Well, I just got so into writing this story after chapter one, I had to start chapter two as soon as possible. Hope it's to everyone's liking. One last thing, if you're squeamish, I'm just warning you that you may not like a few upcoming chapters.
Early morning mist fogged up the mountain trail taking three wary travelers closer to their destination, the Himuro Mansion. Leading the pack was a large black man with no left arm and two spiky haired young men, one with black hair walking between the other two and the other with blond hair who trailed at the back. The black haired boy crossed his arms.
" Remind me why we're going up here?" Whined the boy annoyingly. The black man growled angrily in reply without looking at him.
" Because that's what are orders are. We were informed that some strange cult lives up here and are kidnapping kids for some damned, fake rituals." The man sighed.
" Do you get my drift, Zack?" He asked the black haired boy exasperatedly. Zack shrugged, and the man gave up trying to give this kid the idea. The blond man remained silent.
" Come on, Cloud, why so quiet and gloomy?" Asked Zack. Cloud, who had been gazing off at the forests scenery, laded his hazel blue orbs on Zack, who was staring over his armored shoulder at his comrade. Cloud shrugged and began staring at the forests many trees again.
" Whoa, take a look at that!" Said the older man stopping immediately, which caused Cloud and Zack to stop as well, and pointing towards the top of what appeared to be the roof of an immense mansion. Quickening their pace, a moment later they reached the point at which the lay laid.
The three stared in awe at the supreme sized house.
" Barrett," Asked Zack," are you sure this is the place? I mean, this looks like a house fit for royalty!" The black man known as Barrett nodded.
" Hell, I know it does, but, this is the place all right. It's got to be." He turned to face the two boys, whose attention immediately shifted from the house to their commanding officer.
" Know remember, act as though you share the same beliefs, and live as one of them. We need proof that they're doing what we've been told. Here," Barrett said, handing Cloud and Zack each an empty, glass vial.
" One of you needs to bear witness to one of the rituals in that place. If one of the recipients of the ritual is hurt in anyway at all by the priests, get their blood in this vial and we'll have proof of what they're doing. But, if those rituals don't involve blood, get any proof they stole those kids. Hell, bring one of the stole kids if you have to, just get proof. Understood?".
" Yes!" They both replied in unison.
" Then, get moving. If you need me," He pointed down the steep path," I'll set camp a mile or two down. If I come, it'll look suspicious. Now go!". And they hurried across the bridge to the dark mansion.
It'd been two days since Zack and Cloud joined the mansions people undercover. Zack had been appointed servant of the priest for one of the main rituals. Cloud, however, had been recruited as a messenger between the family master and the priests, which left him no time for contact with Zack, after delivering so many messages. And still, neither had seen anything suspicious.
That is until the third day of their stay, when the main messenger boy had gone ill and Cloud had to serve in his place. He had rushed to and fro and finally came on his final stop of the day, delivering a message to the guard of a certain room the blond had never seen before.
" The master would like to speak with you about you little "problem"." Said Cloud just as it had recited to him. The priest, a man not much older than Cloud, looked around the room nervously and looked strait at Cloud.
" My friends ill so I'm the only one guarding. Could you take over for me while I'm gone?" The man asked desperately. Cloud nodded and the man perked up instantly.
" Thanks. Just one little rule." He said heading slowly out of the room. Cloud listened.
" Guard the door. Don't let anyone else in there. Got it?" The solider, Cloud, nodded and took his post as the priest left the room to attend matters elsewhere.
' Wonder what's in there?' Thought the young solider. He leaned towards the edge of the door which was partially cracked open, and what he saw surprised him. He had guessed it was a storage room full of valuables such as gold or jewels, but THIS!
The young male scratched his chin, debating in his head whether or not he should go in and check to see if what he had seen was real. Finally deciding to check, he flung open the door to see that his eyes weren't playing tricks in him.
" Hello?" Called a soft voice from the darkness.
Cloud jumped, surprised by the voice, and backed into the corner of the room. It wasn't a very big room. It was about size of a small walk in closet but almost more than half the room was blocked by iron prison bars, which blocked off the opposite size of the room from Cloud.
But was the most amazing, amazingly shocking that is, about the room was the person on the other side of the bars. It was a young woman, probably about seventeen, with long, silky, chestnut brown hair that hardly reached her rear. She had a pale, heart shaped face, a dainty nose, and amber red eyes. She had on a light blue kimono with a white sash and wooden sandals.
Seeing Cloud, she giggled, for the young man had such a look of surprise and unbelief, his expression made you want to laugh. He eased up, seeing this girl was no threat to him, and gave her a tiny grin.
' She must be a prisoner.' Though Cloud, but he wondered what girl at this age could have done to get locked behind bars. He figured it was best no to ask. The girl looked at him curiously.
" What are you doing in here?" She asked staring at him in wonder.
" I was filling in for the man guarding this room, but I guess I let my curiosity get the best of me." The girl looked disappointed when he finished. She leaned against the wall, staring at the crumbling ceiling, and sighed.
" I know what you mean. In not common to find girls in cells, is it?" Cloud didn't respond , which left a cold, eerie silence between the two.
" So," Said Cloud, trying to change the subject, as well as the gloomy mood," how old are you?" She looked at his attempt at a conversation and decided to help him out.
" I'm sixteen, going on seventeen in four months. You?"
" Eighteen as of five months ago."
" Your new around here, aren't you?"
" What makes you say that!" Asked Cloud suspiciously. She shrugged.
" Well, no one comes in here without a mask on, or they don't come at all. You came on accident, and I don't think you're wearing a mask." She smiled and giggled again.
" You know," She said," You're kind of funny. What's your name?" He stared at the girl for a moment. No one he ever meet said he was funny, much less a person he had just met.
" My name's Cloud Strife." She nodded and smiled at Cloud.
" Pleased to meet you, Cloud. I'm Tifa Lockheart."
Just then, muffled footsteps could be heard down the hallway and they sounded like they were heading towards the previous room Cloud was in. Tifa gasped.
" You'll get in serious trouble if you're seen in here! Hurry, Cloud, go!" Nodding, he dashed outside to shut the door. Grabbing the handle, he stuck his head through the open doorway one last time.
" Nice to meet you, Miss Tifa." He said kindly, making direct eye contact with the brunette's glowing amber eyes. She gave a small wave and Cloud softly shut the door, as not to attract attention from the nearing footsteps. Tifa smiled to herself sadly.
' He was just on temporary duty. I'll probably never see him again." She sat down on the hard, stone floor and stared at the door, hoping to see him again, and then put her head in her knees.
" And I was so close to making a friend..."
" Sorry, I made you take my watch." Said the man, making his way to Cloud, who was standing out side of the door in a bored way.
" Your dismissed." Cloud nodded and exited the room.
As he strolled down the hallway, he could help but think about Tifa. He knew he probably couldn't see her again, the house priest wouldn't allow it, but, some in him wanted to see that girl again. No one had ever been that friendly to him right away and, Cloud couldn't understand why she'd want to. He just had to see her again, to ask her why she was so nice.
That's when an idea popped into his spiky head.
" That's perfect!" Said Cloud to himself and he raced off to his quarters to prepare for the next day. He knew that soon, he'd be about see Tifa again. He just knew.
Crappy ending. Didn't tell the idea or anything, how insane. Anyway, more about the ritual. Every chapter, I'll tell a little more.
Strangling Ritual- Takes place every ten years after the maiden has been locked up for the about of time. On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the ritual begins with the maiden purifying her body.
No more for know. One quick thing before the chapter three preview. I've decided that each chapter will take place one month after another(There will be exceptions). In short, a lot of chapters. Here's the chapter three preview, Mind( may change).
" Why'd you do that?" Tifa asked unbelievingly. He could tell she was furious at him.
" Well," Cloud spoke sheepishly," I just wanted to talk with you again." He slightly blushed and looked intently at the dirt to the left of his left foot. Her anger diminished just as quickly as it had erupted. Bewilderingly, she starred at him.
" You? You wanted to talked with me?" Cloud looked back to her shimmering crimson eyes, which were completely focused on him, and nodded.
" I don't remember anyone ever saying that to me. Ever."
That wasn't the most exciting preview, but, it'll have to do. Thanks for the reviews:) And feel free to review if you feel like it.