To Barrett and Red XIII, it felt like they had been waiting outside for an eternity. Nothing stirred in the tunnel before them, the only sound coming from within being the faint and continuous hum that stopped them from daring to venture inside.
"Man, we oughta be doing something, instead of just sitting here, sprouting roots like daisies!" complained Barrett. Red XIII sat back on his haunches, ready to wait as long as was necessary. He was staring into the tunnel intensely, his face expectant and hopeful.
"I say we go in there and…………."
"I say……shut up!" Red XIII growled softly. Barrett let a few rounds of ammunition off in frustration, aimlessly firing his gun arm up into the mountains. Red XIII sighed. He could do without the big man losing his temper. Barrett flared up again, once he was done firing off his arm.
"What if the kid needs us?" he began. "What if……………"
"Sshhhhhh"
Barrett was taken aback. He stopped shouting and turned to gawk at Red XIII, who had risen and was craning his head and neck forward, leaning inwards towards the entrance of the tunnel. "Listen," he instructed. Barrett listened, trying to hear what it was that the animal had heard.
"I don't hear anything," he said.
"Precisely. It's gone quiet……too quiet!" Red XIII answered, before bounding into the hole.
It took Barrett a few seconds before he realized what Red XIII had been talking about. The humming had stopped! He tilted his head sideways, checking and re-checking that he wasn't mistaken, making absolutely certain he couldn't hear it any more, before he too chased down into the darkened tunnel.
"Hey, not so fast!" he yelled, running after his friend.
Red XIII was a little way in front, and he stopped and waited for Barrett to catch up before continuing onwards, deeper down into the darkness.
"Do you think Sephiroth has killed the girl already?" Barrett asked, nervously.
"I would like to think so, yes," Red XIII replied. "But…………"
"BUT? Why must there always be a 'but'?" Barrett moaned.
Before Red XIII could response to his outburst, they came upon the crumpled form of Vincent, laying slumped and unmoving upon the dirt floor. They ran to him, their concern for him deepening as they saw that he had blood upon him, streaked over his face, as if someone had wiped bloodied fingers across his cheeks.
Barrett checked him over, but could find no reason for the blood. There were no cuts or wounds upon the unconscious man.
"Well, he's alive, at least for the moment," he retorted.
They looked further down the tunnel, to where they knew Sephiroth would be.
"Should we…….." Barrett started.
"No, he can take care of himself. Lets get Vincent out to safety, we don't know when that infernal noise will start up again," Red XIII answered.
Not needing to be told twice, Barrett hoisted the heavy body of Vincent over his shoulder, and they quickly made their way back outside, neither of them aware of the unseen presence with pained violet eyes, silently following behind them.