Bought For Slavery
Chapter 3
Cloud parked his bike in the parking lot. He didn't want to look too suspicious. He went to the front of the building and rang the bell. He looked over at the plaque. It read "Orphanage."
An old woman opened the door. "Hello Cloud. How are you?" she asked. "Good. Marlene around?" he asked. "Yes, she's over in the rec. room," she said as she closed the door and led Cloud in.
All the older girls swooned over him. It was natural. Every girl thought Cloud was handsome. Ignoring the girls, Cloud spotted Marlene sitting alone in the corner coloring. Marlene sensed someone approaching. She looked up and to her delight, she saw Cloud.
"Cloud!" she yelled. She jumped up and threw her little body on his in a tight hug. "Miss me?" he asked. "Yes," said the little 6 year old. Cloud looked around. "Where's Denzel?" he asked.
Marlene's happy face disappeared. A very sorrowful one took it's place. "He's gone. Some men took him," she said. Cloud took Marlene to another secluded room. "What do you mean? He was adopted?" he asked.
Marlene shook her head no. "If you want to cal it that. 4 white haired guys took him," said Marlene. After hearing that, whatever was left of Cloud's world was shattered. "Listen Marlene, you're not safe here. I'm going to take you somewhere else. Somewhere you'll be protected," said Cloud.
He stood up with Marlene's hand in his. They snuck out of the orphanage careful not to draw attention to themselves. The old woman didn't even notice they had left.
Cloud and Marlene went up to the cabins where Cloud had some friends who were VERY capable of protecting Marlene. There was Rude and Reno, two bodyguards of a guy named Rufus Shinra. The 3 of them could protect Marlene no problem, but the question was would they?
Once at the cabins, Marlene hid behind Cloud. She was obviously shy, but she warmed up to Reno in a heartbeat. Cloud knew she would be safe there. Cloud headed towards the door, but Marlene's voice caught his ear.
"Cloud! What is going on? Where's Denzel? Is he alright?" she asked. Cloud sighed. "I think it would be better if she knew," said Rufus. "I agree," said Rude.
Cloud looked at the 4 of them. "Denzel is in custody of the 4 silver haired men who killed Aerith. He is in grave danger. I've got to save him," said Cloud.
"Do you have a plan?" asked Rude. "I'm going to wing it," said Cloud. "You're going to risk Denzel's life?" asked Reno. "I'll be careful," said Cloud. Marlene was about to retaliate, but Cloud was pout the door and on the road in a whisk of air.
Marlene felt her cheeks were wet. She was crying. Rufus picked her up and put her on his lap while soothing her. "It's ok little one. Cloud will return with Denzel," said Rufus.
Denzel wept on his bed in the basement. It was night out. he had woke up from his sleep. His pillow was wet. The poor helpless boy had cried in his sleep. Flipping the pillow over, he tried to go back to sleep.
Shivering from the coldness of the basement made it hard. Denzel heard rumbling in the distance. It was coming from outside. Denzel looked out the basement window right up form his bed. Nothing met his eyes except darkness.
Then a huge flash of lightning sent Denzel towering backwards onto his bed. Lightning had always scared him. It was raining that night that his parents were killed in a car crash
Denzel wanted to hide, but there was no where to hide. Denzel curled up on top of his bed while listening to the pitter patter of raindrops on his window.
Click. Clatter. Denzel shot his eyes open after hearing something above his head. What was that? Click. Denzel didn't move. He kept still and shut his eyes. He had to pretend like he was still sleeping.
The window had opened. Denzel heard someone climbing down. He felt raindrops on his head. He wanted to run away, but his body didn't obey.
Denzel heard the window being shut. He knew there was someone else in the room with him.
Cloud looked down at the boy on the bed. He was malnourished, cut, and swollen.
Denzel couldn't take it anymore. He bolted up from bed and ran past the intruder. Denzel felt his arm being caught. A hand slithered up to his mouth to stop him from screaming. He felt himself against a chest. All Denzel could see was black.
"It's ok. I'm here to help," said Cloud. Denzel's eyes shot open. "Cloud?" he asked. His voice was muffled. "It's me. Cloud," he said.
Denzel was overjoyed. Cloud let him go, knowing he'd be silent. Denzel looked up at the figure he had know for so long. Lightning flashed and Denzel saw all of Cloud standing there like a hero, which in Denzel's eyes he was.
As soon as it was dark again, Denzel threw his body on top of Cloud. Cloud caught the small figure and gladly accepted the hug. He heard sobs coming from Denzel's mouth.
Cloud sat down on the bed, holding a weeping sobbing Denzel in his arms. "It's ok. Just be quiet," said Cloud. Denzel continued to cry while Cloud kept looking at the door, making sure the 4 monsters upstairs didn't hear.