Author's Note: The chapter where Zack's taste in cars leaves much to desire…
CHAPTER 17: LOVELESS
The moon was fully out by the time the train made its stop at Sector 3's platform. Cloud stumbled forward as soon as the doors parted for him. Sweat coated his pale face. The moment he located the nearest disposal unit, he bent over and emptied out his stomach's contents in it. Cloud didn't care for the pair of high-classed old ladies nearby who flinched back and gasped. They covered their eyes and wobbled away in horror.
Cloud cursed at himself for forgetting to take his motion sickness meds. His trip to the Plate had been so last minute he didn't have time to think about it, not until he rode halfway up the track with a serious case of nausea. It'd take the maintenance crew at least a day to clean up the mess he left behind in the train. A few more purges and Cloud's stomach settled down at last. He coughed and spat. The bitter acidic aftertaste of today's lunch stayed on his tongue even after he finally pulled away from the trash bin. With whatever energy left in his body, he hurried to Gate 2.
Cloud wasn't sure what or who to expect. The mysterious man he'd spoken with on the phone only mentioned that transportation would be arranged for him and to meet at Gate 2 by seven. All other information was left to his imagination. Did his pick-up party even know what he looked like? For that matter, how would he recognize them?
As Cloud arrived at Gate 2, he glanced at his watch. It was 6:58PM – perfect timing. He had two minutes to spare. Keeping an eye out for anyone worth note, Cloud stood by the vending machines to avoid the main path. The train station buzzed with people ready to conquer the city tonight. Many wore their heavy coats to battle tonight's low temperatures. Cloud had only his collared biker jacket and jeans to keep him warm. It was enough for a boy who'd been raised in worse conditions than this.
At the high center of the station, there hovered three large hologram screens that broadcasted the news and current train schedules. A bell chimed from one of them and caught Cloud's attention. On the Plate was on. Midgar City's popular gossip channel featured an image of Weiss the Immaculate onscreen.
"Rejoice fan boys and fan girls! Weiss of the Tsviets is slated to be making a rare public appearance at the upcoming Winter Festival," revealed a young female reporter with curly pink hair. "He will be accompanying President Shinra and General Heidegger in the opening ceremony this week.
"Weiss has remained under the radar since his return from Wutai. The elusive Tsviet had previously spent four months at the land of the Leviathan in an effort to diffuse the situation related to the mako reactor construction there. While tension from protestors and rebels alike continue to escalate, President Shinra has reassured the public in a recent interview that current operations are underway to bring about a swift resolution."
The image of Weiss disappeared and now the camera panned to a full-on shot of the female reporter.
"As the Tsviets enjoy their time back home, wild rumors continue to circulate around Weiss. An anonymous source claims our sword-wielding hero had recently gotten into a nasty scuffle over a 'love interest'. The alleged fight happened last week and involved another potential suitor. This suitor was left castrated and paralyzed by the end of the ordeal. According to this anonymous source, Weiss is 'a highly competitive individual who will get what he wants – by force if necessary'."
The camera shifted right to show a male reporter sitting close by. He gave a hearty laugh. "Oh my! What shocking news, Pamela! And this isn't the first time we've heard stories of Weiss' foul temper."
The woman bobbed her head. "Right, Jerry, we've also heard he's extremely overprotective of his young brother, Nero. Some have even suggested their close-knit relationship borders toward the taboo."
"Oh my!"
"When asked if these rumors harbored any truth, Shinra's Public Relations Officer had this to say: 'The allegations toward our beloved hero are the work of low-quality fantasy, all written by disrespectful and disillusioned juvenile minds'. Currently, no hospital records have confirmed the latest rumor."
The male reporter turned his attention to the camera. "We'll keep an eye out for any forthcoming gossip news on our hero. But for now, a commercial break."
The female male reporter sported a broad fake smile and ended the segment with, "Coming up next! A scandalous nude photo spread of Shinra's Weapons Development Director, Scarlett! Hear why she did it."
"Oh my!"
The bells chimed again and the infamous Chocobo Chow commercial ran onscreen. Cloud tuned it out and checked his PHS inbox.
A subscriber to Weiss' online fan club, he had heard all these crazy rumors before but didn't care for them. His interests rested on the man's grand adventures and victories. Several times he had emailed his idol. Of the fifteen messages sent to Weiss's public address, though, Cloud received only a five-Gil off coupon at Shinra's Merchandise Shop. The public representative that sent him that lousy coupon likely got annoyed by his persistence and wanted him to go away. It was just as well; he was a nobody.
Cloud left that depressing thought alone and flipped his phone shut. Checking the time on its cover again, it was now 7:04PM. He looked left to right. No one approached him yet. Worried he may have either misheard the man on the phone or stood at a blind spot, Cloud took several steps forward. His eyes focused on anyone who appeared lost. Everyone walked around him, oblivious to his existence.
Perhaps this was a mistake after all. Online, LOVELESS looked very chic. Cloud had never gone to a trendy place like that before. This would be his first time in a Host club. However, those impressive photos he saw online could've easily been the result of a talented photographer with good editing skills. For all he knew, LOVELESS existed in some rutty basement of some whore house.
The only reason why Cloud had agreed to any of this was because of the Host he spoke to on the phone. His deep velvet voice tugged the strings of many unclaimed memories. He knew what had happened during his birthday party last weekend. Cloud hoped the man would explain the events that had transpired before his black-out. Waiting for him at LOVELESS was also another Host Cloud wanted to visit: the silver-haired child known as Sephiroth.
As 7:10PM rolled in, Cloud found himself still without an escort. He couldn't decide on whether to forget the whole damn thing or call the Host back to report the delay. Instead, Cloud opted to purchase a beverage from the vending machine to rinse out the sour-like taste still in his mouth. He'd think on what to do after his drink.
Scanning his wrist's barcode tattoo, Cloud selected an orange-punch beverage. The vending machine accepted his Gil and whirled to life. A coiled mechanism pulled at his drink from the top row but stopped before releasing it. It was stuck.
"Damn it," Cloud blurted to himself. He kicked at the glass to force it down. His drink didn't budge.
With a growl, Cloud was ready to shake the whole machine with his bare hands. A young man with raven-black hair suddenly appeared beside him. He tapped on the glass with two fingers. Instantly, all the orange drinks from the top row tumbled down.
"Whoospie," the boy muttered with a snicker. "Must've used a bit more force than I wanted to…"
Cloud blinked in surprise. He stared at this peculiarly strong boy and discovered he recognized him. It was the same guy who rode off with the silver-haired child last weekend.
"Sorry for being late. I needed to take a major dump – man, monster burritos should be outlawed." The boy bent down to collect as many orange sodas he could grab from the vending machine. He offered one to Cloud. "The name's Zack Fair. I'm one of the Hosts from LOVELESS."
His jaw gone slack, Cloud struggled to talk. He didn't know where to begin. With him being a Host? Or with him being terribly candid? Slowly, Cloud murmured back, "You're… my pick-up party?"
"Bingo."
Cloud eyed him carefully. The young man certainly looked the part of a Host. Zack wore a bold black-and-white striped shirt and a sharp duster coat. Red-dyed denim jeans hugged his legs while a large chauffeur hat, slanted sideways, rested over his wild blue-streaked black hair. Bright blue eyes gleamed as they stood face-to-face. Their strange glow slightly caught Cloud off guard.
"You're Cloud Strife, huh?" Zack wanted to confirm.
Cloud nodded. He watched Zack shove at least ten soda cans into his coat's pockets and wondered if he was a hoarder or a man with a serious sweet tooth.
"Cloud and Strife…" Zack repeated to himself. He smiled. "Damn, I hope your middle name isn't Misery."
Cloud resisted the urge to roll his eyes and popped open his soda instead.
"The party wagon is at the lot," Zack informed as soon as the beverages in his coat's pockets were secured. He twirled a set of flashy keys on his fingers now. "Follow me and try to keep up."
That last part sounded like a challenge. Before Cloud could take a sip of his drink, Zack was already on the move. His dark shape navigated through the busy crowd of the train station.
For Cloud, it was hard to stay focused with so many bodies rushing back and forth around him. Lights from nearby directional signs flashed. Multiple voices and laughter overlapped. High-pitched melodies played. Cloud bumped shoulders with practically everyone he came across. In contrast, the Host stayed fast and light on his feet. Zack seemed to anticipate the direction of other people's movements and reacted accordingly. It was like a dance to him. Cloud had to double his pace to keep him in his sights.
At some point Cloud lost Zack. His eyes darted left to right to find him again but everything became a blur. The world spun in circles and the people in it kept moving faster. Feeling overwhelmed, Cloud lost his balance. He accidentally spilled his drink on a big bearded guy. The man growled and pulled back a ready fist. Cloud abruptly felt his body yanked away before any contact was made.
"I didn't think I'd be seeing you again, you know," Zack casually spoke as he pulled Cloud to safety. He stayed by his side and offhandedly remarked, "He must be out of his damn mind to get you on his list."
"He?" Cloud grunted as he pushed through two people.
"Sephiroth – the Host who invited you." Zack sighed. "Of course, Sephiroth isn't your typical man. He does whatever the hell he wants."
"You mean child."
Zack glanced at him. One brow rose.
"You referred to Sephiroth as a man just now," Cloud pointed out. "Don't you mean child?"
A grin suddenly formed on Zack's mouth. "Heh, whatever you say, Sunshine…"
Both of them trekked through the crowd until they made it to an exit. A flight of stairs led to an opened parking lot outside. The chilly air blew hard as Zack escorted Cloud further out. An elevated place, the Plate always drew in some powerful winds. The blond-haired teen huddled in his biker jacket and continued to trail after the Host. As they walked further and further away from the train station, he wondered why the Host hadn't parked closer. There was available space everywhere.
Five minutes later, they arrived at an isolated location. Cloud spotted an elongated black-coated vintage model parked by a water fountain. Music thumped from it. He stood in front of Zack's party wagon and stared at it for what seemed like an eternity. When he turned to the Host beside him, Cloud wondered if this was a sick joke.
"Pretty awesome, huh?" Zack grinned and tapped on the roof of his Hearse.
"Please tell me you got this from a car dealership and not from a funeral home…" Cloud griped as his eyes took in the shape of a car traditionally used to transport the dead.
"Hey, don't judge. I made some modifications on it. It has great mileage and plenty of space."
"I bet it has plenty of space…"
The fact Zack didn't deny he got the car from a funeral home should've worried Cloud. He later noticed a highly polished carburetor scoop stick out of the hood; a clear indication there was a shit-ton of power running in this car. Modifications, huh? With ornate exhaust pipes and blown engines, he wondered if this machine of death was illegal according to Midgar's transportation standards.
Zack approached the rear hatch of his ride. As soon as he opened it, the muffled electro beats that played inside sounded clearer and louder. Cloud froze when he discovered a silver coffin there.
"We're already late so let's hurry," Zack said and nodded at the long terrible object. "Get inside."
Cloud's mouth dropped. "Uh… what?"
"I want you to get inside the coffin."
Cloud took a step back. "What the hell for?"
"You scared?" Zack teased.
"I'm not getting inside a damn coffin. So not interested." Cloud was already turning away when he spat, "I'm going home."
"It's one of our policies to keep the location of our club a secret, including from our clients," the Host explained. He readjusted his hat and mentioned, "There are a lot of people who want to know our whereabouts. This is our way of dealing with that."
Cloud stayed tight-lipped. He didn't doubt this was an effective way to reinforce the club's secrecy clause. But that didn't mean he had to agree with it.
"If you wanna head home, fine," continued Zack. "I'll tell Sephiroth you changed your mind. You should head back to your world anyway and forget this whole thing ever happened."
Cloud stopped walking. He slowly turned around to face Zack again. Contemplating over his words, he rejected the idea of going back to his world. He knew what waited for him back there: nothing.
"Well?" Zack started again. "Are you coming or not?"
Reluctant to leave just yet, Cloud took a peek inside the Hearse through its opened hatch. Zack certainly made plenty of modifications in his Hearse. The back had been converted into a chic velvet area. There were two long rows of purple leathered seats facing each other; the coffin placed between them. Glassed bottles filled the mini bar at the back. Dark curtains draped over the windows to ensure privacy.
Cloud bit into his lower lip. This wasn't how he'd imagined his first visit to a Host club to be like. Placed inside a fucking coffin? It was downright disturbing. And yet, he couldn't back out now. He'd made up his mind. He wanted to meet the man he spoke to on the phone and see Sephiroth. Sucking in the cold air through parted lips, Cloud forced his feet to work and re-approached the Hearse without a word.
Having witnessed Cloud change his mind, Zack slipped inside the car first. He unlatched the coffin's bolts. The lid whined as he lifted it. Cloud observed the velvet cushioned space there and took a deep breath. For all he knew, Zack was a serial killer who buried his victims alive at some undisclosed location. Tonight could be his last living moments. Cloud pushed the unsettling thought aside as he got into the coffin. His heart thumped a beat faster. He never considered his own mortality until now. Trying to stay calm, Cloud lay on his back and looked up at Zack.
"See you on the other side, Sunshine." Zack's low-sounding voice was almost lost to the music. The Host winked at Cloud and then closed the coffin.
Darkness. Trapped inside an enclosed dark abyss, the cheerful beats of a song provided a sharp contrast to the gloom Cloud felt right now. His eyes were wide opened but all he saw was black. One hand reached into his back pocket to pull out the PHS. He used it to offer some light into his compact space. Even with enough room to move around, he still felt confined. Fingers clutched onto the device in his hands. Despite telling himself there was nothing to worry about, the temptation to make an immediate escape crossed his mind. Cloud tested the lid with both hands. He sighed when it didn't budge. Damn; Zack must've secured the latches. Holding his breath, he hoped he didn't run out of air.
Moments passed before the car roared to life. It was followed by Zack's voice. "Let's roll!"
Cloud didn't have time to prepare himself. The coffin violently jerked backward as the car took off at a high speed. The tires shrieked. Cloud's body slammed to the left on a turn. He grunted when he nearly let go of his PHS. Its light bounced everywhere. Gripping it, he prayed he'd make it out of this alive.
"Ah, just look at that beautiful moon!" he heard Zack again. He sounded excited. "You're from the Slums, right? I bet you can't see it from down there. That blows. I'd go bat-shit crazy if I couldn't see the moon every night."
But Zack was already bat-shit crazy, Cloud thought. The man must've been going at a ridiculous speed since the engine's roar was as loud as the music. Seconds later, there was another change in direction. Like a ragged doll, Cloud's body flung back and forth inside the coffin. His heart pounded against his chest when he heard multiple cars suddenly honk from all directions.
"Whoa. Whoopsie! My bad. Wrong way on the one-way…"
"What?" Cloud yelled back. His fingers clawed at whatever he could latch onto to keep steady. "W-what's going on out there? Y-you can drive, right?"
"Of course I can," Zack testified. A second later, the Host slammed on the brakes. "Damn. That guy must've come outta nowhere…"
Cloud placed a hand over his mouth; he'd nearly puked.
"You doing okay in there?"
The car was in motion again. Cloud gritted his teeth while his stomach twisted and turned. He feared he'd have another violent episode inside the tightly compact space. Frustrated, he barked back, "I suffer from motion sickness. If I puke in your ride it'll be your fault. You're driving like a maniac!"
"Relax. I'll have you know I only hit one thing today. But it wasn't my fault. That dumpster ran into me."
Inside the coffin, Cloud kept his mouth shut.
He had no idea where they were going or how long it would take. Were they northbound? West? As the music thumped all around him, there was no way to determine their current route by audio. They could be anywhere. An idea soon struck Cloud. He quickly checked the GPS on his phone. Its signal would surely indicate where he was on the map of Midgar. But to his horror he got no reception. Electrical interference prevented him from receiving or sending out information. Cloud suspected the coffin had something to do with that. Fuck.
Again, his overactive imagination played tricks in his head. Cloud hoped they were headed to the club and not some shady burial site. He also hoped they got there soon. His stomach wanted to explode.
Within fifteen minutes, Cloud felt the car ascend – a ramp? He could only guess they were on a highway now. Zack had picked up a lot more speed. As if that was fucking possible. Cloud suddenly heard the other boy's phone go off. The car's loud music and enclosed space made it difficult to hear the conversation, but he managed to pick up a few words whenever Zack raised his voice and laughed.
"Yeah, we're running late. My bad; I had to take a…" His voice faded into the music. When Cloud picked him up again, Zack sounded annoyed. "I told Se… I'd get his… there in one piece, but getting… on time? That's another story. Things are gonna get… though. He's expecting a kid, not him…"
Zack's voice went out of hearing range. Cloud inwardly cursed. Clueless over where they were headed, a sense of anxiety and impatience prompted him to test the locks of the coffin one more time. Thump-thump-thump. Still no luck. He couldn't get out. Lying on his back, Cloud felt powerless.
Cloud wished he could text-message Jessie, Kyle, or Ele'. Anyone, really. He regretted getting into this without leaving a trace of his whereabouts. The city already grew uneasy from the recent corpse count. Would he join that number? With no signal, Cloud doubted texting someone would've helped him anyway. What would he type? Hey, I was stupid enough to get inside someone's coffin. Now I'm headed to a secluded underground place where I'll likely die. Get help. Kthxbye.
At some point, Cloud heard the Host again. This time Zack spoke in an exasperated tone.
"Are you serious? That's the first I've heard of… I'll keep an eye out for… tonight. Does Se…roth know? Maybe it's not a good… to bring Cloud… tonight." The mention of his name caused Cloud to lie very still. He focused on Zack's next words. "That creep has been wanting… get inside his pants since forever… If… sees Se... with his new doll… might have a shit-fest and… off his balls."
The rest of the conversation became too inaudible to hear. Whatever conversation Zack was having sounded intense. Shit-fest? Balls? Cloud wondered what the hell he just got himself into.
In his velvet-made prison, the cheesy upbeat song continued to ring loudly in his ears. Zack ended his conversation shortly and Cloud felt the car descend. They slowed down in speed and stayed on the same path for another five minutes until Zack made a series of turns. The car finally came to a stop.
"All righty, we walk from here," Zack announced after he cut off the engine and music.
Quiet, Cloud heard a door open and close. A low-sounding horn blew from a far distance along with a non-stop beeping noise. Where were they? Staying very still in his coffin, Cloud kept both hands clasped around his PHS. It was as if the device kept him rooted to his sanity. Another door opened – the hatch. Cloud could hear the heavy thud of boots outside his coffin. It was followed by the metal clanging of undone bolts. The coffin's lid finally lifted and Zack's face reappeared.
"Good: you're still in one piece."
More or less, Cloud wanted to gripe back. Making an audible exhale, he hadn't realized he'd been holding his breath until now. Zack helped him out of the coffin.
As soon as they exited the vehicle, Cloud collected himself. His arms were bruised from the rough ride and the queasy sensation in his stomach hadn't settled down yet. Leaning against the Hearse for support, he took steady breaths while his blue eyes took in the new scenery.
Cloud was admittedly relieved they weren't in a cemetery. Instead, they'd stopped at the back alley of a massive seven storied structure. It was made of concrete and metal. All the elongated glassed windows contained bars on them. A strange smell lingered in the air. It reminded Cloud of uncooked Chocobo patties. The beeping sound he'd heard earlier caught his attention again. It redirected his eyes to the telltale-lights of cranes in the distance. This didn't look like the Entertainment District. They were at another sector. But which one?
"Sorry, but cellphones are prohibited inside the club," Zack suddenly said. His eyes were locked on the phone still in Cloud's grip. "I'll have to collect it right now. But don't worry, I'll return it to you later."
As Cloud handed it over, he wondered why the Host hadn't taken it from him earlier. It was likely forgetfulness on his part – Zack was an oddball. Then again, maybe the young Host didn't want to keep him in the dark for too long, not without a source of light?
"Let's go. We're not far from the club." Zack headed to an opened shutter entry straight ahead.
Cloud's blue eyes intensified. The Nibelheim native stood at full height and licked over his dried lips. He followed the Host into the large building, curious of what he'd find inside.
The opened layout provided an impressive upward view of the factory's seven stories. Cloud observed a chaotic pattern of metal cross beams from where he stood. Multiple operations were underway in the factory. Evening-shift workers traveled across meshed platforms to conduct their business. Some talked too fast in their native languages to be understood. Donned in their cheap gray overalls with plastic robes, none appeared alarmed by the two men that entered their premises. Cloud winced at the sight of smeared red on their plastic robes. The copper stench of blood smelled notably in the air.
Rubbing his nose, the teen discovered several large disposal containers against a wall a few feet away. They were flooded with oversized plastic bags that dripped with blood. Discarded rotten meat, Cloud realized. This was… a meat factory? They were at a meat factory?
Cloud suddenly felt like a sacrificial lamb ready for the slaughter.
"It was Sephiroth's idea we set up shop here," Zack mentioned aloud, as if knowing the wayward thoughts of the other boy. Or perhaps he simply read the expression on Cloud's face. "It's worked out great for us so far. No one ever thinks to find a Host club in a place like this…"
Very true; Cloud never imagined a Host club being housed in a meat factory. This meant they were somewhere in Midgar's loading docks. All warehouses and factories were stationed in this sector. It was impossible to determine which building harbored LOVELESS though. There must have been more than one meat factory in the area.
"I'll be honest," resumed the Host, "Our group may be freaks of nature who dwell in Midgar's underbelly during ungodly hours, but we don't bite. At least I don't. That's not my specialty." Zack chuckled and turned to Cloud. "Out of curiosity, why do you want to see Sephiroth?"
Cloud met the other boy's gaze but was reluctant to answer his question.
"Sephiroth is an intense guy…" Zack admitted and trekked through the factory, speaking over the heavy machinery sounds. "He's tuned to a different frequency altogether."
"Will he be at the club tonight?" Cloud piped up at last. "The kid never contacted me back."
"The kid..." Zack slowly repeated. A lopsided smile crossed his face. He apparently found something very funny but wouldn't say over what. Rather, he confirmed, "Yeah, Sephiroth will be there. I'm taking you to see him right now."
Cloud faced Zack. He was under the impression the young Host came because of the man he talked to not long ago. Curious, he asked, "Do you know who I spoke to on the phone?"
"You'll find out soon enough…" was all Zack said. His brows arched evenly. "Cloud, I wasn't kidding when I said Sephiroth isn't like everyone else. Are you sure you want to see him?"
Cloud hadn't expected Zack to be that affront about another Host, especially one from the same club. He lowered his face and confessed, "I don't know. He invited me."
"So that's it? Some strange guy invites you to see him and you blindly come along for the ride?"
Blindly? Cloud frowned. He didn't like the way Zack said that. Still, the raven-haired Host was right. He'd accepted Sephiroth's invitation even when he didn't know anything about him or what he wanted. No doubt, people would get the wrong idea about him visiting a child at a Host club. But the boy's words stuck with Cloud. Sephiroth had spoken many truths last night, truths he couldn't get out of his head.
"I didn't come to see Sephiroth out of a whim," Cloud clarified. "I came because I hate the way things are. I hate… everything."
They ascended a flight of stairs and crossed a walkway to reach the other side of the factory. Beside him, Zack glanced at his direction. "Why do you say that?"
The Nibelheim native knew it was an odd statement to make. Older adults typically associated remarks like that to teenage angst. But really, Cloud knew those words came from years living in grimy conditions and working seven-fifteen an hour for self-entitled assholes. He didn't know if Zack understood that though, not when he wore nice clothes, smelled nice, and carried himself like he owned the world.
Looking up from the platform they walked on, Cloud saw rows of meat in the process of being wrapped in plastic sheets. Hung by their hooks, they traveled down several chained belts that spanned across the factory's entire second floor. All followed along their set path.
"Some people are destined to soar and live in the sky as Gods; others like me are left to rot in the dirt as mortals," Cloud explained. When they reached the mid-point of the walkway, he observed the line of corpses above again and sighed. "The people on the Plate will never understand what I'm talking about. They get to live above the trash and order their vanilla lattes without ever batting an eye to the misery that goes on below. I think it's all fucked up."
Cloud stopped walking. He leaned against the railing of the walkway and propped his arms on it. His clear blue eyes now lingered to the assembly of factory workers. They continued wrapping the meat with plastic sheets; blank stares on their faces.
"Am I sure I want to see Sephiroth?" Cloud repeated Zack's last question. He shrugged his shoulders. "Yeah. Sure. I guess. Sephiroth is a weird kid. Maybe I am too for just blindly tagging along. But given what I've seen so far? Experienced? He's the only person that makes any sense in this stupid world."
Zack joined Cloud by the railings. Initially, he seemed hesitant to speak but managed to mutter, "Well. At least I know why Sephiroth chose you…"
Turning his head to the man beside him, Cloud wondered what he meant by that.
"But Sephiroth perceives the world in absolutes," Zack quickly added, "He can't see what I see."
"And what would that be?" Cloud challenged him.
"There's a girl I regularly see. She lives in the Slums too and is actually afraid of the sky." Zack removed his hat and loosened up his wild black hair with his fingers. "This girl has stayed in the darkness for way too long; the thought of an opened world with light frightens her. And yet, she can't stay in the dark forever." The glimmer in Zack's blue eyes shined brighter when he added, "And neither can you, Cloud."
The other boy didn't move nor speak. Cynical by nature, Cloud always felt the world was run by jerks. They set the rules and tone for everyone and everything. Surprisingly, Zack wasn't one of them. He was… different. This baffled Cloud. He initially mistook the pretty boy as yet another indifferent byproduct of the Plate. But the more Zack talked, the more he proved otherwise. Cloud actually didn't mind his company.
Zack said nothing else. Neither did Cloud. They traveled east of the factory and arrived at a colder section. The workers continued to ignore them. None made eye contact and they all stayed out of their way, especially Zack's.
Entering a massive chamber now, there was a series of ten-foot-long walking freezers lined next to each other. A hefty metal door secured each one. Through a small peeping window, Cloud could see more meat hang in suspension by their hooks. Zack approached the seventh freezer and pulled down the door's hatch. A gush of chilly air spilled out.
Cloud remained by Zack's side as he observed several lined rows of frozen Chocobos. Their heads had been chopped off and fur ripped. All their inner workings were open for display, revealing only the raw essentials. Cloud found it obscene.
"You're not scared, are you?" Zack playfully jabbed at him.
Cloud met his gaze. "Should I be?"
Anyone else would've been disturbed by the sight of frozen animals. Cloud observed it only with regret. He'd hunted animals in his youth and now worked at a fast-food restaurant that constantly served this meat; he was used to the sight of dead things. However, Cloud found his days surviving the wrath of beasts as a hunter more honest work than his time serving cheap Chocobo burgers to the masses.
"Yeah, now I definitely know why he chose you," Zack told Cloud, seeing something in his eyes.
The other boy chose not to make a comment.
Both ventured into the walking freezer and navigated their way through the rows of meat. When they reached the very end, Cloud saw a solid black-steel door with a card reader beside it. Zack pulled out a bright yellow keycard and slid it at its designated spot. An audible click sound was heard. It required only a twist and slight push. Cloud hesitated before setting foot into the next section.
"The Black Floor," Zack introduced.
An endless abyss of black, the Black Floor was the size of a parking lot with eleven-foot-high bare walls. Gone were the dead animals, smell of blood, noise of heavy machinery, and indifferent people. Instead, there was only silence and stillness in this seemingly empty space. It reminded Cloud of a Church. The lack of light forced his eyes to readjust themselves. Darkness dominated this place, save for a small circle of candles that clustered at the far end of the Black Floor. Cloud faintly picked up the scent of peppermint in the air.
Both boys made their way to the candles. Their footsteps echoed loudly against the glossy-black pavement. For Cloud, it was as if they were walking through the void. He could not see his feet in the blackness. An eerie feeling of finding something horrible in the void made him breathe faster. Cloud kept by Zack's side and quickened his pace, eager to draw closer to the tiny specks of light ahead.
The walk to the group of candles took only fifteen seconds, but for Cloud it felt longer. As they stood next to the burning candles on the ground, they encountered a wooden stand with a crimson leather book. It was currently closed. Not far from the book stand stood a seven-foot tall statue made of ebony stone. It guarded a staircase that led up to the next floor.
Cloud briefly studied the ebony statue of an imposing female warrior. With large wings spread wide, she held a blade in one hand and a fresh Banora apple in another. The Goddess. She represented one of many religious icons the people of Midgar City worshipped. Given her association with the epic literary work, Cloud wasn't surprised to find the champion of LOVELESS here. Standing proudly, the Goddess stared down at him with her penetrating, unblinking gaze.
"This is your contract," Zack broke the silence. He stood by the wooden stand with the book opened to a specific page. "The club requires both Sephiroth's and your signature. This will bind you to him." Zack turned to Cloud. The blue color in his eyes intensified under the candles' lights. "Sign it after you got a feel for Sephiroth. Once this contract is completed, you can't change Hosts."
Next to Zack, Cloud read over the terms. Curious, he asked, "How many clients does Sephiroth have?"
"Five."
"Only five?"
"It doesn't sound like much, I know. Then again, Sephiroth is very picky about the clients he chooses. He can also afford to be picky. A high-ranked Shinra officer, a top biomedical engineer, a politician, a chief justice, and an A-list film star… they're among his financial backers."
The details of Sephiroth's clients both surprised and disturbed Cloud. Not only did it still freak him out a kid that age had a clientele at all, but they served as noteworthy respectable citizens of Midgar. Had Sephiroth seen into their souls and extracted the burning questions and woes that plagued them too?
"Well-off folks…" Cloud noted. Looking away from his contract, he stood near the ebony statue. "I'm not rich, in case you haven't figured that out already. And to be honest, I've no idea why I'm here since I can barely afford my rent, let alone, a Host."
"I'm sure Sephiroth will negotiate with you. What that entails? I dunno. It's between you two. That aside, I have to warn you, his financial backers can be vultures." Zack slammed the book shut; its thump echoed across the Black Floor. "They aggressively vie for his affections and have no problem playing dirty to get it."
Cloud scoffed. "Over a child? They're vying for the affections of a child?"
"Man, I should be keeping my big mouth shut," Zack muttered to himself. He removed one of the sodas in his pockets and took a long drink. "Sephiroth will gut me alive if he learns what I've told you."
"It's fine, Zack. I prefer your frankness. I deal with enough bullshit in my life." Cloud removed his gloves. He explored the statue's smooth cold surface with his bare fingertips while Zack addressed his concerns.
"It's just… I feel like I need to lay it to you straight, Cloud. If you're serious about having Sephiroth as your Host then you should know what you're getting into before you sign that contract. It's not just his peculiar ways you have to look out for, but everyone else's too. A lot of people go coo-coo over him."
Strange attracted strange, Cloud recalled. He was probably one of those coo-coo people too. Even if his intentions to see Sephiroth came from idle curiosity, the boy's words left a strong impression on him. It was likely the same for the other clients too. Sephiroth's odd ways intrigued them all. He provided an escape from the daily rigors of this dark industrious city.
Zack didn't take his eyes away from Cloud as he drew closer to him. "You're not worried?"
"Worried?" Cloud broke away from his private thoughts and looked at him; confused.
"Over those vultures," Zack specified.
"Honestly? Not really."
"Huh. You must have big balls then."
Cloud stepped back from the Goddess statue. As the female warrior looked down at him, he narrowed his eyes. "You know, Zack, in all the years I've worked in Chocobo Chow I've come to realize one thing: no one gives a fuck about the guy behind the cash register."
Zack blinked.
"Those people you talk about – Sephiroth's clients? They're so high up that they can't see me below." Cloud showed a small smile. "I doubt they'll be threatened by a guy who flips patties for a living."
Zack guffawed, finally coming to the same realization Cloud had reached ages ago. Sure, Cloud hated his current place in the world. Lowly people like him were invisible. And yet, sometimes being invisible had its perks. No one perceived him as a threat and, therefore, no one ever saw him coming.
The Host finished his soda. He swapped the apple in the statue's hand with his empty can. Cloud suppressed a chuckle. He was sure that apple had been an offering to the Goddess. Now, it became Zack's snack. The unruly Host munched on his delicious treat as he led Cloud to the staircase nearby.
Beyond the stairs was a small narrow hallway. It directed them to another steel door; this time painted blue. Neon-lit words appeared above: She guides us to bliss, her gift everlasting. Cloud remembered this corridor from the website's gallery. He also knew the words above the door came from LOVELESS. As he waited for Zack to pull out his keycard again, the non-stop bongs of drums and female vocals echoed from beyond the blue steel door. It didn't take long for Zack to swipe his card. With the path opened, both boys entered the first scene of LOVELESS.
"The Blue Floor," Zack practically yelled over the music and crowd.
Almost immediately, Cloud felt underdressed and unprepared. He gazed at the clientele of LOVELESS and marveled at the snugly fitted dresses and well-tailored suits they wore. Straight ahead, a female vocalist with green hair performed her jazzy tune on a massive blue-lit structure. Cloud had to spare a second look at that stage. An enormous, abstract construction of the Goddess's face towered behind it. Made with metal plates, bolts, cords, and neon lights, it looked like biomechanical nightmare and masterpiece.
"Impressive, huh?" Zack gave a nod at the structure. "Would you believe Sephiroth made that?"
Cloud recalled the photo of the porcelain doll. He could see the child's handprint on this larger project.
"Sephiroth has a weird way of looking at the world. Whereas others look for the ideal, he kinda looks for… the strange." Zack frowned, momentarily lost in his train of thoughts. Then he flashed a smile and patted Cloud on the shoulder. "Let's check out the rest of the place."
Not accustomed to settings like this, Cloud didn't move from his spot right away. He glanced at the elegant metallic-laced blue carpet and instantly regretted wearing his dirt-soiled boots. It couldn't be helped though. He had to make do with what he had and not dwell on it. Suppressing his personal anxieties for the moment, Cloud took his first steps into the Blue Floor.
He might as well have entered a giant kaleidoscope of blue. Blue lights, reflections, and glitter… they danced everywhere. The lucrative amount of mirrors and glassed objects made it difficult to distinguish the real from the illusion. At times, Cloud bumped into a mirror wall. Zack laughed nearby; his hearty sound lost to the music. Reveling in all of its blue shiny glory, the Blue Floor proved ten times more impressive than the photos showed. Cloud knew this was the same lounge featured online. The sunburst-chandelier he saw at the website currently hung high above his head.
When Zack walked further into the Blue Floor, Cloud trailed behind and tried not to bump into anyone. The majority of the crowd thankfully congregated at the stage and danced. The remaining LOVELESS' occupants either swam in the nearby pools or took a spot on the blue cushioned couches.
Among the crowd were other Hosts. Intermingling with their clients, they each revealed the same bright blue searing eyes as Zack's. Their elegance and striking figures made Cloud even more self-aware of his shortcomings. He idly pulled out a loose thread from his jeans and developed a sudden urge to burn it.
"I feared the worst when I got inside your coffin," Cloud admitted later as he walked alongside Zack.
"Oh?" His escort chuckled. "That's not a surprise. People hear a lot of crazy things about our club."
"Like what?"
"Like how some Hosts don't tolerate irritating clients and will happily chop off their head and donate their parts to the meat factory." In a proud voice, Zack declared, "Thankfully, I'm not like that. I'm a chilled kinda guy."
"That's still a crazy rumor though."
"Rumor?" Zack cocked a brow. "I never said those crazy things people heard were rumors. I only said I'm not like that. I can't speak for the rest of my colleagues though."
The color on Cloud's face drained. He hoped Zack was only screwing with him.
His eyes glowing brighter, Zack snickered. Then he urged, "Follow me. I want to introduce you to one of the greatest men in the planet before taking you to see Sephiroth."
"But… what about the man I spoke to over the phone? He's expecting to see me too."
Zack didn't offer a reply. He merely smiled and lured him to the other side of the Blue Floor, to a bar elevated on a higher platform. Cloud momentarily stopped and stared at it with wide-opened eyes.
A massive blue tree stood sideways. It reached up to the ceiling. Various trinkets hung from its long wooden limbs – clock faces, mirrors, and chimes. High above, thick branches clustered and sheltered a large materia-looking orb. It pulsed with blue light. How the owners of LOVELESS managed to fit an incredibly big tree inside their club was beyond Cloud's understanding. He could only observe the organic structure of the bar with intrigue, finding it both eerie and beautiful. The counter, itself, had been situated inside its enormous hollowed base. A blue light radiated within it. It beckoned to Cloud.
Both boys approached a tall, broad-chested brunette-haired Host. He mixed drinks from behind the wooden counter. Sporting a white buttoned shirt and wooden choker, the handsome male displayed the perfect muscular body; not an ounce of unwanted fat on him.
As the Host looked up, Cloud recognized him. He'd seen this man before. Somewhere. A quick study of the Host's trimmed chin hair suddenly drew Cloud back to the night of his birthday party. This man had been there.
With the bar stools all taken, both boys remained standing. Zack showcased a wonderfully curved smile. "Hey-hey, Angeal! I'm heeeeere."
"You're also very late," Angeal promptly pointed out above the loud music.
Zack's face winced in exaggeration. "Ouch. Cut me some slack. It's better being late than never, right?"
Angeal raised a prominently shaped brow. With a mini blow-torch in hand, he lit up a drink and slid it to a nearby customer. His amused tone sounded apparent when he later asked, "Are you going to use that same excuse on Sephiroth too?"
Zack stood rigidly still.
A small smirk developed across Angeal's lips. He'd effectively shut up the younger Host real quick. When the tall man turned his attentions to Cloud next, his clear blue eyes did not waver from him. "Hm. So you're Sephiroth's new client…"
It wasn't so much a question as it was a statement. Standing next to Zack, Cloud could only stare at the Host. Angeal's presence admittedly overwhelmed him. While he carried himself in a calm casual manner, he could stare down any man with just a glance.
"His name is Cloud," Zack announced to his friend, finding his voice again. "Cloud, this is Angeal."
Cloud nodded back a silent hello. The small gesture was repeated by the other man.
"Angeal is among our top-earning Hosts in LOVELESS," Zack flaunted, "You wouldn't know that, though, since he has a terrible habit of hiding his ass behind the bar's counter or in the kitchen. For shame."
"Making food and serving drinks relaxes me," Angeal stated as matter-of-fact. He quickly poured a shot of green alcohol and passed it to another customer.
"And you?" Cloud had to ask Zack, "Are you a top-earning Host too?"
"Of course." Zack boasted a wide toothy smile. "I'm the best there ever is! I got a mile-long client list. Everyone asks for me." When Zack heard a snicker from Angeal's direction, he barked, "Hey, it's true!"
"Whatever you say, puppy," Angeal responded without missing a beat.
"Angeal…" Zack glared at him. "We went over this already: I'm not a puppy."
"Yet you keep acting like one."
"I can't believe we're having this conversation again."
"Ditto."
"Now you're just messing with my head."
"Am I?"
"Angeal, I swear…"
Watching the two Hosts bicker back and forth like an old married couple was pure entertainment. Cloud quickly learned Zack depended on the volume of his voice to get the upper hand while Angeal preferred to choose his words carefully. No surprise the older man came out on top by the end of their ordeal. Cloud's face visibly brightened with color. It had been a long time since he felt this relaxed in the company of others. He usually hated socializing with strangers.
Zack was the first to withdraw from this war of words. He grumbled something under his breath. Then he glanced at Cloud. "Sorry about that. Angeal and I tend to drive each other bonkers from time to time. It's a toxic chemistry we share."
"I'm sure it is," Cloud commented back.
"How old are you, Cloud?" Angeal asked as he poured two bottles into a metal container. "Sephiroth never told me your age. You look very young."
"Seventeen."
The older man frowned. "You're too young for this kind of thing. Shouldn't you be dating girls your age instead of hanging out at underground Host clubs?"
"The child invited me to come," Cloud explained and met Angeal's eyes. "Besides, there're a few things I need to go over with him and the guy I spoke to over the phone."
Angeal put the bottles down and exchanged a long silent look with Zack. The younger Host shrugged his shoulders and stood with his eyes set downward.
Picking up the metal container, Angeal began to shake it. He sighed. "Cloud, I'm not sure how much Zack has told you about Sephiroth. However, if you intend on seeing him as your Host, you'll find many… peculiar details about him. Don't freak out."
Frowning, Cloud had no idea what to make of that last part.
"Did Zack go over the contract with you?"
"Of course I did," the young raven-haired boy piped up again, sounding offended by the question. "I also suggested he wait before signing it. Because. You know. It's Sephiroth…"
"We follow an honor system, Cloud," Angeal informed. "What goes on here stays here. Whatever terms you make between you and Sephiroth must also be honored." His thick brows arched low and evenly as he said, "I won't lie: I really hope this is just a one-time visit for you. You're much too young for this."
Still standing, Cloud crossed his arms and shifted the weight of his body to one side. Too young?
"I think Sephiroth overstepped his boundaries by taking in a boy your age," Angeal concluded. Spilling the mixed contents of the container into a glass, he stuck a slice of lime on it and sent it off.
Observing Angeal in a silent and unblinking gaze, Cloud wanted to point out he wasn't a boy; he was a young man. Seventeen now. Sephiroth, on the other hand, was a child. A damn kid Host. If anyone deserved a fine lecture on age appropriateness it was him. Opening his mouth, Cloud was ready to make a comeback response. Zack interrupted him before he got the chance.
"I've only spent a short time with Cloud," Zack started, "but there's definitely something special about him. He's certainly more interesting than the others. Maybe Sephiroth sees this too? I don't know. But… what I do know is that Cloud should be the one to determine if this is a good or bad idea. Not us."
Cloud turned to Zack, surprised he backed him up. Zack had previously preached the same concerns Angeal shared not long ago. But now he seemed willing to let things naturally unfold themselves. Cloud appreciated the gesture and showed Zack a small smile.
Behind the counter, Angeal didn't say a word. His eyes first studied Cloud before shifting to Zack. After a while of silence, the man bobbed his head and conceded. "Very well. I trust your judgment, Zack." To Cloud, he said, "Don't take Sephiroth lightly. He's a complicated individual."
A complicated kid, Cloud wanted to say but chose to keep his mouth shut.
"I'm going to take him to see Sephiroth now, Angeal," Zack announced. "Is he up on his floor?"
The other man brushed back his wavy black hair with a hand and simply told him, "He's here."
"Here? In the Blue Floor?" Zack momentarily got quiet. His eyes quickly glanced around the lounge. He growled. "Oh boy, that ain't good news… Where is he now?"
"Close."
"You're not helping, Angeal."
"Don't worry about finding him, puppy. Sephiroth will find you. In fact, I suspect he's been watching you two since you both arrived."
"Creepy. That guy never fails to send shivers up my spine…"
"I'll be sure to tell Sephiroth that when I see him."
"You're horrible sometimes, Angeal. You know that, right?"
Angeal conveyed an innocent smile. He turned to Cloud afterward. "Think about what I said, all right?"
Cloud only responded with a nod.
The Host said nothing else. Turning away, Angeal went to fetch a bottle from the shelves behind him. That must've been their cue to leave because Zack now tapped Cloud on the shoulder. It was time to find Sephiroth. Both boys pushed their way out of the bar's crowd.
As soon as they were a good distance from it, Zack spoke up again. "Sorry about that. Angeal is actually close with Sephiroth. He can be overprotective sometimes."
"Over Sephiroth?"
"Yes. But over you too."
Cloud snorted. "Why? Angeal doesn't even know me. He thinks I'm too young for this."
"Well, you kinda are the youngest client we've ever had in LOVELESS," Zack revealed. "It's only natural Angeal wants to look after your best interests. Consider him the resident Big Brother here. He gives everyone lectures, especially me."
Envisioning how those moments went, Cloud nearly grinned.
As they crossed the seating section of the Blue Floor, Zack stopped walking. His eyes looked left to right again. Bitterly, he spat, "I've dicked around long enough. Heads will roll if I don't get you to Sephiroth soon; we are sooo fucking late. I'll find him while you can stay put, eh?"
Cloud agreed with that plan. However, there wasn't any seating space available for him. All of the blue-velvet couches were occupied; the same for the pool side benches. After some serious scouting, Zack found an empty spot for Cloud and took him to a water fountain with a blue-stoned Goddess statue.
"Wait here. I'll get Sephiroth," the Host insisted.
Cloud approached the stone ledge of the water fountain to sit but glanced back at Zack. He wanted to express his gratitude; not only for getting Angeal off his back, but also for being great company. This entire trip to LOVELESS so far felt like a bizarre dream. At times, Cloud wanted to turn back. But Zack had stood by his side. He guided him to his destination.
Cloud tried to find the right words to say without it sounding fruity. In the end, he settled for a simple, to-the-point word: "Thanks."
"No problem," Zack replied and tilted his hat. "I'm sure you'll see me again if you decide to stick around. And for what it's worth, I think you might be the one to keep Sephiroth on his toes. He needs someone to not kiss his ass all the time."
A low sounding laugh sprouted from Cloud's mouth.
"Just remember what we talked about earlier. You can't stay in the dark forever, buddy. Okay?" Zack raised a fist and bumped it against Cloud's as a friendly parting gesture. "See ya."
Cloud hoped so. He watched Zack walk away and disappear into a sea of blues and moving bodies.
Sitting on the ledge of the fountain, Cloud waited at his designated spot. The fast beats of high pitched music played in the air. They followed the same rhythm of his heart. As a raw energy swept through the club, his eyes scanned the Blue Floor. The crowd of well-dressed pretty people continued to dance and socialize. To his dismay, a few drunken loud-mouthed clients found the fountain area to be a suitable place to sit as well. They nosily flopped themselves next to him. One intoxicated woman with a glittered-pink dress pointed and laughed at his wild blond hair. Chocobo ass, she said. He sneered at her.
So far, there was still no sign of the silver-haired child. Cloud's eyes discovered an interesting elevator several feet away though. Made of glassed doors, there was an ornate sign painted on it. A card reader appeared by its side. Every once in a while he saw a Host enter it with a client. Cloud recalled that the club had seven floors and suspected this elevator accessed all of them.
With nothing better to do than sit and wait, Cloud studied the statue of the Goddess behind him. It stood at the center of the water foundation and shared similar features to the black one he'd encountered not long ago. As streams of water jetted around the blue Goddess, Cloud's eyes drifted to the water collected. He saw his reflection and, to his surprise, a stone tablet below.
Underwater, the tablet sat at the base of the statue. Looking worn and aged, it contained a passage etched with many strange symbols. Cloud leaned closer to get a better look at it. He stopped midway when he noticed something peculiar in his reflection now.
Close by, the people at the water fountain quickly got up and walked away. The annoying woman who had mocked him actually slipped on her ass before she scurried off without a word. Cloud held his breath when he found what rattled the sheep. According to his reflection, a looming dark figure stood directly behind him. It wore an extremely long black veil.
"Infinite in mystery is the gift of the Goddess. We seek it thus, and take to the sky. Ripples form on the water's surface. The wandering soul knows no rest…"
The instant Cloud heard that deep soft voice, he knew this was the man he spoke to on the phone. His skin tingled and surged with warmth. Cloud turned to face the man. Feeling slightly lightheaded, he stayed seated while he took in the sight of a ghastly yet elegant form.
The Black-Veiled Man.