Author's Note: I find these types of daily life moments fun to write. It gives me a chance to drive into Cloud's private little world. Warning: disturbing moments, some mature content.

CHAPTER 12: Night Creepers

By the time Cloud's shift ended his watch read ten minutes past eight. The commute back home via train had become a tiring, tedious affair due to rampant thoughts pertaining to today's events. Those thoughts constantly replayed themselves to the point of giving Cloud a headache. It was because of this he avoided MyTube or any mentions of his fight while randomly browsing online with his PHS. He checked his inbox and any news on the Tsviets, instead, trying to place his focus and mind on those types of things. But while it was easy to dismiss the Chocobo Chow video, he had a harder time setting aside the job promotion Mr. Mukki had offered him.

Sitting by himself at the far back of the train, Cloud's troubled mind weighed two life-changing decisions back and forth. One path led to a dull, yet financially stable future. The other route proved fulfilling yet questionable, uncertain, and dangerous. Cloud's dream possessed all the fragility of an eggshell.

Outside his window, Cloud observed his descent to the underworld. The train had a long ways to go. Above his head, beams of florescent lights flickered on and off again while the metal walls loudly rattled from the train's non-stop motion. Horns blew at intersections.

The pill he'd taken for his motion sickness already settled in his stomach. Cloud made no sudden movements in his seat though and took long steady breaths throughout his trip. Wearing his ear buds, the teenager kept to himself as usual. Not many people used the train during the evening hours. Those that did often weren't the inviting kind.

There were roughly ten passengers in the compartment with Cloud. Most of them were Slum residents. Five seats ahead, a prostitute currently sat on top of a pale skinny thug. Her mini-skirt was hiked up to her hips. The woman's exposed breasts flopped up and down while she vigorously grinded her ass against him in a fast rhythm. She tossed her head back and groaned. Cloud looked away from the crude scene, fearful it would bring about an unwanted stiffness. He increased the volume of his music to block out the heavy grunts and skin-slapping noise. Closing his eyes, he slept halfway through his commute.

In his dream, Cloud saw a proud yellow Chocobo. The Chocobo, Chocobo song played in the background on repeat. Mr. Mukki made an awkward appearance as a butterfly. His rainbow-colored wings fluttered and sprinkled glitter. Again and again he told the yellow Chocobo to follow him to the ranch where all the other Chocobos flocked. It was a safe and happy place, he mentioned. Mukki-the-Butterfly promised to make the bird leader of the pack. But the lovely yellow Chocobo turned away and dashed toward an open field of green instead.

The beautiful landscape had many hills and a few sprouting trees. Brightly-colored flowers blossomed. The grass stood inches tall and the air felt warm by the sun. Flapping its wings, the yellow Chocobo scurried further into the great unknown. Then it abruptly stopped.

On one of the hills there stood a tall, dark shape. The ominous figure had no face. With long slender arms, it beckoned to the Chocobo to come to it. The feathers on the big yellow bird quivered, both terrified and excited by this mysterious presence. All the while, the song played on.

Chocobo, Chocobo
You're mine now, pretty Chocobo
Hush, you squalling thing, hear what I say
We'll stalk the fields together, somehow, someday

By the time Cloud woke up, the train's operator was in the middle of announcing his stop. He must've been asleep for longer than he thought, Cloud realized. Both the whore and her client were gone. Only two passengers remained in the train's compartment with him. There was the beggar who muttered nonstop about Death close by and a silver-hair child who sat by himself at a far corner; his back facing everyone.

Cloud rubbed at his tired eyes and sat up. He checked his person to make sure he hadn't been robbed during his nap. Thankfully, his PHS was still in his coat's pocket and the tape wrapped around his barcode tattoo hadn't been tampered with. A few minutes later the train arrived at his stop. The double doors spread opened and Cloud walked through them. He stepped onto a poorly lit platform.

The air was stale and heavy. Cloud could smell the ash of burning cigarettes and musky stench of days' old unwashed skin. At this time of the evening, the Slums' train station harbored a modest amount of people. Most were dealers, gangs, and beggars. They lingered at the station on a regular basis in search of potential victims, particularly Plate-residents who needed to return top-side. But there was another group of people that inhabited this place. They were known as the Night Creepers.

With no moon or streetlights, the underworld was at its darkest during the evening hours. Only a few fire-lit lanterns and barrels offered warmth and visibility from the cold, pitch-black environment. Whereas Wall Market and other hot spots were fortunate enough to have power generators, the rest of the Slums remained in total darkness. This became a problematic issue for any Slum resident who wanted to travel about in the evening hours. That was when the Night Creepers stepped in.

The Night Creepers appeared with lanterns or flashlights in hand, serving as nocturnal guides to anyone in exchange for a small fee. They set up shop at all relevant locations in the Slums, including the train station. Most of them were children or elders; people too young or vulnerable to find other means of employment. The life of a Night Creeper was a dangerous one though. Any of them could be raped, beaten, mugged, or murdered on the job.

Sitting on a bench at the platform, Cloud found a scrawny female child with a vintage-newsboy cap. Shaggy black bangs covered half of her face, revealing a scar on her left cheek. The tiny Night Creeper wore a stained blouse double her size; her knee-low shorts were held up by suspenders. One leg was wrapped in a long dirty cloth. With two baby teeth missing, she smiled as Cloud approached her.

"Cloudie! You'th finally here." The child beamed. Her high-pitched voice contained a strong lisp. "I'th waited for ya like I'th prom'ithed."

"Heya, Lisp." Cloud returned her smile. He never knew the Night Creeper's real name; she never gave it. And so Cloud nicknamed her Lisp.

By all accounts, the child didn't belong in the streets or in this dangerous line of work. However, Cloud had learned from Kyle that Lisp's mother, a prostitute, was pregnant with a third child. No father. No extended family. All of this left a financial burden on Lisp. She was the oldest child at seven-years-old. Sympathetic toward her difficult situation, Cloud made Lisp his regular Night Creeper. The little girl was too proud to accept donations so he had no choice but to employ her.

Any time he left for an evening shift, attended class, or randomly visited the Plate during a late hour, he gave Lisp an estimated time and location for their meeting. And at each appointment Lisp showed up. Tonight was no different. She sat at her regular spot and waited for him with lantern in hand.

Once Cloud placed five Gil in Lisp's grimy hand, the child grabbed a rusty, oversized unlit lantern from the bench. She readjusted her cap with a determined look on her face. "Let'th roll, Cloudie."

Lisp got to her feet and led Cloud out of the platform. They exited through a large metal gate to the west side of the station. Beyond that point, they were greeted to a world of darkness. Cloud could barely make out the tell-tale lights from Wall Market at a distance. Lisp struck a match against her sturdy boot and lit up her lantern. The darkness instantly lifted and the two were able to see a few feet ahead. Satisfied, Lisp nodded and took the lead.

Cloud was tempted to hold the light as she struggled to keep it steady with both hands. This always happened. Her thin arms were too weak. But the small girl conjured up a straight face anyway and marched ahead like a little lady on a mission.

Together, they headed to the direction of Cloud's apartment. It was chilly that night, more so due to the early days of winter. A puff of air escaped their lips with each breath produced. Cloud shoved both hands into his coat's pockets. As he followed, he noticed Lisp walk with a wobble. It was from a leg injury she had sustained by an unruly customer last week. The bastard had stolen the kid's earnings and knocked her out cold with a single punch. On her way down, Lisp had twisted her ankle. They never found the creep. To this day, it pissed Cloud off. He watched the young Night Creeper fumble with her oversized lantern again and softly sighed. The scrawny girl could barely keep it from dropping.

"Here, Lisp," Cloud said and snatched the lantern from her when she nearly dropped it for the umpteenth time. Before the child could protest, he lifted the girl up with his free hand. Cloud let her ride on his back while he held the lantern.

"D'aw, Cloudie! I'th can hold the lamp ju'th fine," the stubborn child insisted with a pout on her face.

"I know you can. I just like giving brats like you piggy-backs. Now shut up and let me carry you."

The Night Creeper giggled and playfully tugged at a spikey lock of blond hair. Later, her tiny hands wrapped around Cloud's neck to hold on. They continued on their journey.

As Lisp hummed a random melody, Cloud thought about Tifa. He recalled how Tifa was a rash and stubborn child at Lisp's age. Perhaps that was why he'd taken an immediate liking to the young Night Creeper. Even if Cloud never got the chance to know Tifa Lockhart well, he still missed her and actively looked for people or places that reminded him of her.

Cloud held the light higher. Mountains of trash blocked and created routes to different locations of the Slums. This was as close to street roads as anyone could get down here. Cloud kept to the main paths and avoided small clusters of people. He didn't trust anyone at this time of the night. They trekked down a long-winded trail until they came to a familiar setting composed of wooden-made shacks and lop-sided buildings: his neighborhood.

A modest-sized field with large rocks and steel plates, each painted with names, made up the local cemetery. From a distance, Cloud spotted his apartment complex. It was one of the few places with running electricity and water thanks to its power generators. He paused from his stride when he felt an eerie sensation of another's presence. It was followed by the sounds of shuffled feet.

"Cloudie…?" The Night Creeper was alerted by the noise as well and turned her head.

From his coat's pocket, Cloud removed a switchblade. He pointed the lantern to his left and tried to locate the source of the noise. There was only a wall of discarded metals. To his right, more trash. Nothing. No one was there. Cloud took a long deep breath. He concluded it was a stray dog in search of food and resumed their walk. They weren't far away from his building now. Crushed glass chimed this time when they crossed the cemetery. The noise came directly behind them. Cloud froze in place. Without missing a beat, he twirled around and held up his knife and lantern.

Cloud nearly choked when the light fell on the shadow of a person. It stood by a large engraved rock in the cemetery. The silhouette walked forward. Both Cloud and the Night Creeper got quiet. The teen's hand clutched the switchblade while his heart committed to a faster beat. As this lonely figure stepped further into the light, though, Cloud began to understand the shape better. It was a woman.

The lantern's light cast the fierce orange color of her curly hair. It was pulled up into a disheveled bun. Her entire face contained sharp angles and shapes, from her nose to the chin. Cloud frowned when he noticed her Shinra uniform. The woman donned an officer's outfit, fully decked out with ribbons. Cloud wondered why a top-ranked officer stalked these grounds at this hour. Shinra's officials typically stayed on the Plate. Even in the event of a crisis in the Slums, the company only deployed its lower ranks or Turks to deal with it. There was no reason for an officer of this caliber to be down here.

This wasn't the only aspect of the encounter that baffled Cloud. As he closely observed this Shinra solider, he was struck with powerful hit of déjà vu. He'd seen her before. Somewhere. Some other time. An image came to Cloud. He mentally pictured the woman on her back with her breasts exposed. He saw her face suddenly cringe. Half in pain. Half in delight. A nipple bled red.

Is this your first time seeing something like this, boy?

Cloud didn't know what to make of that surreal image. Tempted to ask the female officer if she was okay, he opened his mouth to speak. Then he shut it. The soldier appeared… off. She walked passed Cloud and Lisp without a glance and muttered several strings of incoherent words to herself. Her eyes stayed on the ground and never blinked. Engaged in some private debate with herself, she shook her head left to right and made various hand motions. Cloud took a step back, perplexed by the officer's mental state. He watched her walk away until she abruptly stopped.

"Mine. Mine. Mine…" the woman mumbled. "He'll be mine. All mine. No one else can have him. No one can touch him. I'll kill anyone who touches him. I'll fucking kill them all. I swear…"

Lisp's hands gradually tightened around Cloud's neck. Her tiny body went frigid as she kept quiet.

The officer paused for a moment, as if she finally realized she was not alone. She turned and glared directly at Cloud. Her green eyes were intense under the lantern's light. They practically burned. Her voice boomed when she demanded, "Have you seen her? Is she here?"

Cloud kept his switchblade to his side. He swallowed hard. "I don't know who you're talking about."

"Her," the soldier hissed, as if he knew what the fuck she was talking about. The woman's face twisted into a look of disgust. "Don't play stupid with me. I know that bitch is here. Somewhere. I'll find her. I won't let her touch him. I'll find out what she looks like and where she lives and deal with her."

Deal with her, Cloud repeated in his head. He took another step back. This officer sounded pissed off and ready for a fight. Avoiding eye contact, he muttered back, "Miss, I've no idea what or who you're talking about."

"Of course you wouldn't," the officer barked. She practically hissed at him. "You're pathetic. All of your kind down here is pathetic. Including her."

Cloud's eyes bore down on the soldier. He bit back the first offensive remark that popped in his head, partly because she belonged to the very company he wanted to join.

"Your unruly lot is unworthy of my angel's love," the officer continued, "Why my angel would want to see a bitch from the Slums is beyond me. We should drop the Plate on all of you. Squash your kind like the filthy cockroaches you are, especially that whore who wants to take my angel away."

Again, Cloud was tempted to give this woman a piece of his mind. However, he finally understood why she was in the underworld at this late hour. The officer had apparently been betrayed by her lover, this angel. Now she sought retribution by confronting the other woman.

"I am the Chosen One," the officer claimed and raised her voice even higher. She sounded on the verge of shouting. "Me. I've proven my worth to him. Many times. No one else can have my angel. He's mine. Mine. I'll kill them all. I'll gut that bitch once I find her. I already know she lives down here. Hah, my angel thought he was clever. He thought he could hide her from me. But I will learn her face soon enough. He intends to meet with this bitch very soon and when he does I'll fucking kill her."

Cloud stared at the deranged woman. That type of behavior was definitely unbecoming of an officer. He couldn't understand how a Shinra employee, especially one with such a high status, could become so unglued like this. Then again, love made people crazy. Some drank up that shit and became obsessed loons. Cloud briefly glanced at his switchblade, making sure the knife was still out. The longer he talked with this bizarre soldier the more uneasy he felt. As if the Slums weren't creepy enough. Cloud suspected it was the same for Lisp.

"Cloudie…" the Night Creeper suddenly whispered into his ear. Her voice sounded low and slightly shaken. "Thi'th woman i'f bad. Let'th go… I'm f'cared…"

Before Cloud could reply, the officer frantically grabbed a chunk of her own beautiful orange hair. She ripped it straight off the scalp and absently stared at the clump. "Why, my sweet love? Why am I not enough for you? Why must you see yet another? Am I not worthy of your love, my angel? Must I prove myself again? You are the will that drives my soul. You are my God. I want to see your beautiful face. I want to see your eyes; your lovely green eyes… No one else should see them. Only me. You are mines. Mine…"

The woman repeated mine in a flat monotone voice. All the while, she tore off more of her curly hair. Cloud winced each time he heard a dull, tear sound. Clumps of hair fell to the ground, some still attached to bloody, fleshy bits. Dark blotches quickly formed across the woman's scalp. Lines of blood streaked down her forehead.

"Mine… Mine… Mine…"

The officer suddenly paused from her violent fit and kneeled over. She vomited. Not once or twice but several times in quick succession. Cloud grimaced. Lowering his lantern, the light revealed an icky black substance on the ground. It oozed; almost pulsed. Moaning loudly, the woman continued to spew more blackness from her wet mouth. A wet spot spread between her legs as she pissed on herself.

"Mine… Mine… Mine…" she whispered with a strange smile on her face. Then she vomited again.

It was at this point Cloud heeded Lisp's advice. He retreated from the horrific scene, nearly sprinting. This officer was bat-shit crazy. And apparently sick. A part of Cloud was tempted to call a doctor or the IM for assistance. However, his priority rested in getting Lisp to safety first. He didn't want the young Night Creeper to witness any more of this terrifying woman. Cloud hurried to his home down the block. The darkness of the Slums engulfed the officer. He could still hear her purge in the distance.

Thankfully, they made it to his apartment building without further incident. Cloud and Lisp stood outside his building. They caught their breaths; both of them on edge. With a quiet sigh, he finally bent down on one knee. The Night Creeper got off.

"Lisp, come inside," Cloud practically ordered and handed the child back her lantern. "I don't want you going just yet, not with that crazy soldier still out there."

Lisp's tiny hands gripped the handle of her lantern. Her lower lip quivered but not from the chilly air. She nodded in silence.

Together, they approached the entrance of the five-storied building in front of them. From the outside, Cloud's apartment building was nothing more than a make-shift structure constructed of flimsy rusted metal sheets, chipped red brick, and iron beams that dangled outward dangerously. All sorts of crude words and gang-affiliated symbols were spray-painted across its walls. The wooden sign itself, El Palacio, missed a few letters. Because of the rotten foundation, the apartment leaned heavily to the right.

Cloud pushed past the metal double doors. They squeaked loudly. Home sweet home. He opted to take the elevator to his floor. Cloud shoved the gate to the side and let the child enter first. Afterward, he clicked on his floor button. A single light bulb buzzed while the elevator whirled to life. No doubt, it sucked up a lot of juice in this building. On various occasions the elevator had a tendency to shut down and get stuck in between a floor. Cloud hoped it wouldn't happen tonight since he was too wired up to deal with a malfunction, especially with a child by his side. He pressed his back against a gated wall and slumped there. The wires and cables whined loudly and the elevator started its slow ascent.

Lisp looked up at the teen with her big black eyes. Quietly, she asked, "Wa'f that woman f'ick?"

"Yeah. She looked sick…" Cloud dryly commented back. He paused when he noticed the look of fear on Lisp's face. He soon added, "But don't worry: we're fine. We didn't catch anything from her."

"You f'ure?"

"Mm-hm. That woman probably ate something bad. Food poisoning. You know? That happens. Even at Chocobo Chow. Especially at Chocobo Chow." Cloud forced a small smile.

With rumors of a dangerous virus on the loose, it was no wonder why the child looked scared. Lisp struggled to keep her lantern upright. Her brows pulled together as she appeared deep in thought. Eventually, she nodded and smiled at Cloud's dry joke.

The two kept silent after that. While the elevator rose, Cloud stared at the posters, business cards, and newspaper clippings that littered the gated walls. The elevator served as a place people posted current happenings or events. On the ceiling a religious fanatic wrote Promised Land at least thirty times. Not far from Cloud, there were newspaper clippings of Midgar Times. Most involved the corpse sightings across the city. One particular headline intrigued the boy. According to the title, forensics had finally identified the corpse from the museum last week. It belonged to a man named Marko Simmons. His obituary was listed in the article.

For Cloud, it was strange seeing Marko's face with his skin intact. His distorted body had been embedded in Cloud's memory that it became nearly impossible to connect the average-looking mug shot on the newspaper with the smiling corpse. According to the article, Marko Simmons was twenty-four-years-old at the time of his death. An architect from the Urban Development Department, he had no wife or children. Up until his untimely demise he had lived a normal life. Nothing about the man proved unique. He was like the rest of the worker bees in Shinra. A dark thought crept in Cloud's mind.

In a way, Marko's ho-hum existence had been replaced by something extraordinary. His death, however grotesque and disturbing as it was, immortalized him. People would still remember him in the years to come. Marko was the man who had died with a smile on his face.

Cloud bit the tip of his tongue. He hated how warped his young mind worked. That gloomy, pessimistic nature of his got the best of him sometimes. Yet, already, he could see himself in Marko Simmons's same shoes prior to the man's death. Here rested Cloud Strife. No wife. No children. He resided in the Slums and worked at Chocobo Chow. He was survived by his mother and dog. The end. That described his obituary in a nutshell. His bones would be buried in the land of trash along with the other has-beens at the Slums' cemetery. A rock or some discarded steel plate with his name painted on it would provide the only proof he ever existed. If he was lucky no one would misspell it or mistake his rock for a seat. Feeling depressed by this stream of thought, Cloud forced his eyes away from the newspaper article.

Cable beams shrieked. At last, the elevator arrived on his floor with a thump. Cloud opened the gate for Lisp. Once the elevator was closed, he joined the child on the hallway and headed for his apartment. The door opened after a few labored tries and Cloud switched on the light.

Almost immediately, Ms. Tinker leapt out of nowhere. The excited dog tackled Cloud's legs. Her tail wagged non-stop. Whimpering, she sounded on the verge of tears over her master's return. Cloud knelt down and scratched behind his pet's floppy ears.

"If you're hungry there are some leftovers in the fridge," Cloud notified to Lisp and nodded at the 'kitchen' area. Afterward, he went to the door and chain-bolted it. "Make yourself at home. I'm gonna make a quick phone call."

While the prospect of food enticed the young Night Creeper, she briefly sat beside Ms. Tinker and patted her head. The dog sloppily licked her hands nonstop. Lisp giggled. "D'aw! Good doggie! Purty!"

With the kid occupied, Cloud took this opportunity to call for help. He pulled out his PHS and approached his window. Pushing aside the curtain, the view showed only the bricked texture of the building next door. Even so, by standing at a specific corner spot he could peek outside. There was a narrow alleyway between his building and the next. Beyond it was a small overview of the neighborhood, including the cemetery.

Whether the deranged soldier was still out there Cloud did not know. Everything stayed pitched black beyond his apartment building. Cloud's fingers dialed the emergency system's number. Seconds later, he heard a familiar theme song from Shinra Incorporation play. It was followed by a female's voice that sounded so calm he initially mistook it for an automatic voice message.

"This is Shinra's Emergency Call Center. How may I direct your call?"

"Um, hey," Cloud answered the operator. "I'd like to make a report here at Sector 7. Or, uh, I don't know, an emergency?"

Cloud relayed his entire encounter with the strange soldier. When asked if he wished to disclose his personal information and act as a key witness in the event of a court martial, he opted out. The last thing Cloud wanted was for this crazy bitch to come after him. He'd only called to get the soldier the medical attention she needed anyway.

A part of Cloud thought about the supposed biological virus rumors he had read online. Like Lisp before, he inwardly feared he'd come into contact with whatever made the soldier ill. He'd shower five times tonight for sure, Cloud told himself.

A few more questions were asked. Cloud didn't know what to make of these inquiries. Was the officer alone when he saw her? Yes. Had the officer mention any names during their encounter? Sorta. Could he describe the black substance? Icky and fucked up. Did the soldier exhibit any unusual behavior such as violence toward herself or others? Hell yeah, she did. Was her skin discolored? Not that he noticed. What was the color of her eyes? He didn't remember; he was too busy staring at her bloody head. Throughout the questions, Shinra's operator maintained a single-toned voice. It disturbed Cloud in a way. Eventually, the conversation ended and twenty minutes later he heard sirens in his block.

Peeping outside from his corner spot by the window, Cloud discovered a black armored vehicle with flashing yellow lights. The diamond-shaped logo of Shinra Inc. appeared on its side. A group of people stepped out with flashlights in hand. The party consisted of three Shinra infantrymen and two individuals in light-gray overalls with face masks.

Having studied the entire hierarchy of Shinra Incorporation and its mandatory dress codes, Cloud knew the gray-suited individuals came from the Science division. He hoped their presence didn't confirm an outbreak. In which case, the whole area would be quarantined, starting with his residency. Hell no.

Cloud's face quickly drew into a frown when he spotted the final person in the party. A man with an arm sling was the last to step out of the vehicle. It was a Turk: Vincent Valentine.

Strange. On matters like this, the Turks weren't called in. It was a job assigned to the Security Department. Perhaps it was because this involved a highly ranked officer of Shinra it required the presence of a Turk. Cloud had no idea. He saw the man in the sharp suit briefly stay behind and take in the area with one long sweeping gaze. Valentine's red eyes shined. The Turk finally ventured into the cemetery with the others. Beams from their flashlights penetrated through the darkness.

Cloud quietly cursed when his limited vision prevented him from seeing much of the action outside. He practically pushed his face against the window's glass to get a better view.

It was around this time Lisp stood. She'd eaten the leftovers Cloud had offered and now appeared ready to leave. "Thank'th for the grub, but I'th need to go now," Lisp announced and grabbed her lantern.

Cloud tried one more time to get a better look of the scene outside. The group of six moved beyond his field of vision. Damn. Reluctantly, he gave up and pulled away from the window. Cloud finally turned his attentions to the child. "Are you sure?"

"Mm-hm."

His brows furrowed, still concerned over her safety. "You can stay at my place tonight, you know. I got an extra blanket and pillow."

The child shook her head. "Aw, Cloudie. Thank'th. But I haf more round'th to run tonight. Momma need'th the Gil."

Cloud crossed his arms but nodded in understanding. He later removed an extra ten Gil from his pocket and put it in her palm. It was the least he could do considering what they had just encountered. "This is a tip for a job well done. Take it, Lisp."

"Wow, thank'th ya, Cloudie!" The child's eyes danced in the light.

"Will you be okay though?" he pressed again, "I'll walk you out."

"Pft. Don't worry about me, Cloudie. I'm not a baby."

"I know. But be careful, Lisp. Seriously." Cloud pulled out his switchblade and stared at it for a moment. He didn't like the idea of giving a minor a weapon. Then again, he didn't like the idea of Lisp going out there unprotected. Cloud offered it to the child. "Take this."

Lisp glanced at the pocket knife. She frowned. "It'th okay. I'll be okay, Cloudie."

"I know you will, kid. But I'll sleep better tonight if you took it anyway."

Lisp exhaled as she looked back and forth between Cloud and the pocket knife. She must've known Cloud wouldn't take no for an answer because she finally accepted it. "Thank'th…"

"Don't go stabbing your eye with it. And promise me you'll head home soon. Just for tonight. Got it?"

"'Kay, dad…" Lisp replied, sounding irritated. She walked over to Ms. Tinker and patted the dog. To Cloud, she said, "If ya need me again, lemme know. 'Kay, Cloudie?"

"Always." The teenager undid the door's bolts for her. He saw Lisp balance her lantern with both hands again on her way out. With a lout snort, Cloud caught the girl's lantern before it slipped from her fingers. "You got butterfingers, Lisp, I swear."

The Night Creeper stuck her tongue at him. Then her eyes softened. Quietly, she urged, "You'th be careful too. I don't want ya to get f'ick. Promi'th me ya won't get f'ick like that lady, Cloudie. Promi'th."

Cloud stared at the child. He silently nodded back. "Promise."

Lisp quickly smiled. Her shoulders relaxed. After a sloppy hand salute, the little lady stepped out.

Cloud closed the door after Lisp. He soon overheard the elevator's gate open and close in the hallway. Its cables moaned loudly during its descent. When the elevator finally reached the bottom floor, Cloud walked to his window again. Lisp's lantern could now be seen outside. It shined brightly within the darkness. Cloud kept a watchful eye on Lisp and hoped the Night Creeper would change her mind and return or stay safe during her evening ventures. As she headed northbound, he focused on her lantern's light until it gradually disappeared from his line of sight. Cloud exhaled slowly.

From where he stood, the country boy saw nothing. Even Shinra's people were nowhere to be seen. Their abandoned vehicle's emergency lights still bathed the whole block yellow with its nonstop flashes. A few people from the building next door had cracked opened their windows to peer outside. Nothing came from it though. Everyone remained clueless over what had just happened. But Cloud knew. Somewhere in this world of pitch blackness was a strange woman driven by her own despair.

Cloud pursed his lips. He recalled the eerie, flat sound of the woman's voice in his head. Mine, mine, mine… Nothing had fazed her, only that twisted obsession she reserved for her lover and the whore that stood between them. It brought the soldier to the point of a mental breakdown. She was also sick, very sick. An unstable woman like that was capable of anything. And on that note, Cloud checked his window to make sure it was secured.

Sure, she hadn't followed him home. She was in search of another woman; the same woman who'd attracted the attention of her green-eyed angel. Yet, the disgruntled soldier currently stalked for this alleged whore in Cloud's neighborhood. Had the officer kept an eye on him during his retreat, she'd have known which of the buildings he occupied. Cloud didn't want to consider that possibility.

His heart raced when he realized he forgot to lock the door after Lisp left. Paranoia got the best of Cloud as he took several slow steps toward it. His heart thumped louder. He recalled all the cheesy horror films he'd watched. They all involved some stupid protagonist forgetting to lock the door only to be surprised by the killer soon afterward. Cloud halfway expected the door to slam open and a terrifying woman to jump at him with a shriek. It thankfully never happened. There was no boogeyman. It was all in his head. Even after Cloud chained and bolted his door and looked through its peephole as a precaution, he saw only an unoccupied hallway. Nothing was amiss. He was safe.

Cloud breathed out loud and ran both hands through his damped hair. He reminded himself Shinra's best people were on the case. They'd definitely find the woman, especially with a Turk among them. Besides, Ms. Tinker didn't appear alarmed right now. Resting at her usual spot by his skateboard, she would've barked had she sensed an intruder. Cloud also had his sword to defend himself. There was nothing to fear. He was just being an overly paranoid chicken-shit pansy.

Cloud growled, annoyed with himself. It was time to stop acting like a baby. He started to strip off his clothes for a long-overdue shower. Considering the hectic day he had, he certainly earned it.

Cloud entered his bathroom in the nude and tossed today's used uniform into the clothes bin. As soon as he turned on the showerhead he stepped inside. Cloud softly hissed under the lines of hot water. At first, the tiny pricks of intense heat against his skin made him wince. But the teen finally welcomed the sensation as it brought him out of his paranoid state. Cloud placed both palms against the tiled wall and thoroughly soaked his body, not bothering with the soap or shampoo yet.

Hot air collected. It created a thick mist in the bathroom. As his skin softened, Cloud considered jerking himself off. Playing with his cock always eased the tension in his belly. He needed it now more than ever. But after a few furious strokes Cloud remained limp. He couldn't relax. His restless mind entertained too many questions and concerns. Among them was the unfortunate woman the deranged soldier had sought.

Cloud felt a great swell of pity toward this whore. Whoever she was, she wasn't safe. A psychotic officer was on the hunt for her head. Hell hath no fury than a woman's scorn. Cloud nearly chuckled at the thought while he grabbed the bar of soap and applied it over his skin. All things considered, he was lucky. It had been a rotten day for him today. But at least he didn't have some sick broad searching for him right now with the intent of killing him. The last time he checked, Cloud hadn't attracted the attention of any green-eyed angels. Thank Gaia.