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Deling City was a thriving metropolis now that it was the head of the United Council. The great ring shaped city had grown becoming almost as populated as Esthar had been, the last time anyone had been allowed there.
Quistis stared out the window of her dorm room at the city below the Garden. It was unlikely that Esthar would send a representative to the United Council meeting this year. They didn't every other year, why would they now? Especially since a highly dangerous well known criminal that they were supposed to execute was on the loose. They were just supposed to waltz in and claim him? The idea was ludicrous! Quistis didn't understand why Xu was thinking they would find out about Seifer there.
The garden was on stand by for landing permission; Glabadia garden was all ready there. Its red fins sticking wildly up in the air. Deling city spanned below them, its lights twinkling in the night air. The entire section of the street before the presidential building had been cleared away for an ongoing party that was always hosted during the Council meeting.
Representatives from all over the world would be there, to discuss trade and the decline of the planet. Ever since the war things were quickly stepping into decimation, they promise of darker things to come on the horizon.
A buzzing sound sounded over the loud speaker signaling the inhabitants of the Garden to prepare for landing. Quistis put a firm hand on the window sill and steadied herself as the thing crashed to the ground. With no apparent alarm she moved away from the window as the machine creaked and settled around the inhabitants. Quistis had been through it enough times to become used to the old hags bitching when she landed.
Grabbing her purse the SeeD, now demoted, headed out of her room and into the cool crisp air of Deling. Inhaling deeply her heels struck the side walk with each confident stride as she moved towards the party at the presidential building. As always she was oblivious to the people around her, walking in one big group to the party.
"This party is going to be so great!" one of the cadets said from near by.
"I know! I can't wait till the ceremony is over and the real fun begins" a female answered in a high pitched voice. Unwillingly Quistis rolled her eyes.
Every year there was always a ceremony for the five remaining SeeD that had saved the world. And as always there was a moment of silence for their great leader, Squall Lionheart. The oh so personable person he was, he would have loved that. She scoffed rolling her eyes. Quistis loathed the public display more then anything else. Outside she appeared calm and cool, a confident smile on her face. Inside she was a turmoil of screaming emotions.
"I wonder if they'll find anything out about Almasy while we are here" one of the boys mused. Quistis could practically feel the eyes as the shifted her way.
Seifer.
Yes, there was always Seifer. Ever since he had jumped out the window a few days ago she couldn't get him out of her mind. He was plaguing her every thought and waking moment. She was worried for him, she was angry at him. The constant nagging of the unsolved puzzle behind his reappearance was nagging at her.
"Oh! They've got the band set up all ready!" one of the cadets squealed pointing.
The party was well under way when Quistis and the heard of students that had moved with her arrived from Balamb Garden.
A stage had been set up in front of the great arch that was known as Deling City's most famous land mark. The portcullis was closed behind the stage, allowing no traffic to move into the closed off area. Tables were scattered about the street their white cloths rippling in the refreshing breeze.
The mass of people milling about was made up of all types. The strong boned Trabians, the strange Shumi. Quistis thought painfully back to the incident at Shumi Village. She felt terribly responsible for Baker's death and the Shumi casting the rest of the archeologists out of the town.
Her things had been sent to her, by hover craft just yesterday. Much to her surprise she was sad to find the blue eyed broken doll was not among them.
But now here she was at one of the biggest events of the year, in a skimpy black dress, her mind infatuated with a supposed dead man.
"Quistis you look great! Wanna dance?" Irvine drawled from beside her. She turned her cold blue eyes looking him up and down. He was in a pristine black tuxedo, looking absolutely ridiculous with the black cowboy hat perched on his head.
"No thanks, Irv" she responded in the sweetest voice she could muster. He would probably expect a quickie in the bushes when they were done dancing anyway.
Quistis sigh frustrated with herself and her cynical thoughts. For once she just needed to lighten up and let the higher ups inside deal with the important things. She needed a drink.
Heading over to one of the long beverage tables her hopes were instantly dashed as she saw the display. Fruit punch. Fruit punch! What kind of party was this?
She huffed away quickly leaving the area heading for the Hotel. Remembering the bar from her travels, she knew she could find a drink there. In desperate need of something, anything, to get her mind off that green pair of eyes burning in her mind.
Exiting the hotel after two stiff drinks put her in the key time for the party. Quistis was half way to drunk and decided to stroll through the park before heading back for the honorary ceremony. The cobble stone path way was slightly damp from the rain the previous night. Puddles clung to the dips in the path, almost pleading for their life as Quistis avoided stepping in them.
Suddenly she felt a strong hand on her arm, yanking her hard off the path. She fell in the slippery wet grass, mud instantly plastering its self to her bare leg. With terrified eyes she looked up into the face of an unknown man. With a yell she tried to wrench away from him, cursing the United Council for not allowing weapons at their gatherings.
"Help!" she screamed out, terror lacing her voice. Panic clutched her as his fingers tightened around her neck cutting off her breathing.
"No one will come for you" he whispered his lips dangerously close to her ear. She whimpered struggling. Then with a cry she slammed her had back into his nose.
Managing to wrench from his grasp she hurled herself forward into the trees, praying to get away. Her heart was thumping in her chest, blood pumping in her ears. She lost one shoe, then another to the mud as she ran. He was behind her, she could hear his footsteps. Feel his hot rank breath on her neck.
Pain exploded across the back of her head as he grabbed her hair yanking her to the ground. Crying out in pain, she hit the mud hard. Then the sky seemed to open up on Deling for the second night in a row.
Rain pelted her skin like tiny shards of ice. Quistis Trepe was not one to give up, she would fight. She kicked at him hard, practically tearing her hair out as she tried to get out of his grasp. Then a glint of something metal in her peripheral vision. Something thin struck her neck puncturing her skin.
A needle.
The thought hit her like a blast of panic. It was too late for her to react. Whatever had been in that needle was all ready working its way into her blood stream. Her limbs grew heavy, her body slack. Her vision was dimming but she could steal feel everything happening to her.
He was dragging her through the cold mud. It was caking her body, clinging to her pale skin. In the distance she could hear the sweet sound of a waltz. In the sky she saw a shooting star.
Tears unwillingly sprang to her blue eyes.
The ground was harder beneath her now, cement grinding into her. It was tearing at her bare legs and feet, spilling her blood on the pavement. The stench of a garbage filled alley way. Voices close by, discussing. Talking about what they were going to do to her.
She opened her mouth to scream, no sound coming from the pale cracked lips. The scream was only a feeble noise, pathetic in din of the alley way. He dragged her over to the wall and situated her against it, her skirt ridding up to her hips. She knew he and his friends were admiring her tiny lace panties. Her heart beat even faster as one of them leaned down and pressed his lips against hers. Closing her eyes she willed her body to move against the drug running through her veins.
He had been correct; no one would come for her.
His hands were all over her, leaving trails of filth where ever they touched. Grabbing, groping, and twisting. He was going to take his time; she was completely at his mercy. Each one of them were going to have their turn with her, she knew it. Then she would probably die.
She was dead all ready.
Closing her eyes she felt herself floating away on a sea of darkness.