Author's Note: Thanks for all of the fabulous reviews. I loves them! :3 I'm sorry this keeps taking me so long to update. College eats my life D: I am hoping to update much sooner since Spring and Easter Breaks will be coming up over the coming months, so please bear with me! Just throwing it out there now, I haven't exactly figured out how this is going to end, so if you have any ideas, suggestions, or just things you might like to see happen, feel free to leave them on a review or PM me. It might not appear, but I will give credit when and where it is due! Thanks, and I hope you guys enjoy the chapter~
Chapter Three
Since the incident, all of AVALANCHE had reconvened at Villa Cloud in Costa del Sol. They took shifts watching Cloud, two at a time. After Vincent had left for ShinRa Headquarters near the edge of the Midgar ruins, Cloud had been restrained. Both wrists were bound to the side of the bed frame with thick leather straps that loosely rubbed the raw skin. His feet had also been strapped to the mattress with one longer strap running across his mid-shin. They had decided it would be best to relocate him to the basement, so that there was only one entrance and exit that had an alarm set on the door. Cloud's consciousness flickered – often only staying conscious for a few hours before blacking out for hours at a time. No matter his state of consciousness, his body trembled and shook beneath the blankets.
Despite her determination, Tifa had not been able to face entering the room. The purple-black hand print across her neck twinged once the thought of seeing him again crossed her mind. Yuffie had finally gotten her settled, so that she had stopped crying and would sleep. Nanaki chose not to tell Tifa the full story of the blond's condition.
Veins in his neck throbbed with the dire need for bloodshed as he strained against the leather straps. He wouldn't stop screaming, hate fused with the foul words that escaped his lips. He refused to eat or drink from their hands. Every ounce of strength forced its way to resistance, the once bruised wrists leaking rusty red fluids against the leather. Constantly, he demanded to be released, swore to destroy those bindings, and vowed to kill them.
It was almost a week before the phone rang and Vincent spoke on the other line.
"What did you find out?" Tifa had asked abruptly after she heard his voice. "Did he say what was happening?"
"I didn't speak with Hojo," Vincent replied.
"What?" she yelled with outrage. Anger blinded her as she continued. "Why the hell not? Vincent, I know you hate the bastard – we all do. But he could be our only hope! Why do you have to be so damn proud? This is to help Cloud!"
"He was in the hospital," Vincent continued as though Tifa hadn't spoken. "Reno said he has been for a couple of weeks now."
"The…hospital?" she repeated. "But…why? What's wrong with him?"
"How is Cloud?" Vincent asked, dodging the question. "Has he woken back up?"
"Yeah, but…I haven't gone back to see him," she replied. "Nanaki has been telling me how he's been."
"Could I speak with him?" Vincent said. Without a word, Tifa walked over to the recliner where Nanaki slept.
"Nanaki," she said softly as she nudged him awake. He raised his head from the cushion. "It's Vincent." She positioned the receiver beside his head so that he could hear.
"It's good to hear from you," Nanaki said. "What have you learned?"
"How is Cloud?" he asked without acknowledgement.
"Oh, uh…" Nanaki looked back up, his eyes lingering on Tifa as she slipped through the doorway. "He's…getting worse."
"What are his symptoms as of now?" he asked urgently.
"Well, he hasn't stopped shaking since he first attacked Tifa," Red said. "He can't seem to stay conscious either. He comes around every few hours, but loses consciousness soon after."
"I see…" Vincent's voice trailed as his thought connected.
"And…I haven't told Tifa, but…"
"What? What is it?"
"Well," Nanaki began, lowering his voice. "He's been saying odd things – things Cloud would by no means say under normal circumstances. He keeps talking about…about killing us."
"That is strange," Vincent said, his normally controlled voice wavering with worry.
"Have you figured out anything?" Nanaki asked again. "What did Hojo say?"
"I couldn't talk to him," Vincent replied quickly. "He's been in the hospital for weeks."
"Has he?"
"Yes," Vincent began. "According to Reno, he turned up missing a few weeks ago. After a few days, he returned abruptly, stating he had gone away for 'business.' Later that night, one of his assistants found him unconscious in his lab. According to Reno, he's been going downhill since…and it doesn't look as though he will be leaving any time soon." He paused and added, "Oddly enough, his symptoms might sound familiar."
"What do you mean?"
"His consciousness comes and goes and he's been convulsing uncontrollably ever since he first woke up. When he first awoke, Reno said he started shouting nonsensically. The phrases didn't make sense. He lost consciousness shortly after." Vincent said. Nanaki gasped on the other end of the line.
"Th-that's –!"
"And that's not all," he continued. "Upon examining him, the doctor showed Tseng some rather peculiar marks across his body."
"Do they know what they were?" Nanaki asked.
"Reno said that Tseng was not entirely sure," Vincent began. "But…from his experience, he would assume torture. Bruising across his wrists, ankles, and chest confirm he was restrained. He thought some of them also looked like needle wounds."
"Needles?" he repeated. "So…he was injected with something?"
"That is what Tseng suspects," Vincent said. "If I recall, Cloud was found with similar restraint markings."
"He did," he confirmed. "I'll have one of the others check him."
"It seems as though whatever has happened to Cloud has happened to Hojo as well. However…because of Cloud's already unstable system…" He paused again, daring his thoughts to jinx them. "Listen," he began. "Don't let Tifa know about this until we know that it is the same."
"Understood," Nanaki replied. "When are you coming back?"
"I'm not sure," he said. "For now, I'll remain at ShinRa so that I can run a few tests on Cloud and Hojo's blood samples. Let me know if there are any changes in Cloud's symptoms."
"I will." He nosed the button, hanging up his end of the conversation. He headed downstairs to the basement to check up on Cloud. Cid and Yuffie sat on opposite sides of the bed, and between them Cloud tore at the restraints. "How is he?"
"Crazy as hell still," Cid replied wiping his nose and shifting in his chair. "'Been conscious for 'bout an hour now. 'Been fight'n those ever since." He made a gesture at the leather restraints.
"Has he said anything?"
"Not for a while," Yuffie replied quietly. "He was yelling at us when he first woke up…just about killing us once he got free." The three sat in silence as they watched him struggle furiously with the restraints. Both wrists were steadily dripping with blood, the leather wearing through the inflamed skin. "If he keeps on…he's really going to hurt himself…" Yuffie said softly.
"Would you two mind a quick break?" Nanaki asked. "I'll keep an eye on him for a moment."
"Didn't think you were ever going to ask," Cid said, not hesitating to stand. "I'll be out front." He walked out of the room, pulling a cigarette from the pocket on the front of his jacket. Yuffie stood and started to follow him out, hesitating at the door.
"You sure you'll be okay alone?" she asked. He turned and nodded. She gave a half-hearted smile before taking her leave. Nanaki turned back, looking back to the bed.
"Cloud," he said. Blue eyes struck him, narrowed irises shone brightly beneath blond locks. "Perhaps you should allow yourself some rest," Nanaki suggested. "Were you to build your strength, perhaps you would see some progress. Here, try eating something." Nanaki nudged the plate on side table towards him. Cloud stared. "I have no intentions of harming you, if that is your worry. I also have no intentions of freeing you, as I know you want to kill us."
"Then we have nothing to discuss," Cloud spat.
"Might I ask you a question, Cloud?"
"No," he replied yanking against the restraints.
"You keep saying that you want nothing more that to kill us," Nanaki began. "Yet, you haven't explained why. Why is it that you wish to do us harm?" Cloud didn't answer. "Or do you have a reason?"
"You know damn well what you've done," Cloud shouted suddenly. "All of you keep claiming to be my friends – to care about me. I haven't forgotten all of the shit you people have caused."
"What, Cloud?" Nanaki snapped. "You keep saying we've done things, but what have we done? Tell me, Cloud!"
"You destroyed him!" Cloud yelled, the restraints gripping tightly as he strained against them.
"Him?" Nanaki repeated with surprise. "Who, Cloud?"
"It was your fault – all of you!" he continued, not acknowledging the question. His body began shaking more violently as he fought the restraints. "We have to destroy ShinRa – and the world that imprisoned her! It should have ended before – when he used the Ultimate Destructive Magic. But you stopped it!" Suddenly the leather tore, his hands springing free from the leather binds. Without hesitating, he lunged for Nanaki. Barely dodging the attack, he slipped beneath the blond, letting him fall to the floor. Cloud lifted himself on weak arms and panted with the sudden exertion.
"Don't you remember, Cloud?" Nanaki snapped, dodging another blow. "You were there! You were with us – on our side!" As if he didn't hear the words, Cloud lunged towards Nanaki once more, slamming into the full length mirror opposite the bed. Glass shards clattered to the floor, nibbling at the flesh that touched them. "It was you that led us to the depths of the Northern Cave. You were the one that defeated Sephiroth!" Cloud stood from the glass-speckled floor, blood oozing from small gashes that coated his cheeks like freckles. He turned, ultramarine eyes locking on to the saffron irises of the flame colored beast before him. Their eyes gazed at one another's for a moment as the other began to speak again. "Don't you remember, Cloud?" he asked softly, his voice quivering slightly. "She died so that you could defeat him – so that you could save this planet." Nanaki shook his head and his voice rose as he asked his next question. "Or did Aerith's friendship mean anything to you?"
Suddenly, the room before him faded and Cloud was suddenly standing upon a brightly lit alter overlooking a serene pond. His sword clattered to the mosaic tile as he saw the girl before him. She lifted her head, lids opening to reveal emerald irises glistening in the vibrant light that flooded the area. Her lips curved into a sympathetic smile. Suddenly, a crystal blade slid through her front side, a clean but fatal cut. Mako eyes gleamed behind silver bangs and his mouth twisted into a smirk as he pulled the blade free.
"No…" Cloud whimpered, falling to his knees. Hands clasped either side of his head and fingers twisted into blond locks. His body began to shake again. Sapphires gazed back at him from a mirror shard, specked with blood. Eyes closed tightly, trying to hide himself from those eyes. "No!" He fell to his side, crumpled and defeated. Bones chattered beneath his skin and slowly Cloud could feel his mind fleeing from reality once more. He fought; he needed to stay awake – to keep consciousness. "No…" he strained as his breath caught in his chest and became shallow.
For a moment, he felt tiny slivers of glass nip at his flesh through his clothing, the lingering pricks a show of vital signs – that he was still real, still alive. Then, the floor became weightless, as though it was no longer there. The pain from the small cuts vanished as he floated there, somewhere between the peeling paint of the basement ceiling and the soft green carpet sprinkled with flecks of reality.
