Kristin finally awoke from her slumber. She sat up, and looked
around pondering where she was until she finally remembered the
following night. Kristin finally realized it wasn't her fault,
and felt more relaxed, but she still worried about the two.
"I wonder if Lacey is OK. I know Gea is, Rufus would not
harm her, but he would harm Lacey..."
Kristin shrugged off the thought of her husband, he was just one
man she chose not to remember. Kristin kicked off her cover and
took out a frying pan that had been left there by Gea. She
cracked some eggs and managed to eat some breakfast. After she
was done eating Kristin came up with a plan.
"Rufus is after Iris's immortality so he will try to go to
the city of ancients and use Gea's key... I must meet them there,
perhaps I can trap them......" Kristin thought aloud. With
her extensive studies of the place she knew every underground
tunnel, every rock, every tree, she would catch them yet.
Gea left Lacey's cell quickly, for if Rufus caught her down there
she might get in trouble. Lacey shoed her out, and hid the tray
and left over food. Just after Lacey heard the door to the
basement close and the latch click, she began to get sort of
feverish and uneasy. She swayed and fell flat on her stomach into
the hay. Blackness seemed to surround her head, and it made her
sick and confused. Easily she could tell it was a confuse materia,
but was too ill to notice. Trying to keep her composure in front
of the man she knew must be coming she kept down the bitter bile
that threatened to choke her.
The latch to the door clicked open once again and footsteps
echoed off the gray stoned walls. Rufus appeared again at the
door to Lacey's cell. The latch clicked as the door unlocked. The
metal door grated the ground and made a horrible dissonant sound
that made Lacey have to cover her ears. Rufus entered the room
along with Dr. Hojo. Lacey crunched into a fetal position, as she
knew what was coming. Hojo walked over to Lacey, holding a
syringe filled with a brownish liquid. Lacey instinctively kicked
it away. Hojo produced another from his white lab coat, while
Rufus called for the guards. 4 huge men walked in and pinned down
each of her limbs, being careless about Lacey's broken leg.
Lacey screamed in pain as one of the large broad men pounced upon
her wounded leg. Hojo injected the liquid into Lacey's upper arm.
Lacey went limp and calmed. "Truth syrum" Lacey guessed
and Hojo nodded his head as if saying "Your correct."
He smiled at his triumphant work and left the questioning to
Rufus. The guards left the room snickering like hyenas as they
left.
Rufus stood for some time waiting for the liquids to take effect.
Finally, when Rufus was satisfied he began to ask his "questions."
Lacey just sat there, eyes glazed over, and mind fuzzy. Rufus
smiled. "Well have you made your decision?"
Lacey just stared at him stupidly for a few minutes then answered.
Her words were slurred, as the effects took over. "Yeth, I
will tay hew wit you" she replied. Rufus nodded then ginned
in triumph.
Lacey then in return gave him the craziest smile. It was like a
grin of a mad dog. Rufus knew the truth syrum would have some
effect....but he didn't know this was one of them......
"I have two more questions" Lacey just sat there......still
grinning.... "How did you find me here?"
Lacey finally began to reply. " I rully don know twas if I
was lead" she said...still in her haze.
Hmm, Rufus thought, The City of Ancients is just
north of here, well that resolves one problem we now have our
apprentice and she is under my control.. good.
"Next question" Rufus said with eagerness. "Is
Lucrecia and Hojo's son dead?"
Lacey stopped smiling..... she tried to fight the syrum...wanted
to say yes, Sephiroth was dead, but could not lie... "No, he
is alive."
Rufus's eyes went as wide as saucers. This could be a problem......
Rufus decided it would not be a problem until later in his
plans, so he brushed the thought of Sephiroth away and called for
the guards.
"You imbeciles how could you treat my fiancé so!!?? Get her
to her room and have the servants heat her a bath!" Rufus
barked.
The broad men carefully scooped Lacey up and carried her up the
stairs. The maids bathed her and lay her in her bed.
Later Rufus and Gea came to visit. The truth syrum had almost
worn off, but Lacey still slurred her words as if her jaw was
numb. "ElloGea, arroyo oke?" Gea nodded her head and
crawled onto Lacey's bed giving her a big hug. Again Lacey winced,
her leg still broken and under no care.
Rufus stepped over. "Hojo will see to that leg soon, as soon
as he finishes an assignment, for now Gea can stay in here with
you. I will be back later for we have much to discuss."
Rufus walked out the door and shut it. Though he didn't bother to
lock it, Lacey was in no condition to walk let alone plan escape.
"Are you okay Lacey?" Gea inquired with a curious voice.
Lacey smiled, the syrum almost worn off. "Yes I am okay Gea,
are you?" Gea again nodded, indeed she had the shyness of a
seven year old, that she was.
"I've taken on stronger beatings than that ye'kin"
Lacey said. Gea just laughed at her words and pulled out her two
dollies. Lacey picked up the one that looked like her and
examined it closely.
"Gea may I do something with this doll?" Lacey asked a
spark in her eye. "Yes whatever you wish." Gea said
sweetly. Lacey slowly unfastened the threads of the neck and
slipped the key inside of the doll. "Gea keep this doll with
you at all times, we have to hide this key from your father"
Gea again nodded and took back the doll so she could sew up the
neck. After that was done Gea curled up near Lacey and fell
asleep-the young girl had to be exhausted. Lacey took a small
brush from the table next to her bed and began to brush the child's
blonde hair. The bottoms of her hair made cute little strawberry
curls that reached to Gea's waist.
Lacey continued to admire the small child's beauty when Rufus and
Hojo, yet again, walked in to greet her. Rufus smiled at the
sight. "Getting along with my little angel I see."
Lacey just frowned. "You don't deserve her you pig!"
Lacey whispered, so that she would not disturb the child's
slumber.
"I wouldn't be naughty if I were you, I can still easily go
back on the deal."
Lacey nodded and lay back and sighed in submission. Carefully
Lacey moved Gea aside so that Hojo could look at her leg.
Lacey eyed Hojo carefully, for she knew this man all too well.
"I had better not end up with a tentacle for a leg."
she said as she stared at them both with a hawks eye.
Hojo laughed. "Let me work or you very well might."
Lacey turned her head trying to hide the sweat pouring down her
forehead.
"All she needs is a slight adjustment, it's not so bad. Let's
get her to the lab." Hojo said more to himself than to
anybody else. Lacey groaned and crossed her arms in protest. She
wanted to be nowhere near this mans "lab", no, wait,
torture chamber. Hojo just sighed and looked at Rufus. Rufus
glared at Lacey, giving her the "you had better" look.
Lacey uncrossed her arms. "Fine, whatever, but if you get
anywhere near me with a needle or a scalpel I am going to wallop
you with my arms and good leg. You understand!!?"
Hojo ignored her. Lacey smacked off his glasses and gave him an
evil glare. "Fine, I won't!" Hojo exclaimed, as he
picked up his glasses from the floor. Lacey was again lifted up
by several men. they carried her out of the room, leaving Gea
behind, asleep in the large bed.