Disclaimer applies to every chapter
Author's Notes: You can kill me! Really you can! I'm such a terrible author not updating like…forever! I'm sorry! So many things have been happening to me it's overwhelming me and I just didn't have the energy or time to write. Especially this one. This one totally hit me. I'm kinda stuck. Lol, I thought I had a plot going but when I think about it the logic in the plot I was working on was not working. So I had to think about this with new ideas but with the same element I seem to be forging from the first two chapters. Plus the fact that when I reread the first two chapters, it totally sucked! I tried changing it but I honestly can't but starting from this chapter I'm writing it with description and details.
Chapter Three
There were three words that could totally summarize their current situation that they were in: they were trapped.
They went down the elevator to escape without alarming the whole Shinra building. Wrong move. They were expecting them. Immediately, they were sent to meet the President and thrown to cells in groups of two. He was in the cell with Tifa.
Trapped as in captured, defeated and no way out of this situation. Unless by some miracle, the programmed locks of their cells automatically opened.
Cloud snorted silently. Right…it'll automatically open. And pigs fly.
Tifa lay on the bed provided; wistfully looking up at the intensely bright ceiling, which Cloud thought was annoying and was giving him a headache.
He was on the cold floor with his back to the wall, his shoulders slumped, a weary look on his features. He was tired. He wanted to crawl to a soft bed and sleep…forever. His life was always on adrenaline. First Class Soldier, now an ex-Soldier, on a mission but was just recently captured. Why didn't he take his mother's advice and settled down with a girl?
He shook his head thoughtfully, No; I believe…I believe this was meant to be. My choices are what formed my destiny. If my destiny is to be an outcast forever, let it be. If we were meant to be captured, we are captured.
Cloud slowly closed his eyes, he tried to stay awake but for some reason, he was having a hard time not to. Usually, he could stay awake as long as he could withstand but now… He doesn't know. His ears were buzzing; his vision can't seem to focus properly. He was hallucinating, he knew. His vision was sliced into two – on one side, he could clearly see Tifa lying on the bed looking up at the ceiling. On the other side, he didn't know how to describe it… the picture was blurry, but he knew it was a room. It was dark and very blurry… He could see slight colours of green and yellow… neon green to be exact and the colour of yellow. The vision moves down and he could see a pair of delicate hands…. He realized then – he was floating…in water…that was why he couldn't see the room properly… he was submerged in water, floating in water. He didn't know why…
Cloud shook his head his vision working properly once again. He suddenly felt compelled to look up. Tifa was looking at him curiously and with concerned. Cloud opened his mouth to say something but decided against it and closed it.
"Cloud… are you okay?" Tifa whispered. Cloud nodded automatically. His vision bobbed up and down along with his head increasing his headache to the limit. Tifa swing her feet off the bed and approach Cloud cautiously. She hesitantly touched his arm.
"Cloud, you don't look fine. Are you sure you're okay?" She paused as if remembering something, "Wait, you were poisoned by that monster, Barret told me. Did you take that potion that girl gave you?"
Massaging his temples, he searched for the vial in his pocket with one hand. He frowned. Something else was there. He felt the vial but something hard and smooth was also in his pocket. Both, he suddenly realized were overlooked by the soldiers that searched their clothes to take anything that could help them escape. Cloud withdrew both of them from his pocket and brought it before Tifa who also frowned.
"What is that Cloud?" She asked. Cloud curiously looked at the crystal, it was glittering and casting rainbows of colours in every direction the light hits it.
"I dunno know," Cloud softly said, feeling suddenly calm and relaxed. It was beautiful. Whatever it is. It was the most beautiful thing he has ever seen. He thought that materia's were usually lovely and beautiful but compared to this crystal; materias were nothing more than colourful shiny stones or rocks.
"It's beautiful," Tifa said, awed. Cloud nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, it is, but how did I get it?" Cloud wondered, "And how come those soldiers didn't take it along with the vial?"
He lifted the other vial into the light. Empty but still with drops of the liquid he drank earlier; much like the crystal, the vial glittered and casted rainbows of light. There was a sign or symbol on the lid of the vial. It was glowing slightly, the colour of blue; ice blue to be more specific. He thought that it was beautiful as well. An image of a girl with short blue hair flashed in his mind.
His mind cliqued. A sudden realization dawned upon him. It was her! What was her name? Anders? Andersen? Dorsen?
Ami…A voice whispered in his mind.
"Ami," He said. Tifa looked at him.
"Ami?" she asked. Cloud nodded.
"Yeah that's her name… I remember… that's what she told me… us…but I don't remember her telling me her name but then again I remember her introducing herself to us…" Cloud massaged his forehead once again; "this is confusing, now I'm having amnesia. I can't remember my past and now I can't even remember what happened to me a few hours ago…"
Tifa worried, frowned slightly, "Maybe its sleep. Lord knows we all need sleep, go to sleep Cloud maybe it'll come back to you. I honestly don't know what happened to you guys when you fought that monster. Let's hope nothing chaotic aftermaths will happen because of that. Go to sleep Cloud, "she sternly added.
"Yeah… maybe its sleep I need," he sighed, scratching his head irritatingly.
He can't sleep! Not especially in the situation they're in! He shook his head.
"No… I can't afford to sleep especially since we're captured. We need to be aware of any escaped we can make – I"
Tifa interrupted, "Cloud, don't argue with me. For once in your life don't argue with me! Go to sleep! How can we escape when you're dead tired to your feet! How can you fight those soldiers if you can't even see properly?!"
Cloud felt himself shrink. He knew that he should never make any girl angry. Especially if that certain girl could fight really well.
"Okay, geez, I'll go to sleep," he grumbled, settling himself on the ground comfortably. Tifa smiled, satisfied with his decision.
"Good, since you're so worried. I won't go to sleep and watch," she stated. She jumped to her feet and sat on the bed. Looking at him, her eyes narrowed.
"Sleep!"
Cloud grinned, "Yes ma'am!"
Amazingly enough, darkness swallowed him.
*~*~*~*~
The marching band loudly played their song. Those patriotic songs that she had always hated. She marched along with the other soldiers, their guns moving automatically with pride and dignity. Those soldiers believed they have the capabilities of becoming a First-Class Soldier. She snorted. They don't have the skills to make it much less even survived the very first day of training…
…Mama! Papa! Shingo! No! Don't go! Don't leave me! …
"Sailor Moon behind you!" a girl in orange fuku yelled. Her eyes widened as the attack hit her friend full forced. Something within her boiled alive. Something foreign and yet something she was forced to accustom to…
"Cloud," She gasped, breathing harshly, blood seeping through her clothes. Cloud frowned at her state, his eyes trailing down to her dirty uniform, his eyes widening at the red stained on the left side of her stomach, "Don't forget me…" she fell…
She screamed, an earth shattering screamed that almost made the scientist deaf. It hurts. Oh it hurts! She wanted it to stop! She wanted it to stop! She wanted them to stop experimenting on her! Why? What's wrong with her? Why her? She didn't deserve this! …
She pushed herself to a corner. Her golden hairs loosed its shine now limp and pale. Her skin was clammy and wet. Her blue eyes were wide and dilated. Fear apparent and something else. Her arms hugged her knees. Her creamed colour clothing cling to her but she didn't care…
She felt her heart broke, wisps of blue hair falling in front of her face. A single tear fell from her cheek. This was not supposed to be. This has what become of her princess and it was not right. It's not right. Her princess did not deserve this kind of punishment no matter her decisions of her past lives…
Everyone around her fell, one by one, protecting her, saving her from death. Death that she so rightly deserved. Death that loved her so much everyday she looked forward to death…
Cloud nudged Usagi beside her who snickered slightly and made faces at the general. They were at a lecture. Lecturing them about their inability of not doing their exercises right. Well, most of them. Usagi and Cloud weren't really part of the lecture. They were exceptionally good in their exercises. Perfection fitted them both…
She hid from view, biting her lip from anger. They weren't going to make him passed, he won't become a Soldier, they were going to plan his death making everyone think he's dead and they were going to experiment on him. She silently sheath her blade, her crystal blade that found her one day when they were on their first mission that would be the test of their capabilities of becoming a First-Class Soldier…
Watching her from afar, Cloud thought she was the most beautiful girl – no woman - in the world…
*~*~*~*~
He suddenly snapped awake, his trained eyes observing the scene in front of him. Tifa lay there on the bed, sleeping deeply. The door was opened, his eyes trailed back to Tifa. But his eyes darted back to the door.
Wait a minute?! Open?
"What in the world…" he muttered. He jumped up, brushing his pants slightly and investigated the door of the cell.
"How is it open?" he wondered, his eyes narrowing. He stepped out and saw their weapons on a table, glowing slightly. Cautiously he took all his necessities and weapons, quickly putting back to their proper places – he placed them. His buster sword on one hand he noticed a soldier on the end of the hall. Dead.
He examined the dead body and noticed how the body was sliced to death. Something about how he was sliced was familiar. A pool of blood surrounded the body and he also noticed how the blood left a trail of path towards the exit of the hall. Blood covering every aspect of the hall
His other senses told him that danger was very near. It was very quiet. Too quiet for his liking. Like everything died all of a sudden. Or everyone ran away from something. His nose wrinkled in disgust when he smelled a lot of foul aroma. His ears ringed, as if waiting for something to pop out of nowhere and kill him instantly.
Standing up and ran towards his cell and woke Tifa up.
"Tifa get up," He hissed, Tifa instantly woke up, her eyes snapping at Cloud's form.
"What? What's wrong?" Tifa asked. Cloud gestured to the open door and amusingly watched Tifa's reaction. Eyes widening, her mouth forming an o-shaped.
"Yeah, I noticed," Cloud wryly remarked, "The door is open and a dead guy is lying outside the end of the hall."
Tifa glared at him and hit his shoulder lightly; she stomped off and went to examine the dead body as well. Cloud followed her. Tifa was kneeling by the body.
"Well?" Cloud asked, "What do you make of it?"
"I really don't know," Tifa replied, "I don't know what to make of it. I'm not sure if this is a good thing or this is a bad thing."
"I know," Cloud agreed, "One thing for sure, at least this is our miraculous escaped from this building, but I'm not sure with all these blood and silence that it's actually a good thing."
Tifa nodded in reply, they both stared at each other pondering on the situation they were in. Standing up, she looked at him solemnly and nodded in the silent agreement they seemed to communicate without voicing their thoughts.
"Lets go free the others, wake Aerith up and I'll go wake up Barret and RedXIII," Cloud said. He ran off towards the cell on the farthest right and opened it with the keys that he and Tifa took from the body. He stepped inside and almost laughed at the picture they pair made.
Curled up in his arms, RedXIII was cuddled beside Barret who was snoring slightly. A smile was on his lips. RedXIII was murmuring in his sleep. Cloud felt his lips threatening to smile.
"Ahem," Cloud drawled, RedXIII and Barret quickly jumped from their positions and looked around startled. They noticed Cloud standing there in front of the cell door.
"Cloud!" Barret exclaimed, "How the fucking hell did you get in here? What's going on?"
Cloud shrugged, clueless as Barret was, "Check it out for your self," He pointed outside towards the dead body and the walls that were smeared with blood.
RedXIII's golden eyes narrowed, he sniffed slightly and his tail suddenly rose, alarmed and alert, "I can smell someone, something, I just can't locate it because it is all over the place." He also examined the body curiously; his head darted towards the trail of blood.
Aerith appeared in view from her cell and gasped at the sight before her.
"What's going on? Why is the soldier dead?" Aerith questioned. Cloud slipped his hands over her shoulders and gave her a semi-hug.
"I don't really know," Cloud replied, he looked at her, "Are you okay?"
Aerith nodded, worry apparent in her eyes as she looked at him frowning.
"I don't like the looks of this," she said. Barret scoffed.
"Understatement of the year," he remarked. Aerith pretended not to hear anything. RedXIII suddenly approached them with haste.
"I will go ahead and further investigate," RedXIII stated. Cloud nodded in agreement and turned towards the rest of them.
"We need to split up in groups, groups of two is the obvious numbers. Aerith you go with me. Tifa and Barret go together. Let's get to the Presidents room and we'll see from there. Something is definitely up and lets hope its nothing chaotic."
The all nodded. Cloud nodded to Barret and mouthed at him, "Protect her." Barret nodded in reply and motioned Tifa to him. Tifa uncertainly looked from Cloud to Barret but followed Barret anyways.
"Ready Aeris?" Cloud asked. Aerith nodded, he smiled confidently at her and reached for her hand, "Let's go!"
They quickly ran towards the stairs.
If they had stayed any longer, they would've seen a spirit – ghost – apparition walking from the end of the hall. Looking for something. She was in a green fuku, but strangely stained with blood and dirt. Her features were distorted: eyes were gleaming and narrowed her lips in a tight line; her jaw was clenched tightly as if trying to fight something within her but failing hopelessly. Her fists were crackling with energy - electricity, her movements were slow and yet she glided with grace. It was okay, she had plenty of time. Plenty of time to kill. As she was ordered to.
*~*~*~*~*~*~
AIIIEEEE!! Chapter three so up! Thank god I finished this, took me quite awhile. SilverRay, thanks for giving me that advice. It was quite horrible when I read it. Is this good? Hope you're reading this and tell me what you think of it. Hehehe, I know you guys you know who that spirit is. I've given an incredibly huge clue that totally told who that spirit is.
REVIEW PLEASE! Give me some time to figure things out to though. I do like this story. It's just I'm having a hard time writing it. This is quite a challenge now that I think about it.