Just Focus (FFXIII)

18) Vengeance

We rush forward as a trio, ducking behind a stack of boxes. Snow leans forward to peek around the corner at the civilians that line the streets with the soldiers that are meant to be evacuating them. Curious, Hope follows suit, his eyes slitting over our familiar surroundings. Snow huffs.

"They don't really believe that become a l'Cie is contagious, do they?" I shake my head. "That doesn't make sense."

"The Sanctum doesn't," he answers, glancing back at me. "But the people panic if evil comes anywhere near them—they don't know any better."

"It's what they're fed." I suddenly remember all the lectures I got as a child about staying away from fal'Cie and about the horrible, horrible dangers of Pulse. They breathe fear into us for more control.

"The Sanctum follows fal'Cie orders. It's not just after l'Cie," he mutters, pulling his hat back out of his eyes. I watch a family follow orders uncertainly, hanging tightly onto each other's hands as they join their neighbors and friends. "They'll target civilians, and Purge everyone who's a threat."

"And more innocents are killed," Hope says, glaring at the troop that walks past, wielding their guns as an ever-present, silent threat.

"You can't take the blame for that," Snow replies under his breath.

"Someone has to."

"We can still save 'em," Snow insists, turning back to the crowd. "We let loose and bring the army to us."

"Draw their fire?" Hope frowns, nervous. Snow nods.

"I'm supposed to protect you. But I can't let this happen. It's a tough call, that's for sure."

"We can handle ourselves, remember?" I force a smile, reassuring him. He sighs.

"Only one choice, I guess... I try to save everyone." He shoots me a wink, grinning. Hope rolls his eyes, scowling at the ground. "So, you guys with me on this?" He stands, back pressed to the shadows. "You just need to look out for yourself."

A muffled speaker playing warnings of evacuation to the citizens covers the sound of our footsteps as we hurry into the nearest cluster of soldiers. Silently, I run at the closest one's back, slitting his throat and knocking him to the ground before he can make a sound. Snow dispatches the others and, somehow, the other troops scattered around don't seem to notice. We take a flight of stairs up to the next broad square of the city and I take in the smell of the polluted air, the sight of the bright colors, and the sound of the people talking amongst themselves. It almost feels like I'm back in a time before Cid left and Cassie... I shake my head, refocusing. It's still today, though.

I reach out a hand and run my fingers through the bushy plants that are lined in perfect rows along the walkways, relishing in the feeling as we keep moving, hoping that no one takes notice of us. Quickly, Snow leads the way up a bout of narrow stairs that leads us around a pair of soldiers safely, effectively keeping all attention off us. Where are we going? Hope stumbles on one of the cement tiles that's lifted on the edge; I lift my arm to catch him, gritting my teeth under the force of his weight. Still, I manage to keep him on his feet and keep us unnoticeable in the crowd. Snow takes a sharp turn into an alleyway and we follow, left with little choice. Four soldiers rush at us before we have a chance to hide, recognizing us from the broadcast earlier.

"Look out!" Snow shouts, shoving me behind him and raising his arms to deflect a round of bullets.

Fazed for only half a second, I turn my attention to the soldier behind him and sent a shower of sparks over his head, watching him fall to the ground with the scream and praying that no one could hear that over the sound of the loudspeakers. Braver by the minute, Hope throws his boomerang at another soldier and I take his moment of distraction to jump in and dig my dagger through the gap between his armor and his helmet. When I step away, the spray of the blood that releases makes me sick.