In The Dark

IN THE DARK
CHAPTER FOUR

“We’re almost there...” Cid smiled as he glanced at the pale one.

“Good. It will be dark soon.” Vincent nodded, hiding deep within his cloak.

“Ya sure ya wanna go in that place at night?”

“Mmmhmm, that’s how it was when I...I mean it is better that way. Besides, the mansions
basement is lit.”

Cid didn’t let the hesitation go unnoticed.
“It will be okay. You armed?”

“Yes. I brought Peacemaker, I can’t quite wield anything better right now.” He looked
away shyly.

“That’s all right. I’ll take most of them on myself...heh, me and my Venus Gospel that is.
She ain’t never let me down.” The pilot smiled, trying to reassure the brunette.

“Hopefully it’s cleared out a lot now.”

“There’s Mt. Nibel.”

- - - - -

“Damn place looks different.”

“Someone’s cut back the overgrowth.”

“Maybe the town?”

“Possibly.” Vincent reached his hand to the gate. Letting the feel of cold iron sink in.
//This fence...this time I’m on the outside of it.//

“You having second thoughts?”

Vincent blinked, snapping out of his memory induced trance. “No.”

He opened the squeaking gate. The screeching sound seemed to cut through his nerves.
Despite his shaking legs he forced himself to walk forward. Clutching his cape white
knuckle tight, lowering his face. Even Chaos and the others were telling him to leave. The
hairs stood up on his skin.
//Stop screaming, you four shut up!//

Cid followed somewhat far behind. He wanted to give Vincent his space, to judge his
reaction.
//This is where I found him...//
The pilot held some fond memories of the strange place. The landscaping almost made it
appear beautiful. Old and strong, yet somehow frail and new.
//It isn’t that bad...//
He smiled lighting a cigarette. Suddenly he heard a thump and seen Vincent fall to his
knees.

“Vince?!”

//Damn! Get up!//
Vincent hid in his hair, his trembling becoming more intense as the door got closer. He at
the moment was unable to walk, completely disgusted at himself.

“Hey what’s wron-” Cid stopped mid-word looking at Vincent.

The brunette was trying to smile at him, playing it off as ‘I tripped.’ However Cid was
very aware of his body language.

“You’re shaking so bad...” The blonde knelt down and wrapped his arms around him.

“I...I’m sorry. Let’s continue?” Vincent refused to move, remaining statue still in the
embrace.

“I dunno what happened here, but I can’t stand seeing you so afraid. I’ll follow and
continue if ya want though.” Cid forced himself to let go.
//Yes, you do know.//

“I want to.” He replied simply, getting to his feet with much effort.

“I’m right behind you.”

“Thank you Highwind.”

- - - - -

//This all feels so foreign.//
The pale one wandered aimlessly through the dark hall.

Cid lit his zippo and a cigarette. “This is the main hall, there’s more floors, mostly
bedrooms.”

“You know it better than I it would seem.” Vincent smiled under his cover of red. “It’s
been a very long time since I was a Turk here.”

“That’s right, you use to live here.”

Vincent nodded.

“I bet it was beautiful back then.”

“I...I don’t remember that. I suppose it was...newer.”
//It will never have beauty Cid. It was a temple of death and suffering made to fool
onlookers. The shady underbelly of the world.//

“Wanna head to the basement?”

Vincent felt a slight tremor run up his spine. He nodded as his voice felt frozen.

“Oi...” Cid placed a hand on the trembling back. “I’m right here, plus you can back out at
any time. Just give me the word, I’ll throw you over my shoulder and get the hell outta
this place in seconds.”

“Heh.”
//That’s right...he is with me now. I have nothing to fear anymore.//

As they made their way, the only one’s protesting were those trapped inside Vincent. The
former Turk however, was completely fine. As long as that firm hand stayed on his back.

- - - - -

“Damn, that’s a shit-load of stairs...Christ...” The smoking pilot was way past winded.

Vincent had to admit, he felt very tired. His body was pushing it and he knew it. Silently
happy for his cloak, as he could feel a back injury slowly bleeding.
//Only a little...no need to worry him.//

“You know, the first time I seen this place I wanted to run back up.” He laughed, finally
catching his breath. “I’m happy I didn’t.”

“Me too.” The pale one sighed, feeling the warm hand return.

“You’re doing fine. You made it this far, heh.” He smiled to encourage him.
//I dunno what you want here Vinny, but I’ll help you find it.//

They began to walk slowly; no longer needing the zippo, as the torches along the wall lit
easily.

“I remember this smell.”

“What smell? Mildew and mold?”

Vincent laughed in a silent way. “Thank you so much Highwind. This is more than anyone
should have to do for me.”

“Shh, talking shit like that.” Cid rubbed his hand in a slow circle motion.

Vincent bit back the need to cry.
//Maybe being tired is making you so emotional?//
He felt so many strong emotions at once being here. Tears seemed to be his bodies
response, but not wanting to worry the pilot overruled it.

“Where ya wanna go first?” Cid broke the silence.

“The lab.” Vincent was suprised at how hard it was to get the words out.

//Figured that...//
“Then the lab it is.”

Vincent quickened his pace, a few feet ahead of Cid. Eager to see if anyone had been
down there.
//Hojo very likely may have returned...old habits die hard.//

As he got closer to the door a searing pain shot through his head.

~NOW!! LEAVE NOW!!~

A voice growled loudly inside his psyche. The pale one grabbed his head, falling to his
knees.

“No...I have to...” He spoke to the raging voice.

~SILENCE!!~

Another wave of pain hinted his vision black.

“Vincent?!” Cid approached quickly, wondering who he was talking to.

“They...they won’t...” He grabbed his head screaming, as the pain intensified.

~YOU WILL NOT DISOBEY ME!!~

“Vincent! What the hell is wrong?!” Cid placed a hand on his shoulder, shaking him.

“C-chaos...he...” Vincent’s eyes rolled back and he fell against the pilot. Blood slowly
beginning to drip from his ears and nose.

“Shit...I need to get him upstairs quick!” Cid sat up, carefully gathering Vincent in his
arms.
//Please be okay, I knew coming to this fucking place was a bad idea.//

- - - - -

The pale eyelids fluttered, he opened his eyes carefully. Feeling like he was hit in the head
with a bat.

“Vince, you’re awake! Thank Shiva...”

“Mmm...” He closed his eyes, stirring.

“I dunno what the fuck happened, but I brought you up here.”

“H-highwind?”

“Yeah, I’m here...you okay now?”

Vincent took a deep breath. “I think...”

“What happened? You said something about Chaos then passed out. Bleeding and all,
scared me shitless.”

“Forgive me.” Logic slowly returned to his throbbing brain. “It was Chaos, he refused to
go into the lab...”

“So, he can talk?”

“Not aloud...usually.” Vincent sat up slowly, wincing as a wave of dizziness descended on
him. “ He can be a bit demanding at times.” A pale hand drifted up to rub his temple.

“You ain’t planning on going back there, are ya?” Cid watched him carefully.

“Yes.”

A heavy silence filled the room.

“Vince...it will just happen again, only next time you might not wake up. If something like
Chaos doesn’t want to go down there, ya should take a damn hint.”

“I appreciate your concern, Highwind. However it’s something I must do, whether they
like it or not.”

“Could ya at least wait till morning? Don’t think I didn’t notice your back. You should let
me fix that.”

Vincent sighed, looking at his feet. “Fine.”

“Thank you. You’re still pretty jacked up from your injuries, don’t wanna hurt yourself.”

“...Highwind? Do you...think I’m pathetic?” His eyes didn’t move.

“What?! Hell no, why the fuck would I think that?!” Cid scoffed, lighting a cigarette.

“Because I cannot even enter a room. I can’t control my own actions it would seem...They
shouldn’t have that kind of power over me.

“Look Vince, I ain’t gonna act like I know what it’s like. Hell, I’m not even sure how you
can change into those things. But they are a part of you, why shouldn’t they have a say in
what you do?”

“Because I want it. Me...not them.” His breath caught. “I control my fate...”

Cid got up and sat next to him on the bed. “You do, but whatever happened to you here,
happened to them too. They’re probably scared of that place.”
//I know you are...fucking Hojo...//

In an unusual gesture he wrote off as being tired, Vincent leaned against the pilot. “I just
want to prove to myself that I’m stronger than what happened to me here...That I’m no
longer one of Hojo’s experiments.”

“You’re not an experiment.”

“Then why can’t I go down there?”

Cid sighed, wrapping his arm around the tense shoulders. “If that’s really what you wanna
do, then you will. Can you convince them Hojo’s not here? Maybe they think whatever
happened in there is gonna happen again.”

Vincent froze a little. Just the words ‘happen again’ made him shiver. That had been one
of his worries ever since he awoke from his coffin.
//You know it will never happen again, you would not allow it. I’m not the same person
Hojo locked in that basement...things are different this time. I’ve got-//

“Vinny?” Cids voice snapped him out of his daydream.

//I’ve got you, Cid...//
“I’m fine.”

“You sure? Sorta spaced out there for a minute.”

“We should find a place to sleep...There is a room with two beds in the West Wing, near
the green house observatory.”

“What?! You don’t wanna sleep on the Highwind?!” Cid nearly dropped his cigarette.

Vincent stood up, smiling slightly. “It may be a little dusty, but at least it doesn’t smell of
fuel...”

“Fine, whatever...” The pilot smiled. “Never slept in a mansion before anyway.”

“Follow me.”

- - - - -

“Thought you didn’t remember your way around?” Cid spoke shaking the dusty
blue-greenish blanket.

“It’s coming back to me.”
//I never forget anything Cid. Not even if I wanted to...//

“You know, the room across from us is where we found the key...to the basement room
you were in.”

“Hojo never did trust anyone. He kept anything of value in that safe.”

//That’s also where some of the tapes were. At least the ones of him...raping you. That
sick son-of-a-bitch.//
“I have never hated one person so much.”

“What reason do you...oh...” Vincent sighed, realizing how stupid that was.
//He’s fighting Sephiroth as well. Aeris, Cloud, Nanaki...they all suffered by Hojo’s hand
too.//

“You should get some sleep, ya don’t look so good.” Cid sighed, laying down on the
white sheets, blanket forgotten on the floor.

//Always worrying about me...//
“I’m sorry to drag you into this Highwind. I could have made it on foot here.” He lay
down as well on the bed across from the pilot. Laying on his side facing Cid.

“And bleed to death on the way?! For someone so smart, you don’t seem to understand the
term ‘seriously injured’.”

“Thank you...”

“Eh?”

Vincent closed his burning eyes. “For...everything...”

“What?” Cid sat up, but sighed when the only response he got was a soft snore.
//You’re welcome, sexy. If I can get you outta here in one piece, that’s all I need.//
The pilot lit his final cigarette of the night, watching Vincent breathe calmly.

- - - - -

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“You look so good today, Vincent. I see your arm is doing better.” Hojo unfastened a few
clamps and a brass plate. Revealing a few wires and gears, as well as very red flesh and
nerve tissue. He took out a long, thin screwdriver and began toy with the device.

“Ahh!!” Vincent yelped in pain, pulling on the lab tables restraint’s, “S-stop!”

“Mmm. Patient responds to stimuli, pain seems to be dominant sensation.”

“Please!” The pale one shook. Each little motion the scientist made with the instrument,
felt like it was ripping his bones out.

“End session.” The dark haired man clicked a tape recorder off. “Heh, would you like me
to take away your pain, my dearest pet?”

“Yes...please...” He whined in defeat and exhaustion. His eyes snapped open wide, when
Hojo’s hand cupped his crotch. “What?!”

“I thought you wanted this Vincent?” Hojo cooed, crawling over him.

“N-no, not this....What else do you want from me you sick bastard?!”

“Everything I can have...or take.” He undid the leg restraints.

Vincent tried desperately to kick, but the Mako injections were making him near
paralyzed.

“Get off me now!”

“Heh, heh...you’re in no position to argue.”

“Stop it! I’ll kill you!!”

“Mmm...” Hojo ripped the black pants down, revealing his nudity.

Vincent bit his lip, wishing he was dead, embarrassment hinting his face. Uncontrolled
tears began to fall silently as cold hands began groping him, and spreading his legs.
//Please...someone...help me...I’m sorry...please...//

“You might want to relax.” Hojo positioned himself, pressing against Vincent’s entrance.
“But actually, Id prefer if you struggle.”

“No! Stop it, now!!”

“Heh, heh, heh...”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

- - - - -

“Vince?! Wake up!” Cid shook him.

“Ahh!” The brunette shrieked, jumping up off the bed, causing the pilot to fall to the floor.

The pale one collapsed into the wall, sliding down, trying to catch his racing breath.
Sobbing, he pulled his knees up and shook.
//Why?! Why can’t I forget this?! Why am I alive?!//

“It’s okay, you were having a nightmare.” Cid crawled to him placing a hand on his back.

Vincent yelped and flinched, covering his face.

“Woah...sorry...c’mon, calm down.”

“C-cid?” He lowered his hand, looking at him in disbelief.

“Hey...I’m here, it’s okay now.”
//He called me Cid!//

Vincent closed his eyes, trying to stop his hyperventilation.
//You’re losing it in front of him now.//
“I’m s-sorry to wake y-you in such a way.”

“Please, let me hold you.”

“B-but-”

“Shh...” Cid shook his head, wrapping his arms protectively around the shaking form.
“You never have to apologize for anything like this.”

“Cid...” Vincent leaned against the warm body, hating himself as the tears began again.
“I’m s-so afraid of this place...I wanna get out of here...I...” He broke down a little,
clutching the blonde tightly. “I can’t breathe...”

“Shhh, it’s okay. Don’t worry, we’re already gone.”

- - - - -

“Good, those assholes kept our room at least.” Cid opened the door of their room at the
inn, carrying their things. Vincent entered close behind.

The pale one quickly laid on his side on the bed. Cid frowned a little before stripping
down to his jeans.

“Not gonna take your shoes off even?”

Vincent didn’t respond, only stared forward. Cid sighed, taking his spot on the couch.

“Cid?”

“Yeah?”

“Will you sleep with me tonight?”

Cid felt his heart jump. “Sure thing, bed beats couch any day.”
//Mmm just hearing those words...but right now I gotta keep my mind out of the gutter./
The pilot positioned into place, but Vincent didn’t move. Turning to face his back, he seen
the other was still shaking.

“Ya want me to rub your back?”

“No. That is not required.”

“Can I at least take your cloak off? It can’t been comfortable.”

“Please, I’d like to leave it on.” Vincent closed his eyes, lowering his face even more
beneath the red fabric.

“Right, okay.” Cid looked at the ceiling blankly. “Vince? What were you dreaming
about?”

The pale one froze. “I don’t remember.”
//You’re an awful liar.//

“Oh.”
//Like hell...//
“You need anything, let me know.”

“Sleep...”

- - - - -

END CHAPTER FOUR