Storm Clouds

Chapter 15: The Streets of Lost Angels

"I'm sorry Vincent. I wish I could help but I had no idea Cloud was even alive until now." Reeves shrugged but Vincent remained passive.

"It's alright. I thought of just asking." He rose from his chair and began his way towards the door.

"Wait!" Vincent stopped and turned back. "One of my employees may help. He's the type of guy that always knows what's going on behind closed doors. Also he's one of the last Turks—so you can trust him." Vincent wasn't hopeful of the option but it was better then nothing.

"Sure. That could be nice." He paused to wait for Reeves to lead him through the corridors until they came upon a door reading only a number. Reeves knocked before opening. As he opened the door Vincent saw the man was no older then Cloud and bore fiery hair; too red to be real.

"Reno," Reeves entered the room. "This is a friend of mine and he's looking for Cloud Strife." Before, Reno was amused with a computer game until the mention of Cloud broke his trance. His green eyes looked up to meet with crimson eyes.

"I'll leave you two to talk alone." Reeves bowed and left the room, closing the door. Only the sound of a distant clock echoed the quiet room.

"So, you're looking for Cloud." Reno began.

"Are you doing the same?" Vincent asked.

"No point. That guy has a knack for showing up at the most surprising times. Its more fun if he comes in when he wants to."

"I see." Vincent answered. "But do you know where I can reach him, or where he lives?"

"I knew where he lived. It was in this certain apartment building but that was before he was kicked out. After that I lost track of him." Vincent's mind reached back to the image of cloud holding him box of stuff before his doorway. "But I saw him a week ago though—''

"You saw him last week!" Vincent burst.

"Yah and he told me he was at a place called Hunter's Landing. It's in the richer part of the city." Vincent paused before making up his mind to get up. "Hey!" Reno called. Vincent looked back. "Why are you looking for him?"

Vincent didn't how his hesitation to answer. He kept his face expressionless from Reno reading it. "Do you want to help?" Vincent answered.

Cloud laid back on the reclining bench that sat under the large windows in the main room. Some white sheets clung to the unmasked furniture. Other then what was already there to being with, Cloud's occupation didn't crowd anymore space then that. He only brought with him himself and his box of belongings from the past apartment.

Stupid move, Cloud. His thoughts trailed without no end of criticism and doubt. I'll only have a month to enjoy this rich place until they find out that I spent all the money on buying it. Once rent day comes along I'm dead. The youth turned to his side, looking out the vast windows.

Unless I find another hit somewhere in the city but that's unlikely. Shit! Cloud sighed his frustration out. The image of the old grandfather collapsing on the cement whipped his guilt to a blistering sting in the back of his head and heart. Stop it! What I did to you was no different then what I did to the rest before you as well as the hundreds before them in my former life. Yet Cloud's little pep-talk made no difference. He could only look out feeling sorry for the people that would miss the elderly man.

The passing clouds sun a lullaby to the troubled blonde making his oceanic eyes heavy with sleep. He was almost floating away to another world until his body tensed at the sound of an envelope slipping under his door. Without looking at its contents he knew what the letter red. He could picture it starting out like this:

DEARST MR. CLOUD,

AS HUNTER'S LANDING'S NEWEST MEMBER IT IS SURE THAT WE ARE TO REMIND YOU OF THE COMING DUE DATE FOR YOUR FIREST RENT DATE. ON FEBURARY 21, WHICH MARKS YOUR FIRST FULL MONTH HERE, YOUR $24,00 GIL PAYMENT IS TO BE IN OUR OFFICAL'S LFFICE ON THE FIRST FLOOR BY NO LATER THEN 12:00 AM.

THANK YOU AND HAVE A NICE DAY.

Cloud groaned in agony that the world was already tousling him around and its only 4:00! He tried to close his eyes again and fall to sleep which he desperately needed but the presence of the notice letter was intoxicating. Fine! Cloud got up and grabbed the letter from the floor. Fucking damn letter with fancy handwriting and expensive gold rimmed paper with cheesy logo! Damn you to hell! He damned it to the trash can where he would never see it again. I need to get out of here. Cloud panicked. Too much of this money is so hard for me to handle.

Cloud grabbed his shoes and left his breath-taking apartment building. Once he was outside he pulled a cigarette out of his pack and lit it. After he exhaled the sinful nicotine Cloud began walking the sidewalk and kept to that direction.

The assassin lost track of distance and couldn't tell how far he went from home until the change in scenery hit him first. The streetlights hung from the wires, covered in rust and grime while old pair of sneakers dangled from the poles; like the dead men Cloud remembered when he was in SOLDIER. The brick buildings were covered in graffiti and not far off the distance a police siren was heard. No one was walking except lonely Cloud and he liked it that way.

It reminds me that I really am alone. He pondered. Cloud knew this section very well—a little too well because this was the place where the demons made deals with angels for a night. When he closed his eyes sometimes he imagined those familiar faces of devils that he was once sold to and the angels that watched with morning eyes.

The sun was gone and Cloud's only source of light came from the dim streetlights and the moon. I don't belong here. Just when he was about to turn around Cloud heard a hiss call from behind. The ex-slider looked around.

"Well, well. Look whose back from the dead." The figure came out of the shadows that enclosed his form and Cloud barely held back his smile.

"I just got lost." He answered with a mischievous grin. The speaker stepped deeper into the light until he stood face to face with cloud, and what a face he carried.

A strong jaw with sultry lips flushed from the cold as well as his flat cheeks. He carried hazel eyes with dark eyebrows and his dirty blonde hair was blown out of his face, sticking out in al l appropriate directions. He twisted his lips to the side so that the smoke wouldn't blow in Cloud's face as he stood taller then the assassin.

He wore a tattered and simple black suit that fell over his figure nicely. His white undershirt stayed unbuttoned below his throat. If one didn't know, they would ask themselves why such a beauty would be doing in a risqué place like this. And those that did know better; knew that Rayne was a rent-boy. Nothing more then a male prostitute who would sell their body to the highest bidder and Cloud worked along with him as equal. But that was ancient history. Cloud left that life but it seems Rayne has not.

"Its amazing you got lost here, after knowing it as well as me." He laughed.

"God, I never missed that laugh you had Rayne." Cloud joked. Rayne giggled from Cloud's remark.

"So how's business doing for you Gabriel? Still killing sticklers for cash?"

"Yah, but winter is the dry season. With all the police and such."

"Aww, that's too bad. You know stuff like that doesn't change much here." Rayne took another drag from his cigarette. "But with you gone things have been better; you were always hogging the riches clients, Gabriel." Cloud scoffed.

"Well that's good to hear."

"So since things are bad for you uptown, are you coming back downtown?"

"What?" Cloud yelled. "No! No-never! You'd have to kill me to bring me back to this dump."

"Hey, watch it! I work in this dump." Rayne snapped.

Sorry, but I just couldn't take it." Cloud sighed. "I'm doing anything to stay away from this place and this life." Rayne smiled at Cloud for a long time with no words but the ones that were jumbling in his head.

"Tumbling down the rabbit hole again; just as you did the first time you came here."

What the hell do you mean by that?" Cloud asked.

"I can tell that uptown is too much for you. And soon enough you'll find yourself back here with your legs open and waiting for the one next in line." Cloud wanted to slap the cheap slut but refrained from doing so. Instead he spat a 'see yah' to Rayne and began walking back up the street. He could hear Rayne laughing behind him as he always did.

"Don't worry pretty Alice; I'll save you a space in Wonderland!" Cloud gritted his teeth and kept his head forward without looking back at the streets of lost angels.

Sorry it took so long. First my floppy disk was messed up,then my old computer broke and was replaced and then inspiration was lacking. But now that I get how to work everything I promise a regular update every week! I'm pushing to finish this soon. PLEASE REVIEW and tell me what you think of this chapter!