A/N: With the inspiration given to me after reading all of the MST's Lila's written and the second wind I got on Sunday night I have finally finished a chapter! No, no, don't applaud, really it's not a big deal…actually, do, feel free! And without further ado…the disclaimers…haha got you there…okay may be not, but you can't say I didn't try!
Disclaimer: Does it really make sense to write these things? Does anyone think that I invented FF7? Well for the few that are confused, I didn't. I own Nevaeh Conquel, the now visible plot, and the right to rhythm! *Glares at Lila* I'll get you…mwahahaha…
A Rose by any Other Name
Chapter 4
Answering MachineA glassy look and dazed feel had come over Nevaeh as she staggered down a street in Sector 2. Her heart felt hard, and her head was going a hundred miles per hour with the events that had only taken place moments before. Her head felt like a battlefield, with neither side willing to submit.
"You're sick! You know that you liked it! Don't deny it, you're a born killer!"Nevaeh's hands flew to her head, palms pressing desperately to her temples, but soon fell limp to her sides in pain. She was not immune to injuries and had been given a split lip, a swollen arm. The adrenaline that had circulated through her body before, giving her the edge she needed to win, had fled as soon as her mind could comprehend. And comprehend it did, never letting her have a moments release. Nevaeh tried to convince herself that what she did was for self-defense, not for the sick pleasure of having a human life in her hands, except guilt had sunk in and was unwilling to leave.
As she grew closer to her apartment building, Nevaeh took a short cut through an alley. The alley was surprisingly lit, and her shadow was dancing merrily on the red brick. As soon as Nevaeh started to walk down the alleyway she noticed that something was different. Peering out the side of her eyes she could see her shadow on the brick, and realized it was not alone. A few paces back a large silhouette followed, too large in Nevaeh's opinion.
It had been a hell of a night so far, and it was just about to get worse. Unwilling to let herself be trailed a moment longer Nevaeh turned around to face her stalker.
"Hello, Ms. Conquel. Lovely night, isn't it?" Grinned the tall stranger. The greeting she had been given momentarily stunned Nevaeh. She wasn't expecting a greeting at all, a brawl if anything. Taking her time to respond, she inspected the stranger. A tall man stood a meter or two before her, matching her own height. He wore a crisp blue suit with a black tie. His hair was strawberry blonde, past his shoulders in length and pulled back into ponytail. If anything, she noticed one oddity about the man. He was wearing a pair of black shades on a moonless night; this was a man to be reckoned with.
" I wouldn't say as much." She threw back at him.
"Hm, feisty aren't we? Well, I can't blame you considering the night you've had. I figure you must, at the most, have a broken arm, swollen at the least. But I can have that fixed…" Observed the man almost mumbling to himself.
"I'm sorry to interrupt you're thought process but what do you think you're doing?" Questioned Nevaeh. She moved back a few paces, trying to anticipate any move he might make. He seemed almost taken back by her question, but quickly hide that emotion.
"Where are my manners, allow me to introduce myself. I am Rufus Shinra, of the ShinRa Corporation. I've been watching you Ms. Conquel and I think you would be perfect for a position in my corporation." Straightening his tie, Rufus took off a glove and offered his hand to her. Nevaeh stared at his hand for a second, and promptly brushed it off.
"I'm going to try to forget that you said that you've been watching me and try to avoid the creepy aspect of that. But listen here, Rufus, if you're trying to blackmail me with what just took place you're in for one heck of a fight." Nevaeh spat, with a livid glare in her eyes.
"No, no, Ms. Conquel, you have it all wrong. I was very impressed with what you can do, even more impressed at the amount of anger and hatred that hides behind that pretty face. From what I've seen, you have the perfect qualifications to become one of my elite." Rufus addressed, with a slight smirk on his face.
"Hatred? Anger? Who me? I'm a darling ray of sunshine, you just caught me on a bad day." She said sarcastically. She was not interested with doing any business with this guy, Rufus. For all Nevaeh knew this guy didn't even work for ShinRa, he could just be another purse stealing junky. Yet, there was something alluring about what he was saying that made her stay a while longer.
" Cute, very cute. But I'm afraid I lack that patience for any more games, Ms. Conquel. Here," He offered her a business card, and she reluctantly accepted it. "this gives you all the information to get the ShinRa."
"Thanks but no thanks, I'm not stupid enough to accept a job offer in the dead of night." Nevaeh went to hand the business card back to Rufus, but he just glared at her.
" Do you really have anything else to rely on now, Nevaeh? Hm? Anything? No friends, no job, and at any moment no apartment. I think I'm your best hope, and you should accept my offer." This wasn't just a statement it was a threat. He had something up his sleeve that could mess up Nevaeh's life even more than it is now and he wanted her to know it.
" What? Do you think you're scaring me? Whoa, the big bully is trying to get to me, I'm really scared." Nevaeh replied deadpan.
"Oh, you're scared, I can see it in your eyes. And the irony is you know you're scared. Not of me but of what you have, excuse me, I mean what you don't." With that he swiftly turned to the alley entrance and left.
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After Nevaeh's brief encounter with Rufus all of her energy was gone. She had barely enough strength to get outside her apartment let alone care about any of the past events. One thing was on her mind though, her answering machine. She had thrown it out the window earlier and she could see it clearly from where she was standing. Regretting having to waste more money to buy a new one, Nevaeh stumbled toward the box, surprised to see if was basically unharmed.
With answering machine tucked safely under her arm Nevaeh went up to her apartment. When she entered her apartment Nevaeh thought she had walked into another apartment but soon remembered that in grief she had cleaned the whole place. Walking to her desk Nevaeh plugged in her answering machine and started to walk towards her bedroom. Before she rounded the corner, Nevaeh saw a flashing light from her answering machine.
"No way," She mumbled, and pressed the red light.
" Station 5, 11:30 am, be there Ms. Conquel. Station 5, 11:30 am, be there Ms. Conquel. Station 5, 11:30 am, be there Ms. Conquel…" As soon as Nevaeh deleted the first message another identical one appeared after it. No matter how many times she deleted the red light kept flashing and the same time and place repeated over and over.
" This is freaky." She finally unplugged the thing, grateful for the silence. Once again Nevaeh headed for her bedroom and when she noticed something familiar about the messages. Digging threw her discarded purse Nevaeh found the now crumpled business card that was given to her earlier. Reading the writing on the card several times over, she flopped on to her bed in disbelief. The card had the same message printed solemnly on the back.
"Too freaky. Way too freaky…"
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Like it? Hate it? No need to debate it, just go and review until you can't anymore! See, I can write a whole story with rhyming, HA!
-Aurora