Loveless

Part 9

A few hours later, Reno was finally forced to let Eloise go. He complained loudly, tried bargaining, and even attempted to convince her to abandon the mission entirely just so she could fly back with him, but none of it worked. Her patience ended when she drove her fist into his ribs with enough force to make him stagger back, wheezing.

"You're really hard to please, aren't you?" one of her teammates remarked, watching Reno limp away dramatically.

Eloise chuckled and patted the man's shoulder. "You have no idea."

Aside from Gongaga, her hometown, and Midgar, she had never truly explored the world. Nibelheim felt unfamiliar in a quiet, unsettling way. The buildings were older, the streets narrower, and the people moved with a guarded caution that made her stand out the moment they noticed her uniform. The team agreed to split up for the afternoon, as long as they regrouped at the cottage before nightfall.

Eloise was used to wandering alone, but this time something felt wrong. Every corner made her tense, every shadow felt deliberate, as though someone dangerous was waiting just out of sight. She couldn't explain the unease, but it grew heavier with each step. At one point, she became certain she was being followed, panic rising as she glanced over her shoulder more than once, heart pounding.

Trying to escape her own thoughts, she turned street after street without paying attention. Eventually, she stopped, realizing she had no idea where she was.

"Are you lost?"

The voice startled her. She turned to see a girl about her age with striking brown eyes and a gentle expression.

"No—well, yes," Eloise admitted. "I think so."

The girl smiled. "I saw you walking in circles. You passed this street twice already." When Eloise flushed, she added quickly, "It's alright. Where are you headed? I can show you."

Eloise rubbed the back of her neck, uncertain. "Somewhere to eat," she said after a moment. "A bar would be nice."

The girl nodded and motioned for her to follow.

They walked in silence for a few minutes before the stranger spoke again. "I didn't know women were allowed in the army."

"They are," Eloise replied calmly, "but not many survive the training. Or the bullying."

The girl sighed. "I had a friend who left to join SOLDIER. His name is Cloud. Have you seen him?"

Eloise hummed, thinking. "I don't remember," she said honestly. "I'm terrible with names."

The girl slowed, then stopped altogether. Her gaze dropped to the ground.

"If you keep going straight, you'll find a place to eat," she said quickly. "Goodbye."

Before Eloise could ask anything else, the girl turned and ran in the opposite direction.

The rest of the day passed slowly. When it was time to regroup, Eloise's steps felt heavy, as if exhaustion had settled into her bones. She paused to look at her sword, a small smile appearing when she remembered Sephiroth's quiet gesture.

"No," she muttered, shaking her head. "Bad thoughts. Don't get attached. That's exactly what Genesis expects."

The walk back to the cottage was anything but peaceful. She nearly got lost again and narrowly avoided being robbed. It was becoming painfully clear that many people in Nibelheim didn't sympathize with Shinra.

When the team finally gathered, the others were loud, tired, and reeked of alcohol.

"So, how was your day?" someone asked.