IX

When you, Maqui and Yuj arrived at the mess hall, it wasn't what you had expected. 

Restless whispers and murmurs hovered around the crowd gathered in the mess hall. What could all the comotion be? You followed the gazes that all stared upon one space in the room. 

A space occupied by a body. A dead one. 

They were face down on the floor in a pool of their own blood, preventing you from seeing who it was. Although from what you could tell, it didn't look like anyone familiar. That wasn't what bothered you though. What bothered you was the mannerism of the murder. His left arm was  twisted, a sharp whitish point sticking out through the skin. Bone.

You could see a fraction of his face at the angle it was turned. His neck had been snapped. The convicts cheeks had also been sliced open, and a gouging hole in his right eye.

Although the sight was gruesome, you had seen worse...done worse, but not in the manner of this murder. This one was just messy. 

However that same feeling in your gut returned. The unnerving feeling. 

It seemed unlikely that murder would take place in this prison, considering that the consequence was death. You weren't so sure that it was one of the inmates. It was something else, someone that had given you the same unnerving feeling.

    "Everyone back off! Back off now!" A voice boomed, silencing the occurring murmurs. 

A group of soldiers and guards arrived, causing the crowd to disperse, allowing them through. The two leading the group, made you clench you hold your breath and clench your fists.

They were leaders. Two out of three. Cid Aulstyne and Rufus ShinRa. Both intimidating, both together was almost scary. You had heard rumours about the leaders of the High Security Prison, not good ones either. 

Behind them were the seconds in command, Reno and Qator. Cid Raines however was missing. Probably with the other leader, who had yet to show, or not. 

    "I take it I don't need to tell you what I want to know." Cid began, in a low voice, a dangerous tone hanging from it. "If I don't know the name of the culprit by 8pm tomorrow," He paused, sharp narrow eyes scanning the crowd like a hawk, looking each and everyone dead in the eyes. "I'll start dropping bodies, starting with those who even merely look suspicious."

Everyone stole nervous glances around the room, people stepping away from one another, no one trusting anyone. You stayed put not taking your eyes off the generals. Your eyes accidentally locked with blue ones, and your breath caught in your throat. Why did you have to be noticed? Why couldn't you have just ducked or shrank back into the crowd? Rufus ShinRa of all people. He held a stoic expression, but the look in his eyes told you he either suspected you of something, or recognised you. 

He tore his eyes away from you as the crowd began to speak again, asking questions and sparing glances. 

"From your silence I presume no one wants to come clean yet? Cowardly dogs! The lot of you! You are all dismissed! Get out!" No one wasted any time as people started shuffling and pushing their way through the exits to their wings. 

You felt slightly peeved though. Cid had called you all dogs. What was wrong with dogs? As a matter of fact you quite liked the animal. (Sorry if you don't haha). You didn't have time to have an inward tantrum about something so trivial when a hand latched onto your own, forcefully pulling you sideways and through a small gap in the mob, being torn away from Maqui. However that was what worried you, it was only Maqui, Yuj was nowhere to be seen.

You caught a glimpse of fiery red hair and mentally groaned. The style of it gave it away otherwise you would be deciding whether it was Axel or Reno.

It was Axel. 

Your hand was almost yanked out of his own as you were shoved around, causing you to instinctively tighten your grip on Axel's hand. 

He pulled you into a vacant corner where the horde passed by without a glance. 

    "I'm starting to think your debt is rising, kitten." Axel grinned a toothy grin. You glared at the smug red head. 

 "And what do I owe you for? It was you who grabbed my hand, no the other way round." You snapped. 

"And who was it who was so desperate to tighten their hold, hmm?" He smirked, green eyes dancing with laughter. 

You growled as heat crawled up your neck and your cheeks tinted pink. 

"It's ok kitten, I know how you feel. A lot of women seem to fall for me at first glance." He bragged dragging a hand through his red locks with triumph. 

Smug. Cocky. Asshole.

It took everything you had to keep yourself from punching him square in the face.

"So why did you help me back there?" You mused crossing your arms. His eyes flashed mischievously as he looked at you. 

"Well, you looked like such a helpless lost kitty cat, it was such an adorable and pitiful sight that I just had to come and save you." He chuckled.  

A fire raged inside you. Had you seriously looked helpless? It was a mere bustling crowd for crying out loud! No way would you look scared in that! 

The anger must have shown on your face because Axel snickered at your expression. 

"You're too easy to mess with. Such rage in ya, kitten" Axel laughed, going to pat your shoulder. Your hand shot out gripping his wrist in a firm hold. 

"Feisty." He smirked. A staring contest seemed to happen between the two of you, until Axel broke it, gingerly removing your hold on his wrist. "See ya round, kitty." And just like a phantom, he disappeared into the decreasing crowd. 

It was as if he was a ghost. How on Gran Pulse had you lost sight of the most noticeable red hair? You would never know, it seemed.

Sighing, now that you could finally walk without getting shoved around you started to head to your cell.

However before you could get far, you halted as you turned a corner, as your eyes landed upon two people did weren't really that pleased to see. Especially the general, standing there speaking with Reno. 

Reno paused and turned, his eyes landing on your still form, green eyes flickering in recognition. The general also, turned to look at you, causing you to want to shrink and disappear completely. 

Dismissing Reno with a wave of his hand, his turned to you fully.

You weren't sure if you had imagined it or not, but Reno had seemed hesitant to leave at first, but obeyed Rufus without question. 

    "I can tell it wasn't you," He spoke up after a while, raising a brow and bringing his hand to his chin in thought. This must be one of his relaxed moods. Lucky for you. His sharp eyes reguarded you, cold, cunning and calculating. You felt like a mouse, cowering before a predatory cat, and you didn't like it. Not one bit. "But..." He went on, taking one step too close for your liking. "I think, you know who did it." A small, sly smirk wormed its way onto Rufus' lips, as his eyes look directly into your own (e/c) ones. 

You wouldn't back down from someone like him. Not now, not ever. 

Calming yourself, you also, looked Rufus directly in the eye and said,

"I don't know what you're talking about, sir." His smirk disappeared and he leaned back, out of your personal space. You might as well say goodbye to that, considering the number of times people have invaded it. 

"Playing stupid won't get you anywhere here, unfortunately." He proclaimed, his demeanor stiffening. Did you just shift his mood? You hoped to Etro you hadn't. You really didn't want to be on Rufus' bad side. He strode past you, only to stop a little way keeping his back turned to you. "If you decide to voice the one responsible, seek out Reno and tell him to take you to my office. I'll make it worth your while, Miss (Surename)." 

You held your breath.

How did he know your name?

Oh, well wasn't that marvelous! He knew your bloody name! Did Axel have something to do with this!?  You seethed internally. You'd kill him if you had the chance!

With that, he began walking away, mumbling something along the lines of "You're lucky you bumped into me while I was in a good mood." 

That was his good mood? You couldn't wait to see him angry. Not.

Boop de boop -Rikki