Chapter Seven: Trent
All day long, Marena had answered phone calls for Cloud, and he went out to deliver the orders called in. Ever since Sephiroth was beaten, Cloud received over ten deliveries a day when he usually delivered once a day and stayed out long hours. The week passed on like this, and finally after a long day of delivering, Cloud comes into his office with a tired face and a slow walk.
"You received one more delivery, Cloud, but they said you could deliver it tomorrow since they called it in so late. So, how was the delivering?" Marena asked brightly as Cloud came in, and she moved out of his seat.
Cloud sits in his chair and says, "It went well. I earned a lot of money today, and it will help me buy some parts to fix up my bike and help Tifa fix up her dining area. Here's some money for you to go out and buy anything you need, Marena. Tomorrow you get the last half of the day off since it is the weekend."
Marena smiles and says, "Thanks, Cloud."
She walks to the door and stops saying, "Hey, Cloud?"
"Hum?" he mumbles as he looks at her.
"I... I don't really know you, so I was wondering if you would like to go on a bike ride with me on my half a day off tomorrow, if you have nothing to do." Marena asks.
Cloud looks down for a moment, and then looks back up at her saying, "Sure."
"Really?" she turns to look at him, and he nods.
"Yeah... We'll go out as soon as I get back from my last delivery for the day. I don't really know you either, so we can get to know each other tomorrow," Cloud says.
Marena smiles and leaves to her room saying, "Good night, Cloud."
"Good night, Marena," he says as he turns the light off and goes to bed as well.
Next day...
Marena wakes up, eats breakfast, and says a quick "hello" to everyone as she runs up to Cloud's office to answer a ringing phone.
She picks up the receiver and says, "Strife Delivery Service. You name it, we deliver it. My name is Marena."
A voice talks and she writes some things on a notepad and nods saying, "Yes. Thank you for calling."
She hangs up the phone and sits in Cloud's chair as she runs her hand through her hair. Cloud walks in a few minutes later as he stretches his arms and picks up the notepad with ease.
"This is today's new order, so what about the one from yesterday I was supposed to do, Marena?" he asks.
"Oh, its here," she says as she pulls out a slip of paper from a drawer and hands it to him saying, "They want it delivered first thing today, so you better hurry, Cloud."
Cloud nods and says, "See you this after noon. Call me if-"
Marena cuts him off, "If any new deliveries come in. I know, Cloud."
He smiles and leaves as he waves, and Marena smiles as she answers the phone for the second time and gets another delivery. It came near lunch time and Marena calls Cloud to give him another delivery.
"Cloud, you have another delivery. Toki from the repair shop needs you to deliver a part to the hospital in Kalm. I'm going out for a little while, so when you get back wait for me, alright?" Marena tells him.
Cloud says on the other end, "Alright. I got it. Don't forget to turn the phone line over to the answering machine, Marena."
Marena nods and says, "I know, Cloud. I'll see you later."
"Bye," he says and a click is heard.
Marena hangs up the phone and switches it over to the answering machine mode as she walks out of the office. She goes into her room and grabs her weapons which she places on her hips. She looks at a picture of her brother she kept in her tight shirt, and a memory plays through her head.
A fifteen year old Marena is carrying her ten year old brother through the Forgotten Capital, and she stops at the edge of a body of water.
Tear drops trickle down her cheeks as she says, "I'm sorry I couldn't save you, brother. I'm so sorry. Mother and father would be so disappointed if they had seen what happened. I didn't mean for it to happen like this, brother. If I had been there, SOLDIER would not have killed you like they killed our parents. They only wanted me, and they've destroyed my whole family in the process. I promise I'll live for you."
Marena walks into the water and comes to a decline in the water. She kisses her brother's forehead one last time, and a teardrop lands on his cheek.
Her final words to his body as she lowers him into the water are, "I love you, Trent."
Marena opens her eyes and her eyes become determined as she turns and goes downstairs.
"I'm going out, Tifa. Cloud knows, so I'll try to be back when he arrives," Marena says to Tifa and waves.
"Alright... Be safe," Tifa says as she hands a man a drink.
Marena goes to her bike and gets on as she starts it up. She speeds off toward Kalm again, but when she gets there, the mansion is empty, and there is a note on the door addressed to Marena.
Marena,
You are probably wondering where I went, but I will not tell you. Stop chasing after me, and forget about trying to kill me. Your hate for me will only get you killed. Don't make the mistake of trying to kill me again.
Farewell,
Rufus
Marena smashes the paper in her hands and says, "I will not give up, Rufus. You'll pay for everything you have done. You'll pay for taking the life from the Lifestream, and on my brother's grave I swear I will defeat you some day. I won't go back on my word."
She drops the note on the ground, jumps down on her bike, and speeds off to Midgar again. All the while she is thinking about her brother, and the day he died.
Brother, I'm back! Where are you?!" Marena calls for her brother as she walks into their small apartment in Kalm.
Marena freezes as she sees two men from SOLDIER standing over her brother's bloody body and they are smirking at each other.
"He should have told us where his sister was and maybe we would have let him live."
"Oh well, we'll just have to wait till she gets here."
Marena yells angrily, "Get away from my brother!"
They turn but don't have time to react as Marena grabs their necks and squeezes.
"You killed my brother... and now I will kill you!" she says as she throws them on the floor and pulls out her kodachis, stabbing them in their hearts.
Marena forgets about them as she drops to her knees next to her brother and says, "Forgive me for not being here, Trent. I'm so sorry, brother!"
Trent's eyes open slightly and he says, "Don't be sad, sister. Live for me. Marena...."
His eyes turn foggy, and Marena's puts her hand over his eyes and closes them. Her tears fall on her brother's shirt as she holds his body close to her, the stab wounds in his stomach leaking blood on her white shirt and shorts.
Tears trickle down her chin, neck, and on the edge of the picture of her brother which was sticking out of her tight shirt.
"I miss you... Trent...." she whispers.
