((Elena point of view))

It was late this morning when Tseng finally arrived at the work place.

...how unusual...

I could tell he was in not a cheering mood.

well that's normal at least...

Which was understandable that the Turks had to be on their best behavior today since his apartment was blown up this fine morning. Frankly if I was being honest, I didn't blame him. So it would be an understatement if I said he wasn't pissed.

Reno was off next to me with his feet kicked up on the desk. Normally his lazy I-don't-care attitude and playful mood wouldn't get him into trouble, but I can see this going south a mile away.

All I can do was roll my eyes.

Rude was supposed to be off for the day... that is, until the news of Tseng apartment reached the office.

Still I couldn't help but feel all the work that we were putting into this mission was becoming more dangerous and hazardous than worth the risk.

Reno stood up walking towards the sliding door to the room. Catching my glance, as he got up, I gave him a raised eyebrow. "What? I am just getting a coffee...?," he 'answered' with a deer in a headlight look. I rolled my eyes.

... Oh brother...

Even now you can hear the footsteps... of a roaring storm coming through the stairways... the echo of a the stairs way quickly echoing back on themselves as the footsteps proceeded towards the office. Quickly. The echoes warning of a storm coming swiftly

The steps stop.

Tseng had arrived.

The last moment of calm before the storm. I already foresaw the storm and decided to glimpse at the other poor souls caught in its path.

Some were ready to leap for shelter. The others were frozen in fear. Few contemplating on escaping via the windows, the smart ones already scrambling and fighting for shelter. Reno had already duck for cover... As expected... his fingers on the seat of he's chair, his hands clinging for dear life. A well practiced maneuver, might I add. For the shit he has had pulled and may have had recently pulled, not a surprise in the least. From underneath the desk he was acting like a frighten dog with his tail between his legs.

I can already see Reno mouthing to himself. "Oh shit! Oh hell no. Find a happy place, find a happy place, find a happy place. Dammit... I'm not going to die like this.

From the corner of my eye, the handle of the door knob turn.

The storm cometh, hell was about to break loose... my face was stoic, inside I grinned like a mad man waiting to be hung. The door opening slowly to reveal Tsengs with a death glare. Eyes swept the room, like the grim reaper looking for its next's victim. With a quiet tone the reaper spoke... where is Reno?... all eyes fall on the desk of where Reno hide. The reaper eyes shifted to its hiding place, the chair quacking as Reno couldn't control the shivering. His hands becoming like claws leaving a permanent imprint into the fabric of the chair.

..."Reno... come on out Reno, I'm not... mad." A devil smile crept his face.

Reno face, reacted in horror, his eyes widing for what was about to come. "LIKE HELL YOU AREN'T!" Reno fled running for the window... but death was quicker and grabbed him by his tail, pony tail to be litteral.

"Why would you say that? You know I just love your jokes," His face contwarted in an a grim grin. Dragging him to his office.

"NNNNOOOOOOOOOooooooooooOOOOOOooooOoooo~" Reno screamed as he was gragged to his 'supposed' hanging, Clawing into the floor, and ended up with knocking over two office chairs and a large pile of files and just short of dragging a poor intern in with him.

"So what did he do this time?" I looked up at rude as he shrugged his shoulders. "Absolutely no idea," Rude said with a small cough fit. "Nope not at all." He continue with a poker face.

"Oh come on, do you honestly expect me to believe that Rude? That has to be the worst poker face I've seen you make yet... Or ... did you do it?" Rude look at me with a eyebrow raised. "Of course not, what do I have to gain from pranking Tseng?"

I turned around as a hand clapped around my mouth. In hopes, to cover the escaping giggles. "So what do you pull Rude?" I asked again, Rude shook his head in reply.

((Reno point of view,))

"Reno take a sit, that's an order! do you know why your in my office again today?" Tseng asked in sort of a yell.

"I swear ...Tseng... I'm innocent, of all of this wrong." I batted an eye at Tseng,

"How many times have you declared that? To your superior officer?" Tseng questioned me again.

"Many times before sir... but I-" Is all I got in, before Tseng interrupted me again.

"But I what? You honestly expect me to believe you are what... 'innocent' this one time? After all the shit you've pulled? You're impossible! You think I'm naive?!" Tseng yelled at the top of his lungs.

"At least I don't smell like lemon cleaner." I commented in a smart-ass tone, hidden under my breath. I hate it when he's like this.

"What was that?" Tseng yelled again.

"Careful! Your going to make me go deaf with your yelling." I yelled back, no surprise this whole thing was going to fall on deaf ears.

"Well now, since you made that smartass comment, I believe you owe me a formal ten page essay. Apologizing to me. I want a recounting of your actions this morning. In hand written form, and I want it on my desk tonight before you can leave. I want it long and very well described... Well what are you doing in my office still? Get started now!" Tseng said sighing and stroking his front hairs.

Trust me, Tseng, there is going to be hell to pay. If he wants a prank, he'll be get a seriously good one tomorrow. I thought swinging the door open hard.

A crash sounded as a man fell over. Piles upon piles of files falling to the floor.

Looking up at me he grinned, nervously. "And what are up to?" I asked, he looked up at me to reveal light blue eyes, and a scared expression on his face.

Hell had finally arrived.

((Elena point of view.))

It was fair to say that the day was uneventful. After Rude, pulled his prank. Poor Reno was the one blamed for it. But yet, it was a little humorous that way if you wanted the truth from me.

Strangely and finally after all that had happen today. I finally found myself leaving for home. I packed my belongings into my suitcase. As each paper was tucked away, neatly inside. My wondering eyes looking about.

Keeping in check all that was left in the office tonight. I packed up the last of my belongings and left. Stepping outside, I found the day had slipped away rather fast. Yet I couldn't believe that someone had success in blowing up our boss's apartment.

Poor Tseng, I wonder where he was going to live for the time being. I continue to walk, as the night sky was still young. My eyes, still adjusting to the visibility. Taking a few more steps outwards, I heard someone call out my name.

"Elena! Wait up." Reno called out, waving to me.

"What is it Reno?" I asked, a little surprise to see he was even here this late at night.

"Tseng asked me to take you home. He wanted me to assist you, make sure you got home safely. Since recently you been a target of injury lately." Reno replied,

"Oh did he? Will then I will trust his judgement!" I said with a surprised eyebrow raised to hearing the words being spoken.

Reno nodded his head. With a cheesy grin. As we continue to make our way to my house. Shinra headquarters slowly vanished from our view.

((Reno point of view))

When headquarters, finally left are view. We drew closer to Elena apartment. The real reason I offered to take Elena home was to get out of writing the last three pages of the eassy Tseng had order me to do.

Elena talked most of the way to her apartment. That was normal, for her. She tended to do that. Most of the time I found myself tuning her out. Judging my surroundings. Make sure we aren't being followed, the usual.

Elena stop in her tracks. "Do you want to get a drink Reno?" She asked me, shaking my head no. She asked if it was ok if she went in. "Yes, go ahead" I told her. She returned shortly, with a bottle of wine and expensive vodka.

I looked at Elena with a puzzled look.

She gave me a smile and shug with an arched brow. Her body laungue speaking for itself, 'So what if I drink this stuff time to time.' Is what I was picking up from her.

To tell the truth, I was ready to go home. I was tired, had work early next morning and, to say the least, I say I earned the right to a warm bed tonight. I followed, Elena as she made her way through the streets.

Finally after a while of hearing Elena being talkative. I stopped in my tracks, Elena stopped a few feet away from me. "What's wrong Reno?" she asked givng a confused look.

"Something isn't right here, Elena... Don't you hear that?" I asked.

"Hear what?" Elena asks, stopping a moment to just listen... gives a worried scowl and turns back to me. She closed her eyes to focus. Her eye's open wide, going on full alert.

"There isn't any noise coming from this part of the area." I answered.

"No a peep... now that you mention it." Elena agreed. Grip tightening on the neck of the bottles in her hands.

"Be on your guard, when we go around the corner. Maybe have your gun at the ready." I replied waiting for Elena to load her gun. When we turned the corner. After walking a few steps, Elena stopped her eyes frozen in fear.

Red liquid drops out of no where began appearing on her face dripping. "Oh my god!" Elena scream, then she clapped a hand over her mouth. I followed her glaze, looking up above me. To figure out what was wrong. There I saw it dinging off the ends of the rope.

((Elena point of view))

A few seconds to minutes passed. It was hard to really determine how much time had pass. My eyes widen in horror as I stared at it. The corpse was way past the point of being fresh. Stung up was a body a body will into through the process of decomposing.

Some bones were starting to show. Some of the muscles where still in-tacked. Blood dripped off his toes. One foot being bare. If I was judging how long he been deceased, my guess would be few days to a week.

Blood oozed, from his face. Which was half rotten already. His hands where darken gray! With blood streaming down. Purple bruises and red cuts throughout his body. Indicting he had been tortured before he died. One shoe and sock was missing, revealing a snake tatto. He wore a Shinra suit, with a suit case on the floor a few feet away from him. I pulled on my gloves that Shinra provide for as normally. For cases like this.

A piece of paper was separated from the others. Sticking out of the suitcase halfway. Picking it up, judging the suitcase. It had a code, most likely the only the owner had the code prior to his death. was then I heard Reno call out to me.

"Elena?" Reno yelled

"What's wrong?" I questioned him back, "You might want to see this." Again he yelled back to me. "where are you?" I asked "I am around the corner," Reno returned my reply. Turning, around the corner. My eyes widen in shock. There was something written on the wall "Oh my god, What is that? I-is -is that blood?

((Any reviews?))

Sorry I've took so long to write the next chapter, life got really busy really fast. I found myself putting it off. Anyway I wonder what Elena and Reno found. Anyway I can't wait to write the next chapter. Their seems that the assassin or brad. Committed a horrible deed indeed. But why? I want to wish you all a happy Halloween, this year. all the spooky fun.

I hope this story is keeping you on your toes. Like always I like to thank my readers and those who comment. Tell me how I'm doing well. I need the encouragement. anyway please review and tell me your personal thoughts.

-Aeris Cetra