, it came to me. There was a picture of a mansion on one of the walls, and underneath it read, "Dollet Mansion." Rinoa was in Dollet…
Rinoa's POV…
I rocked back on forth as I hugged my knees to my chest. Do not cry, Rinoa, you have to be strong. I willed myself to obey, but it was no use, the tears escaped my eyes. Suddenly, the door cracked open and I jumped up from my sitting position on the bed. A man entered the room…that man…
"Ah, so I see that you have awaken…"
"Why have you brought me here?" I asked.
"My dearest Rinoa, you won't even say hello? It's been awhile since we've seen each other…"
"I would have liked it better if it stayed that way!"
"That's now way to treat your…father."
"You're not my father! Don't you ever call yourself that! The day my mother died, your position as my father died along with her!"
There seemed to be genuine hurt in his eyes from my words. He quickly covered it up and said, "I'm sorry that you feel that way. We're going to be around each other for a while, so I suggest that you get used to it, and show me some respect!" His glare was threatening. "You can start by calling me 'father'."
"That will NEVER happen!" I screamed.
"Don't give me that bitchy attitude, girl! I can show you what it feels like to go through real pain!"
"Just like you showed my mother?!" I didn't know where these words were coming from, but once they left my tongue, they wouldn't stop coming out. "You're the reason why she died in that accident!"
"Your mother was drunk. Her death was her own fault!" he exclaimed.
"You forget the reason why she was drinking in the first place! It was all because of you! She couldn't take it anymore! Everything she did could never be good enough for you! You, you bastard!"
"How dare you?!" He slapped me across the face and walked out of the door, slamming it shut behind him.
I just stood there in shock. Where had those words come from? I never meant to let him know that I knew how my mother died… No! I'm not going to feel sorry for him after all that he's done to me! But why…why does he want me here? Why go through all of the trouble to kidnap me? What could he possibly want from me? Damn, it was driving me crazy! I sat down on top of the bed again. Squall, where are you…?
Author's Note: Sorry that this chapter was so short, but the next chapter will be longer, I promise. REVIEW!!!!
