This chapter is dedicated to Almasy Angel. Thank you for being so supportive of my work. I hope you enjoy it! I won't make extensive excuses for my long absence. Let's just say that the last few months have been some of the worst in my life, and it's been really difficult to cope with everything and still have creative energies left over. However, this chapter is long overdue. I originally planned for it to be much longer, but I am trying to ease myself back into writing, so I apologize if it's not up to my usual standard. For all you Seifer lovers out there, (including me), he should rejoin the action full force in the next chapter. Give you something to look forward to. Ah Seifer, sigh drool Ok, enough rambling… Enjoy this chapter. Thanks for everyone who has read my story and took the time to review it even after I stopped updating for a while. Special thanks goes out to Silentprophet.

Chapter 25

Rinoa was confused. The light blue walls, small yet cozy bed, and a private bathroom could not feel less like a musty old basement, or a windowless, cold cellar she imagined she would be kept in since being kidnapped from her father's house. In fact, the only indication that she wasn't simply resting in someone's guest bedroom was the noticeably locked door and the tightly drawn curtains that gave the otherwise pleasant room an ominous feel. Yet Rinoa wasn't simply resting—one of her wrists remained firmly handcuffed to the wooden frame of her bed. On the nightstand beside her, she observed something that reminded her of a baby monitor but with an extra red button that was placed next to a speaker. Next to the strange device lay a small note written in black ink. Summoning her strength, Rinoa tried to sit up and immediately sank back down onto the soft pillow. The room swam before her eyes and she felt a distinct urge to throw up. Breathing heavily, she opened and closed her eyes—the sensation had stopped yet she still felt too weak to move. Forcing herself to ignore the incessant buzzing inside her head, Rinoa tried to piece together the jumbled excerpts of the events that took place earlier that day. Or was it earlier that day? How long has she been out for? A day? A week? She vaguely remembered confronting a man…What did they argue about? Rinoa massaged her temple with her free hand. If only I could think clearly! Ok Rinoa, focus! What is the last thing you remember? Confronting a man I've never seen before… a struggle… then dark… all dark… Frustrated with all the unanswered questions going through her throbbing head, Rinoa once again made an attempt to sit up and reach for the note she had spotted earlier. Yess… Her head fell listlessly back onto the pillow as the buzzing intensified. She raised the note to her eyes and gasped. It was as if she were looking at the letters through water-streaked glass. She looked around the room—it looked unpleasantly fuzzy. Suddenly, she felt another wave of sickness and barely had enough time to move her hair out of the way before vomiting some pale yellow liquid onto the hardwood floor beneath her. She raised her head just in time to hear a key turning in the lock and see a young man walk into the room. He had short light bronze colored hair and very distinct green eyes. It couldn't be…

"Seifer?" The stranger winced as if reminded of something unpleasant.

"No, sweetheart. That drug must've been more powerful than I thought. I just meant for it to knock you out for your journey here. I must've given you too high a dose… Don't worry though. You will feel better in a few hours," he continued pleasantly.

Rinoa swallowed and summoned enough strength to attempt to sit up. This time her head was still spinning, but at least she wasn't overcome with nausea.

"Who are you?" she whispered slowly as if each word caused her extreme physical anguish.

"You don't remember? Yeah, that can be one of the side effects of the Centra root, especially if taken undiluted." His eyes moved from her pale face and sunken eyes to the small puddle of vomit on the floor. Sighing, he went into the bathroom and extracted a small rag that he wet with some water from the sink.

"There, that's better," he said wiping the floor, careful not to get any sick onto his hands. Just think, if it wasn't for the monitor over there," he said pointing to the strange device, "you'd still have to be smelling this. Oh, and by the way, if you need me at any time, press the red button." He turned and carefully studied her face. "Ya know, you are not the first one to tell me I look like Seifer Almasy…" He broke off abruptly as if he realized that he was saying too much.

"No?" she said simply. Even through the fog in her brain, Rinoa found the statement unsettling, but she decided not to pursue it further just yet. Her head was killing her, and she needed answers.

"Why am I here?" she asked at last.

"Because your father has sent some people who are very important to me to their deaths, and I am hoping that I might be able to get them back if I trade you for their safety and immediate release." He sounded very sincere like a man who had nothing to hide.

Rinoa remained silent, her tired brain trying to process the new information. Kona, his name is Kona!

"You're Kona," she finally managed as if asking for confirmation.

"Yes, that's right. It's all beginning to come back to you," he responded with a small but mirthless smile. "Here, I know…" he continued, crossing the room once again and extracting a small bottle of water from the mini refrigerator. "Drink this. Water should help. Centra root is used to make that highly narcotic substance often used for raves. I had to give it to you undiluted though to make sure you didn't wake up before we got here. Taken once, it should leave no permanent damage," he finished observing the worried look in Rinoa's eyes.

"Have you spoken to my father?" she asked, encouraged by the genuine concern in his voice. She was finally beginning to make some connections in her head as to what has transpired before she was kidnapped.

"I have. He told me that he had the prisoners transferred to Deling's Central Prison. They will be publicly executed this weekend." Shock registered in Rinoa's large eyes as she finally sat up fully on the bed.

"A public execution?! How barbaric! There haven't been any public executions for decades!" The scene that took place in her father's prison shot before her eyes. She was finally beginning to understand.

"Then you forgive me." He averted his eyes as she observed him involuntarily clench and unclench his fists.

"Forgive you for what? You have to let me go, please. I have to tell someone very important"

"I can't do that" he responded simply.

"Back at my house," Rinoa pressed on, lifting her eyes to meet his, "you claimed to be part of the resistance. If you are who you claim to be, you will let me go immediately. I have an urgent matter I need to take care of on which the entire resistance movement currently rests."

"You don't have to speak in riddles, Rinoa. I know everything about the Crimson Rose."

"You do?" Confusion flickered in her large brown eyes as she tried to make sense of the statement.

"I intercepted your communication signal with the Crimson Rose and told them to continue with the operation in the same tactical place you would have suggested. "

"Then the operation was a success?" Now who is talking in riddles she thought bitterly but tried to remain calm.

"Yes and no. The Crimson Rose did get the supplies that they needed to continue their operation. Colin Brezner has not been captured…" He stopped and breathed in deeply. How could he make her understand his reasoning for what he did?

"But?" She could no longer veil her fear as her heart began to beat furiously against her chest.

"But in order to achieve my own objectives I was forced to stage an attack on the Crimson Rose so that Deling thought that your father had achieved an important if not the integral part of his mission."

"You what?!" She lunged forward, but immediately sunk back onto the pillow and swallowed hard. Her eyes were watering as she fought yet another wave of sickness.

"I didn't expect you'd understand. Never mind. It will all fall back into place once I get Josh and Laine back and…" He stopped suddenly, small droplets of sweat forming on his forehead.

"And what? What other sick thing are you planning on doing?! How dare you call yourself part of the resistance?! You are a traitor to the resistance!" The fear in her eyes was replaced by anger as she tugged heavily on her restraints.

"You have to avoid getting upset. It will only make things worse. Drink more of this water. You have to keep yourself hydrated," he said evenly but his face contorted into a painful grimace. How could he expect her to understand? Then again…What did he think she would do? Give him permission to murder her father?

"I don't want your water!" Rinoa fumed. " I want you to let me go right this minute! Look, I don't know what sick reason you had for attacking the Crimson Rose, but if you care anything for the resistance you will let me go." It was a futile attempt.

"The Crimson Rose is in no immediate danger and neither are you. There is food and water in the fridge. I will let you go as soon as I get my people back." The tone of his voice final yet Rinoa pressed on further.

"And what if you don't?" He didn't answer her; he didn't want to think about that just yet. Avoiding her eyes, he removed the handcuff from her swollen wrist and walked out of the room, locking the door behind him. Exhausted and hurting, Rinoa turned over on her side and buried her head into the pillow, muffling the sobs that begged to escape from her chest. Please Seifer… you have to find me… there's still so much that needs to be done… the resistance… the times we've spent together. So much that still needs to be said… I love you…

TO BE CONTINUED (of course)