Misery

Ch. 9

A drop of rain hitting my cheek jolted me awake. I struggled to focus my eyesight. My head shot with pain as I tried to move. When I realized I

couldn't move, my eyes shot open as I looked around frantically. Metal caught my eye. I was chained to one of the stone walls. I looked up at the sky,

the rain beginning to fall harder and directly on top of me. "I see you're awake." Kadaj's voice didn't phase me. "Yazoo. Loz" I watched the man with

long silver hair step to the right of me. I was guessing he was Yazoo by the way Kadaj nodded his head at him to tell him and Loz what direction to go

on either side of me. /It'll be luck that gets you out of here./ I told myself. I suddenly decided to be a smart ass. When Kadaj turned around and

started talking about god knows what, I mimicked him to the point where Loz and Yazoo would see the faces I was making and laugh. "What's so

funny?" Kadaj asked spinning around. "Nothing." Yazoo replied, trying to act serious. I mimicked Kadaj a few more times until he spun around, the tip

of his blade at my throat. "I don't believe you know who you're dealing with." His cat like eyes glared at me. I glared back with equal intensity. His

blade came up and cut a line in my cheek. As bad as it hurt, I tried not to flinch. Kadaj took the blade from my face as we heard Cloud's motorcycle.

Kadaj started to laugh. "Showtime."

The rain stopped falling as Kadaj walked out the stone structure, almost like magic. I could hear their conversation. "I'm glad you could make

it!" "I only came for the kids." "See this man? He's our big brother! But alas...in our happy flock...he's what you call a black sheep." Kadaj's sword

raised and before I knew what was going on, I cried out, "Cloud!" Kadaj's head turned back as his eyes pierced my very being. My voice sounded

like it echoed when I called Cloud's name...

I could see the fight between the three of them. They were tough from what I could see. Cloud's head lifted up. I was guessing he had seen

me. He looked back just as Yazoo came down on top of him. I hated it. I was chained to a wall, not being able to do anything for him.

I heard something land inside the structure. I couldn't see them because of the shadows that covered the stones. A man appeared from the

shadows. "Don't be afraid. My name is Vincent. I'm a friend of Cloud's." He shot at my chains, breaking them. My shoulder hurt like hell. "I'll take a

look at that. For now, let's get out of here." "What about Cloud?" Vincent looked back at me. "Don't worry about Cloud. I'll take care of it."

Vincent took me to a spot just on the other side of the Forgotten City's base. I kneeled down like he told me to do. I heard gunfire so I looked

up. I saw Cloud on the ground and Vincent's coat covering him. Seconds later, they both appeared next to me. "Hi Cloud" I said nonchalently "Kai!

You're okay!" "Yeah Vincent came and rescued me. I got shot in the arm bust-" "Reno's gonna be happy." My face immediately dropped. "Reno?

What the hell would he care?" Cloud looked up confused . "Wait...I thought you guys were close..." "Ch...not anymore...not after what he did." "What

did he do?" Vincent walked up. "Let me look at your arm." "Sure."

With my story finished and my arm bandaged, Cloud looked at me, half sad, half shocked. "Well, Reno looked pretty desperate when I told him

I'd look for you. And he's been doing nothing for moping around for the past few days. What were you doing out here anyway?" "I just...needed time

to myself and before I knew it, Loz, Yazoo, and Kadaj capture me." Vincent turned to Cloud and started talking. I got up and left, leaving them alone

to talk. I sat on the other end of the lake watching them. My mind went back to mine and Cloud's conversation. "Reno..." I scoffed. /I can't believe the

nerve of him/Well Reno looked pretty desperate when I told him I'd look for you./ Cloud's voice rang in my head.

The next time I looked up, I saw a little girl there. "Marlene!" I heard Cloud exclaim. I got up and walked over to them. "Vincent, will you bring

Marlene to Tifa? I'm gonna go see Shinra and get a few answers." "I can't do that." Vincent answered. "But I-" Marlene stepped away from Cloud, an

angry expression on her face. "Forget it Cloud! Why don't you ever pay any attention to us?" She ran to Vincent, who covered her with his coat.

"Marlene, please. Give me some time. There's a battle to be fought...but it's not as simple as just fighting it. Understand?" "No I don't!" Marlene

answered angrily. "Cloud. You sure this is about fighting?" Vincent asked. Cloud stopped for a minute and just looked up at the sky.

A few minutes later, he looked at Vincent. "Are sins...ever forgiven?" "I've never tried." Cloud's eyes looked from side to side. "You

mean...never tried?" He looked towards Marlene. "Marlene, let's go." She looked out from behind Vincent's jacket, a big smile on her face. "Well I'm

gonna try. I'll phone in the verdict." As Cloud walked away, Vincent walked up to me. "I can take you home." I looked up at him. "Sure. Thanks." "No

problem." I couldn't help but stare at his eyes. They were so...red.. Almost evil. But I knew if he was a friend of Cloud's he couldn't be evil. I smiled

and said, "Let's go."