Aerith Gainsborough

Aerith Chapter 1 :- The Sacrifice

Aerith has finally made it to the bar Seventh Heaven as debris keeps on crashing down outside from the battle on the Sector 7 plate, Cloud, Tifa, Barrett and the others are battling to save the undercity from the Turks whose orders are to drop the Sector 7 plate down on the Sector 7 slums killing thousands of innocent people and taking down the base of Avalanche at the same time. Aerith has run almost the entire length of the Sector 7 to fulfill her promise to Tifa... "keep Marlene safe", Aerith repeats in her head, when she got there Marlene was terrified but has now calmed down, as Aerith takes Marlene's hand to leave the bar and get to Sector 6 they are both blinded by a bright light coming from outside the main entrance, the bar doors then fling open..., it's Tseng of The Turks, "hello Aerith", he says, "you've given us quite a chase", in his usual stoic tone. Aerith now knows that she must make a deal with him in order to get Marlene to safety.

As the Shinra helicopter lands in Sector 5, as close as possible to Aerith's house, she takes Marlene and heads to the home she grew up in. Elmyra had raised her since she was a child following the **** of her own mother, she knew deep down that Marlene would be safest under Elmyra's care. As they approach the house Marlene gives out a discreet "wow", at the sight before her, she had never seen so many beautiful flowers in one place before. They enter the house and Elmyra has been frantic with worry since Aerith sneaked out of the house to escort Cloud back to Sector 7. Elmyra almost jumps out of her seat with anger, "and just where do you think you've been, sneaking out to join that SOLDIER boy?", she asks in a stern tone, "I'm sorry", responds Aerith, "but I need you to do something for me", Elmyra's face turns from anger to happiness that Aerith is now home safe, Aerith leaves Marlene with Elmyra and before she could ask what's going on Aerith answers her, "I need to go with them now..., promise me you'll keep Marlene safe until my friends come back for her", Elmyra stunned at the situation unfolding before her eyes just nods as she sees Tseng from The Turks give her a sly smile as they both leave the house.

A few moments later the helicopter approaches Shinra HQ, Tseng has already informed them he's bringing Aerith in, as the helicopter approaches the landing pad atop the huge building Aerith notices Professor Hojo nervously pacing back and forth with anticipation, talking to himself while rubbing his hands together.

As Tseng escorts Aerith off the helicopter the first thing she hears is an excited Hojo, "Oh yesss..., so you've decided to come home then, now let's see what secrets are inside that pretty little head of yours", he says while stroking her face in an uncomfortably creepy way, Aerith shudders with revulsion at his touch and he bursts into a madness induced laughter.