Enough days had come to pass where Sephiroth finally determined they would have to leave again. He truly had become thankful for Abigail's help, but he knew that he and Cloud couldn't stay much longer. Any longer and they could be found, putting Abigail in danger.
"Do we really need to leave now? Can't we wait until Abigail gets back at least?" Cloud asked.
"As much as I would like to, we can't take the risk. The note we are leaving will have to do," Sephiroth replied.
"It just feels wrong… she has been so nice to us, it feels so cold to leave her with just a note," Cloud muttered.
Sephiroth sighed. "I know, but we don't have a choice. We can't-"
Just as Sephiroth was about to finish, they heard the front door unlock. Quickly, Sephiroth pulled Cloud into the kitchen closet, closing the door and keeping the light off.
"Seph?" Cloud whispered.
"Shh."
They waited as they could hear the front door close and then lock. "Boys?" Abigail called. "Where are you? I… I have something that you may want to see."
Sephiroth and Cloud stepped out from their hiding spot, exiting the kitchen to find Abigail sitting down in the living room. As they approached her, they could see the worry and concern etched across her face.
"What is it?" Sephiroth asked.
"I was in town today and I came across this paper… It's rather telling if you ask me."
She held up the newspaper for them to see, showing the big front story written across it.
Hojo to Deliver Warning Speech to Runaway Winged Ones
Sephiroth snatched away the paper from Abigail, reading over the story as fast as he could. He scowled as he started skimming through it. "So Hojo is planning to broadcast a warning message tomorrow night and he hopes that we see it."
"He what?" Cloud gasped. "But how can he be sure we'd be watching?"
"He can't, but he can hope word will get around. It will still send the public into a panic regardless," Sephiroth replied.
"And all the more reason you boys need to stay low and hide longer," Abigail."
Sephiroth frowned. "I don't-"
"I know you were planning to leave soon," Abigail cut in. "But this future video broadcast… I'm concerned about what that horrible man may say or do. I want to know you boys are safe right here when it happens."
Cloud looked at the paper, frowning as he read the information. "Do you think Hojo actually has something planned?"
"I wouldn't put it past him," Sephiroth muttered.
"So we'll wait to watch it?"
Lowering his head, Sephiroth gave a short nod. "We need to know what he is trying to pull. If we run away now and miss that broadcast… We could be missing something detrimental."
Abigail stood up from her chair, clearing her throat. "I want you boys to stay away from the windows. Maybe we might even have to go to the basement. I have a television down there anyways, but it may be our best bet to avoid having you two be seen."
The two boys agreed, and soon Abigail set up sleeping bags, pillows, and plenty of blankets down in the basement. She brought them snacks for the evening before returning upstairs for the night.
As the night dragged on Cloud stayed close to Sephiroth, unable to fall asleep. His mind raced with the thoughts about the broadcast and what Hojo could have planned.
Ever since he had been captured and brought to the facility, he had learned that Hojo was not one to be messed with. The way he would stare and study Prompto during examinations always made him shudder. The man had been a cold, scary, slimy man from the very beginning, and Cloud was sure that Hojo was going to use any tactics he could to get them back.
"Close your eyes, Cloud," Sephiroth whispered.
"But I don't want to sleep. What if something happens?"
"Nothing will happen. Even if something does, I'll protect you."
"But I want to protect you too, Seph. You always look out for me, can't I do the same?"
After everything they had been through since escaping, Cloud knew how much Sephiroth was putting into looking after him. It was one thing at the Facility, just taking care of him and teaching him what he knew, but now out in the world it was different.
Sephiroth had to plan on a wim to figure out how to survive while avoiding being caught. Cloud couldn't even begin to imagine how Sephiroth comprehended any of that. All he could do was follow after his brother, listening to his wise advice and thoughts.
Sephiroth patted him on the head. "I appreciate it, Cloud. But I'm the older one, I have to protect you."
Cloud pouted. "I still want to protect you one day."
"Then maybe one day you can, but let's hope it isn't anything severe that I'd need protecting from."
Smiling a little, Cloud leaned against his brother, finally able to doze off the night.
By the next evening, all three of them were downstairs, watching the tv carefully. The broadcast hadn't started yet, but there was a special image showing on the screen, indicating that something would show soon.
"Whatever that man has to say, I won't trust a word of it," Abigail stated bluntly. "You two are good boys, and my stance won't ever change on that."
"Thanks, Abigail," Cloud replied softly.
A moment later the standby screen changed and footage of Hojo standing in front of a podium appeared.
"Greetings to anyone who is watching," Hojo said in his usual sly and creepy manner.
"Today I bring some hard news to all of you. Several weeks ago two Winged Ones escaped…"
As he spoke, images that had been taken of Cloud and Sephiroth at the Facility flashed up on the screen.
"They are referred to as Sephiroth and Cloud. How they were able to is beyond anything we know, but they must have been planning it for months."
Sephiroth scowled. "Liar. It was due to a storm causing a power outage. I saw our chance and took it."
The image then switched back to Hojo, with the man carefully adjusting his glasses. "We have been unable to locate them, as we know Winged Ones are extremely cunning and deceptive. We have already sent out plenty of teams to find them, but currently it has been to no avail. That is… until recently, we found ourselves with quite a curious piece of evidence."
Cloud raised an eyebrow. "What evidence could he have?"
"He's bluffing. He's probably using it to try and trick us to come out of hiding," Sephiroth replied.
"In our search, we found plenty of people claiming they had seen these Winged Ones, but no solid proof was able to be given. But then…" Hojo motioned to someone off camera. A wide grin spread across his face. "We found someone who had been hiding evidence."
Cloud's heart started to race. The smallest bit of dread was starting to set in as someone was dragged onto stage by a guard. As soon as they came into focus, that dread magnified by a hundred percent.
"Seph… isn't that…"
"I'm afraid it is," Sephiroth answered, the smallest hints of dread starting to show in his own expression.
In a guard's grip was Zack… His body was clearly beaten, bruised, and bloodied.
Hojo walked up next to Zack, yanking his hair back so his face was clearly seen. The bruises were just as bad on his face.
"This boy has been brainwashed by the Winged Ones, swayed to listen to them and help in their escape."
"No!" Cloud screamed at the tv. "That's not what happened! He can't do that!"
Sephiroth lowered his head. "He can… and everyone is going to believe him."
"You know him?"
Cloud nodded. "He helped hide us before. He was really nice too."
"And now he is paying the prince at Hojo's hands," Sephiroth added.
Abigail stared at the screen, watching as Hojo showed Zack's face for all to see. "That poor boy…"
Hojo started to squeeze Zack's hair tighter. "Now we've tried to get him to reveal where the Winged Ones are, but he refuses to speak. He is so loyal to the Winged Ones that we couldn't break their influence over him."
Wincing, Zack tried to look directly into the camera. "I-I'm not… They a-are good. They're m-my… friends."
"You see!" Hojo shouted. "This boy has been lost to us. Those Winged Ones are to blame for this… Which brings me to my next point."
A guard came to take Zack off stage and the camera refocused on Hojo. "As I have stated, we have two rouge Winged Ones on the loose. If anyone has spotted them or has information, please call our Facility's number as soon as possible. But, on the off chance those two are watching…"
Hojo grinned sinisterly as the camera zoomed in on him. "If you are watching… Sephritoh. Cloud. Then I will give you a chance to save yourselves… and your friend. Return to the Facility within a week, otherwise I can't say your little friend will be very happy."
The transmission cut out after that, going back to whatever was the regularly scheduled program.
Cloud couldn't take his eyes off the screen, the image of Zack and his injuries still burned into his mind.
"That was awful," Abigail muttered. "Simply awful, and no one is going to bat an eye that was torturing that poor friend of yours."
Sephiroth stood up, taking in a deep breath before going to get his bag of clothes and other items. "We're going."
"Going?!" Cloud jumped to his feet. "Like we are going to keep running?"
"We have to."
"But he could kill Zack!"
"And that isn't our problem!"
Cloud scowled as he marched over to stand next to Sephiroth. "Yes it is! Zack risked everything to save us! We can't let him die, Seph!"
"And you want to go back there? Back to the Facility where we had no freedom?" Sephiroth snapped.
"I… I don't really want to, but I don't want Zack to die because of it."
Cloud watched as Sephiroth took in several deep breaths. It was clear he did have some conflicting thoughts over leaving vs going back.
"If we go back, we might never get a chance again to escape," he stated softly.
Cloud nodded. "I know… but I don't want Zack's death to be the price of our freedom. That… that's just not right."
"Then we'll go back."
Cloud stared, a little stunned that Sephiroth had been so willing to agree. After all his deadset plans to get far away from the Facility, all it took was a few words of persuasion.
'Maybe he really does care about Zack, even if he won't admit it,' Cloud thought.
Abigail walked over to the two, placing a hand on each of them. "I know it will be tough for you boys, but I hope maybe this could finally turn the people and Hojo and his men."
"Thank you, Abigail. You've been so nice to us," Cloud replied.
"Of course. Now, I suppose I should prepare a few meals before you boys head out."
Sephiroth shook his head. "You've done enough for us. We shouldn't waste any more time anyways."
"Nonsense. You need food for the road. Please, let me give you this before you go."
"Fine," Sephiroth sighed.
"I'll go and start that up, and I'll let you pack your things."
Once Abigail went upstairs, Sephiroth let out another sigh. "Not like we'll be able to keep any of this when we get back."
Cloud sighed along with him. "Yeah, I know…"
"But you're right. I can't let someone, even a normal human, die just because I wanted freedom. I'm not that coldhearted."
Cloud hugged Sephiroth tightly. "I know you aren't. But I just hope Zack will be okay by the time we get back."
"He's in Hojo's hands… He already has tormented him to get information. I can't say that Hojo won't do anything else."
"Then we better hurry."