Marlene held onto the flashlight, leading them through the underground tunnels.
"Where does this go to?" Cloud asked, sword held against his shoulder.
"All over town. Everyone forgot about it after awhile."
"Daddy, does Tifa know?"
"She knows about us, honey. Her security system would've picked us up by now."
"Oh… Okay." She danced around ahead of them, going up to the sloped incline of that particular tunnel. She tried to rap on the ceiling, but she couldn't reach. Suddenly, a small section of the ceiling disappeared, revealing a young woman with chocolate locks and wine-colored eyes.
"Hey, honey. Need a hand?"
Marlene giggled and raised her arms up toward her. Tifa hoisted her up before jumping down herself. "Hey Barret. What's…" She halted, staring at Cloud, then Zack. "Where- "
"They need help, Teef."
"O-of course. Up we go." She leapt back up, holding her arms down. "I'll take Zack."
"How do you- "
"Does it matter?"
Barret grumbled to himself as he helped raise Zack up through the hole. Tifa carefully took him upstairs into the spare bedroom, laying him down gently on the bed. She hurried back to help the other two before slipping the black of flooring and furniture back into place.
"Tifa!" Marlene grinned, hugging her tightly.
"Hey, sweetheart."
"Teef…"
"I know, Barret. Marlene, can you stay down here, please? Yuffie'll be here soon."
"Okay!" She ran into the other room, leaving the three adults behind.
"Cloud-"
"How do you know my name?" Cloud asked sharply, hand resting on his sword.
"We- we grew up together. Don't you remember?"
Cloud shook his head, muttering, "I don't remember anything."
Tifa nodded faintly, looking over at Barret, whose mouth had dropped open.
"You mean this," he gestured to Cloud, "is the guy you told us about?"
"Yes."
"Then, how about Zack?"
"I'll explain later. I need to help Zack."
"Zack's dead. He's been dead," Cloud said harshly, clutching the sword tightly.
"Not if I have anything to say about it. He's too pink to be dead," she snapped back, heading upstairs. She went into her room, pulling out her small chest of material and whatever else she thought she'd need. She closed the door behind her as she started to cut the clothes of her friend. "Zack, what happened to you?"
