Chapter 12 - A Path of Despair
Are you answering your questions or are you simply questioning your answers? I know what you seek and you seek what I know... Keeper Artemus...
"How are you feeling?"
Alyssa was awoken by a familiar voice, but she couldn't open her eyes, she just felt so tired. All she wanted now was rest. She gave an expression even she couldn't tell what she did. Cloud sat down next to her noticing that she didn't really want to move. He reached for her left hand, grasping it. Alyssa gave a response back, but her grip was weak. It took a second to think of what he would say, but he had to speak eventually. Cloud spotted that Alyssa's breathing was shallow and slow. Her body must have been in pain. He could understand that too.
"Cloud... you..." Alyssa finally speaks, trying to regain consciousness.
"I made up my mind, Alyssa." Cloud says, wanting to say something important first. "When you asked me to be there for you... I hesitated when I shouldn't have. I should have said-" He stops himself from saying anything else. What made him blurt that out?
"It's ok... I... think you made a promise... by holding me that... day." She took a couple breaths. "In a way you promised to be there for me."
Cloud gave her that look of sadness, a look that everyone knew. He looked at her for a moment. Speechless for a little bit. Alyssa let go of his hand, unable to grip any longer. It was the only strength she had at the moment, Cloud could tell. Her head turned to the left, and her eyes slowly and painfully opened. He gave her a calm, yet concerned stare. His hand reached for her head, as if to tell her to relax. Her eyes started to glaze over. She was focusing a bit too hard. Alyssa gave a slight grunt of pain as she coughed a couple times.
"You should rest, I'll wait for you to wake up again." Cloud assures.
"All I... really wanted to say... was... thank you for... keeping your promise... everything... I don't know wh-" Alyssa's voice drifted off and was unable to continue what she was saying.
Alyssa's eye sight blurred and as that happened, Cloud couldn't stay up any longer himself. Grasping Alyssa's hand once more, his eyes shut and he fell asleep with her in seconds, sinking into a finally peaceful deep sleep for the time being without any serious worries.
"Avidan, we need to meet up with a friend of Cloud's." Tifa interrupts.
They were both having breakfast, and having a conversation. It wasn't really an interesting one because they weren't really saying anything to each other. Tifa only watched as he picked at his food. Eggs and Bacon with Toast. Avidan poked at it with his fork, not really seeming to me interested what was in front of him. He couldn't remember the last time he actually ate 'real' food.
"What's their name?" Avidan asks tiredly.
"His name is Vincent Valentine. He's the one that told us about Garrett and..." Tifa remembered from Cloud... the conversation before they went to bed... The Keepers must not be known, only the Shadow Claw. "-the Shadow Claw."
"Garrett actually has a guild? That's surprising. I would never expect that from a thief."
"He's a thief, I never..."
"Not many really know him as a Master Thief, he doesn't have a big reputation. He's done many things though. But even I, myself don't know what they are. I only knew he was well known in another place." Avidan's voice was now sounding a bit curious and strange.
"Another place?" Tifa questions.
Avidan shook his head. He didn't know that, only heard rumors. He then focused over at Marlene, who was just listening and not saying a word. She was seeming to enjoy her breakfast. Tifa noticed then a different look in Avidan's eyes. It reminded her of Cloud in a way he ever really showed. She gave a light smile to that thought.
"I can't believe that Cloud is your dad."
"Ummm... adoptive. My dad is named Barret. he's much different than Cloud."
Tifa's eyes grew surprised as to say 'Yeah right! What are you thinking?' Avidan felt embarrassed himself. He didn't know. He looked at Tifa, if Marlene was really her daughter, she could have had her at a young age. Feeling bad, he didn't know what to think.
"Our friend Barret told us to take care of her. We've been for a while now." Tifa explains.
"So you formed your own little family?" Avidan asks.
Tifa put her head down to that question. "I don't know if you'd really call it a family, but we stick together."
"At least you guys have someone to look forward to everyday."
Tifa smiles. "Yeah. Anyway, we have to meet up with Vincent. Marlene can you look after the bar?"
"Always do!" Marlene's voice says cheerfully.
Tifa cleaned up after breakfast along with Avidan and Marlene. She then slipped on her gloves and Avidan loaded up his gun. They were going to run into monsters more likely while heading to Kalm, where Vincent settled. They made sure everything they had was there such as potions and ethers. The streets of Edge were quiet, not many wondered the streets as they left.
The way to Kalm through the wasteland and grassland to reach Kalm was strangely quiet. It made them both wonder what's been going on to have something like this to be calm. Just a moment after, Avidan stops walking, once again seeing the wolf he saw last night. Tifa saw what he was looking at and grew cautious. He stood there and put his arm out to have Tifa stop moving. The wolf slowly approached as Avidan reached his hand out. The wolf had smelled his hand and noticed it was the same person.
"Avidan, what are you doing?" Tifa's voice was filled with concern.
"Don't worry, I've seen the same one last night when I went for a walk. It's been following me ever since." Avidan replies.
Now with their new companion, the three continued to travel to Kalm. Vincent greeted them with a surprised look. He approached with nothing to really say at first. The air grew tense around them and unsettling to the point where they just had questions. All of them wanted answers.
"You must be here for a good reason." Vincent speaks, he looks over and Avidan and raised an eyebrow. "Well, long time no see Avidan. Any reason why you're here?"
"Cut the short talk Vincent. I've been out of the Turks for a while now. We're here to discuss what's going on. We're here to tell you an update."
"He's right Vince, Cloud and Alyssa are in some real turmoil now. Alyssa was rushed to the hospital just yesterday." Tifa cuts to the chase. "We need help to look into what Sephiroth did to her. Maybe a sort of drug, anything."
"I don't know why you're asking me, but we might as well go somewhere else to discuss this. This way we won't-"
"Be overheard?" A voice calls out. "Nothing is kept a real secret or real low anymore."
They see Nornaz now standing with them. "What are you doing here?" Avidan asks.
"Garrett is quite busy at the moment. There is something that all of you must know what Sephiroth did. Garrett found something out just last night. Only can time take our side."
"Once again... you were calling for me." Alyssa says with a calm voice.
"I have a good reason this time. I'm just glad you're recovering." Cloud responds. "But there's something I wish to know."
"... You don't remember how we first met? I'm remembering bits and pieces now. I don't understand, but many memories, fragments are starting to come back. I just couldn't really focus on one until just recently. I want to show you this... if that's fine with you."
Cloud wanted to know then. Most of all how they had this "connection". "Show me... show me what you remember."
The area around them seemed to melt. A reactor was forming around them; it was the reactor in Nibelheim. Metal cascets surrounded the area. It hadn't changed at all; nothing seemed to have since Cloud's last visit infact. They found themselves standing at the stairway, but as ghosts. The air changed with a split second, voices started echoing.
"What are you doing to your own daughter?" A voice screams.
"That doesn't matter, I can do whatever I want, and this will be a breakthrough for a great project!"
"Using someone this young should and is illegal."
Three people came rushing into the scene. A young and what seemed to be her dad along with Sephiroth. Alyssa said nothing as she laid sympathetic eyes on the scene. Cloud saw the look in Alyssa's eyes. He walks up to her, watching from her prospective. Something then told him that it came to one conclusion why Alyssa was acting like this while watching the scene.
"This... is what happened to you... isn't it?" Cloud's voice echoes through the illusion.
Right then, Sephiroth drew his sword. "Let her go... NOW. There's no reason for you to use her like this."
A couple of Shinra SOLDIERS rushed in right then. "Sephiroth, it is forbidden to interfere with these plans, you have to understand."
Sephiroth reseated his sword, only giving a look of disgust. He walks out with the SOLDIERS, knowing that if he would do something now, he would be stripped of his rank. Alyssa's dad, the figure wasn't clear, but it still showed a man with no face. He was carrying the little girl over to a spare casket. She was placed inside, unconscious even. Alyssa fell to her knees, seeing what was happening. A high buzzing noise entered her ears and she placed her hands on her head. Cloud continued watching in disbelief. The casket was the sealed shut by her own father... Cloud was in awe, only watching the horrifying scene. Blinking a few times, he watched her own father... kill her, use her at such an age...
When Cloud reached back to himself, he noticed Alyssa was now on the ground. "Alyssa!"
"I'm... all right...it's just hard on me, that's all."
"Well whatever you think, it's still effecting you. Don't show anymore if its-"
"How old is she?" A familiar voice asks.
Cloud looked around once more. It was Zack, he was now with Sephiroth, they were both looking at the casket that the little girl was in. His eyes grew surprised, Zack knew Alyssa too?
"Only four years. Her own father is doing this to her." Sephiroth explains, his voice sounding hurt.
"How inhuman..." Zack responds without another word.
The area then changed... it revealed the casket open and the young Cloud now lying on the ground. Hojo was there... overlooking him. His lips were moving, but nothing was said. Cloud was taken away with Zack who was half dead. The little girl seemed be different. There was now fangs growing out, sharp and white as well. Hojo walks up to her, examining her.
"Did Sephiroth break this one out?" Hojo asks.
A Shinra approaches him. "Yes, a valve like this could never be broken unless the sword of that kind..."
"No." Another voice interrupts. "It was that Buster Sword that Zack had that could have broke it."
Cloud felt his own heartbeat to this... A young voice called him. But who's? "Alyssa..." He whispered.
Alyssa saw how Cloud was reacting after she got back on her feet. "You're remembering too aren't you?"
"I... broke you out that day. Why?" Cloud felt outraged, but confused.
"I heard you call for me for the first time. You didn't know my name, but I knew you..." Alyssa was sounding strange by this time.
"Is that what we don't remember...?" Cloud now understood little by little now.
As Cloud spoke, his words started forming an image. "L..look." Alyssa says.
The young Cloud was in his Shinra suit, looking through the window and seeing the girl. Alyssa watched, memorized and Cloud grew interested. This was it... the memory that they couldn't remember. Zack was also there, but was managing to keep on guard. He was watching for anyone else. Cloud put his hand on the window of the glass... He was in deep thought. What was happening?
"Cloud, hurry, we don't want to be caught." Zack's voice sounded concerned and impatient.
The young Cloud said nothing; he met up with Zack after a while. They nodded at each other and left. The scene then melted. The walls, colors everything. Only Cloud was now standing there in the pure light once more with Alyssa. They were speechless. Not knowing what to really say. Alyssa walks up to the Cloud right then, giving a hug. Cloud felt her cold body, there was no warmth. But all she wanted was him to hold her. He wrapped his arms around her as well.
"So you were used for the Jenova Project? Is that how we're connected? But I saw...fangs." Cloud admits.
"My fangs come and go, I have to power over them like my father had. I was never... human."
"You should tell me more about it later, just get some rest now." Cloud whispers.
Cloud awakens in the hospital. Alyssa was still fast asleep, dreaming peacefully. His eyes grew questionable. It was just a dream... or maybe something else? No matter the reason, he didn't know. All he knew was that nothing seemed real anymore. He noticed that his hand was gripping Alyssa's tightly. Cloud sat up slowly, watching Alyssa in a deep sleep. He got startled; his cell phone was now ringing.
Cloud stands up, answering in a low voice, "Strife Delivery Service, you name it, we del- Tifa, is everything all right?"
"Cloud, we need to meet up, Nornaz is here. He has some information that may be shocking."
"Meet me at the hospital, there's something I have to explain as well." Cloud says briefly.
Cloud hung up, now looking at Alyssa again. The memory they both saw, that they were both sharing in the dream, was it real or just an illusion? He couldn't answer anything at the moment, but all he knew was that it had to do with the Jenova Project. Is this is what Garrett was talking about, for the fact that they were both used? But he mentioned something about The Reunion.
There was many things that needed to be answered still. Cloud then thought of the day of when Alyssa "saved him" she had told him that after Sephiroth was defeated and he was going to see her adoptive father. Thinking, Cloud couldn't draw up any conclusions. He needed to discuss it with the others to get more information.
He looked at Alyssa, something about her made him smile all of a sudden. Maybe it was for the fact they were together and she was being taken care of. Cloud thought of many reasons, but only one stuck with him. It was for a fact that he kept a promise that he made. Maybe if there was nothing left in Kalm for Alyssa... He could take her in; have her live a normal life. Continue her education and carry on the delivery service if she so wanted. Cloud gave a light laugh at his thoughts. It was starting to make him think, but at least he had a plan just in case no one else would take her in.
Cloud walks over to Alyssa and sits down in the chair. I'm surprised how strong she is... how much she's been through... everything. She's been through as much as I have. Cloud then noticed something on the table beside Alyssa. There was a picture of Cloud and herself. The picture still needed work, but Cloud saw them standing side-by-side. She was looking up at him while he was looking down at her with a smile. Cloud examined it more and noticed faint angel wings on his back, one was made to wrap around her, but couldn't tell because the picture wasn't finished.
Cloud left it; only knowing Alyssa would take it and finish it someday. By this time, Cloud knew that Alyssa trusted him and she WAS getting the support she needed. Don't worry Alyssa... everything will be ok. I'll be there for you... no matter what. I won't let anyone hurt you.