Cloud and Barret met Red at the door, which he was already pushing against. "It's locked."
"Stand back."
"Wait, listen!" Nanaki said, pressing his ear against the door. They heard something smacking the door weakly.
"Tifa…"
They heard something hit the dresser opposite the door and another hit the floor.
"Now, Barret!"
Barret launched himself at the door, snapping the wood and sending the door crashing into the adjacent wall.
Cloud rushed to Tifa's side where she now laid. He brushed her hair away from her face, and she opened her wine colored eyes. "You're… late."
"Are you okay?"
She sat up, taking a deep breath. She gingerly rubbed her throat, wincing slightly. He carefully moved her hair aside and frowned. A bruise had already begun to form, purple and blue slowly creeping into sight. He helped her up, looking around. "Under the bed."
He reached underneath it and pulled out her handheld. He picked up the audio recorder from the bed and sighed. They all headed outside to the vans, closing the door firmly behind them.
Tifa tried to break his flow of energy, but she couldn't. She watched as the room grew dimmer, and the thing in front of her blurred. She could feel him leering at her. She pooled her energy, waiting. She could faintly hear someone trying to open the door. She feebly hit the door with her palms, closing her eyes. She threw her energy at him, knocking him off-guard. He stumbled back into the dresser opposite them, and she dropped to the floor. She skid across the carpet, taking a deep breath. The door burst open, and he faded, leaving her alone for a brief second.
She closed her eyes, taking careful breaths of air. "Thank you, Minerva…"
Cid cursed, standing up quickly. He forced the woman into his chair he previously occupied and rambled away. "Why the hell would it-"
"Cid, calm down," Cloud said, handing Tifa's equipment to Yuffie. "Play it back."
The teen nodded, connecting it to the computer and swiftly rewinding it. She hit the play button and leaned back.
They watched as the door slammed shut and locked. They heard Tifa asking her questions, but what they saw next stunned them all to silence.
There was nothing there. It was like and invisible force picked the woman up and pinned her to the door. But when Tifa started to fall, something hit the dresser. They saw it rock back against the wall. They watched as she skid to a halt and remained there until Cloud rushed in.
"Wait, go back," Tifa whispered, pointing to a picture frame on top of the dresser. Yuffie replayed it again, biting her tongue. This time, they saw him, the long, silvery hair and tall, lithe build. "We got him," she muttered, sighing softly.
Yuffie grabbed the audio recorder and plugged it in, pulling it up on screen. She quickly scanned the sound waves, noting several anamolies. She played it, then turned it up.
"'Is it because you want them to suffer like you did?'"
"'Suffering is good," the deep, somewhat raspy voice shook them all.
"That's not it." She quickly highlighted another.
"'You die. Now.'"
Nanaki turned to Tifa, setting a hand on her arm. "Did you hear this?"
"Yes."
"Then he has enough energy to not only move objects, but to speak and physically manifest and attack. We need to get in there do a cleansing ritual," he told them, climbing out of the vehicle.
"Tifa, I want you to-"
"I won't stay out here, if that's what you're asking."
"Tifa-"
"No. You need me. I know when he's around. I can sense where he is. You need that."
"What if he-"
"He won't do that after what I did to him. He knows what I can do."
Cloud ran a hand through his hair, sighing. "I don't like this."
"You don't have to," she answered softly, following after the Native. "We have to end this, and I want to be there to witness it."
Cloud watched her as she helped Red prep the supplies. He glanced over at Yuffie, sighing. "Get ready."
She nodded, typing frantically. "All set. Be careful."
He nodded solemnly, climbing out after them. "Let's end this."
