Chapter 11 – Jailed

    Author's Notes: How do you guys like the title? Simple enough, explains everything, eh? Now before I begin, I would like to thank the reviewers again profusely… but I regret to say that the speed I've been uploading the chapters can no longer be kept up, due to my work catching up on me. I have no dispel spell to keep them away, so it's gonna be a little slower for now. But don't worry, if it takes up my sleep time to do it, by Hyne I will. Oops… a hint of FF8 poisoning over there. And Shootinstar… so sorry to disappoint you, but you would have to keep your "black reviewing presence" for a while here (which I don't mind at all.) cos Celestine won't be appearing until nearing the end… okay? Have I revealed too much? I hope not.

   Special thanks to Prodigy for your encouragement, and Zells Gaurdian Angelle… congratulations! I'm going to read and review your chapter!! Yay! Now I sound like a God-damned Movie Award winner…now here's the story you've been wanting to read……

                                                               *FF8*FF8*

    I opened my eyes with a groan… a mind-numbing pain throbbed at the jaw as well as all over my body. I wanted to touch the jaw, only to find both my arms chained to the wall above me.

     "The hell?" Shock grappled my mind as I tugged hard at the chains.

     "You're awake, Zell?" Seifer's voice came from the left corner of the cell. He's addressing me by name? Not Chicken-wuss? They must have roughed him up pretty good too!

     "Are you alright, Zell?" Quisty's voice came from the other corner. "I saw that D beat you up pretty badly!"

     "Nothing amiss, except for a few bruises and aches here and there." I called out to her.

     "That's great! At least none of us were hurt too seriously. Now all we have to do is find a way out of here." Quistis sounded relieved. I could imagine how worried she must have been.

     "The thing is… we can't break these chains through brute force alone. And I've lost most of my strength… must be all that yucky stuff they feed us, and the jasmine incense!"  Not to mention getting stunned by an electric shock to my spine.

    I tried to snap at the chains again, but of course it didn't work.

     "I was pretty sure it was the bowing and the jasmine water." Seifer commented.

     "It doesn't matter. In dire times like this, we need my laser-eye." Quisty spoke wearily. Maybe she was irked that she, a SeeD, had been captured so easily. Heck, I'm itching for a piece of action myself. Despicable bastards.

     "I have a hundred "Aura" spells in my inventory. I could easily try to use one of them on you… but I don't guarantee any success, okay?"

     "It's better than nothing." Quisty said.

     "AURA ------ QUISTIS!" He shouted with nary a gesture.

    Marvellous… he could cast magic with just a voice command? I'm impressed… and boy was I glad that he isn't our enemy anymore.

    As I was thinking about that, a yellow light had already enveloped Quisty, causing her to be in "Aura" status.

     "BLUE MAGIC ------ LASER-EYE!" Quisty performed her laser-eye on our iron chains, breaking them into two.

    Both of them astound me. I guess they were the kind to strive under the most dangerous circumstances. I must be careful not to be overshadowed by them!

    By that time, the "Aura" magic had run out.

     "I need another 'Aura' to break through the door!" Quisty said in great urgency. Can't blame her… for one of the G.M's lackeys might come in to check on us any minute, especially that D!

    But before Seifer could use another "Aura", who should open the door and waltz in but D himself?

    He stood at the opened door with his arms crossed at the chest.

     "Now, Ms Trepe and Mr Almasy… could you kindly return to your rightful places?"

    There was nothing they could do, except comply with his "request".

    I remained in my position. HE didn't say anything to me, why should I move then?

     "That goes for you too, a**hole!"

    We stared at him. Why the entirely different treatment towards me?

     "I'm not going to lock you up again. You're not going anywhere even with your arms and legs free. This door here, is made with such a strong alloy that even laser could not cut through it!" He smirked, looking at Quisty.

    But as his gaze fell on her, a wave of sorrow seemed to pass through his face. He looked at Seifer with the same expression. But when he turned towards me, the normal, hard face returned… in fact, he seemed angry, hateful even, towards me.

    This was something that completely escaped my understanding. I've never met this guy, physically speaking, before this G.M. incident. And yet he acts as if I'm some sinful slaughterer of his family?

     "Could we have our clothes back then? They're in our respective lockers. It would be much more comfortable for us if we could wear them instead of these robes." Quisty, taking advantage of his goodwill towards them, quickly requested.

    Way to go, Quisty! I thought with strong approval at her quick thinking.

     "Yeah, we would be immensely grateful." Seifer said, his expression reflecting his words.

    I wisely kept my mouth shut.

     "Of course. Excuse me for a second."

    He exits the room, closing the door behind him. The auto-lock clicked sharply to indicate the secured status of the door.

     "What do you make from that?" I asked them.

     "It's like he harbours a personal grudge against you, Zell!" Quisty remarked.

     "Hey, did you steal his girlfriend or sumthin', Chicken-wuss?" Seifer was teasing me even at a time like this…

     "I've never seen him before!" I exclaimed.

     "Neither have we, but how is it that he knows so much about us? Not only our names; he knows my limit break as well? And the way he looks at me, it's as though he knows me!" Quisty furrowed her brow in concentration, trying to recall if she had seen him before.

     "Ditto here!" added Seifer.

     "He's a huge walking question mark! For one thing… some part of his mind seems clear from hypnotism, evidenced by his apparent familiarity with you two… and yet when he's with the G.M… he hangs onto her words like a loyal dog! And what's that animosity towards me for?"

    "I'm surprise you know the words 'evidenced' 'animosity', Chicken-wuss! They're such  difficult words to have come out from your mouth!"

    "SEIFER!" Both Quisty and I shouted in unison.

    "Can't you be more serious here? This isn't a time for jokes… and yours isn't even funny!" She continued scolding him like he was a four-year-old kid. Hehehe… what a good feeling it was to have someone scold him on my behalf.

     "Hey, I'm sorry! That just came out before I could think. Too used to it, I guess." He shrugged.

     "We'll have to wait until he comes back with our clothes, before we can do anything that remotely hints at getting out of here!" Quisty sighed.

     "You mean…" I looked at her with naked hope in my eyes.

     "Yes, there might be a chance of escaping, providing everything turns out according to plan." She nodded with a smile.

     "My baby… what would we do without you? When we get out of here, I'll make sure you get your just rewards." Seifer advances towards her with his arms outstretched, while I rolled my eyes at his antics.

     "Seifer, behave yourself!" Quistis chastised him with an inflamed face. Well… it looked that way, since her cheeks were all coloured with red.

    "No, you should say 'Oh, behaaaaave!!'" He smirked and caught her, ignoring her protests and the presence of a third party. Me.

   The door opened at that very moment. And that D, seeing them in that very compromising position, coughed in embarrassment.

     "Ahem… sorry to interrupt you. Here are your clothes." He held their stuff out to them, respectfully I might add, and threw mine roughly on the floor.

    I was already getting used to his unfair treatment, and picked those up without a word.

     "Now, if you'll excuse me…" He bowed at them, shot a dirty look at me, and closed the door again.

     "That one has issues, man!" I said while fiddling with the belt of my robe.

     "Definitely. Like some sort of psychotic schizophrenic in a B-grade mystery thriller!" Seifer said, taking off his piece too.

     "Hey, you guys. I'm going to change in that corner. Don't look okay?" Quisty turned her back on us and started walking to the right corner of the room.

     "Sure. Tell us when you're ready." I said, busy with my own stuff.

     "That makes me want to peek even more!" Seifer deliberately wants to invoke a reaction from Quistis, judging from the sound of his voice.

     "Don't you dare!"

     "Hey, Seifer. If you don't start changing soon, YOU'll be the one left standing in your boxers after we've finished. Wouldn't want to be caught with your pants down, would ya?" I said, smothering a laugh. "Even though I don't really want to see it!"
     "Alright! Quit preachin'!" He grumbled, and started putting on his T-shirt, pants, and coat.

    In no time at all, I was in my jacket, T-shirt and Bermudas as well. Yes, even my Ergheiz Gloves were on too. I had carefully hidden them in the pocket of my pants.

     "Hey, great idea! If only my Hyperion were retractable… I could've carried it with me too!" Seifer said after seeing me put my gloves on.

     "Yeah, but you wouldn't be able to conceal it, would you?" I asked with a grin.

     "Oh yeah… no I wouldn't."

     "He's not the only one with a great idea, you know…" Quisty quipped, dangling a small communication device between her fingers. "We can use this to call for back-up!"

     "Alright, Quisty! That's brilliant of you!" I jumped and punched the air in exuberance.

     "Allow me to kiss your hand, our fair saviour!" Seifer bent on a knee and kissed her left hair with a loud smooching noise.

    "Get up, Seifer! It's really nothing! I thought that it would be prudent to keep one of these handy… and here we are!" She said, her face colouring again. I think her relationship with Seifer has made her complexion improve drastically, being constantly rosy-cheeked and all. Hahaha.

    "Now let's get down to business." She said, and switched on the communication device.

                                                           *FF8*FF8*FF8*

    WL: To be continued…

    C: How can you cut off suddenly?

    WL: If I don't, this chapter will be so long I can't keep track of it!

    C: Don't keep the sentences hanging in the air! It's irksome.

    WL: I'm gonna post the two chapters together anyway.

    C: Suit yourself!

    Author's Notes (again): One phrase I have used above "Oh, behaaaaave!" is from the movie Psychedelic Spy: Austin Powers, and not from my own creative processes. Neither do I own the movie, its script, or anything that remotely relates to it. I use it for my gratification and entertainment purposes. Understand? Thanks a lot.