Death Dance: Tricked

Chapter Five:
Tricked

(Author's Note: Sorry about the . . . bits to show time passing, but this chapter had to build up a bit of tension. This is a really big thing for Samantha and the rest of the story is based around it. In a weird way. I didn't want to add too much speeck etc. I just wanted her thinking, but I couln't have it like that all the way through, so I had her thinking at different times of the day. Please enjoy!)

When Samantha got to the band's practise hall she was met by Pyro and her brother. He didn't say anything. Samantha knew that Ellone had told him about the date with Zell, and that he'd come to yell at her. Kui looked very nervous.

"I trusted you!" Seifer shouted, making all of them jump. Samantha turned her face up to his, tears were still shining there. He screw his face up. "I told you! I warned you about that jerk, but you wouldn't listen. Zell, he's a prat, I guess you realise that now. Hyne, Samantha, think of what could've happened! The consequences!" Seifer's tone had softened somewhat. Samantha knew that she needed a plan, a plan to get Seifer into a load of SeeDs. For that she'd need to know one thing, Leonharts e-mail address.

"Zell's an idiot. Kui, don't you dare tell his mom that I said that. He started ranting on about how they needed you. I'm so sorry! Please don't be that angry at me!" Samantha hugged her brother. He hugged back. She felt the tears fall faster than before. It broke her heart to think that she'd be betraying him again.

"You're forgiven Sam. Just-Just don't do anything like that again. Promise me Sam," Seifer said, holding her so he could see her eyes. Samantha looked into his green eyes and met them with her lilac ones.

"I promise brother," She told him quietly. Seifer let go of her and waved to the others. Loli turned the music back up and Samantha felt alittle better. At least you are a good actress. You'd better get your skates on! Quick quick quick!

"So, what happened?" Jeneba asked. Samantha shrugged. I found out that Garden were gonna kill my brother. I fell out with Zell. I basically snubbed out my brother's life with my own hands. Not much.

"Has anyone got the phone book?"

. . .

Samantha was sitting in her room. After practise she'd shut herself in her room with the excuse of homework. She'd bolted the door behind her, she didn't want anyone to know what she was up to. The number was scribbled on the back of a piece of paper. She just made out the number. She dialled the number and waited, her heart in her mouth. Could she really do this?

"Hello?" She heard Leonhart's voice down the phone. Have you got the courage now?

"It's Samantha Almasy," She said, proud that her voice wasn't shaky. She heard the music in the background be turned off.

"Yes? What can I possibly do for you?" He asked. Samantha swallowed.

"I wanna help my brother. I want you to help me trap him... Please," She added. There, she'd said it. There was a long pause. She heard someone shout to Squall, there was the sound of a hand being placed over the reciever.

"It's Samantha Almasy!" She heard Squall shout back. "Zell, you look like you've sat on a porcupine! What ever is the matter?" She bit her lip, then she decided that it was probably best to try and explain.

"Tell Zell, thanks for the meal... Geez, the one thing I didn't wanna get from my brother! Tell him that... I'm... S-Sorry," Samantha forced the words out. She gritted her teeth as Squall relayed the words. She heard a reply.

"S'ok. Why's she phonin'?"

"I'm going to get my brother to go to Dollet with me. We have a small gig in the Hotel there. Or at least we would have had. Anyhow, if we get there, and you arrest him... It's the only way I can do this. Please, I don't wanna lose him," Samantha said, she knew that she was pleading. Her pride had already gone, she couldn't have pride in this circumstance.

"Ok. When?" Was Squall's reply.

"Tonight," Samantha replied quickly. She heard Squall swear.

"Fine, we'll be there. Just-Just don't interfere," He said. Samantha bit back a reply. What does he think I am? I'm Seifer's sister. If it gets too much, then I will intervene. Even if that means getting hurt myself!

"Don't hurt him. Whatever you do, don't hurt him," Samantha pleaded. Before Squall replied she'd hung up. She cried into her pillow, wishing that she hadn't done that.

. . .

"C'mon! We're gonna be late!" Kui shouted from the "Bandmobile", which was a mini-bus with "Pyro" painted on the side. Samantha pulled Seifer into the Bandmobile and Kui set off. The other members of Pyro didn't know that the gig had been cancelled a few nights before. With all the excitement, Samantha had forgotten to tell them. She didn't know if she was happy or sad about that.

"You look shocking! Pre-gig nerves?" Seifer asked. Samantha smiled, weakly and hysterically.

"You could say that I suppose," She said quietly. Seifer put his amrs around her. Samantha looked at the clock. In an hour you're going to betray your brother to Garden. You left Ellone a note under her pillow, explaining what had happened. Do you think that makes it right?

"Hey, I'm here to watch you this time! You're gonna be fine!" Seifer said, grinning in a flirtatious way at the other girls. Kui elbowed him in the ribs.

"You're a married man, sweetheart. If you weren't, we'd have had our teeth into you by now!" They all laughed, even if it was forced for Samantha. She watched the sunset through the window, and thought aloud.

"I just don't perform well under pressure," She whispered. Everyone in the van seemed to try to reassure her at once, making them all laugh. Samantha just looked out the window, watching blood red sunset. She only hoped that it wouldn't be the last she spent with her brother.

. . .

Samantha saw Dollet on the horizon. She felt the butterflie rise into her stomach. Her heart was in her mouth. She had to do this now. She had to. Please let this have been the right decision. I hope I can really trust them... HYNE HELP ME! GIVE ME THE COURAGE TO DO THIS! Samantha hit the door of the car hard, creating a dint in the metal.

"Hyne, what's wrong with you?" Loli asked. Samantha felt sick. She felt the strange feeling she usually only had before a seizure. She took a deep breath. She felt her eyes begin to change again, this time to a silver colour. This was the only colour that meant anything to those who knew her. It meant that something was hideously wrong, and there was only one person to blame.

"What's happened? Did that Zell-guy, you know?" Jeneba asked. Samantha laughed, a strange laugh, that seemed to make the tension even more intense. She took a deep breath. The streets of Dollet were fleeting passed the window. She saw the club that they would be playing in. Her heart stopped.

"We're here," She said flatly. "Zell wouldn't-He wouldn't hurt a fly. Or at least by Hyne I hope he wouldn't. Well let's get into the club then." Samantha pushed the door wide open and got out. Seifer and the gang followed. They all headed towards the entrance to the club.

"G-Guys? The gig was cancelled a few days ago," Samantha stuttered out. She couldn't see a single SeeD. She was feeling the beginnings of relief, mixed with a slight feeling anger. "We aren't here to perform." She said simply. They all turned to her.

"This is all a practical joke?" Kui asked, frowning. Samantha swallowed. Her head was spinning. She was sure she'd spew in a second.

"No. No joke. I-I was hoping that there would be-be some... It doesn't mat-" But Samantha didn't get the chance to finish. There was a loud bang and something went flew passed Samantha's head quickly. It hit the Bandmobile. Samantha heard a snicker and suddenly six people materialised from all over the street.

"I can't believe you missed," one of them shouted. Samantha clenched her fists. Missed? They weren't supposed to hurt him. Shooting someone hurts them! She heard the slide of metal and saw Seifer draw his gunblade. He slashed the air a few times. Samantha knew that he could take them all out and not even have worked up a sweat. It took three SeeDs attacking him at once to truly beat him, the only person who could match his skills was Squall, but he wouldn't carry a weapon strong enough to inflict that amount of damage.

"Stand down Seifer," one of the SeeDs shouted. Seifer looked angrier than Samantha had ever seen him. These poor SeeDs are gonna die. They are gonna be slaughtered. Hyne, let this be quick.

"Seifer, please. No more blood shed. No more," said a quiet, sweet voice. Samantha saw Sorceress Rinoa Heartilly walking through the crowds of SeeDs. Samantha had heard about the Sorceress but seeing her in her battle dress was almost surreal. She looked like a child, innocent and graceful, but really she contained aeons of power and knowledge.

"No. I won't stand down. I won't be arrested now! Not NOW!" Seifer leapt into attack and one of the SeeDs went down. The SeeDs partner drew her whip, only to be knocked aside. Seifer was a graceful killing machine, with each little flick, twirl or kick, death soon followed. Samantha could see why he was one of the most feared men in the world.

"Seifer! They'll kill you if you don't stand down! Please! For Ellone!" Samantha found herself shouting. Seifer stopped. He threw his gunblade to the ground, blood dripping off the handle. No one spoke or moved. Samantha looked pleadingly at her brother. She looked for any sign of life on his face, but found only a stony mask.

BANG! Samantha saw Seifer go down before she heard the bang of the sniper rifle. She heard her brothers howl of pain. They weren't supposed to hurt him. They weren't! Hyne help the next SeeD who comes next to me! Red...

"Nice shot Irvy! Got him down in one! Well two, but, same thing," She heard Selphie shout. A shaky Irvine stepped out of the shadows. Samantha didn't wait for him to completely reveal himself from the shadows. She ran over, she grabbed the gun off him in a quick movement and kncked him out with the barrel. She dropped the gun and looked down at the unconscious man at her feet. She kicked him in the stomach, hard enough to know that some damage had been done. She ran to her brother.

"Seifer! Seifer I'm so sorry. They said they wouldn't hurt you!" Samantha sobbed. Seifer looked up at her, he looked feverish. The hollow look in his eyes made him look like a ghost.

"The only thing hurt here is my feelings. You-you had the nerve to promise me, then you hand me in to them! If you had asked me to I'd have gladly handed myself in. But Samantha never thinks to do the easiest thing, so she loses things. Families, friends, loves-" Seifer smiled, looking slightly mad. "Even sanity evades you. Distant looks, eye colour changes, mood swings, seizures. Who in their right mind would put up with you?" Seifer asked.

I knew it. This is it. I can't stand this anymore. It hurts to hear the truth. Without Seifer, what do I have? Pyro won't take me back, mom and Ellone will be so mad at me. What do I have left? Madness? But isn't that what I already am?

"Perhaps that's because that's all I ever had. I could only rely on myself, because no one else listened to what I needed. When you came into my life, I believed that maybe I could fit in. Depend on them even, but I know now. I can only rely on myself, because that way words like that won't hurt me. Eyes, looks, love, what are they, all lead to hurt. Seifer, I'm not entirely like you. Madness? If that's all I have, then I'll take it," Samantha stood up. The SeeDs picked Seifer up and used cure magic onto his wound. Samantha looked over at the man she'd knocked out. Irvine deserved it, she would think of it as payback for everything.

"Samantha, don't believe what he said. You still have us," Kui said. Samantha span around. She saw all the band standing behind her nod in support. Samantha sighed. Whatever would she do without them?

"Hey! Don't forget us!" Selphie shouted. Samantha took a deep breath. Selphie, the one who had just shouted "good shot Irvy!" was telling her that she still had her. Of all the nerve!

"Selphie? I told you not to hurt him, yet my brother was shot at. Twice. You seemed pretty pleased when he went down. Why would I want you as a friend?" Samantha asked. The small woman thought for a moment, then turned deadly serious.

"Seifer put up resistance. Would you have it so all the SeeDs that were here died and he lived to walk away? What justice is there in that? Seifer has murdered hundreds, the only way to save him is for him to help us. Even so, his fate isn't secure yet. If he won't tell, then he'll face the courts. There is no way that the courts will allow him to walk free. If he doesn't talk, then we'll have to use force to make him tell us," Selphie explained. Samantha felt herself turn cold. Force? These are trained killers. Like Seifer. They don't care if he lives or dies. He's a pain in the backside to them. Samantha, what were you thinking?

"You're brother will come to no harm if you become a spy for us. That's a deal. Seifer gets away with no harm to his scarred hide, but you must work for Garden. You get the pay et cetera and the whole package. You'll recieve enough wages to support your mom. Seifer's safe. Ellone and the baby have him back. Everything's hunky-dorey," Rinoa said quickly. Samantha looked towards her friends. This was a difficult decision.

"Would I have to give up my identity?" Samantha asked. Selphie snorted but Rinoa bit her lip.

"For the occasional mission, but the majority, nah!" Rinoa replied. Samantha took a deep breath. What choice do you have?

"I will as long as I get training. I want proper battle training before I go anywhere."

Selphie grinned and nodded. Samantha looked over to Seifer who was having his rights read out to him. He didn't struggle but he stumbled and half-fell into the car. Samantha looked away from the sorry sight and found herself looking straight into Irvine's face.

"Hiya babes," He said in a flirty way. Samantha knew that Selphie had fallen hard for Irvine. She wondered if payback was needed.

"Hiya gorgey," She replied in the way she had used to. He wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her tightly. She'd not been held like this by a man for quite a while. She found herself enjoying the hug. She didn't love Irvine, but she'd pretend to, just to feel wanted by someone.

"I'm sorry about shootin' him," He said quietly in her ear. His lips brushed again the skin in a way that he thought was a turn on. Samantha only wanted to scratch her ear now, as the breath was tickly.

"S'ok. I guess he'll be better off where he can't do anymore damage, to himself and everyone else. Gorgey? When was the last time we actually hugged properly?" Samantha asked. Irvine began to gently kiss her neck. Samantha wasn't in the mood for his antics. She pulled away.

"Perhaps you should look closer to home for a girl who's shorter?" Samantha hinted. Irvine looked blankly at her and Samantha walked off. She said goodbye to her friends and got into her allocated Garden car.