Forgiving

It had been a few hours now since I had sent the message. I wis startin' tae panic but didnae let it show because I didnae want tae scare Marlene. Yazoo, the one who tried to get me earlier, had brought loads of kids tae his brothers. It wis at this time me and Marlene were put under close guard by Yazoo and Loz while Kadaj talked tae the kids.

I looked up at Yazoo, narrowin' my eyes fer denfense. I couldnae dae anythin' though. I tried tae read their minds and learn wit the fuck they wanted but ut... wis like they didnae have minds. Like their minds... weren't born yet.

I didnae listen tae Kadaj. Wit he wis saying wis tae disturbing. He had tried tae force me intae joinin' but I wisnae havin' it. He asked me why I wisnae joining in wi' the family, I always joined in. Wit the fuck did he mean by that? He sounded like he knew wit he wis talkin' about.

Marlene wis startin' tae panic so I held her closer tae me and hushed her, lookin' at the three brothers. There wis... somethin' about them that I jist... I jist had a feeling that there wis something more tae them. That feeling wis still in my head.

"Denzel!" Marlene cried out suddenly. I turned tae see all the kids drinking black water. Oh feck. Oh feck oh feck oh feck. I shot up tae my feet and tried tae run tae the kids but wis held back by Yazoo.

"Wit are ye psychos daein'!?" I yelled. Yazoo kept holding me back as Kadaj walked out of the water. He looked at his brothers and grinned.

"We'll soon have our family all together again," He said. I growled and took Marlene's hand. "It's too late for you to join, sister, but we'll deal with that once we talk to brother." Yazoo took hold of me other arm and the three brothers took us away fae the pool of water, walking doon a pathway. I didnae know where the kids went but I kept Marlene close tae me.

"Nevina I'm scared..." The wee girl whimpered. "I wanna go home..."

"It'll be alright, Marlene... it's gonnae be alright," I telt her calmly. I wis kinda used tae bein' kidnapped but nothing on this scale... well maybe two year ago wi' Shinra...

We had tae stay by the brothers while we waited. I kept lookin' around fer Denzel but I couldnae see anythin' or anyone. After a while I did see headlights and the familiar hum of a motorbike. Yazoo and Loz took out their guns and started tae fire at the bike and the rider. Kadaj wis walkin' forward and suddenly he summoned all of the kids out of nowhere. Marlene must have spotted Denzel because she pulled away fae me and ran towards him, and I lost her in the vast crowd of children.

"Marlene!" I screamed and ran after her, finding her at the front wi' Denzel, the light aff the bike getting stronger. "C'mon, Marlene." We both managed tae get Denzel away in time as the person in the bike skidded and fell off the bike. The kids jumped out the way and begun tae circle the man. Kadaj entered the circle wi' him, grinning and mocking him.

"I'm glad you could make it, brother," He laughed. The guy narrowed his eyes but couldnae get up.

"I only came for the kids!" Wait... that wis Cloud's voice. I wisnae complaining as long as he wis gonnae help.

"See this man?" Kadaj called out tae the kids. It wis like he wis controlling them. "He's our big brother... but alas..." He pointed his blade at Cloud and scowled. "In our happy flock... he's what you call a black sheep." He raised his sword as though tae slash Cloud, but Marlene painic and screamed.

"Cloud!" Kadaj turned around, giving Cloud enough time tae grab his sword and start a brawl. I couldnae watch, but Marlene pulled on me arm and I looked at her. "We have to go!" She wis right... this could be our only chance... I nodded and both of us dashed intae the forest, but Marlene wis really upset about leaving Denzel behind.

It had been a long time since we belted it away fae the brothers. I didnae know where we were going fer a while. Eventually we managed tae run somewhere where the bushes thinned and we came intae a clearing. Marlene didnae hesitate tae run intae Cloud and hug him, surprisin' the blonde.

"Marlene?" Cloud wis really surprised. I wis breathing heavily tae catch my breath.

"Cloud! Denzel and Tifa!" Marlene exclaimed in a panic.

"Tifa is alright," Cloud reassured. I should hope so otherwise I'm deckin' him.

"I wanna talk to her," The blonde went tae get his phone but... he wis searching fer tae long... he didnae have it. I wisnae tae surprised. Chris did say that he never answered it. Soon Marlene turned tae the really tall guy in black... wait wit wis his name? Vincent? I think I met him once... aye during the Meteor Evac. "May I?" Vincent sort of stood awkwardly and Marlene looked really surprised at him. "You don't have a phone?"

"Vincent, will you take Marlene to Tifa?" Cloud said suddenly, confusing Marlene, Vincnet and me. "I'm gonna see Shinra and get a few answers." Vincent looked at Cloud blankly fer a quick moment.

"I can't do that," He replied wi'out emotion. Marlene looked really upset and pushed away from Cloud.

"Forget it Cloud!" She yelled, nearly in tears. "Why don't you pay any attention to us!?" She quickly ran tae Vincent and hid under his cloak, hiding away fae Cloud. I stood wi' my arms folded while Cloud went tae be an arse.

"Marlene... please give me some time," He began, it actually made me roll my eyes. "There's a battle to be fought, but it's not as simple as just fighting it... understand?"

"No! I don't!" Marlene yelled fae under Vincent's cloak. I groaned and jabbed Cloud in the shoulder.

"Would ye stop bein' an arse fer two seconds?" I snapped. "Okay, I know about loss jist as much as the next person but ye are aware that ye cannae keep running away 'cause it's gonnae make things worse?" Before I could rant on, Vincent made a comment.

"Cloud... are you sure this is about fighting?" The blonde looked down in deep thought. I didnae know wit went on in that guy's head but then again I didnae know him that well at all.

"Are sins... ever forgiven?" He eventually asked. Vincent looked down, as though he wis thinkin' of somethin' tae.

"... I've never tried," He admitted. Ehhh.... alright... Cloud gave him a nod in understanding.

"Marlene, Nevina, let's go," He said. The wee lass gave him a smile and ran tae take his hand. "Well I'm gonna try... I'll phone in the verdict," Wis that a joke? As they left Cloud turned tae me. "Coming?"

"In a minute," I said. "Don't worry, I'll catch up." Cloud nodded and he and Marlene walked off. I turned tae Vincent, who stood really still. He wis kind scary. "Ye no comin'?"

"... What reason do I have?" He asked. I scoffed and put me hands on my waist.

"Eh, how about that they're yer friends?" I retorted. "I've no known them as long as ye have, but I'm still gonnae help out. I need tae..." Then it struck me. I remembered Omen tellin' me that Vincent wis only close tae one person. The one person who knew him better than anyone. "... It's about Angie isn't it? Look jist 'cause she's gone disnae mean ye have tae disappear tae. I wis brought intae this by accident but I'm gonnae see the end of this... I'm no gonnae run. I'd never forgive myself if I did. I'm no like that and from wit I've heard neither are you. Angie's important tae me tae, ken?" Vincent remained silent as I talked. I gave him a smile before finishin' me rant. "I hope I see ye help out." I turned tae jog tae Cloud and Marlene. I hoped I got through tae Vincent... he wis important tae Angie... and family always look out fer one another.