Chapter 6
Bright Lights
The next morning was surreal. Rave got up with an unusual knot in his chest. It was extremely painful even though it didn't hurt a bit.
Getting dressed quickly in the visitors room that was assigned to him Rave wasted no time in getting into the President's office, where they all agreed to meet that morning.
Rave was surprised that he was the last one to arrive to the lavish office. When he got there Davis was in enthusiastic conversation with president Laguna, Ceila was wrapped in a conversation with Ellone and Kriye was sitting alone in the corner. Rave couldn't quite make himself meet eyes with her.
Once everyone noticed his entrance they stopped what they were doing and turned to him.
"Well if it isn't Mr. Sleepy Mc Sleepikins," Davis teased.
"I thought I be one of the first ones up," Rave told everyone sheepishly.
He heard President Laguna chuckle "Something's will never change with teenagers will they?"
Rave simply nodded, still trying desperately not to look at Kriye.
Despite Rave's dreary mood he tried desperately to listen as the President began to speak to the group.
"You guys should be proud of yourselves. You uncovered information that paid professionals would die to get their hands on. That's very impression, and believe me when I say you've been a great help, not only to the Leonharts," he pointed over to Kriye "But to the people of every nation, you have Esthar's gratitude."
They were nice words, but they meant absolutely jack-shit to Rave. He didn't 'do' anything. He just stumbled across things that turned out bigger then he imagined.
Esthar didn't owe him anything, and the Leonharts especially didn't.
After President Laguna told them they were welcomed back to Esthar at any time, he and Ellone left the room so the four of them could say their goodbyes.
It was awkward at first. Truly they hardly knew each other, but their little adventure together made Rave feel like he knew these girls his whole life.
Davis' goodbyes were quick; he had only joined them shortly ago. When it was Rave's turn, however, he felt like there was everything to say, but not a single word to say it with.
"You take care of yourself," Ceila said igniting the farewell "Try to be on your best behavior. I don't want to read any headlines about two idiots who tried to take on the whole Galbadian army."
Rave forced a laugh. "I'll try."
Ceila gave him a kiss on the cheek. Smiling at her Rave next turned Kriye.
The pain in his chest that he felt when he woke up this morning increased ten-fold as he stood before her.
Like the night before he wanted to say something meaningful to Kriye, something more then just 'goodbye.' But just like the night before the words seemed to be stuck somewhere between his stomach and his throat. Unable to get out what he wanted to say Rave had to settle with another cliché goodbye.
"You take care," he told her.
"You too," Kriye replied barely looking at him.
That was it. He probably never see her again and all he could say was 'take care.'
The two of them continued to stare around the office, neither daring to look at each other and neither daring to move.
It wasn't until Davis cleared his throat at the doorway that the two of them stirred. Giving Kriye a half-hearted smile he turned around. Rave joined Davis at the doorway and after a quick wave to Ceila they left the President's office, and two of the greatest people that Rave had ever met.
On the way back to Davis' boat all the young sailor wanted to do was talk. Rave was in no mood for conversation, he remained silent as Davis rambled on.
"You know I've never been in Esthar before. I mean it's so hard to travel here by boat."
Rave just kept walking.
"Hey Rave, do you think we can hang around town for awhile? Who knows when I'll get the chance to be in Esthar again?"
Rave simply nodded, he had no where to go, and Davis was right 'who does know' where your going to end up next.
They went all around the city, they went to all the shops, they saw all the sights, and when they were done they rolled into the Esthar hotel, free of charge courtesy of the President.
Davis wanted to stay at the presidential palace again, but Rave immediately shut down that idea. He had already said goodbye to Kriye and Ceila, he didn't think he could do it again.
That night the two young men snuggled into their hotel beds. Rave could feel the gentle blanket of sleep starting to pull over him when Davis out from the blissful silence asked him.
"You're really going to Miss Kriye and Ceila aren't you?"
The question was so out of the blue that Rave couldn't even react to it.
"You know Rave I saw the way you always looked at Kriye," Davis went on "You should have told her."
"Told her what?!" Rave snapped.
"How you felt," Davis replied calmly "I know you wanted to."
"Who the hell do you think you are?! Hell who do you think I am? She's Kriye 'Leonhart' and I'm"-
"Rave Almansy," Davis finished "I know that, and frankly I don't see the difference."
After that Davis didn't say another word. What did Davis know anyways? Yeah he was going to miss Kriye, but he was going to miss Ceila just the same. To hell with what Davis thought Rave decided burying his face back into his pillow.
Eventually Rave did go to sleep that night, but it wasn't the warm, comfortable sleep that it started out to be.
The next morning they got up early, and Rave was ready to leave the 'beautiful' city of Esthar.
Davis was signing them out of the hotel and Rave was standing beside him. Dozens of people walked in and out of the hotel as they stood there, but only two caught Rave's eye.
They were two men, dressed in nice suits. Their eyes were grey and void of any emotion at all. Even as they walked briskly past him Rave could feel a coldness crawl down his spine.
Davis finished up at the front desk, and as they started to leave the hotel they walked pass the two men in suits. The two were diverged in conversation, and Rave was only able to catch three words as they walked by, but they were enough to make his heart stop dead.
"They got her."
Rave turned hostilely to Davis, who only stared at him blankly.
"What's wrong?" Davis asked.
"We gotta get back!" He whispered firmly.
"Back where?" Davis asked confused.
"Back to the palace."
Before Davis could ask anything else Rave broke into a run, he could here his comrade following. Rave's whole body was hurting with fright; he hoped to the guardians that his feeling was wrong. He didn't care how much of an idiot he would look like if she was there, he just hoped she was.
It didn't take long for the boys to arrive at the palace. There wasn't even a guard waiting outside. The two of them walked right into the palace and from there into the transporter.
In less then seconds the transporter took them into the president's office. As soon as they got there Rave's fears were confirmed.
Hoards of people where in the office, soldiers, reporters, you name it they were there.
Rave spotted Ceila talking to two adults; from the looks of them he assumed that they were her parents. As soon as she spotted him she broke away from the adults and ran over to him.
Her splotched tear face showed no surprise to him being there. Instead she wrapped him in a tight hug and through her sobbing said to him.
"They.they took her."
Rave held onto her and told her firmly "We'll get her back."
Ceila nodded and started to back away slowly "Your right." She said wiping her tears "I know we will."
President Loire and the good soldiers of Esthar seemed to have the same mentality also, however for Rave that wasn't enough. He couldn't stand sitting while people he didn't know searched for Kriye. Neither could Ceila or Davis.
So on only the second night of Kriye's disappearance Ceila, Davis and Rave snuck out of the palace and started a search of their own search.
* * *
It was the single most scariest experience that Kriye had ever gone through.
She was lying peacefully in her bed when soldiers all dressed in black infiltrated her room. At first Kriye thought it was some dream, that thought quickly popped as she felt the pain of being manhandled and shoved into a large aircraft. No dream could be that painful.
Kriye was drugged on the aircraft, and she didn't remember another thing until she awoke on a flat, white work table. Her arms, legs and neck were all strapped to the table. The only thing that she could see was the grey tiled ceiling that was lined across the room.
The time that passed since Kriye had arrived at the godforsaken laboratory she wasn't sure of. Long or short, it didn't matter, time had become irrelevant.
The only things she measured were when the doctors and scientist came in to perform test on her. The pain that each experiment inflicted was very memorable.
In-between the experiments Kriye found herself thinking a lot. Not just about the experiments that where being done to her, but about everything.
She thought about her parents, she hoped that her father was alright, and that her mother wasn't worrying too much. Kriye missed her mom and dad. She wished the last words she spoke to them hadn't been a lie.
Her mind also wondered over to aunt Ellone and Grandpa Laguna. They be so worried, and worse then that she knew they feel horrible that Kriye was taken from right under their noses. She wish she could tell them not to feel guilty, because Kriye knew they would be.
Kriye thought about her friends probably the most. She thought about Davis, who had just recently entered her life, she thought about Ceila who had been her best friend throughout most of her life. Kriye appreciated Ceila more then she probably would ever know. Mostly though, despite her efforts, Kriye thought about Rave.
He was probably somewhere in FH without a clue to what the hell she was going through, but still she thought of him.
Rave had come into her life forcibly. He hadn't even been part of her life for long, but nonetheless, he was defiantly apart of it now.
Kriye wished she could figure out what exactly it was that she felt for Rave. She wish she could say it was a crush, but she had crushes before and this wasn't that. Kriye thought it might be a deep friendship, like what she had with Ceila, but still the feelings were different. The only option left was love, but really that wasn't an option at all. She didn't care what her parents thought; seventeen year olds don't fall in love.
Whatever the feeling was it didn't matter anymore. Rave was gone, forever out of her life, and that was the bottom line.
One day, right after the scientist were finished extracting more blood samples, Kriye found herself once again thinking about Rave.
It was almost like a dream state. He was right before her, his mouth was moving, but no words were coming out. He looked frantic, as if he was in a big hurry. He was yelling out to someone, and before Kriye could believe it Ceila and Davis were now standing over her too. They were all trying to unfasten her straps.
Suddenly the dream state ended, and hectic noise started to fill the seen around.
"Kriye, are you alright?! Please talk to me!" Ceila's desperate voice cried.
"Ahh," Kriye moaned in the only response she could give her friend.
She watched as Ceila threw a worried look over at Rave. Without a word Rave continued to undo the last of her straps.
When she was at last free Ceila and Davis each took one of her arms and started to guide her through the laboratory and into a hallway lit by sirens and flashing lights.
Kriye could hardly stay awake, even with the chaoticness that was around her. She remembered being dragged along by Ceila and Davis, while Rave stood in front of them, his gunblade out and ready to attack anyone who approached.
Somehow the four of them reached Davis' boat. Kriye couldn't stay awake any longer. The last thing she remembered was sitting in the back and falling asleep on Rave's shoulders.
AUTHORS NOTE: Thanks to all reading this story. As always I hope all it well.
Bright Lights
The next morning was surreal. Rave got up with an unusual knot in his chest. It was extremely painful even though it didn't hurt a bit.
Getting dressed quickly in the visitors room that was assigned to him Rave wasted no time in getting into the President's office, where they all agreed to meet that morning.
Rave was surprised that he was the last one to arrive to the lavish office. When he got there Davis was in enthusiastic conversation with president Laguna, Ceila was wrapped in a conversation with Ellone and Kriye was sitting alone in the corner. Rave couldn't quite make himself meet eyes with her.
Once everyone noticed his entrance they stopped what they were doing and turned to him.
"Well if it isn't Mr. Sleepy Mc Sleepikins," Davis teased.
"I thought I be one of the first ones up," Rave told everyone sheepishly.
He heard President Laguna chuckle "Something's will never change with teenagers will they?"
Rave simply nodded, still trying desperately not to look at Kriye.
Despite Rave's dreary mood he tried desperately to listen as the President began to speak to the group.
"You guys should be proud of yourselves. You uncovered information that paid professionals would die to get their hands on. That's very impression, and believe me when I say you've been a great help, not only to the Leonharts," he pointed over to Kriye "But to the people of every nation, you have Esthar's gratitude."
They were nice words, but they meant absolutely jack-shit to Rave. He didn't 'do' anything. He just stumbled across things that turned out bigger then he imagined.
Esthar didn't owe him anything, and the Leonharts especially didn't.
After President Laguna told them they were welcomed back to Esthar at any time, he and Ellone left the room so the four of them could say their goodbyes.
It was awkward at first. Truly they hardly knew each other, but their little adventure together made Rave feel like he knew these girls his whole life.
Davis' goodbyes were quick; he had only joined them shortly ago. When it was Rave's turn, however, he felt like there was everything to say, but not a single word to say it with.
"You take care of yourself," Ceila said igniting the farewell "Try to be on your best behavior. I don't want to read any headlines about two idiots who tried to take on the whole Galbadian army."
Rave forced a laugh. "I'll try."
Ceila gave him a kiss on the cheek. Smiling at her Rave next turned Kriye.
The pain in his chest that he felt when he woke up this morning increased ten-fold as he stood before her.
Like the night before he wanted to say something meaningful to Kriye, something more then just 'goodbye.' But just like the night before the words seemed to be stuck somewhere between his stomach and his throat. Unable to get out what he wanted to say Rave had to settle with another cliché goodbye.
"You take care," he told her.
"You too," Kriye replied barely looking at him.
That was it. He probably never see her again and all he could say was 'take care.'
The two of them continued to stare around the office, neither daring to look at each other and neither daring to move.
It wasn't until Davis cleared his throat at the doorway that the two of them stirred. Giving Kriye a half-hearted smile he turned around. Rave joined Davis at the doorway and after a quick wave to Ceila they left the President's office, and two of the greatest people that Rave had ever met.
On the way back to Davis' boat all the young sailor wanted to do was talk. Rave was in no mood for conversation, he remained silent as Davis rambled on.
"You know I've never been in Esthar before. I mean it's so hard to travel here by boat."
Rave just kept walking.
"Hey Rave, do you think we can hang around town for awhile? Who knows when I'll get the chance to be in Esthar again?"
Rave simply nodded, he had no where to go, and Davis was right 'who does know' where your going to end up next.
They went all around the city, they went to all the shops, they saw all the sights, and when they were done they rolled into the Esthar hotel, free of charge courtesy of the President.
Davis wanted to stay at the presidential palace again, but Rave immediately shut down that idea. He had already said goodbye to Kriye and Ceila, he didn't think he could do it again.
That night the two young men snuggled into their hotel beds. Rave could feel the gentle blanket of sleep starting to pull over him when Davis out from the blissful silence asked him.
"You're really going to Miss Kriye and Ceila aren't you?"
The question was so out of the blue that Rave couldn't even react to it.
"You know Rave I saw the way you always looked at Kriye," Davis went on "You should have told her."
"Told her what?!" Rave snapped.
"How you felt," Davis replied calmly "I know you wanted to."
"Who the hell do you think you are?! Hell who do you think I am? She's Kriye 'Leonhart' and I'm"-
"Rave Almansy," Davis finished "I know that, and frankly I don't see the difference."
After that Davis didn't say another word. What did Davis know anyways? Yeah he was going to miss Kriye, but he was going to miss Ceila just the same. To hell with what Davis thought Rave decided burying his face back into his pillow.
Eventually Rave did go to sleep that night, but it wasn't the warm, comfortable sleep that it started out to be.
The next morning they got up early, and Rave was ready to leave the 'beautiful' city of Esthar.
Davis was signing them out of the hotel and Rave was standing beside him. Dozens of people walked in and out of the hotel as they stood there, but only two caught Rave's eye.
They were two men, dressed in nice suits. Their eyes were grey and void of any emotion at all. Even as they walked briskly past him Rave could feel a coldness crawl down his spine.
Davis finished up at the front desk, and as they started to leave the hotel they walked pass the two men in suits. The two were diverged in conversation, and Rave was only able to catch three words as they walked by, but they were enough to make his heart stop dead.
"They got her."
Rave turned hostilely to Davis, who only stared at him blankly.
"What's wrong?" Davis asked.
"We gotta get back!" He whispered firmly.
"Back where?" Davis asked confused.
"Back to the palace."
Before Davis could ask anything else Rave broke into a run, he could here his comrade following. Rave's whole body was hurting with fright; he hoped to the guardians that his feeling was wrong. He didn't care how much of an idiot he would look like if she was there, he just hoped she was.
It didn't take long for the boys to arrive at the palace. There wasn't even a guard waiting outside. The two of them walked right into the palace and from there into the transporter.
In less then seconds the transporter took them into the president's office. As soon as they got there Rave's fears were confirmed.
Hoards of people where in the office, soldiers, reporters, you name it they were there.
Rave spotted Ceila talking to two adults; from the looks of them he assumed that they were her parents. As soon as she spotted him she broke away from the adults and ran over to him.
Her splotched tear face showed no surprise to him being there. Instead she wrapped him in a tight hug and through her sobbing said to him.
"They.they took her."
Rave held onto her and told her firmly "We'll get her back."
Ceila nodded and started to back away slowly "Your right." She said wiping her tears "I know we will."
President Loire and the good soldiers of Esthar seemed to have the same mentality also, however for Rave that wasn't enough. He couldn't stand sitting while people he didn't know searched for Kriye. Neither could Ceila or Davis.
So on only the second night of Kriye's disappearance Ceila, Davis and Rave snuck out of the palace and started a search of their own search.
* * *
It was the single most scariest experience that Kriye had ever gone through.
She was lying peacefully in her bed when soldiers all dressed in black infiltrated her room. At first Kriye thought it was some dream, that thought quickly popped as she felt the pain of being manhandled and shoved into a large aircraft. No dream could be that painful.
Kriye was drugged on the aircraft, and she didn't remember another thing until she awoke on a flat, white work table. Her arms, legs and neck were all strapped to the table. The only thing that she could see was the grey tiled ceiling that was lined across the room.
The time that passed since Kriye had arrived at the godforsaken laboratory she wasn't sure of. Long or short, it didn't matter, time had become irrelevant.
The only things she measured were when the doctors and scientist came in to perform test on her. The pain that each experiment inflicted was very memorable.
In-between the experiments Kriye found herself thinking a lot. Not just about the experiments that where being done to her, but about everything.
She thought about her parents, she hoped that her father was alright, and that her mother wasn't worrying too much. Kriye missed her mom and dad. She wished the last words she spoke to them hadn't been a lie.
Her mind also wondered over to aunt Ellone and Grandpa Laguna. They be so worried, and worse then that she knew they feel horrible that Kriye was taken from right under their noses. She wish she could tell them not to feel guilty, because Kriye knew they would be.
Kriye thought about her friends probably the most. She thought about Davis, who had just recently entered her life, she thought about Ceila who had been her best friend throughout most of her life. Kriye appreciated Ceila more then she probably would ever know. Mostly though, despite her efforts, Kriye thought about Rave.
He was probably somewhere in FH without a clue to what the hell she was going through, but still she thought of him.
Rave had come into her life forcibly. He hadn't even been part of her life for long, but nonetheless, he was defiantly apart of it now.
Kriye wished she could figure out what exactly it was that she felt for Rave. She wish she could say it was a crush, but she had crushes before and this wasn't that. Kriye thought it might be a deep friendship, like what she had with Ceila, but still the feelings were different. The only option left was love, but really that wasn't an option at all. She didn't care what her parents thought; seventeen year olds don't fall in love.
Whatever the feeling was it didn't matter anymore. Rave was gone, forever out of her life, and that was the bottom line.
One day, right after the scientist were finished extracting more blood samples, Kriye found herself once again thinking about Rave.
It was almost like a dream state. He was right before her, his mouth was moving, but no words were coming out. He looked frantic, as if he was in a big hurry. He was yelling out to someone, and before Kriye could believe it Ceila and Davis were now standing over her too. They were all trying to unfasten her straps.
Suddenly the dream state ended, and hectic noise started to fill the seen around.
"Kriye, are you alright?! Please talk to me!" Ceila's desperate voice cried.
"Ahh," Kriye moaned in the only response she could give her friend.
She watched as Ceila threw a worried look over at Rave. Without a word Rave continued to undo the last of her straps.
When she was at last free Ceila and Davis each took one of her arms and started to guide her through the laboratory and into a hallway lit by sirens and flashing lights.
Kriye could hardly stay awake, even with the chaoticness that was around her. She remembered being dragged along by Ceila and Davis, while Rave stood in front of them, his gunblade out and ready to attack anyone who approached.
Somehow the four of them reached Davis' boat. Kriye couldn't stay awake any longer. The last thing she remembered was sitting in the back and falling asleep on Rave's shoulders.
AUTHORS NOTE: Thanks to all reading this story. As always I hope all it well.