Chapter 20: Dread

Deliria's POV

I open my eyes to the bright sunlight that greets me. I'm in the mouth of the cave.

"So you're definitely awake, huh?"

I turned around to see Kadaj packing his belongings into a knapsack big enough to fit in his motorbike's trunk. Yazoo and Loz aren't anywhere. Where are they?

"Yeah. I'm awake," I tell the boy who's looking at me, "Where're Yazoo and Loz?"

"Out checking the perimeter, making sure the coast is clear when we leave," Kadaj explains.

I frown slightly. "Why aren't you with them?"

It feels wrong and uneasy to talk to Kadaj this way, but after everything he's told me last night, I'm starting to loosen up around him. Maybe enough to let my guard down. To me, he isn't as dangerous as he looked before, after knowing his story, and after telling me a secret he had never shared with anyone except me.

"You'd rather I leave you here?" He asks with one eyebrow raised, the corner of his lips turned up into one incredibly sexy smirk.

Oh my gosh!

Hey Deliria! STOP THAT!

"But didn't you outrun Shin-Ra already?" I ask. What's the point of coming here after all?

"We did... But only for the meantime. They'll start tracking us again. Shin-Ra thinks the Remnants are a danger to the planet. They just don't realize there's no point for us staying in Midgar."

Well, I can't blame him. He's been forced to grow up so fast, and I'll give him credit for it. Kadaj thinks like a genius.

Okay, I have to stop complementing him. I'm starting to think that he's adorable.

What? No way!

I sigh heavily. He's right. Once Shin-Ra thinks something needs to be disposed off, they don't stop until every one of them is wiped out. Their behavior proves to be precautionary, but really unnecessary, if they only knew what this Remnant leader's been through. But I'm not about to tell Kadaj that.

"They won't understand. If they get to know you instead of judging you, then..." I mutter under my breath.

"What's that?" Kadaj pipes up and I snap my head to attention mode. Did he hear me?

"Nothing. I just saw something interesting."

Nice going Ria. That's a horrible lie, and Kadaj is looking at me funny. He isn't buying it, and now I'm wondering what he's thinking. He draws his pack closer to him for a bit of inspection right before I avert my gaze again. As ridiculous and as stupid as it sounds, I'm avoiding his otherworldly eyes that draw humans like me in. So I let all tha air I'm holding in out once two long shadows cast by human figures loom at the entrance of the cave. There's no need to guess who that might be. It means Yazoo and Loz are back from their morning patrol.

"Good morning Ria. Nice to see you're awake," Yazoo gives me a small smile but enough to twist my insides into knots.

"Yeah. Good morning Yazoo."

Off to my far right, I can hear Kadaj and Loz bickering again. Loz sounds like he's teasing Kadaj, but about what? But I guess it isn't my business to understand, is it? I shake my head quietly at the amused look Yazoo directs at his two brothers. It's hard not to notice it now—how much Yazoo and Loz have slightly more angular features with soft sides compared to Kadaj who has cute near-gone baby fat all over his face. It's either because they're older, or it's just the parental resemblance.

Ria? What are you thinking about?

Nothing... GAH! I'm talking to myself.

These thoughts keep running through my head, and caused a deep blush when I realize I'm staring at the three of them. Gawking's more like it. Kadaj stands up; his face still showed mourning over what had happened last night. He looks depressed for the first time.

"Where do we go now, Kadaj?" Loz asks in childish voice.

The Remnant leader shrugged casually, and resumes a leader's pose. His eyes betray him. He's still upset over Jenova. So she really does have a strong impact in his life. It's almost like split personalities. Just a while ago, when I woke up, he sounded like he was in a good mood. I guess I overlooked the façade. How stupid of me. Of course he's still upset over his 'Mother'. Geez, what did she do to deserve his utmost respect and adoration anyway? I scoff.

"I'm not sure. We'll figure it out when we get there."

"Kadaj, are you sure about this?" Yazoo inquires coldly.

"Of course I am."

Okay, so they're leaving. Where does all this leave me? If anything, am I still considered their prisoner? Jenova wanted me alive for Reunion, but that'd never happen now because Cloud and the others had gotten their hands on her friggin' head before Kadaj and his brothers could. Honestly, I really don't want to go with them. I don't exactly want to spend the rest of my life living with three silver-haired men. Thank you very much.

"Am I still your prisoner?" I blurt out of nowhere in particular. Oh fab, Deliria Hollow. Way to express your point.

Kadaj's head turns to my direction, and he cocks his head to the side for a moment. "Not really classified as one now, because Reunion isn't happening anymore. No thanks to Strife," Kadaj speaks out, but I still managed to catch the last sentence that's conveniently mumbled.

"Does this mean I'm free?" I look at each of them, and Yazoo's looking at me like he's pleading not to because he wanted me with him. I hope.

"Not quite."

I roll my eyes upon hearing Kadaj's absurd one-track minded decision.

"Are you kidding me? Jenova wanted me alive, now she's dead. What's the point of keeping me here? I just want to finish my investigation and live a quiet life. Is that so much to ask for?"

Maybe it's just me, or is Kadaj suddenly looking regretful?

Probably just your imagination Deliria. Why would he regret kidnapping you? I mean, you sure as heck enjoyed that scripted kiss he gave you.

Oh shut up, conscience.

Nonetheless, I return his stare with mild judgment in them. He said I'm not quite free. It doesn't necessarily mean I still have to go by his orders. I'm not their prisoner anymore.

"None of us had gotten the life we asked for," Kadaj shoots back, giving me a look that had last night's events rolling back into my head.

"That doesn't mean you should be taking away mine," I spit back.

A gentle hand touches my arm, and I turn to see Yazoo holding me back. Unbidden concern is all over his face, and I sort of feel sorry for him. He and Loz didn't have a nice family too, but Kadaj really had the worst end of the stick. As far as Yazoo and Loz know, Kadaj suffered the same fate they had. They don't know Kadaj has suffered hell of a lot more.

My phone begins ringing in the middle of the heated conversation, gladly cutting whatever nasty remarks that are lurking in Kadaj's mouth. I guess he's going to unleash it later then. I hold up a finger.

"Hold that thought."

Kadaj nods stiffly, and I don't even bother to turn around to get some privacy. Who needs that crap anyway? The brothers and I stand rooted on our spots. I don't recognize the number calling me, but I'm getting the cold feeling that it's bad.

At the sound of the calm voice on the other end of the line, I recognize it's Shin-Ra and my blood runs cold once he starts speaking. Shin-Ra has contacted me.

"How did you get this number, and what do you want from me?" I demand, earning curious looks from the guys in the cave.

"Easy, Agent. Is it so bad that I called? I'm still your boss, remember that." I can just as easily imagine Rufus, wagging his long finger at me.

"Over your swelling ass," I mutter, but did I really speak that loud enough that Loz is suppressing a laugh from erupting? Kadaj and Yazoo look amused. Oh joy, they're turning this phone call into some source of entertainment.

"I just wanted to offer you a little proposition."

My grip on my phone tightens, and this time I have a sense to turn my back on the Remnants. I quietly step back a few meters to hear what Shin-Ra demands from me.

"What proposition?" I raise an eyebrow, even though he can't see.

"I've received reports with regards of you working with Kadaj's gang—"

What? "I-"

"Just hear me out," I can definitely imagine him holding up a hand to stop whatever I was going to say. "I know you have some explaining ready for me; Cloud's told me all about it." I growl.

"What exactly do you want?" I demand, and a hand taps my shoulder. I turn to see that it's Kadaj, mouthing something I can't seem to understand.

"Come to Healin now. No questions. I'll explain and talk there, and you can tell me everything, while I hold keys and answers to information you've been asking all this time."

Could it really mean? I can't think clearly anymore. I try blinking, but such an exercise doesn't even work for me at the very moment. As absurd and as wild as the idea sounds, could he be talking about my fallen fellow Agents? I have to get there. It's risky, but I've waited so long for this, I'm not letting such an opportunity surpass me. Reckless, and stupid, yes, but useful, and worth it. I take a deep breath.

"Private conversation? No other Shin-Ra casualties nearby?" I inquire, and the silence is unbearable even only for three short seconds.

"You have my word."

"I'm coming."

I snap my phone shut and tuck it safely in my pocket.

Normal POV

Ria snapped her phone shut, hanging up on the company president. She sighed quietly, and gasped when Kadaj roughly spun her around to face him.

"What did he say to you? He asked something from you! What was it?" Kadaj demanded in the most intimidating tone he could muster. And Ria was intimidated.

"He wants me to come to Healin." Ria replied. "Now. And definitely alone."

Before Kadaj could speak, Yazoo had reacted out of instinct. "I can't let you! It's too dangerous."

Silently, Yazoo took cautious steps in her direction, noticing the sudden wall she had brandished around her to keep her feelings in check. For some unfathomable reason, Yazoo didn't know why he suddenly had the overwhelming instinct to protect her.

"Yazoo, I appreciate your concern, but I have to. I've wanted this information all this time." Ria explained, silently begging with her eyes.

"You want it so bad that you're gambling your life?"

"Why do you care if I gamble my life or not?" Ria demanded out of nowhere. Surprisingly though, this made Yazoo step back a little, realizing he had been forward and expressed feelings of concern. Because he had come to love her—silently.

Ria sighed, and spoke. "I thought so." She let her gaze travel to the youngest, letting him be the judge since she wasn't quite free yet.

Kadaj nodded once. "You'll go. But we're waiting in the sidelines."

"You care about me now too?" Ria shot back, giving in to the decency of cracking a hopeless joke.

"Only because I owe you something."