Kristin ran as fast as she could, tears streaking her face.
"This is all my fault, its all my fault." she kept
repeating. She looked at the crumpled piece of paper that Lacey
handed her, giving directions to the hiding place. Slowly she
slipped into the store and crawled into the vent, Lacey's words
echoing in her ears.
"I have survived much worse than this, as you will hear when
I see you again. Don't worry, Gea will get out, even if I don't."
My only sister and I lost her just like everything else,
Kristin thought bitterly. "What am I going to do now!!?"
Kristin lay down into the soft wool blankets and fell asleep,
tears still streaking down her face.
Lacey slept fitfully where she was kept. Stone walls enclosed her,
and only a pile of hay rest in the corner to lay on. She felt
dingy, and repulsive.
"What does he want now!? I certainly WILL NOT be his wife, I
don't care if Hojo mixes up the strongest potions, I will commit
suicide first!!" Lacey yelled into the darkness. "Actually
I might have to, if I want Gea and Kristin to live and get out of
here. UGH! I should have killed Rufus when I had the chance!"
Lacey collapsed onto the straw. Her weapons and supplies were
stripped from her, and not even a blanket remained to keep her
from freezing. "I'm going to kill him, even if it gets me!"
she shouted so loudly her voice echoed off the walls and burst
back at her, making her shiver.
"Now, why would you want to dirty that pretty face of yours?"
said a voice from behind her door.
Lacey didn't even turn, for she already knew who it was. "Rufus
you scum bag, let us go!" Lacey snapped with a tongue of
acid.
Rufus shook his head. "Now why would I want to do that? I
have my daughter, which is rightfully mine, and I have you to
take down Natalie's empire, let you go!!?? what a laugh"
Rufus chuckled, and Lacey just stared not even thinking of it
being funny.
"You'll be laughing when I have your head Rufus" Lacey
replied, but Rufus didn't hear in the clamor of his laughter.
Rufus finally stopped laughing, and unlocked the cell.....a big
mistake Lacey thought. She charged at him, only to hurt herself.
Only now did she realize the metal cuffs and chains that bound
her to the wall.
The vibration of the metal gave her a shock and she fell,
breaking her leg. Lacey winced in pain. Rufus walked in, being
careful not to cross the boundry of Lacey's chains. "Now
look what you have gone and done to yourslf, your anger is making
you stubborn, and not to mention stupid."
Lacey spat at his face and turned her head in disgust. Rufus
calmly wiped it away, and just grinned at her. "Dear, why do
you torture your self? You could be living as high as...well me.
Besides a broken leg isn't as bad as this."
Rufus turned revealing his right leg, and the cane he had been
using to walk. Lacey smiled. "I told you I would leave my
mark, you never did forget me." she sneered.
"No needless to say I didn't, I remember you whenever I have
pain, that fact makes your chances slim Lacey. My anger is like a
fuse, and once you light it, it never dies." Rufus said
calmly. Lacey just sat in her disgrace trying not to show her
tears of agony and anguish.
"I am willing to give you a chance to live. Either you die
at dawn, or......" Lacey cut Rufus off. "I already know
what you are thinking Rufus, and I won't do it, I wish not to be
your wife, or your guardian." Lacey spat again and turned
her head. Rufus turned bright red.
"OK, so you know I won't really harm Gea, but I can hurt you
and your friends, I will give you two hours to think this over. I
say you won't be executed now. No I think I will donate you to
the studies of Dr. Hojo, good day madam." Rufus yelled as he
stormed out of the room leaving Lacey alone in the dark.
Lacey began to weep, it was truly hopeless. She shimmied over to
the hay, and lay down as best she could without jarring her leg.
"I suppose It'll be for the best if I do what he says. Gea,
Kristin and Natalie would be OK and I suppose.........."
She sighed. Lacey really didn't want to be anywhere near Rufus's
hands, but she knew if she did not do what he wished, she would
end up in a tank in Hojo's lab, or even worse..........
Lacey slumped in defeat. When Rufus came back she would give him
her answer..........
Rufus finally reached the lab, where Hojo was sitting. Rufus
was still a little steamed, but knew Lacey would succumb. After
all, not even he liked to be near Hojo and he was Hojo's boss!
Rufus sat down next to Hojo on the bench. "Well, are either
of them the apprentice?" Rufus asked.
Hojo shook his head. "I really can't tell. Iris doesn't
really call them as we suspected, but sort of directs them there.
So who's to say. Why don't you ask them your self?" Hojo
said as his pushed his glasses back up to the bridge of his nose.
Hojo smiled. "So what be her decision?"
Rufus shook his head looking a bit disappointed, but had hope in
his eyes. "Well if not, I will be sure to make her "comfortable
here" Hojo snickered. It had been a long time since his last
test subject, and he assumed Lucrecia's baby Sephiroth was dead
from the last battle.
Rufus turned to leave the room, Gea awaited him in the play room
he had designed for her.
Gea sat quietly on the carpet as she played with a doll her daddy
made for her. It had long dark brown hair and green eyes, in fact
it almost looked exactly like Lacey. Gea bounced the doll up and
down on an imaginary roof, a smaller doll the looked like Gea on
the "Lacey" dolls back. They climbed up and down until
they were safe in an imaginary cave. Gea smiled and giggled, not
noticing her father whom had just entered the room.
"Hello princess are you having fun with your new dolls?"
Rufus asked with almost a feminine touch to his voice.
Gea smiled. "Oh. yes daddy, where is Lacey, you told me I
could see her this afternoon." Rufus shook his head. "Lacey
has been a bad girl, but perhaps you can visit her if you would
like." Rufus replied with hurt. Why didn't Gea want to be
with him? Well--she would get used to it he supposed.
Gea cheered with delight, of course she knew what peril Lacey was
going through, but if she upset her father, they might never get
out of here. So Gea put on her best smile and skipped up to her
father taking Rufus by surprise. "I love you daddy."
Gea said happily.
"I love you too sweetheart" Rufus replied. "Maybe
you can see Lacey today after all." Gea bowed her head to
say thanks and went to leave when Rufus grabbed her. "Gea
where is that key mommy gave you?" Rufus asked politely,
after all he was talking to a 7 year old.
Gea frowned knowing Rufus would not like her answer. "I gave
it to a friend daddy, she saved my life" Rufus nodded.
"Can you get it back? Daddy will give your friend anything
she wants"
Gea nodded. "I'll get it daddy" Rufus kissed his
daughter and was on his way.
Gea skipped through the halls cheerfully so that no one would
suspect anything. Slowly Gea slowed down until she was in the
kitchen. The cook handed her lunch, and Gea took the platter and
carried it out into the hall. Then slowly she snuck down into the
basement of the building, unnoticed by the smartest of guards.
Lacey still lay in the straw; famished, cold and in pain, she
hoped Kristin and Gea were OK. She did not want to sacrifice
herself for nothing. She also knew that Rufus would be back down
soon. Lacey figured her first hour had past. Lacey was about to
drift into sleep again when she heard the latch lift on the door.
"Must be Hojo coming to dart me with truth syrum or
something" she supposed so she snapped her eyes shout
pretending to be asleep.
"Lacey, are you OK?"
Lacey looked up at the sweet sounding voice. "Gea what are
you doing down here?" Lacey asked as she struggled to sit up.
Gea walked further into the cell, the silver tray in her arms
clanking and clattering. "I wanted to make sure you were OK.
Besides, I can't let you starve to death." Lacey thanked the
girl and finally managed a sitting position.
Gea sat down next to the pile of hay and set the tray down on the
cold floor. "What's the matter Lacey, you look hurt."
Lacey looked at the girl. "I have a broken leg Gea, but I
will be OK, as long as I have you to talk to." Lacey ate the
food graciously, and saved the last half of the sandwich for Gea,
they both shared the warm milk and cookies.
"Lacey, I got an idea, and it might work." Gea said
innocently. Lacey looked up amused with the girls bravery. "I
told daddy I gave away that key to a friend, and he said if I got
it back he would give my friend anything they want.....Well.....
check your pocket...." Gea whispered so that the guards
would not hear. Lacey rolled to her side and felt into her pocket.
This just might be her lucky day.