Race Against Time
We landed in shallow water, almost on top of one another, and the place was so damn dark. I could barely see anything in front of me and I felt around for the others.
"I hope that isn't what he does to the other girls he's picked..." Aerith said with a groan.
"Everyone alright?" Cloud asked.
"No," Tifa answered. "Barret, Marlene, the guys... the Sector's done for."
"Tifa, don't talk like that. Never give up hope," Aerith said, slightly stern at Tifa's attitude. "It's not easy to destroy the supports, right?"
"Right... right!" Tifa's voice gained a tinge of hope. "There's still time! We have to hurry!"
"Where exactly are we, anyway?" I asked.
"Sewers, probably," Aerith answered. We heard the sound of ripping, all of us knowing what was going on.
"I was going to ask to borrow that," I joked, getting a grumble from Cloud. "Well you get changed, we're getting out of here."
Aerith had a materia containing the power of fire and used it as a guide to light our way. I think all of us would have liked to get into better clothes but we had priorities and if it meant saving the Sector in highly inappropriate clothes then that was what we were going to do.
I kept trying to think that Shinra had only recently got confirmation on Avalanche's location and that their plan would need time to go into motion. We could warn the others, start evacuating the slums and set up a plan to counteract Shinra's plot. We still had time, that was what I was hoping. It was what Tifa was hoping.
We found a ladder that reached upwards, a manhole at the top that was slightly out of place. Tifa climbed up first, followed by Cloud, Aerith, and myself. Thankfully it did come out in Sector Seven but we were in the Train Graveyard. Scores of broken down carriages filled out view, some mountainous piles threatening to topple down at any second. Creaking and squeaking filled our ears. We were probably quite far into the wreckage. At least there was one positive to our situation.
"We still have time," Tifa said as she scanned for a way out.
"Aerith, I got you mixed up in all this..." I heard Cloud say behind us, followed by a sigh.
"Don't tell me to go home," she interrupted.
"We don't have time for this we need to get to the pillar support," I said to them and then looked at Tifa. "Please say you know where you're going?"
"We're not far from the station, follow me."
The climb was risky and hazardous but, considering our unknown time frame, it was worth the gamble. Tifa was right about us being close to the station and the place was completely abandoned. Now that we were in the more populated areas we could hear voices, shouting, sirens, all in the direction of the slums main.
It was complete chaos: crowds of people were pushing and shoving and crying to get out, Shinra soldiers were playing the part trying to evacuate civilians and fight anyone who looked as though they belonged in Avalanche. You could just barely hear the gunfire over the wails of the people desperate to escape death. My heart seized up in my chest. Going this far to destroy its enemies... Shinra was insane.
"Shinra, what have you made?" I said to myself in a whisper I knew no one heard. I almost lost the others in the crowds as we started heading towards the pillar. Shinra guards were there, firing at people on the stairs. I heard someone cry out in pain as they were shot, then another as Cloud cut down the soldier attacking Avalanche.
"Wedge!" Cloud yelled out, seeing that he was hurt. We all managed to get past the fences and into the compound that housed the pillar support. Blood seeped from Wedge's chest and his breathing became laboured. Shit he was hit really bad.
"Cloud... Tifa... Barrett's up top," he wheezed out. "Help him..."
"Hold on," Aerith knelt down beside him and started to cast a healing spell. The wound closed over a little bit but Wedge was still having trouble breathing.
"Wedge where's Marlene?" I asked.
"Still at... the bar," Wedge answered. I nodded and looked over to Tifa.
"I'll get Marlene out then I'm coming up," I said.
"I'll go with you," Aerith offered. "The two of you hurry and help your friend."
When we reached the ever growing crowd of people trying to get out I took hold of Aerith's wrist and used my free hand to shove the crowds out of the way as we headed to the slums. Thankfully the further in we went the emptier it became. There were still stragglers and people trying to help others but I only focused on getting back to the bar, throwing the doors open when we arrived there.
"Marlene?" I called out, starting to scan the room for any sign of her. I checked the kitchen, then the back rooms where everyone slept. "Marlene? Marlene where are you?"
"Christie?" In my panic I had barely even seen her hiding behind the bar. I crouched down to her and she ran up to me. I checked her over in worry that she might have been hurt but she was fine. "Where's Daddy and Tifa and the others?"
"They're helping everyone in the slums, but they asked me to get you out of here so you're safe," I said to her.
"We can take her to my mom's house," Aerith offered, knowing that we didn't have any safe place outside Sector Seven to go to. I looked over at Aerith, I knew we didn't know each other that well, but if I was there with Marlene I knew she'd be okay.
"Who's that?" Marlene asked.
"I'm Aerith, I'm a flower girl from Sector Five," Aerith answered, crouching down to Marlene's level. "Now how about we get you out of here so your daddy and tifa don't have to worry, hm?"
"Okay," Marlene nodded.
I took Marlene's hand and we guided her out of the Slums. It was no less busy at the exit but I needed to get to the front. Much to my surprise Aerith was becoming quite forceful in trying to get through, pushing people out the way to get us all through.
We had made it through the gates and heading towards Sector Six, where most people were going. Aerith showed us to a run down park that lead away from the crowds. I guessed this lead to Sector Five is she was taking her to her mum's house.
Aerith stopped and handed me a green materia, placing it in my free hand. It was sudden and I was a bit confused as to why she was giving me it, or what the materia even did.
"You need to help the others, I saw Turks heading to the pillar," she said. Shit if the Turks were there then I didn't know how they'd cope. Sure Cloud was a Solider but even then, people had their limits. "I know shortcuts through the Slums, I'll get Marlene to safety I promise."
"Chrisite..." Marlene squeezed my hand. I knelt down and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Marlene, Aerith will get you to a safe place," I assured her. "I'll help your dad and Tifa, and we'll meet up at Aerith's mum's house, okay? I promise."
"Okay..." Marlene nodded and Aerith took her hand. I watched them for a moment running off into the Slums before pocketing the materia she had given me and running back through the gates before they closed. There were still people trying to get out and I couldn't let people get stranded here in terror.
I looked around for where the controls were and found some Shinra soldiers grouping around one part at a small station. I ran towards it and threw a punch, breaking the glass and hitting the guard. I launched myself through and tossed the guard out, grabbing his gun and shooting the others that tried to fight. I quickly worked the controls, getting the gates to open again, and took out the soldiers before they could undo what I had done. I couldn't see the Turks anywhere, worried that they were up top already. So I started my ascent up the pillar.
Halfway up I noticed a helicopter leaving the pillar. I had to hurry.
I arrived at the top and found Tifa, Cloud, and Barrett fighting a person I found vaguely familiar. A Turk, red hair, Reno-something-maybe? He was blocking an attack from Cloud when Tifa noticed arriving.
"Christie!" She called. It paused Reno for a second as I ran, dropped into a slide, and swept his legs out from underneath him. I rolled back and out the way as he scrambled up. I quickly glanced at Tifa, then Barrett.
"I got her out, she's safe," I said to assure them. Reno was back blocking hits from Cloud, trying to distract him.
"He's armed the bomb!" Cloud called to me, getting an electric shock from Reno's weapon. I ran to the control panel, trying to figure out where to start. I didn't know how to disarm bombs, but I had to do something.
"Try all you want, that thing's rigged to blow," Reno said. I heard his footsteps moving quickly and getting closer. I spun round and blocked his attack, punching him in the gut and shoving him back. I needed him out the way if we were going to get time to work on disabling that bomb.
I ran at him and put my shoulder forward, getting him as far from the controls as I could. I turned quickly and signalled the others to start working on the bomb, turning around and getting a left hook to the face. He was a lot faster than I was, but I was durable. I blocked his hits, dodging others when I could, and hit him hard when I saw an opening. Reno then got my side with his baton, shocking me with electricity. The burn in my side hurt like something else.
He pushed me back and I let myself fall, rolling backwards to gain more distance. I held my side, it burning and nipping away. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, feeling my life force channelling into my hands. I suddenly felt the burning subside and I looked quickly, noticing the faint glow of the materia Aerith had given me. It reacted when I triggered my life force, I assumed. Least I had a second wind.
Reno was already closing in on me and I dodged his incoming attack, grabbing his arm and twisting my body out the way to he couldn't attack me. Then, when one swift move, I forced my palm upwards and heard a crack in his arm as the bone broke. I heard him grunt in pain, but no screams or crying out in shock.
Almost instantly after I hand broken his arm Reno had twisted his body around, linking a leg around mine and pulling me off my feet. Before I could turn and get back up I was pinned and felt something sharp in my neck. It last a few seconds before going away and the weight of the man got off me. I stood up and stumbled, knowing full well I wasn't as coordinated as I should have been.
My vision blurred and I heard a faint ringing in my ears. I could see the others fighting again, or trying to disable the bomb, but I could hardly focus. I felt my eyes roll into the back of my head as someone grabbed me and I lost consciousness.
