Secrets of a Roughwood (Vincent ValentineXOC) Romance

Chapter 3

Vincent quickly descended the steps to the lab with his gun drawn. After breaking into the manor and entering the secret passageway, he knew there was no going back. The rest from here was a breeze… if he could just overlook the memories to get what he needed and get out. After taking those hundreds of steps and reaching the bottom, he made a point to avoid the room to his left containing those lonely coffins. He spent too much time as it was in that room and he always tried to avoid it if he could. As he got closer to the end of the hall, Vincent heard a noise. The sound of papers falling gracelessly to the floor immobilized him in his tracks and he cocked his gun with one sharp motion. Footsteps could be heard on the other side and Vincent held his breath as he put his hand on the door.

Suddenly, Vincent burst through the door and pointed his gun… right in the face of a 'battle ready' Cloud Strife. Vincent blinked in surprise as Cloud quickly lowered his sword at the sight of Vincent. "Vincent… I should've known it would be you." Vincent in return dropped his gun back to his side and nodded in response. As his gaze left Cloud, his eyes were brought to the rest of the chamber containing more science equipment than he could remember in the past. "There is no one here…" Cloud said and returned back to the adjoining library.

Books were spread out all over the room as if Cloud had been here for a while. "I think they abandoned this place months ago." "Or a year… to be exact," Vincent said. Blood was stained to the floor and broken glass decorated the floor in a rather sharp design. Vincent knelt down to analyze the damage. 

It looks as though she must have killed a few soldiers in her escape. Or is this her blood?" 

Upon further inspection, Vincent found a piece of hospital gown along with remnants of an article of armor. Both were soaked in blood.

"Vincent, look at this," Cloud said without looking up from a thick stack of papers. Battle plans covered the top page along with protocols and armor designs. Vincent studied the page as Cloud read on. "Looks like they were planning a war and using the kid front and center." Vincent's icy stare fell onto the page as his heart turned cold. There was a drawn picture of thousands raging towards battle being led by a child with red dots for eyes.

"The fight three years ago must have really put a damper on their plans." Cloud muttered and looked at Vincent. As socially awkward as Cloud was, He was used to being the vocal one between the two. Yet, he could tell Vincent was struggling inwardly. Turmoil and tension seeped from him like molten lava and burned Cloud with fear for the gunman. Vincent may keep his distance from the rest of the party, but he was still a friend.

"They must have almost come to a break through when we devastated them… and the remaining few brought her back here to continue research." "No, not research…experiments," Vincent finally said and put the paper back down hard. He then walked over to the bed in the middle of the floor and quickly scanned the area. In a voice like acid, Vincent continued on. "They knew how to succeed at what they were doing, they just needed a new place to do it in. After trying for a year, my seed must have finally implanted." With that, Vincent turned from the room and started out the door. 'I've seen enough.'

Reece's POV

I turned on the shower and slipped out of my dark shorts and boots. The steam rose from the shower head and quickly began steaming up the mirror. I raked my hand along the glass and glanced at my pale, naked body. Scars riddled my skin and I coiled away from my reflection. I wasn't in bad shape, but I sure had gotten a lot curvier since the birth of Lucy. My blonde hair had been short for a year now in an attempt to hide from Deepground. I was pretty sure they were all gone, but fear had me taking extra precautions. I stepped into the shower and sighed. It had been too long since I was relieved and stress free enough to take a long shower.