Yuffie Kisaragi crumpled to the ground in a tangled position. "What the hell?" Grumbling, she tried to sit back up again on the bamboo mat she had laid out on the wooden cladding in front of her garden. This alone took a good minute or so, because she had been balancing in a rather unique fashion. She called it meditation; Her father called it pure hilarity.
"I apologise for this interruption, but I must stress that this matter is one of great urgency…""Humph." Brushing herself off, Yuffie turned to face the open doors behind her and took a deep breath – "DAA - AAD!"
In a room too close to a rather loud daughter for his liking, Godo rubbed his temples and muttered to himself in Wutainese. "Yes, what is wrong now?" Putting down his calligraphy tools and carefully folding the scriptures away, the proud man rose slowly to his feet.
"Something funny is going on with the TV." Yuffie whined, a pout on her face as Godo stepped outside. He shook his head in tired frustration. The young woman had wheeled out that loud contraption again, much to his discomfort. The television disturbed their tranquil atmosphere but apparently the young ninja was quite skilled in destroying anything calm.
"Yuffie I have told you before, you c –"
"Oh hush, I was trying to follow instructions on that thing before some goof came on. Look - " Yuffie interrupted, and silently pointed to the unknown face now the focus of the screen.
Godo narrowed his eyes trying to get a better look at the man.
"…Years ago. Now, I am aware that a new calm has been brought to the world in the wake of the nightmare Sephiroth, and for that we are all grateful. But I must not let any further celebrations continue without revealing the last cryptic piece of knowledge that AVALANCHE have kept hidden from you all…"
Somewhere in Cosmo Canyon, a pair of red ears flicked up to attention. The curious beast hopped down from his observatory and into what were formerly his grandfather's quarters. His paws padded across the floor quietly as his head hung low on alert. Nanaki seemed on the prowl as he approached the screen, knowing instantly an enemy was facing him.
"It goes without saying that they saved us all from a terrible fate, and became the heroes we all know them as. But now I must ask you, at what price? You see, certain details were blotted out from their victorious story. The destruction of dangerous reactors was commendable – but the loss of lives in the process is unacceptable, to name but one example of hidden truths…"
Nanaki knew something was horribly wrong, because this man was so confident in his words. The only reason he could be is if he had already won, and Nanaki could feel even the lightest of his hairs tingle in apprehension.
Suddenly the anonymous figure stepped back and bowed slightly, the mako glint in his eyes returning to view a moment later.
"My name is Dylon Mackoran, a former low ranking SOLDIER of Shinra."
The man smiled and held up his hand as if to quieten the unseen audience.
"But while you may be disinclined to trust me after such an admission, may I just convince you by also adding the fact that I was a comrade of none other than this young man – one I doubt you will be unable to recognise…"
"Cloud!" Marlene shouted, running out across the busy street in Costa Del Sol, despite the shouts of panic from her father.
Narrowly dodging a car, Marlene scurried onto the other side of the street and pressed her palms up against a large shop window containing a block of nine television screens.
By the time Barrett and Cid caught up with the little runaway, any retorts were caught in their throats at the sight displayed in front of them.
"Well I'll be damned…"
"What the hell is he doing on TV? He doesn't show his ugly god damn head for months and now he has the fricken nerve to pop up on t-"
"Barrett shut the hell up - Look at the kid!" Cid shouted in an unusually desperate voice, jamming a finger onto the window glass.
The whole world gasped in shock.
There, chained up and kneeling before a lens, was the battered and defeated form of Cloud Strife. His head was hung low as if he had already given up the fight. His strong arms were outstretched, thick chains encircling his wrists and securing him to both walls.
The symbol of the planet's hope had never, ever looked more human to them.
"What the hell is going on!" Barrett demanded, earning the attention of the small crowd that had already gathered before the televisions. But no one dared speak. It was as if everyone on the planet had suddenly gone silent.
Suddenly Barrett felt tiny arms cling to him and he patted Marlene's head affectionately in a daze. It was all the comfort he could offer her. He was still in disbelief, utter disbelief that Cloud was in such a state. He was still reeling from the fact that the blonde haired kid was still alive.
"Good. Now I think I can rely on the fact that I have earned your attention…" Dylon came into view once more. " I shall now begin my story.""Nobody is listening." Another voice suddenly spoke up from the background. But it was a strangely familiar voice, one that sparked hope in all who were watching. Dylon suddenly rounded on Cloud and thrust an arm out in the direction of an unseen chamber. Cloud narrowed his eyes in a glare until he noticed the silent threat. Eyes softening into a helpless look he shook his head.
"No…don't…please."
"Then I suggest you keep your mouth shut." Dylon turned to the camera, his sneering smile back in place.
"As I was saying…"
But unknown to the masses, somewhere in the bowels of the Junon building, tucked away from public view were a hostage and a gunslinger.
"Oh for God sake, do you really think this is necessary?" Elena's high-pitched voice whined yet again. Her captor remained silent however, keeping his gun cocked and ready.
Upon getting no response, the irritated female Turk started banging on the metal door that was keeping her cooped up with her enemy.
He was behind her in a heartbeat, the barrel of an expertly crafted gun pressing into her back. She swallowed hard.
"Keeping quiet is another necessity." The dark voice told her, sending nervous shivers through her spine.
"I…I just – " She gulped. "We have it under control, I promise you we really are on your side this time!"
"Then why are my friends and I captive here?"
Elena tried to squirm out of her position, but a gentle pressure applied to the small of her back reminded her that wasn't such a good idea. "Look er, Vincent, I am trying to explain here but that gun isn't helping!"
"Pulling the trigger would help you even less I presume."
Elena scoffed. She would just have to keep her mouth shut from now on and pray Rude did as her mysterious captor had instructed. The armed men lining the corridors in case of an escape reminded Vincent that it would be foolish to risk any attempts at getting out. So when an unsuspecting pair of Turks ventured into his cell, he had been prepared with a second plan.
But Rude wasn't going to do as instructed.
Sighing as he reached the top floor once again, the silent Turk re-entered the room that the world was watching. Slipping back in un-noticed to the cameras, Rude was secretly acknowledged as Dylon stalled enough to earn a nod of confirmation from him.
Reno would be appearing any time n –
"Hey".
Rude inclined his head in a small nod once again.
"Uh, not that I'm glad you lost her but, Blondie should be in here."
Eyes meeting for a moment, Rude and Reno shared a moment of silent understanding.
Reno stood back in his former position.
"Dammit…"
"And so," Dylon continued on unaware. "There we were. General Sephiroth following closely behind her, the rest of us trailing behind them obediently. But now comes the tricky part. You see, I was closing up the ranks, as the last in line. The famous motto of AVALANCHE for not leaving a soul behind, every life is important, and so on – they conveniently forgot it that day."
"We weren't even AVALANCHE that day! Tifa was fifteen! And I was no older than you!"
Dylon laughed to himself. "Poor Cloud. Making excuses already?"
Cloud was seething. Just watching this man ruin AVALANCHE's good name, shame every action they had done, every sacrifice – just because of an order Sephiroth gave years ago.
But as Dylon turned on him, that was when the guilt hit.
He wasn't laughing anymore.
Locking horns, the two men glared at one another.
The room was completely silent. Yet, something began to dawn on both of them and slowly they began to really see one another. They had been friends back then, both from similar small towns. Cloud slipped into a reminiscence…
"Hey, name's Dylon."
A wide grin formed on a young face, and a gloved hand shot out in offering.
The younger boy took it warily and let go.
"…Cloud."
"Alright…now what the hell are we doing here again?"
Cloud blinked. He didn't know?
"I think we are here to support the Gener –
"Heck I know that Cloud." The taller soldier replied as if he regarded Cloud as a good friend already.
He reminded Cloud of Zack in a sense. But this guy was an equal, and it was comforting to meet one.
"What I meant was – " His helmet came off and he vigorously shook his dark hair. "Why are we just standing here on patrol? Heck we should be out lookin' for that brunette character."
Cloud's eyes narrowed.
"wha – ohh!" Dylon grinned and nudged Cloud's arm. "It's like that is it? Then you go find her. Promise I won't touch."
Cloud shook his head and walked off into the mansion to find Sephiroth.
Shortly after he had been told to get some rest he glanced out of the window to see Dylon shoving his helmet on quickly. Sephiroth appeared to signal his newfound friend had been caught and an order for him to keep watch all night was swiftly given. Dylon looked up at Cloud upon spotting him and mimed something very offensive toward Sephiroth's back.
A rare smile found it's way onto Cloud's lips before he turned in for the night.
Dylon suddenly looked a hell of a lot older and Cloud remembered clearly for the first time since this began. He parted his lips to say something but Dylon cut him off.
"You were old enough to be my equal Cloud. A good soldier never leaves a man behind, but you were too busy following your pretty little girlfriend to care if I lived or died."
That day on the bridge…
It all came back to him now.
Dylon turned back to the camera then and carried on his tale with venom to his words. Gritted teeth almost seemed to growl the story of what happened that day. And Cloud's head sunk, eyes closing as he tried to make room inside his head for even more guilt.
Oh he remembered now. Sephiroth told them to simply forget about the fallen man. He had even called out for Cloud and Zack, but nobody came.
Dylon's mako infused eyes filled with a dark emotion as he spoke honestly to the world. Those against AVALANCHE's reign were made even more certain of their cause, and those who supported the unusual hero Cloud Strife were wavering. He was certainly having an effect.
"shit…" Cid Highwind muttered under his breath.
"shut up!" Barrett turned on his friend with malice. "That coot don't know what he's talkin' 'bout."
Cid's mouth went slightly agape. The big man was sticking up for the 'spiky ass' now?
Barrett looked around frantically.
"Goddammit! Highwind, get your tin bird workin'! We won't get to Junon just standin' here!"
Cid blinked in confusion until everything smacked him square in the face. His eyes went wide and his last act before launching himself at full speed down the street was to grab a yelping Marlene.
That made Barrett run a lot faster than usual.
"Put her down Highwind!"
"Catch up and I will" He shot back.
"Son of a – HEY!"
"I was left there. My limbs were all either broken or fractured. Being stranded in such a wounded state on the Nibel mountains leaves you particularly vulnerable to one beast." Dylon wavered a moment before continuing. "The Nibel wolf."
His voice was not as strong as he carried on. "I had only one belt of bullets to use against the pack. And fumbling to reload with a broken wrist and a shattered elbow makes that task surprisingly more difficult."
Cloud's head was raised, his blue eyes wide. How could he have left him behind?
A hollow laugh left Dylon's cracked lips.
"It is no surprise to say I did not emerge victorious. One of the smart animals decided to snatch the gun from my grasp with it's teeth and I was rendered defenceless. The horror started suddenly and there was nothing a rookie like me could have done."
He moved the long jet black bangs that covered his face and revealed the result.
"Holy Planet!" Yuffie screeched, covering her gaping mouth with cupped hands. Godo couldn't prevent the gasp that left his throat either.
The face that suddenly revealed itself to the world was scarred beyond reckoning on the right side. Bite marks could be seen near the jaw line, whereas other areas of his face looked as if the flesh had been torn off, not simply bitten. Scars had also been left from uneven, unprofessional stitches. His cheek looked like it had been carved out with a shard of glass, the way it looked almost hollow with a thin stretch of skin left clinging to cover his cheekbone. The skin was so damaged it looked irreparable.
Yuffie could only guess what the rest of his body looked like underneath his clothing. And she already felt sick.
Dylon let his hair fall back into place, blinking his one good eye to calm himself slightly. He had never felt more exposed. But he had learned how to hide the visible markings of that fateful attack, and he looked untouched once again under his curtain of hair.
"And now revenge shall be dealt."
Dylon stepped back and turned on Cloud suddenly, who was still trying to handle this new wave of guilt.
"I did wonder how best to destroy you, ever since I was lying there only for Zangan to find me. Ha, and funilly enough I was handed over to another survivor, because he, just like everyone else in this god damn world, would rather yield to that woman of yours, Lockheart. I might have actually gotten some half-decent treatment like she did if I'd have had her chest."
Cloud strained against his chains to reach the man before him.
"Ha, but that is all trivial now. Because she has become more useful than I would have ever thought to give her credit for. You see Cloud, I knew even a weak little invalid like yourself would emerge from your isolation to see her. You are so predictable in that sense. She lead me right to you."
Tifa was struggling with her bounds harder than ever. She knew once attention was turned to her, that camera above her would flicker on like it had done a year ago, and following it would be the gas.
Fate wasn't likely to intervene twice.
Dylon sneered at Cloud as he watched his blue eyes burn with anger.
"Oh come come Cloud, surely you knew I would want revenge someday. It's just a shame your little princess has already met her end, it would have been quite the show to extinguish them both here don't you think?"
Cloud roared with hatred and lunged toward his enemy.
He was merely laughed at in response.
"Get me out of these chain and fight me! You're a coward if you need to bind me like this!" Cloud spat, the chains making an unnerving screech with every pull he struck against them.
"Oh no, I think not. The odds are not evenly tied. You were not almost ripped to shreds by a pack of hungry wolves I do not think, so you will stay bound. Because when I planned to destroy you, I knew exactly how to hit you where it hurts. And it has nothing to do with fighting you."
Without moving his eyes from Cloud's, Dylon raised a hand. "Rude. The gas."
Tifa's head whirred round to the door in panic. "No…." she pulled desperately against her restraints. There was just not enough time, and no matter how hard she pulled, she just ended up yelping in pain and giving up before her bones cracked. "No! Just, just wait I – Cloud!"
Reno pushed his goggles further up onto his head casually to occupy himself. Watching the emotional scene of Tifa Lockheart call for Cloud Strife, only to see him desperately trying to reach her – he wanted to throw up.
It was about time to end this charade.
With a nod to Rude, they both stood silent, Reno slouched against the wall, Rude standing in his usual stance, right hand clasped around his left wrist, legs shoulder width apart.
Dylon's smirk began to waver. Despite how satisfying it was to watch Cloud writhe in panic, he was seeing no results. Turning on the Turks he repeated his command.
"The gas. Now!"
Reno chewed his bottom lip for a moment in thought, before he threw a casual glance over at Rude. His partner gave him a blank look before turning back to the front. Reno looked back to Dylon and shrugged. "Nah."
Dylon blinked. "W-what?"
Reno blew stray strands of hair out of his eyes while Rude simply shifted his weight from one foot to the other.
Dylon was desperate by now, fuming with anger. "I want my orders followed Turks!" The whole world was watching him. He didn't need this hassle, not now.
Reno winced. "Ouch, now now. enough with the title if you wouldn't mind."
"We do not feel comfortable being referred to as the Turks anymore." Rude's cool voice responded.
Reno nodded. "We got names, ya know?"
Reno could have sworn he could see a vein throbbing on Dylon's temple.
"What? Just, follow orders I said!" Dylon repeated, raising a fist.
Reno held his hands up in surrender. "Cool it scar face. We aint doing no such thing all right? Frankly, we're bored with you barking orders at us."
"And Elena is missing." Rude added.
"Yeah" Reno agreed with a frown. Then his face softened into a thoughtful look and he glanced sideways at Rude. "You sure that's such a bad thing though? I mean we d –"
"Enough!"
Both Turks faced the irate man with raised eyebrows. They watched as Dylon turned on his heel and made for the gas chamber himself, Cloud and Tifa still struggling to get to one another. As much as their voices were beginning to grate on Reno's nerves, he would just be told off if he let them die.
Rolling his eyes, nudged himself up from the wall and stood up fully.
"Oi" He called. Dylon ignored him, his anger boiling over.
Reno's eyes narrowed. "OI!"
Dylon rounded on him.
"I uh, wouldn't do that if I were you." Reno tilted his head and sucked a breath through his teeth. "'s not nice." He said shaking his head.
The look Dylon gave him should have killed him. Good for him looks could never do the job, or he would have been dead a thousand times over by now, 999 of those from women.
"You are no longer needed. Get out of here before I issue your assassinations also." Dylon threatened, but Reno merely shook his head again. "Aint gonna happen man. You see, I am afraid I need to let you in on a little secret." He began. Dylon merely looked impatient.
Reno threw on a guilty look, adding a nervous smile for good measure. It was all to put on a good show for his public.
"Sorry, but I am afraid I was a little naughty. See, while you were dancing about with your petty threats, I decided to trade your men for mine. You know, on a whim."
Dylon's eyes widened ever so slightly. Reno tried to fight the grin he felt coming on and continued.
"So, I'm afraid to say, all these friendly armed chaps in here are our guys. They kind of roughed up your dudes and nicked their clothes. Oh, and the guns too."
"Ridiculous." Dylon muttered, before heading back to the chamber.
Reno sighed and lifted his right hand, miming a gun shape with a thumb and forefinger. With a nod to the armed men who filled the room, he tilted his hand back with a click of his tongue, and the sound of a horde of real guns being cocked followed him.
Dylon froze.
Ever so slowly, he turned to face Reno.
The red head still had his hand cocked like a gun, and wore that trademark smirk.
"Told ya."
By now, Cloud was alert to what the Turks were doing. And for some mysterious reason, he hated Reno more than he ever had before, even their presence meant Tifa would be safe. It probably had something to do with the fact that the whole world would be seeing them as the hero, while Cloud was chained like a useless animal. Perfect.
"Right, good. Believe me now?" Reno asked, though he knew he wouldn't be getting a reply. Dylon looked helpless, backing away from the armed men slightly.
"You got two choices." Reno offered, holding up a couple of fingers. "One – you come with us and we'll hand you over to the authorities for a nice long life in a cell. Or, you decide to get heavy and one - or all - of these guys shoot you in the head." Rubbing his chin, Reno looked at the ceiling in thought. "Hmm…personally I'd go for option two but that's just because I don't like you."
Dylon made to lunge for Reno but was apprehended before he got within a foot of him.
Reno nodded to his armed men with a smile. "Ta. Now, shove him down in one of the trucks. Come up against any of his men and you know what to do. We'll be down in a bit." With that, all of the armed men left the room, a thrashing Dylon Mackoran in their grasp. But not before Reno retrieved the keys he needed.
"Right then. Where's that camera…?" Reno wondered out loud. "Aha! There you are. Ahem." Fixing his shirt collar slightly, Reno gave a suave smile to his unseen audience. "Hey there everyone. I know you are all wondering just what the hell is going on here, but trust me, I shall ensure your –" He swallowed. Hard. "Heroes are returned safe and sound. It has been a privilege to reunite Cloud and Tifa, and I am sure you will all be relieved that they are unharmed." A fake grin was added. "All questions will be answered during the media conference scheduled for tomorrow when I shall give a full account of today's events. Until then," He reached up to hover his thumb over the power switch and after giving a wink, he pushed it.
Yuffie Kisaragi gaped open mouthed at her television screen.
Godo watched her in a mixture of amazement and worry. He had never seen her so quiet. Ever.
"Yuffie?"
No response.
"Yuff –"
"THAT GOOD FOR NOTHING JERK-FACED ROTTEN SON OF A BEHEMOTH!" She screamed at the now fuzzy screen.
Godo backed away slowly and left the scene while it was still safe.
Reno stretched and yawned. "Ah…right, now what?" He asked the now quiet room.
Rude looked from Reno to the kneeling form of a particularly irate Cloud Strife.
Reno caught on and shook his head. "Oh no you don't, he's yours. I don't like him." With that, Reno plucked off the single key he needed, and threw the rest at Rude.
Ignoring Cloud's 'Don't touch her!' amongst other comments, Reno strode over to the chamber and shoved the heavy door open.
As soon as his eyes fell on Tifa his mood sank.
She peered up at him with those big eyes of hers, looking as helpless as he had ever seen her. Dishevelled, bruised and bleeding from battling her restraints, she looked nothing like a fighter to him.
Muttering a curse under his breath he bent down on one knee and looked at her carefully.
"Hey, are you okay?" He asked, in a serious tone.
Tifa blinked and fixed him with a blank look.
He cringed. "I know, stupid question. But you weren't meant to get hurt, so just answer me would you?"
"Weren't meant to get hurt? You were the one that struck me over the head if I remember rightly." She countered.
Reno rolled his eyes. The damn woman was trying his patience already.
In a sudden movement, he cupped her face in his hands, his aquamarine eyes dangerously close to hers.
"Tifa, are you hurt?"
She swallowed then answered him. "No. No, I'm not."
Nodding, Reno let her go and looked her over. Okay, so she was hurt. But she got his meaning; the gas hadn't touched her.
"Right now lets get you rescued." He offered with a grin.
Tifa frowned at him.
"Rescued? You helped put me in here! Where's Cloud, is he alright?"
Reno paused, tapping the back of his knuckles with the small key in his hand. "Look Lady, will you keep your trap shut about your schizo friend for long enough to get you out of here? I don't like this any more than you do….okay, so I might have gotten a little bit of fun out of it – "
Tifa's right hand suddenly jerked against its restraint.
Reno pointed at the offending body part and narrowed his eyes at her. "I saw that busty. You were trying to hit me." Reno glared at the woman in front of him. He hadn't bargained his little pet name would strike such a nerve, but he was unlucky.
Tifa decided to attack him with the only option available to her.
"Gah! Oh well that's just great Princess. Fine, rot in here."
Wiping spit from his eyes, Reno left the chamber, shutting the annoying woman inside.
"Rude we're leaving."
Hearing no response, Reno looked around once he had transferred Tifa's saliva from his eyes onto his sleeve.
"Ru – oh there you are."
It looked like Rude had got one of Cloud's arms unlocked; and by the looks of it, that was the reason Rude was also sprawled on the floor.
"God dammit. Fine, you pair of twits can stay chained up until your army of cretins fly in to pick you up. We're outta here. Come on Rude."
Brushing his suit off, Rude got to his feet. After a swift retaliation to a certain blonde with his nightstick, he followed Reno's lead.
Rude found his partner waiting against the corridor wall, a strange look on his face.
"What?" He simply enquired.
"We gotta deal with the other ones. Dumbass Wallace and friends won't even think to look down there. And I'll get canned from the press if I have to explain how I 'forgot' them and they end up rotting to death."
With a very bored look on his face, Reno headed off in the direction of the elevator. There would already be local people flocking here soon enough, the media especially. They had to move fast.
The price to pay for good publicity…he was already bored with being the good samaritan.
Vincent Valentine was used to waiting. Patience had become a reluctant skill, one that he had mastered to an art. One thing he knew still rang true with the Turks, ever since his days among them was that they would always recover fallen ranks. Elena was such a thing.
Unfortunately for Vincent however was that she obviously lacked patience.
"What the hell are they playing at?"
Sitting on his cell bed, Vincent resumed his usual position upon it, the only addition was the hand that aimed a gun at his cell mate just in case she got too impatient.
Throwing her hands up in defeat her high-pitched voice returned at full pelt to shatter the air.
"Oh this is hopeless!"
"I'm glad you finally agree."
"Oh shut it."
Deciding her fate couldn't be altered, she would simply have to wait for her comrades to saunter in and collect her. Knowing them, that would only come about after a hard stint of alcohol.
Removing her jacket, Elena draped in along the dusty floor and sat herself down on it, un-tucking her shirt to make herself more comfortable.
No sooner had the room become comfortably silent, footsteps alerted Vincent to a certain pair of enemies.
Elena sat completely unaware while Vincent rose to his feet without a sound. He was at the door just as it cracked open.
Reno grinned and opened his arms out. "Vampy!"
Vincent's reply was swift, painful, and accurate.
"Aw shit, my friggin' face!" Turning to look down the soon empty hallway, Reno shouted a retort.
"That wasn't very nice vampy! I could have let you rot!"
Next came a wallop from Elena.
"Fuck! That's enough! I have to go on television tomorrow, I don't want to look like shit now do I? Jesus Elena you idiot." The glare he gave her should have shut her up. Reno just groaned as she ignored him and launched into a rant. His glares had worked in the old days…
Why oh why did he ever sleep with her?
She figured she could 'understand him' ever since then. She had been so easily manipulated in the beginning. How he missed those days…
"RENO!"
Startled, Reno turned to face two pairs of eyes.
"Zoning out remembering our little night again are you?" She asked with one of those evil women smirks he hated. It always meant they knew what you were hiding.
Stomping down the hall he massaged his swollen cheekbone. "Go to hell."
Rude raised his eyes skyward as Elena scurried off after the redhead to irritate him further.
"…I'll be getting Reeve out then shall I?"
A' N's: And we'll end it there on a happy note I think. Ah that chapter took some regurgitating…I have been toying with ideas of hom to write it for ages now. I originally thought I'd need to have Dylon explain the whole tale of what happened when the bridge broke during the Nibel mountain tour. But then I scrapped that because it just got boring. Plus, I know gamers are already familiar with that so I left in the necessary parts and then let Dylon try to gain a smidgen of sympathy from my readers with his own slant on the incident. Did it work? Perhaps not…but I loved turning everything around at the end to be from the Turks' point of view.
I know there hasn't been much CloTi but next chapter…ahem…blushes…let's just say there may be a truckload of it. Not for the little ones neither. I'll probably have to bump up the rating, but I'll try not to if enough people warn me against it. After all, this bloody story is only written now because I have a horde of people with flaming torches chasing me down until I post something.
I hope this chapter did everything people wanted it to. Tell me your thoughts, I'd love to hear them all. I really would, so please WRITE TO ME! Review/email/website guestbook – anything! I'm desperate here.
Xx Jessie xX
P.S. Special thanks to Gordon Dunham for the artwork he keeps mailing me, and to all the reviewers who took out five minutes of their day to review me. Gratitude shall be flung your way!
And there are 56 people who have this on alert. I want a review from you all! Um...pretty please? you know I love you.