Chapter 9: Him
Tifa's eyes opened every few minutes, but then closed, when they opened again something had changed around her. It was daylight, and someone was driving her around. She couldn't see who, and when a thought came to mind she fell into the deep sleep again.
She woke up again what seemed like days later. She was strapped to an operating table leaned up a bit so it was at an angle. It was dark, but she could make out a form looking at something.
Tifa] Hell… hello?
Hello Miss Lockhart, sleep well? I'm quite sorry about the needle, but I didn't think that possessive Mr. Valentine would let me take you to my home, alone.
Tifa] Who are you?
I suppose it is about time I told you the truth, what do you think?
Tifa] I would like to know…
He walked up to her, his glowing eyes shown brightly in the darkness, he turned on a small light bright enough to see his pale face. IT was perfect except for one small scar above the left eyebrow.
Tifa] It's you… the man from the theatre… I thought you were some punk trying to scare me about the case.
Oh believe me, if I wanted to scare you, you would be dead right now.
Tifa] Like that one woman and her heart?
Now your getting nasty Miss Lockhart, tsk tsk. Do try to have some manners, you of all people are more than capable of doing so.
Tifa] Why have you brought me here? I am supposed to be catching you, you know?
Yes, but this way is so much more fun. And I know what question is coming next, and the answer is nothing. I plan to not hurt you at all, but I hope you will be able to… assist me in any way possible.
Tifa] Get me my side-arm, that can "assist" you.
Well, well now, she's aggressive.
He takes out a beautiful blade, silver with lovely designs, much like the ones found on the bodies.
Tifa] What's that for?
You don't have to play stupid with me Miss Lockhart, this tool is used for keeping the "sinners" at bay. Or didn't you know that already?
Tifa] Are you planning to kill me with it?
Indeed not, I'm getting it ready for my next victim. A Mr. Cloud Strife…
Tifa] WHAT?!
Hmhmhm, your employer himself. He's next to you in fact.
She looked over to see a sleeping Cloud on an identical bed like hers.
Tifa] Oh God no, please, he's a jackass not a sinner.
Well Miss Lockhart, perhaps you know nothing of his past.
He begins sharpening the blade.
Mr. Strife at the age of 18 had a girlfriend and two children. He abandoned them and slept around for a long time. So you see, he deserves to die.
Tifa] Why? Please tell me why.
Miss Lockhart, my name is Sephiroth Jakenson, and I think it is time I told someone the sad story.
Tifa] I like stories, especially sad ones, so please tell me Sephiroth.
He sits on a stool near Tifa and takes a deep breath.
Sephiroth] My mother and father were excellent people. We had a wonderful family and excellent potential. Then when I turned 6 my father died in a car accident. I was six, so I couldn't mourn properly. Anyway, about 5 years later my mother married again, to Bill Kentworth. He was nice, and had a charm about him. He also had a son, nice boy, and good potential. About 2 years into the marriage, he turned out to be mean. Bill started abusing my mother, mentally most of the time. Telling her how useless she was and so on. Seeing this, the son decided to pick on his new little brother, myself. I was small and hated sports and conflicts. So I let it happen, getting beat up once in awhile didn't bother me. I had friends in the barn. My birds, I kept ravens and black birds, trained them to do tricks. My step father loved making fun of it, calling me his little queer. Of course I ignored him and such. One night he bumped the cage and the birds got angry at him. I took it as a sign and so I began to train them to attack and to be mean. One night my mother found my step father with another woman, and that did it. So a week later when I was in school my mother hung herself from the rafters in the barn. I'll never forget what my step father said "Well, that's one less bitch in the world". I turned to him and frowned, the rage in me took over. I took some seed and threw it on him, he chased me, but I got to the bird cages and did the special call. They attacked him, there were so many, like black clouds around a white moon. When they stopped his body was pecked to death. I got the hatchet and headed for the house. His son asked what that noise was, I simply looked at him and when he turned I stuck the hatchet in his back.
Tifa]…
Sephiroth] Hmhm, and now I am making sure it never happens again. No one deserves to feel such pain.
Tifa] Why… why kill the son?
Sephiroth] Chances are, he would turn into his father. I did not want him living like that man did.
Tifa] So that's what did it…
Sephiroth] hmhmhm, now if you will excuse me, I have to kill Mr. Strife now.
He walks over to Cloud, just as he starts to wake up.
Cloud] Tifa? What? Who? OH GOD, NO!!!
Sephiroth] hmhmhm, sorry Mr. Strife. But you're the one that screwed up.
Cloud] No no NO!
Sephiroth jabs the knife into his stomach. Cloud makes a gurgling noise then he slowly brings the knife up.
Cloud] AHHHHH AGGGHHHH….
He slumps over dead and Sephiroth cleans his hands and knife.
Sephiroth] One less bad person in the world.
Tifa was close to throwing up, especially since Clouds liver and lungs were in plain view.
Tifa] My god your insane, killing isn't the answer Sephiroth. It can be settled a different way!
Sephiroth] No it can't, and I see it is obvious you aren't going to help me. So I suppose killing you will help me get away. I'm… sorry…
There is a noise in another part of the building. Sephiroth listens closely.
Sephiroth] One man… Hehehe, it's your friend Vincent.
Sephiroth puts a rag over Tifa's mouth. Then heads out of the room.
Vincent was in the upper floors, but one floor below Tifa. He had his gun ready and saw ahead of him a elevator shaft. He went to it and looked down.
Vincent] Wow, a drop…
Sephiroth] I know.
Vincent spun in time to see Sephiroth, he pushed him through the opening.
Vincent] AHHHhhhh….
Sephiroth] Hmhmhm, idiot.
He went back up to where Tifa was.
Sephiroth] I'm sorry my dear, Vincent had a falling out on us.
She squirmed as Sephiroth pulled one of her pant legs up.
Sephiroth] You have lovely legs Miss Lockhart, I'm sure men have said that before though.
She frowned at him and tried to curse.
Sorry my dear, I can't hear you very well.
He takes the blade and sticks the tip in her leg and draws some blood as he works up it, making a nice little design.
Tifa tried to scream but she couldn't get it out. The pain was immense, and she couldn't help but let tears fall.
Sephiroth] Stop moving, this is going to be a lovely little design my dear.
Tifa glanced at something, Sephiroth seeing this turns quickly.
Vincent] Hey there you sick fuck!
He took aim and fired two shots, one went into Sephiroth's arm, the other nicked his head. He fell.
Vincent] I did it… YEAH!
He limped over to Tifa and got her free. She spat out the rag and flung her arms around him, she then cried in his arms…