Chapter Eight, Part Two- Enjoy! Thankyou to all reviewers!!!

Zack stared at the ragged man standing before him, holding the reins of a frightened black Chocobo that had wandered over the thin roof of their encampment, built completely of ice to

blend in with the snow. "You!" he shouted, unsheathing his Buster Sword. He leapt forward, holding Flint at sword- point. "Now what would a sneaky little bastard like you be doing in a

barren wasteland like this. It's in the middle of the plains for Gaia's sake!" He said in a seething voice. The Chocobo warked loudly. "Not more sabotage?" Flint put up his hands in

surrender, waving them franticly, "No! No, I need to talk to you!"

"You know we found out about your little stunt, stealing the Black Mako!" he said, shoving Flint to the ground. "We've been

searching for you for quite a time now."

Flint knew Zack would injure him, perhaps even kill him, before he got the chance, "Cloud's in trouble!" he shouted at the man, who continuously held the

Buster Sword at his neck.

"Don't think I'll fall for that you pathetic excuse for a human! You're the one who betrayed SOLDIER! You were working with those damned assassins, you killed everyone!" Zack shouted

over the now howling wind, coupled with the frantic screeching of the Chocobo, it was utter chaos, "You nearly killed Cloud in the process- and if you did manage to- if you had had killed

Cloud, you'd wish you'd never been born." He let the sword cut a small nick in the man's skin.

"I swear! I swear! It's true!" Zack lowered the sword slightly, "Who are you working for?" Flint screamed as Zack lifted the sword again. "Hojo!"

Zack frowned, "Hojo-" Flint managed to calm his shaking voice-

"He's the doctor, the doctor that took Cloud away!"

"But he said a SOLDIER contacted him- that was you wasn't it?"

Flint nodded, his hands blue from the cold.

"How long has this man had contact with Shinra?"

Flint shook his head, "I'm not sure, but I can take you to him- and Cloud."

Zack sheathed his sword, looking at the man's pale face, whose thin lips had begun to turn blue. "How long have you been traveling?"

"Three or four days. Fenrir was injured, and I didn't bring any materia, so I walked all day. I spent most of today searching the plains, trying to locate your camp."

Zack looked in the man's tired eyes. He's telling the truth. "I- believe you, but before we go to Cloud, you must eat and rest. You'll collapse if you go any further today. We'll leave first thing

in the morning."

Flint looked hesitant, "Cloud's condition isn't good, I suggest we leave right away. As much as I would enjoy having a decent meal and rest, he is truthfully not safe with Hojo."

Zack's face looked strained. Flint knew he wanted to leave as soon as possible, but also knew that Flint was seriously neglected, and in need food and sleep, for Fenrir especially, as the

Chocobo wouldn't make it much farther without food and healing.

Looking towards his distressed Chocobo, Zack went over to him, and circled his arms around its chest, heaving with a grunt, and pulling him clear of the ice. "As much as I would like to go

today, you and your Chocobo won't make it much farther in the condition you're in." he said, setting the Chocobo on the ground.

Flint shook his head. Not just anyone could lift a full grown Chocobo from a block of ice; yet not just anyone could wield a seven hundred pound sword either. He cast blizzaga over the

hole Fenrir had left, and the ice was restored.

"Follow me."

Cloud could only stare at the man. Well, literally, that's really all he could do- if he had had the power to do anything else, he would've been trying to escape, scream for help, do anything

other than just lie there like a rag doll, staring into the face of his captor, who stared back, with only a twitch of a smirk on his face. "I suppose you have realized you are not, in fact in a

hospital?" Cloud remained silent, motionless. A prisoner within his own body.

"You remember me yes?" the man said, pacing in front of the bed. Cloud blinked. "I'll take that as a yes." He blinked again.

"I believe we first met when I was administrating the vaccinations." Another blink. "I gave you a different one- do you remember?" Blink. "You know why?" Cloud just stared, his eyes

unmoving. The 'doctor' smirked, "Then I will tell you."

Sorry for the feeble length once again, but my back is killing me, and I need a break, but would like to post this chapter before I decide to change it.

Thanks for reading,

Lucifer