AN: I'm disappointed with my own story, not a good thing. I didn't stop to think about you guys. My characters are definitely OOC. They don't even act like themselves. Ugh…how disappointing…My story's coming to a close, by the way. Brace yourself!

Angelicxox: Yeah, he sure did get his ass kicked. I was grasping, and I thought, "Hey, why not Tseng?" Glad you liked it. I will definitely try to update faster in the future. And the happy ending…well, there might be two endings that I'll make.

Bdsproductions: Finally! I no longer have the temptation to label you anon. Anyways, thanks!

Beeria: I live for the excitement and suspense. I dunno yet but maybe things will get a little heated.

RoxasXNamine: Did you say you want them to die? O.o Well, you'll see.

Princess of the Knight: Aw, poor you. I haven't had much chance to write either.

Li the Twilight Knight: He didn't get captured very long ago. I didn't leave any hints. Surprise!

Chapter 16

Brandon wasn't about to lie to himself. He was hurt and scared. Blood streamed down his side from the bullet Sephiroth fired at him and from the trap he'd set off. The overturned table was the only thing shielding him from Sephiroth. Elena stood by, ready to shoot if need be but leaving it up to her employer.

"Come on out, Cloud," Sephiroth said. "You don't want to leave Aeris to her death."

Brandon clenched his eyes shut. He was trapped. If he didn't…But he couldn't! Taking a deep breath, he launched himself from behind the table, shooting as many times as he could at Sephiroth. The tall madman wasn't caught unaware, however. Brandon felt a bullet rip through his leg before he hit the ground behind a desk. He cried out in pain and pulled his leg close to himself.

Sephiroth, however, was choking up blood. He had a mad gleam in his eye as he wiped away the offending red liquid. With a glance at Elena, he said, "Kill him," and left the room.

With a determined look on his pale face, Brandon wrapped his arm around and shot down the hall at Elena. He nearly dropped his gun in surprise, however, when Garret burst into the room. Having heard the fire from down the hall, he was immediately in action, shooting Elena down and continuing the fire so that she had to hide behind cover.

"Go," Garret ordered. "Get your ass off the floor and move it."

Brandon didn't need to be told twice. Using the desk to brace himself, he pulled himself up on one foot and made his way slowly towards the door Sephiroth had gone through. Garret was several feet away. Elena, in the center of the room and off to the side, attempted to shoot Brandon down, but her bullets missed and Garret's immediately blasted the gun out of her hand, making it slid across the floor.

Using this without hesitation, Brandon hobbled to the door and stumbled through to the next room. That was where the key was. He saw it on a table at the far side of the room. All his wounds were making it hard to stay conscious, but he was almost there. This torment was probably nothing to what Laura was going through.

Brandon reached the table and stretched out a hand to grab the small, metal key. His fingers got closer and closer as the world around him began to spin. His fingers closed around the key.

And his world turned black.

Laura's POV

Laura woke up in the cell once again. She curled herself in a tight ball, wondering why that last shock never came. Brandon didn't come in time, and both Garret and Vincent had been thrown in the cells at either side of her right before she fell asleep.

Finally, Laura sat up and looked about. To her surprise, there was another figure lying on the ground beside her. She crawled over to the person and turned him over to find it was a heavily bandaged Brandon.

"Brandon?" she asked, shaking him a bit. The boy in question groaned and opened his eyes to slits. When he saw who it was, he tried to sit up, but she easily pushed the weakened fighter back down.

"Laura, you're okay? But…why?" he asked, relieved and confused at the same time.

"I don't know. Tseng took me here after he took out Vincent."

Brandon's eyes opened more so that he could see her better in the darkness. The only light in their cell was a small light bulb far above their heads. "Vincent? Where is he?"

"He's in the cell to our right. Garret's to the left," Laura said.

"Where's Yuffie? And Jessie?" Brand asked. They hadn't allowed a scared yet determined Tiffany come along. She was lucky.

"They left before all this shit," Garret answered through the thin wall that separated them.

"So we still have a chance of escaping," Brandon said thoughtfully. "By the looks of things…Sephiroth wants one last fight from me before he kills us all. I'll stall."

Brandon pulled out his cell phone and was surprised Sephiroth didn't take it. He winced and put it to his ear. It was ringing.

"Brandon?" came Yuffie's relieved greeting. "Where are you guys?"

"I'm not sure," Brandon said, blushing slightly despite it all because Laura had placed her ear close to the phone. She was so close, he could catch her scent: roses.

"I know," Laura said. "I was awake when he took us down here." She held her hand out for the phone, withdrawing from him.

Brandon told Yuffie and handed the phone over. Once Laura was done describing their position and getting into chatting with her new sister, he crawled over to the left wall, the one that separated Vincent from them. "Vincent?" he called.

There was no answer.

"Vincent, are you okay?"

Still no answer. He frowned and gave up.

Brandon moved away from the wall and retrieved his phone. Laura looked like she was in a much better mood.

"Jessie, Yuffie, and Tiffany are on their way," Laura informed him.

"How long was I asleep?" he asked. "My wounds are partially healed."

"I don't know," Laura said. "We've all been hurt pretty bad. We could've slept for a long time. I didn't ask Yuffie. From the way she talked, it must've been a long time."

Brandon managed to stand up. He took a deep breath and walked towards the bars at the front of their cell. The only thing he saw was darkness.

A rectangle of light suddenly appeared in his vision. He narrowed his eyes, peering up slightly at it. A figure blocked out some of the light and began walking down some stairs. Brandon backed away from the bars and looked at Laura. "Sephiroth," he mouthed. There was no way the tall madman hadn't seen him standing in the cell.

"Cloud," Sephiroth said once he had reached the cell. "You're looking better."

Brandon didn't reply. He glared into the cold eyes of their captor.

Sephiroth suddenly pushed a key into the cell's lock and opened the door. "You're free to go," he said, smirking. "Of course, you must leave your friends behind."

"No," Brandon said. Sephiroth looked pleased. "I won't leave my friends here."

"Then you will fight for freedom," Sephiroth said, moving to allow him out. Brandon didn't hesitate to walk out the cell, not wanted to show weakness to this crazy killer. He didn't jump when Sephiroth slammed the squeaking cell door behind him.

When Brand turned to face Sephiroth, he was gone. He stared at the empty space for a moment before he locked eyes with Laura. She walked over to the bars and held out her hand. He grabbed it in his.

"Run," she told him quietly. He stared at her for a moment before shaking his head. Laura easily stuck her head out through the bars. It, of course, wouldn't allow her shoulders to pass through. Horizontal bars kept her from getting out sideways. "You have to. You're hurt…" She trailed off, looking over his bandages.

"So is he," Brandon argued. He wasn't stupid; he knew his chances as well as Laura. He didn't want her worried. Ever since he met her…he felt…awkward and changed. He didn't want that to go away. Seeking comfort, he unconsciously reached out his other hand and touched her cheek. Her emerald eyes widened slightly at the forward motion, but she leaned against his fingers. He stroked her once before withdrawing. "I'll be back for you." That was a promise he intended to keep.

Laura watched him walk away with a sad expression in her eyes. It turned to surprise when a familiar figure came through a door out of her vision and walked before her cell.

"Tseng!"

Brandon's POV

It had been fifteen minutes since he left Laura. He'd finally found some stairs that led up to the first floor, according to Laura. Brandon stumbled down the halls, looking left and right for Sephiroth or a weapon. He was hurting, but he could stand a chance if he found a stray…gun. Who was he kidding?

He came up to a window and looked out. It was dark outside, and the clouds were flashing. A storm. Great. It matched his mood. Thinking about Laura's words, he raised a fist and looked at the window curiously. Wrapping a tattered piece of his shirt around his fist and tying it securely, he punched the window. The glass shattered, raining down on the ground below. The window was too small to fit his body through, but that wasn't what he was looking for. He broke a long fragment off glass off and held it like a knife. Maybe he could cut Sephiroth with it.

Brandon felt like throwing up. Maybe that was how he'd get Sephiroth. Barf on him and then slit his throat with the piece of glass. How original. He was so doomed.

Depressed, Brandon continued his shuffle down the hall. A strange sound caught his attention. It was the sound of something scraping against something else. Brandon wouldn't have heard it if he wasn't so nervous. He cautiously walked towards the sound and came to a door right around a corner. Yes, the sound was louder there. He opened the door carefully, glass held tightly in his hand.

A man was tied to the far wall, his long, spiky hair matted with blood as he cut at the ropes that bound him a foot above the ground and to the wall. He was using a small razor that must've been hidden in his wristbands. His clothes were bloody and tattered, showing signs of abuse. Brandon quickly went to his aide, realizing that the man was very obviously there against his will and any help was good help. He grabbed up the razor and cut the ropes.

"Thanks," the man said cheerfully, rubbing his wrists when he was safely on the ground. "I thought I was a goner…"

"Why are you here?" Brandon asked, realizing the guy was almost in as bad a shape as he was.

"With a secret service on a mission," the man said. Brandon wondered how he could remain so happy when he was trapped in a mansion. "Someone has gotta take Sephiroth out."

"What took so long?" Brandon demanded.

"Well, it was hard to track him down. He doesn't stay in one place for long," he explained. Then he suddenly held out his hand. "I'm Zack. Nice to meet you."

"Brandon," he replied, ignoring his outstretched hand. Zack merely shrugged and withdrew it, shoving it in his pocket. ((Mind you, I don't know much about Zack. I just thought I'd put in a missing link.))

"Why are you here?"

"Finishing this," Brandon said, arms crossed. "Sephiroth has been trying to kill us for a while. He called us out."

"A common goal, huh? All right, let's do this together. No sense in doing it alone, right?"

Brandon merely shrugged and walked out of the room. Zack's hand on his shoulder stopped him. Zack reached in his boot and produced a small knife. Brandon took it. For himself, Zack reached up his pant to grab a bowie knife strapped to his calf. He smirked. "Might was well be armed."

They started off down the hall, listening for any sign of Sephiroth's presence. A loud creak made both freeze.

Zack opened his mouth to say something, but Brandon quickly shushed him. He inched down the hall, his back to the wall. He peeked around a corner and stared at the scene unfolding before him, his piercing, artificially glowing eyes unblinking.

Elena was arguing with someone. It was…Hojo! Brandon's eyes widened slightly.

"We can't do it yet," Elena said. "Tseng disappeared, and Reno and rude are gone. Sephiroth is too strong-"

"Do as I command you. Steven is a threat to SOLDIER. You were planted for a reason, Elena. Do your job. Now is the time. He's wounded."

Elena dropped her head. She was a loyal girl, Brandon had to admit. Zack suddenly stepped out from behind the corner. Brandon grabbed for him, but his fingers closed on air.

"Forget about me, Elena?" Zack asked, grinning. Elena looked at him with an strange expression.

"You're alive?" she said, surprised.

"That's no way to greet a teammate," Zack said, seemingly hurt. He smiled, however. "Sephiroth has some prisoners. You know them, right? The AVALANCHE people? I say we reform our alliance."

Hojo seemed to consider this. He finally nodded. "Sephiroth is bound to have some of his followers hidden around the mansion. They could be decent pawns…"

"My friend knows the way," Zack said, turning around. "It's okay, Brandon. We're friends…right?"

Brandon stepped out without a word. Elena narrowed her eyes at him but remained silent.

"Take us to them."

Yuffie's POV

She raced down the stairs to the cells and cried out when she slammed into Tseng and fell backwards. She pulled out her gun and attempted to get up. Wedge, Jessie, Tiffany and Biggs prepared for a fight behind her.

Tseng took off his sunglasses and peered at her with…red eyes. Yuffie gaped at him, surprised. Vincent stood there in suit and tie, regarding her silently. Behind him were Laura and Barret, who both dragged a bound and dazed Tseng in a Vincent costume behind them.

"What?" she demanded, terribly confused. She looked at them, lost.

"No time to explain," Vincent said, putting the glasses back on and smoothing back his hair to look more like Tseng.

Yuffie got to her feet and brushed dirt off her short shorts. She cocked her gun and turned back around energetically, nearly bounding up the stairs.

"Brandon is up ahead. It took Vincent a while to get the locks open, but I'm sure he hasn't gotten far," Laura informed her as they ran. They walked through the halls as quickly as possible.

Yuffie was in the lead, chatting away with a quiet Vincent about how Jessie almost wrecked the van on the way there. They'd been walking for a while, and everyone seemed annoyed by her chatter. They were trying to go for a surprise attack.

Garret scowled. "Girls shouldn't drive," he said.

Yuffie kicked him while he was ducking under Tiffany' swing. She was so distracted that she very nearly ran into a tall, unfamiliar man. Cursing, she raised her gun. The man merely grinned at her.

"Where's Sephiroth?" Tiffany demanded, pulling out her own gun and aiming at Elena, who stood behind the man and beside Hojo.

"We'd like to know the same thing," the man said, holding up his hands. "Your friend Brandon convinced them to help me free you guys, but he disappeared before we could come here. Imagine our surprise to find you alive…and out of your cells, too!"

"Stop lyin'!" Garret said, shoving his big shotgun in his face, supplied by Jessie.

"If we meant you harm, you would be dead," Hojo cut in. "If you continue to threaten us, we will finish where Steven started.

Laura stepped forward, looking as if she didn't believe her eyes. "Zack?" she asked eyes wide. Zack stared at her, mouth slightly agape. Garret lowered his gun slowly.

"Laura!" he said, grabbing her hands. "I- What are you doing here?"

Laura looked as if she was going to explain the whole thing, but she gathered her senses back and shook her head. "No time for that now," she said. "We have to go after Brandon."

"He went up some stairs," Zack said, regaining himself as well. "Let's go!"

Brandon's POV

Panting, Brandon reached the top of the stairs. He leaned against a wall, eyes clenched shut against the pain. His eyes shot open, however, when he heard a clatter of metal on wood before him. A sword very similar to the one he wielded in FF7 landed right before him. Sephiroth stood a couple of feet away, a smirk on his face. He withdrew into a room.

Brandon crept forward towards the sword and picked it up, expecting it to be heavy. To his surprise, it was extremely light. He could wield it with one hand if he had to. Instead, he dropped the knife. Taking a deep breath, he walked towards the slightly opened door and kicked it so he could get through. To his surprise, it led outside. Stairs went down into the darkness. A blue light lit up the area at the foot of the stairs.

A tall platform rose above him as he reached the bottom of the stairs. He began climbing up the stairs that led to the platform. I began to rain. Great. Brandon sighed and was about to move on anyways when the memory of a dream stopped him in his tracks.

Cloud walked down a long trail. He'd been walking for what seemed like forever, in the dark. It had been so cold. He looked up and his gaze rested on a shining figure. It was on its knees atop a tall platform and it was beautiful.

He began to run with energy he'd lost so long ago. He ran up the steps to her and felt the warmth and basked in the radiance that became stronger the closer he got. Finally, atop the platform, he saw the shining figure close up.

Aeris Gainsborough held her hands clasped before her, eyes closed. She was praying.

A small, tranquil smile was on her face. When she heard his footsteps approaching, she opened her beautiful green eyes and looked at him, smile widening ever so slightly.

He took a step forward but stopped when a shadow fell upon her light. She didn't seem to notice. Cloud looked up and saw what the shadow was.

Sephiroth dropped from the sky, his enormous sword drawn. He fell towards Aeris and impaled her on his sword. Her beautiful eyes widened and said one last thing before her eyes closed and her light faded, gone forever. "Cloud…"

He only remembered because he'd had that dream every night since he slept in the same bed as Laura. He took a deep breath, shook off the bad feeling creeping over him, and walked up the remaining stairs and onto the platform.

Lit eerily by the blue light, with shadows cast over his face and his long silver hair flowing nearly to the ground, Sephiroth looked like a demon. But what chilled Brandon most was the weapon in his hand. The same sword he used in the game and the same that pierced through Aeris while she knelt in prayer was clenched in the madman's hand.

"Sephiroth," he said savagely, pointing his sword at him. "I won't let you touch Aeris again."

The killer in question looked at Brandon with his piercing eyes, a touch of madness in them. Brandon noticed a faint glow in them; the same glow that lit his own eyes. With a smirk on his face, Sephiroth held his sword with both hands and charged.

A/N: I made it long for you guys. It's midnight, so I'll finish the story later. Hope you guys like it. Sorry it took so long.