Past Hauntings

Past Hauntings
By Dora Cianfarra
Chapter 6

In the early evening, the drumming sounds of rain echoed through the hospital room. Vincent was staring out the window, looking at the rain pelting the ground. Sounds of the rain made Vincent in a pensive mood.

His memories of Cid’s screams brought out his memories…of Hojo and the old Shinra? Some were of him on his hand and knees, blood running on his sides as he was ganged banged on both ends. Some were of a whipping pole he was attached to as there were some Turks forced to see the punishment for disobeying. Vincent gripped his body tighter to stop the tremors racing through his veins. He focused his mind to bring his breathing to normal when he felt a hand on his shoulder and he stood frozen.

Reeve voice slipped past he defenses as said, “Vincent, hey are you alright?” Reeve had never seen the man shaking before, to worry about him was unheard of. Reeve got to see a rare view of his human side.

“I am fine.” Vincent uttered in a dangerous quiet tone.

Hearing the tone in Vincent voice didn’t allow him to ask more about it. Reeve switched to a safer subject. “How’s he doing?” Reeve sighed worriedly.

Vincent viewed Cid as he said, “He’s been asleep for some hours but it’s a troubled one. I find myself watching him to make sure he doesn’t remove his IV’s or hurt himself.” As if on cue; Cid began tossing and whimpering as Reeve stood there as his heart recoiled to Cid’s pain.

Vincent moved cautiously by the bed, if need be. Reeve sat opposite side, on the edge of the bed, to rub Cid’s legs as to try relieving some of the stress. Vincent saw too late.

Cid blasted a yell, “NO!! YOU FUCKS…OFF….leave me alone…please” in smaller voice,” I said please” Reeve was alarmed that he was the cause of this. It tore a hole in him. Too dumbstruck to do anything, he backed away to let Vincent handle it.

Vincent stroked his fevered cheek,” Shhh Cid, It’s me, I’m here...listen to my voice…wake up…come on wake up. You are here with me…”

Reeve had a sad smile for Vincent as he witnessed a humane interaction with Cid…maybe this unfortunate situation may help him to deal with his own demons.

“Vince?” Vincent voice pulled Cid’s mind as it latched onto reality. His raw voice played on Reeve’s heart strings but he was too afraid to take a closer step. Vincent tried to give him breathing space but Cid’s strangle hold kept him close.

“Please Vince…don’t make me fall asleep” Cid’s mind fought to stay away from those leering laughs and the replayed torture he suffered. His soul raged that he was in this state. He felt like a wretch because of his need for someone to hold on to. It made him feel weak as babe and repulsive-{how can anyone look at me, a sniveling idiot.}

“I am here with you; do you want a sedative strong enough for a dreamless sleep? It will help you heal better.” Cid closed his eyes and nodded into the crook of Vincent’s neck.

Vincent made himself comfortable until the arrival of the nurse. He turned to see Reeve back away quietly as he mouthed the word “Later” Vincent looked intently at raw pain shown on Reeve’s face and wondered where was the man’s mind and heart.

Reeve walked down the corridors of the hospital as he pondered on the state that Cid was in. It was so hard to believe that a foul mouth comedian like Cid could be brought down like that.
His days of dreariness and morbidity were staved off when he endured his barbed jokes as they often coordinated flights for the troops to most dire areas. Cid’s pragmatic way of thinking brought a human quality that often lacked in Turks. The town’s people were more agreeable to collaborate when Cid personally met them. His absence put a dent into the work routine.
It saddened the people to hear ‘the plane had gone down due to mechanical failure’-leaving Cid out of commission until noted differently. When he saw Cid claw onto Vincent, he was taken aback to feel the sliver of envy wiggle through his system.

Slowly it dawned into his reality that there was also a dent in his being. He fisted his hands as he walked out the hospital doors, determined to find a way to be the one to ‘save’ him. So focused was he on his thoughts that he barely heard the ring from his cell. It was the text message from Rufus – ‘There’s meeting at 7th Heaven within an hour.

All the gang, gathered behind closed doors, were on the edge because of what happened to Cid.
Rufus stood up as he began,” You all have the details in your folders in front of you with the woman’s description and of the goings on of all the clubs in Costa del Sol. It seems like this is a private club that is not on the map. It seems the elite people, with backgrounds to match, are invited…I fit the profile so I will be going in as a Shinra who loves his scared ‘guinea pigs’. To find the woman in point; I’ve set up male teams to take different clubs and the tech. vans to monitor them a block away as support.”

Yuffie too distraught to read the file, perked up, “Why only male teams? That’s plain sexist!” Everyone moaned in exasperation while Rufus calmly responded, “If you took the time to read the file, you would have known that this situation is about revenge against homophobic men or a fetish on fears by heterosexual men.”

Barret spoke up, “This fucking crazy, it can be anybody. How do ya ‘pose to weasel into that private shit?” His eyes look intently at Rufus like he lost his marbles.

“I had checked my father’s dealings to see if he was connected to this club. Once I hacked into a cryptic file, I found out the old fuck was a gay in denial. It wasn’t revenge but his fetish of fear that hooked him.” It had explained his past methods of dealings with his employees. He closed his eyes as the memories of Vincent’s whipping overwhelmed him. He sat down on the chair to restrain his raw emotions.

Cloud attentive to the facial emotions, asked tentatively, “Rufus are you okay? I admire for exposing a painful family matter to us but you don’t have to go through with this.”

Rufus took a moment to collect himself and faced the group, “Thanks Cloud but the amount of hatred I had for my so called father makes it possible for me to deal with it. I am not asking to risk your lives. We need the Intel so please check your contacts and gather whatever you can, my friends”

“It’s too bad Vincent can’t be part of it after the mess he left” Cloud stared into his file.

Tifa whipped a paper at him, “Mess?! How can you say that after what happen to Cid?!!
They should have been minced meat in my book!”

Cloud only flick off the paper, undaunted, “If we’re trying to police this city, we can’t act like vigilanties or it can be free for all.

Reeve felt uneasy with the tension mounting, “Please friends, let us not argue. Vincent methods may have not been right but I guess I would have reacted the same way.”

“Methods!?” Reno was floored, “Are you sure you haven’t lost few marbles on your way here? He literately slaughtered them. As one our new officials of the community, he needs to act more appropriately.”

“Then you are saying a gun display would have been more appropriate than Vincent actions?” Rufus was curious about their version of police methods.

Rude answered this time, “Listen Boss, we are not trying to shit on Valentine. It’s just he’s an official and should act like one.”

Vincent entered the scene as he heard gasps around the table, “Then I resign as an official.” He stared at Rufus sitting next to Reeve and his eyes issued the challenge.

It pained Rufus to hear those words but Reeve took up the cue, “I never thought of you as a quitter.” Reeve eyed at Vincent glowering ones as to say ‘tell me something different’.

Vincent growled and answered, “I don’t want my actions to affect the foundations of what we are trying to do.”

Reeve smiled at him, “Fortunately, I refuse to take your resignation. Until I get an official complaint, you won’t need to leave. I’m not worried. People will understand that you were using self-defense for Cid.”

Everyone murmured in agreement.

Rumbling murmurs behind made Rufus turn around to face his bodyguards. “What’s wrong, guys? Is there is something you might want to share?”

Reno and Rude were still arguing when Rufus finally called them out, “RENO – RUDE!”
Reno looked a little pallid when Rufus cleared his throat as he whispered in Rufus’s ear, “Sir it’s just that Reno has had a past experience that could relate to this group” Curious eyes stared at the pink stain on Reno cheeks. Rufus responded, “Later.”

It was becoming an evening of revelations.

TBC