Chapter 14

Hojo hunched over, shattering ever back bone in his body out of place to flip over and view Rufus whom rested silently on the testing table watching Hojo make his every crooked move. Rufus's chest was covered with bandages that wound around his left shoulder and rib cage, to cover the injury Sephira caused him from her gunshot. "Zack," Grabbing obsessively onto Rufus's right leg, The twisted being began to crock out with a wicked smirk boiling onto his wrangled face, while Rufus turned away sadly, wanting nothing to do with it, "Hold Rufus down."

Zack walked over to the silent Blonde and hesitantly grabbed onto him in locking position. Rufus made no indications physically of fighting back or hate for Zack following orders, but by the deep dissatisfied look in his eyes, Zack knew his desires and passions where centered far from this horrid, decaying lab.

The crumbling Professor picked up two, long needled objects and inserted some unknown substance that boiled and exploded within the container. Zack felt Rufus's heart begin to pound faster from the pressure he was applying to his tightened wrist, knowing he was frightened to death with what Hojo's actions were going to be next.

Hojo took a hold of the frightened boy's left wrist and brought it forward, sniffing at the smell of his blood zealously. Covered with rust, acid and deadly infirmities, The warped monster savagely struck the thick needled objects into Rufus's slender wrist and injected the putrefying substance into his quivering body. "Ahhhhhnnnn..." ShinRa moaned into the air to his left, his eyes tight with tears from pain sliding effortlessly down his dirtied face.

"Bring him to his cell, I'm done with him for the moment," Hojo commanded, snapping his head towards his left shoulder, his neck bones jotting out if his melting skin. The Professor left the room immediately after his words filled the room, with desires in mind of ways to completing his unspeakably, beastly project.

The feeble Henchman slowly heaved ShinRa off the testing table to a standing position. His head fell hard against Zack's right shoulder as dizziness took control of his aching body. The raven haired man heaved him gently down to his rotting cell, to place him within the protecting champers so Rufus could rest his fatigued mind.

"Are you okay?" Zack as hurriedly, heaving Rufus down unto his molding bed. ShinRa recoiled instantly into the corner of the basement to sit with his knees up to his nose with his arms wrapped around his legs in a comforting manner.

"... Zack..." Rufus muttered softly, barely audible for Zack to hear, but before he could reply Rufus broke down in tears that were ever so eager to be free.

"You miss her... don't you?" He really is in pain... poor guy...

"...Why did you bring me back here?"

"... I had too..."

"You chose too." The blond Wonder emphasized, his tears ceasing to flow.

"... I want you to understand that I don't want to hurt you..."

"How can I trust you?"

"There isn't any way I could show you... It's for you to decide."

"Why do you work for Hojo?" The Ex-President asked, catching him off guard.

"I have my reasons, none of which you would ever understand."

"Why can't you just leave me alone..., Alone with Aeris?"

"As long as Hojo's alive, you will never be able to satisfy that desire. I know you wanted to be left alone; left alone to die, loft alone to cry, left alone like your father left you alone. I worked under the President, when Palmer was his right arm. I know the story of how your father never had anything to do with you. I understand you much more then you want to believe." Rufus looked up into Zack's sincere stricken face, swallowing hard as he squinted his eyes mysteriously in belief. I feel so bad that you have to go through all of this Rufus... What your father did to you was enough torture in itself... and to also have this afflict your life... Poor little guy... With no warning, Zack bent down and ruffled his fingers through Rufus's frizzled hair affectionately, like a father would a son, as their bond strengthened. "Here..." Zack muttered, producing something out of the pocket of his baggy pants.

The befuddled Blondes huge, reflective, blue eyes, slid from the Henchman's piercing face to his finger tips, as wonder struck at his mind. "What is it?" Rufus questioned softly, bringing a smile to Zack's lips.

"Something ... sweet." Zack answered, handing Rufus something he had never heard of, or seen before.

"Starbursts?" Rufus questioned, "What is it?"

"Aeris's favorite... I'd always sneak her packs of them to get her to stop crying or for bribes to do as Hojo said... She loved them." Zack answered, walking to the cell door to leave.

"... Oh... Thank you..." Rufus replied hesitantly, before Zack disappeared behind the thick metal, mold covered doors.