Zack was leaning against the side of the cell, watching Cloud sleeping, 'Hang on in there buddy, I'll find a way to get us out of here I promise.' he promised for what seemed to be the millionth time.

Yawning he stared at the slab which he had now grown used to sleeping on, 'Nothing I can do,' he decided and lay down on it. He heard the familiar hissing sound and realised they had come to take one of them for their daily "treatments", 'wonder which of us he'll choose today.' he thought as his eyelids drooped and sleep claimed him.

He woke upon hearing a man's gurgling scream, he looked in the direction of the sound as the outer door slammed open and HoJo came flying in slamming harshly against the cell door, the professor slid down and landed in a heap. An elderly looking tall man walked in with pure white hair.

"So I guess this is the pound." The man said looking at him, then to Cloud, "Zack, you are needed, those loyal to ShinRa are the disease, we are the cure, join us, or face the coming purge..."

He looked to the man and realised it was Genesis, "I can't leave Cloud."

"Then wake him, and bring him. If he does not wake, leave him, we do not need dead weight."

Zack got up and shook Cloud shoulder, no reaction. He tried again. "Come on buddy, we're getting out of here, we've been rescued." still no reaction. Just then Genesis grabbed the cell door and tore it from its hinges. "He's not waking, leave him. Let's go."

Refusing to leave his friend, Zack shook Cloud harder, Cloud moaned and shot up. His eyes were slits and had an intense red hue to them. He stared at Zack, "Betrayer!" Cloud spoke and raised up from the slab.

"Cloud, buddy it's me Zack." he said backing away.

"You are part of the virus that has endangered this planet," Cloud said and punched Zack in the chest.

Zack fell onto the slab harshly and holding his ribs. Cloud had sprung a black wing from his shoulder and was following Genesis. "face the purge" Genesis called back, as the outer door slammed closed. Zack jumped up and tried to follow them, however, the door would not budge and he could hear the hiss of gas.

He woke, he found he was back on the slab he looked around in confusion. Cloud was missing, but the cell door was in place. He sat up and rubbed his forehead, 'another dream?' he thought as he looked at Cloud's slab again.