Disclaimer: Same as always. I do not own Final Fantasy 7 or any of its characters etc.
Here is the next chapter of my story Memories. I really hope you are enjoying it so far. Please read and review.
Chapter 3: Course of Action
Serenady slowly stood up, off the bed and turned to face Vincent.
"Well I better be going," she sighed, "Remember if you ever need me just call."
Vincent smiled in return.
"Yeah, of course," he replied.
Slowly Serenady began to fade away until, at last, she was gone. Vincent remained seated on the edge of his bed, thinking. Just then he heard a knock on the door. He glanced up quickly, quite startled by the sudden sound.
"Yes?" Vincent called.
The door slowly opened to reveal Cloud and the other members of AVALANCHE. They all wore solemn expression and Vincent immediately realized something was wrong. Why had they all suddenly become depressed? They had been extremely happy a few minutes ago.
"Is something wrong?" he asked in concern.
"Vincent, we've been discussing this for a while and we've all come to a decision," Cloud stated, wringing his hands together nervously.
What on earth is he going on about, Vincent thought staring at Cloud, his face expressionless as usual.
"We don't blame this on you," Cloud continued, "We believe this has happened because of your experience as one of Hojo's experiments."
Now Vincent was becoming worried, although he didn't show it. Why was Cloud acting this way and what did he mean? What was going on?
"Anyway, Vincent, this isn't easy for me to say and I wish I didn't have to, but we think it is best if you go and stay at a mental institute," Cloud said, his voice sounding very uneasy.
The words hit Vincent hard. At first he just sat there is disbelief, his expression showing the fact that he was extremely shocked. After about a minute, Vincent stood up and faced Cloud and the others.
"What?" he asked, his voice deadly calm.
"We think it is best that you stay at a mental institute," Cloud repeated.
"I don't believe this," Vincent stated in disbelief.
"Vincent, we heard you talking to yourself. Sane people don't do that," Yuffie intervened.
Vincent glared at her with narrow eyes.
"I can't believe you think I'm insane," Vincent replied, "For your information I wasn't talking to myself."
"Then who were you talking to? We were all downstairs," Barrett questioned.
Vincent sighed. I might as well tell them. I can't hide it for ever, he thought.
"I was talking to a woman named Serenady. She isn't really a human. You see I am the last surviving member of my race of people. We were known as summoners because we had the power to call forth ancient creatures and spirits known as summonings. However, one day our village, where we all lived, was attacked. I was only five at the time. The people who attacked us burnt our village down and killed everyone except me. I managed to escape in time. They imprisoned many of the summonings we had used, to try and defend our village, in materia orbs. That is why you can call forth summonings using materia. Each summoner can call forth any summoning they want, but they all have their own guardian summoning. Serenady is mine." Vincent explained.
Everyone was silent for a while, digesting the information Vincent had given them. At last Cid spoke up.
"You told us all that and your trying to say your not mad," he said.
They don't believe me, Vincent thought, now becoming rather frightened.
"I don't have to listen to this," he said angrily and was about to leave when he felt an arm wrap around his waist.
Vincent looked over his shoulder and saw Barrett holding him firmly. Vincent was about to tell Barrett to let him go when he felt something hard hit the back of his neck. The world around him began to spin and become blurry, then slowly it began to fade and Vincent fell limply against Barrett, unconscious.
"Sorry, but this is for your own good," Barrett whispered to Vincent, as he picked him up and laid him on his bed.
Everyone stared at his unconscious form for a while, before Cloud started giving out commands.
"Tifa, there is a mental institute in Junon. Phone them and tell them that we have a new patient for them. The number should be in the phone book," Cloud ordered.
Tifa nodded and hurried downstairs to fulfil Cloud's command.
"Barrett, Cid and Red, I want you three to stay here and keep an eye on Vincent in case he wakes up," Cloud stated.
Barrett, Red and Cid all nodded. Barrett and Cid stood by the door and Red lay down next to the bed.
"The rest of us will wait downstairs," Cloud said and with that Cloud, Yuffie and Cait Sith left the room and went back downstairs.
"I have to admit, I feel sorry for the poor guy," Cid stated staring at Vincent, "I mean who would of thought he would go mad."
"I know what you mean," Red XIII responded, "I wish we didn't have to send him to this institute."
"I know, but this is for his own good," Barrett replied, "He could end up hurting himself, seeing as he is mentally unstable. At least if he is at a mental institute he won't be able to harm himself."
With that said they all lapsed into silence. An hour and a half passed and nothing happened.
Suddenly three men entered the room, Cloud followed behind them. They all wore simply white uniforms with a white lab coat over the top. Two of the men were extremely muscular and the other was of median size and had short black hair.
"So I believe this is the person you were telling us about," The black haired man said kindly, glancing over at Vincent.
"Yes," Cloud responded, not knowing what else to say.
"By the way my name is Dr. Jessington. Now what is this man's name and why do you think he is mad?" Dr. Jessington asked, pulling out a notebook and pen.
"His name is Vincent Valentine. He speaks to himself, believing that there is someone actually there with him and he thinks he is the last survivor of a race of people that can call forth summonings without the add of materia," Cloud answered.
Dr. Jessington wrote this down in his notebook and then strolled over to Vincent.
"Do you know of any incident that could of happened in his life that may have caused him extreme mental trauma?" Dr. Jessington inquired.
"Yes. He was experimented on by a scientists named Hojo," Cloud responded solemnly.
"I see," Dr. Jessington said, jotting this bit of information down in his notebook, " I think I know what is wrong with your friend. You see when people suffer from extreme mental trauma caused by certain incidents their minds start to make things up to help them escape from the real world. We will see if we can help your friend."
"Thank you," Cloud replied.
Dr. Jessington nodded to his two companions and they walked forward and picked Vincent up. They left the room, carrying Vincent, followed by Cloud, Barrett, Dr. Jessington, Red XIII and Cid. They took Vincent to a van that was waiting outside with a young woman seated at the driver's wheel. Dr. Jessington opened the back doors of the van to reveal a stretcher with leather restraints on it and seats on either side of the stretcher.
The two muscular men entered the van and placed Vincent on the stretcher. They then strapped the leather restraints across his chest, waist and legs. After that they sat down and waited for Dr. Jessington. Before Dr. Jessington got into the back of the van he turned to face AVALANCHE, who had gathered outside.
"We will do our best to help Mr. Valentine. Remember you can always come down to the institute if you want to visit him and we will keep you up to date about his condition," he said.
Every member of AVALANCHE nodded their thanks and Dr. Jessington climbed in to the van. He shut the doors, before sitting down, then the van's engines roared to life. The van drove away back to the institute.
They were halfway back to the institute when Vincent began to stir. He slowly opened his eyes and looked about his surroundings. He heard the sound of the engine and saw strange faces gazing at him. He immediately realized what was going on and tried to sit up, but the restraints held him in place. He struggled in vain to get free, but found that he couldn't.
Dr. Jessington stood up and glanced down at Vincent.
"Please relax and lie still. You'll just end up hurting yourself if you keep struggling," He said, trying his best to calm Vincent down.
Vincent, however, paid no attention to his advice and continued to struggle. Dr. Jessington stared at Vincent for a few moments longer before turning to a bag that had been resting beside him. He pulled out a syringe and a bottle filled with a blue liquid. He filled the syringe with the liquid and flicked the needle twice. He then turned to face Vincent.
"Jordan, hold his right arm still," Dr. Jessington ordered.
Jordan did as he was told and Dr. Jessington walked around to the other side of Vincent.
Upon seeing the needle Vincent panicked. He hated needles. He had always had a fear of them, ever since he was little and that fear had only grown during the time he was being used for Hojo's twisted experiments. He tried to pull his arm free, but the restraints and Jordan's strong grip made it impossible to do so.
Gently Dr. Jessington rubbed a cotton wool bud covered in a sterilizing liquid over Vincent's arm. He then gently gripped Vincent's arm and brought the needle up to his skin. The needle went into Vincent's skin and Vincent felt the burning sensation as the liquid was released inside of him. He let out a small gasp, before he once again lost consciousness.
Dr. Jessington removed the needle and placed it into his lab coat. He stared sympathetically at Vincent before he walked back round to the other side of Vincent and sat down. Soon they would be back at the institute and then he could start helping Vincent recover.
AN – Yes in my story Vincent has a major fear of needles. Anyway please review.
Vincent: What did I do to deserve this?
Me: Nothing, but I think you look cute when your scared. Anyway, remember all you readers you have to review.