Chapter 5: Puppets

Vincent Valentine:

After sitting by the toilet for an hour feeling as if I were seriously about to vomit, I stood and faced myself in the mirror. Who are you? My mind questioned the face in front of me. I threw cold water on my face several times as if to wash away this dirty, nauseating feeling. It didn't work.

I left the bathroom and stood at the closed door of the bedroom. I could hear her crying loudly inside and it only made me feel worse. Perhaps she was right, I should have chose death. I sat down on the couch and continued the puzzle I started trying to focus only on that and not think to much about anything else. I didn't lie down to sleep until near five in the morning. Even then it was extremely hard for me to put my thoughts to rest.

Aubre Naluri

I don't know how I did it, but eventually I fell asleep last night after being violated by the Turk. I cringed as I saw the sight of my puffy eyes in the full length mirror. I slid out of bed snatching the sheet off of it to cover me. I felt dirty enough so I didn't really want to put my old clothes back on again. I left the bedroom looked in the living room area. The Turk lay fast asleep on the couch. It was now nine o'clock in the morning and usually he was up by now. I was grateful that he was indeed still asleep, as it relieved me of having to actually face him. I hurried into the bathroom and noticed he had refolded the clean clothes he had sat out for me yesterday and sat them on top of the closed toilet.

After showering I put on the plain white T-shirt, and comfortable grey pants. The shirt was very loose as if it were specifically for a pregnant woman. What I really needed was a comb. I ran my fingers through my wet hair making it look decent enough, not that I cared that much about it anyways.

I slowly exited the bathroom staring at the couch to make sure he was still sleeping. He now had his face turned so I couldn't see his eyes properly. I walked over to the kitchen area and drank a glass of orange juice. I was starving, but I would much rather die of hunger than to breathe a word to that Turk.

I heard shuffling and then footsteps approaching me. A chill went down my spine. I stood there staring at the glossy wood counter top, refusing to turn around and face him.

"I'm going to call for breakfast." He said awkwardly. His tone didn't sound as calm, but was actually a bit shaken. I turned slightly just so I could get an idea of exactly how close he was. Out of the corner of my eye I realized he wasn't facing me either. I looked at him directly as he stared off in the other direction almost as if he were afraid to look at me. His hair was tousled, and there was a huge red mark on his cheek that I supposed was from a weird sleeping position. At least I wasn't the only one looking completely horrid.

I surprised him when I spoke. "I would like French toast." I said walking past him as fast as I could. If I am going to be stuck in this place, I may as well make myself as comfortable as I could.

Vincent Valentine:

Breakfast came and the lady failed to take Aubre her plate, leaving me with the job to. I sighed softly as I picked up her plate and walked to the bedroom. I knocked softly before entering. She sat on the other side of the bed with her back to me. I sat her plate on the vanity desk.

"Your.."

"I see it." She snapped. I sighed loudly, but without a word left the room. I don't blame her at all for being short with me. In fact I wish she would have punched me in the face this morning. I deserve it. I forced down as much breakfast as I could being as I still felt a bit nauseous.

Though most of the afternoon I lounged around feeling pathetic. Finally, I thought of what would most likely ease my conscience and that was just to simply talk to the girl. I knew very well that my effort might end up in vain, but I had to at least try.

I knocked on the door again.

"What?" came her harsh acknowledgement.

I opened the door and shut it behind me. She was lying on the bed with a pillow wrapped up in her arms, her face buried into it.

I sat down at the end of the bed. "Aubre, I..I feel horrible about last night." I rolled my eyes at how lame that sounded. I turned so that I was looking at her, though her face remained hidden by the pillow. "Death may have been the better option, because this is..I just feel.." I sighed and turned away from her again assuming that she probably wasn't even listening anyway.

I heard shuffling behind me and then finally her soft voice. "You're a Turk."

I turned to her and for the first time since last night, met her eyes with mine. "That I am."

"Turks don't have feelings. You all are nothing but puppets." Puppets… I thought. Then I realized her meaning and it made sense. I was just a puppet. Doing whatever the boss says. I can't remember the last time I've done something for me, something that wasn't job related that I did for my own benefit or to positively benefit someone else.

"You're right, Aubre. But.." I looked away. "This puppet has feelings." She didn't reply to my comment verbally, but I felt the tension in the room subside. After a long while I turned to her again.

She looked up at me then quickly looked away. "We could have run away." She said softly.

I allowed a soft chuckle to escape my lips causing her to look up at me again. I sighed. "I'll never escape the Turks, but you could have gotten away. Since yesterday, I've come to realize that my life doesn't really mean as much as I thought it did. I would have rather died than to do what I did to you." I apprehensively reached out to touch her tan cheek. She allowed my fingers to brush her soft skin, but quickly turned her face away afterward. "I hope you can forgive me, but I know I'll never forgive myself and if by chance you are not pregnant… I'll find a way to get you out of here and that I promise. I'm done being the puppet."

She looked at me with her big emerald eyes and gave me the most gorgeous smile I'd seen in all my life. One that even topped Lucrecia's.

Aubre Naluri:

The Turk showed me that he was capable of emotions as he smiled back at me. Though I was trying my hardest not to, I felt sorry for him. So sorry indeed that if I was given the opportunity to run away, I might not take it because me getting away would lead to him being punished and this man looked like he was living a punishment everyday of his life. Not to mention last night wasn't at all that bad. It was only the motives that made the deed so disgusting. So, knowing that we were feeling equality disgusted, it made it ok.

"Well, while I'm still here, there are a few things I need." Again if I'm going to have to be here I am definitely going to make myself comfortable.

"I'll get you whatever you need." He said showing me another smile. A gave him a long list of things ranging from a hair brush to chapstick. He took everything down on a piece of paper and left the room to use the phone.

I scooped up the pillow again and hugged it close to me. It was a relief to finally feel like I wasn't in this totally alone. I knew that the person I needed to be channeling all my anger into is Hojo because he is the one who is using every one of us as his puppets.