Shadow of the wolf
Part III
Vincent had a very bad feeling about this sudden disappearance. He was quick to make a tour of Nibelheim, where the kids played hide and seek, to search every little corner that was looking like a shelter from the rain, but nothing. He then got back to the mansion, worry deeply gripping his soul. Nothing, not even footsteps to follow thanks to the pouring rain. He had still a little hope; Sephiroth might have seen something or know something he didn't. However, Professor Hojo was waiting for him in the hall.
"What are you doing, Valentine", he barked, "You are supposed to ensure the security of-"
"One of the kid is missing in town. I am to ensure the security of your work, Professor, you do not have to remind me. But if we fail in helping the villagers, they might not be so willing to help us back, sir. I therefore ask your permission to join the search team."
"I don't care about that! Just do your damn job!"
"I am, and I intend to. If one of the villager is to enter the Mansion, your job is over. I will ensure that no one interfere by making sure the mayor is seeing us as good people."
Both of them glared at each other, they were opposite, Vincent despised Hojo and his "work" was making him sick to his stomach. The Turk shook his soaked hair and climbed the stairs to change. His room was very small, scarcely decorated, and held only essential belongings. As a Turk, he only needed gun oil, ammo and clothes. The only little things that looked out of place were the photographs on the night table. An old one of his younger sister, the only relative he knew, and a more recent one of a woman dressed in a lab coat. His lost love, and the only reason he was still here; Lucrecia. He had sworn her he would protect their child.
Sighing, and knowing he didn't have the time for emotions right now, Vincent threw his soaked clothes in the basket and quickly dressed into fresh ones, slipping on a waterproof coat before heading for Sephiroth's bedroom. He knew he should let him sleep, even more when he knew Hojo had made him run a 10-km test even though he was still having difficulties to breathe. He bent down and carefully shook him awake. He grimaced when he heard the child coughing.
"Easy, Sephiroth…"
The silver haired youth patted under his pillow and brought to his mouth the pump and pressed the tube. His lungs filled with the medicated mist and he exhaled slowly. Through half closed lids, tears slipped out.
"Sephiroth, I need your help. Cloud is missing. Did he tell you something about leaving his home?"
Still disoriented, Sephiroth shook his head.
"What was he doing when he left?"
"He was running away from the other kids. They were pitching rocks at him again…"
"Which direction did he take?"
"He wascough… going toward the mountai-"
Sephiroth could not finish as another coughing fit started. Vincent thanked him, patting his back and left quickly, leaving him with unanswered questions. He got up, trudging to the bathroom to get water and some tissue when he caught a sight of Vincent going toward the mountains… on the opposite path that Cloud had taken earlier. Something clenched at his heart, very much alike the feelings he was having toward Hojo's tests; fear. He was afraid for his friend. But he had been taught to fight his fears. So he slipped into warm clothes, grabbed the rope Vincent had gave him earlier and fastened it around one of the bedpost. And without a sound, he was outside, running to his friend's rescue.
Cloud could only see the sky above him through the blurry red veil that was covering his eyes. He could feel the cold, bitter rain that was falling on him, because his whole body felt numb. And since he had woken up, he just wished he could go back to sleep. He didn't remember why and how he ended up there, he wanted to be in the arms of his mother, warm and secure…
A dangerous growl made the blond turn his head. Only to regret it; first because his head began to throb very painfully and second because there was a Nibel Wolf looming over his unmoving body. Scared, all Cloud could do was utter a feeble moan to defend himself. Then, as the beast was coming down for his arm, something bashed it aside and it recoiled, returning into the forest. Cloud began to cry louder, and his saviour, not very older than him, crouched and brushed the hair and blood away from his eyes.
"He didn't bite you, did he? Cloud? Talk to me…"
"Wanna go home!"
But before Sephiroth could answer, he heard the bushes near them bean to rustle, and he picked up his wooden stick. His body raised himself in a perfect battle stance. The wolf he had chased away was returning, and by the sound of it, he had brought friends with him. But as the pack leader jumped out of the woods, Sephiroth had moved to protect Cloud with his body while slashing downward with his makeshift staff. The aim was perfect; direct hit on the muzzle. The big beast turned on itself as two of his siblings joined him, shaking his head and baring his fangs. The silver haired boy was out of options; his stick was now broken from the shock of the blow, and he was physically exhausted. He could only watch as the pack leader approached menacingly of him, growling louder, drool dripping from his half open mouth. The two other were clearly going to circle them…
"Sephiroth, down!"
Sephiroth ducked immediately as Vincent lifted his gun and fired. When he opened his eyes, the Turk was kneeling beside Cloud, touching with care his head. Under his touches, the blond was crying and moaning.
"Thank you, Sephiroth. If I hadn't see you running, I wouldn't have find him. Go back to the Mansion now, before Hojo notice you're gone."
"Is he okay?"
"If I warm him up soon, he will, don't worry. Go… don't let yourself get caught."
Sephiroth nodded and squeezed Cloud's hand one last time before turning and running away.
Rose tried not to cry when she saw her son dandling limply in Vincent's arms. Immediately she took off his soaked clothes and wrapped him in a heavy comforter while the Turk was already out to get the doctor. Quickly the arm of her robe was soaked in blood, so upon laying him on the couch in front of the fire she retrieved a cloth to apply on the injury. Her heart was racing in her chest when she saw her boy begin to stir.
"Sunshine?" She called
"Mama…"
"Don't worry anymore, you're home…"
She cradled her boy, sitting on the couch to warm him up. What could have happened to him? Why did it happened to her baby?
Sephiroth shuddered. He was in the water… it was cold when it splashed against his face. His body felt numb. He could not even open his eyes when Vincent asked him to. But the silver haired boy could now sense the urgency of his demands, but even if he was trying to respond, he was unable to. He was hurting inside, so much, he didn't remember anything since he had found Cloud.
"Sephiroth, please!"
A hand settled over his forehead and he knew he was probably in a very bad shape when he heard a curse. A sudden change of temperature and he realised that he couldn't breathe correctly; he began to panic, hyperventilating as he felt his body being enveloped into something warm and lifted. Everything became black after this.
Vincent stopped dead in his tracks. Sephiroth's head had lolled backward and his little body was now dandling limply in his arms. He was barely breathing… The Turk rushed out of the bedroom, screaming Hojo's name. His boy was in danger. The scientist was not in the mansion, so he had to be in the laboratory. Vincent almost jumped off the stairs and swung the door open running to the 'treatment unit' were Hojo was.
"Hojo! It's Sephiroth!"
"What?"
The Professor immediately motioned to the Turk to place the boy on the examination bed.
"I found him this morning, in his bed, drenched, wheezing and running almost a fever of 103 F. He stopped breathing suddenly."
"Step aside!"
Hojo first applied a breathing mask to the youth, started a respirator then used a stethoscope to hear the lungs. Few seconds later he was rummaging through his instruments to get some tubing, rolled another machine near the unconscious Sephiroth, retired the breathing mask and asked Vincent to come closer.
"You're going to hold his head straight so I can intube him. Here. Put your hands there and don't move."
The tube went smoothly down Sephiroth's throat, so Hojo was quick to slip inside it two smaller tubes connected to the drain machine, and a valve sealed the greater tube now acting as an oxygen pump. A metallic bangle containing an ice materia was fastened around the boy's wrist along with an IV. When he was satisfied with his work, the Professor nodded and wrote down some notes. Slowly, Vincent realised that the ice materia was regulating the silver haired boy's temperature.
"What are you doing", Vincent asked
"Why, I am noting down the results of my research. Seems that Mako is slowing the normal reactions due to air borne allergens. He should have developed those symptoms six hours after the initial seizure, approximately. Interesting."
"What? He could have died if I wouldn't have been there!"
"He is only the first specimen, I don't expect him to live very long. I already had that cleared with the president, but I must admit I do have a small attachment to it since it is born from my wife. Of course I would like it to live until it reaches perfection, but I doubt it will ever be possible."
Mouth agape in disbelief, Vincent stared at the Professor's back for a minute before leaving the laboratory. Mechanically, he found himself going into Sephiroth's room. He had a decision to take. He was the only one who considered his son as a person, as a precious treasure from the Planet, a child. He would sacrifice himself, his career, and even his life if he had to, only to allow his child to live away from Hojo. He should have done this sooner, he told himself, even if he had promised Lucrecia not to interfere with Hojo's will… If only she knew…
"I am sorry Lucrecia…"
End of part III
