The Story of Victoria Strife

Chapter 23: Shadows in the Afternoon

The midday sun filtered softly through the windows of the safe haven, casting golden beams across the main room where everyone gathered. The smell of food filled the air as Tifa and Yuffie worked together to prepare lunch, while the others chatted and ate around the large table. Cloud sat at one end, picking at his food, his mind clearly elsewhere, while Barret and Cid shared a laugh over some old story from their days fighting Shinra. The remnants—Yazoo, Loz, and Kadaj—stood quietly in the corner, keeping mostly to themselves, though Yazoo occasionally joined in with a few comments.

Victoria wasn't in the room. She had slipped away earlier, her mind troubled, her body still aching. The chains Rufus had left her bound in had done more damage than she initially realized, and the pain from the deep cuts on her wrists throbbed with each passing moment. As the others laughed and talked, Victoria found herself alone in one of the side rooms, sitting on the edge of a small bed, her wrists wrapped in fresh bandages.

She unwrapped them carefully, wincing as she peeled back the layers. The skin underneath was raw, angry, and swollen, the dark red marks left by the chains glaring back at her. She flexed her fingers experimentally, and sharp pain shot through her arms, but she bit down on her lip, refusing to let out a sound. She had endured worse, but this was different. The chains had felt like more than just metal—there was something about Sephiroth's presence that lingered with them, almost as if the marks on her wrists were a reminder of his words, his taunting.

As she sat there staring down at the damage, a noise from outside the room caught her attention. It was subtle at first, a faint rustle or movement, but it grew louder as the seconds passed. Victoria's instincts kicked in, and she stood up quickly, wrapping the bandages around her wrists once more. She grabbed her weapon from the corner of the room, moving quietly toward the door.

The noise came from just outside, near the entrance. Her heart pounded in her chest, a sense of unease washing over her as she pushed the door open silently. She slipped into the hallway, her eyes scanning the shadows.

And then she felt it—a cold presence, the unmistakable aura of Sephiroth.

Before she could react, an arm shot out from the darkness, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her roughly back into the shadows. Victoria gasped, but before she could cry out, Sephiroth's cold voice whispered into her ear.

"You can't hide from me, Victoria."

She struggled against his grip, trying to push him off, but his hold was too strong. His tall frame loomed over her, his silver hair brushing against her skin as he forced her back against the wall. His glowing, eerie green eyes bore into hers, filled with a cruel amusement.

"You've been thinking about what I said the other night, haven't you?" Sephiroth's voice was low, dangerous, as his grip tightened on her. "I can feel it—the doubt creeping into your mind. You're starting to wonder, aren't you?"

Victoria narrowed her eyes, trying to regain her composure despite the situation. "What the hell do you want, Sephiroth? Why can't you just leave me alone?"

Sephiroth chuckled darkly, his lips curling into a twisted smile. "Oh, but you already know the answer to that. You've always known. You and I are connected, bound by something far greater than you realize."

Victoria's heart raced as she fought against him, trying to get free. "I am nothing like you!"

His grip tightened even further, causing her to wince in pain. "You are exactly like me. You can feel it, can't you? The darkness inside you, the chaos, the power. It's all there, waiting for you to embrace it. You pretend to be something you're not, hiding behind your little friends, pretending you're still human."