Behind Black Curtains
An AU, Sephiroth and Tifa fanfiction
- by Amaranthos-
Chapter 30: The Chase
There it is, Black Crescents.
Far into the poisonous West, we both stand completely taken back by the sight of the monstrous place we had left behind.
Yuffie shivers, tears falling deafly, happily down her face. The day had come of vindication – of this - our glorious freedom. The chains and shackles, the beatings and gnawing, the ruling of belligerent men – over. Over as we sink and take in the relief and splendor of this hour. Frozen in our stares, halted to our tracks, surrendering to our impulse, we marvel at the black high gates, that no longer encages my soul. We marvel at the maleficent structure – it would no longer keep my will.
No! The days and hours of despair and dread, of my weeping and yearning is expensed to this second of my freedom, and I'm joined joyfully with a friend, together to leave this foul place behind and enter the horizon of sun and hope.
"Can you believe it?" she asks, her lips trembling, her body shaking too.
I swallow, my tears itself seems hard to resist.
"No" I shake my head.
"Alas" Yuffie breathes, "freedom is ours"
I turn to her, to study her eyes. They were full of tears, and yet her face is full of light and happiness. Of a joy that could not be explained.
I wanted to drink in this hour as long as I could - to be wasteful to the seconds of my previous encasement. To idly walk and run as I pleased, to mock the very freedom they in derision denied me.
And all that fills me, is this moment of happiness.
Now all there is to do, is to forget the people and place that incarcerated me, never to regret again, but to enjoy every second of life, with new meaning and cause. To live my life, to its fullest, to its best. To taste time, at it's sweetest… at my freest.
"Come on Yuf… lets go" I touch her shoulder.
She nods.
She whimpers and I soften.
"For my entire life, I've lived in a cold place. Where the doors of my freedom seem shut. Where light never prevails, and I never knew its soft tender colour" she stiffens, "they've raped my entire life …repeatedly, at their lavish pleasure. They've tortured my friends, killed my family and left me a young woman broken." She swallows… "I've lived my entire life in that wretched place…" she confesses
I place a hand on her shoulder.
"But today, I'm not a captive" she turns to me, "I'm not a captive anymore Tifa" she cries, "I'm free" she laughs, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Free!" she shouts out to the world
I smile. She's right, we're free and now… we can move on, living the life we wanted, we deserve.
She smiles softly… "I know it" she pauses, "today's going to be a great day"
I smile. I agree…
We've been walking now for at least two hours and finally, with tiredness taking us over, we found ourselves a couple fruit trees to quench our afternoon's famish.
We were in a hurry, considering we heard alarms a couple hours ago emanating from the Black Crescents fortress. As we suspected, they discovered our escape. In panic, we fled, running as fast as we could through this thick, claustrophobic forest. We heard noises of wild animals, the hiss of the wind through the leaves, the soft ghostly echo of bamboo, and all about us we felt a certain fright of being caught. Refusing to accept that, we ran and pushed ourselves as hard as we could through the green labyrinth.
The dangers of this place were all too real. We never knew who or what was lurking in the shadows, and that somehow seem to scare us yet propel us.
Sharp rocks, the slippery grass, razor sharp leaves to cut, and poisonous plants were a just a few of the many defenses of this olden forest.
Finally, tired and drained we found ourselves a nice soft turf to lay ourselves upon.
Yuffie and I quietly sat down, tired and hurting. Our bodies were roaring with pains and decorated in bruises and strange cuts, but somehow we didn't care. With a bright smile still on our faces, we were determined to make our freedom be our healing throughout the day.
We ate the last of the wild fruits and took a final minute to gather our nerves.
"We should get going" I start, rubbing my bruised foot.
"Yeah" Yuffie agrees, "how's your foot?" she asks…
"I'll survive" I nodded.
Escaping Black Crescents was more elaborate than either of us could have imagined. According to Yuffie, we were still in the Black Crescents territory - rather a forest which is said to be booby-trapped with all sorts of practice machines of death. She explains, at the very inception of the Black Crescents endeavour, they would experiment and beta test their devices in the forest. Not knowing what to expect, Yuffie and I – most of time, are on high alert trying to avoid such things.
Still my bruised feet, were beginning to turn an ugly shade of pink. I frown at my dilemma, but still, I would not let even cuts and bruises get to me.
Yuffie helps me to my feet and again we're on the road to our freedom. Our plan was simple, and rather petite considering our lack of time to prepare.
We were heading to Red Hearts. It was suppose to be a three day journey on horses. Not something you'd want to walk, but it was the only plan we had. Soon we'd be approaching a large river as indicated by Yuffie. She clutched the map, pointing us in the right direction and I smiled. The girl was good. Not only was she vastly clever with laws and politics, she had a mighty knowledge about other simple things – be it navigation or simple survivalism, she knew a thing or two.
Yuffie looks at the map and frowns and then, we stop. In front of us is a huge mountain of rocks blocked in our path.
"Heaven's sake" she shakes her head.
"What's the matter?" I ask, wincing at my sore foot as I draw nearer…
She sighs and turns to me, "these rocks. They're blocking our path" she informs bluntly.
"Well lets climb it" I retorted
She frowns.
"There's no way we're getting up those rocks, Tifa." She informs.
I arch a quizzical brow at her.
"Not in your condition, at least" she explains
I sigh, my bruised foot was beginning to slow us down. I couldn't have that happening. Our freedom is at stake and here it is my foot's hindering our escape. In the back of mind I'm thinking, I don't know whose following us – perhaps soldiers were following, and if we kept procrastinating our journey, who knows what they'd do to two escapees? Heck, we'd be in sore hell and I couldn't risk that.
I can't have Yuffie carrying me, due to my injuries. Damn, I had to do things on my own.
"Look… we don't know who's out there, and how far behind they are, so let's climb" I explain.
"But your foot, Tifa" she shakes her head.
"Never mind that, we don't have time…" I inform, noticing her face.
"Tifa" she starts sternly, "you are in no condition to climb those rocks. We don't have a choice, we'll have to go around – we'll take the long way" she informs.
"We don't have time Yuffie" I firmly reply, "wake up and realize if we get caught, there goes our freedom, we don't have time. Let's just climb the damn thing" I walk past her starting the climb on my own.
"You're absolutely impossible, you know that?" Yuffie explains, "your foot is infected, you shouldn't be climbing up those rocks" she angrily states.
"Look. I know things look bad, but they're going to get a lot worse if we don't do something soon. Now is not to time to be arguing about what we should and shouldn't do. Our freedom is at stake" I climb higher…
She groans, and starts her climb. I look over my shoulder to see the spunky nurse climb the rocks. I smile. Regardless what, she knew I was right. We didn't have time to fight, especially now, not when we're so close to leaving the vicinity. I climb another rock, and I wince, the pain in my foot was horrible, but I had to numb myself. I couldn't allow pain to hamper me. I had to climb as fast as I could, no matter how much it hurt.
The rocks were slippery, and the climb itself, difficult. I had to clutch on to some sharp looking rocks being very precarious about my footing on the slippery ledges. Moss and insects decorated the ledges and damn was it beginning to test my nerves, not to mention, vertigo was beginning to kick in. Nonetheless, I kept my head, climbing and keeping my gaze high.
Through the canopy of trees, I could see light. It wasn't the grey sky I had seen and known for months, it was the warm light of the sun. I haven't felt sun light in so long.
I slow myself to a halt, collecting the stray rays that fell on me. I rest in the warmness of the sun and for some reason, I feel so much more revitalized. Closing my eyes, I remembered the days back at Red Hearts, when I would share a sunset with my maids – Isadora and others. It was always so beautiful and warm. Just like…
*Birds scamper*
Immediately I'm ripped out of my day-dream, and I return to reality. My eyes dart to the agitated birds. I narrow my brows praying silently under my breath that nobody was there. Yuffie looks at me concerned.
"Oye! You alright?" she asks. I blink.
I look down signaling her to be quiet. She notices my sudden change in behaviour, joining my eyes surveying the surroundings.
We stay tensed for a couple moments, scouting our environment for any movement. It was unnervingly having to looking at every dark crevice of this forest for the silhouette of a man
We stay on edge for a couple moments.
I draw a sigh.
"Maybe it was an animal…" Yuffie starts…
"Yeah" I tried to agree, "maybe"
I look down at the girl, "come on…"
Yuffie and I make quick pace over the rocks, jumping from ledge to ledge at sickeningly tall heights.
We continue our climb, down the rocks to the other side, where in the distance we could see a river, and then beyond that, trees and more trees.
"This is going to take forever" Yuffie sighs.
I place a hand on her shoulders, "we'll make it…"
She looks at me, and then nods.
Our journey was longer than we had anticipated, but at least we had each other and that was all that mattered.
That of course, and not being caught..
He closes his eyes, and touches the wet earth.
For certain, these were her tracks imprinted in the mud. These tracks were fresh that meant she was near. In a quick movement, he runs forward soundlessly, deftly. A stealthy pace reknown to the assassin.
He cautiously scans his environment for the energetic woman, noticing she's nowhere to be found. She was fast away hidden by the dark forest. Annoyed largely at her escape, he strews a sinister smirk.
And fair is fair when I find you, woman. Do with you, what I please…
Running pass the quiet pasture, he abruptly stops when he notices something colourful in the distance. He slowly approaches the item, cautiously scanning his environment and to his surprise it's a piece of cloth. He clutches the article tightly. Whoever it belonged to…they were bleeding.
He notices the red smears. Smelling the fabric, he affirms his suspicions. It was definitely blood. He scans the floor for blood trails. Surprisingly there's none. Thankfully, he was trained to such situations, educated enough to know, they were heading North. He deeply stoops and examines the tall grass about him. Following the indent in the grass would point out their direction of escape.
He scouts the pasture carefully, and there in front of him, is his passage. He smirks. The woman thought she was smart. 'Not smart enough'
He stealthily runs forward tracing the scent and evidence so kindly provided by the oblivious pair. There was nowhere she could run, surely when he found her, he would deal with her accordingly. After all, the punishment for escapees – be it Lockhart or another, was always grim. But because it was 'Lockhart,' made it all the more pleasurable to hurt her the way he pleased with no one looking on.
He smirks.
"Yuff…" I breathed raspy… clutching to a tree. I look down at my ailing foot and then back at her.
She was way ahead of me, and as much as I didn't want to alarm her, I couldn't go any forward no matter how much I pushed myself.
She turns around and notices me slide down the tree. I can't even breathe. This forest is so dense, not to mention, I think my direction is hazed. As far as I was concerned, I had no idea what direction was North from South. I simply followed Yuffie, but sometimes it became difficult to follow her, especially with eyes twitching, and my vision becoming blurry.
I feared my infection was beginning to wear on me. I was cold sweating, and shaking. The rough patter of my heart seem to reverberate, and I can't help feeling as if I stop moving, someone is going to burst out the shadows and take me back to that diabolical place. Yet no matter what confusion stormed within me, I couldn't deny I felt tired and exhausted.
"Tifa" she runs to my side.
I look up hazily.
"Are you alright?" she lifts my head.
I shake my head slowly.
"I'm…" I breathed, "I'm just tired…" I hold my head.
She shakes her head. She feels my pulse and then my temperature.
"This isn't good Tif…" she informs…
I swallow, she didn't have to tell me twice what I already knew.
"Help me" I pleaded.
"No… we're stopping. You need to rest." She starts.
"Yuffie" I grab her shirt, "please…" I pleaded.
She holds my hand, "I'm sorry…" she softens, "we have to stop."
I shake my head, "we can't…"
"Tifa" she holds my hand, "look at me" she sternly speaks…
I look at her, my eyes full of tears.
"You can't do this. You've exerted yourself. Heck, who knows what the infection might be contributing to your health." She grimaces looking at my wound.
"You can't keep walking on this foot. You'll cripple yourself. It's best to rest up." She pats my hand.
As much as she made sense, I didn't want to accept that. We shouldn't be stopping and attending to wounds, rather we should be out there running as fast as we could from this wretched place. But it's as if the curse of Black Crescents still wallows on me, stinking entirely.
I nod. I can't argue with my head pounding this way.
She takes off her jacket and places it under my head.
"You look so pale" she saddens.
I slowly close my eyes.
"Rest up Tif." She stands to her feet, "I'm going to get some herbs" she smiles.
I didn't hear a word again as everything went black and I faded into sleep.
Slowly I open my eyes, noticing the place is a lot darker. Where am I?
Immediately I jerk forward, eyes wide open.
'Shit!' I breathed, 'I'm still in the forest'
I remember now. All the previous events flashing back to me: my escape, my wounded foot, Yuffie.
Looking around, where is she?
Fear begins to nib at me, as I pray silently she was safe.
I notice her stuff on the floor and I sigh in relief. Still it doesn't say much about who's out there lurking in the shadows ready to pounce on her. The thought itself pushes me to my feet. I support myself with the nearby tree and I look around. It sure was late. Probably 4 or 5. Still, Yuffie should have known better than to leave me sleeping so long. Now wasn't the time for recovery. We had plenty of time to do that after this ordeal.
"Yuffie" I shout out into the dark forest. My voice echoes, and the hiss of the late afternoon breeze returns to me.
There's a sort of stagnancy about the wind, one that carries for some reason, dark forebodings. Fearing the worst, I shout her name again and like before nothing returns.
"Yuffie?" I scream at the darkness.
Why wasn't she answering me?
I tremble. Please…answer me.
I pleaded with whatever gods there were, for the safety of Yuffie. I couldn't lose my only friend because of …of..me.
I swallow. No I shouldn't think this way. I seem to remember something she said. Herbs was it? She was out looking for herbs. Yeh, that's it. I nodded, trying to perk myself up. But no matter what, my fear was all too real, deep and vetted.
She was suppose to be back hours ago. Why wasn't she here, next to me? It's late and who knows what animals and creatures lurk at this hour. Not to mention with the hours I've spent sleeping who knows which enemy of Black Crescents, were near.
I shudder at the thought. What if it was too late? What if she was caught? I tremble at the thought. Who knows what they would do. I grimace, no…
I cry. No… don't die.
I shiver.
"Yuffie" I scream again, tears falling down my face.
I fear now that my suspicions are true. I drop to my knees.
My echoes return, only to haunt me that she was gone.
So this is how the journey ends? I close my eyes. Allowing the silence of the cold forest eat at me. Weakened and tired, I feel as if I've become crippled by my circumstances. My only friend is somewhere out there, perhaps dead… and here I am, in this waking moment in a place like this that makes me so afraid and scared.
I feel like a child who is left for loss in the open. I search desperately for my guardian, but they're no where to be found.
"Tifa!" a voice returns to me.
Yuffie. Immediately my eyes flutter open.
I recognize her voice.
Sharply I turn around, gleeful that she's alright and then to my horror, I feel my whole body shivering violently. Immediately tears fall down my face, as I fall to my feet going backward. Noo, there was no way.
No…it couldn't be. No..
"Found you" comes his cold voice.
To be continued…
Author's Notes: Yes, I know I need a good shaking for not updating for a whole week. Gahh! I'm sorry guys. I had some nasty writer's block. Hopefully I'm good now.