For Honor or Glory

Confrontation

Chapter 75

Alex stumbled a few times as she raced down the hall as fast as her shaky legs would carry her. She wasn't sure where she would find anyone at this time of day. Thankfully, she didn't have to search for long. She nearly ran into Sephiroth as she rushed out of the cave.

As soon as he saw her face, he grabbed her arms to steady her. His voice held concern as he said, "Alex, are you all right? You are pale; did something happen?"

Alex hated feeling like a damsel in distress, but Sephiroth's presence calmed her. She pulled him into a hug and held on tightly as she tried to explain. "Two men tried to attack me in the hall. I'm unharmed, but Angeal is the only reason I got away. He has them pinned for now, but he told me to find the elders."

Sephiroth pushed her back far enough so he could look into her eyes. His anger was visible in the tense set of his jaw and the storm in his eyes, but his voice was calm as he said, "Two of the elders are in the café. I just came from there. Go tell them and then wait there for one of us to come to get you. I will go help Angeal."

Alex nodded once before she let go. His absence made her feel cold, but she didn't hesitate to follow his orders. As soon as he was through the door, she was on her way to the café.

As soon as Alex rushed into the café, several sets of eyes turned to her. She ignored the concerned looks as she faced the elders seated at a nearby table. "I need your help, please."

Both men stood and joined her, but the one to her left took her arm gently and guided her to a nearby chair as he said, "You look like you are about to fall over. Sit here and tell us what has happened."

Alex allowed the man to help her sit, and she took a few deep breaths to try and calm enough to give them a coherent answer. However, before she could speak, her eyes landed on a familiar woman standing on the other side of the room and watching everything with interest.

Alex immediately jumped back up and glared at the woman as she said, "Did you all come together? Are you with them?"

The woman looked taken aback for a moment before she frowned. Neither woman was allowed to say more before one of the elders stepped between them. He gave Alex a reprimanding look as he said, "It is easy to see something has rattled you, but that is no reason to be rude."

Alex clenched her jaw and her fists by her side, but she didn't reply. She couldn't; the elder had a point. Instead, she took another deep breath and said, "I apologize. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions."

She then turned to the elder that had reprimanded her and said, "I came to tell you that I was attacked on my way here by two men. They said their names were Fuhito and Shears."

Before she could get more out, the woman on the other side of the room gasped and stepped forward with a glare. "That's impossible! They would never attack a random person!"

Alex's eyes narrowed on the woman, but it was clear the other female was sincerely lost. She must not have known what had happened. Not that it shocked Alex. She doubted the men had planned to accost her in the hallway. She had a feeling it was a spur-of-the-moment decision, but she also felt they must have planned something. That Fuhito was too well informed. Maybe thinking that made her paranoid, but that was better than being a prisoner again.

She somehow managed to keep her voice even as she said, "It wasn't random. Since I was only just allowed to leave the infirmary, I doubt they expected me to be in the hallways, but they knew exactly who I am. Fuhito said something about wanting to talk to me about my thesis, but right after that, Shears grabbed me, and they said they would also like to meet my brother under circumstances better suited to them. There is no way in hell they didn't already have something planned, even if you don't want to believe it."