Chapter Two: Unfinished Business
Mystie shut the door and hurriedly started gathering items. She threw whatever she found necessary into a knapsack. "Why? What's going on?" Aeris asked, putting her arrows in the sack so they would not fall out. She did not respond but moved even quicker. Cloud stood up, ignoring the pain coming from his shoulder. "Mystie. What did you see?"
"Meika." she trembled. "About 12 of them. They're in town." Aeris grabbed a violet cloak from the back of the chair she had been sitting on, and put in on. Tightening the veil she picked up her bow and arrow sack. "I know a back way that will take us outta the village and into the northern woods." She said angrily. "Go out the back behind this lot, and around the Temple of Sanctuary. I will meet you there by the 5th sign." Before another word was spoken, she flew out the door, towards the town.
"Aeris no!" Mystie shouted. She brought her hand to her face and tucked her bangs behind her ears. She turned to Cloud who was fiddling with his silver chain necklace.
"Lets go." Cloud flung his sword behind his back and faced the door.
"No. You are in no condition to fight. Go out the back like she said. I'll find her and meet you there. We are taking no risks." Mystie stood in front of him, trying to block his way out. Her eyes grew wide, hoping that the pale blue color of her iris' would make him stop. He smiled on the inside thinking, that won't ever work with me Mystie.
"No." He protested. He flew out the door into the storm, leaving Mystie no choice but to follow. She clapped her hands on her hips in frustration, getting tired of no one listening to her. She grabbed the gathered items and bolted out after them, throwing her hood on over her head.
Cloud sprinted towards the town. The rain beat its heaviest, making it hard to see in the darkness that night had engulfed the town in. Approaching the village, he began to hear screams. The faint smell of smoke grew stronger with every step. "Aeris!" he shouted, doubting she could hear him. The town came into view. A red glaze rose above the rooftops. Fire. He began to spot the burgundy cloaks of the Meika. Their horrid faces were hidden beneath the hoods of their cloaks. Their demon-ish smoldered hands were helping cast the fire spells their mouths chanted. In complete rage Cloud ran up and plunged his sword into one of them. A horrible screech filled the village as the body disintegrated. He grabbed his shoulder, yelping to himself in pain. The wound still hurt incredibly. He wouldn't let it get to him. He stood up, only to get hit by a flurry of fire. He fell to the ground, world spinning then fading to black.
Aeris ducked the ball of flames that had been cast in her direction. She bolted from wall to wall shooting a stream of arrows at the creatures. "Get out of my town!" Taking little time to aim, she let an arrow fly. It hit the Meika dead in the heart. The creature stumbled about before another screech could be heard. The ashes it left swirled as the wind picked up speed. Another flame swirled towards her, this time hitting her forearm. "Ugh." She dropped her bow and arrows, gripping her burn. The creature who had burnt her severely, advanced towards her. Having no time to recollect her weapon, it extended a ghoulish arm and grabbed her throat. The touch of its skin burned her throat. Hoisting her in the air, she kicked and struggled, trying to free herself. The creature's grip tightened. She choked on her screams. She began to feel dizzy. Her eyelids closed, and she felt herself falling through the air. A high pitched noise echoed through the night as she opened her eyes, coughing, seeing Mystie standing above her.
In a frantic voice she asked, "Are you ok?"
"Just fine." Aeris stood up, grabbing her bow. "I told you to go to the forest."
"We are not leaving without you. Come on." Mystie tugged on her sleeve, only to be pushed away. Aeris looked at the ever growing flames of the village. The fire licked the night sky, and its smoke whirled around the destroyed homes.
"No." she simply said. "I'm not leaving this town. Not like this." Before Mystie could grab her she took off again.
"Why doesn't anyone listen?" She wondered out loud.
Aeris ran through the town, dodging flames and shooting arrows. Anger swelled through her body. She killed three more Meika, and wounded one. Getting ahead of herself, she tripped over a fallen body. Taking a closer look, she noticed the familiar blonde hair. "Cloud!" She shook him violently, hoping he would wake up. Through the shadows advanced another Meika. It threw up its arm, as a ball of fire shot out of nowhere, striking the huffing Aeris. She screamed in pain. Not giving up, she stood up and started to drag Cloud out of the town. This proposed to be hard, she had little energy to keep going, but her willpower was stronger. Pulling him into an alley way, she fainted.
Casting 'thundaga' Mystie threw random bolts of lightning off the walls, Mystie grew more tired in her search. Aeris and Cloud were nowhere to be found or in earshot, at the least. She was running out of time to reach the tower in the amount of time she was given. A gruff voice from behind called out , "Mystie?"
Hoping it was Cloud she wheeled around. "Clo-" It wasn't Cloud, but the man in the heavy jacket. "Cid?"
"What are you doing out here? You need to get out of here and fast."
She sighed, lowering her head. "I would if they hadn't run off."
"They? Who's they?"
"Aeris and-" A screech muffled her words. Cid had hurled his lance at a Meika, who was about to strike Mystie. The rain and wind grew to the point where it was both hard to hear and move. Cid pulled Mystie into an alley way for protection against the storm. She panted. "What the?" Two limp bodies were lying by Cid's feet. "Cloud! Aeris!" Without hesitating, Mystie began to try and pull them out of their state of unconscious. She ran her hand over Cloud's cheek, brushing a stray blonde hair behind his ear. When they didn't awake she began to sob.
"Stop your crying. I can't stand it when people cry." Cid pulled a bottle from his pocket, shaking the liquid inside of it creating a whirl of tiny bubbles. Uncorking the flask, he carefully dropped the liquor of it down both of their throats.
Aeris and Cloud instantly began to cough. Mystie wiped her eyes, a faint smile defying her emotions. Cloud began to swear.
"Cloud. You're alive!" She threw her arms around her friend. "I thought you were dead." She sniffled.
"Yeah. That will be the day." He shook her off, then turned to the coughing body, lying next to him. Aeris stood up, gasping for air.
"Where are they?" she said between deep breathes, not noticing Cid. "I'll kill them all. Demon spawn. That's all they are. The whole lot of them." She reached for her bow, only to be stopped by Cid. "No."
"Cid?" Aeris said in a perplexed tone. She looked at him, eyes showing complete happiness despite the burning of the village. "What are you doing here? I thought you were leaving for…" She threw her arms around him for a quick embrace. He hugged her back, only to have eyes rolled by Cloud.
"I was about to set sail when I heard screams from the village. Listen, you and your friends need to leave and fast. There is nothing we can do."
"We can fight." she said desperately.
"Not this time. They'll outnumber us. More keep coming from the Northern woods."
"I agree with Cid." said Mystie who was finally happy to get some support on her end.
"Who are you again?" Cloud asked crossly.
"No time. Follow me to my boat. We'll be safe there for the time being."
"No. I want to fight. I'm not leaving the village like this."
"Aeris, you have to understand that we stand no chance against them."
"But-"
"I know its hard but we need to get out of here." Without further words, he sprinted towards the docks. Aeris followed reluctantly with both Mystie and Cloud.
"Who the hell is that?" Cloud asked Mystie in anger.
"He helped me find Aeris."
"When was this?"
"When you went to go chase down the man who stole my money."
They ran past the scurrying people. Dissembled bodies were scattered all over the walkways. There was no longer a town, to be called by name. The fires, once strong were slowly dying down, due to the storm and the fact that there was nothing left to keep the kindle going. Aeris felt a knot form in her chest where her heart should have been, the scenery was too much to bare. She wanted so badly to save her village, her home. Mystie did nothing but tighten her indigo cloak.
The boat swayed gently with the wind. It had three cabins, a gallery and enough room to hold five people. Four drenched people entered the gallery. Pointing to the different rooms Cid started, "The farthest back is mine. One of the rooms contains two beds. The last room, just one. You three can figure out where you are to sleep. I don't mind, just leave me mine."
Cloud grunted, not caring for his words.
"So where are you three headed?" Cid asked. Mystie stood up. "The tower of humanity."
"What a small world. That is where I was headed too." he said cheerfully. "I want to help save Djose, ya know?"
"Actually, we work with him. And we would be happy for you to join us." Mystie bowed slightly, happy knowing the fact that people were actually going to help save the planet.
"Will you join me up top on the deck?" Cid asked her. Mystie flashed him a smile, and nodded. Cloud stood up trying to follow.
"...Alone." Cid stated, glaring at Cloud from the corner of his eye.
"Why alone?" He began angrily. "Mystie are you sure we can trust him? How do you know he's not really-"
"Just trust my judgment for once!" she barked. She whipped around and followed Cid to the deck. He sat back down, mumbling under his breath. Not wanting to bother him, Aeris stood, walking to the basin. She removed her fingerless gloves and placed them on the ember chair. This was followed by her torn violet cloak and drenched short sheath. In the end her only items of clothing still on her body were her sleeveless top, tattered shorts, and worn out boots. She held out the soaked materials over the basin and began to wring them out. Cloud glanced at her and garbled, "What are you doing?"
"Trying to dry my clothes. You should be doing the same. Don't want to catch a cold." She winced as her forearm hit the shelving. There was dried blood and a massive scar where the fire had hit her from the meika.
"You ok?" he grunted.
"I guess." she turned from him, running her fingers over the wound. Cloud stood up and walked over to her. He pulled elderberry leaves from his pouch attached to his belt. "Here."
"What happened to mister 'I don't give a care?"
"Do you want it or not?" he grumbled. She thankfully took the plant. Cloud began to remove his own outer clothing, tossing them carelessly onto the wooden floor. "So what did you mean by revenge?"
Aeris sighed. "Jhaku killed my parents when I was two. The only reason I know this is because I lived with my aunt and uncle in Tajima until I was twelve, until they themselves became apart of the past. That's when I met Cid. He was doing trades for Tajima over in Setarna, and one day found me out on the dock begging for food. He took me in like I was his own.
"The fact that Jhaku took my parents away also took away my childhood. That bastard ruined everything and I don't want what has happened to me to happen to other people. To grow up not knowing their family...It's a terrible thing really. Even if we put him away for 20 years, its still 20 years that people get to rest. I just hope that one day he will be gone for good."
Cloud didn't respond. He sat himself in a chair, Aeris glancing over at him to get another look. He was wearing a black tank shirt over his muscular physique. On his right upper arm, Aeris noticed a tattoo that looked like barbed wire that wrapped around the muscle. He had two piercings in his right ear and one on his left. His medium length blonde, hair gently spiked outwards.
Aeris smiled to herself, shaking her head. She didn't yet understand what she had gotten herself into. And she wouldn't, until her fate neared the end of its journey.