For Honor or Glory

Sneaking Out

Chapter 82

Alex tiptoed back across the room and checked the lock. She was thankful when it slipped open without a sound. Maybe the money put into building this place was well spent. She still waited a moment before she tried to lift the frame. It ended up opening so quickly that it almost banged against the top. It took all Alex's newfound reflexes to stop it from making noise.

She froze with her hands on the bottom of the frame and took a few seconds to get her breathing back to normal. She looked back nervously. Thankfully, Angeal was on the far side of the room near the door and didn't seem to have been bothered. She let out a long breath before she turned back to the window.

She looked out to verify how long of a drop it was. She was on the second floor, but thankfully it didn't seem to be more than that. It was a shorter jump than the one when she was trying to escape.

That thought made her shiver, but she pushed it back as she climbed out as silently as possible. She held herself up long enough to ensure Angeal hadn't moved and then dropped to the ground. She clamped her teeth shut against a twinge in her ankle. At least it didn't seem to be a problem as she was immediately on her feet and running toward the path. She didn't stop until she was around the corner that blocked the mansion from view.

She paused for a moment to listen for any pursuit. When she didn't hear anything, she turned back up the path. She wasn't looking forward to walking all the way back to the bridge to look for clues, but at least the moon was nearly full, and the night was clear. She only hoped her walk would be as uneventful as the one that morning had been. She hadn't really been thinking about monsters when she left, but they were in the forefront of her mind as she looked at every shadow she passed.

She felt vulnerable and less than intelligent for not thinking of the possibility before leaving, but she wasn't going to turn back now. At least she made it to the first split in the path without being accosted. That was where she paused. Brian had mentioned that the mountains were riddled with caves, and most of the forks went to those. It was a long shot, but surely it wouldn't hurt to at least poke her head in and see if Sephiroth might be in one for the night.

With that thought in mind, she took the right path. It curved around the mountain for longer than she anticipated, but it was only about fifteen minutes before she came around the last corner and the cave came into view. However, she stopped in her tracks when she noticed a faint light flickering against the rocks. She wasn't even aware that she had spoken out loud. "There's no way. My luck can't be that good, can it?"

Even with that thought, she knew there was only one way to find out. She did her best to stay silent as she closed the distance. She didn't even enter the cave. Instead, she poked her head around the edge. However, what she saw had her body quickly following.

Sephiroth was standing between her and a small fire. He had removed his duster and gloves, but he still had the Masamune in his left hand. She couldn't see his face, but his body language spoke volumes. His shock was evident in his voice as well. "Alex? Why are you here? You should leave before—"

He turned his face away, and Alex could just make out a frown from his profile. He had also allowed his sword to disappear. Alex ignored his question and his suggestion as she took a step forward and said, "I came to look for you. You shouldn't be isolating yourself over earlier. I don't blame you for anything."

His voice was still hard as he said, "I am dangerous. You should not have sought me out." He paused to look up, and she assumed it was at her since she still couldn't see his face well. "Where are the others?"

His last question made Alex fidget, but she still answered, "Actually, they are still back at the mansion. The plan was to wait for morning, but I couldn't sleep."