Chapter 28

Rinoa slowly opened her eyes, trying to bring the room, if indeed it was a room, into focus. For a second she was confused, but as the realization of what had happened flashed before her eyes, she felt her body grow numb with despair. The throbbing pain at the back of her skull revealed that she had been struck recently with a heavy object. How long was I out for? she wondered. Her face stung from the earlier blow and she felt congealed blood caked to her skin. She was now missing both shoes, most likely from the earlier struggle, and her bare feet touching the cold floor sent shivers down her spine. She was tied firmly to a hardback wooden chair with a thick cord that dug deeply into the delicate flesh around her wrists and ankles. Collecting her strength, she gingerly moved her head to look around the room. She was alone. So far. The room was semi dark due to the tightly drawn old musty curtains and reeked heavily of cigarette smoke and liquor. Balled up clothes, bottles, and dirty dishes were strewn haphazardly around the dusty floor. In horror, Rinoa watched as the doorknob slowly turned and a deformed, heavy set man, her attacker, entered the room.

"Glad to see you awake, sunshine," he said mockingly, his callous eyes boring into her. Rinoa felt as if she would vomit. She wanted desperately to wake up, to tell herself that this was just a bad nightmare. No this is really happening and I must deal with it. I will get through this. I must get through this. She closed her eyes for a fraction of a second to try to center herself. He didn't appear to notice. At last, pushing back fear and despair, she sized up her attacker. Silently she prayed that the revolt that she felt looking at his disfigured features didn't register on her face. Somehow she felt that would be a death sentence.

"My name is Rinoa," she finally managed, trying to keep her voice even and looking straight into his cold, empty eyes. Make him see me as a real person.

"I don't care what your name is, bitch," he responded crudely, looking at her mockingly. "Either way tonight, you die." Apparently it wasn't working. Rinoa shuddered involuntarily.

"I don't think we've met. Please tell me if there's anything I've done to you to deserve this," she continued hoping that her voice didn't betray the fear that was starting to suffocate her again. She thought of Seifer—the way he always kept his cool in any situation.

"Are you always such a talker? Why don't you just shut the hell up before I stuff something in your mouth..." He glared at her menacingly. Rinoa fell silent.

"There, that's better, just continue doing as I say. In fact, dear Rinoa or whatever the hell your name is, from now on, you'll have to do everything I say. Until you die, that is." he continued thoroughly enjoying the fear swelling deep within her eyes. He walked across the room and sat down heavily on a double mattress that must have served him as a makeshift bed. From underneath some papers, he produced a long dagger with a smooth black handle. Rinoa gasped audibly no longer able to remain calm.

"That is what I like to see," he growled maliciously, nostrils flared, "fear so intense that you can practically cut it with a knife." He slowly ran a finger along the blade, leaving behind a few droplets of blood. Rinoa desperately struggled against her restraints even though she knew there was no escape. The pain at the back of her head was becoming nearly unbearable. Nothing like the pain of what's to come, she thought desperately. Tears were now beginning to stream down her face. No, I must stop crying. He is feeding on my fear. I must remain calm. If I die today, she thought desperately, I won't give him the satisfaction of begging for mercy. She wished she could dry her tears so she could look at him with clear eyes. Collecting herself and purposely ignoring the bloody knife, Rinoa lifted her eyes to meet his.

"You have done a good job with the restraints. It doesn't appear as if I will be going anywhere anytime soon. So what's the rush? Tell me if where we've met before." She was surprised at how calm her voice sounded. In her mind's eye, she focused intently on Seifer, trying to remember his stance, his self confident demeanor. The stranger looked at her with confusion. Putting the dagger in his belt, he got up once more and walked over to her.

"You talk too much. Just like her," he said viciously, "she should have died, but now you get to die instead. But you are absolutely right, we should get to know each other a little better," he continued, outlining Rinoa's face with rough, calloused hands. She did not recoil. Stall, I must stall him…

"Look, I'll play whatever game you want to play," she said firmly, if you tell me why you are doing this. Clearly, revenge is what you're after and you just don't seem like the type of guy who will kill without giving a reason.

"You'll play whatever game I want you to play regardless, sweetheart," he replied laughing mockingly. "That's the beauty of it… Just you and me. No one to interrupt our little fun." No… Hyne no! Please don't let it end like this. She thought of Seifer. His touch, his scent… Whatever I have to do, I will survive. I have to survive.

"What's the rush?" she said, stifling a fake yawn. "As I've said before, I don't think I am in danger of being rescued any time soon. Tell me who pissed you off so much that you want to kill me for it." He looked at her appreciatively.

"You know, I am almost starting to like you. You're quite a piece of work. Alright. We'll play this little game. After all, anticipation is half the fun, eh?" He gave her what she could only interpret as his attempt at a provocative look, which made his disfigurement even more pronounced.

"So? I am listening," she prodded him on. Remain calm and do not show fear.

"You're right. It's revenge that I want. And I plan to collecting from you," he replied bitterly.

"What for? I am sure we've never met," she tried to reason.

"Why because you would have remembered me? Because of this?" he touched his face disgustedly.

"No.."

"Don't lie to me, you worthless bitch." His voice was a harsh whisper now. She remained silent waiting for him to continue.

"You're right, we've never met…until now…Your friend did this to me. And now you get to die for it. Life's unfair, I know," he growled. "But if it makes you feel any better she was a feisty one like you. I guess it must be my lucky day." Friend? What is he talking about! He is completely insane.

"You've made a mistake," she said firmly, looking him straight in the eyes again. "I don't know anyone who has ever met you or did anything to you."

"You mean you don't know that ugly one-eyed bitch? I thought I told you to stop lying to me." He roughly pulled her hair and brought her face close to his. "Do you deny it?"

"Fujin!" The name escaped from Rinoa's lips before she even realized she said it.

"Good girl," he mocked her again, releasing he hair and brushing his rough lips against hers. "Enough talk." He got up and went across the room toward the door. "When I get back, you die. Enjoy it while you can," he finished slamming the door shut behind him.

There was no time to waste. Seifer had made his decision. Kona has saved Fujin once he reasoned. Chances are he won't hurt her this time. He had no idea how Fujin got involved in this mess, but one thing was sure, Rinoa was in much bigger trouble. Deep inside him he knew there was another more subtle reason he decided to go after Rinoa first, one that he could hardly admit to himself. No time to think about it now. It was time to act and Seifer sensed he must act quickly. Fortune's Alley… that was his only clue. He started the ignition in one of Caraway's armored cars and pressed his foot on the gas, weaving in and out of traffic, a military police siren blaring on the roof, breaking the calm silence of the morning air. As he got closer to Fortune's Alley, he turned off the siren and parked the car by the curb. In case Rinoa was being held in one of the houses on the street, he didn't want to spook her abductor. If only he had another clue. Someone who had seen Rinoa's abductor, a description of the vehicle, anything… Seifer had nothing. A street name in a sea of alleys, passageways, apartment buildings, shops, and windows with tightly drawn shades. Using every bit of his willpower Seifer threw aside the desperation that was threatening to engulf him and looked down the street ahead of him. With a sense of despair returning slowly and chilling his insides, Seifer realized that if the abductor was holding Rinoa anywhere in the vicinity of this street it would be nearly impossible to find her. His eyes passed over broken windows, trash strewn about the sidewalk, graffiti covering the walls. He walked around the corner and nearly stepped on a feral cat that hissed and stared at him with hunger crazed eyes before dashing into a nearby alley. Seifer continued walking, looking around carefully for any clue that Rinoa might have left, a sign of a struggle perhaps. He rounded another corner and saw what distinctly looked like half dried blood on the sidewalk. He leaned down examining it more closely. It was definitely blood. Fear gripping him, Seifer looked around for any other clues. Was he too late? No, Rinoa isn't dead. Even if this blood is Rinoa's, which he couldn't be sure about in this neighborhood, there wasn't enough of it to indicate a serious injury. Still, a clue was a clue, and Seifer couldn't afford to be choosy at the moment. It was a start. Brushing his hair out of his face, Seifer got up and looked to either side of him. Across the street, he spotted a pawn shop with a poorly lit neon sign that read "OPE". In two long strides he crossed the street and went inside. The store owner was a tall, thin man with a pointed ratlike face and small beady eyes. He looked at Seifer with boredom and took a sip of his coffee.

"I need to ask you a question." Seifer said assertively approaching the counter.

"Unless your question concerns that fine chocker necklace you are wearing, I'm afraid I'm not interested," the man responded his eyes greedily focusing on Seifer's neck.

"The necklace's not for sale today," responded Seifer firmly, "yet I'm afraid you'll still have to answer my question." Before the man could interrupt him again, Seifer continued, "There's half dried blood spattered on the sidewalk across the street, I was hoping you could tell me what you saw.

"I didn't see nothing and I don't know nothing. Unless you have got sumthin to offer you better get the hell outta here," the store owner said, lighting a cigarette.

"Would this help you remember?" said Seifer placing a crisp 100 gil note on the counter as the man's greedy eyes followed his every movement. As if to show what the alternative would be Seifer made sure that the man saw his gunblade tucked into the inside of his gray trenchcoat. Catching on that Seifer was not someone he wanted to cross, the store owner conceded and greedily grabbed the money from the counter.

"Yes, I'm startin' to remember. My mornin' coffee must be workin'. Clears ya head, ya know," he said reaching behind the counter and putting a shot of liquor into the steaming brown liquid. Seifer waited, his face betraying no emotion.

"Well, this mornin' as I was gettin' ready to open up, I heard a commotion outside. So I looked out and saw a black van 'cross the street. There were these two guys standing in fron' of it. 'Bout your age, I suspect. There was 'nuther with 'em. A girl. Could see her blue dress, but not her face, really. She was blindfolded. All the sudden, 'nuther girl ran 'cross the street. Ugly thing I tell ya. Man's clothin' white hair, patch ove' her eye." Fujin! Seifer drew a sharp breath.

"Continue," he said urgently but the man stopped and stared at him. " I wen' in the back and didn't see 'nuther thin'." Seifer growled and reached across the counter, grabbing the man by his collar.

"You better tell me what you saw or I will destroy this shop and break every single goddamn trinket you got in this hellhole," he whispered menacingly, letting go.

"Ok. Ok. Don't get so impatient. I suspect I remembe' now. I got confused earlier. No biggie. Anyways, the ugly girl started sayin' sumthin' to the group and before I knew it she knocked down one of them guys holding the blindfolded broad. I expect she broke his nose. That's probably where the blood came from. The blindfolded one freed herself from the guy holdin' her and fell to the ground and woulda stayed there had the one eyed ugly not cut the ropes. Anyways, she ran down the street toward Fortune's Alley... That's where I just came from thought Seifer irritably.

"What happened to the girl that saved her?"

"At first I thought the other guy was gonna kill 'er, but he picked 'er off the ground and then led her to the van. They drove off. I dun know nothin' more than that," he finished.

"Did he drag her to the van?" said Seifer as if testing out a theory in his head.

"No, she had quite a fight in her. She coulda killed 'im, I suspect. But she didn't. I saw 'er lower her weapon earlier." A mysterious look playing in his eyes, Seifer addressed the shop owner one more time.

"Did you see anyone following the girl in blue? Anyone at all?"

"No, she ran as fast she could. Didn't see nothing else of 'er. That's all I know."

"Thank you," then with a slightly malicious look on his face, he picked up an old grandfather clock that was displayed on the counter and smashed it on the ground, showering both of them with fragments and glass.

"What in Hyne's name? What you doin? I told you everythin' honestly. Didn't hold back a thing!" screamed the store owner in surprise and rage.

"Be careful next time who you call ugly," said Seifer and exited the store. He got what he wanted and all in under ten minutes. He still had a chance. With a growing sense of confidence that Kona wouldn't hurt Fujin, Seifer started walking quickly back in the direction of Fortune's Alley, still taking the time to carefully look around for clues. Across the street from another run down shop,Seifer's heart leaped. He plainly saw a woman's shoe near the storm drain on the side of the street. He ran to it and picked it up, examining it closely. There was no mistaking it. It was Rinoa's shoe. He looked around and spotted the other shoe a few feet away. One of them appeared as if someone violently ripped it from the owner's feet—all torn and scuffed. There was a vicious struggle here not too longer ago. Seifer knew there was no denying that Rinoa was in grave danger. Did this mean that Rinoa was grabbed here and dragged into one of the houses or was she dragged into a car? Against hope, Seifer wished it was the former since if she was dragged into a car, she could be anywhere. If only he had another clue. Something in the corner of his eye caught his attention. It was a box of wet matches with the word Bacchanal displaying prominently on the front. Seifer picked it up and examined it. The Bacchanal… Oh Hyne, that's where Fujin was attacked by some crazy bouncer that Kona saved her from… Could there be a connection? I thought Fujin told me that the guy was dead. His mind working feverishly, Seifer ran toward the address that was displayed under the name on the box. He soon spotted the club located in the back of the dingy street corner. What in Hyne's name was Fujjin doing in a place like this by herself? I must've really pissed her off that night. Without further hesitation, he pushed the door open and went inside.

"What the hell do you want?" inquired a short, stocky man just inside the door. "We aren't open for lunch, you idiot. Go somewhere else," he said threateningly.

Squelching the desire to punch him, Seifer stood up straight, his shoulders back so the man could see his powerful frame.

"Is this how you treat your guests?" he inquired, looking at the man without the slightest hesitation. Looking up at Seifer' face, the man decided that perhaps cooperation would suit him best.

"All right, what do you want? I don't have all day." Neither do I thought Seifer.

"I want you to tell me whether this fine establishment has employed any bouncers in the recent past that have come to an unfortunate end," said Seifer not taking his eyes off the man's face.

"What are you from the bouncer's union?" responded the man, laughing at his own dumb joke.

"No. But you will need a lot more than a union unless you answer my question…right now," said Seifer taking a step closer and drawing his Hyperion.

"Whoa, chill out," said the man, backing himself into a wall. "I was just kidding, man, relax."

"Answer the question," repeated Seifer coolly.

"Alright, no. We haven't. All our bouncers are accounted for. Why do you ask?" he said suspiciously.

"I am asking the questions here," responded Seifer, still holding on tightly to his Hyperion. Fujin was wrong. Her attacker wasn't dead. Not dead… But surely badly injured.

"Has anything out of the ordinary happened to any of them recently? Another joke and I will rip the truth out of you with my bare hands." This was no time for diplomacy thought Seifer dully.

"Well, now that you mention it, yes. One of our bouncers, Spike, got in a fight with someone not too long ago. The guy did a real number on him. We all thought he was done for. His face disfigured, almost unrecognizable. When we found him, he still had ice shards piercing him right beneath the skin." Instinctively, Seifer felt that he was getting closer to the truth. Somehow Fujin being wrong about the fate of the bouncer and those matches he found at the site of Rinoa's abduction seemed like an unlikely coincidence.

"What was the fight about?" Seifer pressed on.

"Some chick he was trying to score. Apparently they were gettin' along "great" until her buddy showed up… Spike… he never could keep it inside his pants. He got what he deserved, I say." Oh Hyne… Please not Rinoa… For a moment Seifer felt faint and helpless, but then the feeling passed. When he spoke again, his voice was calm and confident.

"Did Spike later say anything after the incident?"

"Well, yeah. Of course, he did. Wouldn't you if you had half your face impaled by ice needles? He said that he will find the bitch, his words mind you, and when he did he would follow her until the opportunity would present itself and then he would kill her. Knowing Spike it was mostly all talk… He wasn't even a good bouncer…"

"Do you know if he found her?" said Seifer.

"No, I dunno. He hasn't been at work lately."

"You got his address?" asked Seifer nonchalantly.

"Yeah, this is a good establishment. We follow rules. Got the address of everyone that works here," said the man proudly.

"Care to share it with me?"

"Oh, I dunno. Regulations and stuff. Not supposed to really," he mumbled. Seifer took out some money and handed it to the man who took it and furtively stuck it inside his pocket.

"One second. Wait here," he said and disappeared in the back. A minute later he came up and handed Seifer a slip of paper.

"It's all in here," he said. "Forget I gave it to you." Seifer thanked him and quickly exited the club. He ran back to the car quickly and with newfound determination revved the engine. The pieces of the puzzle were started to fall together. If Spike had been following Fujin, then he probably saw what happened near the pawn shop. He couldn't exact his revenge on Fujin so he went for Rinoa instead. Seifer didn't know why he felt so certain that the bouncer was responsible for Rinoa's abduction. Yet his Garden training and instinct told him that he was right and if he didn't get to Rinoa right away, she would be dead. If she wasn't dead already. No can't think like that. Putting Spike's address on the dashboard he once again turned on his siren since the address that the man gave him was all the way by the docks, about a fifteen minute drive along some busy streets.

The door knob turned again. Spike came slowly into the room. His eyes glared with anticipation and malice. In his hand, he held the dagger that he used to taunt Rinoa earlier.

"Hello again, my sweet Rinoa," he growled. "Time to die. I can't promise you, it will be painless. Oh but how I will enjoy it. Sweet revenge, indeed."