CHAPTER 7
The room was
a dead end, but they had to keep moving. Cloud started climbing up
a large pillar that had collapsed against the wall, and Aeris followed
close behind. Wooden scaffolding had been built along the wall, and
some stairs led to the beams supporting the roof. Cloud dashed towards
the stairs, but abruptly screeched to a halt, flailing his arms to keep
his balance as a large section of wood broke away and fell to the floor
below. "Whoa..." he said. "Close one."
Suddenly, the soldiers broke through the door with
Reno behind them. "There they are!" he yelled. "Over there!"
Aeris pointed. "Cloud, that one!"
"I know," he replied. "Looks like they aren't
going to let us go."
"What do we do?" asked Aeris.
"Well, we can't let them catch us, can we?" Cloud
replied casually. "Then there's only one thing left." Gathering
his strength, he jumped across the large gap and headed towards the roof.
"Aeris, this way!"
Aeris hesitated as she stared at the gaping hole
in the scaffolding and the long distance to the floor. Shaking her
head, she asked, "Isn't there another way?"
"All right," Cloud agreed. "I'll hold them
off."
"Right, make sure they don't get through!"
"The Ancient is getting away!"
Reno shouted. "Attack, attack, attack!
Machine gun fire erupted in the room as the guards
aimed at Aeris. The weakened wood collapsed as it became perforated
with bullets, and Aeris fell screaming onto the pillar, sliding the rest
of the distance to the ground. "Aeris!!" yelled Cloud.
"Think we killed her?" Reno said. "Shouldn't
have put up a fight, I say."
A little bruised but otherwise unhurt, Aeris got
up and called franticly. "Cloud, help!"
"Just hold on a minute!" Cloud replied, spotting
a barrel on one of the ceiling beams. If I could just push this
over...
Bullseye!! The guard looked up and only had
enough time to let out a short shriek before the heavy barrel squashed
him under its weight. "Whew! That was a close one," breathed
Aeris. Another guard advanced toward her. "Stay right there!"
called Cloud as Aeris ran up the stairs. Reaching another barrel,
he heaved it off the beam, and it rolled down the steps, colliding into
the oncoming guard. Aeris was about to thank Cloud when the third
soldier started pursuing her. "Hold on!" he repeated and promptly
dropped another barrel onto the last unsuspecting guard. "Thanks,
Cloud," Aeris said gratefully.
"Aeris, this way!" Cloud said, pointing to a hole
in the roof. "Oh, okay," replied Aeris. Gathering up her courage,
she jumped across the gap and carefully followed Cloud on the narrow, creaking
beams to the opening leading outside.
Out on the dilapidated roof, which had collected
a large amount of litter over the years, Aeris
laughed half-heartedly. "Haha, they're looking for me again."
"You mean it's not the first time they've been after
you?!" exclaimed Cloud.
Aeris shook her head.
"That guy was one of the Turks," said Cloud.
"Hmmm..."
"The Turks are an organization in Shinra," he explained.
"They scout for possible candidates for SOLDIER."
"This violently?" Aeris retorted. "I thought they
were kidnapping someone!"
"Yeah...they're also involved in a lot of dirty
stuff on the side. Spying, murder...you know.
"They look like it."
"Yeah, but why're they after you?" Cloud inquired.
"There must be a reason, right?"
"No, not really. I think they believe I have
what it takes to be in SOLDIER," Aeris replied, smiling a little.
"Maybe you do," Cloud said thoughtfully. "You
want to join?"
"I don't know...but I don't want to get caught by
those
people!"
"Right. Come on, let's go then!" Cloud said
as he started down the roof.
Quickly jumping his way through the debris, Cloud
suddenly heard Aeris shouting. "Wait! Wait I said!!" she yelled.
Cloud stopped and waited as she prepared for an especially long jump and
caught up with him.
"Slow...down...don't leave me..." she said, panting.
"Funny...I thought you were going to join SOLDIER!"
Cloud joked.
"Oh...you're terrible..."
Cloud laughed.
"Hey, Cloud. Were you...ever in SOLDIER?"
"I used to be," he replied slowly. "How did
you guess?"
"...Your eyes. They have a strange glow..."
"That's the sign of those who have been infused
with Mako, a mark of SOLDIER. But how did you know about that?"
"Oh, nothing."
"Nothing?"
"Right, nothing!" Aeris said. "Come on, let's
go!" she commanded. "Bodyguard!"
Cloud gladly led the way.
