Chapter 10: Giving Up
–
Zack grabbed Aerith, slinging her unceremoniously over his shoulder, ignoring her cry of protest.
"Run!" he shouted at the others, kicking the door open and rushing out. "What's the quickest route out of this sector?" he asked loudly, glancing uneasily at the plate above, which was groaning ominously. Large rafters were falling around them, and people were screaming as they ran. All of Sector 7 was in mass hysteria.
"Follow me!" Cloud shouted back over the growing rumble, grabbing Tifa's wrist and tugging her behind him. Barret was shouting something that Zack could no longer hear, beckoning for Biggs and Wedge. Zack put on a burst of speed and lunged after Cloud, trusting him to get them out of the sector safely, not because he thought Cloud was trustworthy, but because he knew Cloud would save his own skin, as well as Tifa's.
Above them, the plate cried out in protest, metal bending and tearing away from its constraints, support beams no longer able to hold the weight as gravity did its job. The hairs on the back of Zack's neck stood up, the adrenaline pouring through him, and he was aware that the plate would fall any second.
"GO! GO!" he shouted again, not knowing if anyone heard him, but shouting it nonetheless. His legs pumped, burning with the effort as he pushed himself to run faster, aware that Aerith was clinging to him. Cloud darted down a narrow pathway and Zack changed direction abruptly, trailing him.
"NOT MUCH FARTHER!" Cloud roared, Tifa panting beside him as they ran. Zack threw a quick look behind him to see Barret, Biggs, and Wedge lagging.
"COME ON!" Zack cried, leaping over a fallen beam and ducking out of the way as another swung toward him. He heard a sickening crunch and a shout of terror as Biggs and Wedge were hit by the beam, thrown backward toward the plate that was drawing ever closer to the ground. Barret hesitated, but Zack shouted at him again.
"IT'S TOO LATE! COME ON!" Zack regretted the lives that would be lost, but he had to save Aerith – that was more important than anything else, more important than all the lives that would be snuffed out under the gigantic plate, and if Zack had the time to think about it, he would have wondered why she was so important. But he didn't have time – he was running for both their lives.
Barret gave one last regretful look back, and then hurried forward, panting harshly. Zack returned his attention to Cloud, watching him carefully so he didn't lose him in all the chaos. Suddenly, Zack saw the entrance to the next sector over, and despite his burning muscles, he forced himself to run faster. Behind him, he could already feel the wind from the falling plate, and it gave him the extra push he needed, sending him flying to safety. All five of them dove to the ground, Zack using his body to shield Aerith as they fell. It felt like forever as they rolled away from Sector 7, and everything was a dusty blur. Finally, they all slowed to a stop, lying dirty and bruised on the ground, panting heavily.
The ground shuddered underneath them as the plate finally hit the ground, sending great clouds of dust and dirt billowing outward from the impact, and Zack squeezed his eyes shut as it blew their way. He held his breath as it whipped over them, until the air around them finally stilled. He heard the sounds of coughing around him, and he opened his eyes slowly, gazing down at Aerith, who's eyes were still clenched tight.
"Are you okay?" he finally managed to choke out, coughing in the dusty air. Aerith opened her eyes hesitantly, and she nodded uncertainly.
"I think so," she said quietly, and Zack rose from his protective position over her, helping her stand. He looked over at Cloud, who was helping Tifa stand, but completely ignoring Barret, who was lying in the dirt wheezing.
"Fuck...runnin'.....holy....Biggs...Wedge...DAMNIT!"
"Alright there, Barret?" Zack asked wearily. He still felt the sting of betrayal, but he couldn't have very well left them all there to die.
Barret shook his head roughly, coughing. "Damnit, they're dead!" Tifa made her way over to Barret, placing a comforting hand on his back. "FUCKING SHINRA!" Barret shouted, and Tifa jumped. Cloud was staring back at the rubble, the muscles in his jaw tight.
Zack sighed. "You guys will be okay from here. This is where we leave."
"What?" Barret demanded, scowling as he sat up. "You're just going to...walk away?"
"You used me. I don't see why I should hang around."
"But what about Shinra? What about the Ancient?" he asked, gesturing toward Aerith.
"Aerith." Zack grit out. "Her name's Aerith. And I'm not handing her over. Forget it."
"Look at what Shinra just did! Biggs and Wedge died."
"That's life!" Zack shouted, kicking out a piece of rubble violently. "People die, damn it!"
"They shouldn'ta died!" Barret growled, raising his gun arm and pointing it at Aerith. "I won't let them die in vain. Shinra's gonna get what's comin' to them, and she'll be the bait."
Zack stepped forward, raising his arm out in front of her protectively, holding his sword in the other.
"You won't touch a hair on her head," he snarled, but Tifa stepped between the two.
"Barret!" she cried out, shaking her head vehemently. "This isn't the way. We can't just take Aerith..." Barret's face fell, and he dropped his arm slowly.
"I...I know," he muttered gruffly, sighing. "It's just...they shouldn'ta died....not like that..." The man slumped forward, running his hand over his head refretfully.
"Come one, Aerith," Zack said, steering her away from the group.
"So you're really leavin', kid?" Barret asked. "What about Shinra?"
Zack didn't turn around to face him as he replied. "You deal with them your way, and I'll deal with them my way. But I don't agree with your methods."
"Zack!" Tifa said, biting her lip uncertainly, looking as though she wanted to go after him, but Cloud grabbed her arm, holding her back.
"Let him go," he said softly, watching Zack and Aerith's retreating figures. "We don't need them."
–
Zack led Aerith away from the people he used to think he could trust, feeling incredibly stupid for falling for their plan.
"Aerith...I'm so sorry. I...I didn't know." She didn't look at him, opting to keep on walking instead. He was worried she was too angry to answer, but she finally sighed, turning to meet his eyes.
"I know. I'm just sorry I kept secrets from you."
"Everyone has secrets," he said, knowing full well he had plenty of his own. Aerith was looking sadly at the rubble that was the remains of Sector 7.
"I hope my mother's okay..."
"She stayed in sector 5 though, right?"
"I think so...can we go check on her?"
"We'll have to take the long way around, I think. We're in Sector 8, so, we'll have to swing back around through all the other sectors..." Zack groaned suddenly, brushing off his dirty uniform uselessly. "I just. I can't believe them. It's my fault, really though...I should know better."
"How could you have known?" Aerith asked, resting her small hand on his arm.
"There were signs...I was just being too stupid to see them. I just didn't want to see them," he admitted. "I just wanted my life to have some semblance of normalcy." He snorted, shaking his head. "Fat chance, right? There's only...revenge left. After that, I don't know what to do. I used to think that having dreams was important – but my dreams, they keep on getting crushed, and it's all Shinra's fault. Maybe it's better if..."
"If you stop being my bodyguard?" Aerith asked, and he sighed, realizing that they were back to that. "But then who will save me from Turks and AVALANCHE members?"
"I don't know. Who will save you from me, though?" he asked quietly, and the look she gave him...he couldn't describe it.
Finally she said, "I don't know. I think it's more important to know who's going to save you from yourself."
"What?" he asked, gaping at her. She sighed, dropping her gaze to the ground.
"You don't always have to be so strong. You can ask for help."
"...No one can help me," he said slowly, narrowing his eyes.
"I helped you," Aerith stated plainly, meeting his eyes again in a defiant stare. His memory flashed back to the warm feeling that had consumed him while she comforted him after his killing spree.
"I don't know what that was," he admitted. "A fluke, or something. Or did you use some sort of Ancient powers on me?" he demanded.
She frowned at him, and he knew he'd said the wrong thing. "If I did, I didn't mean to. I was only trying to help, because I cared."
"Well...just...don't waste that on me."
"Don't waste what?"
"Any of your caring, or – affection, or whatever it is. I don't need it," he said harshly, regretting the words as they poured out his mouth. Hurt flashed in her eyes, and she looked away from him again, her jaw clenched tightly.
"Can we go see my mother?" she asked flatly, crossing her arms over her chest. Zack groaned inwardly. Why did he have to be such a jerk? He was angry at Cloud and Tifa and Barret, but now he was taking it out on Aerith...he wanted to apologize, but kept it to himself. Maybe they needed some distance – Zack was afraid that he was getting too attached.
"Yeah," he said gruffly, leading the way as she followed at a distance.
-
Tifa stared at the remains of Sector 7, unable to believe everything that had just happened.
"How could they do this?" she asked, mostly to herself.
"Shinra will stop at nothing," Cloud responded, his brow furrowed, and his eyes glowing eerily. "I learned that the hard way."
"What do you mean?" Tifa asked, gazing at his profile.
"...Nothing. I don't want to talk about it." Cloud shook his head, closing his eyes. Tifa exhaled slowly, trying not to feel frustrated. Cloud would always have his secrets, she supposed.
"What now?" she asked to no one in particular.
"We get those fuckers back," Barret said, loosing a few rounds into the wreckage.
"How do you propose we do that?" Cloud asked sharply, rolling his eyes. "You have all this talk of getting back at Shinra, but you don't do shit about it, and now they've blown up the fucking reactor and dropped the plate on us. They don't give a damn, either. You're all talk," he said, his voice taunting. Tifa had to sigh again, her annoyance growing. Did Cloud always have to bait Barret?
"I'll show you all talk, Spike," Barret growled, raising his gun arm again and taking aim at Cloud.
"Do it, you don't have the guts," Cloud laughed darkly, pulling out his blade.
"Barret! Cloud!" Tifa snapped sharply, stepping between the two, yet again. "I'm sure killing each other off will make Shinra's job a lot easier!"
Barret glared at Cloud hard for a long minute before reluctantly lowering his arm. Cloud just shook his head, snorting.
"Fine. Here's my plan. We go in tonight."
"What? Into Shinra?" Barret asked disbelievingly.
"Cloud," Tifa exhaled heavily, "I don't think the three of us are exactly a force to be reckoned with."
"I'm going with or without you. I'm going to force President Shinra to talk."
Tifa held back another sigh, resigning herself to Cloud's impromptu plan. She couldn't very well let him go alone, could she?
"Fine. I'll come with," she said, shaking her head. "This has got to be one of your dumbest ideas, though," she added, and he rolled his eyes.
"It'll be fine. Trust me," he said, a satisfied expression on his face. "Shinra will get what's coming to them."
-
Aerith hadn't spoken to Zack the entire way back home. She did her best not to look at him, either, as she was fuming on the inside at what he'd said. She hadn't realized what a jerk he could be. Mostly, she didn't want him to see how hurt she had been by his words. After all, he already saw her as being weak and unable to take care of herself – or anyone else for that matter – and she hardly needed to add to that image. So, they had walked back in stony silence.
Her mother had been so relieved when she got home, and Aerith was thankful for the distraction of her mother. Zack hadn't come in, opting to sulk outside, she supposed. Aerith felt a twinge of guilt as her mother fussed over her – she always made her mother worry, it seemed. At the same time, she felt a bit...irritated. She was tired of being fussed over all the time.
Claiming exhaustion (she really was tired), she climbed up the stairs to her room, her thoughts swirling around in her brain. How could anyone, even Shinra, destroy an entire sector? More importantly, why? Was it because of those AVALANCHE people? Perhaps even more curious was Zack's thirst for revenge against Shinra. Shinra made Zack...angry. She didn't like it. She realized that most of the things Zack had said to her earlier were out of frustration, but that didn't stop them from hurting.
Aerith paused in front of her mirror, looking at herself critically. She was filthy. Dirt was smudged on her face and coated her clothing and hair. She decided she needed to clean up before she even considered sleeping.
As she stripped and stepped into the warmth of her shower, she pondered Zack some more. It seemed that the more Shinra did, the more Zack withdrew from her, opting to pull himself down a road of self-destruction. He didn't seem to care if he lived or died, and thoughts of getting revenge were consuming him.
How can you live life without dreams? She wondered, recalling Zack's words. He seemed so optimistic all the time, it seemed strange to think that he no longer believed in having dreams. But seeing him, looking so angry and defeated today...maybe he really had given up on hope for anything else.
Aerith frowned, washing her hair absentmindedly. What would Zack do once he got his revenge? Would he continue to spiral out of control, until he was only a ghost of what he once was? Would he even survive a face off with Shinra? Aerith prayed with all her might that he would – she couldn't imagine what it would feel like if he died, no matter how upset she was with him right now. But when it was all said and done, if he survived, would she be able to help him?
Not at this rate, she thought sadly.
-
"This is the stupidest idea you've ever had, Cloud!" Tifa hissed at him as they climbed through the vents.
"What kind of plan is this anyway?" Barret demanded, struggling to pull his bulk through the narrow pathways.
"The kind where we don't get caught and killed right as we enter the building," Cloud shot back in a harsh whisper. "If you weren't so bulky you'd get through easier."
"Fuck you," Barret growled back. Cloud smiled to himself, pulling himself forward again, listening carefully as they passed over open vents, peering down into the rooms occasionally to get a bearing on their surroundings.
"I can't believe they don't even guard the vents," Tifa muttered to herself. "Isn't that textbook?"
"Shinra would never expect anyone to try and break in through the vents," Cloud chuckled darkly to himself. "They're so arrogant."
"Sounds like someone I know," Barret grumbled, and Cloud knew Barret was referring to him. He ignored the implied insult.
"Here," he whispered, stopping suddenly. Behind him, Tifa and Barret shuffled to a stop. Cloud shifted, pulling his legs up in front of him so that he could kick the vent open, allowing himself and the others to leap out into the open room. Barret fumbled out, groaning gratefully as he stretched his legs.
"What the hell?" Barret asked, eyes surveying the room around them. "What's with all the stairs?" he asked, tilting his head backward to peer up at a nearly endless number of stairs.
"We can't take the elevators. They require special keys. We'll have to take the stairs the rest of the way, unless you prefer to do a vertical climb through the vents?"
"Stairs it is," Barret replied.
Suddenly, the alarms blared angrily, and red bulbs in the stairway began to flash.
"Shit," Cloud swore, his body tensing. He hadn't realized that Shinra had added cameras to the stairwells – they hadn't been there when he was here. "Run!" he hissed, launching himself up the stairs.
"What, we're still going up? They know we're here, Cloud!" Tifa shouted, hurrying after him.
"Of course, we didn't break in for nothing. I'm not giving up now!"
Barret cursed behind them, letting loose several expletives as he ran after them, with promises of shooting Cloud's ass full of holes if they got out of this alive.
-
Zack sat moodily in the flowers that Aerith had planted in the front of her house, the light breeze causing them to sway and brush lightly against his skin. The scent reminded him of Aerith – or maybe it was because Aerith always smelled like flowers. He was cursing himself for the words he'd said to her, hating that they had walked back together in silence.
Behind him, he heard the front door open. He listened to the footsteps, realizing after a moment that it was Elmyra and not Aerith. He didn't bother to turn around, wondering what she could possibly have to say to him. She stopped next to him, gazing out into the distance.
"I think you should leave," she finally said, and Zack looked up at her in surprise. She continued to avoid his gaze as she went on. "Aerith's life has been in more danger since you showed up. I don't care how nice you are, I won't have her life be in danger anymore."
Zack stood up hurriedly. "The Turks would have come after her with or without me being here."
"Maybe so," Elmyra replied, shrugging her shoulders. "But from what I've seen, she's been in more danger since you showed your face. I trusted you when you got here, but I'm not so sure anymore. Bad things started happening, and even though you've saved us, for all I know you're just trying to gain our trust. For all I know, you're actually working for the enemy, and you're waiting for the opportune time to take Aerith away. And don't play dumb with me, I know you know what she is."
Zack could have laughed at the irony. Not that Elmyra really knew, but he had been working for people who had planned to kidnap Aerith all along.
"You're right...and you're wrong. I would never hurt Aerith, I swear that, but...I'm dangerous. Having me around probably isn't the best idea. So I'll leave. It's for the best, anyway."
Elmyra looked at him, the surprise on her face apparent.
"I see you thought I'd put up a fight. No, I'll go. Just don't tell Aerith you told me to leave. I don't think she'd be happy, and I don't want anything to come between you two. No, just tell her I left and you don't know where I went. Hopefully, she'll forget about me." With a grim smile, Zack hurried into the house to grab his few possessions. He found a piece of paper and hurriedly scrawled a note on it, leaving it on the table, then slid out the front door, ignoring Elmyra's look as he strode away, pausing to take one last look at Aerith's house as he got to the gate.
"....Bye," he whispered, his heart feeling uncharacteristically heavy. This felt harder than watching his mentor die before him, and he didn't understand why. The thought of not seeing Aerith again, of not apologizing for the things he said and didn't mean...it was like he was being stabbed, several times over, like someone was clenching his heart with an unforgiving fist. Zack swallowed heavily, then forced his legs to walk away, forced himself to ignore the ache in his chest.
Nothing could ever become of them. Not while Shinra was out there. Zack's eyes rose as he sped away, gazing up at the plate. Shinra was up there, and they needed to be stopped. He was finally free from his other duties. It was time to attend to Shinra, to figure out how to end this once and for all.
-
Tifa panted, her chest heaving as they raced up the stairs. Cloud didn't seem out of breath at all, but Barret was lagging behind her, and her legs were burning and crying out for rest.
"Cloud!" she gasped, clutching at a stitch in her side. "Slow....down!"
"We can't!" he shouted, whirling around on them. "Come on!" But Barret had collapsed on the stairs, sweating profusely and gasping for air. Tifa felt herself slowing, and she had to stop on the next landing, leaning over, her hands on her knees as she too gasped for air.
"Come on!" Cloud cried out in frustration, running back down the stairs to where they both were. From above and below them, they could hear the clang of the metal stairs as several feet ran along them. "They're coming," Cloud grit out, reaching for his sword. Tifa wanted to fall on the ground and never move again. How did he expect them to fight?
"Halt!" one of the Shinra guards shouted, and Cloud glared at him.
"We're not even moving, dumbass!" More guards appeared behind the first guard, and several more climbed up the stairs behind Tifa and Barret. They were surrounded.
"No!" Cloud spat out, slashing out with his sword violently, eyes glowing in the darkened stairwell. One of the guards fell, holding his chest, blood gurgling in his mouth.
"Get them!" the other guards shouted, the click of gun's echoing loudly around them.
"Come on guys, fight!" Cloud urged Tifa and Barret, but Tifa could only shake her head weakly. Her efforts to stand were futile – her muscles were shaking wearily from their trip up the stairs.
"Lower your weapon!" one of the guards warned Cloud, his gun aimed at Cloud's head. Cloud glared petulantly back, raising his sword higher.
Tifa felt one of the guards inching toward her, and even though she felt shaky and weak, she spun around and threw a kick at him. As she did this, she felt the muzzle of a cold, hard gun being pressed into her back, and she froze.
"Wait!" Cloud cried out, and Tifa thought she heard a bit of panic in his voice. "Stop. Your fight is with me, not her."
The guard only responded by pressing the gun harder into her back, and she winced, but kept her mouth shut.
I'm going to die.
"Fine," Cloud said weakly, and she heard his sword clatter to the ground. She snapped her head around, looking at him incredulously. Cloud had just given in? He just gave up?
"What are you doing?" she demanded, but he shook his head weakly at her.
"I got you two into this. I won't let them kill you."
"Ah, well, I would have rather seen you go out with a fight, Mr. Strife," a voice filled with glee said. A man in a white lab coat stepped through the mass of guards, grinning maliciously. Cloud's eyes widened, then narrowed in hatred. "Your friends will die here, regardless, but on my terms instead."
"Hojo!" Cloud hissed, lunging forward, but was stopped as three tall men in blue uniforms restrained him. Tifa saw that their eyes were glowing, just like Cloud's, and she realized they must be SOLDIER too. She saw Cloud's muscles straining against their hold, but to no avail.
"Mr. Strife, it's been too long. Glad to see you aren't any less hostile," the man called Hojo grinned, eyes traveling to Barret who was now also being restrained, and then resting on her. She shivered at the look in his eyes. It made her feel dirty. "Look at this specimen," Hojo cooed, raising his hand toward her face. She flinched backwards, grimacing in disgust, only to have the gun at her back dig in painfully. "Feisty," Hojo chuckled, eyes gleaming madly. "She's quite attractive, wouldn't you say, Mr. Strife?"
"Don't touch her!" Cloud spat, swearing under his breath and trying to tug his arms free. Hojo ignored Cloud, sighing happily to himself.
"How foolish of you to come here. But all the better for me. Soon we will have the Ancient, and now I have three more experiments to conduct. I am so looking forward to continuing your tests, Mr. Strife. You were quite the specimen before you left."
"NO! I WON'T LET YOU!" Cloud roared, shaking fiercely with barely restrained anger.
"Sedate him," Hojo said, and Tifa watched horrified as one of the SOLDIERS pulled out a syringe, inserting it carelessly into Cloud's neck. Cloud hissed with pain, still lunging uselessly as he tried to escape their grip, heaving and panting like a wild animal.
"No!" Cloud cried again, his movements becoming weaker as the tranquilizer began to take effect, his eyelids dropping heavily. "No, Tifa..." Cloud suddenly slumped forward limply, bu the SOLDIERs held him, keeping him from hitting the ground.
"Take him to the lab. Escort the other two to their cells."
"Cloud!" Tifa shouted, struggling uselessly against the strong hands that gripped her now, watching as they led him away in the opposite direction.
This was the stupidest plan you ever had Cloud! She thought, filled with despair. They hadn't done anything except get themselves captured.
-
Aerith had slept shortly, her growling stomach rousing her from sleep. She made her way drowsily down the stairs, to find her mother sitting at the kitchen table quietly, looking pale and drawn.
"Are you okay?" Aerith asked, worry filling her. Elmyra seemed surprised to see her.
"Oh, you're awake...good...I'm afraid I have some bad news..."
"What?" Aerith asked, her heart suddenly pounding in her chest as dread filled her. Had something happened to Zack? "Where's Zack?"
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about actually, dear...he's left. I don't know where he went, but he's gone. He...he left this note."
Aerith took the note shakily, gazing at the messy scrawl on it in disbelief.
I had to leave...I'm sorry. Don't worry about me.
Zack
Aerith just stared at the hastily scribbled note, a numb feeling spreading through her. He just left? After everything he had said? After everything he'd promised?
"I...I have to...I'm going to the church," Aerith whispered, her hunger forgotten. She felt decidedly sick now.
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Elmyra asked, her brows drawn together in concern.
"Yes...I just need to...I'll be back later." Aerith mumbled, hurrying out of her house and toward the church.
When she stepped into the sad little church, she walked slowly over to her flowers, slumping down next to them with a confused sigh. She didn't understand. She reached out and brushed the velvet petals of her flowers gently, feeling tears well up in her eyes.
The Planet made soothing noises in her head, in an attempt to soothe her aching heart. Aerith appreciated the effort, but didn't feel any more cheered for it.
"How could he just leave? How am I not supposed to worry?" she asked her flowers, gazing up at the hole in the church. That was the hole Cloud had made when he fell through. She realized now that he had really been there to kidnap her. Just like everyone else.
Zack's the only person who wasn't here to take me from my life. He was the only one who thought I was just a normal girl...at least, he did, anyway, she thought mournfully. She didn't want to sit here and pity herself, but she couldn't seem to help it.
"I'm surprised you came back here," a deep voice said, and Aerith whirled around, her heart racing. Tseng walked out from the shadows, his face blank, followed by the red-headed Turk – what was her name? Cissnei, that was it.
"I thought Zack told you to stay away," Aerith said defiantly, drawing her hand in close to her chest, as though to protect herself, or fight.
"Yes, but he's not here anymore, is he? He left."
"You were watching," Aerith accused, and Tseng nodded humorlessly.
"Of course. I have a job to do. Did you really expect that I would obey Zack's orders? He's not my superior."
Aerith wished more than ever that Zack was with her. "So you're here to take me away, aren't you?"
Tseng nodded again. "Those are my orders. President Shinra wants some words with you."
"I have no doubt that I will suffer more than words, Tseng," Aerith shot back. She knew in her heart that Shinra wouldn't just let her go after asking a few questions. "What does he want from me?"
"I'm not privy to that information, I'm afraid. You'll just have to find out, won't you?"
Cissnei strode forward silently, placing a gloved hand on Aerith's arm. Aerith didn't resist. What could she do? All she had were flowers.
"Come along, Aerith, and you won't get hurt," Tseng said as Cissnei led her over to him, though Aerith highly doubted that. Maybe the ride would be peaceful enough, but she had a feeling of foreboding about Shinra itself. But she kept her mouth shut, following along obediently.
Where did you go, Zack?
-
Zack stood before the Shinra building, a slight breeze blowing dirty air across the street beneath him. There the building stood, all metal and ominous power. Zack found his thoughts straying to Aerith, though. His heart wasn't in revenge. All he could think of were those sad green eyes.
I have to do this. I need to eliminate them. It's the only way I can be happy again.
Zack had no idea that he was going to be in the right place at the right time. He had no idea that as he stood there, Aerith was being led to President Shinra by the Turks, or that Cloud was being prepared to experiment on once more, or that Tifa and Barret had been thrown into bare, metal cells. But he could feel that something was wrong. His whole body tingled, and it felt like there were several eyes on him, watching him. He slid into the shadows, waiting for the opportune moment to enter the Shinra building, formulating a plan as he did. President Shinra had to be stopped.
-
A/N: I am an updating machine! Lol. This chapter feels like it was long, but it's only 10 pages because I've double spaced everything. It's probably only half of that, but oh well. I updated, right? I'm feeling pretty good; I updated Memories and Second Chances, Forgetting the Future, and this all relatively quickly. Be proud of me. (:
Also, please review! They encourage me to update quickly. ;3