No warnings, they don't do much but talk in this chapter.

Chapter 8

She'd spent the next hour pacing her room, she wasn't sure exactly how much more of this she could take. Her heart was already hammering in her chest and they hadn't even left yet.

A knock at the door startled her out of her thoughts, "Aerith?" She sighed and walked over to the door.

"What?" she said.

"Can you open the door?" he asked. She leaned her forehead against it and sighed again.

"Don't you have work to do?" she asked. He seemed to have too much free time on his hands. The Honey Bee was a big place, surely there was some place for him to sweep up.

"I've been given the day off to prepare for a trip." he said, "I'll be leaving tomorrow morning with Don." Aerith opened the door quickly.

"What?" she asked.

"I'm leaving tomorrow, I know you don't really like me, but I wanted to tell you." he said. She felt her lips turn upwards but she stopped herself quickly. She had no business being happy for something like that. The last thing she needed was Zack coming and trying to make her feel better. It only ever made her feel horrible. "Geez, are you happy that I'm leaving?" he asked, "I didn't know I annoyed you that much!"

"No!" she looked up and saw the smile on his face, "I didn't mean-"

"Oh, I know. But would you mind telling me what's got you so happy?" he waltzed into the room and she closed the door. "It's because Don will be gone isn't it?" he asked.

"No, that's not it." She said, "He wants me to come too, I guess I'm just relieved that I won't be alone."

"Oh…" he said slowly.

"What?"

"Nothing! I just remembered I needed to go out and get a few things. Do you need anything?"

"Um…" Suddenly, her uniform became quite interesting. She pulled at the looses fibers and chewed her lip, "Um… Condoms." She wasn't sure if Don wanted them, he usually didn't, but she knew that he was always angry if she didn't have any when he did.

"Oh, right…" Zack nodded, "Anything you want? You know, for yourself?"

"I don't know if he'll let me bring anything. You know how he is." she mumbled, "But how about… I want to come with you."

"Aerith, you aren't allowed outside… are you?" Zack crossed his arms, "I never see any of the girls leave."

"He said that if we ever tried to escape we'd be found and punished." She explained, "But I'm not escaping, I just want to get out of this place for a moment."

"It's risky, the last thing I want is for you to get in trouble." He started to walk towards the door, "I'll try to sneak you some treats."

"No! Zack, please… I can't stay in this room another minute." she pleaded, "I have the day off, he won't even notice." She watched as he thought it over, his eyes brows knitting together in concentration. He looked conflicted and she almost felt guilty, she knew that he wouldn't say no, he was too nice.

"Alright, but only for a moment." he said, "Bring a coat, alright?"

"I don't have one," she said, "The men who… they took it…"

"They- Alright, I'll get you one. Try to get some sleep, I'll be here in a few minutes." She nodded and closed the door after him before crawling into bed. She felt a little happy, but that still wasn't saying much, she was miserable, but she'd finally get a much needed break. She'd be able to clear her mind and maybe think of a way to contact her family.

It was risky to think like that, just trying would get her punished. But it would be worth it, if she could call her mother and let her know where she was… Anything that happened afterwards would be worth it.

"Aerith?" ZAck returned, "Are you ready?"

"Yes," she sat up.

"Did you sleep at all?" he handed her the coat and she wrapped it around herself.

"Only a little." she said. Zack stood and stared for a moment, "What?"

"Well…"

"Zack, you're making me uncomfortable, what is it?"

"Oh! Sorry!" he looked awya, "It's just, do you have any pants? It's pretty cold out today and I don't want you to freeze." They both started towards the exit anyway.

"It isn't that cold is it?" she asked. The last time she'd been outside, she'd only needed a light jacket. But this was an entirely different country and she hadn't been out in a long time. They exited the building and she automatically felt the difference, it was freezing and all she was wearing under the long coat was a bumble bee leotard and dark tights. She said nothing as they walked down the driveway and were stopped by the guards at the gate.

"Well now, if it isn't the little Bee that Don has been bragging about." the first guard said, "I've heard a lot about you." She didn't reply as the guard looked to Zack, "Heading out?"

"Yes, we need to pick up a few things, We'll be back at 6." Zack said calmly.

"Does Don know you're taking his girl out for a spin?" the other guard spoke up.

"We aren't doing anything like that." Aerith said, "We just need to go shopping."

"Don has given us permission to go out." Zack lied, "He gave us the day off to prepare for his trip tomorrow."

The first guard nodded, "I see."

"What trip?" asked the other guard, "I wasn't told about a trip." The first guard answered in German and the other nodded quickly before looking to her and smiling.

"To his home?" He questioned, "Oh, little girl he is going to destroy you."

"We have a lot to do." Zack grabbed her hand and led her away. Aerith's heart raced as she heard the guards laughing behind her.

"Zack?" she tried to slow him down but he just sped up, "Zack!"

"Yeah?"

"Is he… Were they telling the truth?" She asked. She knew very well that Don was capable of hurting someone, he'd done it numerous times to the girls when they misbehaved. She even recalled her time being punished when she'd first arrived. It had been painful, but he'd told her that there was only so much he could do to her. He didn't need his products to be scarred. "Is he really going to hurt me?"

"I…" He slowed down, "I'm sorry, but he will. He likes that kind of stuff, but maybe…" he trailed off

"Maybe what?"

"Maybe someone could help… It's risky but..."

"What are you talking about?" she murmured, she felt her face heat up.

"A friend, I met him a while ago while running errands." he said, "I think he lives in Italy, maybe I could call him." Zack let go of her hand and placed his hands on her shoulder, "Aerith, please don't cry…" But how could she not? She was terrified of her future and she was sure that ZAck didn't understand. There was no way she could go through weeks of that type of abuse...

"I'm sorry…" she wiped her eyes and sniffled.

"Calm down, You won't be alone in this, okay? I'll be there whenever you need me." He gave her a hug. Aerith looked back towards the Honey Bee, it was pretty far away.

"Zack, hvae you ever considered… escaping?" He wasn't big, but he was still bigger the Don. "You looked like you could handle those security guards." they began walking again, "Why don't you?"

"For one, they have guns." he said, "And the kids, they're young and they depend on me."

"But now you'll be in Italy for a few weeks." she said, "Maybe-

"Aerith, don't." he sighed, "Look," he pointed, "This is a Diner, an American diner."

"I thought we were shopping." she noticed his quick attempt at a subject change and let the subject drop.

"We are, after this." he led her inside and she felt relieved. It was warm and smelled wonderful. It was much different than the usual alcohol and cologne she usually smelled. "You're hungry right?"

"Zack, we just went through this." she said, "I couldn't even eat the cake."

"You haven't been eating right, Don never makes sure anybody does." Zack sighed, "I'll think it'll be better if you have something familiar."

"American food isn't really familiar." she said. It would only make her think of her home. "I don't think it would help."

"But you have to try it." He led her to a booth and they sat down, "If you can't then it'll be fine, we'll just sit here and let you warm up."

"Alritght." she leaned back into the corner of the booth, "I don't like it here." she could feel people staring at her. The families and staff. Maybe they noticed her clothes, although they wouldn't be able to see it under the coat, maybe they all just knew she worked for Don.

A woamn walked up to the booth and smiled. "Wie Geht's Zack!"

"I'm doing fine Elsa, how are you?"

"Oh you know, the same." she smiled, "Who is this?" Aerith sat up immediately.

"This is my friend Aerith." ZAck said, "Aerith, this is Elsa."

"Nice to meet you." Aerith said quietly.

"Oh my! She's so skinny." Elsa said, "How about a cheeseburger? Made with American cheese!"

"Actually Elsa, She isn't feeling well. I think soup will be better." ZAck said.

"Of course, we have minestrone and chicken noodle." Elsa said, "Which one will you like?"

"Um… Chicken noodle." Aerith answered.

"Alright, and the usual for you, Zack?"

"Yeah." Zack nodded Elsa wrote down their order and left them alone. Zack looked back to Aerith, "Hey, are you feeling sick?"

"No, just tired." she said. There was also a burning feeling n her stomach, but that had been happening since the beginning of the entire ordeal. She didn't know what it meant, but she was sure that if she could have a moment to herself, it would stop.

"Well, I know you don't get to go out much, but there's a lot of cool places around here." Zack said, "It's a tourist spot, so most people here speak english."

"Is what Don does… is that legal here?" Aerith asked.

"Brothels are legal. That;s what he runs, but he's not hiring girls like any other brothel. He's buying them. Thats the illegal part." Zack said.

"All those girls?" Aerith wondered aloud. Had Don always had the money to do this? Surely people were expensive, how could he afford so much?

"Some come volluntarily. They live in the floor below you." Zack said. Aerith recalled the women from the first day. They lived differently, coming and going freely and even getting paid more than her. They hardly ever crossed paths and when they did, they turned their noses up at her as if she wasn't being forced to do what they were doing willingly.

"But why?" she asked, "Who would put themselves through this?"

"It's different, when they pick their own clients and set their own schedules. I don't really know…" Zack said, "But can we not talk about that?"

"Sure." she shrugged, "What else is around here?"

"There's a japanese place, although the food tastes funny to me." Zack said, "A few gift shops, a movie theater and public gardens."

"Have you been to any of them?" Aerith asked.

"No, they're all really expensive." he said, "I don't make nearly enough for that."

"Is this… Do you have enough for our food?"

"I made sure I did." Zack laughed, "Calm down." Aerith hadn't even noticed that she was getting nervous again, "Today is your day off, don't let yourself panic over nothing."

"Nothing?"

"Well, okay. Not nothing." Zack corrected, "Just don't get to nervous, try to relax. Let yourself go."

"I can't let myself go like you, Zack." Aerith said, "I'll get in trouble."

"I know but…" he sighed as Elsa arrived with their food, "You know, um, Tifa… I think she has a crush on Cloud." Aerith perked up. She remembered Cloud, he was younger then Zack by a year or two, but he took a liking to Tifa the moment she arrived.

He never actually spoke to her, in fact, they both did their best to avoid each other. But there was obvious chemistry between them, and in a different setting they might have been friends. "Cloud si adorable." she said, "I think they make a cute couple."

"Adorable?" Zack took a bite of hus burger, "I've never heard you talk like that." Aerith shrugged and picked up her spoon, "Really, you should have a burger, it has a lot more protein then anything you've eaten so far."

"I'm fine." the soup was wonderful. It was nothing like what her mother made at home, it was more artificial then anything, but it was nice. "I used to make soup with my mom." she said suddenly.

"I didn't help my mom, but I know I ate anything she made." Zack said, "She was a good cook."

"You've been here a lot longer then I have, how do you manage it?" she whispered, "Do you miss her?"

"You know, I sent her a postcard, a long time ago… and I was kind of hoping that she would send help…" he sighed, "But all I got was an angry reply. She thought it was some sort of joke. And then Don found out that I sent a letter out and I got in trouble…" Zack looked up and chuckled, "Oh, but that's not what you asked is it? Yeah, I miss her a lot."

"Sorry, I-"

"Don't be sorry. It's okay to share those kinds of things with friends." Zack took another bite of his food, "We'll actually be going shopping before the garden, but stay close okay? Some of these men are perverts and-"

"Zack, you don't need to tell me about those men, half of them are customers." she reminded.

"Right sorry." he finished his burger.

"It's fine." She ate another spoonful of soup, "Another question, how is it that you're so cheerful? I mean, the kids like you because of that and you always laugh even when things aren't funny."

"What?"

"You always smile and try to cheer other people up." she said, "How do you do it?"

"I don't know." Zack shrugged, "But hey, you're talking a lot more than usual. Maybe you did need to come outside."

"Yeah." a yawn escaped her lips and she hurried to finish her soup, "We should hurry." she said. Maybe soup hadn't been a good idea, she was feeling a lot sleepier then she was before."

"Alright then. No dessert for us." he waved down the waitress and paid the bill, "We should get you back."

"No, we haven't even gone to the gardens and I don't want to go back yet." she said. Zack nodded and they both left the diner. The cold seemed to wake her up a bit, but she was still drowsy. "How far?"

"Pretty far, and you won't make it in that." he said, "But I think we can buy you pants at the store."

"Yeah, let's hurry." She took his hand and let him lead her to the next shop.

0.o.0.o.0

Still don't know how to end things. :P