Behind Black Curtains
An AU, Sephiroth and Tifa fanfiction
- by Amaranthos-
BONUS CHAPTER (It's long)
Chapter 29: The Escape
Warning: This chapter does contain some words/descriptions which may not be suitable for children under the age of 17. This IS NOT a lemon, but there are suggestive statements and innuendos.
Fitted
Netted
Black gloves; I sigh.
Are now clad to my skinny arms.
I pull at the skimpy frail lingerie clad to my body.
What a depressing sight of myself.
Maids of every caliber and craft, work feverishly, carefully and quickly against the hour of day. They pull at the fine strings of the lingerie, and make amends to any rips and tears.
What an ugly sight of me.
I shake my head. The Tifa in front of me is merely a disguise – a form of trickery for Shinra's perverse foolishness.
The maids comb my hair, neatly adorning my head with several beautiful pins. I've never seen myself this way before. Another maid works feverishly as she applies dark makeup to my eyes with the intent of making them seductive. Red lipstick is paste over my dry lips and now I see the perfect enemy for Rufus Shinra.
What sad clothes; what sad makeup I wear. It's all a small price to pay for the reward at bay.
As much as I hated it, everything was moving according to plan. Shinra was all too happy to oblige the offer and now it's just a matter of time before he's played and checked into ruin.
One of the young girls approaches me with a white silk robe. The beautiful thing – it's adorn with a beautiful bird of gold and red threading. She ties the robe close, fitted snugly around my frame.
The makeup palettes close.
The sewing materials are packed away.
The lights come off.
I feel a prickling sensation start in me.
They dust themselves off.
And its fear that wallows deep within me now. Deep in my mind and body
They stand neatly, all arranged to carry me out.
Suddenly there's an urge to shiver and tremble at my decision
But its too late. We begin exiting the makeup room, heading straight for Shinra.
I take a breath.
I can't swallow this reality… but time reminds me, its now – in the second, I have my opportune moment of play. Make it last.
I hope everything's okay with Yuffie.
I sigh. I hope everything went to plan.
One step over the other.
One step over the other.
One step… one step… one step.
I rehearsed it a thousand times.
I lean into the door, I slip into the corner. I use the shadows of the furniture to hide me, and I keep quiet, very quiet.
I witness the old woman from the corner of the room. She opens the medical cabinet retrieving a small bottle of some strange liquid – this liquid to be our unconscious drug. She puts a small teaspoon in the left cup and stirs it well. She hums silently to herself, feeling safe and alone in her actions.
She momentarily leaves the drinks in search of an ornate platter located in the small cabinet on the left. This is my chance. I scramble noiselessly, across the smooth floor maintaining eye contact with the woman. She doesn't notice me, and God bless me for being small.
"Wait a minute" she says aloud.
I freeze.
Completely mortified by her sudden actions, I scramble under the table and observe her. My heart is beating furiously.
"Master Shinra, enjoys strawberries. Perhaps I should garnish with some" she smiles. She heads to the refrigerator and pulls out what seems to be, small strawberries. She washes them in the sink completely engrossed by her duties. This is it. It's a good opportunity to switch the drinks, but it's too risky. She turns around sharply and begins cutting the stems off the berries. She returns to the drinks bringing them to the table.
Damn. Lost an opportunity.
Carefully she places the berries on the rim of the glasses.
"Now for a platter" she repeats.
This is my chance.
Scrambling to my feet, I gently till myself toward the glasses being as careful and quiet as I possibly could. Shakily my fingers connect with the glasses, as I swap them from left to right.
She begins humming once again, and in a jerk of panic I dash to the side of the table. She turns around just in time, and I swear she saw me. Placing a hand over my heart, I could feel it pounding loudly, thunderously. Damn.
I grab hold of the foot of the table and I slowly lean in observing her actions. She was still deciding on a platter. Thankfully, she decides on one. She places the both drinks on a platter and as a final level of beautification, she buffs everything to perfection. She lifts the tray and heads out. Finally, I can breathe.
So much for task one. Now to get some armour.
Where the heck do I get that?
Slowly we approach the door, the air about skin cold. My heart is racing, my fingers are becoming numb and I can't breathe. I look around me and I see the maids guiding me, almost like robots with no minds of their own.
To his door.
I shiver. I've always been afraid of this door, but today I'm going in.
The maid knocks on the door, and I take a breath. My heart pumps harder, my face goes flush, my nerve is about me and suddenly I don't feel well. I feel dizzy.
Get a grip, Tifa-girl.
I had to. I only had one chance, one chance for freedom. It wasn't just my freedom, it was Yuffie's freedom as well. Swallowing, the door opens and I stiffen, readying myself for whatever happened.
I had to play the part, walk the part… be the thing he wanted.
I grimace internally at the thought. How I hated Shinra, and acting with him would not be simple. I notice the guards either side of his door and I remembered the words Yuffie once told me. No matter, I thought; I would easily have Shinra remove them.
And the door is fully opened to Rufus Shinra. He stands clad in all white.
Something about the colour white on this man, is absolutely…pungent and sickening. He spares me, a smug grin with a hidden, darken meaning. It's low, guttural and lewd.
I look up and I try to return his expression, but I can't. The maids around me, slowly bow to Rufus. Slowly they path a way for me. Fear stricken, I clench my hands and slowly start my feet into his direction. My shoulders become heavy with a sort of guilt, and disgust; and the closer I draw is the more I feel the insatiable need to run away.
He smiles at me, and then slides over to his right, pointing to the entrance of his room. I swallow the lump. My body shudders at Rufus.
But I oblige.
Gently the door shuts behind us, my eyes beseeching the maids for help.
But they turn away, leaving us to the silence of our intimate hour.
I swallow. 'Our hour?'
I turn from the door to observe the large room. It's magnificent. I've never seen anything quite like it. The ceilings are at least 20 feet tall reminding me that everything in Black Crescents has a certain sort of gigantism to it. Was it all intended as a mind game to make the subordinates feel small?
I think about it for a second.
Then slowly I feel his hands on my shoulder, and then his breath comes to my neck. His lips touch my neck and this oddly feels like the things Sephiroth and I enjoy in, except it's not Sephiroth, instead it's a belligerent man full of hate and different levels of crazy.
I try to contain the gross in my body - from snapping at him, and it hurts me to have him touch me this way.
"You look beautiful…" he whispers…
I swallow. I feel tears prickling in my eyes. I tremble.
"So beautiful" he whispers into the arch of my neck.
My body like circuitry begins shorting out rendering me useless. I may have planned my escape, but I didn't plan this – my emotions into a rut. The more he breathes in, is the more my body spasms, and shakes.
Slowly he turns me around and he notices the fear plastered on my face.
I have to face him. I have to. I had to remember why I was doing this.
"Why so tense my darling?" he asks…
I swallow, a tear falling down.
"Surely, this is what you asked for"
I shiver. It is…
"Relax, try to enjoy it…" he whispers, sinisterly.
Slowly he begins unbuttoning his shirt, and I freeze. I freeze at the sight of another man taking off his clothes. I turn away and my face goes pale.
All the things I've ever shared special and intimate were done with Sephiroth. And the memories I kept, are still so dear and strong.
With Shinra liberally throwing his garment away, makes me feel like I'm betraying everything I did with Sephiroth, and the sad reality is… we're not even a couple.
"Tifa, my dear, please relax." He laughs, "you're making me feel tense." He turns my chin to his, I stubbornly twist, but soon oblige and I take him in.
Was it worth it to stand and let him touch me, all for the name's sake of freedom? Have I grown shallow? Am I dirty and sick, like those women who take men for their selfish reasons? Are my reasons justified enough to take advantage of a soul like Shinra?
Justification or not, I have to do my part. I can't have Yuffie doing everything on her own.
"How about you drink something" and immediately I remember something.
Drink. I remember now.
Shinra must have known which glass was the safe one himself. This of course being planned out by the matron maid.
Not to mention. The guards. I had to get rid of them.
"Rufus" I start, swallowing the tight knot.
"So you speak, alas" he smiles, "yes my dear…"
"If you should know" I look down, "this is my first time…" I look up pathetically letting him feed into the illusion. He narrows his brows. For some reason it seems he's not expecting my confession.
"I see" he looks down only to smirk.
Sick man, I think to myself.
"I don't want anyone hearing us. C-Can you, please remove the guards?" I ask shakily. Shyly.
"Well I don't know. They are my protection," he informs flatly…
"You don't think I can escape do you? I've been told one too many times, how this impregnable fortress is anything but a simple place to escape. It's beyond my simple wondering" I pause, "not to mention, it's not like I can hurt you and escape" I look up, "No. Rather, it is my simple only petite plea, that what I do with you… s-should remain in p-p-private" I swallow, tears in my eyes.
He looks at me and for a moment he studies my words.
He doesn't react which scares me that he's not taking my plea seriously. So I do the first of several silly things to come. I draw closer.
"Please… " I swallow. Opening my robe, it falls down my shoulders revealing the black lingerie.
He immediately grits his teeth at my lewd sight. His eyes vulgarly attend to my chest and then he lowers his gaze to my waist. Lower his eyes travel, until they burry themselves on my femininity. He licks his lips lewdly.
"I have seen every kind of woman. Every shape, every skin, everything" he hisses at my parted red lips, "but you my dear" he bites his lips, "are the crème de le crème"
He comes closer gruffly thrusting me against his body.
I push a hand on his chest and then I whisper, "please" I swallow, "the guards"
He grits his teeth, and I feel his grasp on me weaken. He turns from me to open the door pardoning his guards. This was chance to switch the drinks. I swap the right drink with the one on the left.
Rufus returns and locks the door behind us.
"Where were we?" he asks
He turns to me, "ah, now I remember"
I inspect him and see much like Sephiroth – a toned man. Shinra is indeed a very handsome man who probably has very little retaliation from beautiful women. He's absolutely flawless. His muscles are tight and chiseled. Not to mention, he has a way about himself that usually causes women to become easily undone.
I call it the blue-eyed attraction.
He comes closer and then he eyes fall on the drinks to his side. He hands me the drink of the left, taking the one on the right. He takes the drink and almost crudely brings it to his lips, devouring it whole. I smile. Foolish man.
I take a sip of my beverage, and then another. Shinra all the while keeps his eyes focused on my frame. He walks around me, inspecting every angle of my female being. I feel so disgusted, but I have to do it.
Gruffly he pulls my drink away slamming the glass back on the platter. I could tell what he wanted. I had to be marketable, I had to play in the illusion remembering not to excite the situation into catastrophe. He easily picks me up and throws me on his large bed. He places a hand over my head.
"Gosh you're beautiful." He seethes his teeth, he lowers his lips to my neck and begins kissing it softly, then hungrily and then he begins biting. Shinra is so animalistic. I feel his hands trail over my back and then over my backside. He gruffly squeezes my butt and out of reaction I grunt. To Shinra, it probably sounded like a moan and he immediately drives himself over the edge.
Fifteen minutes of wait with Shinra, would be the longest wait of my life. Fifteen minutes to wait could mean trouble for me.
That's when I realized one of the best ways to monopolize a situation is to personally take control. I pushed him off and he looks almost angry at my actions, but I silence him. I push him into the bed, leaning my body over his. I bring myself into a sitting position spreading my legs either side of him.
"Oh shit" he curses inspecting me.
I pull the pins out my hair, throwing them off to the side. I flick my head back allowing my long black locks to fall about me.
Shinra hisses.
I lick my index finger pacing my wet finger under my chin and down to my cleavage and then lower.
He grabs my hair and then brings my head to his. He opens his lips and I stiffen. Do I kiss him?
Every time I think about kissing, there's always an affiliation with Sephiroth. I raise my head and his lips land on my neck. He licks me digging his nails into my back. I arch myself into him and it turns him on - more into a devil. He pushes me back into the bed, sinking me in with his large frame. He trails his gaze to my breasts, and then lower. He scratches his fingers over my smooth stomach. He lowers his gaze to my legs and then raises them to pull at the lingerie. At first he's slow, but then he quickens his pace, ripping everything apart. He pulls the gloves off, then my stockings. He hungrily bites on the pulse of my wrist, licking my fingers and consuming me in fear.
I'm so afraid to go any further with Shinra. I've never been so afraid in my life.
Slowly he pulls at the brassier of the lingerie. Out of reflex, I dodge his hands.
He laughs.
He leans into my ear, "Tifa, don't you think it's a little too late to hide" he whispers lowly, "besides" he grabs my hands and pin them over my head, "I'm taking it from you whether or not you like it"
In a panic, I twist and turn.
He laughs menacingly. Enjoying the domination.
Fear diffuses in my body. I can't do this.
"Why are you refusing me? Didn't you want this?" he asks lecherously, almost in a voice full of derision.
I freeze. Yes. I did. I tremble silently and then I turn to him.
Slowly I bring my body closer to his. I part my lips and my eyes glaze.
Isn't this what he wanted? Isn't this what I had to do?
"Yes, that's a good girl" he comes closer, filling the distance between us to a close.
I feel his grasp on my hands weaken.
In a sudden reaction, I scramble out his hold, smacking him across the cheek. I dart off the bed, running to the door. I pull at the door, but it's locked.
Shinra sits on the bed, laughing.
"You silly woman, you can't escape" he heatedly replies.
I look at him, noticing his lips are bleeding. He touches his wound.
"You drew blood, my pretty" he licks on the blood, "damn, I enjoy them feisty"
He dashes off the bed, following me with sultry eyes.
I run to his windows, but the bloody things are latched.
I scream. This can't be happening. I turn around observing Shinra approaching.
"Face it, you're done. Accept it" he crudely states.
No. It can't end this way. No.
Locked inside myself, both in will and voice, I tremble backing up into the wall. I'm trapped, there's no way to go. It's just these four walls.
Somebody… please.
Help me…
Sephiroth… help me…
Like a predator he comes closer, cautiously inspecting me from head to toe. I begin crying. I feel so seen and used, not to mention I can't believe things are going to end this way. With no voice to call for any foreign savior, I feel trapped as he bars me against his wall, savouring in my pathetic ruin.
I try to run away, but he pushes me into the wall. He pins me with his body, taking hold of my hands. Gently he touches my cheek but I twist away, not wanting to feel any part of him.
"Tifa" he starts
I twist, tears falling down my cheeks.
"Tifa" he shouts, thrusting my body harder against the wall, "don't make me get ugly" he pulls my face to his.
I swallow. The tears deftly fall. He wouldn't…
"Shh… just relax" he pulls the strap off my shoulder.
I cry, shuddering that time is taking forever, and I'm going to be wasted to Shinra.
"Nooo!" I cry, "please stop" I cry…
"No I won't. You gave yourself to me." He licks my cheek, "I intend to enjoy you. All of you, over and over until I'm bored" he laughs.
"You monster" I spit in his eyes…
He was a beast, a dirty foul beast.
He stiffens, wiping the spit off.
He laughs, "I've tried being a good host, offering you everything you wanted, heck I thought I'd even save your friends life… but it doesn't appease you, does it?" he pauses…
"I hate you" I growl.
And in fluent motion he slaps me across the cheek.
I freeze. It shocks me.
Shinra looks at me, "you silly woman… now…now…" he slurs…
He blinks back, narrowing his eyes. He weakens his hold on me, and then begins holding his head. His footing gets unbalanced and he comes crashing down. He shakes his head.
"What the hell!"
His body shakes violently, as he tries to get a gripping on the bed. But no matter how many times he tried, he kept falling.
He shouts out, and in a reaction, I try shutting him up. He grabs my hands and wrestles with me on the floor. For a half-drugged man, he sure was strong. He pulls me toward him, and I try kicking him, but to no avail. He grabs my arm, pulling me awkwardly to him. I slam my fist against his cheek.
He curses.
Infuriated, he lungs himself over me, pinning me down.
Wasn't this drug suppose to work by now? As in effectively.
Shinra whispers, "I see now.. you switched the glasses" he laughs.
"Get off of me you asshole" I knock my head against his, causing him to fall back. He held his head in pain. I scrambled out his hold.
Once again, he grabs at me but this time I kick him in the head, and with a firm thud, he lands on the floor, silently.
I scramble away from him, breathing hard.
Did I kill him? Noticing the rise and fall of his chest, I sighed in relief. Looking down at my hands, I felt my whole body shudder. Tears unconsciously trickle down my cheeks. I couldn't control myself. This experience was more than painful. It was horrible.
Looking at Shinra, I thought maybe I could out-whim him, but I had no knowledge or know-how about such situations.
I hate Black Crescents… and this experience justifies every hate for it.
I whimper to myself, silently…
Soon I'll be far away from this place.
*Knocks*
"Rufus, darling" comes the voice of Scarlett.
Silence.
"Rufus…" she smiles, "are in there darling?"
"Hmmphh" a voice returns to her.
"Rufus?" she narrows her brows, listening to the strange sounds.
"Hmmmphhhhhhh" the muffled sound returns again.
"Rufus?" she pulls at the knob of the door. It's locked. She pulls harder. It was no use. The door wouldn't budge.
"Oh my gosh" she trembles…
"Somebody…" she begins in a fright, "somebody" she turns around to find no one.
"Where are all the guards?" she whispers to herself.
Running down the hall, she runs into the council room.
"Master Velrog" she begins in a panic…
"Scarlett" he pauses, noticing the woman in an absolute panic, "what is it?" he asks…
Some of the officials, like Sephiroth, Aerith, Jin and others were staring on at the overwhelmed woman.
"It's Rufus" she swallows, tears falling down her cheeks.
Velrog stands curtly, his brows narrowed and deep, "what is it? What's happened to my son?"
"I don't know. Something's wrong. His door is locked from the inside and I keep hearing muffled sounds. General Sephiroth, please open the door" she pleads.
Sephiroth nods.
Council members run to the door urgently seeking explanation.
"Rufus?" Velrog knocks on the door…
"Mmphhh" the muffled sound replies…
"Sephiroth" Velrog orders…
Sephiroth nods taking a firm position in front the door. Slashing the door, the frail structure falls apart.
Scarlett screams seeing Rufus on the floor tied up.
Velrog runs to his side.
Scarlett pulls the cloth from over his mouth.
"You fools…" he snaps…
"Rufus, a-are you okay?" Scarlett asks concerned…
"She's escaped…" he shouts…
"Whose escaped?" Velrog asks…
"Lockhart… sound the alarm… an enemy is on the loose" Shinra orders.
"Right!" Aerith runs off into the distance.
Sephiroth stands listening to the words of Shinra. She… she escaped?
Sephiroth lowers his eyes. But how? How did she manage to tie up Shinra, execute her plan so stealthily?
Sephiroth enters the room.
"What happened? How could she have escaped?" Sephiroth asks, inspecting the shredded material on the floor. He then walks over to the bed. The sheets were crumpled and tossed. He could make out with seem to be gloves and stockings and lace.
Sephiroth picks up the stockings and points it at Shinra.
"What's this?" he asks, interested.
Shinra swallows. His cheeks flame.
"N-Nothing" he grabs it out Sephiroth's hand.
"What the hell happened in this room Rufus?" Velrog asks angrily, realizing from the strange items, something had happened.
"I tried to take the girl…" he confesses, angrily.
Scarlett gasps. She stiffens at his words.
Sephiroth tightens his jaw.
"You tried to take the girl, against her will?" Sephiroth coldly asks…
His demeanor changes from concerned to cold and icy. Sephiroth's green eyes flash something nasty.
"No. She offered herself" he tries standing to his feet.
Velrog helps his son up.
Sephiroth clenches his fist. 'The woman…'
"I was suppose to drug her if I met any rebuttal, but somehow she knew about the arrangement" he pauses, "instead she drugged me"
"How could she have known?" Velrog asks confused…
"Her friend…" Sephiroth makes the assumption.
Rufus looks up, "yes… you're absolutely right." He shook his head, "The maid… find her..bring her to me" he orders…
Sephiroth stands passively looking at the articles of promiscuous clothing. He stiffens, walking out the room.
Aerith returns in a rasped breath, "she's gone sir… we can't find her" she explains.
"Damn…" Shinra curses, "order the guards -
"- No. I'll do it. She's my duty" Sephiroth interjects, "I'll find the girl… and bring her back" he turns to Rufus.
Rufus observes him, "very well, General Sephiroth"
Sephiroth begins heading out.
"Sephiroth" calls a voice…
He turns to find Aerith, "I'm coming with you"
He looks at her "no. This is my job" he informs coldly.
She nods, realizing he was not to be tested when he was so serious, "be careful"
He turns away.
'Besides… I'm going to kill her'
To be continued…