Through the crowd

Aerith pushed her way on, squealing a little each time she brushed shoulders with the slum-dwellers, knowing they were staring at her but not being able to do anything about it.

There was only one path to go down thankfully, no getting lost, and the sooner she got to the bar, the better. Being indoors would hopefully be easier than this.

She took a deep breath and started shouting.

"You have to get out of Sector 7!" Aerith cried. "Go to Sector 5, or 6, it doesn't matter where, just get out!"

That was the whole reason she was her after all, with the plate about to fall she had to help get as many people as possible to safety.

That might have been he one upside to her whole situation. A flower girl wearing nothing but a hair ribbon was bound to attract attention, and while she wished they'd be focusing more on her voice, at least it ensured there was no way anyone would be able to ignore her.

"There's still time, run!" Aerith said.

She didn't stop to talk to anyone. As soon as the path opened up wider, she started running faster, glad to no longer be rubbing close to strangers.

For a second she caught sight of a large building in the middle of an open area, the sign over the door proudly proclaiming 'Seventh Heaven.' Heat still in her cheeks, Aerith, relieved, began to run for it.

She was stopped by a shrieking sound above her. She looked up, and watching with a sinking feeling as a helicopter fell in flames. The Shinra choppers were part of the **** attacking the pillar, and while normally she'd have been glad Avalanche had shot one down, it was hard to be glad just then as the flaming hunk of metal landed neatly in the path right ahead of her.

There was no way past. She felt the heat of the flames against her bare skin, staring in disbelief.

"No, no, no, no," Aerith said.

She stomped her foot petulantly. It didn't make much difference. Reluctantly, the naked Ancient had to turn back around, once more braving the crowd as she tried to find another way around the wreck to get to the bar.