Loveless

Chapter 24

When they returned, Zack headed straight for the lounge without looking around. He didn't trust himself to face his sister yet; he wasn't sure he could hide what he knew. As he started up the stairs toward his room, he caught sight of her crossing the hall ahead of him and immediately tensed. Fortunately, his phone rang.

"SOLDIER Second Class, Zack?"

He frowned. "Yeah, that's me. Who's this?"

The voice sounded familiar, though he couldn't quite place it.

"Director Lazard wants to see you. Report to the briefing room."

"Wai—" The line went dead before he could finish. Zack exhaled slowly, forcing himself to calm down.

Unfortunately, he ran into Eloise again near the elevator.

She looked thinner than before, paler too, and there was something in her expression that made his chest tighten. He was about to ask if she was alright when she spoke first.

"What did you find in Wutai?" she asked bluntly.

"What do you mean?" he stammered, already knowing he'd answered wrong.

Her eyes hardened and she crossed her arms.

"There's been a mass desertion among the 3rd Class SOLDIERs. You, Angeal, and Sephiroth were sent to investigate. You and Sephiroth came back. Angeal didn't." Her gaze sharpened. "I asked Sephiroth about it. He ignored me."

Zack swallowed.

"It's nothing. We were attacked, and we lost track of Angeal. He'll be back soon." The words sounded hollow even to his own ears.

The elevator doors slid open behind him. Zack stepped inside quickly, avoiding her gaze. She didn't follow. Instead, she stayed where she was, watching him with an expression that made his skin prickle.

"I'm sure he will," she replied, her voice calm but edged with something cold.

The doors closed.

Zack shuddered without knowing why. He wasn't sure whether it was her tone, the faint energy he could almost feel radiating from her, or the emptiness in her eyes. Lately, Eloise had begun to resemble Sephiroth more and more—and the thought unsettled him deeply.

"Any word on Angeal?"

Lazard didn't look pleased. Zack could tell immediately. He still held on to the hope that his mentor hadn't truly turned his back on Shinra—on him. Angeal wasn't that kind of man. And yet Genesis was already under suspicion of desertion, and the situation was rapidly spiraling out of control.

"He hasn't contacted his family either," Lazard added, his expression dark.

Zack clenched his fists. He needed answers, but he knew he wouldn't get them from Lazard. If he wanted the truth, he would have to find Angeal himself.

"So what's this about?" Zack asked as the terminal screen lit up.

Lazard folded his arms across his chest, studying him carefully. Dealing with Zack was easy enough, but Eloise was another matter entirely. She was far more perceptive than her brother, and far too close to Sephiroth for comfort.

"I have a new assignment for you," Lazard said. "You're to investigate the hometown of our missing SOLDIER First Class, Genesis. According to his parents, they haven't heard from him at all. However, their testimony can't be trusted."

Zack frowned. "Why not?"

"For the same reason I don't want Eloise involved in this," Lazard replied coolly. "They're protecting him. Parents tend to do that."