Love of My Life

Chapter 7

"Why didn't you tell me?" I looked down to see Ellie's exhausted, tear stricken face and picked her up.

"Tell you what?"

"The reason why you thought you were a monster... What's human experimentation?"

I stopped, "Something terrible that should never be done..."

She shivered, "I'm sorry, daddy..."

"It's okay," I pet her hair our of her face and looked into her eyes... She'd be having nightmares of this for a long time... After saving more people and encountering the WRO several times we arrived in the town square where we had been earlier that day... It was a terrible sight, the boothes were damaged, blood splattered everywhere, things spilled over the ground, and not a soul in sight. I crept out slowly, my sleeping girl in my arms. A strange feeling built up inside of me, my gut telling me to hide Ellie... She sniffled as I hid her behind the booth closest to me, gently setting her against the wall and wrapping my cape around her. The poor thing was in shock. Hopefully this would help... After petting her and telling her I loved her I stepped out into the square. A prickling sensation went through my spine, I took one more glance back at her before stepping further out. Immediately one of their choppers zoned in on me, releasing several soldiers in an attempt to over power me. They really think that is necessary for one man? Maybe they realize I'm not like the others. I won't go down easily...

They shot at me but I managed to evade them as I shot them consecutively. They went down except for one; a woman behind a crate. "It doesn't have to be this way," I said as I dodged a missile from the chopper.

"You don't know anything, scum!" She shot at me, effortlessly dodging my bullets.

"So be it."

I got closer, relying on my hand to hand combat as we danced, not even hitting one another. "You're pretty good but can you fight this?" I really wasn't expecting a trained soldier to kick me in the groin but I moved just in time, blocking her leg with my knee. It was a feint, but by the time I realized it, she had tackled me to the ground like a shadow creeper. I moved to get up when she kissed me, I pushed her off. It was like Yuffie all over again... I wiped my mouth off in disgust. Half-considering to ask if it was her, even though I knew it wasn't. "Not interested? Whatever."

"I have a daughter," I muttered.

"I know. The sleepy little thing is adorable," she pulled out a dagger before stabbing me with it. She was too slow but nicked my side. "Reminds me of my sister."

"If you have a sister why don't you go find her?"

"She's dead. Died ten years ago the night I was taken into Deepground."

"Then why are you fighting for them?"

"Dunno, maybe because my sister could be a whiny brat!" she sneered. "I was the one who killed her!"

I saw why she was chosen, she had no remorse. I managed to take her out before shooting down the airship. Before it crashed into the buildings I managed to grab Ellie and make it through a door nearby. She woke with another fright, crying out to make sure I was holding her. I made my way through the corridors of the building, managing to find a few clips, I stashed them in my pocket before finding a fridge and giving her something to eat and drink. She thanked me before resting on my shoulder once more and falling asleep.

Once again my gut was telling me something, but this time I didn't feel safe to leave Eliora alone. Any one of them could find her and hurt her. I slowly crept up the staircase and into the room. An eerie silence settled over the two of us, breaking when the wall was crashed into. I covered her with my body as the debris flew through the air. I tensed, setting her down behind me. The dust cleared, revealing a giant and a small child barely older than my Ellie.