Crouching down again - Tifa wondered if she was going to have to spend the rest of her life hiding like this. No, she was going to get out but it seemed impossible. In the whole time she had been there she hadn't seen a door or a window or anything. The whole building seemed to be sealed off from the rest of the world. She couldn't contact Cloud. Tifa wondered how he would be feeling. Worried to death, desperately searching for her. She had long forgotten the petty and stupid arguments they'd had the week before. She just wanted to see him again. She wanted to see him again so badly.

And Vincent. Why had he saved her just to leave her? It was a question she just couldn't get her head round. But there was little time to think as she sat crouched behind a stack of wooden boxes in a large, cold storage room. She tucked her knees up to her chest and just waited. She expected Rufus to come in at any moment and snatch her. He was relentless. But she had lost him. She was lucky she was so fast. Tifa could hear his screams though. And the sound of Reno and Rude running in opposite directions. It was only a matter of time before they got her. She was tired of running all the time. For now she was just waiting. Staring blankly at the plain stone wall in front of her, watching her breath steam up over her eyes.

Hold your breath Tifa, they'll hear you. She kept telling herself over and over again. A thousand thoughts of escape raced across her mind but she was paralysed by fear, unable to even raise herself from her crouched position. She leaned back further against the boxes.

Crash. Clang. A plate fell off the counter-top table, hit the ground and smashed into a million pieces. Damn it! They must have heard. Tifa looked over her right shoulder, but no one was there. It didn't matter though. Rufus was like a machine. He would find her. Rape her. Cut her up into little bits. It was only a matter of time. She kept telling herself. Give it up. Give it up. But then another voice inside her head would kick in. No, you've got to fight. You've got to stop them. You promised Vincent. You can get out of this. I know you can.

Tifa turned her gaze upwards and saw the air duct running through the storage room area. She thought there might be a chance to jump up and get in there again to hide. But was high. She knew she couldn't clamber over all the boxes and make it into the air duct without causing a ruckus. Tifa thought it was her only chance though. She had to go for it. Tifa slowly inched herself over away from the boxes and crates she was hiding behind. That's when she heard a voice. Two voices. Rufus and Dr Hojo were close by. As she turned to see out of the room, she could see little drops of blood which must have come from Rufus' eye. Rufus was speaking in some discomfort and pain. Hissing and gasping, he held his eye socket as if he was trying to stop it from falling out completely.

Luckily it seemed they hadn't heard the noise.

"Rufus, you look pretty roughed up." said Dr Hojo. Tifa couldn't see them but could just hear their voices echo from a distance. "What happened?"

"That damn bitch took out my eye."

"I told you to let me deal with her. I have some plans. You should leave everything to me."

"You and your crazy plans again. Don't touch her ok. I told you she's mine."

"Whatever you say Rufus. Just saying, that if Shinra is to survive this time, I think we need everyone to work together, not one person trying to control everything. Anyway, you look like you could use something on your eye. Come with me."

"Thanks, Hojo. You know this was not as easy as I thought."

"Nothing ever is."

"But if you find Tifa, bring her to me, ok?"

"Whatever you say, Rufus."

"Good. I've got Reno and Rude after her too. She can't hide in this mansion. Not unless she tries her luck in the West Wing and I don't fancy her chances there."

"Yes there has been some strange disturbances recently."

"Could it be your overloading the Mako energy in this building."

"Nonsense. Everything will be fine. I'll help you find the girl."

"And Vincent Valentine is here too. We have to stop him too."

"You leave the both of them to me."

Tifa heard their footsteps trail off and they walked further away. She was relieved but now more afraid than ever. Now she had Dr Hojo to worry about as well. She wasn't sure who was more psychotic - him or Rufus. Tifa knew they were both still around so she waited a while longer until the coast was fully clear. Tifa then crawled around the boxes and picked up one of the shards of plate that fell on the floor. She touched it with the tip of her finger. It was sharp - it drew blood.

She tucked the broken piece of plate inside her skirt, careful not to cut herself in the process. She needed it for a weapon. Now she had four lunatics after her and she knew she couldn't rely on Vincent to come back to save her. Not this time. She had to do it by herself.

Tifa tip-toed her way out of the storage room. She walked around the grand mansion as quickly and as quietly as she could. She was met by staircase after staircase, corridor after corridor. The whole place was like a huge labyrinth and still not an exit door or window in sight. At one point, she thought she saw Scarlet wandering the corridors, but it was just her imagination, though she could hear her walking in her high-heels each time she took a step on the hard marble flooring. She was close, perhaps above her. Tifa gulped as she walked down the longest corridor she had ever walked down in her life.

There were paintings on each side of the narrow corridor, not even five feet across. Tifa noticed something strange immediately about the paintings. They were all of Vincent Valentine and Lucrecia, every one of them. Most of them were just Vincent alone but there was one with Vincent and Lucrecia in a full embrace. Tifa studied the painting carefully. She looked at his eyes. He looked human with genuine happiness. It was the first time she had seen him with any real emotion. Tifa smoothed the painting over with her hand as if maybe she could magically wish Vincent to come alive through the painting. It didn't happen. It couldn't happen. But then as Tifa smoothed her hand over the painting of Vincent's face once more, something strange happened. The face seemed to wink. Tifa was startled and taken aback but not as taken aback as when she saw his lips start to move.

Tifa, Tifa. You have to get to the basement. You have to stop them. Don't come here. The West Wing is too dangerous.

Tifa let out a small cry and stepped backwards. She thought it must have been her imagination. It was just a painting, a stupid painting. It can't talk. She was just developing cabin fever. Too long spent alone. She was going mad. There was another wink and this time Tifa didn't think, she just ran. Tifa ran down to the end of the corridor and then leaned up against the wall to catch her breath. Fuck, get a grip, Tifa, get a grip.

Then she heard another voice. But wasn't booming or angry like Rufus' voice. It was a soft, gentle, feminine voice. "Tifa, please help me." said the voice and Tifa turned her head only to be frozen in shock at what she saw.

There floating above her in a white ghostly form was Aeris. This was definitely not possible. It's a dream, it's a dream. Aeris said nothing more and simply floated there, suspended in mid-air. She looked exactly like the time Tifa had last seen her. The same pink dress, long flowing auburn hair, bright green eyes. But with a bright white glow emanating all around her.

Tifa was speechless. She tried to speak but it just came out as an incomprehensible stammer.

"Tifa, please help me." Aeris said again after a long silence. "You must stop the Shinra. They are trying to control the world again. Please stop them before it's too late."

Aeris then shone brighter. Tifa just stared, her jaw wide open. This is a dream, this is a dream, this is a dream, this is a dream. It was too much. Tifa's eyes rolled in the back of her head and she fainted, falling down hard on the cold, marble floor.

In her dream, she was falling. Cloud was there with her. Aeris too. Vincent was there and Barrett. They were falling together through space - an endless pit. The sinking feeling never left her stomach. The feeling of fear. Cloud and Vincent held onto her together trying to protect her. It made her feel safe but she was still falling. She just kept going further and further and further down into the pit until she hit the bottom. That's when she woke up.

The first thing Tifa noticed as her eyes flickered open and she groggily stirred was that she was moving. She was sliding along the marble floor. Someone was pulling her by the ankles. But still half-insensible, she couldn't stop herself being pulled away. Then she was stopped and Tifa could hear the familiar clang of high heels.

Tifa opened her eyes, dazed and immediately dazzled by Scarlet's bright red dress. They were at the bottom of the staircase. Scarlet had found her while she was fainted. Oh shit, this was her worst nightmare.

"Damn, this girl is heavy for such a weakling." Scarlet screamed out. "How am I going to get her up the stairs? Where's Rufus when I need him!"

Tifa felt herself being hauled up by her armpits until she was in a standing position. She was still too groggy to defend herself as Scarlet struggled to keep her upright and stop her falling back down to the floor. Scarlet slapped her in the face hard enough to leave a red mark on her cheek.

"Come on, bitch, cooperate! Stand up!"

But her commands sounded like they were underwater to Tifa. All sounds were washed over and melded together. Scarlet slapped her again and it caused Tifa to open her eyes again.

"Wakey wakey, Tifa. Time for you to pay now. Making me go in the West Wing!"

Kill em all.

Vincent's words rang in her mind again.

Tifa remembered the plate shard tucked in her skirt. She pulled it out and stabbed Scarlet in the shoulder with it. Tifa then kicked Scarlet in the stomach and followed it up with an uppercut. Scarlet was stunned and on the ground, bleeding but Tifa wasn't finished yet. She pulled at Scarlet's blonde locks as if she was trying to rip them out.

Tifa tried to hit Scarlet again, but she blocked her punch and countered with one of her own, right in the temple sending Tifa down to the ground once again. Scarlet mounted on top of Tifa and then scratched and clawed at her face. Tifa did her best to stop her, holding onto her wrists and she tried to push her away with all her strength. Scarlet landed another punch. This one connected harder and Tifa's vision turned to grey and everything around her grew faint. "It's over now, bitch!" Scarlet screamed. "You're going to be wishing you were with Rufus when I'm through with you. I'm going to send you straight to hell!"

Scarlet reared back for a final knock-out blow. Tifa knew one more and it would be all over. She couldn't take anymore. She waited for it but it never came. Scarlet stopped and looked up and saw Aeris' ghostly form hovering above them.

"No, it can't be." Scarlet said, now shaking. "You're dead. You're dead. You're not here. Get away from me!"

Scarlet stood up and moved backwards but Aeris floated nearer to her until Scarlet was backed up against the wall. She extended her hand to Scarlet but she didn't take it. With a scream and sigh, Scarlet fainted too. She collapsed to the ground in a heap of blood that was seeping from her shoulder matching her bright red dress. Aeris then disappeared.

Tifa didn't see what happened. She didn't even notice Aeris. She just noticed that she was free and she wasted no time in getting to her feet and running in the opposite direction away from the staircase. She was running so hard and so fast that she didn't even notice that she was running back to where she came - back to the West Wing.

Tifa didn't make it that far though. As she turned round the corner a white-sleeved arm shot out and hit Tifa in the face, completely clotheslining her. Tifa went down and clutched at her side where she fell. Then out of the shadows stepped Dr Hojo. He pushed his glasses up with his first two fingers and chuckled.

"What an interesting development we have here. Sorry but I'm not following you to the West Wing, so I think I'll stop you here."

Tifa fumbled around in her skirt. Damn it. She had already used her weapon. Tifa tried to stand up but Hojo grabbed her round the ankle and tripped her. Her pulled at her thigh, pulling her towards him. She was able to kick him off, but not for long. Hojo grabbed her again by the waist and then wrestled her to the ground. Tifa squirmed in the mad scientist's clutches but it was no use. Dr Hojo pulled out a white handkerchief from his pocket. Tifa recognised the smell. Those noxious fumes of chloroform. Oh shit, I have to squeeze out. Where's my strength gone? No, no, don't lose this way Tifa, please.

Hojo brought the handkerchief over Tifa's nose and mouth. Tifa tried her best not to breath in but eventually it was impossible. She took just one short breath and the chloroform fumes filled her lungs. She felt drowsy immediately, slipping away. Her last thought was of Vincent Valentine. She knew he would come to save her.

Then Tifa's eyes closed. The handkerchief had done it's trick. The feisty girl had been subdued and Dr Hojo was feeling pretty pleased with himself. He put the handkerchief back in his pocket . He then stood up and tossed Tifa over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. He felt more than pretty pleased with himself. This was the first time he was getting his hands dirty in a real fight and he had won. He quite liked the thrill and especially the feeling of carrying the defeated the girl over his shoulder. Made him feel like a powerful warrior or something. Dr Hojo pushed his glasses up with his first two finger again.

Hojo carried Tifa past where Scarlet was still lying fainted on the ground. He had no time to waste with her. He had to get Tifa down to the basement. He and big plans with her. She was going to be the key to help him secure Shinra's future. She was better than Aeris. Stronger. More beautiful. The perfect fit for his plans.

Hojo carried Tifa down several corridors until he came to an elevator. It went all the way down to the basement. He pushed the button and heard the chime. Then just as the elevator was making its way down, Rufus came running up to him. He was now wearing a black eyepatch over the eye where Tifa had stabbed him.

"Hojo, you got her! Great job!"

"Yeah, I got her! Now I think I should take her downstairs for a while."

"What are you talking about? No way!"

Rufus grabbed Tifa off Hojo's shoulder and picked her up, cradling her in his arms. Hojo looked annoyed but he knew he couldn't win a fight against Rufus. It was best to bide his time and wait for the right opportunity. "Fine, have her." Hojo said. "But I think you're making a big mistake."

"No mistake, Hojo. The world is mine again!"

Rufus then walked back to his room with Tifa helpless and unconscious in his arms. Dr Hojo shook his head in disapproval.

To Be Continued...