Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters of Final Fantasy VII. I only reserve that right over my original characters.
"….kid…hey…hey kid…wake up, will ya…"
"Mmmm…wha--…"
"Finally, kid! No! No, don't ya be lighting out again!"
"Wha…what…happened?"
"I was hopin' you'd be tellin' me that, kid."
"My head…it hurts really bad…will you all stop moving?"
"There's only me, kid."
"Then why am I seeing three…no…four of you?"
"Ya must've took a hard smack to da head when ya fell."
"Fell?"
"Damn kid! I was just mindin' meh own business when ya came fallin' from above."
"Above?"
"That's right, girlie."
"Why?"
"Why ya askin' me?"
"I don't know…do I know you?"
"No. Name's Barret. What's yours?"
"I…I don't know…"
"Okay, okay! Don't be panicking! I'll take ya with me ta Tifa's 7th Heaven Bar."
"Heaven? Am I dead?"
"Naw, ya just in the city of Midgar…it's deh city that's dead, well, dyin' at least."
"My head hurts…really bad…I need to close my eyes, the lights are hurting me."
"No! No, you stay up! Kid? Kid!" Barret took her roughly by the shoulders and shook her hard, but she was already unconscious. Lifting her up gently, he made his way through the streets of the slum in Sector 7.
It was a sorry sight, with its dilapidated buildings, muddy streets, strays, gangs, and desolate people. Yet, despite this, life went on. It had to, there was nothing that could be done…at the moment. The people at the moment just lived from day to day. He soon came upon a large building, with a sign perched on top that read, "Tifa's 7th Heaven". He walked up the steps, which was populated by drunks who didn't want to go home yet.
"Ya get yer asses movin', ya hear?" He glanced menacingly at them. They got up and started to walk away, muttering under their breath on what jerk Barret was and who did he think he was.
"Hey Barret!" Yelled one of the not-so-drunken drunks, "Who's the girl? Isn't she a bit young for you?"
"None of yer damn business, Malcom." He snarled, "Keep walkin'! Heard Ellie's teed off at ya."
"Up yours, Barret." He made a rude gesture and stalked away.
Making sure the girl was secure; he pushed the swing-away doors with his shoulder and stepped into the bar. It was a cozy little place, with its circular tables, chairs, one arcade pinball game, and a bar in the back, complete with its choices of liquors behind the counter. Also behind the counter was a young, brunette woman cleaning a glass; she wore a white, sleeveless t-shirt that seemed a few sizes too small because of her bust-line, and suspenders that were hitching up a short skirt. Her hair reached to her ankles, the ends being tied together by a red string.
"Hey Barret, what took you…sweet Lord, what the hell happened to her?" Tifa put the glass down on the counter and came over to face Barret and his charge.
"I have no idea, Tifa." Barret sighed, "All I was doin' was coming back from meh scoutin' mission, and the next thing I know…I see missy here falling from above, screaming her head off, and crashing into the ground. Good thing there was some garbage there ta soften her fall or else she'd've been a pancake."
"Poor thing." Tifa looked her over to see the extent of her injuries, "Well, she's going to have a nasty bump on her head for awhile. Other than that, just a few bruises and she'll probably be sore when she wakes up. Go put her up in my room; I'll fix her up there."
Barret complied and no sooner had he left the room was he attacked by another girl, though much younger and with reddish-brown hair.
"Daddy!"
"Marlene!" He said, picking her up and giving her a loving, whiskery kiss as she screamed in delight.
"Now, now you two." Tifa had come up with medical supplies, "We have a patient here and you, little missy, should be in bed. It's way past your bedtime."
"But I needed to wait up for Daddy, Tifa!" Marlene gave her best puppy-dog eye expression.
"Then Daddy can put you back to sleep. Go on!" She shooed them towards Marlene's room as she went into her own room to check in on their unknown visitor.
Prologue finished! Bear with me as I try to make this worthwhile reading. It might start off slow, but I promise that it will pick up within the next few chapters. Now that you've read it, review it!