A/N: Hello Redneck: I changed the A/N at the beginning of this story. I don't want to seem like I'm flaunting my Christianity like a medal or a badge. I'm very sorry if it came out that way. Thank you for pointing out that not everyone thinks just saying you're a Christian is a sound excuse for not doing something. And yes, the Bible does seem like it is full of contridictions to someone who does not study it faithfully and have the Holy Spirit to guide them. Trust me, when I first became a Christian I had lots of questions about stuff like that. And about David and Jonathan, I guess you haven't heard of brotherly love among best friends. That's how I always interpeted it. And I believe that is the right way to interpet their relationship. Btw, if you want to continue this discussion, could you please leave an email address or something where we can talk without me having to make a A/N every chapter. Thanks :-P
CelestialNomad Thanks for the compliment. :-D although a lot of the credit goes to a good friend of mine, Marrim, for she was the one who answered my numerous questions about FFVII: AC.
You're awesome Marrim! W00t! W00t :-P
Thanks for all the reviews guys. :-D I'm glad you all like it.
Chapter 2/Confusion
Marlene clutched tightly to Kadaj as he sped through Edge on his motorcycle. The young man did not seem to notice her. Houses whizzed by so quickly, Marlene had to close her eyes to keep from getting dizzy. She considered crying out for help, but knew it was too late for anyone to hear her and she did not want to get Kadaj angry. A small whimper escaped her stiff lips as she thought of the family she might never see again. She was also confused as to how Kadaj could still be alive. Cloud had told her that the boy had died. Had Cloud lied to her?
Marlene pressed closer against Kadaj's chest to keep from falling off as he made a sharp turn. The wind was chilly as it swept by. She glanced up at his face. His expression was grim and full of concentration. In the soft light of the street lamps, Marlene noticed that his skin seemed to gleam faintly. Lifting a hand she hesitantly touched his cheek. She drew away quickly, cowering slightly under Kadaj's annoyed look. Once the youth faced forward again, the girl examined her fingers. They felt strangely cold, as if she had just touched icy metal. She breathed on them slowly and then started in surprise when the neck in front of her suddenly was covered with a thin frost.
Before Marlene could ask the question that had appeared on the tip of her tongue, Kadaj halted the bike. Looking both ways in a furtive manner, he roughly dragged the girl off the motorcycle and started pulling her towards a large warehouse. He punched in a code at the door and pushed her inside. Marlene cried out in fear as the door started to close.
"Wait!" she called in a small voice. "Don't leave me alone in the dark."
The door stopped closing. A gloved hand reached in and felt the wall in front of her. Finding a light switch, the hand flipped it and the warehouse flooded with light uncovering piles of wooden and metal crates scattered about the room.
"There," said a voice from the other side of the door. "Now you'll be alone in the light."
Marlene heard a snicker and then the door closed. She backed up slowly until her back hit a large crate. Crouching next to it, the young girl covered her face and started to cry.
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Denzel watched Cloud suit up in his armor with wide eyes. He was glad his hero would be going to save Marlene, but he also knew how dangerous Kadaj was. The boy could tell Tifa was worried for Cloud and that just made him all the more anxious. He gave Cloud a quick hug as a goodbye then ran to his room. He did not want Cloud to see him cry.
Cloud himself was not completely sure why he was going. He figured he would just go, get Marlene, and then get out. He would leave the fighting for another time, or leave it to Shinra all together. Cloud made his way towards the door of Seventh Heaven. Tifa placed a hand on his shoulder. When he turned around he saw she had placed her fighting gloves on. Cloud guessed instantly what was going on and hastened to stop her.
"Tifa—"
The girl did not let him finish. "I'm coming with you." She said in a voice that demanded no arguments.
Cloud did not speak for a moment. "What about Denzel?"
Tifa smiled. "Yuffie, of course."
"Of course," Cloud muttered. He could see there would be no persuading Tifa to stay so he just nodded and led the way to Fenrir. He leaped on and Tifa followed. Smiling slightly as her arms wrapped around his waist, Cloud gunned the engine and took off.
While Cloud was driving, Tifa unhooked her cell phone and called an old friend.
"Vincent? This is Tifa. Listen, I don't have time to explain but Cloud and I are looking for Marlene. She was kidnapped by Kadaj." She paused, listening. "Yes, I know Kadaj is supposed to be dead. Like I said, I don't have time to explain. Could you meet us at the monument? Thanks." She hung up and dialed another number. "Barret? Listen, this is Tifa. Now don't freak out, but Marlene has been kidnapped." Tifa held the phone away from her ear and Cloud could hear the man yelling over the noise of the engine. Tifa tentatively brought the phone back to answer Barret Wallace's shouts. "Barret! I can't explain right now. Get Cid and meet us at the monument."
"The monument?" Cloud yelled over his shoulder.
"Of course! We can't find Kadaj on our own. We don't even know where to look!"
Cloud saw the reason in this conclusion and turned towards the center of Edge. Rufus Shinra had rebuilt the large monument that had been destroyed by Bahamut SHIN and had dedicated it to the survivors of Geostigma in his effort to rebuild the city after Kadaj and his brothers had been defeated. When Cloud pulled up next to it he saw that Vincent was already there. Tifa jumped off Fenrir and greeted the tall, mysterious man. Cloud followed slowly.
Barret and Cid arrived soon after. After Cloud had explained the situation to them, Barret wanted to get moving right away and appeared to be in the mood to kill anyone in his way. Thankfully Tifa reminded him that if they just stormed in on Kadaj, the youth could very well kill Marlene instantly. That calmed the man down somewhat on the outside but anger and impatience emanated off of him in waves.
"Do you think we could bluff our way past him?" Cid asked. "Bring him fake Jenova cells or something?"
Cloud frowned. "It might work, but I don't want to underestimate him. He's dangerous."
The group exchanged grim glances. Cid spoke up again.
"So how are we going to find the ---- thing?"
Cloud looked thoughtful. "He wants me to give him the Jenova cells in three days. If we can wait that long I have a feeling Kadaj will find us."
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Marlene had been in the warehouse for a few hours when Kadaj returned. Scooping her up quickly in his arms he carried her to his motorcycle without a word. He started the engine and sped away from the warehouse and out into the outskirts of Midgar. Marlene did not know how long she spent on the bike. She felt herself falling asleep against her captor's chest. When she opened her eyes she was being lifted onto a hard surface. Looking around she noticed that Kadaj had placed her on an island in the middle of a lake that looked very familiar . . .
Kadaj smirked down at her. "Do you remember this place, little one? We formed some fond memories here, didn't we?"
Marlene shrunk against the large ruins of a once grand monument. She remembered this place very well. It was the place Kadaj's brother had brought here when they tricked the kids with Geostigma to drink the water that made them like the silver-haired brothers. She shivered beside the stone, hugging herself as Kadaj knelt to look in her eyes.
"Don't worry, small one," he said in a voice that could have been interpreted as either gentle or menacing. "Once Big Brother gives us Mother, everything will be alright. If he doesn't, well, I like playing don't you?"
Marlene could not answer. She cowered next to the monument, shaking as Kadaj's laughter echoed across the Forgotten Capital of the Ancients.