2 ~ Taken Away

It started out like any other day, really. It was about a week since I had started working here. I woke up with the sun and quickly went about my business of using the bathroom, taking a shower and changing my clothes. Once that was done, it was time to go make breakfast. For me? Nah. For Mister ex-President upstairs. Don't get me wrong, I totally don't mind. Well not too much. I mean, the guy really can't move around much except in the wheelchair. But why did three out of the four Turks in the house seem to think that I'm supposed to cater to them too?

When they finally left, I was really relieved. Rufus usually stayed upstairs, watching life go on without him through the window. I'd help him with his bandages and clothes, pretending he was a mannequin so that, ahem, I didn't get embarrassed or stuff. After that, it was time to bring up breakfast. The day would usually go on this way, with minimal interaction.

Although I seem to complain a lot… well, maybe I'm just whiny. He wasn't really a bad sort, and besides, I knew this was a good opportunity for me. I wanted to learn how he managed to succeed in life. Well, before the downfall of course. I don't think anyone could have predicted that though, so I didn't hold it against him.

The doorbell suddenly rang while I was in the kitchen. That was a little strange, because none of the Turks would actually ring the bell; they would just unlock the door and step in. I decided to ignore it as I looked back at the sandwich I made for myself. I lifted it to have another taste when the bell rang once more. Hm, persistent door to door sellers. And then it rang again. Ugh, didn't they get the hint?

I put my sandwich down and was heading down the hall to the door when the ringing stopped. Well good for that. I turned back around and was about to return to my beloved sandwich when the sound of someone trying to break through the door came.

Fear made its way up my spine. Did someone know he was here then? Crap! If something happened while I was around, I would get the brunt of it! I hurried to the kitchen and picked up the knife I had used to slice tomatoes before turning back for the hallway, just as the glass broke, the door fell open and men rushed in.

"Who are you people?!" I demanded, trying to look intimidating. Not for the first time in my life I cursed my fate for being short. "You can't just break into my house!"

"Quit the games, sweetie," said one unsavory looking fellow as he advanced toward me. "We know he's here. Now get outta the way or you're gonna get shot."

"There's no one here but me!" I raged, holding up my knife, eyes narrowed before I let the knife fly, hitting the man between his shoulder and neck. Dammit, I missed; I had been hoping to stab his throat. He meanwhile let out a roar of pain, clutching the knife.

Before I could do anything else, there was the sound of a gunshot. I jerked back and fell to the floor, a little stunned, not realizing that I had just been shot in the arm until I tried to reach for my pocket. "Ugh!" My arm was shaking from the pain so I tried to reach in my pocket with my other hand for my cell phone. I had to tell Reno what was happening-

"No you don't," came a voice. I looked up in time to see a bat come crashing down on my face, knocking me out immediately.

^.^

When I came to, I didn't actually realize right away, since it was all dark. What did cause me to realize I was awake was the slowly increasing throbbing pain in my head and my arm. That was when I remembered what had happen.

I quickly tried to get up but couldn't. At first I didn't get why. Then, I tried to lift my good arm. It wouldn't move, held down by something. When I tried to move my legs, I felt that they too were tied up. That's what I was guessing anyways.

"Hello?!" I called, a little panicked as I widened my eyes, trying to get even the fleetest hint of where I was.

I regretted it instantly, because suddenly there was bright light, forcing me to shut my eyes. The sound of a door opening came next and I slowly opened my eyes, trying to see who was there. It turned out to be a man, maybe fifteen or so years older than me. He looked quite strong, like he belonged in the navy, and maybe he did because that navy blue jacket of his sure like the one they wore.

"So you're awake now," he said as he stood there, simply regarding me. "You've been out two whole days."

"Let me go!" I looked down at myself and saw that I was held fast to a wooden chair with strong ropes. "I haven't done anything!"

"You're going to hurt yourself if you keep struggling," he informed me as he walked over to… I don't know, inspect me from closer? I had no idea what was going through his mind! Well not until a moment later when he squeezed my upper arm. Yeah, the arm where I had been shot. I couldn't help but scream out; it felt like someone was stabbing and burning me at the same time.

"I told you not to struggle," continued the man as he watched the tears roll down my face with an impassive expression. "I won't hurt you if you keep calm and tell me what I want to know."

"What… what… would you want…" I managed through gasps of pain and blinding tears. "Y'already got… the President…"

The man's expression changed to something like contempt before he pulled out a knife from somewhere. I cringed when I saw it and tried to move away in vain. I was very surprised when I saw that the knife wasn't used to slice my throat but the ropes that were holding me to this chair. Was he freeing me then? Would he let me go?

Of course not. The first ropes that he sliced through were the ones binding my arms. Even as I tried to move them he grabbed both my wrists and pushed me forward so that he could hold them behind my back. I screamed once more as my injured arm was being so unceremoniously jerked about. It was obvious the bullet was still in there. Then came the sound of the click along with my sobbing as he handcuffed me.

"Stop the damn tears," growled the man as he started slicing at the ropes that bound my legs. "Disgraceful. They kept you in charge of watching over Rufus Shinra? The hell were they thinking?"

How the hell would I know that?! I was just supposed to be the damn housekeeper, not the Rufus keeper! Even if that's what that idiot Reno had in mind! I didn't say anything aloud though because both my head and my arm were throbbing with pain and I didn't think talking was going to help me much over here.

"Up on your feet," he ordered as he helped by grabbing the back of my shirt and yanking me off the chair before setting me on my feet. My legs were really wobbly; how long had I been sitting here? Had I really been there for two whole days? I don't know, but they were so stiff from not being used that I toppled right over to my knees.

"Get up!" ordered the man once more as he yanked once more on the back of my shirt. I held in the gasp this time and tried to stand properly. "Now walk."

Somehow I managed to make it out of the door, eyes glazed over with tears as I forced my stiff legs to move; the skin on my legs felt so tight against my muscles that it almost felt like my skin would rip, like leggings that are too tight. I continued however, trying not to stumble when he pushed me forward through a dark hallway, at the end of which seemed a door. He leaned forward and unlocked it before shoving me inside another room.

It seemed rather odd, even to someone in my confused state. Almost everything including the walls were red, as if the person who designed this place had a very horrible taste. It didn't look like something a poor person would own though, seeming expensive. Was this man some big shot then, or related to one? Or maybe he was just borrowing this place?

Not to mention some of the the extremely odd and creepy furniture, resembling human male and females, but not completely human, there was definitely monster bits there too. I swallowed hard and looked away from it, feeling as if I would throw up. All this wasn't doing any good for my head.

"I brought someone you might remember, Rufus," said the man as he shoved me down on another chair.

Rufus?! I turned my head and that's when I noticed the President. He looked suitably disheveled and injured, though his eyes remained as strong as ever. There was a shackle around his ankle that was attached to the wall he stood near.

"President," I said, voice breaking slightly, "I'm sorry I couldn't-Urgh!" Before my sentence was finished, the man backhanded across the face, forcing my head to whip to the side. Tears of pain immediately escaped my eyes and rolled down my face.

"Not exactly the merciful man, are you Mutten?" commented Rufus, his voice a little hoarse but otherwise familiar.

The man I know knew was named Mutton didn't say anything as he once more tied me to a chair. I couldn't help but cry out in pain when he jerked my arm, but otherwise… there was nothing I could do. I was as helpless as a child fighting a Midgar Zolom.

"You have big words, Rufus," said Mutten. I could hear the calm contempt in his tone. "Now start talking. Where are the other Turks? What are you all scheming?"

I turned my face a little too look at the ex-president. Unlike me, he looked as composed as a man in a big chair behind a desk, knowing he was all right and others were wrong. "Remove the chain from me. Only then will I tell you anything."

"I can't do that," replied Mutten, a glare in his voice.

"Then I can't tell you anything."

Mutten stayed silent before slapping me once more. Why? Can someone please tell me why the hell he just slapped me? Was I like his new punching bag or something?! Was he trying to intimidate us? Well I for one was very intimidated. Or was this to maybe soften Rufus up and have him spilling his secrets? Obviously the guy didn't know the ex-President too well.

"I'll be back tomorrow," said Mutten as he turned around and stomped out of the room, leaving the two of us alone.

Note: Thanks to DaHobbit for reviews, following etc :p

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