Chapter One
"He isn't back yet," she whispered. The room was lit dimly by the orange glow of the nearby lamp. A tear glimmered on her cheek like how stars blinked in the clear Costa del Sol sky.
"Tifa, I'm sure he's fine," he replied, his voice soft and soothing. "He left a note saying he needed some time for himself – to think about things. To be honest, I think it's good for him to get away for a while."
"Nanaki, that was three days ago," Tifa protested. "And he won't answer his phone. This…isn't like him. He would've…called or something – he wouldn't just leave."
"I didn't want to tell you…I thought it might worry you," Nanaki began, sighing. "But…Cloud won't call. His phone is still in his room."
"What?" she gasped. "He didn't take it with him? No…something's wrong. He wouldn't just –"
"Tifa, I know," Nanaki interrupted, sitting up from the sofa cushion. "We're all worried about him. It's been over a year now, but…I don't think any of us have really recovered from those times."
"You think this is about Aerith?"
"Could be," he yawned. "The day he left would have been Aerith's birthday, correct?" She nodded and a silence fell between them. Maroon eyes gazed out the window, watching the stars wink around the crescent moon. "I'm worried about him, too, Tifa. But…I think he just wants to be alone for now. Just…give him some time, alright? He always comes around." She nodded, running a slender finger across her cheek.
He didn't know how long he had been gone; the day, the time – all of it was a blur. Sephiroth had left what seemed like days ago. His body felt weak and sore, aching against the restraints. Gurgles echoed through the room from his aching stomach. He had been gone from Villa Cloud for at least two days – and hadn't eaten since departing. He wondered if they worried – if they cared and were out searching now.
From behind him, light swept across the room, illuminating the stone wall in front of him. He craned his neck in hopes of seeing who entered, but knew it was futile. Something heavy hit the floor, the sound of metal and plastic hitting stone echoing through the room. Cloud hung his head; the demon had returned.
"Don't look so disappointed," Sephiroth chuckled with amusement. "Were you expecting someone else? One of those worthless friends coming to rescue you?" He laughed, the hideous sound echoing from the empty walls. The door slammed suddenly, and Cloud jumped. The room turned dark for a moment before a dim light clicked on from behind him. The lantern's flame blanketed the stone room in a dim flickering orange. Finally, Cloud knew his surroundings. Coffins lined the opposite wall along with bones and shards of rock that had been pushed aside. He knew this room; it was in the basement of the ShinRa Manor in Nibelheim. Just down the hall, there was a lab where Hojo, Gast, and other scientists had experimented long ago, and a library full of Gast's notes on Jenova. He began attempting to question Sephiroth, his words garbled by the gag. He felt a hand yank at the rag, and after a minute it fell from his face.
"Why are you doing this, Sephiroth?" Cloud asked, still unable to see the man. "What are you planning?" His coarse laugh echoed through the room again and a gloved hand stroked the bare flesh over his spine; Cloud shuddered.
"I answered that not even an hour ago, Cloud, or have you forgotten already?" He chuckled, his face looking down over him. "Though I suppose I was rather vague."
"Then tell me the truth, Sephiroth. Why are you doing this?" Sephiroth didn't speak for a moment, his face mockingly thoughtful.
"Well, you aren't going to remember any of this, so I suppose I could tell you," Sephiroth said, pacing to stand before Cloud. "I plan to make you mine – obedient and loyal to my wishes. By the end of the night, you won't be able to refuse."
"But why?" Cloud shouted, lifting his head to meet those eyes. "What the hell do you need me for?"
"Enough!" Sephiroth shouted. "I haven't the time to entertain questions; your unconsciousness has already put me behind schedule."
"Unconsciousness?" Cloud repeated. "How…how long was I out…?" The question was more rhetorical than demanding an answer; Cloud knew Sephiroth's patience was wearing thin and that he would have no intentions of replying. Footsteps paced around him, going back towards the door.
"A day," Sephiroth replied. "Putting me a day behind schedule." He shuffled through some items, eventually drawing out what Cloud believed to be a chain. It slid across the stone floor, the metal snake hissing as it drew nearer. Suddenly, it fell hard against his back, Cloud wincing with the sudden pain. Sephiroth attached one end to the nearby wall, fastening it against a small hook. It drew tight across his back, forcing him downward towards the floor as Sephiroth hooked the other end to a misshaped stone on the floor. "But it should be easy to catch up," Sephiroth said, walking back around behind him. Cloud attempted to rise up, but the newly place chain kept his bare chest flat against the uneven stones. Those footsteps came closer, and Sephiroth knelt beside him.
"It's time to begin." He stood and walked behind Cloud. A cold glove massaged the flesh down his slender back, goose bumps speckling the skin in its wake. "First, you must be aroused." The words fell quietly across his ears and Cloud shuddered. Leather found the limp and exposed flesh between his restrained knees. He gasped against the rag as the hand massaged the flesh, moving back and forth with skill. Cloud closed his eyes; he couldn't allow himself to give in. He would not let this man humiliate him so.
"So, you choose to resist?" Sephiroth asked softly as he released the mass. "There are other ways," he said simply. He stood and walked back to the items that Cloud could not see. He shuddered as a sudden chill came over him. The shuffling ceased and he knew the General had found his item of choice. A cold metal fastened tightly over the head as a bar painfully forced its way inside. The blond's breath caught at the strange feeling, the metal bar penetrating deeper. He squirmed uncomfortably against his restraints. "Relax, Cloud. Enjoy this while you can."
A soft click sounded and suddenly it started. The metal bar inside began quivering against his flesh and thrusting further inside him. Cloud managed to stifle a moan and Sephiroth chuckled. Another click sounded and the vibrations pulsed faster. Cloud moaned and began fidgeting against the chains. Suddenly, the pace quickened ten-fold to its highest. The slightest movement causing friction to the hardened mass was ecstasy. His body tensed and he knew he was getting close. No…he couldn't allow Sephiroth to humiliate him in such a way. He closed his eyes, trying desperately to resist the moans prying from his throat.
Suddenly, bare flesh grabbed him, massaging roughly. The pulsing metal inside pushed at him from all angles leaving no flesh unstimulated. The newly added friction Cloud knew would be too much – he could barely keep composed as it was. Heat welled up in his stomach and he knew he would burst at any moment. When Sephiroth's hand slipped from the mass, Cloud knew something was wrong. He hadn't released, yet he knew he was on the edge.
"You see?" Sephiroth smirked. "This device allows you to become aroused to you breaking point, but forbids your release." Sephiroth stood and Cloud closed his eyes. The feeling was becoming too much – he was sure he would burst within moments. "This constant stimulation keeps your consciousness, so you won't be able to black out."
"Why?" Cloud said, suppressing a moan. "Why are you keeping me conscious?" The silver haired General chuckled.
"Because, Cloud," he began, walking to stand in front of Cloud. "If you lose consciousness too soon, my little plan will not work." He moved off again, this time going back to the pile of items that had been left by the door.
"What plan?" Cloud strained, panting quickly.
"You'll understand soon enough," he replied after a moment, the words falling inches from his ear. Sephiroth reached down, lifting the chewed fabric from the ground and tying back over his mouth, cutting between his lips and pulling tightly against his lips.
Suddenly, Cloud felt a needle prick through his wrist. The cold metal pressed into a vein. Without warning, his blood ran hot, stinging beneath his skin. Cloud thrashed against the chain, his back attempting to arch with the rapid pain that had begun to spread through his limb. "You understand then? You remember this pain?" The needle withdrew from the vein. Another prick, and the same burning began to seep into the other arm. "It's Mako. Because you've had Mako Poisoning, your body is more sensitive to the raw fluid. Just a small dose can do wonders for you, can't it?" He felt a cold needle press into his thigh, and Cloud braced for the pain. His body trembled with the burning fluid. "And yet, somehow the Mako won't stay within your blood. It thins, and weakens, causing the effects to become less each time more is added." Another prick in the right thigh. It felt as though his limbs would burst into flames.
"But, what would happen if too much Mako was added?" He asked, standing. "Would you lose your senses, your mind? Would you lose your memory?" He struggled against the bonds, trying desperately to break free from the burning pain engulfing him. Two more slid in the back side of his calf before Sephiroth spoke again.
"And what would happen if everything was infected? Not just your blood – but your nerves, and Mako penetrated the bones?" Cloud felt sharp pain in his back; he arched against the chain as the longer needle scraped bone. He felt the bone crack as the needle penetrated into a mid-back vertebra pierce into the nerve. A hoarse scream, barely muffled by the gag, filled the room and tears blinded his vision. The liquid scalded his nerves, flowing the length of the body that thrashed uncontrollably against the binds.
Tears streamed down his face, his mind flickering in and out with the candlelight. He wanted nothing more than to collapse, faint, fall unconscious – die. His body felt as though it was smoldering with hot embers and coals that wouldn't burn out. Every muscle ached, the boiling blood pulsing through his body. Shaking uncontrollably, his body barely twitched when Sephiroth removed the device, finally allowing his release. From the corner of his eye, a final needle gleamed in the candlelight, a bright orange shine flickering on the long and narrow metal. It disappeared behind him, reappearing as the needle plunged into his neck where the skull met the spine. The final blow was painless as the dim candlelight extinguished to darkness.