Crimson Demons (FF7)

10) Death Gigas

The figure walks closer, and my numb fingers fumble for my gun.

"Hello?!" They yell over the storm. "Is anyone out there?!" Should I trust them? Before I can call back, the man appears, about fifty years old with graying hair and a heavy coat on. "Are you alright?!"

"Yes," I call back. "They're not though."

"Oh dear," he mumbles upon seeing Clouds hair getting whipped around with Yuffie's borrowed cloak. "Is this all?"

"We lost five somewhere on the way," I shake my head.

"Hurry, I'll take the girl. You get the others into the cabin just up ahead. Set them by the fire and get back here as fast as you can." I nod and follow him back to the house with Cloud's arm around my shoudlers and Yuffie hanging over one shoudler.

Well aren't you talkative all of a sudden.

There are lives on the line.

You didn't say anything last time there were.

I frown and concentrate on pulling our leader inside the small house I've been led to. The man pokes at the flames and motions for me to rest them by the fire.

"We'll take better care if them in moment, but first, let's get those lost comrades."

I nod and we hurry out into the blizzard, the old man running with a bizarre limp. We nearly pass the shapes of our companions, and I have to call out to the lantern man to have him stop my the large lump I recognize as Barret, Nanaki snuggled into the big gunman's back. Tifa and Cid lay a few feet away, and Cait's completely frozen.

"That's all?" He asks. I nod and we start by getting Tifa and Cid. The pilot shifts the tiniest bit while I pull him inside, and I can't help but feel relieved that we've saved almost everyone. Exhuastion is something I'm refusing to let take over me, though it's begging me. I shake my head to refocus and continue to (quite literally this time) drag Barret to the house. I may be stronger thanks to Hojo, but there's no way I'm carrying Barret, much less throwing him like Violet did.

By the time we get Cait Sith in, I can't feel anything. Thankfully, the house is warmer than the outdoors, which makes moving everyone to more comfortable places easier on both of us. He leads the way into the basement, where he lights a fire, explaining how his chimney for this one works even though I'm not paying attention, instead paying more attention to resting Tifa on one of the mats he laid out by the flames. Barret, Cid, and Cloud also share the space. Upstairs in the living room, Cait sits in the corner of the room and Yuffie and Nanaki are curled up by the flames. Because there wasn't enough space, Violet's resting on the couch with a blanket.

"The name's Holzoff, by the way," the man finally introduces himself.

"Vincent," I reply. He nods and kneels down beside Yuffie.

"She's exceptionally bad. When did she go out?"

"A few hours ago," I guess. "She was the first.

"Hm..." He looks back at Violet. "She's been here awhile too, and she's still not getting her color back." I frown. What does that even mean? Holzoff reads my look with a gentle smile. "She's not warming up. Her lips are still blue. She feels like ice." Oh...

"Should we move her downstairs?" He shakes his head.

"The warmest place is upstairs. She can have my bed."

I nod and lift her off the cushions, somewhat disturbed by how limp and cold she is. It's almost like she's... I shake my thoughts away and pull the covers of Holzoff's bed over her.