Chapter 7: The Price to Pay

Tifa barreled through the woods, narrowly avoiding trees. Thank God they had stopped firing. She thought that maybe it meant the men had left, and she should double back for Cloud and Vincent. But as soon as she thought that, she caught sight of a motorcycle in her side mirror barreling up on them fast. Tifa clamped her foot down on the gas.

"What is it?" Marlene squeaked. "They're still not shooting at us?"

"Worse. Stay down."

There was the sound of a gunshot, and a loud popping sound. The truck began to wobble. He had shot out one of her tires! That bastard! She could see him more clearly now, silver hair down to his shoulders, his eyes glowing in the darkness like a cat's as he raced after them on the vehicle from hell. Tifa had a hard time controlling the truck. Another gunshot and pop, and the truck wobbled even more.

Think Tifa, think…

She slammed on the brakes, grabbed Marlene, and was about to open the door when his face appeared in her driver's side window, his gun pointed at her. Without thinking, Tifa punched the gas, and the car lurched forward, bumping violently, slamming little Marlene against the door. Tifa had to do something quick. She spotted the river, and her decision was made. She had no chance against him on foot with a child.

"Marlene, hold your breath when I tell you too, okay?"

"Tifa, we're going to go into the river!"

"Hold your breath, now!"

SPLASH. The truck sailed through the guardrail, and into the river. Water rained in on them, the windshield had smashed. Yazoo watched the car bob lazily like a big buoy for a few minutes, and then scanned the water for survivors. Finally satisfied, he turned his bike around and sped off.

Cloud slashed at Kadaj's hand, almost taking that damn armlet off of him. Kadaj raised his arm, and Cloud was once again suspended in mid air. He looked down and saw the third brother drive up, a smile on his face.

"It is done," Yazoo said. "The woman is dead."

Cloud's heart jumped into his throat. No. No, Tifa cannot be dead…

"You're sure of this?" Kadaj asked.

Yazoo nodded.

Cloud was dropped to the ground.

"We will meet again, Cloud Strife. I hope you can live with the guilt that your friend had to die. This could have been avoided, had you cooperated…" He raised his arm, and the three sped off.

Cloud searched the ground. "Vincent, I need a light."

"What are you looking for?"

Cloud waved his hand over the forest floor, and felt grooves. "Tire tracks. Come on." He got to his feet, and stopping every once in awhile for the tracks, followed the trail the truck had taken.

Tifa waded through the water carrying a soaked Marlene. Her truck now lay at the bottom of the river. Those bastards would pay for that.

"Tifa, I'm cold." Marlene whined.

"I know." Tifa said, and hoisted her into the large sewage pipe that sat at the base of the river. She hopped in herself, and hoping against hope grabbed her cell phone that had been clipped to her waist. With a frown, she watched a stream of water come out of it. Great.

"How are we going to get home?" Marlene asked.

"We'll think of something in the morning."

"We're going to stay here all night?"

Tifa nodded.

"But what about Cloud and Mr. Vincent?"

"They'll be fine." Tifa said, more to assure herself. "It's late, and we're both exhausted. Let's try and get some sleep, okay?"

"But what if they come back?" Marlene whispered.

"I'll stay up all night." Tifa said as Marlene lay down in the dirty pipe, and reluctantly closed her eyes.

It was daylight by the time Cloud and Vincent reached where the tracks ended. There was a broken wooden fence, and the tracks lead down to the river. This couldn't be happening. Was he supposed to accept Tifa and Marlene were gone? He slammed his sword done into the ground. Vincent collapsed to his knees. Cloud peered into the murky depths. "Dammit!"

Vincent hung his head, and closed his eyes.

Cloud collapsed to the ground. What would he tell Barret?

"Marlene, stay close to me."

Tifa's voice rang out. Cloud looked to Vincent, and then back at the water. The brunette and the little girl were making their way out of a sewage pipe. They both appeared to be okay.

"TIFA!" Cloud shouted, and raised his hand.

Tifa looked up. Vincent and Cloud were okay! She smiled, and waved her hand back.

Cloud reached down his hand, and pulled Tifa up on shore.

"The truck is gone. I had to trash it." Tifa said, looking down at the river.

"What's important is that you're both okay," Vincent told them. "I thought you were goners for sure."

"Can we go home now?" Marlene asked, shivering in the morning chill.

Cloud unbuckled his jacket from around his waist and wrapped her up in it. "Is that better?"

Marlene nodded.

"Home sounds great." Tifa added. "Cloud, can I use your phone?"

Luckily Yuffie and Barret had reached Cid, and they stopped to pick up Vincent, Cloud and Marlene. Cloud was exhausted. He said his greetings, and went upstairs to retire for the night.