Resurrection | FFVII

~ Chapter XXIV ~ Day by Day

Tifa slammed the telephone against the receiver. She looked up at the crowd of her regular customers, who waited expectantly for their favorite bartender to concoct her signature drink. "Everybody out!" she shouted, her bellowing voice silencing all conversation occurring in the bar. "Out!" She gestured toward the door fervently, her shaky hand displaying a cause for concern in the eyes of her customers. Without another word, they obliged, and all piled out the door. She slumped into a barstool, allowing her hair to fall over her face, and buried her head into her hands. She took a deep, shaky breath before returning to a standing position and sticking her head out the front window in hopes of her family coming home before it was too late.

Without warning, the door nearly flung off its hinges as six dirty, mangled figures stumbled into the bar, their conditions looking progressively more grave as each person entered the room. Tifa rushed to her husband's aid, who was clutching their daughter with all the remaining energy he could muster. Her eyes lowered to her son. The disheveled, shocked expression on his face was enough for Tifa to understand that what was happening out there was more than anyone could handle. She bent down in front of him and took his arms into her hands, craning her neck back towards her husband. "What the hell is going on...?"

"The city's going to shit," Zack piped in, readjusting his grip on Holly. "People are trashing the streets, setting cars on fire, breaking into stores, and even killing each other."

"But how? Why?" Tifa looked down, shaking her head in disbelief.

"Everyone's Stigma is getting worse." Tifa's attention turned to her son, whose eyes were glued to the hardwood floor. "The hospital couldn't treat anyone anymore. They had to shut it down."

"That's why we brought them here," Cloud added, gesturing to the girls in his and Zack's arms. Tifa stepped toward him, reaching her hand out to caress Claire's cheek. "I'm gonna take her upstairs. Zack, bring Holly, too." He spun around, skipping steps along the staircase while Zack followed closely behind.

"Zack, Holiday can go in my bathroom to get changed. We need the girls to be clean and warm. Cloud, bring Claire to bed. I'll wash her up as soon as I can." Tifa ordered, stepping through the hallway to her own bedroom. "I want all of AVALANCHE here in this building. Cloud, I'll need your help shutting the metal gates. I'm sending everyone a message now." She swiped her phone open and began to furiously type away an announcement to meet. She looked away from her phone, slipping it back into her apron. She looked at the two men expectantly. "Well? Go get the extra mattresses! I want the children sleeping upstairs where it's safe. I'm putting Zack in Clarity's room with her. Holiday will take Zack's room. I don't want the kids downstairs." Tifa's demeanor had quickly grown more frantic upon hearing of what had occurred outside. "Go!" The two men quickly turned toward the family's storage room as Tifa took her frail daughter from Cloud's hands.

Cloud and Zack quickly formed their own assembly line to bring the air mattresses, cushions, blankets, pillows, and sleeping bags from the house's extensive closet. They moved the supplies to the living room, setting them down in an organized matter. Cloud was quick to move a twin sized mattress to Clarity's room, beside her bed. Briefly, he took a peek at Tifa, finding Claire sitting up on the bed while her mother gently arranged blankets and medical supplies within reach.

"I can't sit up anymore..." Claire whispered. It became clear to both parents that their daughter was only growing weaker with every hour. They could hear in her voice that she was not only ashamed, but afraid for her life. Tifa allowed her to lean back. 

"It's alright, love. You'll feel better soon, I promise you. Everything will be just fine." Tifa cooed, picking up a hairbrush with every intention of pampering her daughter.