Chapter 5: Meet the Turks
Vincent lay on his bed, hair wildly all over the place. It was around 5 in the morning and he was wide awake. He had trouble sleeping, as usual. Tearing way the thin blanket that draped his figure, he moved and sat on the edge of his bed. He took hold of small strands of his hair and twisted it around him index finger. He traced memories back to the day before, when he saw the horrifying needle scars on Kysten's arm.
Judging from the countless marks on the arm, Vincent was very sure that the poor lad was used as some form of lab-rat, fathomed to a series of torturing experiments that not only scar the flesh but the mind and heart as well. He was set on trying to coerce Kysten into talking about all the things they did to him. He knew, because he also had his own share of memories that did not fade in time as well as wounds inflicted on him that left part of him dead.
He stared at the mechanical arm that was affixed onto the lower part of his left arm. He could never feel using that hand anymore. He lifted the heavy bionic arm, accustomed to the way of moving it just like a normal one, and touched it against his pale cheek. He shuddered when the cold metal touched him and realization hit him that he was not truly alive or truly dead, in between. Not a man but part machine part demon.
Soon, he snapped out of his state of stupor and realised how much time had past, more specifically an hour. He got up, refusing to make the bed and finding it rather unreasonable considering the fact that he would have to sleep on it again. He changed into a black lose pants and a grey shirt. Once he was ready, he stepped out of his dark bedroom to welcome the day's first ray of sun over the Midgar skyline.
He never really enjoyed the sunlight and preferred spending his time in the dark; hence his room was fitted with a think opaque drape which never allowed sunlight to show itself in his room. Quietly, he walked towards the room where Kysten slept in and opened the door, effortlessly not making a sound. Vincent peered into the dim-lit room and found Kysten sleeping on the floor beside the bed. He must have been used to sleeping in the streets and probably in the lab where they kept him in.
Vincent walked over to Kysten's sleeping form, trying not to wake the tired boy. He had quite an eventful night the day before and let him rest. Vincent took out the blanket that was still under the pillow and unfolded and flipped it to its actual size before letting it fall down on Kysten. Kysten moved slightly but continued to sleep. Vincent went out make himself an early quick breakfast.
He was halfway through making himself a cup of black coffee which he trusted would keep him awake the whole day due to his lack of sleep. A loud knock echoed throughout the hallway and the voice of a young boy could be heard screeching, "Morning News!" followed by a thump of paper at the doorstep. Vincent cursed silently at the newspaper boy for disturbing the quiet atmosphere. He left the coffee to boil and went towards the entrance to get the stack of newspapers.
Vincent heard a shuffling of footsteps as he approached the door, he bend down ready to pick up the newspaper and opened the door. Instead of finding the usual stack that was lying on the ground, he saw a pair of black shiny leather boots most likely belonging to a man. He stood up to his full height to see who person was, only to get a large roll to be thrown towards his head which he unable to dodge in time. He gathered himself from being stunned by the unexpected hit, hearing loud laughter and small giggles from the people in front of him.
When he looked up, ready for any other surprises, he saw a messy red head adorning dark sunglasses atop his head which pushed the messy heap of red up and a smirk on his face. He wore his black suit shabbily and looked extremely thin and about to collapse. The female behind him also wore a black suit but more neatly that the redhead and had the most stunning vermillion eyes and blonde hair, she was the smallest of the trio that stood before Vincent. The large dark skinned man to the left of the redhead also wore his own set of black. He sported a goatee and had a few earrings on his left earlobe; he wore dark tinted glasses that Vincent could not see his eyes.
Vincent knew this trio who bunked with him for a few days (also causing him such a catastrophe in doing so); Reno with his trademark grin and wild pranks, Elena who may look frail but was one tough cookie and Rude who often was as stoic as Vincent and barely spoke. All of them famously and infamously known as the Turks.
"Ho there, Vinny ol' pal!" Reno shouted before sticking his tongue childishly. He put a firm grip on Vincent's shoulders. "Long time no see eh?"
"Hi, Vincent." Elena smiled sweetly.
"...hi" Rude said in a deep tone.
"Hi," Vincent said, trying to ignore a bouncy Reno who was almost as hyperactive as Yuffie. "Come in and besides, Reno, it's been only a week." All of them got in.
Reno and Rude settled on the sofa set watching the latest news with Reno constantly flipping the channel to a more exciting movie or whatsoever and Rude will grab the remote from Reno's hand and flip it back to the news.
"Argh...fine." Reno slouched back onto the soft sofa, folding his arms in defeat. "You win alright? No need to laugh about it. God, Rude have you ever watched anything but the news? Your worst than an old gramps, ya know?"
Rude did not answer his mouthy friend but continue to absorb whatever latest news he could get hold of. Meanwhile, Elena and Vincent were in the kitchen setting up the coffee set and came out with four mugs of streaming hot coffee.
Looking at the bubbly redhead on the sofa, Vincent sighed, So much for peace and quietness. He sat down next to Rude and took a few sips of the hot liquid. Everyone knew that the coffee was well...hot, except for Reno, pitifully yes.
"Coffee, just what I need!" Reno reached for his mug and quickly took a big gulp from it. Elena looked at him with wide eyes, before she could warn him, he'd already drink it. Reno felt a burning sensation down his gut, it took him a while to register that it was fresh from the kettle. He was unable to control the pain and threw everything up on the coffee table in front of him, sadly with some spilling onto the floor beneath. "Yeowch! My gut's melted!"
"Stupid Reno, only morons would gulp hot coffee down before testing if it's hot," Elena put her hand to her forehead. "Vincent, I apologise for his stupid behaviour, I'll clean it up ok?"
"If that's fine with you," Vincent thanked. He knew that if Reno cleared it up, chances that it'll make matters worse. He turned towards Reno who grinned sheepishly at him. Rude did nothing but continue to stare at the TV.
Reno, back to his usual self again, went on exploring Vincent's apartment. The first thing he went to was the room he and the others we're put up at before shifting to a permanent residence upstairs, it was where Kysten slept in. "Hey, this looks familiar." He was about to turn the knob when Vincent grabbed hold of his arm and pulled him back to the middle of the room. Reno stumbled, brushing Vincent's hand off his black suit.
"Hey, what was that for?" Reno whined.
"Do not disturb people in their sleep," Vincent simply replied.
"Who's that?" Elena queried, in the midst of wringing the rag into the sink.
"Some girl he laid down I guess. Whoa Vincent, didn't know this side of ya!" Reno teased, nudging Vincent's back, since he was too short to nudge the taller man's shoulder.
Vincent spun around and took hold of Reno's white collar, looking in to his bright aquamarine eyes with a fierce powering look. "Firstly, Kysten is a young boy and do not get funny ideas. Secondly, I do not have the pleasure of getting 'laid' or whatsoever. Thirdly, I would recommend you stop all this nonsense at once and sit down and behave like a real man."
"Touché," Reno sarcastically replied. He instantly obeyed and sat back on the sofa.
Vincent considered that the Turks could be a valuable asset in the matter of Kysten and his connection with an undiscovered ShinRa Lab/Cave but he would take it slowly at a time. He requested all of them to sit down in front of him silently. Telling them of this affair that started from when he found Kysten and what Kysten told Cloud, Tifa and him during the night at their home. None of the Turks spoke as they listened; even the happy-go-lucky Reno listened carefully.
"So do you think they're back?" Elena questioned.
"I do not have more details but we can only wait and see." Vincent shrugged, "But Kysten is kind of a harmless lonely kid, minus away his sliver hair, he's just...broken."
"I do not recall of any mission to some ShinRa cave or lab of some sort. I have a few associates I could ask if need be." Reno said quietly. He walked and opened Kysten's room. "I'll check on him."
"Do not judge him by his looks. He's different from the others we encountered last time. Try to make him at least a bit happy." Vincent turned to the ex-Turk.
"Got it!" Reno grinned.
Stay away from me...
C'mere kid, you can't run away. No matter where you hide, I'll hunt you down.
Stay away from me, I hate that place. It hurts all over me.
You'll never be free, you'll always have me in your mind. You're not even real. You're nothing.
I had a life, one which you took away from me! I want to wake from this hellish nightmare! Get out of me head!
Kysten opened his eyes wide, cold sweating and gasping. He felt a hand on his shoulder. He quickly turned over to see a thin and tall redhead looking at him, as well as two others he did not know. The redhead spoke:
"So you're Kysten eh? Having a nightmare?"
He nodded, turning his head towards the door to see Vincent leaving the scene.
"Vincent told us about you. Hey! Sorry for waking you, got us a bit scared from all that rambling you spoke in your sleep. For starters, my name's Reno" Reno, pulled Kysten up into a sitting manner, grinning widely. "Big guy over there is Rude, my best drinkin' pal" pointing to Rude, "and pretty gal (self-acclaimed) here is Elena." pointing to a rather furious Elena.
"Hey what was that for?" Elena shouted at him.
"Hi..." Kysten said, with little happiness.
"Kysten stop going over to broody land like Vincent and Rude here. I'll die of there'll be a third, ya know? Lighten up a little. By the way, feeling hungry?"
Kysten's eyes lightened up a little, eager for a meal, he had not eaten since 5 last evening. "Sure."
"You go, man," Reno laughed. "I bet you're gonna like where we're taking you. Make haste in dressing up."
"Ok." Kysten headed for the cupboard while the Turks moved themselves out of the room.
"By the way, Kysten." Reno said from behind the door. "You look kind of bad in Vincent's clothes. After breakfast, we're gonna do SHOPPING for you!" Reno shouted upon the word 'shopping'.
From the background, Kysten could hear Elena laughing. He smiled, feeling warmth he had not felt for so long. Maybe, I'm going to enjoy this gang. "I'm coming, and guys, thanks a lot." Kysten shouted from the room, quickly changing into last night's set of jeans and shirt.
Sidelines...
Sorry for the slow update. Exams ar coming and I have to study. Most importantly, me computer crached and i spent countless nights trying to retrieve my data from it, well it was rather hopeless. So i had to go to a friends house to use the computer. XD well, trying to remember all that i wrote for about 5 chapters. Xx very tired. Took me 2 day to wite this one.