Twisted Fate

Chapter Eight

Escape

*****************

Aeris tucked Vincent's sleeve nervously. Her emerald green eyes widened in fear as her slim body shivered involuntarily.

"Vin....Vincent...." Whispering as quietly as she could, Aeris tried had to control her shaky voice. "Wha.... what should we do?"

The dark haired man remained as calm as usually. Yet somehow his coolness disturbed Aeris instead of calming her down. What was he thinking? Would he surrender her to the intruder? Could she really trust this mysterious man? But he saved your life last night!!

Standing up noiselessly, Vincent pulled Aeris back on her feet as he put his finger on her lips. Aeris nodded understandingly, biting her lips to keep herself from making any noise. Vincent grabbed her hand and led her back to her room.

"Get in there..." He flipped up the bedskirt with his claw as he whispered.

"But..." What about him?

"Get in there." Vincent repeated sternly. "And don't come out until I come get you."

His cold ruby eyes told her not to protest any further. Quickly, she crawled underneath the bed, trying her very best not to cry. Vincent's keen eyes saw her shaking body as she settled quietly. Her teary green eyes looked straight at his ruby ones, as if to plead him to stay with her. Such a familiar look, such a familiar shade of green...

Another pounce on the door in the next room broke his thought. Looking away as quickly as possible, he mentally battered himself for being gloomy at the wrong moment.

"I'll be fine..." Words escaped quietly from his thin lips unconsciously. He frowned severely as he lowered the bedskirt. No time to batter himself anymore. Making sure his gun was loaded, he went back to his room, getting ready to face whoever outside knocking.

He failed her last time... he would not allow himself to fail this time. Never.

His metal claw reached out for the doorknob, his gun placed firmly in his grip. His metal fingers quietly unlocked the door, yet he had no intention to open it. He knew the intruder would be able to hear the soft click. His keen eyes concentrated on the doorknob, waiting for any motion, as if he were a hunter waiting for the poor deer to fall in his trap.

Just like he had expected, the metal handle of the doorknob started to turn ever-so slowly. Not a single sound had been made, indicating that the intruder was just as careful as he was. A sly smile appeared across his otherwise emotionless face. Somehow the feeling of being in danger made him feel more "alive". Did it have to do with his Turk background? Or was it his instinct? "Yeah, you were born like this, Valentine... A killing machine is what you are..."

His ruby eyes sparkled brilliantly as he observed the motion of the doorknob. The next move might be a sudden fling of the door, and it should take place right about....

Now.

As if on cue, without a warning, the door was suddenly kicked opened by a strong force as a tall dark figure charged in, yet the intruder was frozen on spot as he felt some cold metal pointed right at his temple.

"It's me, Tseng." The dark figure broke the eerie silence.

Vincent blinked and took a good look at the intruder. Indeed, it was the leader of the Turks. Yet Vincent did not lower his gun until he saw Tseng putting away his own pistol.

Taking a step back, his gun still in his firm grip, Vincent glared skeptically at the man in front of him.

"Someone had cut the power as well as all the phone lines, and we're still investigating it." The leader of the Turks explained in a monotone. "It might be just some anti-Shinra gangs, or it might not..." He threw the ex-Turk a meaningful glance. Vincent barely nodded in reply.

"Mr President wants you and Miss Gainsborough to leave Midgar and stay in Costa Del Sol meanwhile." He paused for a moment. "For her safety."

"How would hiding in Costa Del Sol help?" A soft, feminine voice raised up all of a sudden. Without turning around, Vincent knew it was Aeris. She did not follow his instruction. He frowned severely. It could have been a big mistake if Tseng were actually Sephiroth in disguise.

"The only way to Costa Del Sol is through ships. It would be much easier to monitor the Junon harbor than to monitor the entire Midgar." Tseng explained patiently. "Unless, Sephiroth chooses to swim across the ocean..."

"Or ride a gold chocobo." Vincent interrupted.

Tseng nodded in agreement. "Yes. That's why we are going to keep an eye on the chocobo farm as well."

"What about Mom?"

"Mrs. Gainsborough would have to stay here in Midgar, Aeris." Tseng softened his usual monotone. "It'd be easier for Mr. Valentine to protect one person than two at the same time. Don't worry, Aeris, I would send people to protect your mother as well."

"When are we leaving?" Vincent asked quietly before Aeris could protest further.

"Now." Tseng's icy blue eyes met Vincent's cold red ones.

"What? Now?! But it's midnight!" Aeris exclaimed as her emerald eyes darted from one dark haired man to the other.

"I'll directly fly you two to Costa Del Sol. You would be staying at the President's mansion. There're guards over there as well as state-of-the-art security systems. Not to mention, you'd have Mr. Valentine to protect you..." The leader of the Turks paused and glanced over to Vincent before he continued. "You'd be safe, Aeris."

"But... That's just a luxurious prison!" The former flower girl exclaimed in frustration. Too much had happened within one day, too much for a seventeen year-old girl to bear, pushing her almost to the edge of sanity. All she wanted was to go back home and live peacefully with her mother. Why would Sephiroth want to kill her? Why would -anyone- want to kill her? Why did she have to live a life like a desperado?

"Your safety comes first, Aeris..." As if he could read her mind, Tseng stated softly all of a sudden. "You know how precious you are..." Tseng threw her a meaningful glance. So, it was all about her heritage, about her being the last Cetra. That was the reason why President Shinra wanted to protect her. But was it the reason why Sephiroth wanted to kill her as well? How did Sephiroth know about her heritage? And WHY did he want to kill the last Cetra?

As softly as it was, Tseng's last statement did not escape Vincent's ears. Judging from their reactions, Vincent knew there were things hidden from him. No, it was not merely a compliment, he could sense at least that. The President had not told him anything about this girl except for the fact that she was "very special", which matched with what that Turk said just now. So, why was she so special? Could she be the President illegitimate child? Vincent frowned inwardly and shoved all the questions back to the back of his head. He could care less who this young girl really was. He main purpose was to find Sephiroth and tell him all the truth. The poor man had been lied to for all his life, at least he deserved a chance to know the truth. Maybe then, they both could right the wrong.

IF he could somehow get Sephiroth to stop fighting and listen to him.

*******************

Author's note: Yes, I know it's been a long time. For those who were expecting to see Sephiroth's attack in this chapter, sorry. I don't like "expected" things, you know. The more unexpected, the better. But I promise Seph would show up... soon or later. For now, Vince is having the spotlight all by himself... or maybe share it with Aeris once in a while.

As always, flames, comments, send them my way. Vinnyvalentino@hotmail.com

Now, excuse me while I go back and write "Dreamer".