Selphie Kinneas
Roses
The Fugitive's Rose
Chapter Nine- The Scheme Unveiled
Selphie opened her eyes to a place endless light. She sat straight and found herself in a gazebo perched high on a mountaintop with long acres of rich luscious green and floras. Swans and golden chocobos ran free lapping up the clear rivers. The gazebo itself had marble columns and thin laces of white satin covering the openings. Her bed was fluffy with large cream pillows that formed every inch of her body.
"How're you feeling Selphie?" The voice could only belong to one person. Selphie turned to him quickly; there stood Irvine with a fresh set of clean clothing and his hair trimmed. He advanced slowly to Selphie and patted her head.
"Where am I Irvine?" She asked as her voice traveled and echoed along the mountain walls.
"Your conscious. A peaceful haven." He replied with a thin smile.
"… I'm dreaming then? You're not here?" She whimpered softly.
"I'm sorry Sefie," Irvine held her head close as he caressed her gently. "Your safe now, just relax."
No, how was it possible she could relax? Irvine in reality had left her and once again the world had abandoned her. What worse? The Esther soldiers whom she believed were her allies had ambushed her. Where was she now? Her peaceful asylum slowly turned into an empty terrain with dead corpses and her gazebo transformed into a large boulder.
"What's happening?" She asked in fright as vultures and Marlboros slowly covered the land.
"Your mind was in peace, now it's not." Irvine explained as he too returned to his former fugitive appearance.
"Make it stop Irvy! I don't want it to be horrible here too!" Her tears touched the ground as once again the scene dissolved and she was at the Balamb beach lying on the cool sand in her Garden Festival dress and Irvine in his formal entire.
"What made this happen?" She asked amazed on the detailed surrounding.
"You don't remember that night? When we came here you were so happy, I guess you made yourself think of a happy place so the barren land would go away."
Selphie sat herself near Irvine and closed her eyes. She could wait to find out what was occurring in reality. Now she was at tranquility. Why ruin the great sentiment?
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"Achhh!" Seifer retch as he sat straight on his thin mattress. He rubbed his temples to find Quistis and Squall in the same room. "Damn… what happened?" He moaned.
"Turns out you ate sleep weed with sleeping powder. You've been out three days." Squall answered.
"Three days??? What happened? Is chicken wuss still dead asleep?"
Quistis quietly neared him. "He woke two days ago, but still any 'sleep' type foods or anything edible have horrible aftermaths if over dosed. Apparently you shouldn't have more than a tiny little bite of sleep weed at a time. He's terribly ill. And you most likely will be too. You ate even more than he did!"
"And that dog?"
"Dogs have incredible immune systems, Angelo simply slept a few hours and woke without any problem." Quistis face immediately turned. "You stupid, stupid person! Eating sleep weed!" Her hands flew hitting him lightly over his shoulders and whatnot.
"Hey!" He shouted as he began to retreat.
"Helloooooo!"
Squall, Quistis, and Seifer turned their head to the doorway of the dorm. Rinoa stood there with Zell who seemed out of color and irritable.
"How's Selphie?" Squall asked as she drew inside deeper.
"Okay, she'll be dead to the world for another week." She replied disappointedly. Zell collapsed into the nearest chair avoiding eye-contact with everyone.
"She got real pale… kinda like a ghost. She alive though." He mumbled.
"Selphie? That little skippy girl is down too?" Seifer asked in bewilderment, "What else happened?"
"We're not sure on the details, but the whole world now knows Irvine Kinneas has been caught." Quistis said as she drew a deep breath.
"As far as the Media is concerned the SeeDs lazily did not help. We know they used Selphie, but all they claimed was that they cornered him and Irvine's temporary retirement slowed his pace. He's now in the custody of Esther, in a prison 150 feet underground." Rinoa downheartedly muttered.
"Well, are we going to sit here or shall we see how Selphie is?" Quistis stood straight and stomped out. Slowly the rest followed.
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Soundly in the infirmary lying on the cot was Selphie. Her face was white and she was motionless in Asian sleep. The other five friends circled around her.
"So what do you think she'll do when she finds out?" Zell asked curiously.
"I don't want to know…" Squall moaned trying to imagine her heartbreak.
"What do you think you're doing here?" Dr. Kadowaski shrilled as she entered. She held her finger to Seifer. "Go eat! Go sleep! Now! You're lucky all you got is what you have! If you don't rest up you'll be in worse condition than the little missy! Now off with you! Go straight to sleep!"
Quistis led Seifer out and Zell half-heartedly followed. He too was in deep sickness and needed to rest.
"Doctor," Rinoa sounded as Dr. Kadowaski made her leave.
"Yes Ms. Caraway?" She replied.
"Is she going to be okay?"
The plump women inhaled deeply, "Ms. Caraway, there is only so much medicine can do. By the looks of Ms. Tilmitt's behavior depression will be her worse illness. She'll be fine if you're concerned about the sleepy juice. It could have been fatal yes but I fear the aftermath's effects will be multiplied by the despair she puts herself through. I don't really know how the end will. But if she stays stress free, I assure you she'll be alright."
Squall and Rinoa left in the following minutes. "Something isn't right." Rinoa mumbled to herself.
"What isn't right?" Squall asked in boredom, "That Irvine is in jail, yeah I'll say that isn't right. He's never been caught before. Kinda hard to imagine how he's doing now."
"Everything! How Selphie drank sleepy juice and our food was infested with stuff like that! How Selphie was used to make Irvine surrender! How the media is hiding the truth! SOMEONE PLANNED IT!"
"Nah!" Squall gasped sarcastically. "Of course it was planned! It was Esther's mission."
"That's not my point. It's illegal to take someone who is unwilling to sacrifice their life and put them in a position like that. I think Esther decided to use illegal actions from the beginning! I don't have enough proof, but I will!" Rinoa shrilled.
"Why do I have the feeling I'm going to be dragged into this?" Squall moaned as Rinoa pulled his arm down the hall.
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Chains rustled as Irvine moved his arm slightly. For the first time in his life he experienced what every member the G-Aero had once and awhile. Imprisoned behind bars. The cell he sat in was a small four by four square. Outside there were three soldiers for every yard.
It wasn't as bad as the life he lived, at least he wasn't being beaten, yet. It was rather annoying though, if he needed to eat six men would cover the doorway as one tossed in the indigestible gruel they claimed was 'food'. If he need to go to the restroom, you can only imagine the uncomforting experience.
He rested his head on his knees. How weak he felt being chained from wrist to toe in heavy iron clad links. He sat on a jagged cement floor as pieces of earth of water fell on him. How is Selphie? How was the girl he gave his life for at the moment? Was it truly her who was being threatened? He couldn't take that chance, there was only one Selphie and in a single second he could have lost her forever. Then again he could consider himself gone anyways, either he'd become leper in the lightless chamber or he be sentenced to death. Neither sounded very appealing but this is what you get after living a full life of crime.
How was everyone reacting to his capture? Were they cheering or did they just not care? Whatever it was, he wouldn't ever need to worry about it. This was his eternity. Hell as child, hell as an adult, and then hell in the afterlife.
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"I don't see what looking at her clothes will do." Squall yawned as he sat on Selphie's bed. Rinoa sat on the dorm's floor studying the SeeD suit that Selphie had outfitted herself with for the majority of the trip.
"Maybe there is a clue on it someplace." Rinoa muttered though her eyes didn't leave the black cloth. "AHA!" Rinoa grabbed a pair of scissors and cut a fraction of the shoulder piece of the suit and brought to Squall. "Look at that!" She jeered.
Squall observed the piece, on it as a small grayish black microchip that was small enough not to be noticed and tightly clung to the cloth so that it wouldn't fall off. "What is it?" He asked dully.
Rinoa scowled, "Wouldn't you know? It's Esther equipment!"
"No I wouldn't, Esther has high-tech stuff. I wouldn't know what all the spy ware does."
"Spy ware?!" Rinoa gasped, "how do you know it's spy ware?"
"Rin… I lived as the president's son for 10 years. I'm not THAT stupid. When I started dating someone put that on me."
"DATING!?"
Rinoa screamed, (she had been engaged to him since she turned five). She ignored a large clue Squall had just revealed and put her hands around his neck. "I HAVEN'T DATED ANYONE! AND YOU WERE OUT HAVING FUN WHILE I PLAYED CARDS AT HOME WHEN I WAS INVITED TO A DOUBLE DATE?!"
"If… y-you put… i-t th-that… w-way." Squall managed to utter. Rinoa replayed his exact words in her mind and let loose of Squall as he gasped to regain breath.
"Why? Is it an eavesdropper?" She interrogated harshly.
"I don't (breath) so. It's just hard as hell to get off. I probably have twenty or so that I plucked off me."
"Spy… they were spying on Selphie. But how they heck did they get it on her?" Rinoa told herself.
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"Selphie…"
A male gently awoke the living conscious form of Selphie Tilmitt. "Hmm?" She mumbled as she tossed a blanket over her head.
"Wake up, it's Christmas."
Selphie's pupils shot open as she came face-to-face with Elliot Tilmitt, her father. She threw a quick gave at the mirror behind him, her appearance her body were all six years old! She thrust her arms around her father's neck and allowed him to carry her down a small hall into a large room with the glittering Christmas and a pile of presents underneath.
Selphie quite clearly remembered how much she loved her father at this age, a busy man but always managed to give an hour for her. As Selphie observed the twinkling tree and slender lady with soft brown curls and gorgeous dark blue eyes proceeded to come near her with a tray of fresh baked cookies. Selphie set eyes on her mother whom she lost long ago, tears welled as the figure held her gently.
"Merry Christmas Rose." She whispered in her ear Selphie eyed a large bright red rose bouquet leaning against a tree with a shiny card that addressed to "Vinassa Tilmitt."
Vinassa turned her attention to where Selphie was looking. "Oh…" She sighed, "Selphie? Would you like a rose?" She smiled sweetly as she carefully drew a velvet bud and stem and carried it to Selphie.
Mother… I haven't forgotten what you looked like. What you sound like, or anything. But. In the peaceful illusion no aroma was to be found. The sweet perfume Vinassa always wore, the warmth or scent of the sugar cookies, memories she would and could never revive.
Tears streamed down young Selphie's face as her body matured and the illusion dissolved into a bleak gray funeral. She laid in a black skirt and silky top with a small coat on the wet grass looking at the nightmare she faced at age thirteen. The loss of her only mother.
The umbrella she was equipped with kept her slightly dry for she allowed her clothing to be drenched in the moistened grass. In the distance was an oak coffin decked with flowers that wilted in the colorless atmosphere. Her father who was surrounded by many other men shook hands and paced around unsurely. The night after he told Selphie the news, she remembered how much he wept in the privacy of his room.
This was unbearable, the only memory in her existence that would never leave her. Every detail was mentioned, how cold she felt and the wound that couldn't be healed. She no longer wanted to revisit memories, she wanted to awaken, return to reality. No longer did she wish to dwell the painful and cheerful moments of the past!
WAKE UP SELPHIE! YOU HAVE TO!
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The next day
"KNOCK!"
Squall rolled over on his bed and stuffed a pillow to cover the loud noise form ruining the light sleep that he had. "KNOCK! KNOCK KNOCK! BANG!!"
A pillow was shot at the wooden frame as Squall flung over on his side. "Leave me alone Rinoa!!!" He grumbled angrily.
"Rinoa? Who the hell you calling Rinoa? This is Zell. Open up you sucker!"
"HELL NO! Rin hasn't let me sleep all night! Till my class starts, LEAVE ME ALONE!"
"Tch, fine. I guess you don't care that Rinoa is in the infirmary-" With that Zell paused and heard a tumble, clatter and Squall appearing at the door in his boxers panting.
"What?!"
Zell smiled grimly, "Yep she's in there now checkin' on Selph." Squall's worried appearance faded as he grasped Zell's collar.
"Don't… EVER JOKE LIKE THAT AGAIN!"
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Rinoa held Selphie's limp and lifeless hand as she silently prayed. "You said she'd get better!" She sobbed softly. Dr. Kadowaski massaged her temples.
"I don't understand either Ms. Caraway." She replied hopelessly. Selphie on the soft mattress laid in coma unaware of how frightened everyone was about her. In her mind she most likely was stirring another illusion and the sleepy juice had somehow multiplied its effects and Selphie may as well be claim dead for she had little chance of ever awakening.
Selphie! NO! I'll prove to the people what Esther has done! What horrible crime they committed! Please wake up though! Please!
The electronic doors burst open as Squall messily dressed and Zell came inside. Rinoa wiped her tears and gravely stepped out of the veiled patient's area and faced Squall. Her lips slowly opened but no words came. She fell into Squall's arms and entered the world of the unconscious.
"Rinoa!" He shouted as she lifted her. Dr. Kadowaski fetched water and slowly dripped water droplets on the pale face. The auburn pupils leisurely opened as Rinoa spoke so lightly she sounded inaudible.
"See…? L-look what they've done to my friend…" her eyes shut yet again. Dr. Kadowaski patted Squall reassuringly.
"Don't worry, she's just exhausted. She's been here since the crack of dawn, I don't know if she slept at all. Be a kind lad Squall and take her to her dorm to rest."
oooo
Blank……
The room was blank, white walls, white floors, and white path that lead to even more sallow.
I don't like this… I don't like it at all. Selphie paced the cream forsaken place of mind. "Hello!" She called. Her voice traveled and echoed far and narrowly through the wall-less area. "SELPHIE!" The brunette turned to where she believed the voice was being produced.
"SELPHIE!"
"SELPHIE!"
"SELPHIE!"
She spun madly around confused until, plop. She pummeled to the ground crying. "Why… can't I wake up?" She whimpered.
"Selphie."
Who are you? She asked herself silently surprised to receive a reply. "I'm Siren" it said softly. Selphie blinked as she sat straight. The angle with the luscious music and the glittering harp stood before her with her golden wings spread amongst her.
"You're a G.F." Selphie gasped just noticing, she hadn't used one in quite some time, but they were still functioned nonetheless.
"Does that make me unequal to a mere human like you? Tis true I'm trapped here just as you are, but I posses powers which earn me respect that you may never contain." The soft echoing voice whispered.
"I never said that… I'm so confused. I want to get out of here." Selphie replied childishly.
"Tis always about you? What of I? Trapped in weak minds of those unable to protect themselves, I've been pressed from one mind to the other. You spend a matter of days in a mind and you go insane." Siren snapped.
"What do you want? Do you just intend to make fun of helpless me all day? If so I'll save you the trouble. I'M WEAK!"
Siren shook her head allowing glitter to shower her surroundings. "I know the only way of freedom from this cursed prison…"
"Then how come you're still here?" Selphie questioned out of curiosity.
"One strong human… so strong he was. I respected him since he showed me great mercy. After failing to win a battle he showed me kindness and didn't treat me as property, but as a partner. After he passed away my soul was never freed. It simply traveled from place to place. If for a moment, I wasn't inside a mind, but allowed freedom… I would never return to the solitude of the human mentality. Far too dull for creature such as I."
The boastful talks began to aggravate Selphie. Suddenly an idea hit her, "I'll give you freedom! Just tell me, how do I get out of this… this imprisonment?!"
The Siren gave a kind smile, "How do I know you'll keep your word?" Selphie pounded her chest as tears brimmed her eyeballs.
"I swear… take my life from the inside out if I don't keep my promise."
"I'll hold you to it,"
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"(Gasps)" Selphie's eyes shot open, as she lay awake on the infirmary bed. Her head was spinning and she was cold all over.
"Hyne have mercy! You're awake! It hasn't even been a week!" Shrilled the familiar voice of Dr. Kadowaski. She rushed in and felt Selphie's numb hands. Motionless and limp, Selphie felt no difference from being unconscious.
Hours later after Doctor Kadowaski had worked her magic with medicines and a touch of energy bars Selphie was carefully set back to sleep, her body's immune system could only handle so much. At least one accomplishment had been made, Selphie's condition had weakened and she'd be awake again tomorrow.
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Rinoa rolled over to her messy dorm busy with books studying spy ware and Esther. She sat herself up and stretched her refreshed arms. After the ephemeral wariness passed she knelt by her work and studied carefully. New notes that weren't written by her were scribbled on many sheets of paper. Rinoa took them into her mind carefully.
TPC, tracking personnel chip. A small usually unnoticeable microchip placed gently on a person or item. The chip is very difficult to remove, and is seldom taken off by anything other than the Caplater (official remover for majority spy ware chips). The chip is very simple to put on, slightly touch any surface with it's tentacles grasp on.
The latest design is smaller than thimble and is usually attracted to cloth or other soft material. It is strong enough to hold on for many months and withstand all weather conditions. It also is able to hold shape even after placing 500 pound on it. The material by which the chip is made is unknown to everyone exempt authorized personnel of Esther government and the inventor Dr. Odine.
New inventions and updating are being made each day. –Squall Loire
Rinoa smiled, thanks Squall. She rubbed her head and stacked the papers neatly into one pile and stepped out of the room. The Loire himself located himself before her with a grim smirk.
"How long have I been asleep?" Rinoa murmured as a grimace touch her wry lips.
"A day…" Squall began.
No more was said, for Rinoa's overdue assignment's excitement received the best of her as she shrilled up and down. There was no room to say Selphie had well recovered. (Our little secret)
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Will you keep thou's promise?
You obviously trust me, I woke up. Why did I go back to sleep, Siren?
A body of the mere human is weak, but the potions of creatures from Hyne have magic to place you in an inability to restore by mere escaping.
Come again?
You drank sleepy juice no?
………Yeah.
But do you recall being lost in your mind right now? You're in normal sleep. You'll soon as your body regains strength.
Oh…Siren, what are G.Fs?
Perhaps I shall tell you, but if you ever intend to wake and free me, you must rest. Soon mistress.
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"I GOT IT SQUALL! LISTEN!" Rinoa scrambled Squall with her discovery. She poked her head around, and then softly muttered her theory.
"What Rin? You're causing attention." Squall hissed watching the others in the library stare awkwardly at the two.
"Squall, do you remember? When the president he came to wish us luck, we ut his hand on Selphie. According to your research and mine, a single touch is enough to stick the chip. Esther knew for a fact Selphie would find Irvine, but not report him. They used a tracking device to find her, I guess they figured out Irvine was too quick but he was slowed cause of Selphie.
"Since Irvine was on the run, he wouldn't give up without a fight. So they used the tracking device again and put the Sleepy juice in her. They planned to use illegal actions from the very beginning! And us, they knew we wouldn't tolerate what they were doing so they tried putting us to sleep. Injustice!"
Squall smiled weakly and gave a inaudible applause for Rinoa's accomplishment. "Good Rinoa, now what can we do?"
Rinoa winced grimly, "I have a certain idea."
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