Chapter 10—The last story
The next day Rinoa found herself drinking hot chocolate with Selphie in a small café that she'd found in the mall. They had spent two hours in the baby shop, the one Rinoa had found a long time ago when she'd been hiding from the rain.
"So, he just called you in and gave you the job?" Selphie asked as she bit into a slice of chocolate cake.
"Yeah, just like I said. So, now I'm off to interview some mad guy," Rinoa joked, sipping her chocolate.
"So, what did he do?"
"Who?" Rinoa asked, staring out at the shoppers through the window.
"Derr, the crazy guy!" Selphie said, startling a few people around her and Rinoa out of her daydream.
"Oh. Sorry. Well you mustn't tell anyone; it's apparently classified information until they choose to release it."
"Ok, I promise."
"Well, apparently this guy was a really powerful politician of Deling City. He organized a rebel party to take over the government, but two weeks before the planned takeover, Quikstine, the crazy dude, pulled out and hired some SeeD's to back up his team," Rinoa said, her voice dropping until it was barely a whisper. "But the takeover never happened, and one by one the SeeDs began to disappear. Only one ever returned to Garden. They wouldn't give me his name, not that it's important. It was months before the survivor talked, and it turned out that Quikstine shot each of them one by one."
"No," Selphie whispered, speechless. Rinoa nodded slowly.
"I couldn't believe it when I read the file. How could someone do something so terrible like that?" Rinoa muttered, looking out of the window. When she'd read the file she'd almost broken down in tears, inside was a statement from the survivor, filled with emotions she wished she never had to face. It had been difficult to read, but she had to struggle though it in order to know what she would be talking to.
"So, how did that one SeeD survive?"
"The file was a bit fuzzy about that part. The guy that survived was the last one to be shot, and after he was, Quikstine made a getaway. The SeeD was shot in the side, and found shortly after by a cleaning lady. She called an ambulance and saved his life," Rinoa reeled off with the smallest amount of emotion possible.
"Wow, pretty impressive," Selphie said, gaping.
"Yeah, but I'm not feeling so great about it. I mean, the guy shot people for no reason."
"Yes, but what an opportunity! I mean, not everyone can do something like this. Rinny, this is huge! Its' gonna be one heck of a story," Selphie said happily, her face clearly showing her excitement. Rinoa sighed and stared back out at the shoppers.
"I know Selph, but I feel so guilty," Rinoa said, resting her head in her hands.
"Guilty of what?" Selphie asked, frowning.
"I just...don't want to do this anymore. I'm so confused. Sometimes I wake up and all I want is to tell the truth to the world. To keep on writing and show everyone what I can do. But on the other days...all I want is to be with Squall. I want them both, but I can't have both. It's one or the other, and I'm beginning to think that my job just isn't worth it."
"Well done," Selphie said softly.
"What?" Rinoa asked, snapping her head up to look at her friend.
"For finally realizing that a job can't give you what you really need. Sure, it makes you feel as if you have a purpose in the greater world, but Rin, nothing compares to being with the one you love," Selphie said with a twinkle in her eye that shimmered as a tear fell down her cheek. "I left my job for Irvy and the baby, and you know I've ever regretted it. Rinoa, you are a writer, that's what you are. Some people can split atoms, others can build rockets, some can sing like angels, but people like you can write emotions on paper. Don't you how great a gift that is? It's never going to go away, Rin. You'll always be able to write whether you're working for a newspaper or not. Your book was the greatest thing I'd ever read. Don't be afraid to leave the papers."
Rinoa held her breath through out Selphie's explanations. It was the nicest compliment she ever received. People could tell her she was beautiful, or could say she was the best friend in the world, but to compliment her writing was something that went straight to her heart.
"Selphie, I..." Rinoa whispered, a mascara laced tear falling onto her lap. Selphie shook her head.
"Don't answer it; there's nothing to say," Selphie said quietly. Rinoa groaned and laid her head on her folded arms.
"Oh, I think I want to leave it all," she mumbled. Selphie grabbed her arms, making her lift her eyes.
"Then quit!"
"What? Don't take the story?" Rinoa was puzzled.
"No. Write the story. Just make it your last. You know, finish with a bang!"
"Yes! Yes, the last story! The last story I ever write for a newspaper," she said, standing up suddenly. Selphie lifted her cup in agreement. "Wow, this is going to be the best story I have ever written. Thank you, Selphie! I'll call you soon."
"Hey! Where do you think you're going?" Selphie asked, annoyed. "You sit back down."
"I'm gonna go arrange the interview. Deling City, here I come!" Rinoa squealed, grabbing her back and bouncing away. "Goodbye!"
Selphie stared at her, dumbfounded. Had they suddenly switched personalities, or was Rinoa having some sort of early midlife crisis? Either way, the answer was worrying. But in true Selphie style, she shrugged it away and ordered more ice cream, telling herself she was eating for two now.
Rinoa rushed through the mall as if she was floating on air. She was actually looking forward to this story. She'd show the world that she hadn't disappeared. Heartilly was still here, and was about to leave the world speechless.
Jogging to Squall's car, she jumped in and reached for her phone. Tapping in the numbers with shaking fingers, Rinoa waited until it was answered on the other line.
"Hello? Hi, my name is Rinoa Heartilly; I'm a journalist at... Yes, that's right. Would it be possible to arrange an interview with Mr. Quikstine in two days time?" Rinoa waited for an answer. "Yes, that would be wonderful, thank you. 10a.m., perfect. Ok, thank you very much. Goodbye."
Taking a deep breath, Rinoa started the engine and waited until her hands stopped trembling before pulling out of the car park and heading to the train station. Leaving Squall's car surrounded by others, Rinoa waited two hours in a small café before catching the next train to Deling City.
Her ticket was second class, meaning she had her own compartment which could be shared with five others, but it seemed the train was empty on this journey and she was left alone. The journey passed without event, for which Rinoa was grateful. She slept most of the many boring hours, and woke up thirty minutes before they pulled into the next station to sort her paper work.
Quikstine would be kept in holding until he was declared sane, but, considering his past crimes, Rinoa thought that that was very unlikely. If freed from the asylum, he'd face the death penalty sentence. Rinoa shuddered. Capital punishment was something she was a little jumpy about, but a quick look at his crime brought Rinoa pro.
The train ride that had seemed to have lasted forever finally ended. After rearranging her hair and gathering up her papers, Rinoa stepped out into the busy corridor of the train and then onto the platform of Deling City station. Frowning at the cold weather that she now found herself in, Rinoa sighed and flagged down a brightly coloured taxi and clambered in.
"The Roslet Hotel, please," she ordered once she was settled. Tonight she would stay in the hotel and relax; tomorrow she would start working.
***
Rinoa woke up in the strange bed with a nagging feeling at the back of her mind. Her alarm clock was still ringing, and she suddenly remembered: the interview was today. Flinging the covers away, Rinoa headed for the bathroom with sluggish steps. She really didn't want to get up right now. Her body was telling her that she needed two more hours of sleep, but she knew that was impossible. The morning was the only time she could do this interview without being in somebody's way, or messing up the asylum schedules.
After a shower, Rinoa dressed as if going to her office. Smart but casual was always the best way to dress if you weren't sure about who you were meeting; besides, it was hardly proper to interview someone whilst wearing jeans. Shrugging at her reflection in the mirror, Rinoa looked her room and left the hotel with a light briefcase in her hand. Getting a taxi was proving difficult this morning. No one wanted to stop for her, but finally one pulled up and the friendly man poked his head out of the window.
"Where to, Miss?" he asked as Rinoa opened the door. Rinoa cringed.
"The city asylum," Rinoa said. She felt her cheeks flush as his face flicked with uncertainty.
"Alright," he said, pulling out of the stop and into the traffic.
Rinoa didn't say anything else during the drive but stared out of the window in a bored sort of way. She'd lived here for many years before her move to Galbadia, but had never come this far east of the city centre. The taxi stopped, and Rinoa paid the man the correct amount of money before climbing out. In front of her was a red-bricked building that had been extended in many places. The doorway did nothing to invite the nervous; an impressive heavy wooden door hung on blackened hinges and looked suspiciously creaky. Rinoa pressed the call button and waited as a little click noise was heard and then a voice.
"Name and purpose please?" asked a squeaky female voice. Rinoa leaned towards the microphone and answered.
"Rinoa Heartilly. I'm here to interview Mr. Quikstine."
There was a buzz noise and then the vice returned.
"Push the door, please."
Rinoa did as she was instructed and pushed open the door. She was immediately greeted by the owner of the annoying voice.
"Hello, Rinoa. My name is Grace, Mr. Gray's secretary. Is there anything I can get you before you begin your interview?" she asked, smiling. Rinoa shook her head.
"No, thank you. I'd like to begin right away."
"Alright, follow me please. Mr. Gray is not here at the moment, so if there are any problems, please tell either me or one of the other senior members of staff."
Rinoa suddenly realized who she was referring to. Mr. Gray had been the one she'd spoken to on the phone.
The walk to the cells was long and confusing. All the hallways looked the same to Rinoa, and she followed the woman in a dreamlike state.
"The criminally insane are on the floor below us," she said suddenly. Rinoa jumped at the sound of her voice and walked inside the elevator that had appeared in front of them. "Most of the patients on this floor are still at breakfast, that's why it's so quiet."
"Oh," Rinoa said, not sure of what she should say.
"This is where I leave you now. Quikstine's cell is the one on the end; the others are empty apart from the first. Dan will be down here if you have any worries," she said, looking at a middle-aged man dressed in a blue boiler suit. Rinoa nodded.
"Thank you," she said, aware that her voice was shaking.
The walls were painted white with a mixture of tiles that would have once formed a pattern if most weren't missing. It was dark down there, but not in a frightening way, and Rinoa had to let her eyes adjust before walking down the row of cells. The first was occupied by a young man who was grumbling in his sleep. Rinoa hurried past and looked straight ahead; finally, she reached the correct cell and looked in.
"Good morning. You must be Miss Heartilly."
A/N: I've already been warned by Bianka that you'll probably hate me right now, so, I'm apologising for the cliff-hanger before you kill me. But the chapter had to end somewhere, or it would have ended up being ridiculously long. I won't be set my essays until Wednesday and Thursday (Yay!) so an update shouldn't be too far away.
Thank you to everyone who reviewed!