A Dream of Reality: Chapter Three

The Railroad

A chill breeze was blowing through the open window, and it scattered a deck of Triple Triad cards across the floor. A dark figure moved to shut it carefully. The figure's movements were barely discernible in the black of night. With just one flick of a light switch, the dimmed night-lights could have flickered on, but the figure merely sat on the bed wordlessly. After a time, a few stifled sobs could be heard. A dark haired girl was sitting on the bed, her face buried in her hands.

Squall, what is it that you won't let yourself tell me? I thought things would be better after everything…that night on the balcony. Was that all a lie? For a second I was glad, I was happy, because you changed. But then…no, Squall. Now you haven't changed at all.

She sat up and wiped her eyes on the cuff around her wrist. Why am I worrying about this? It's just this once. Maybe I'm overreacting--he could just be having a hard day. Rinoa shook her head, angry with herself for acting so childish. She stood and left the dormitories of the Garden. Then, peering up at a screen near the entrance of the dorms, she realized that the Garden was stationary.

"Current location: Fisherman's Horizon," she read aloud, then began walking towards the elevator. It was after hours, but the security guard sitting at the elevator was in a deep slumber. Rinoa smiled to herself slightly as the doors slid shut.

Moments later, she emerged out of the emergency door on the second floor into the cold night air. Rinoa breathed deeply. She could smell the salty scent of the ocean mingled with a chill, clear breeze. She began to walk along the old railroad leading into Esthar.

I think it was just a relapse of Squall's old self. It can't last very long, she thought, fingering the two rings that dangled on the chain around her neck.

A quiet sound ahead interrupted her thoughts. She peered into the darkness, only seeing blurry shadows. Must be the wind.

But another sound startled her. It was nearer this time. "Who…who's out there?" she called, her voice sounding braver than she really felt. Her question was met by silence for the next several moments. Then, a sudden sound to her left. It seemed to her that there were footsteps. Rinoa cursed herself for not bringing her armlet and weapon. This would be a good time to have Angelo with me… she thought futilely, still peering into the darkness. The safety of the small town was about half a mile behind her, she noted.

She suddenly felt a hand grab her from behind, clasping her mouth. Cold steel pressed against her neck, and her eyes were wide in shock and terror.

"Mmmph!" she tried to scream.

"Rinoa?!" Her captor released his grip on her. Rinoa took a protective stance and whirled around to face her enemy.

"Seifer?!" she cried, taken aback, recognizing the gunblade and the long silver overcoat.

"Rinoa…what are you doing out here? I'm sorry if I frightened you."

Rinoa brushed the hair out of her face and tried to breathe slower. She could feel her heart beating wildly against her chest and just now realized how cold it was in the night air. "I was just…taking a walk."

"In the middle of the night?" Seifer asked, bewildered. "Do you do this regularly?"

"Um…."

Seifer squinted at her, and he must have noticed that there was the salty residue of tears along her cheeks, and her eyes looked tired, for he said, "You were upset. And you came out here…"

Rinoa shrugged, unable to deny the obvious. "What about you? Why are you here?"

"Fishing trip with the posse. I was just walking because I couldn't sleep."

"Oh."

Silence pressed in on them for a few moments.

"So it's been a while," Rinoa finally began. "What….what have you been up to?"

"I don't know. Fishing. The fish here is great, much better than you can get in Balamb. And you? Oh…right. With Squall and the others."

"Yeah…Squall…" she muttered, and looked down at the ground. Seifer noticed her reaction and concern was written on his face.

"Something wrong? With Squall, I mean."

"No. It's…no, never mind. You wouldn't understand. I don't think even I do."

Seifer nodded, pushing any further questions into the back of his mind. "Come on, Rinoa, want to go for a walk with me?" Rinoa hesitated a moment, thinking, Seifer is dangerous. He did kidnap me before and bring me to Adel…but what can I do? He's changed now, he isn't under the spell of Ultimecia any longer. It's all over. She nodded and forced herself to ignore the doubts creeping into her mind. This is the old Seifer, the one I first fell in love with so many summers ago.

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As they walked, Rinoa could feel Seifer's gaze resting upon her much too often. She looked around at the ocean, trying to force her attention away from his eyes.

"Rinoa…do you remember that summer, three years ago?"

"Of course," she whispered, squirming uncomfortably as they walked. The town is just around that bend, she thought involuntarily.

"I saw it then, but then I was overcome by…forces I didn't understand. And all that time, I wasted. I wish none of this had happened," Seifer said, more to himself than to her, "because I loved you, Rinoa. I really did."

Oh, Ifrit, not now, she thought. "B-but, Squall--" Rinoa stuttered, biting her lip, "he and I…we….you…"

She heard Seifer sigh resignatedly at her side. "I know. I know. It's just, well, sometimes I wish that we could have been together. We were great together, and we could have been…forever…"

Rinoa was afraid to look up and see the hapless expression on his face. "No, Seifer," she said firmly, "no, we couldn't have. It was never meant to be."

"Tell me you loved me," he whispered, and he stopped walking. Rinoa halted a few feet ahead of him, but he closed the distance between them so that their faces were only inches apart. She could feel his warm breath on her face.

"No…Seifer, I did, but it's different." She tried to back away.

"How? I can see it in your eyes…Squall is making you upset, isn't he? He's such an introvert. He never really did love you, anyway, Rinoa, and--"

"No!" she cried at him. "I told you that you wouldn't understand! And you don't!"

"Wait, Rinoa. Please, just…give me a chance. Can't you do that for me? You say you did love me. Love doesn't just fade away, it always lingers. Just as mine will always linger, for you…" Seifer took her hand in his.

"Get away," she whispered hoarsely. She struggled to tear arm away from his grip to no avail. "Leave me alone, Seifer. If you love me, you wouldn't hurt me like this--"

Seifer drew her roughly against him and kissed her harshly.

"Stop it!" Rinoa screamed, tearing herself away. She socked him in the face.

"I love you, why won't you understand?!" he cried.

Rinoa could feel a strange sensation welling up inside of her. It was as though all of her anger and mental power was being gathered…she started in fear when a trickling stream of pale green light emerged from the skin on her arm. "Oh my god…what is that…"

Seifer was oblivious at first, and he continued yelling, "I love you! You don't understand how much I do!" But then he noticed the light issuing from her flesh, and was just as surprised as she. He let go of her arm hastily. "What the hell?!"

The pale green light was growing stronger, wreathing around her entire arm. Then her body lurched, and the green light was everywhere, wreathing around her body. "Help…help me!" she screamed. The light grew, and in a blinding flash, it disappeared. Rinoa was trembling violently, and her mind was reeling. She saw Seifer lying unconscious on the railroad tracks through blurred vision.

"Oh god…" Rinoa stared down at her quivering hands What's happening to me? I have to find help. "Somebody help me! Please!" Rinoa looked around hastily, a glazed look in her eyes, and spotted a small boat tied to a plank of the bridge. She staggered over to the edge and then let herself drop into the boat. "Help…" she muttered weakly. She pulled herself up to the side and untied the rope with shaking fingers. "I'm…so…cold…"

The light was still pulsating faintly from her body as the wind kicked up from the northeast. And the boat began to drift across the water, then mysteriously picked up speed. It was heading in the exact direction of the lighthouse. Rinoa's frigid fingers closed around the lion ring at her neck and laid still.

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A/N: Sorry that was a little unexpected…got somewhat carried away with that chapter, and now the plot has changed completely in my head! Well anyway, hope you liked it anyway. Sorry for the delays, though I can't promise that there'll be updates anytime in the near future…I'm going to try my best! muttering Too much homework. Sorry guys!