Shadow of the Wolf
Part 2
Vincent watched Cloud walk back to his home, avoiding the pebbles the other kids were pitching him. It saddened the Turk to see his best friend's son to be treated so bad. And it was all his fault… Roman Strife had been the best mountain guide of Nibelheim, and had teached Vincent every path of the Nibel mountain. Often, when Professor Hojo was going to the Reactor, both of them were escorting him, and once they were back, Vincent would go share a meal in the house of the Strife. But that day, he had failed his best friend and only him would come back to the house and tell the bad news to a worried woman… Hojo had taken Sephiroth into a Mako tank and the kid was having a serious case of Mako poisoning, so he could not guide the troopers to the reactor. Roman was then hired to do the job, and since it was during the day, the man had decided to give his son a ride, and a first glimpse of his future job… Something happened there, half way through, they were attacked, and only Cloud survived. Many hours later, Vincent had found him, curled against his father's cold body, and had brought him back to his mother. He would never forget the sight of the carnage, and the image of Roman, tore open by a bullet salve. If only he had been there…
A small, distressed moan suddenly pulled him out of his pained memories.
- Nnnngh…
- Sephiroth! Do you hear me?
- Hurts… to breathe…
Sephiroth's face was blank, and he was covered by a thin layer of cold sweat. Vincent quickly rummaged through his pockets and got out a little pump. Last winter, the dark haired Turk had been stuck in bed for a few days because of a very bad cough. Hojo, surprisingly, had prescribed this pump, which was numbing most of the respiratory system. And he had thought that maybe Sephiroth could use it. Being a Turk meant he had to go through the Mako treatments as well, and he knew what kind of symptoms his young 'patient' needed to be alleviated. Allergic reactions were often very incapacitating, even more when the monsters were Mako type ones, and the child seemed to suffer from a virulent lung infection. In fact, it was the first time he was waking up in two days. Vincent gave him a dose from his pump and tucked him back.
- You shouldn't exert yourself. I'll leave the pump under your pillow. Hojo would be very angry if he found out I gave it to you. Use it wisely.
Sephiroth nodded. Vincent smiled back, ruffling gently his "burden"'s silver mane.
- It is good to see you are a little better. Cloud was worried.
Sephiroth's body jolted up in bed and he looked at his guardian with wide eyes.
- You… you didn't tell Hojo, did you? Will he come back?
- No… No I didn't. I want you to be happy, Sephiroth, and making your friend disappear would not make you happy (he pushed him back down on the mattress). And the faster you recover, the sooner you'll see him.
The boy was muffled again into the thin covers and Sephiroth curled into a ball, turning himself on his side. Yawning, he was slowly falling asleep when Vincent heard him say…
- I wish you were my father…
- WAAAAA!
Rose Strife suddenly let go of the dough she was making and ran outside of the house, hearing her son's distresses cries. By opening the door, she had to fight back the urge to give those little rascals a good spanking. Cloud was on the ground, blood marring both knees and flowing out from a cut above his left eye. The kids, Mark Sorens, Billy Truger, Derek Cliff and Tika Lockheart fled the place as they saw her eyes. Reaching down, she picked up her son and rushed to the house and to the bathroom. She quickly grabbed a towellette and applied pressure to his wound to sponge the flow. Rose could feel Cloud trembling, he was sobbing now, probably the blood had scared him more than he was really hurting.
- It's ok, now…, she cooed, just hold this for me while I wash your knees, alright?
- ……a-alright.
The blonde woman kissed her son's cheek and, after washing her hands, she plunged a cloth in cold water and began to clean all the cuts and abrasions. Cloud did not like it and he wriggled throughout the ordeal, but in the end, with only two small stripes of medical tape, the cut above his eye was closed.
- Now, how about you go change and we will eat, okay?
Cloud smiled a little and obliged, going up to his room to change his t-shirt, while his mother was boiling inside. She wiped off a few tears of rage, looking up to the picture she kept on the shelf above the chimney.
- If only you were still here for him, Roman…, she sighed, I can't let the Lockheart get away with this…
- Mom! I'm hungry!
- I'm coming, sunshine!
- Psss! Sephiroth?
The silver haired boy looked over the window and searched for Cloud, but he was nowhere to be seen. He called back discreetly, asking where he was and why he was hiding. The answer wasn't long to come.
- It's Mark and Tifa… They're throwing rocks at me again because my mother was angry yesterday. She chased them. She told me she was going to see Tifa's father today… Are they still looking for me?
Sephiroth squinted his eyes to see what were the kids doing. He could see them hanging in the opposite side of the village, near the old dusted truck.
- No. You can get out now.
- Thanks…
The small blonde got out of the bushes. He was wearing a long sleeves shirt today, which meant that it would get cold soon. He was also carrying a bag, and when Sephiroth asked, Cloud flashed him a big smile. And since he had lifted his head, the cut on his forehead was clearly visible, which made the secluded boy realised how mean could be the other kids. Suddenly, as if being up just caught up with him, his chest tightened and he coughed painfully until the feeling faded. Cloud's expression had changed from happiness to worry when he realised his friend was apparently ill. He showed him the small bag again.
- It's for you. Mom baked cookies. I love cookies. Mommy always says that when you're sick, you need something sweet to get better. But I don't know how I can give them to you…
- It's too high to throw them…, state Sephiroth with a raspy voice
- I know…
While they were thinking about the way of getting the cookies in, Sephiroth suddenly heard quiet footsteps coming from the hallway. Panicking, he ordered Cloud to hide and jumped in his bed. Technically, he should not even get up at all. The door creaked open and a familiar face peeked in. Through half closed lids, Sephiroth sighed and he sat up. Vincent smiled and sat on the bed.
- Vincent!
- Hello, Sephiroth. Good to see you are feeling a little better.
- Yeah. Hum, Vincent?
- Yes?
The silver haired boy explained the problem to his mentor and quickly the Turk had an idea. Only few minutes later, from his observation post under the small tree, Cloud was seeing a bucket descending from the bedroom to ground level.
- Cloud?
The youth came out and looked up. Sephiroth was back at the window and he was holding a rope.
- Just put the cookies in the bucket!
- Yay!
Just as Cloud approached to do so, another figure loomed over Sephiroth. Cloud wasn't scared of him, because he knew him well. Vincent waved and smiled to the young boy, his hands on Sephiroth's shoulders.
- I will only ask for one thing, Cloud. Do not send Sephiroth too many presents, because it could be dangerous for him and for you, too. Okay? I have to go now. Take care of you, Cloud!
- Will do Mr. Val!
- You know Vincent, asked Sephiroth while pulling up his prize
- Yeah, he was daddy's friend. Anyway, I-
But before he could utter another word, Mark and his friends had spotted him and a small rock had hit Cloud on the right shoulder. The blond looked behind him, while Sephiroth was stepping back so the kids could not see him. Then he saw Cloud sprint out toward the mountain trail, then he lost his sight. Quickly after, the four other kids passed the same path, screaming names at him. Reluctantly, and after another searing coughing fit, Sephiroth climbed back into his bed, lifted his pillow and munched on a cookie. His first cookie, he realised. And that treat brought with it an enormous amount of questions to the silver haired boy. He now dreamed of a life without those tests, full of cookies and freedom…
Rose left the Lockheart's house, her heart sinking. It was well past 6, now and her son was still outside. All the other kids were back home… maybe he was just hanging at the shop, waiting for the rain to stop? Hope and worry in her heart, she raised her umbrella and walked to the shop under the pouring rain, stepping inside quickly. A quick glance around told her what she already knew; Cloud was not there. But a familiar face was. Vincent Valentine.
- Good evening, miss Strife.
- Oh Mr. Valentine! I am glad to see you… Could I talk to you in private?
Vincent's eyebrow rose up, but he quickly paid for his items and joined the woman at the door. Rose then lowered his voice.
- Tell me, please, is Cloud at the Mansion?
- No, and don't worry about that, as long as I am here, he will not get in. It could be too dangerous for him.
- And for Sephiroth?
- So you know…
- Yes. So is he at the Mansion?
Vincent saw the distress in her eyes and repeated his answer, asking back why.
- He is not home either, or in any home in the village… I don't know where he is! And the wolves are hunting, it's the season! Vincent! Help me to find him!
To be continued…
Tum-tum… cliffhanger! So, let m ask this: where is Cloud? You'll find out in the next chapter!
