Every city has
its slums, and Sector 5 was no exception. It looked a lot like Sector
7: dark, gloomy, lonely...except for a single beam of light streaming through
a hole near the back. Drawn to it like a magnet, Cloud ran to find
out how there could be such luminescence in this place of despair.
Bursting through the hole, his hand reflexively shot in front of his face
to block out the blinding light. In a few moments he realized that
it wasn't because the place was bright, but because he had been living
in darkness for so long. After his eyes had adjusted a little, he
found himself staring at a beautiful house complete with a large garden
beside it.
"This is it! Thanks a lot, Cloud," said Aeris
gratefully.
"This...this is your house?" exclaimed Cloud, astonished.
"Of course. What did you think it was?"
"Well...it's just I've never seen a house like this
for such a long time."
"Oh...well, let's go in, shall we?"
"Yeah, sure..."
Aeris rushed through the doorway and excitedly yelled,
"Mom! I'm home!"
"Hello, Aeris," replied her mom, coming down the
stairs. "Who's that?" she inquired motioning toward Cloud.
"Oh, this is Cloud. He's my bodyguard."
Turning around, Aeris introduced, "Cloud, this is Elmyra, my mother."
"Nice to meet you, Cloud."
Cloud responded with a nod. Suddenly thinking
of his vision again, he inquired, "Aeris, do you know about a girl named
Tifa? She lives in Sector 7."
"Tifa?" she wondered, searching through her mind.
"No, I don't think so." She paused as if deciding whether to say
something or not. "A girl...friend?"
"No way!" Cloud denied vehemently, not wanting to
offend Aeris.
Aeris giggled. "You don't have to be so embarrassed
about it."
"Embarrassed?"
"Oh, never mind. You'll have to go through
Sector 6 to get to Sector 7. Wall Market is in Sector 6; you could
probably get some information about her there."
"It's getting dark," Elmyra interrupted. "Aeris,
please go make the bed."
"Yes, mother."
Waiting until Aeris was out of sight, Elmyra turned
to Cloud and said softly, "Could you do me a favor, Cloud? Please
leave before dawn."
"Sure," Cloud agreed, understanding her worries.
Now he had some sleeping to do
