XI.
The first night Cloud was missing, Tifa felt uncomfortable. The second night, she was worried. And the third, she couldn't even sleep.
It was strange that Cloud wasn't back for so long. They all knew he hopped on his bike and drove all day and all night when he got into a bad mood to blow off steam, but this was longer than usual.
Also, the way she looked when she answered the door when the guys came back was weird.
They had all arrived at once and stood at the door, each with a big smile on their face, waiting for Tifa to squeal with glee that Cloud had proposed. But she didn't when she answered the door. She had a funny glow in her eyes that Vincent said was the result of a "confuse" spell. Luckily, the guys found a container in their stash holding the last of some "remedy" liquid, and splashed some in her face. She snapped out of it. And when they found that some of their gil and all their phoenix down was missing from a cupboard, they assumed it was because the thief needed cash and items. Tifa unfortunately couldn't remember anything.
Now, Tifa was on her last nerve because Cloud was missing for so long. She decided to take a walk around while there was still bright daylight and ask people if they've seen him lately. On her way back inside after not getting anywhere, at least THAT way, she noticed a small black velvet box in the corner between the door and a wall of the building. She picked it up and opened it, and inside was a gorgeous and expensive meteorite ring set in gold. She brought it inside, and figured that whoever lost it would definitely run an ad on TV or the papers to get it back.
"Did YOU see THIS?" she asked the threesome as she held the box open for them to see. "This is the most gorgeous ring I've ever seen! I wonder who the lucky girl is that this is meant for, because I'd like to meet her!"
Cid, Vincent, and yes, even Barret, were shocked. They gave each other a look that worried Tifa even more for some reason.
"Should we-uh, tell her?" Vincent asked the other two.
"I think it might be a good idea..." Cid said. "Hon, that-was the ring that Cloud wanted to-uh-propose to you with-"
"OH MY GOD!" Tifa said as she flew of the handle. She did that when she was worried about Cloud, and she was always worried about Cloud. "He's in trouble again! I just know it! Oh my God! Where do we even start looking? Nobody I talked to has seen him for three days!"
Just then the communicator rang, and Cid answered. It was the doctor that treated Cloud during his three week coma, calling all the way from Mideel in the south.
"Are you missing someone recently?"
"#^$*, yeah! How da you know?" Cid said. Everyone was silent as they listened to Cid's one-sided conversation.
"You might not know, but the world of any profession is a very small one,including the medical and research fields. I received a call from my good friend, William Triniman, and he spoke to me for the first time about a hidden research lab southeast of Cosmo Canyon conducting human experiments."
"JEEZ! In that $^&%# isolated forest there?"
"Yes. He described to me the boy that they were holding hostage, and the description matched that of Cloud's. Bill asked me to get outside help out of fear of being caught and never getting help for the boy."
"Where exactly is this place? Did he tell ya?"
"Bill told me everything. Here's how you ge to it..."
When they were finished getting directions, they all headed immediately for the Highwind. Tifa stopped only to slip the ring on the third finger of her left hand and grab her fighting gloves. She then ran out the door to join the guys, who were already on their way.