I do not own anything nor do I make any money from this story. All rights apply.
The Price of Freedom – Those Who Accept the Protection of the Stars
Something hit Zack on the arm causing him to wake with jolt. The sky was light but the sun hadn't risen yet. Looking round he saw Cloud had fallen over. Zack stared at him dumbly for a second – had he moved? But he was still in the same position he fell asleep in. Why had Cloud fallen? Had Cloud moved? Was he waking up? Zack scrabbled to his feet.
"Cloud?" he called as he pulled Cloud into an upright position.
But there was no response. Zack swallowed his disappointment. They should have been on the road already, the sun was nearly up. He hauled Cloud to his feet and started to walk but unlike yesterday when Cloud would stumble along beside him, he remained limp hanging off Zack's shoulder like a damp dishcloth.
"Shit," swore Zack.
He lay Cloud back on the ground and checked his breathing. He was still breathing – deep and even, his heart was still beating - steadily. His eyes were still closed though. Did that mean he was sleeping? Zack frowned. What did he do now? How far could he carry Cloud? He looked back at Nibelheim, just making out the outlines of the town as the sky lighten further.
"Shit," he swore again.
They could not stay where they were. Not only did they have no cover, they were too close to Nibelheim. With some effort he managed to secure Cloud on his back along with the Buster Sword. It was awkward but not impossible, he stood unsteadily for a few moments while he became accustomed to the additional weight. Taking a deep breath he began to walk. There was nothing out there but bare rock and hard packed sand. They would be visible for miles – trudging along out in the open. But then, it wasn't as if they had much in the way of choices. The sun was well into the sky before Zack found an area suitable to rest – a collection of out cropping rocks that still cast a decent shadow from the rising sun. Zack gently lowered Cloud to the ground, careful to keep him upright. He smiled when he saw that Cloud's eyes were open.
"Hey," he said. "How are you feeling?"
Nothing. Zack took Cloud's head in both hands looking him straight in the eye.
"Can you hear me?" he asked clearly. "Cloud?"
He kept smiling even though nothing happened.
"We're going to take a break here, okay?"
Zack still waited for a response, it was an automatic reaction. Realising he wasn't going to get one, he nodded slowly before sitting himself next to Cloud. He felt like he had done a serious round of training followed by a mission after three days of no sleep. He tilted his head back against the rock and closed his eyes. He wasn't doing nearly as well as he would like or remembered himself doing in the past. He was tired, his muscles protested – how long since he last used them? It must have been months. He took a couple of deep breaths in an effort to relax and focus his mind. He needed a plan of action. They couldn't wonder around aimlessly forever. Firstly they needed food and water. They would also need money or a way to earn some money. A place to stay would be good as well. But before all that they needed to be away from Nibelheim. Thoughts rattled around his mind keeping him from any sleep, half baked plans and outlandish solutions. He dozed fitfully for about an hour before deciding it was time to go again. His thoughts strayed to pain and fear when left to wander alone. He didn't need those memories, now or ever.
He opened his eyes and cast a glance at Cloud, no change. Okay, he thought, leave that for now. Direction. They needed a direction. Getting to his feet he clambered up the outcrop and looked in around. There wasn't much but there was a copse of trees and brush about two hours away. Zack wasn't sure about water but he was sure they could find something to eat there. Decided, he jumped down. He was pleased when he got Cloud to his feet that the blond stumbled along beside him. He had to keep Cloud upright but it was easier than carrying him. He wasn't so sure it was quicker though.
"Right," he said with a grin. "Let's go, Spiky."
XxX
Zack stared intently at farmhouse for some time trying to decide how many people were around. The wind rustled the leaves of the copse where he was hiding – a little oasis of low growing trees and grasses, and out of season berry bushes. The sun had passed overhead beginning its decent to night. At length he decided there was one person on the chocobo farm. He had seen a woman make her way to the chocobo stables to let them out. Once in the paddock she checked them over for injuries, fussing over the younger ones before returning to the house. There had been no other movement for nearly two hours. The house itself was fairly large, Zack guessed it could house at least six people. It was old but well maintained.
"What do you think, Spiky?" he asked under his breath.
The copse had yielded nothing in the way of foodstuff but as Zack had searched he had spotted the chocobo farm. Zack would have loved to rest up for the night, eat a decent meal but it had only been some hours since they escaped that awful mansion. Zack shuddered at the thought but shook his head, he had to keep it together. He wasn't alone in this and he needed to be strong. Not just for himself but for Cloud as well.
Zack's attention left the farm and turned to Cloud checking the blond was still where he left him, carefully hidden in the brush. Zack crawled back to his side and check him over again. Still no response to any stimuli, still the vacant stare – blinking and breathing was all he did.
"I don't want to leave you here by yourself," said Zack. "But I don't know if I can trust the lady on the farm, ya know."
Zack gazed at the farm again. He had no choice, they needed supplies.
"Okay," he said ruffling Cloud's hair. "I'll be back soon."
Zack was halfway to the farm when the woman came out again, she spotted Zack immediately. It wasn't hard, there was nothing around the farm and Zack wasn't trying to be sneaky. He walked confidently, hopefully giving off an aura of being at ease and unhurried. He raised his hand in greeting as he approached the farm. The women waited patiently for him, mildly curious but no hostility in her face or stance.
Once in hearing distance, Zack raised his hand again and yelled hello. The woman half raised her hand in return quite obviously curious now.
"Hi," said Zack again as he got closer. How to start, he wondered. What to say? "I… I'm looking for some supplies."
"What sort of supplies?" asked the woman looking at him closely.
"Oh, food and water," said Zack cursing his stupidity. "I don't have any money but I can work for the supplies."
"Work?" the woman looked Zack up and down. He was suddenly very conscious of his physical appearance, his clear fighting abilities and his distinctive blue eyes.
"I don't have any experience with a chocobo farm but I can fix things," he said quickly. I hope…
"Are you a deserter?" she asked boldly, her stance a little more rigid than before.
"No," said Zack with feeling. He had been deserted, betrayed – for a moment all the hurt welled to the surface.
The women nodded with understanding. She studied Zack for a long time, past what was comfortable.
"I will help you," she said at length, "but you have to tell me the truth."
Zack tensed at her words. Had he made a mistake?
"I know you are SOLDIER," she started, "I know you are running from ShinRa, I don't know why - I don't care. My son… ShinRa…"
"I'm sorry," whispered Zack meaning it, knowing how she must feel.
The woman took a calming breath.
"Who is in the copse?" she asked changing the subject.
Without thinking Zack turned to look at the copse that sheltered Cloud. Realising what he was doing he turned back.
"How did you know?" he asked, feeling a little embarrassed at his rookie mistake.
"You kept looking back as you were walking over," she said. "I thought you might be trying to steal the chocobo."
Zack gave a slow nod in understanding.
"You're not the only weary one," she said with a smile. "My name is Alice."
"Hello Alice, I'm Zack. My friend is very ill, I didn't know if I could trust you - sorry," said Zack.
Alice smiled, there was a touch of sadness to it. As if she remembered a time when trust was a more ready emotion.
"Okay, work," she said. "Fix things, you say? Well, I have a wagon that needs some work."
"A wagon?" Zack's voice caught for a moment. "I can fix wagons," he said nodding.
"I will give you some supplies if you fix my wagon," said Alice. "And your friend doesn't need to stay among the trees."
"Thank you," said Zack with a grin. "I'll be back shortly."
Alice watched Zack jog back to the tree line wondering why he hadn't just signalled to his friend. He must be quite ill. For a moment she was lost in the memory of a dark haired boy running after his father but shook herself free of the past. People can only go forward.
Zack couldn't help feeling a little lighter as he jogged back to Cloud. Their luck was holding. Alice could just as easily turned them away or alerted ShinRa. Zack slowed to a walk as he entered the trees, his brow furrowed – what was preventing her from doing just that while he was out of sight?
"Hey, Cloud," he said as he crouched down. "We're in luck."
Zack rocked back, sitting on the ground. Suddenly having no desire to move from the leafy shade of the trees.
"What do you think, Spike? Can we trust her?"
Zack watched Cloud blink, his blue eyes focused on nothing. His face expressionless and unmoving. The lightness he had been feeling disappeared leaving Zack feeling heavy with uncertainty. Cloud was completely at the mercy of Zack's decisions. If Zack decided to leave him, he would die slowly under the brush, hidden from view. If Zack took him to the farm and Alice betrayed them, they would be back in the mansion by nightfall. And if Alice didn't betray them, would they still be safe? Was he setting Cloud and himself on a path of flight only to never reach Midgar at all? Midgar? Why had he thought of Midgar? But as he thought about it, Midgar was the ideal place. Anyone and everyone was accepted in Midgar, it was easy to hide in the Slums, there was work for those willing to put in the effort. And he knew of one place he would dearly love to be, one smile he ached to see, a voice longing to hear.
"Spike," said Zack with a grin. "We are going to Midgar."
As Zack lifted Cloud into a sitting position, a groan escaped the blond's lips.
"Cloud?"
Zack hastily scrambled to get in front of Cloud, looking intently in his eyes. But there was nothing. Either Cloud was in pain or the sound was air escaping in a rush from the sudden movement. Either way it was something.
"Well, I'm taking that as an agreement," said Zack as he got Cloud to his feet and started back toward the chocobo farm.
Alice wasn't outside when Zack returned with Cloud but the front door was open.
"Hello," called Zack as he stepped inside.
After a moment, he heard footsteps coming from above and soon Alice was walking down the stairs.
"I've prepared my son's room for you," she said, her gaze lingering on Cloud. "It's upstairs."
"Thanks," said Zack. "You didn't have to go through all that effort."
"It's no effort," said Alice.
Zack got the impression that helping them gave her something to do. He remembered how she had fussed over the chocobo in the paddock. He suddenly wondered if she was alone.
"What's wrong with him?" asked Alice drawing Zack out of his thoughts.
"Mako poisoning," said Zack as he made painfully slow progress up the stairs. He was almost at the top before he realised what he had said. Mako wasn't all that readily available. People would question mako poisoning. He swore under his breath, what was the matter with him, blurting the truth to strangers. He was going to have to come up with an excuse and a plausible one.
The room Alice steered Zack toward held two single beds, a cupboard and a table under the window. Bedding had been placed on the one bed and the window was open but the room still had a closed up smell.
"This was my son's room," said Alice. "It hasn't been used in a while."
"Thank you," murmured Zack as he settled Cloud on the nearest bed.
"Rest up here, Spike," said Zack as he made sure Cloud was comfortable. "I'll be back in a bit."
He turned to see Alice in the doorway watching him.
"Spike a nickname?" she asked somewhat distractedly.
"Yeah," said Zack. "He's name's Cloud."
Again with the truth just straight out there. She stood looking at him for a moment before smiling suddenly and, Zack couldn't help noticing, sadly. Alice quickly turned and left, leaving Zack in the room staring after her. He knew why Alice was helping him – she didn't see Zack, she saw her son. Zack blew out a sigh. At least she wouldn't report them.
"Right," he said, "work."
Zack bypassed where Alice was working in the kitchen and went straight out to the barn. The barn, like the house, was old but well maintained. The stalls for the chocobo lined the sides of the barn with a workbench at the far end. Zack guessed the barn could house at least forty chocobo but the paddock outside only held round fifteen. As he made his way to the back of the barn, Zack noticed that the stalls grew steadily worse for wear. The tools on the workbench were old and dusty. Looking closer, Zack could tell that all that was maintained on the barn was the surface. Wood rotted under fresh paint, new nails secured tired floor boards. The farm was dying, limping along with what a weary woman could do alone.
The wagon was easy to find, it rested against the last chocobo stall. It hadn't been used in months and Zack doubted, even fixed, it would be used again. But he set about repairing it. He kept his mind on the task, thinking only about the wood and tools he used. Only about working the wood and finishing up with a slick of leftover paint. He refused to think about the kind smile that followed him last time he worked on a wagon. He refused to think of what her wagon would have held. He moved onto the more worn areas of the used chocobo stalls, little point in fixes those that would never be used again. As he worked Zack could feel the excess Mako burn through his system, he felt his muscles strain in simple tasks. Where was his strength? He was busy mucking out the stalls when Alice called from the house. Stepping out the barn he saw that the sun had sunk low on the horizon. He watched the sun slide further down the sky. Alice was all this little chocobo farm had, the little chocobo farm was all Alice had, and it was disappearing like the setting sun.
"Zack~!"
He turned to see Alice waving at him from across the courtyard.
"Sorry," he said as he got closer. "I was distracted by the sunset."
"Ah, yes – sometimes they can be quiet spectacular," said Alice turning to face the last of the light.
"Anyway," she added turning back to the house, "I've made you something to eat."
"Thank you," said Zack as he followed her inside.
"I've already fed Cloud," said Alice as she dished a thick stew into a bowl for Zack.
"Did he eat?" asked Zack as she placed the bowl in front of him.
"A little," admitting Alice, "but I managed to get him to drink some water as well."
"That's good," said Zack tucking into the stew.
"Wow!" he added. "This is good."
"You like it?" Alice seemed really pleased.
"Yes, it's fantastic," said Zack between mouthfuls.
Alice let Zack eat in silence for a while before saying,
"I made up a bed for you as well."
Zack paused.
"Thank you but we really have to leave as soon as possible," he said.
"It is night time, you would be sleeping anyway – at least now you can sleep in a bed."
Zack thought about it for a minute. Alice was right, he initially intended on moving through most of the night but after the afternoon of solid graft, he was tired. More tired than he cared to admit. And now that his belly was full and warm, the idea of sleeping in a proper bed had a strong pull.
"Okay, thank you. We'll stay for the night," said Zack.
"Okay," said Alice getting to her feet. "I just need to bring in the chocobo."
"I can do that for you," offered Zack jumping to his feet.
"That's very kind of you but they are too skittish around new people," said Alice leaving Zack alone at the kitchen table.
Zack sat back down and finished his food. Looking round the kitchen he was reminded of his home, his parents, a life so long ago. Could he ever have that life back? Focus on now, Zack told himself. Get through now. Getting to his feet, Zack took his bowl to the scullery. While very tasty, the meal wasn't sitting happily in his stomach. Zack suspected that it had more to do with being proper food than his having eaten too quickly. Decent food hadn't been in ready supply in the mansion.
Zack took the stairs two at a time but then was forced to wait at the top while his muscles ceased protesting. Again his mind wandered to how long they had been in the mansion. In his heart, he knew it was a lab but he didn't have the guts to refer to it – it was the mansion. Mansions didn't instil dread, mansions were places of holiday and summer.
Cloud appeared to be sleeping naturally when Zack checked on him. His body was relaxed and his breathing deep and even. Zack noticed that he was wearing cotton pyjamas and he looked cleaner. Looking across at his bed, he saw folded pyjamas. He smiled to himself, on the run yet pyjamas were beckoning from the bed. He kicked off his boots and scooped up the pyjamas on the way to the bathroom. The bathroom was small and tidy. There was a shower in the bath and when Zack turned on the tap, steaming water rushed forth. It was the best shower Zack had ever experienced. Lashing of hot water and copious amounts of soap later, Zack emerged feeling substantially better. Even his stomach had settled. Warm, clean and full Zack fell asleep quickly and peacefully.
XXX
Zack sat up in bed suddenly, his heart racing – he had heard screaming. Was it his? Was it Cloud's? His eyes darted round the room, trying to place the comfortable room with the screaming. He heard a car door. A car? He realised he hadn't heard screaming but car brakes screeching. Just a car. No, not just a car – ShinRa. Zack threw back the covers and headed for the window, the curtains were drawn but parting them slightly he could see two cars in the late morning sunshine. 4x4s to be exact, ShinRa logos on the front doors, ShinRa infantrymen pouring out.
"Shit!"
Zack scanned the room again, looking for things that would identify them but didn't see anything apart from themselves. Where was his sword? Downstairs, it was in the kitchen. He couldn't worry about that now, he was upstairs it was downstairs and he had to hide Cloud and himself. He went over to Cloud's bed and pulled back the covers.
"Sorry, buddy," he said as he slid Cloud off the bed and onto the floor.
Zack tried not to notice how pale Cloud looked and how even though he didn't respond to Zack's voice or touch, he looked tense and appeared to be in some discomfort. Zack quickly straightened the covers on the beds, fluffed up the pillows and cast about for his boots and uniform. He hadn't seen them earlier either. Where were they?
"Shit," he swore again.
What had Alice done with them? Zack paused, the infantrymen were entering the house. Crouching down, Zack rolled Cloud under the bed and followed immediately after. Zack lay listening to the men infantrymen walk around the lower level of the house. He could hear one of them, probably a captain, talking to Alice but he couldn't make out what they were saying. A different sound caught his ears. A drawn out moan shortly followed by a chocked sob. It was coming from Cloud.
Zack froze for a second. Not now, he begged, don't wake now.
"Shhh," he whispered putting his fingers on Cloud's lips. "Cloud, quiet."
Again Cloud moaned but it was cut short by soft crying.
"Cloud, shhh, please," whispered Zack trying to placate him.
Footsteps on the stairs. He had to do something, quickly he wrapped his arms around Cloud and pulled him into a hug, muffling Cloud's sobs.
"It's okay, shhh," he whispered in Cloud's ear. "You're safe, shhh."
The footsteps had reached the top of the stairs, Zack could make out three sets. Zack was so intent on listening to the infantrymen he didn't notice Cloud had quietened. Alice's room was first. Zack could hear them walking round, opening cupboards and then they were in the room. He watched their booted feet from under the bed. One stayed by the door, one drifted to the window while the last one opened the cupboard. He could hear armour as the infantrymen moved, heard their weapons clank against their thighs. They didn't linger in the room, quickly making their way to the bathroom before returning to the lower levels. Zack could hear them talking again, then he heard Alice. He still couldn't catch want they were saying but the voices soon drifted outside and there was the roar of a 4x4 starting.
Zack waited until he could no longer hear the sounds of the engines before he left the thin safety of under the bed. In the past, another lifetime, he used to curse such sloppy work from the infantrymen but today he welcomed it. He pulled Cloud out from under the bed, checking him for any reason for his distress earlier before putting him back in bed, but couldn't see anything obvious. Zack crouched next to the bed taking hold of Cloud's wrist. He found Cloud's pulse – it was steady and rhythmic. His breathing also appeared to have evened out and while he was still very pale, he didn't look to be in any discomfort. Zack scratched the back of his head. He knew about Mako poisoning but didn't know anything about treating it. And it wasn't as if he could blame his rather lackadaisical approach to theory when studying to be SOLDIER, it had never been a subject offered. Mako and its properties were the province of the science department.
"Enough dawdling," said Zack. "Time to go, Cloud. Before we bring more trouble."
Zack found Alice packing provisions into a small backpack.
"I have a pack for you," she said lifting it slighting to show Zack.
"Alice-" started Zack.
"Your uniforms were in the fridge so they might be cold," she said interrupting Zack pointing to them on the table.
Zack blinked.
"The fridge?" he asked.
"I didn't think they would look in the fridge," she said flatly. "And they didn't."
"Did they threaten you, Alice?" asked Zack.
Alice shook her head.
"No," she said with a shaky breath, "nothing like that. It was just hard having them in the house."
"Sorry, I didn't think-" started Zack but Alice interrupted him again.
"Zack," she said firmly, "you are a good man and, I think, a good friend, you care for your friend and are brave for him so don't think I'm doing something I wouldn't normally do, okay?"
"Okay," said Zack with an understanding smile. "Where did you hide my sword?"
"Under the sofa," said Alice. "It wouldn't fit in any cupboard, and I don't think I could have lifted it anyway."
"It's quite heavy," agreed Zack. "One last thing – were they any men in dark suits?"
"Dark suits?" asked Alice with a frown. "No, they were all soldiers."
Zack breathed a sigh of relief, at least he didn't have the Turks to worry about right then. He knew they would come into play later but for now all he needed to focus on was getting away from Nibleheim and on the path to Midgar. He glanced into the pack Alice was packing, it contained soup, water, apples, nuts and biscuits. Alice had also packed matches, a small first aid kit and some money.
"Alice, I can't accept all this," said Zack as he watched her pack.
"Nonsense," said Alice. "If I don't give it to you, I'll end up throwing it away."
Zack opened his mouth to protest again but Alice cut him off.
"You've seen my farm, Zack. It's in its last days."
Zack couldn't argue with that.
"Besides," added Alice with a glint of mischief in her eyes, "I did enjoy tricking ShinRa – even if only for a little bit."
Zack chuckled at that.
"Thank you, Alice – I don't know if I will ever be able to repay you."
"Just live this time," she said.
Zack's smile froze a bit – did she realise what she had said. Judging from her face, probably not. Zack just nodded and went to collect the SOLDIER uniforms. He didn't look at Alice as he made his way back to Cloud, swinging by the lounge to retrieve his Buster Sword.
Unsurprising, Cloud was as Zack left him. Though his eyes were open which pleased Zack. To Zack open eyes meant helping Cloud walk rather than carrying him. Zack took a quick turn about the bathroom for ablutions and got dressed before getting Cloud into the SOLDIER uniform. Cloud was trembling by the time Zack had him dressed. Zack tried to put it down to the uniforms being cold but they had warmed up while he and Alice had talked downstairs. Zack took hold of Cloud's hand, he had expected it to be cold but it wasn't. Back of his hand against Cloud's cheek showed he didn't have a fever either.
Zack blew out a sigh, how was he going to fix this?
"Ready to go?"
Ignoring the lack of response, Zack slung Cloud's arm around his neck and pulled the blond to his feet. Zack was pleased to note that Cloud seemed to know that he should walk. As Zack pulled his body forward, Cloud's feet automatically stepped forward. Zack took it as a good sign, a sign of progress. The trembling had even subsided.
"Right," he said leaving the room, "onward."
Alice was waiting outside, Zack came to a stop in front of her.
"Thank you Alice," said Zack putting out his hand.
He was surprised when she threw her arms around both him and Cloud.
"Be safe," she whispered fiercely in his ear before stepping back.
Zack nodded and turned to leave. He refused to look back as they made their slow way across the ground. He knew Alice would be watching them until they had disappeared but more importantly, he couldn't afford to look back. The dire urge to be free had subsided and the nightmares were lurking beneath the surface. He had to keep moving forward, each step took him away from the horror, he had to belief that. But he should have known it wasn't that easy…