a/n: No, I'm not quitting Uncontrollable…I just decided to start another one haha! This one takes place after everything…game and movie wise…anyway….

Disclaimer: I don't own anything XD

Chapter 1: Runaway


"Pitter- pat the angel on my shoulder…is haunting me tonight, tick tock the clock is getting louder, ready for me to decide"

I messed up…and this wasn't an 'oh crap, I didn't file that right' mess up…this was a 'Fuck…I just ruined a mission and now I lost priceless information' mess up.

How? Honestly…I don't know. It's all hazy at this point as I sit in the airport, a scarf around my ash blonde, shoulder length hair. I'm not going for familiarity here. I'm looking to hide…to hide and to run. My ticket states that in about thirty minutes I'll be in route to Costa Del Sol. Away from Midgar, away from ShinRa and away from the Turks.

I flip through a fashion magazine as I look around, paranoid by my surroundings. I keep noticing a flicker of red hair, or someone in a business suit and my heart starts to race. I can't get caught…if I get caught for running away…I'll….they'll…

"Flight 3080 to Costa Del Sol is now boarding at gate 32. I repeat: Flight 3080 to Costal Del Sol is now boarding at gate 32. Thank you."

A sigh of relief leaves my thin lips as I stand quickly and rush to the gate, holding my ticket out for the stewardess. She flashes me a warm smile and ushers me through the gate. I enter the airplane and stuff my purse and small carry on into the cubby above me before taking my seat next to a woman my age. I later learned that this woman was running too…well, not from the Turks of ShinRa company…but…from an abusive husband. Suddenly…I don't know which of our situations is worse…

The woman pulls out headphones as a cue for silence. I comply, leaning my head back as my eyelids flutter closed.

"Reno. I need to see you in my office, now." Tseng, the leader of the Turks stated clearly as he leaned on the door frame of the Departments offices. Reno nodded and lifted himself lazily off the chair, making his way towards the door and to Tseng's office. Only Rude noticed that the redhead had stopped for a split second to peer at the missing blonde's desk.

"Yes sir?" he asked, taking a seat in the chair opposite of the Tseng. The raven haired Turk sighed before continuing, shoving a file to the other side of the desk. Reno picked it up hesitantly and browed through it, taking notice that it was Elena's Turk file.

"What's this about, boss?" Reno asked, his brows furrowed.

"I need you to help me carry out an order regarding this Turk. Bring her back..or-"

"You can't be serious, sir! I mean, it's Laney for crying out loud! She's one of us! Don't act like she's just a random employee, dammit!" the redhead yelled, baffled by such an order. He could see the reluctance lingering in Tseng's eyes.

"I'm sorry, Reno. I don't want this either…but orders are orders. Elena knew she couldn't leave the Turks. It's a known fact once you enter the profession. I don't really know how to handle this myself."

"It's because of that mission…isn't it…I mean why else would she leave?"

"She knew she was getting demoted…or worse. She should've just taken the punishment instead of running off like this. Reno. You know what we have to do." Tseng reminded him harshly. Reno shook his head as his aqua gaze dropped to the floor.

"I'll bring her back, boss…I refuse to kill her."

"Let's just hope she comes home. You are dismissed. I'll have a location for you soon." And with those words, Reno walked slowly back into the office, his mind racing with questions and anger.

"Laney…why? Why did you leave? Don't make me do this." he whispered to himself as he took his seat. This was going to be a long week.

"Laney come on, just shoot him!" Reno yelled at me as bullets ricocheted off the walls. I could only hear my heart beat as I raced down the bare street in the ruins of Nibelhiem.

The mission was simple…or so I thought. Go in, find the hiding ShinRa employee that double crossed President Rufus…and kill him. Reno was to assist me, Rude would fly the chopper. Easy right?

I stumbled after the man into the old ShinRa mansion after I had missed the target multiple times…what was wrong with me? Usually I could shoot perfectly…but not that day.

"Laney, get him out of the mansion!" Reno called out again through my blaring PHS. I nodded to myself as I raced after the man, catching up to him and shoving him to the ground.

"Let me go! Please! I didn't do anything!" the man pleaded. I ignored him and placed the gun to his temple.

"C'mon, you're coming with me, you traitor!" I retorted, pulling him to his feet to drag him outside. Just as we had made it to the door, the man surprised me with a sudden attack, throwing me to the ground. I aimed the gun at him and began shooting. Reno's voice blared once more, but it wasn't coming from the PHS. I turned to see him running at me.

"No, Laney, don't shoot in the mansion! There's radioactive material in there that could blo-" it was too late. I had already shot a radioactive spot and a blast of hot air and burning flames shot up into the sky, throwing me against Reno and the both of us to the far gate of the mansion that was now in shambles.

I stood up, gripping the pain in my arm as my brown eyes gazed up at the burnt mansion before me. Then it hit me. Even though the man was now dead…I had just burned countless documents…countless records that involved ShinRa Electric Power Company and its secretive history. That was a huge no-no in the handbook. A major issue…an issue in which I would be punished for with a very serious consequence.

"I t-told you Laney…" Reno croaked as he pulled himself up. He was gripping his head, which now sported a medium sized gash across his forehead. I bit my lip as tears began to sting my eyes.

"I-I…I really fucked up this time didn't I…"

Reno just looked at the ruined mansion and then back at me, his expression unreadable.

"DIDN'T I?" I asked in a panicked cry.

"Yes, Elena…you did." He didn't even use my nickname…Oh God, I was ruined…screwed…finished.

"I…it was an…it was an accident, Reno, I didn't…mean to." I whispered. Reno nodded, but I knew he was thinking the same thing…

I could basically sign myself off as a Turk.

But I didn't want to. They were my family…my friends…my everything. It wasn't fair! No…I had to run. I had to save myself, and them, from the hurt that this would cause…

It's all my fault.

It's all MY fault.


"IT'S ALL MY FAULT!"

"Miss? Are you alright?" a stewardess asks me, her hand gripping my shoulder. I look up at her in confusion only to realize that I wasn't dreaming of that awful day anymore. I laugh at myself, embarrassed by my outburst.

"Yes…just a nightmare, that's all. I'm sorry for disturbing anyone." I apologize, smiling sheepishly up at the woman.

"It's okay, miss. I'm just letting you know that we're landing now."

I look around to see everyone gathering their things. I do the same, standing up weakly to snatch my carry on and purse. The plane is now at a complete stop and I follow the single file line out the gate and down the stairs to a fresh, sea salt scented dock. Breathing in the relaxing air, I take a look at my new life. Who knows…maybe I'll be better off without the Turks. Maybe I can finally let go of the past and take on a new challenge.

Either way…there's no turning back now.

a/n: So this was a sneak preview of what's to come. I want to see if people would actually enjoy reading this before I go on. It's a little short, but the next chapter will definitely be longer, I promise!