The walk through the slums was tense with Tseng so close, and the constant thrum of voices in Senna's head did not help. But she had to admit that they were not what she had expected. The narrow streets were full of people going about their lives, but no one seemed overly anxious or otherwise untrustworthy. Well, no more than most people.
Conversations around them tended to fade quickly as they passed, which probably had a lot to do with the frowning man in a dark suit by her side. Even if people didn't know his job, it was clear he worked for Shinra, and his expression screamed that he wasn't to be messed with.
Even with all that, Senna almost wished she had more time to look around. This place was alive in a way she hadn't expected. Not that she had really thought about it. Perhaps she could take another trip into the city when things calmed. If that ever happened.
They had been walking through the maze of ramshackle buildings for about fifteen minutes when Tseng grabbed Senna's arm and pulled her into a nearby overhang. The doorway was cramped but quiet and shadowed, so she tried to ignore how uncomfortable the proximity made her feel.
Tseng glanced around them once before he let her go and whispered, "Go straight from here. You will see a building with children around it. From there, take the small path that branches to the left of the orphanage. Go straight, and you will find someone who can point you in the right direction. If you can convince them."
Senna had already anticipated that she might need to speak to Elmira to find Aerith, so she only nodded. She wasn't entirely sure she could gain Aerith's mother's trust, but that didn't change her need.
There were no more words as Tseng stepped out of the doorway and almost immediately disappeared into the shadows of a side street. A shiver ran down Senna's spine at how easy he made that look, but the voices in her head did not allow her time to worry about it. She only waited a moment before she left the shadows and headed in the direction she had been told to go.
The next intersection opened into a small square, or what passed as one between the rusted tin walls and broken masonry. A long, faded brick building took up one entire side of it, with makeshift desks scattered in front. That would be the orphanage mentioned.
Senna looked around until she spotted a path that seemed to lead into a large pipe. "Well, that's not foreboding or anything."
Thankfully, no one was close enough to hear her whisper. Nor had anyone noticed her yet. Well, no one who made it apparent. Now, to see if she could be nonchalant enough to keep it that way. Despite the distraction in her head and the pulsing behind her eyes, she headed toward the narrow path with intent, as if she had every right to be there.
She didn't pause until she reached a slight curve in the path that nearly blocked the area behind her from view. There, she took a moment to lean against the metal for support. It wasn't just the nerves. Honestly, she was surprised she had been able to walk the whole way through sector five without her knees giving out.
A few deep breaths later, Senna stood and looked around; the pipe didn't extend far. At least not without a ton of cuts and breaks. Beyond it was a narrow canyon path that twisted between solid rock and piles of debris.
The area was anxiety-inducing, but no more so than the rest of the day had been. Senna did her best to ignore thoughts of random items giving way to gravity, which brought on thoughts of the plate high overhead. Yep, she absolutely wasn't thinking of how easy it had been to bring down sector seven in the game.
Despite the crazy-making voices rattling around in her brain and the not-so-crazy worry about dying prematurely by being crushed, Senna noticed within a few feet that the air became noticeably lighter. It wasn't a physical feeling, not really, but more a lifting of her worries. Even the voices in her head were becoming less of a cacophony and more of a chorus.
Part of her mind wasn't shocked, not given where she was headed, but somehow, it still surprised her when she turned the last corner and stopped to stare at the riot of color. The flowers didn't seem out of place in the slightest, even if it would have made sense if they had. Senna almost forgot why she had come as she took a few steps down the lefthand path. If only the voices in her head could have let her forget completely.
With that thought, she did her best to shake off her awe as she turned to look at the house on the other side of the secluded bower. It showed signs of wear and tear, but not as much as most of the buildings she had passed in the rest of the sector. It wasn't exactly inviting, and Senna was well aware that it was due to her apprehension about her reception and not the structure itself. But there was no point in putting off the inevitable, not now that she had managed to make it there.
The only sounds as Senna made her way to the door were her heels crunching in the gravel and the murmur of the nearby water. The noise should have been calming, but between her worry and the still-ringing voices, her shoulders were so tense that they ached.
With her being so nervous, it was no surprise that she nearly jumped out of her skin when she raised her fist to knock, but the door opened before she could. Only the post on the porch kept her upright as she leaned against it, one hand clenched over her heart.
It took a few deep breaths before Senna was calm enough to focus on the person standing in the doorway. It was a girl, not quite a woman, but not really a child either. If Senna had to guess, she would have said early teens. Even without that, those bright green eyes were impossible not to recognize. Senna straightened from the post as Aerith's name ghosted past her lips.
Aerith's eyes widened, and she stepped back, but she didn't close the door. Instead, she whispered. "You…who are you? Why do I feel like I should know you?"
Senna froze. That was not the reaction she had been expecting. But perhaps it should have been. They had too much in common, so why would the voices haunting Senna not also speak to Aerith?
Neither woman moved for several seconds, not until Senna decided this was why she came, so there was no point in putting it off. Especially since she knew there was a Turk nearby. That thought had Senna pointing toward the inside of the house as she said, "It is a long story, that I honestly don't know if I can fully explain. But I think it would be better for both of us if we could discuss this inside. Please."
Aerith blinked a few times but didn't get to answer before an older woman came up behind the girl and frowned at Senna as she cut in. "Who are you? Why are you here?" The woman paused long enough to look at what Senna was wearing. Her frown grew as she continued, "If you are with Shinra, we have nothing to say to you."
Senna's hand shot out instinctively with her palm up. "Wait! Please, I…" It would be a lie if she said she wasn't with Shinra, and she didn't need further suspicions if it came to light without an explanation. "I do have ties with Shinra, I won't deny that, but they aren't what you think. I need help, and Aerith is the only one that can provide it. I give you my word that I will not try to convince her to leave or take her or any of that nonsense."
Her words seemed to have the opposite effect than intended. Elmyra put a hand on Aerith's shoulder and gently pulled her back. However, Aerith didn't go far before she turned to face her mother as she said, "Wait. I think…I think I should talk to her."
Worry was evident in Elmyra's expression, but she moved so the doorway was no longer blocked. She glared at Senna as she said, "Come in and have a seat. But if you try anything, I will ask you to leave."
It was a thinly veiled threat but a reasonable one given Aerith's history with Shinra, so Senna only nodded as she followed the two women into the house.
Aerith led them to a small dining table just inside the main room of the house. The atmosphere remained awkward, even after they were all seated. Aerith was the one to finally break the silence. "If you came looking for me, then you must know who I am, but who are you?"
Senna wanted to kick herself for the oversight, even if she had reason enough to forget basic courtesy. "My name is Senna Rhodes. You have never met me, but I do have a valid reason for knowing who you are, Aerith." She then paused and looked toward the older woman. "You as well, Mrs. Gainsborough."
Neither one of the women looked pleased that she knew their names, so she kept going before they could kick her out. "I will also state that what I know of you does not come from Shinra."
It was unclear if the addition helped, but it was enough for Aerith to say, "You said you needed my help, but I don't think there is anything I'm particularly talented with. Surely you should be asking someone else?"
Even as Aerith said that her expression was still curious, Senna hadn't forgotten what the girl had said when they first saw each other. She hoped that curiosity would be enough to get past the first hurdle. "You may not like to speak about who you are, and I understand why, but you are the only person that can help me. At least the only one I am aware of right now."
Both Aerith and Elmyra shifted uncomfortably, but the older woman held her tongue as Aerith said, "Is that why I feel like I know you? Are you one of the Turks?" She then looked away and down as she continued in a near whisper. "Maybe I've seen you before and don't remember."
That was the last thing Senna needed them to believe, so she was quick to interject. "Like I said, I do work for Shinra, but it isn't by choice. And I promise that I am not a Turk. If anything, they restrict my actions more than they do yours."
It was unclear if her reassurances had any effect, so Senna quickly continued, "This may be hard to believe, but—"
Senna cut off before she said any more. Was she really about to tell someone that she was a cetra? Even if it was Aerith, how could she prove it? Other than the voices in her head, she had yet to explore what else that might mean, so physically, she had no idea what she was capable of.
Apparently, the pause did little to help the situation, as Elmyra cut in, "I don't know what you are trying to do, but we have had enough of Shinra bothering us. We want no part of whatever this is."
Before Senna could react, Elmyra stood and pointed toward the door. "I will only ask you once. Please leave."
Aerith jumped to her feet, and held up both hands. "Wait, I think—" She snuck a glance at Senna before she continued. "I think we should at least hear her out."
Elmyra did not look pleased at the pushback, but her voice was soft as she asked, "Are you sure?" Aerith's only response was a decisive nod.
Both women turned to face Senna, who had stood when Elmyra had. Nothing about the situation eased Senna's nerves, but there was no point in trying to skirt around the truth. She looked straight into Aerith's eyes as she said, "I cannot explain how I got to this point, as I barely understand it myself, but I recently found out that I am a cetra."
Senna had wanted to add more about how Minerva had been protecting her, but wasn't given a chance. Aerith gasped and fell into the nearby chair, but Elmyra cut in with barely controlled fury. "What is this? Has Shinra decided to change tactics."
Much to Senna's surprise, Aerith was the first to jump to Senna's defense. "No, I—" The girl paused and looked at Senna with confusion. "I think she may be telling the truth."
Senna sent up a quick prayer of thanks for whatever had given Aerith that impression and took the opening it offered. "I am telling the truth. Or so Minerva has assured me. I was told that up until today, she had been protecting me from the full force of the voices in the lifestream, which is why I am here."
Aerith's confusion had dissolved into an expression of wonder. "How? I always believed I was alone."
Guilt trickled through Senna's gut as she sat back down. There was no way she could tell them the whole truth. Not when she barely believed it herself. But this was a start, and she hadn't spent years practicing how to think on her feet for nothing. "I don't know if there are others. All I know is what I have been told. And that if I can't get these voices under control, I might lose my mind."
The frustration and desperation must have been easy to hear in Senna's voice. Aerith leaned closer and softly laid a hand on Senna's arm momentarily before she sat back with a frown. "I think I understand what you are asking, but I don't know how to help. The voices—"
Aerith cut off and shot Elmyra a quick look. Senna wasn't surprised to see the older woman still looked upset. Elmyra had spent so many years trying to protect Aerith, and Senna was an unknown. Saying anything about the cetra out loud had to be nerve-wracking for both of them.
That being said, Senna was desperate and reminded of that when she once again had to try and think past a sharp increase in volume from the voices in her head. "I just need to learn to keep them from drowning out everything else. They are so loud I can barely see straight."
A frown flitted across Aerith's face, and her voice was hesitant. "They have never been so loud for me. Even here, where I hear them best, they are little more than a whisper most of the time."
Senna sat straighter with a wince as she tried to hide her worry. It had never occurred to her that Aerith's mixed heritage might make so much of a difference.
She wasn't given long to stew in her growing dread before Aerith continued, "Even if I have never experienced what you are going through, I will try to help."
Senna wasn't entirely reassured, but it was better than nothing. She had to believe Aerith could do something. The alternative was, well, it was terrifying. "What do I need to do?"
Aerith spared one more glance at Elmyra before she scooted her chair closer and held out both her hands. "I'm not sure if it will work, but if we are both hearing the voice of the planet, perhaps you can show me how it affects you. If that works, I might be able to show you what I hear. From there…"
The words trailed off, but Senna nodded. "I understand. It's worth a try." With that, Senna took Aerith's hands.
The silence that followed was awkward and lasted several seconds too long, as far as Senna was concerned. She had to break eye contact as she asked, "Is there something I should be doing?"
Aerith shrugged awkwardly. "I don't know. Maybe if we both close our eyes and concentrate on what we hear?"
Senna felt ridiculous sitting there holding hands with a girl barely in her teens and expecting her to fix everything. But what choice did she have? The cacophony in her head did not give her time to worry about it long before she closed her eyes and tried to focus as requested.
The voices had been more consistent ever since Senna walked into the flower garden, but that didn't mean she could make out their words, nor was the volume lowered. It wasn't quite on the edge of painful anymore, but it was still uncomfortable for Senna to focus on them.
She hadn't done so for long before Aerith gasped and yanked her hands back. Senna opened her eyes to see the girl cradling her head with one hand and staring at Senna with wide eyes. Once their gazes locked, Aerith shakily said, "That—that was the lifestream, but I've never heard them so angry. Why? What happened?"
Senna's heart sank further at the innocent question. So she hadn't imagined that the voices were angry, not that the knowledge changed anything. Her shoulders slumped, and her fingers curled into fists as she shook her head. "I don't know. All I can think is that they feel ignored. I was told that Minerva was keeping them back."
Aerith took a deep breath and let it out shakily before she reached out and covered one of Senna's hands. She waited until Senna focused on her again before she said, "Then acknowledging them may be the only way to stop this. You have to convince them that they are heard and understood. That is the only way for them to help now that they have passed into the lifestream."
Senna huffed a bitter chuckle. Of course, it was something so easy. Something that she had already considered but perhaps not tried hard enough to embrace. She didn't say anything else before she closed her eyes again, and instead of trying to block the noise, she did her best to relax her control. It wasn't easy. Giving up any amount of control, especially of her own mind, was terrifying. Her lack of autonomy in the rest of her life only made it more difficult.
Aerith's soft voice penetrated the noise. "I don't know what you are afraid of, but you aren't alone. I may be unable to help you like you wanted, but I am here."
There was a slight pause before her voice continued, filled with heavy emotion. "You aren't alone. And now, neither am I."
That simple statement struck something deep within Senna. Despite her connection to Rufus, she had felt alone. She hadn't admitted it, even in her inner thoughts, but it was true. Ever since her departure from Earth, she had believed there was no one to rely on. Not even when she first thought of seeking out Aerith had she considered the meeting to be more than a means to an end.
Warm tears tracked down Senna's cheeks as she opened her eyes and focused on Aerith. She had to swallow a lump before she could say. "No, you aren't."
So much more wanted to spill out, but for the first time in forever, Senna was unable to organize her thoughts into sentences that made sense. Further words seemed impossible, so she just turned her hand to squeeze Aerith's lightly.
Senna was so absorbed in trying to deal with the emotions she had previously buried that it took her a few moments to realize the voices in her head had begun to calm to a gentle murmur. Her eyes widened as she said, "The voices—they finally quieted."
Aerith's smile was dazzling. "Maybe they just wanted you to know you have someone to turn to!"
That had not been Senna's first thought, but she couldn't deny that it was a possibility. Maybe they had been trying to tell her she was supported. Her emotions were still too raw with thoughts of her family, but she managed a tight smile and a nod. "Maybe you're right."
Senna's issues were far from dealt with. Rufus and his father were still threatening, and she had no plans to put Aerith in danger. Still, she had to admit it was nice just knowing there was another person on Gaia who could understand part of what she was going through on a fundamental level. There wasn't a need to share more.
Somehow, Senna knew a connection had formed during the short meeting with Aerith, and she once again silently vowed to keep the girl safe as she squeezed her fingers one last time.
A/N: I am so excited! It's been less than a month lol. Seriously, I just hope you all have enjoyed this addition. I am hoping to keep the updates coming as quickly as I can.