We are back with another chapter of this finally, and we hope that you all enjoy where this is heading!

Ch. 15 Enough

So many weeks had gone by at this point, Cloud no longer could figure out what day it was. Or more really he was too tired to even care what month it was. Everyday felt the same now to him with training one day and studying the next.

It became a blur in his mind and soon it was all he felt like he could even do. If he found himself left alone for too long when not studying or training, he got jittery. He felt anxious like he needed to keep working and doing more. He needed to make sure he didn't slip up. All he had to do was keep working and keep trying. That was what he needed to do… that was what he was sure he was supposed to do.

All he had to do was work and make people happy, it didn't matter how he felt.

Addy had been watching over Cloud as best as she could. The days when she was left alone to teach him was when she could really take a good long look at Cloud and see how far he had come, and how far he had drifted.

It was becoming clear that Cloud was slipping away each and every day, and every time she saw his distant expression her gut tightened. She felt like there was something that she should be doing about this, something she could say, but the words or thoughts never found her.

After the latest series of tests, Cloud was sent back to his room for the time being until he was needed once again. It was just past noon that day, and he was told that they would resume after a few hours once his body had rested some to acclimate to more of the changes. He had hoped that they would be done for the day, just as he did everyday, but that was never the case. He had grown accustomed to the routine and had almost become numbed by it all.

Addy had offered to walk with him to his room, but he declined her offer as he opted to traverse the path himself this time. He knew the way by heart at this point and no longer was afraid of anything. He walked out of the sliding doors, ventured through the cave area, entered the door and made his way up the spiral staircase. After he exited the door at the top, he finally made his way to his room. Cloud then closed his door and locked it as he plopped down onto his bed, stomach first.

He laid there for a few moments and just spaced out, not thinking about anything. There was nothing for him to really think about anyways. Nothing he wanted to think about either besides when he would have his next lesson.

However, after some time had passed, water droplets started to fall onto the bed sheets. They became faster and more prominent as Cloud felt his eyes were wet. He just couldn't contain his emotions and it all broke loose again.

It had been a long while since he last had broken down. Still, he was alone so he knew no one would see it. But he still felt like he was failing because he let himself break like this. Hojo and the others all drilled it into him to not show any emotion, and even though he had been that way for so long now, he was still slipping up. His mind wavered to all of the tests and extreme conditions he was always placed in, and every once in a while, that facade he had built up over so long would fade and reveal what was left of the real Cloud.

His sobs became more prevalent as the seconds passed, but he tried to remain as quiet as he could so that he would not alert anyone. He couldn't imagine if he was caught crying now. If they saw him like this… he could only imagine the punishment he would get. But as far as he could tell, he knew he was alone, so he let everything go that he had been holding on to. As he sniffled, he thought he suddenly heard a noise. Slowly, he raised his head to listen again. Sure enough, he did hear something as he waited. There was a knock on the door.

"Oh no, did someone hear me in here? I'm gonna be in trouble aren't I? I need to try to not sound distressed if they come in." Cloud's mind was racing as he feared being put in a bad situation.

However, his fears were relieved when he heard the sweet voice on the other side of the door. "Hey Cloud, it's Addy. I thought I would come check on you. Are you okay?"

He stared at the door for a moment before finally speaking up. "C-come in. It's okay...if it's you."

The door slowly opened and Addy proceeded to step inside of the small room. Cloud had already turned back towards the bed with his head down, trying to hide his tear-filled eyes. He knew he could open up to her, but he was trying to be stronger. That was what he was supposed to be, what he needed to be. He then heard the door close loudly, which startled him briefly as he tried to glance up without actually looking.

Addy was walking towards the bed and then proceeded to take a seat right next to where he was laying. "Hey Cloud, I know you just finished the last test, but Hojo informed me he wanted to run a couple more tests later tonight. I want to make sure you're ready."

She waited patiently for a response from the blond-haired boy, but he neither moved nor spoke. It was almost as if he chose not to acknowledge her at all. Cloud was only laying there nearly motionless, but as she inched closer to him to see if he heard her, she heard the faint sound of something that sounded like sniffles. Cloud was crying.

"Hey, what's wrong? Something bothering you? I'm here to listen as always if you need me. It… has been a while since I've seen you like this, but it is okay," Addy said with a comforting tone. She rested her hand on him gently as a way to let him know that he could be at ease.

Cloud hesitated for a little bit before finally raising his body up with his arms pushed against the bed. As he sat up on the bed, the tears could be seen still welling in his eyes. He then tried to open his mouth to speak. "I'm just… tired."

Addy looked and saw a distant look in his eyes past all of the tears, which reminded her that Cloud was starting to lose himself. She couldn't help but feel bad for the boy still even after all this time. At the same time she kept trying to remind herself that this was what Hojo wanted. They were supposed to be turning him into the perfect new kind of SOLDIER. Even though she knew that she had signed on to participate in all of this, something still didn't feel right. She had never let though worrisome thought go, only letting them linger in the back of their mind.

Despite the thoughts battling back and forth in her mind, she knew she had to make the best of the situation at hand as she placed her arm around him. "Just tell me what it is, all right? You know that's what I'm here for."

Reflecting again, those words were partially true, or at least they used to be. All of this time, she had grown closer to Cloud and tried to look out for him in the best way possible considering the situation he was in. At first, she only tried to ease his pain and just make things smoother for when they would perform the tests on him. That was the job given to her of course, in addition to her actual job as a researcher.

But over time, Cloud had become more than that to her. She had begun to view him as like an adopted son since she was prime one taking care of him. At first it was just her task, her job she had been assigned to, but slowly she started to find enjoyment in doing it. It soon became more than just doing her job. At the end of it, she was there to listen and help, for professional and personal reasons.

She let the thoughts flow into her mind once more, letting the moment slip in to compare it to the past. It usually did not happen, not anymore, but today was just another one of those times. However, she was brought from her deep thoughts as Cloud leaned into her side and tried to relax.

But then, he spoke up again. "I-It's just...why do I have to be poked so much? Cut? All these tests...I'm used to it some, but I don't like them still. Plus it all hurts…" Cloud trailed off as he gripped his neck and chest.

She had witnessed the injuries that had happened before. The first being the scar over his lip, and then the time he burned himself and scared his neck and chest from the first materia. That one had been much harder to watch, but she surmised it at the time that it was nobody's fault but his own.

Addy was going to say something when Cloud then started to pull off his shirt. She had no idea why he was doing that, but once he finally did, her eyes started to widen in shock. She finally at that moment understood what Cloud was talking about earlier. She understood why he was always so closed. Everything was beginning to make sense.

Under the shirt on the small body of Cloud, his skin was lined with scars and bruises and welts. They were all over his back, his chest, and his arms. Of course, there was a large mark across the neck and chest from where he had burned himself after losing control. It was far fainter than it was from when it had happened, but it was still there… still noticeable. But the rest of these were just… too much.

"Cloud?! How… why… all of these marks. What have they been doing to you?" Addy asked with a defensive yet remorseful tone in her voice. "When did they do this to you?"

Cloud had wiped some of the tears from his eyes, back to seeming emotional like before. "This is from all those tests. Some of the days it happens. A few were from the actual tests when I had to do what Hojo said. But others…" he trailed off as he winced at recalling those memories. "They were for 'fun' as I heard them say," he responded in such a desolate tone, emotion fading from his voice as he had continued. "They only do it when Hojo isn't around. They never tell him and I am not supposed to tell him either."

"Fun? That's what they had called it?" She understood that he was subjected to all sorts of prodding and even some incisions as was per usual with all the test subjects. But in that cause it was nothing too extreme. However, these marks on Cloud… it wasn't just testing. It was torture.

Her mind started to race with thoughts about what she had been doing all of this time. She was only a researcher in the lab after all, as her main goal was to devise ways to perform procedures. However, she was not always in the same room with any of the subjects when they were being worked on. She had no idea that such extreme measures were being taken.

She raised her hand and tried to move it gently over his back, which was covered in all kinds of marks. Some of them felt rather fresh as the skin was soft, but there were many others that were more faint and the skin was hardened, which indicated that they had been there for some time. How had she never noticed them before?

"Cloud...I'm so sorry. I-I didn't know this was happening. This...this is my fault. My research into this whole materia project…" she said in a solemn tone as her words trailed off. She had no idea what to say to the boy. She was supposed to look out for him, to help him get through these hard times the best way possible. But instead, she had only been contributing to his pain.

A knot formed in her stomach. Was this guilt? Pity? Maybe it was a combination of both. She had continued to go along with all the procedures before without question, partially out of fear and job security. But, she also believed they were doing good work there. But now...she felt differently. "This is wrong. This is so wrong."

"It's not your fault Ms. Addy. I don't blame you. I don't blame anyone really. I was weak and then I was made stronger. It hurts sometimes, but I bear it…" Cloud said with a deadpan expression, emotion almost absent from his small voice. "I'll get over it soon just like before...and then it won't matter."

Those last words jarred Addy from her thoughts. "No! Don't say that!" she yelled in frustration.

Cloud slowly looked back at her again and saw, to his surprise, that her eyes were marred with sadness. Suddenly, he was pulled back into her arms as she had turned around to face him. His head rested on her bosom as he felt the warmth of her hands on his shoulders. He slowly started to tear up again as he relaxed himself.

"It does matter. It matters to me. You, matter to me," she admitted as she held him tighter and closed her eyes.

From a scientific viewpoint, what she was saying was illogical. But… still, she couldn't help but harbor those feelings. The way she felt right now towards Cloud made her think of parts of her past she had thought were left behind. When she closed her eyes, she saw something completely different.

—

There was a boy that was just a bit younger than Cloud and laying on a similar metal table that was below the Manor. He was weak and sick, and despite her want to help, all she could do was watch. He tried to speak to her with all of the strength that he had.

"Mmmmmm…"

She watched as those eyes that shared a likeness with hers, began to lose strength.

"No no…" she cried.

She knew what was coming but just could not accept it. There was a faint beeping sound that continually got slower and slower, until finally it was just a steady, high pitched flatline sound.

—

"No...don't go please!..." she yelled as her eyes suddenly bolted open.

Her eyes were watery now as she blinked a few times to try and clear the obstruction. Once she was able to see well enough, directly in her sight was a pair of bright blue eyes staring back at her.

"S-Son?..."

She then blinked a few more times to make sure, but then she saw that it was Cloud.

"Oh…" she trailed off.

"Ms. Addy? What's wrong?" Cloud asked innocently, but directly to her.

She stared at him for a few seconds before she finally realized where she was. "Oh uh...don't worry about it."

Her voice was strained as she said that as she then coughed slightly to try to regain composure. "I-I cant' stand it anymore. Let's go Cloud."

The boy looked at her with curious eyes. "W-What do you mean Miss Addy?"

She sat him up from the bed and looked at him seriously, with love in her eyes. "I'm getting you out of this place for good."

Did any of you see that coming? I would be curious to know. It's an idea we've had planned since the inception of the story, and glad that we were able to get here finally. We hope that you guys continue to enjoy it and we will see you all the next chapter!