Chapter 5 - Stepping Foreword

I decided to go after that horn Felix talked about. Not like I had a whole lot of choice, really... the rent is due and my landlord's even tougher than the Hammers… Garrett the Master Thief...

Being prisoner isn't everyone's favorite place or position as you may see it. Garrett laid there, a few hours had past, but in his mind that didn't really matter. Sephiroth had spared him, but for what? Because of what his daughter plead? He had no strength but wanted to escape. It was hopeless… The blood that he had lost earlier made no difference. Garrett suddenly felt a sharp pain slam on his back.

"Get up thief." A voice hissed. "Lord Sephiroth has made a decision what to do with you now."

Garrett grunted with pain as he was now pulled up by the by of his shirt. "It's about time." He growled. "If you're going to kill me, go ahead. You've all ready taken everything away from me."

The silver headed man dragged Garrett out of his prison cell which was a cave near the white forest. It was now growing night and the forest was as bright as a lighting of a full moon.

"Jarrell, stop." A voice called out.

Jarrell turned around with his grasp still gripping the back of Garrett's shirt. Garrett's breath was slowing down as his face turned to a pale white; he was also inches from the ground on his tiptoes like a ballerina dancer.

"Lady Alyssa, orders were-"

"Yes I heard Sephiroth's orders, but it's something else. I want answers from him first."

"Very well, as you wish." Jarrell sighed.

Alyssa walked up to Jarrell, cautiously approaching him as he slowly loosened his grip around Garrett's shirt.

"I don't think questions are necessary Alyssa."

Alyssa turned around seeing Avidan and her father. Avidan had a glare that didn't even dare to leave Garrett and his arms were crossed while Sephiroth had his sword on his shoulder looking at Alyssa with a hint of suspicion and a bit of disappointment.

"… Very well." Alyssa said with a hint of concern. "May I see him later?"

"Well of course, you after all have a right to say good bye to the one that tried to kill you." Sephiroth said with a smirk.

Kill her? Kill her! Did Sephiroth really think that Garrett tried to kill her? I have to find a way to help him! He's going to die because of what I did! "Father, please! He… he came because of Cloud."

"Cloud? That brethren and betrayer?" Sephiroth questioned rudely.

Right then there was a blinding light and a green smoke that filled the air instantly. Alyssa felt something pull her and everything around her grew black.

"What the hell is going on?" Was the last voice she heard, it was Jarrell's voice…

"We must know where the Reunion is taking place." Tifa complained.

"Yes, be we must first find that man. Tifa, do you know of other clans?" Cloud asked.

"No only the silver headed men."

"Pardon my interruption-" A familiar voice spoke. "- but I've heard a strange increase of black cloaked men, not of the silvers."

Cloud and Tifa turned around seeing Vincent, their cold but understanding companion. He walked up to them with his Death Penalty over his shoulder and his crimson eyes settling upon the worried looks both Cloud and Tifa's faces.

"Not followers of Sephiroth?" They both asked.

"Exactly, but they have been keeping an eye on them." Vincent explained while he sat himself in a bar stool next to the table Cloud and Tifa were sitting in.

Tifa had closed the bar so that they could figure out what to do about Alyssa and the man Cloud talked about. Now they needed the others to help with the situation. Vincent was surprisingly the first to respond.

"What's the clan name?" Cloud asked.

"That's what everyone wants to know, but they aren't around very often. You'll be lucky enough to see one of their kind, or so to say." Vincent then crossed his arms lost in his thoughts, then looked at Tifa.

"So they're like vampires?" She asked.

"Can't say on that part." Vincent answered back.

"I ran into one of them I think and he even said that he wasn't one of the silvers. He said he was from a different clan." Cloud spoke, wanting to know more what was going on.

"And that's how you found out Alyssa was captured?" Vincent asked, listening to Cloud a good while.

Cloud nodded in agreement. "Yes."

"Then try and get more information on this person Cloud. I'll also see if I and anyone else can help on their part. That man may just be part of that clan and not of the silvers. He might also give you more detail what happened to Alyssa."

"All right-" Tifa acknowledged. "– do a favor and do that Vincent. Tell the others. We're then going to hunt this clan down and try to see if we can do anything to find the silvers and rescue Alyssa."

Vincent then left with a jumping to his feet and with a quick snapping of his cloak. Cloud then stood up from the table and walked into Alyssa's room, gazing upon it with worry.

Cloud then noticed something he never seen before. His eyes scanned the messy blankets and found a necklace made out of silver links. Cloud pick up the chain, then noticed an old key, a skeleton key.

He wrapped the chain around his right hand, tightening his grip around the key. I promise I'll rescue you Alyssa. I'll do anything to keep you safe. Cloud thoughts fogged his mind. He couldn't afford to lose another person he loved.