Chapter 7
Tifa woke in the darkness, feeling cold and alone. She shivered as she tried to get her bearings on the situation. Something rustled next to her and she jumped, but her drugged body didn't comply with her demands. She only succeeded in rolling over, and that was not at all what she wanted.
"So you're finally awake," said a voice that was familiar, but it frightened her just the same.
Her eyes had not adjusted to the almost complete darkness, but she saw the dim form of a tall person, with what looked to be a cape.
"Vincent?" She let the question roll out of her dysfunctional mouth, but the person seemed to understand.
"Yes Tifa, I'm here, and so is Red Xlll, who is providing us with the meager light."
Tifa gave a groan, as blood rushed back into stiff limbs, and the prickling sensation felt like needles.
"Are you okay?" inquired Vincent, who put his hand on her forehead.
Tifa nodded her head against his hand, to indicate that she was okay.
"You aren't hurt?"
"No," she mumbled, trying to make her mouth work.
"They gave you a lot of the drug they used to knock you out. You're slurring your words."
"I feel like shit too," she said, rubbing her head, but was only marginally successful.
"So they've got three of us now," growled Red Xlll from the corner where he lay.
"They are very efficient at their job. I wouldn't have expected it from them," said Vincent, looking over at Red Xlll, and smiling weakly.
Red Xlll gave another growl, and Tifa managed to get over to him, and put her hand on his beautiful head, and scratched his ear.
"It's okay Red, they will pay dearly for what they have done." She continued to stoke his soft fur, and out of sheer bliss, he began to purr.
"You like that don't you big guy? I'm glad, because it comforts me as well." Tifa gave Red Xlll a brief smile, when the door opened.
A tall figure stepped in, and gave a small hand gesture to the occupants of the cell, and flipped the lights on.
"We have a third to feed? I don't know if we will…" He stopped, and stared at Tifa.
"My, my, they brought a pretty one didn't they? I wasn't expecting that!" Hojo
Then he moved over to the cell, and looked more closely at Tifa.
Tifa felt uncomfortable as his stare moved slowly down her form, and took in all that he wanted. She tried to cover herself, and he laughed.
"Why be so modest? You aren't when you are around them!" He gave her a wicked smile, and rubbed his hands together.
"We shall see about you… I could use you for…" he faltered as Tifa's fist slammed the cell, causing it to jump slightly.
"Oh! Such strong arms! Wow, you are quite a fighter I bet, and what is your name?" Hojo looked at her excited for a moment. His face drooped slightly, when she replied with a finger.
"And rude to boot! Wow, they must hate you! You look so nice… Yet on the inside is an ugly soul… Waste of beautiful flesh!"
"Shut up bastard! I hate you already! And I don't even know you!" shouted Tifa.
"Oh, you know me, you just don't remember… I did so much for certain individuals, and they also forgot me as well… I am not a well-liked person! But that is not the point!"
"Leave her be! You will regret the day that you captured Avalanche! You will pay the ultimate price for this!" said Vincent, his reddish eyes full of fire and hatred.
"Such strong words from hopeless captives! My, you are a lively bunch! Well, I just wanted to see the beauty the guards where talking about. She isn't much to look at when you know what she is like on the inside, isn't it true Vincent? I am not afraid of death Vincent! You know I would welcome it were it to come to me! My life has been miserable since birth! Do not threaten me with death!"
"You will die," was Vincent's reply, anger flushing his face.
"I wish it was so. But alas, you can't hurt me, and none of the others in this building have the right to, so here I will stay, and live!"
Vincent turned away, and sat against the wall. He lay back, and closed his eyes. He just wanted the man to leave.
Hojo turned to Red Xlll, and smiled.
"How are you, you pathetic excuse of a beast? Are you being treated well by your friends?"
Red Xlll shot daggers at Hojo, and stared at him until the man looked away. He made Red's blood boil, and Red Xlll was not use to feeling such anger…
"Well, no supper for any of you then!" He threw down the bread and the cups of water, letting them break, and fall all over the floor.
The three of them stared as their food fell onto the ground, outside their reach, but not out of sight. Hojo gave a morbid grin, and said,
"Let that be a lesson to your insolence! Next time answer my questions!"
He stormed out, turning out the light, and slamming the door behind him.
The trio, stared a moment longer at the spilled substance, and then turned away, stomachs growling.
"That man is evil! I can feel it emanate off of him like heat!" said Red Xlll.
"Yes, and there is something familiar about him… I just can't place it" said Vincent, taking a moment to think about it, then shook his head, and gave up.
"I want to kill him in the most painful way possible! I'll tear off his…" Tifa stopped before she went any further.
"Wow, Tifa! That mad at him already!" said Vincent.
"You saw the way he was treating me! I have every right to hate that man!"
"You do! I wasn't disagreeing! I just thought that it would take more to anger you so. You are not that angry a person Tifa! Don't become one. It is a hard habit to break," said Vincent, giving her a meaningful look.
"Well, I guess. But I still hate that monster with a passion that burns!"
"So be it then! Revenge will be oh so sweet! A rose by any other name would smell so sweet!" Vincent threw the Shakespeare line in, summing the idea of revenge perfectly.
They all looked at each other, and cracked up at Vincent's Shakespearian language, and then settled down against the wall, to get some rest.
But rest wouldn't be easy either, for Hojo walked back into the room, snapping the lights on, making Tifa and Vincent flinch from the sudden brightness.
"Answer my questions and I'll give you food. Don't and I'll leave, and let the guards play loud music down this hallway, to keep you awake! Your choice."
"TIFA!" shouted Tifa, looking angrily at Hojo.
"Tifa? A pretty name, for a petty girl… And how about you Mr. Puss?"
Red Xlll growled at Hojo, but reluctantly answered.
"Fine! Just FINE!"
"Good, now was that so hard? Here is your gruel, and water! Eat up, we wouldn't want to have to force feed you!"
Hojo pushed the button on the wall, and then slid the tray through the barrier.
He turned quickly, and departed, snapping the lights off as he did.
The trio ate fast, and then went to sleep.
It was hard for Tifa to get used to sleeping on a concrete floor, but she managed.