Firstly, I thank any and everyone who clicked on the link to this fic, and I hope you will enjoy what I've worked my butt off to create. Secondly, I do wish to warn you that, for those of you who haven't seen Advent Children, spoilers will commence here, because the first two chapters take place during the movie. Also, as this story was first written about three years prior to when Advent Children Complete was released, Illusory Flame will adhere more to the original film than to the blu-ray release, since the latter somewhat contradicts what I've been writing all this time—nothing major, thank goodness, but just thought I'd throw that out there. I still consider Complete, like, the best movie in all of existence.
Oh, and by the way, this fic focuses on more than just Yazoo, since Loz will also get a lot of 'screentime'. :D I did originally put the main characters as being Loz and Yazoo, but of course it's shown as being "Loz/Yazoo", and I think I had several people click on the link because they thought it was a slash story. Not that I have any particular aversion to yaoi, I just don't swing that way, especially in my writing. XD While I'm at it, I should also say that, yes, this is indeed an original character fiction, and features several OCs of mine, including the main protagonist, Kallie. So, if OCs aren't your cup of tea, then read no further! Although, you should still give them a chance, especially if they're well-written, like many say mine are.
For those of you who are still reading this author's note, and to who the issues I listed above don't apply, then I hope you are a considerate person who will give this story a chance. Not only have I been writing this story for nearly four years, but I'm using it as a method to help improve my skills as a writer, so any and all feedback is greatly appreciated, especially constructive criticism. I'm not asking you to like this story because I'm that desperate for attention or whatever, I just want to know how I'm doing. Although, I would like to say that those who did give this story a chance, they ended up finding a fanfiction that they rather enjoyed. ;) You never know what's gonna happen, eh?
Well, enough of my ramblings, as you'll find I tend to do a lot. Thanks for reading, and please enjoy the first installment of the Illusory Flame trilogy, Embers!
Prologue
For A Promise
Her uncle had been the strongest, bravest, and most valiant person she had ever known. As a SOLDIER he had witnessed the tragedies and triumphs of war. He knew to value life, to never take it for granted, and to fight to the death for it. To die on the battlefield, in an image of splendor and valor, should have been his fate.
Not like this. Not withering away the last of his days on his deathbed.
There was nothing May nor Kallie could do anymore. There was no way to help him or assist him. All they could do was kneel beside his bed, watching him battle the worst—and final—attack from his Geostigma. May wept, clutching her moogle doll for the reassurance she would never receive, and Kallie was doing her best to wipe away the dark pus seeping from the black disfigurement on his arm while he shook and shuddered before them.
"Uncle… There's… there's gotta be something more I can do…" Kallie hated feeling so helpless. "I just—This can't be it! This just can't be all I can do!"
His agony lapsed if only for a moment, but even then he smiled at her. "My dear niece… Don't think… that… I couldn't… ask for anything more…"
"I…" Her hand clenching the towel shook.
May couldn't bear it anymore. "No, Daddy!" she sobbed, throwing herself onto his bedridden form. "Please, don't go! Don't leave me too!"
"My beautiful daughter…" He touched the young girl's cheek, weakly, sadly. "I wish I could stay, see you grow into a beautiful woman… like your mother. But, that's no longer… my decision…"
"Don't say that, Uncle…" This couldn't be happening. Uncle had never lost a battle before. "You're still strong! You can still win!"
"No, I've… lost this one…" Despite the intensity of the Geostigma's assault, her uncle had still barely given even a groan of pain, as years of rigorous training had hardened him against doing so. At this point, however, it was more likely he simply only had enough strength to deliver his parting words. "But, you're both so… strong… Promise me… you'll… look after… each other…"
"We…" Kallie looked to May, who, through her profuse tears, nodded. Taking the hand that was nearly lifeless at his side, she squeezed it firmly. "We promise, Uncle."
For his last time, he smiled. "To be such… a strong… family… That… makes me… so…" They could see him begin to cry. "So…"
Even though he had never been able to finish his sentence, they knew it had made him so happy.
ILLUSORY FLAME: EMBERS
Chapter 1
For The Reunion
When those fools had taken Mother away, they simply had no idea who they were dealing with. If they had believed they had known, they were wrong. Completely and utterly wrong. They should have realized they would allow nothing—absolutely nothing—to stand in their way of being with Mother. The two imbeciles they had managed to capture were learning that first-hand. Within the cold, dark depths of the Northern Crater, they were receiving their due punishment for having even dared to interfere.
"Still won't talk, huh?" Kadaj sneered, after Loz had given the leader Turk a particularly powerful shock from his Duel Hound when he still refused to tell them anything about Mother.
"I would never tell the likes of you!" Tseng growled, through his gasps and the blood spewing from his mouth.
"Leave him alone!" shrieked the girl called Elena, who lay helpless a few feet away, incapacitated from Yazoo's bullet in her leg that had thwarted her escape.
She was quickly silenced when Yazoo kicked her in the stomach, knocking the wind clean out of her, and she doubled over in a soundless groan. Kadaj, meanwhile, ignored her and continued with his interrogation.
"Let's try this one more time," he said, the tips of Souba's blades against Tseng's throat. "We know you gave Mother to your subordinates. Now, where did they take her?"
Again, the only response was a stubborn glare.
"Go on…" the Turk groaned. "Kill me. I won't tell."
With a movement of his arm so fast it was a blur, Kadaj swiped with Souba; Tseng let out a silent cry as the blades ripped through his chest, the finely tailored suit he wore becoming even further stained crimson.
"We won't kill you," Kadaj said softly, sneering down at the suffering Turk. "But we will make you suffer, until you tell us."
"…Tseng…" Yazoo heard the girl murmur near his feet, and she whined when he purposely jabbed with his foot in the spot where he had shot her. The young leader now turned his attention from Tseng to the girl, malice flickering in his eerie, cat-like eyes.
"Maybe you will talk now," he said, walking over to her. "You realize we need to know. This is for the Reunion, after all."
"I-I won't say anything e-either!" Elena cried, anger and defiance in her voice, though her amber eyes easily betrayed her terror.
A scream then rent the dank, stagnant air as Kadaj slashed with Souba again, this time leaving two long, parallel gashes across her back.
"We're not going to be able to get anything out of them for the time being," Kadaj said with a sardonic sigh, turning to look back at his brothers. "But, at least we have these."
With a graceful movement, he took out the items they had stolen from the Turks and held them up for Loz and Yazoo to see: their cell phones and ID cards, covered with bloody smears. The cell phones had been most useful in obtaining the President's number, and they had learned the Turks' names from the ID cards, but Kadaj plainly had some other motive for them in mind.
"What're you gonna do with those?" Loz asked.
Kadaj smirked. "We'll show the President just what happens when he gets in our way."
Geostigma was hurting her even worse than usual.
Away from the din of the cars and crowds that filled the city of Edge, the young girl sat dejectedly against the wall of an alleyway. Her brown hair was held up in pigtails, with a fringe of bangs above her hazel eyes. A stuffed moogle doll that looked as though it had been handmade rested beside her. But, the hands that would usually be cuddling the doll lovingly were now tightly grasping her arms in nothing but pain, the black, sticky pus seeping through her fingers.
Another grimace crossed May's face as the stigma stabbed at her, and it was hard to stop tears from welling up in her eyes. Every time it hurt her since she had gotten the disease two months ago, she knew death couldn't be far away. Only, the most terrifying part about it was that she didn't know when, or where, or who she'd be with when that time came. This pain, this despair—would this be the last thing she would ever feel? How long would it be before she would join her father who had also gone because of Geostigma?
But I… The tears began to escape from May's eyes. But I don't want to die here, all by myself! We were with Daddy! He wasn't alone…
With a wave of despair crashing over her, May put her head against her knees and began to sob quietly. She had never felt so alone before. More than ever she wanted someone to be with her—Kallie, a friend, even a stranger. She wanted to go and find someone, so she wouldn't be alone when the time would come. But, it hurt so much that May couldn't stand. It was such a horrible feeling.
"So, another with Geostigma."
May gave a startled gasp at the unfamiliar voice, and appeared to be talking to her. In spite of her agony, she managed the strength to look up at the speaker, and gasped once again.
She had never seen another person like him ever before. By itself, his attire that garbed his tall, muscular physique was strange: a long jacket, zipped up all the way to his throat, topped with shoulder armor attached by straps that crossed over his chest, all of which were completely comprised of black leather. His long hair, which flowed far past his shoulders, had an unmistakable silvery luster she had only seen on old people, yet he was actually quite young and attractive, seeming to be in his early twenties. Although, when May saw his eyes, she shuddered with fright—they were a gleaming, emerald green, with slits for pupils. The sight gave her chills; she thought only cats could have such eyes.
Who was this person?
Abnormal as his appearance was, though, it wasn't enough to distract May from the most pressing matter at hand. As if it was upset that May no longer gave it her full attention, the Geostigma returned in twofold, and she cried out, clenching her arms even more tightly. At least this time, however, her silent wish had been answered… She wasn't alone now…
"Sir…" she whimpered. "Help me…"
May could feel those chilling eyes upon her, and as much as she wanted another presence, she didn't feel comforted by his. If he sympathized with her, then why was he just standing there? Wasn't he going to help her?
"I know how to cure it."
As if the remedy itself was contained in those words, the pain had begun to ebb away. So it felt at least, but May only too gladly welcomed that relief.
"What…?" With eyes widened incredulously, still brimming with tears, she once more looked up at the stranger in an entirely new light, and he only inclined his head slightly in what could be an aloof sort of nod.
"My brothers and I can cure you all of your Geostigma." He began to turn away. "If you wish to be healed, my truck waits in an alley off of Silence Street."
Without another word, the silver-haired stranger sauntered out of the alleyway, his boots hardly making a sound as they touched the ground. It was then she saw, with a slight start, the holstered gun hanging from the back of his harness. More curious than ever about this man's identity, May stood at last and followed him to the street. Glancing about, she expected to see a dash of silver among the heads of the sparse crowd. But, to her amazement, she could not see the stranger at all, just as if he had vanished right into thin air.
For a few moments, May was rooted to the spot in something of a daze, unsure if that stranger had all been a part of her imagination. As she looked down at her hands, she saw the black pus still upon her fingers and all too clearly remembered the Geostigma attack that had stricken her so much worse than before, just before that man had arrived—maybe she hadn't been hallucinating after all. Taking out a Geostigma-stained rag and wiping her hands on it, her bewilderment still lingered as she thought back on his promise that he had a cure. A cure!
It was almost too good to be true. It was too good for her to even believe. All these long months, she had been praying, wishing, and wistfully dreaming of the day when a miracle would arrive. And yet somehow, someway, against all odds, it seemed her prayers had at last been answered.
Only, what kept her from rejoicing more than she wanted to, or from happily skipping away to reach this cure, were the conflicting thoughts and feelings surfacing in her mind. Just before he had mysteriously vanished, he had mentioned a truck that was waiting off of Silence Street, and how he had hinted that other kids would be going too. Had he meant he would be taking them all out of the city? But, she couldn't go without telling Kallie—her cousin would get worried sick!
Still, here was May's chance to finally be rid of that awful Geostigma—the torment would be gone; her days would finally be pain-free. The two cousins would no longer have to live in the terror of wondering when she would breathe her last. She would be cured!
And if I get all better, May realized, then Kallie won't have to worry about me anymore. How great it would be, coming home and telling Kallie that she was cured of her Geostigma. She knew Kallie would be really mad at her for going off without telling her, but she would still be so happy more than anything else!
It's worth a look… right?
At last, with a firm decision in mind, May picked up Mog where she had left him and started down the street, her beloved moogle doll swinging almost joyfully from one hand.
Landing gracefully atop of an unfinished building after a particularly inhuman leap, Yazoo turned and looked back into the alleyway. He saw the girl with the moogle glancing about, as if trying to figure out where he had gone. After much hesitation, trying to decide whether or not to trust his words, she finally trotted off in the direction of the street he had indicated.
Just like all the others.
At that moment, he heard his cell phone ring, and upon bringing the device out, he felt a slight twinge of exasperation at seeing it was Loz. Again. His brother had been calling him again and again once they had parted ways for their separate missions, either to complain about his particular job in searching for Brother's place or ask for more details that he simply couldn't comprehend on his own. What did his lunkhead of a brother possibly have to call about this time?
"What now, Loz?" Yazoo answered, keeping his impatience in check as he flipped the cellular open. "Took another wrong turn to Brother's place?"
"N-no, I just… I think we might've gotten Brother's place wrong," said Loz quite tentatively, more than likely aware that he was starting to get on Yazoo's nerves and he was going to become a prime target for his mocking. "There're… two girls here."
"Oh, isn't that a major setback—for you." Loz's suspicions were right—if there ever was even the slightest opportunity to tease his brother, Yazoo would feel accountable if he just let it slip by. "It doesn't matter who's there, they might know Brother. Question them about Mother, and if they have useful information, take them as hostages back to base. Simple as that."
"Okay, fine." With that, he hung up.
Following the battle with Brother in the wastelands of Midgar, the silver-haired trio had met up again to further discuss their plans. Kadaj, of course, had been the one to give Loz and Yazoo their assignments. Loz was to go to some abandoned church where Brother supposedly lived and see if Mother was really hidden there. In the meantime, it was up to Yazoo to collect children with Geostigma from Edge and bring them back to base. According to Kadaj, they would be useful in their ability to track down Mother, though he wouldn't explain how—what a typical trait their youngest brother had, keeping such details to himself, trivial or not. Yazoo might actually feel like there was some weight to his assignment if only he knew what these kids would be any good for.
Nevertheless, while Yazoo was aware he had been stuck with the most insipid task, with no victims to interrogate or torment, he was surprised with how much he was actually enjoying himself right now. Though he had taken to his assignment quite reluctantly, not at all looking forward to convincing afflicted children that he and his brothers had a cure, he was taken aback by how much their gullibility was a source of amusement for him. It was almost ridiculous, really, just how easily they bought his story—the gleam of hope in their eyes and faces that they could be rid of this disease, and the delight he felt when his deception had succeeded, watching them run off to find the truck he had stolen. Just like that young girl, only one of many children who had fallen for his lie.
Yet, it was still a reminder to him just how much failure in their mission was not an option, for only then could the world be cleansed of such weak-minded, foolish creatures.
Finding where those imbeciles had hidden Mother had proven to be an even greater frustration than they had thought—the more those Turks had refused to tell the trio of brothers where they had taken her away, the more their vexation had grown. Even so, in spite of how much their adversaries were a thorn in their side, Yazoo's confidence—his utter complacency—in their success would not be swayed. Their enemies had always underestimated just how powerful Mother was, and he knew they would only make the same mistakes all over again—the greatest fault of humankind.
But no longer, he thought with a smirk, heading off towards the truck to see for himself how many children were coming. Soon, at last, once they had found Mother, this cycle of inanity would come to an end, and it made him swell with pride to think that not only would he pay witness to it, he and his brothers would be among those to assist in this destruction.
May felt considerably livelier than she had been in a long time, yet while the heavy despair had been lifted from her shoulders, the news of this cure still left her with a kind of wistfulness.
If only that guy got here sooner, May mournfully thought as she jumped over a pothole, then Daddy could've gotten healed too.
Two months was nowhere near enough to erase the grief over her father's death. He had been all she and Kallie had left to call a parent, their ever-joyful guardian through all their hard and dark times. All he had to do was smile and say everything would be all right, and that had helped them pull through it all. Sometimes, she thought she could still hear his voice saying that, and it was the only thing that kept her fighting against the hopelessness of her situation.
Just then, ahead of her, May spotted a brown-haired boy sitting on a set of steps that led up to some building with the sign '7th Heaven' above the door, as well as a few large barrels. He looked to be no older than her years of eight, but seeing how despondent he was, like countless other kids she had seen in Edge, made her think of something. Maybe he or someone close to him had Geostigma—and she could tell this boy about the cure!
As May came to a stop in front of him, it was at this distance she realized he was the victim: she could see the blackened scars on his forehead.
"You've got the stigma too?"
She saw him first look at Mog, then glance up at her with blue-gray eyes that didn't quite keep contact with her hazel ones. This boy probably felt scared to admit he did have Geostigma, and she well knew what that was like. Well, he was bound to cheer up once she told him the news!
"Come on, they're gonna fix us!" May exclaimed, unable to restrain her impatience at finding this truck any longer. Grabbing his hand as if he were a longtime friend of hers and yanking him off the steps, she practically dragged him behind her as she dashed eagerly out of the alleyway.
And then, May could have shouted for joy, for the very thing first thing she saw was a large truck, almost right in front of her. Several kids were already there; some sitting on it, while others were starting to clamber on. Promptly letting go of the boy, she took a few steps forward, her excitement growing, more certain than ever that this cure was for real. Looking back at the boy, May was disappointed that he appeared to be rather skeptical.
So much for being cheered up…
But May was pleased when he silently started forward again, and she happily tagged along behind him as he trotted towards the back of the truck, a faint smile appearing on his face.
In the meantime, Yazoo had arrived at the truck long before May had, so he could see just how many had decided to believe his promise for a cure, and he was quite satisfied to see just how many had turned up, as well as some that were continuing to arrive. So far, every single one of them had been a child he had talked to, and it seemed as though some had brought their friends as well, who must also be afflicted with Geostigma. In spite of his confidence, he was actually quite surprised by how well this aspect of the plan was going—he probably needed only a few more children before he had a sufficient number to bring back to the Forgotten City.
Just then, his phone, which was still held in his hand, gave a beep, indicating someone had just sent him a message.
It was Kadaj, short, terse, and to the point. President says they lost Mother. I know he's lying. On the way to base. Loz hasn't reported in yet. Contact him.
The latter part of the message came of little surprise to Yazoo—not only would Kadaj have given Yazoo the task of contacting Loz when he could have easily done so himself, but it was typical that Loz was most likely being his usual forgetful or blundering self. Having had contact with him only a short while ago, he was quite sure nothing serious could have befallen his brother, not that his brother was in much danger of anything aside from his own recklessness. Nevertheless, he was planning to have Loz bear the brunt of his derision, as he usually did.
Walking a distance from the truck so he wouldn't be overheard, Yazoo dialed the number for the phone Loz had and patiently waited for him to answer, knowing that ridiculous ringtone of his should be going off. Finally, as he expected, it wasn't until the middle of the fourth ring that Loz finally answered.
Yazoo didn't even give him a chance to explain himself. "Turned up nothing, Loz?"
"She's not… here." He sounded frustrated and upset, just like he always was before he broke down in tears. A disappointment for sure that Mother wasn't there, but Yazoo had suspected as much—Brother didn't seem to have had any better of an idea where Mother was than they did. Even so, Loz had left himself wide open for ridicule, and Yazoo was not going to pass up the opportunity.
"Is somebody about to get emotional?" he sniggered.
"I am not crying!" Loz instantly snapped back, and Yazoo had to chuckle again, yet was aware that he had to remind his brother of his mission.
"Don't forget, Loz—" he began coolly, but was abruptly interrupted.
"No, I got it," growled Loz. "I'll bring the girl."
With that, Loz had severed the connection, leaving Yazoo to wonder if his brother had actually managed to learn something from those girls, and if that meant he would be taking at least one of them hostage. But, he sent a message back to Kadaj anyways, telling him of what Loz had found there, and had only just stowed the phone away before he caught movement out of the corner of his eye. Walking forward so he could see to the other side of the truck, Yazoo saw that the girl with the moogle doll had arrived, and he was pleased to see she had another boy whom he hadn't spoken to in tow behind her.
The more, the better.
Uttering a quiet scoff to himself, Yazoo turned and strode away again to find a few more kids before he would bring them all to base. Tonight, once Kadaj awakened them to the Reunion instinct as planned, he couldn't wait to find out where these children would lead them, and discover just where Mother had been hidden all this time.
"So hey, why not hang out tonight?"
"Sorry, Rika. I can't."
"Because of May?"
"Yeah." I just really, really need to go home…
Tiredly, Kallie rubbed her hazel eyes, which hurt along with her head from sorting countless boxes and shipped items at the Hazama Warehouse. It was now a quarter past seven, and because she worked full-time, she had been here since nine this morning. Not having had a bite to eat since lunch around one, the nineteen-year-old, soon to be twenty, was starved and tired, had a headache, and longed to go home. Plus, Kallie still had her other, much greater responsibility.
"I've gotta get back to May," Kallie continued, redoing her long, orange hair into its usual plait as she spoke. "I'm late as it is. I told her I'd be home at seven. I'm really sorry, Rika, but you know about May and her Geostigma. She really needs me now more than ever."
Rika, her fellow employee and friend at the warehouse, looked disappointed, yet understood quite well. After all, the two had been good friends for quite some time now, and yet they hadn't had an opportunity to hang out outside of work.
"It's all right," Rika said, sympathetically. "I don't want to get in the way of you caring for your cousin. I know how much she means to you." Getting to her feet, she picked up the box she had previously been sitting on, which was now slightly squashed. "I'd better get back to work before the manager catches me. But, how about inviting May to dinner with us when her stigma isn't so bad?"
"Sure thing. Looking forward to it." If it weren't for her near migraine, Kallie's reply would have probably been much more enthusiastic. As it felt like ages since she had spent any time with a friend, she really did want to hang out with Rika—but right now, making sure May was as okay and happy as she could be in what might be her final days took precedence above all else.
Sensing their rather bitchy manager was somewhere around the corner, the two friends exchanged a rushed farewell and Kallie gladly scooted, leaving Rika to finish up with her job. Exiting through the employee's exit that opened into an alley, she was relieved to feel the cool air on her throbbing temple as she continued in a lethargic stride out the alleyway and onto the busy street.
It would be nice to finally have a night out, Kallie thought as she stopped to wait for the light to change at the street crossing, her hand on her forehead. Maybe once I get a raise.
Kallie sighed, knowing the prospect was hopeless. It was unlikely they would promote her any time soon, despite her doubled efforts ever since Uncle's Geostigma had worsened, and he had been forced to work less and less. Now, as the family's sole income, Kallie had persistently labored in order to increase her paycheck. While she had indeed earned more gil per week, it was hardly enough for any extra luxuries, despite her practically breaking her spine for it.
And supposedly, they can't give me a promotion, reflected Kallie darkly.
The walk sign flashed on, and her feet carried her across with all the other pedestrians as she rubbed her temple, which still ached horribly. At least it was getting past sunset; sunlight would have undoubtedly made it worse, as much as she liked sunny days. Her usual nearly half-hour trek through the city, however, hadn't made the headache any better either, and it was such a relief when the apartment building she lived in finally came into sight. At last, it was the one part of the day she always looked forward to the most: coming home to greet May, check up on her Geostigma, get some rest, start preparing dinner, and then…
"Kallie!"
Startled, Kallie looked up and spotted her neighbor, Mrs. Eliot, rushing hurriedly down the sidewalk towards her. A family friend from their days in Midgar, she had been the one to look after May whenever Uncle or Kallie had to work. While only in her late thirties, the air of incredible maturity she possessed made her seem much older than she really was—she really was like an aunt or grandmother to her, with her kind, caring and motherly personality that Kallie had been so grateful to rely upon in these dark times. But the usually benign face was now replaced with an expression of great anxiety, and Kallie was instantly told that something had to be dreadfully wrong.
"Oh Kallie, thank goodness you're back!"
"Sorry I'm late," Kallie explained quickly, hoping that was the reason. "I had to work—"
"No, it's not that!" Mrs. Eliot broke in the next instant, and Kallie felt another pang of dread. It was a rarity for Mrs. Eliot ever to interrupt anyone, and that could only be a clear sign something was awfully amiss.
What she said next struck fear straight into Kallie's heart.
"It's May! She hasn't come home yet!"
"What?" That was one of the last things she had ever, ever wanted to hear. "Are you… serious?"
Mrs. Eliot nodded anxiously. "I've been waiting for her for an hour, and I contacted her friends, but there hasn't been any—wait, where are you going?"
Without warning, Kallie had suddenly wheeled around and dashed back down the street, barely hearing Mrs. Eliot as she called out to her.
It was unlike May to ever be this late. She usually overlooked it if May had gotten home at least fifteen minutes late, since she knew it had to be hard to keep track of the exact time while out on the streets. But Kallie knew she would never stay out a full hour past her curfew; that simply wasn't May. As she began to scour the streets, frantically searching for the young girl, she could only think of one horrifying possibility:
I can't have lost her to Geostigma too!
Where is he taking us?
May was sure that had been the millionth time she had wondered that as the unfamiliar scenery passed by them. They were definitely a long way from Edge now, nightfall was coming, and the journey so far had been most uncomfortable. They were forced to sit on the hard wooden floor, and there was scarcely any room between them. The road they were currently covering was also very, very bumpy, and with nothing much to hold onto to keep themselves in place, they were constantly jostled against each other.
As the truck went over the umpteenth bump in the road, May let out a cry and was sent tumbling into the brown-haired boy, who happened to be seated next to her.
"Sorry!" she apologized, quickly scooting back to her previous spot.
"No, it's all right," the boy muttered, brushing himself off. Sitting back up, he returned his attention to the passing landscape. But barely a second afterward, he suddenly gave a groan and clutched his forehead where his Geostigma was.
"You okay?" she asked at once, crawling back to him. He glanced at her, seemingly surprised at her concerned actions.
"Yeah…" But he groaned again as a trickle of black fluid oozed down from the Geostigma scar.
Seeing this, May quickly yanked out the rag she had used earlier today and handed it to him. Gratefully, he took it from her and pressed the cloth to his forehead.
"Thanks," he said, with a short, shy smile that May might have missed had she blinked. When the Geostigma attack was apparently over, he handed it back to her. Seeing he had blackened the rag further, he hastily added, "Sorry about that."
May shook her head as she folded the rag and tucked it away. "Nah, it's no big deal." Smiling at him, she decided to take the opportunity to finally introduce herself. "I'm May. What's your name?"
"It's Denzel."
"Nice to meet you, Denzel." A momentary pause fell. "Do you know where we are?" she then asked him, looking out at the landscape around them.
Denzel shook his head. "No." After a few silent seconds, he spoke up again. "Where do you think that guy's taking us?"
"I don't know."
Involuntarily, she glanced through the window in back of the truck. Through the dirtied glass she could just make out the back of the silver-haired man's head, which had all she had been able to see of him the entire ride. A few times, however, she had been able to glimpse his profile whenever he looked back at them, seeming to be checking on them. Was that out of concern, maybe? Or… something else? The dingy window made it near impossible to tell.
It would have been nice if he had at least told them their destination. She had been hoping he would have, and would have asked him before they left. But the way he looked at her and everyone—that fathomless stare combined with those eerie, feline eyes—made the question stick in her throat. Then, without a word himself, he climbed into the truck and drove off to who knew where. As they showed no signs of stopping anytime soon, her anticipation at being cured was beginning to fade, and steadily being replaced with an uneasy foreboding.
With an anxious sigh, May curled her knees up to her chin and wrapped her arms around her legs, shivering in the chilly slipstream.
Where is he taking us?
May had been nowhere to be found.
Nothing Kallie could think of could make her feel any more downcast and terrified than she felt right now. She had searched every tiny alleyway she had come across. She had asked May's friends if they knew where she was. She had asked strangers if they had seen a young girl with brown pigtails and a stuffed moogle anywhere. But, it had all been to no avail: Edge seemingly refused to yield any hints to May's whereabouts.
Having combed the streets for four hours straight, and being unable to locate her little cousin, Kallie hadn't been sure how to break the news to Mrs. Eliot. The woman had been a lonesome widow ever since losing both her husband and her only child two years ago in the bombing of Sector 7. Many times, she had told the Bradfords how much she enjoyed being like a mother to their family, and Kallie had known that the results of her futile search would be a major blow to her.
True, the news had very much upset Mrs. Eliot: her face had fallen into an expression of utter dismay when she saw that Kallie had come back empty-handed. The confirmed disappearance of the young girl thoroughly shook her even more, but still she invited Kallie in and fixed dinner for her. Despite not having much of an appetite, Kallie had gratefully accepted it. Having always been the one to cook for her family, it had felt like forever since someone had made a meal for her.
With a final goodnight to Mrs. Eliot, Kallie returned to her apartment. A large part of her still longed to continue in her search for May, but whatever cries it might have made were drowned out by her fatigue and her desire to sleep; the day had been far too long. After all, it was almost a quarter to one by the time she changed into bedtime attire and finally collapsed into bed.
But if Kallie had hoped to have a peaceful rest, it was anything but. Whatever serene dreams she might have had soon transformed into absolute torment, transporting her back onto the streets of Edge, the city horrifically detailed and realistic as she saw it every day. The same panic and terror held sway over her as she dashed through street after street, in a search that felt completely endless.
Kallie couldn't recall what finally awoke her, being jolted back to consciousness rather unpleasantly, and had been bewildered as to where she was before realizing she was still in her room. The sight, however, failed to relieve her. Thoroughly shaken, she lay there in bed, her breaths heavy and her heart beating faster than usual like she really had just been running. After a minute had passed, she sat up and looked about her room, then placed her head in distressed hands.
May has to come back home…
Running tense fingers through her now unbraided orange hair, she glanced over at the analog alarm clock on her bedside table, and sighed at seeing it was a few minutes past four in the morning. Great. She had been hoping she would get an adequate amount of sleep before trying to find May again in the early hours of the morning, but it was a no-go, apparently; the chance for some substantial rest seemed to have slipped away.
Rubbing her eyes, she then turned her attention to a framed picture of her family that sat beside her alarm clock, taken just after they had moved into their new apartment in Edge. May was in front, clutching her precious Moogle doll, while her uncle stood directly behind her. One hand rested on the young girl's shoulder, his other arm encircling Kallie's shoulders. Kallie had one arm around his waist, her head pressing against his shoulder with the thumb of her free hand hooked into her jeans' pocket. It felt like ages since she had worn a smile as bright as that one.
Just a week after we first moved into the apartment. Kallie was vaguely able to recall how happy she and her small family had felt that day. It had been a while since they had had anything to celebrate, after having been left practically homeless in Meteor's aftermath with barely any hope of recovery. But you were right, Uncle. We did make it through.
Up until a couple of months ago, however.
Kallie's grip involuntarily tightened over her sheets, though it lessened as she studied his smiling face, full of his usual cheeriness. Even at his untimely death, he had been in his mid-forties, and still good-looking despite the graying hairs at his temples. It was easily evident that he was May's father, having the same hazel eyes, a trait common in the Bradford family. His, however, contained a peculiar glow, a side effect from the time he had spent as a 2nd Class SOLDIER.
You'd think that he would have been able to easily fight Geostigma, being in SOLDIER, Kallie thought. People said they were invincible, after all. But then again, there was always something even they couldn't defeat.
For a long while, Kallie found herself staring at the photo, caught in something close to hypnosis. It was hard for her to tear her eyes away from the captured image of her happy family, the gleeful expressions on her cousin and father's face. After losing most of their family photos thanks to Meteorfall, this was all she had left of her uncle's smile. Now, as she gazed at May's joyful grin that had barely shown itself since Uncle's death, Kallie couldn't help but wonder if this would be all she had left of her cousin's smile too.
Please… Don't let me lose someone else to Geostigma.
Over the rumble of the truck's engine, Yazoo's keen hearing effortlessly picked up the gasps of awe from the children in the back as they entered the Sleeping Forest, a beautiful sight he couldn't care less for. He was more eager to get the children to the base, and to finally get out of this cramped, dingy vehicle, which was not the most comfortable thing at the moment. For hours he had been denied a chance to stretch his cramped muscles or breathe the fresh air, as the window on his side was unfortunately jammed. Alas, there was still just a mile left.
From the seat next to him, his cell phone rang, and after all the times it had gone off today, he was tempted to ignore it this time, to simply concentrate on reaching his destination at last. But, in case it was something important, he answered soon enough.
"Yes?"
"You've got the children, Yazoo?" said Kadaj's voice, and from the excessive amounts of complacency it contained, Yazoo could easily tell he was eagerly anticipating his 'speech' tonight. He hadn't told Yazoo or Loz exactly what he would be saying, only that he had complete confidence the children would fall for his words—they had better, or else his assignment would have been completely for naught.
"Yes, Kadaj. I'm almost there."
A low laugh came from the other end. "Good. I can't wait."
Meanwhile, in the back of the truck, May was completely enraptured by the absolutely wondrous sight. She had never seen anything like this before in her entire life—not even in the picture books she used to own. Even Denzel, who still sat near her, seemed to be in awe. It was simply fantastical: the trees that glowed just as brightly as the moon above, the small, winking orbs of light that drifted about like snow, and the bluish hue that hung in the air.
Is this the place? May really hoped so. She was completely cramped up, and felt as though she was covered with bruises from the ride.
As if in answer to her wishes, the truck, after it had been rolling along nonstop for countless hours, slowly, finally, came to a stop in a glade with the screech of rusty brakes. A soft murmuring began to arise among the children, but it was instantly silenced by the creaky opening of a car door. Peering over the side of the truck, May saw the silver-haired man climb out, but quickly averted her gaze when he walked around to the back. She watched out of the corner of her eye as he opened the back of the truck, then stood to the side for them to get off.
Being the nearest to the cab of the truck, May was one of the last off, and it was such a relief to finally have her feet back on the ground. Nonetheless, she tried to keep her distance from the silver-haired man, as her wariness of him had grown during the long journey. Even if he had promised them all a cure, and it looked like he was going to uphold that promise, she couldn't shake the instinct that there was something wrong about him.
"Follow me." He walked out of the clearing, and the children hurried to follow.
Glancing about to see where Denzel was, she was glad to see he happened to be right next to her, the look of awe that had once been on his face replaced with the skepticism she had seen before. She would have said something to cheer him up, but the man's intimidating presence made her throat feel stuck again. Apparently, the other kids felt the same way too. It would explain why they went along in complete silence, barely any of them making a sound, seemingly afraid to even cough or sneeze.
But then, as they rounded a small bend, they all nearly stopped dead in awe at the sight that met their eyes. May actually let out a gasp of amazement.
Just ahead of them, through a gap in the glowing trees, was a gigantic structure that rose above the trees, seeming to be made of a cluster of enormous, white shells that were easily the size of a house. Whatever this building had once been, or still was used for, it was hard to tell. A pool was stretched out before it, its dark surface barely reflecting the building that glowed faintly like the rest of the surrounding forest, though with a greenish hue instead.
It was then, as her eyes traveled across the pool, that she saw for the first time the three people standing on the opposite shore, directly across from them. Two of them were, without a doubt, the siblings he had talked about: their hair was silver in spite of their youthful appearances, and they wore similar black outfits, though she couldn't see from this distance if their eyes were also that same emerald green.
One, like him, appeared to be in his twenties too, while the other most definitely had to be in his teens, and seemed to resemble more the man who had driven them here. His features were also feminine, delicate looking, and he had a similar slender—yet muscular—build, though he was easily shorter than his brothers. His hair was also much shorter, the ends just brushing his shoulders and hiding nearly half of his face. Like his long-haired brother, from his back hung a harness ending in a leather sheath, yet it clearly held a sword instead of a gun.
The older one, however, couldn't look any more different. He seemed to be the same height as the long-haired one, maybe with an inch or two difference, but instead had a burly, powerfully built body. His features were also much more masculine and tough looking. His hair was much different too; instead of framing his face like the two other brothers, it was brushed completely back from his rugged face and somehow held aloft in the back, with sideburns as well. On his left arm, he wore what looked like a rectangular metal shield with two spikes on one end.
When she saw who the third individual was, though, May was taken aback. It was a little girl with dark, braided hair who couldn't be more than six years old, struggling like mad to get away from the burly man who kept her tightly against his leg. May could tell, though, that her attempts were futile; the man appeared to hold her in place with a grip of steel. Then, she heard Denzel gasp.
"Marlene?"
Looking back at him, May saw him staring at the girl with a dropped jaw, a mixed expression of disbelief and shock on his face. The look did nothing for her nerves.
"Y-you know her?" May asked him, startled.
Before he had a chance to answer, the silver-haired man who had led them here suddenly called out:
"Keep moving." He still spoke in that soft tone, though it sharply cut the silence thick with tension, like a knife.
The children, still in a moment of wonder, hastened to obey. They quickened their steps to reach the man who stood at the very edge of the shore on their side of the pool, his body at an angle to them. He watched with an expression not unlike boredom as they hurried up to him, and he didn't make them stop until they were at the shore.
"Wait here." He headed off around the edge of the pool.
After watching him go, May looked back at the three across the pool. The girl named Marlene was still trying to get away, and May felt her stomach turn over uncomfortably as she watched her. Marlene struggled with such perseverance that she clearly knew something was terribly wrong here, and Denzel's reaction at seeing her only made her feel even sicker with dread. Gripping Mog even tighter, she bit her lip nervously.
In the meantime, Yazoo had reached the other side of the pool, where his brothers stood waiting for him with the little girl Loz said he would bring.
"Welcome back, Yazoo," Kadaj said, greeting him with his usual smirk. "No trouble getting here, I hope."
"Of course not," Yazoo replied, and soon became aware of the little girl that clung to Loz's leg, looking at him with terror deep in her eyes, plainly at seeing there was yet another silver-haired brother. Giving her a cold, menacing look that instantly made her shrink away, he then turned his eyes on something he had just noticed sitting open on the other side of Loz.
"Now, what do we have here?"
He walked over to the metal chest that sat open, full to the brim with what could only be materia. Loz chuckled, most likely already having taken a materia or two himself.
"Help yourself," he said.
His gaze never leaving the chest, Yazoo's eyes wandered over the many small, glowing orbs that came in a myriad of colors before picking up a green one. Walking over to the other side of the chest, he then pressed the materia into his bicep and basked in the power that coursed through him as it merged with his arm. A Fire materia, was it?
"Where did you find these?" asked Yazoo casually, turning his gaze back on his brothers. He was sure that Kadaj and Loz hadn't picked these all up from random places on their way here, because he could feel in the high level of this materia that someone had been working with it a long time.
"In Brother's place," Loz informed him, only too obviously proud of his accomplishment. "They're his. Or were."
Kadaj let slip a snicker. Unnoticed by him or Loz, though, the little girl had lost her fearful expression and found enough courage to glare up at the burly man, though only for the moment. It faded back into trepidation when Kadaj's smirk melted into a suddenly calm, emotionless expression. He turned and swaggered toward the edge of the pool, finally about to give the children the speech to turn them to their side.
May's fear had only been intensifying as she had watched the silver-haired trio, and when he had inserted that materia right into his arm, that just freaked her out. She wished that she could just run away, to be anywhere but here. But as much as she wanted to flee, her bones felt like they had become lead, and she knew that she would never be able to get far before they would catch her anyways.
For what felt like the hundredth time that evening, she tried her best to contain her fright as the youngest-looking one approached the edge of the opposite shore, fearful that he could see right through her. When he stopped so his boots were barely inches from touching the water, her hand clenched Mog even more, and she became aware of how damp his stuffed arm was from her sweat. If he could somehow come to life and fly her away from here… they couldn't possibly catch her that way, right?
But, what about the long-haired one? He has a gun…
May jumped slightly when the apparent youngest suddenly spoke out to them, his voice loud and clear. Raising his hands high above his head, he outstretched his arms and tilted his head back, as if to gaze at the starless sky above.
"Mother has given me a very special gift," he said, his face still turned to the heavens, his voice echoing across the pool.
The words immediately confused—and troubled—May. Mother…? He can't mean…
"The power to fight…" Suddenly, in a swift, fluid movement, he lowered his head back down to look at them all again, emerald eyes blazing, and spat out words etched with the greatest loathing. "Against a planet that torments humanity."
May was stunned. What? Humanity means us, right? But how can the planet…?
"She gave this gift to all her children. That's right…" Kadaj could sense the children were already astounded by his speech. "You and I are brethren. Brothers and sisters, chosen when we inherited Mother's mimetic legacy through the Lifestream!" he exclaimed, turning around and walking back towards his brothers, his hands clenching into fists as they shot up into the air once again.
May was utterly bewildered by now. Brothers… and sisters? How could that be? How could she be related to all these kids that she had never seen before in her entire life, much less him and his other brothers behind him? How in all the world could she be related to them? What was 'mimetic'?
Yet, just like everyone else in the crowd, she was finding herself being drawn in by the eloquence of his words.
"But…" A deadly amount of emphasis was dripped on that one word as he spun back around to face them all again. "The Planet doesn't approve of that at all! It is doing everything it can to hold us back!" Kadaj now raised his hand again to point at them all in turn, proceeding to pound them with his vicious words. "That's why it's wracking our bodies with pain, and filling our hearts with doubt!" His face had now become a fierce glare, those emerald eyes continuing to burn violently.
The planet… is that why Daddy died? May suddenly felt like crying. The planet is why I hurt so much all the time?
"Now, I shall heal you."
At once, May reverted her attention back to him, and saw he had lost that glare, his expression softened to something that was between a smile and a smirk.
"And we will go to Mother together!"
And the moment Kadaj had said that, an amazing thing began to happen. Every child watched, in absolute wonder, as an aura of blue and white fire began to radiate from his body.
"We will join as a family, and strike back at the planet!"
All of the children stared, entranced by the incredible sight as the bluish inferno burned and raged around him, growing stronger with every word he said, his image distorted by the flames. But as quickly as it had come, the blaze had faded away, revealing he was looking fixedly at them all again.
"Do as I do," he commanded.
Slowly, he began to wade into the water, and they continued to watch in awe at the next extraordinary thing that occurred. In the very instant his feet disturbed the surface, a swirling blackness began to emanate from him throughout the water, turning it pitch black. Stopping in the pool's center, he cupped his hands full of the black water and lifted it to his lips, tilting his head back as he drank it. With a sigh, his arms dropped back to his sides, splashing through the water. He leveled his gaze back down on them, a cruel smirk on his face as he eyed them intently, waiting for them to follow.
They did.
They too waded into the water until it was up to their waist, some up to their chest. They too cupped it in their hands, just as he had demonstrated, and drank it. May was one of the first ones in, careful to keep her eyes averted from his. The water was chillingly cold, and she wondered why they had to go in the water in the first place. Couldn't they have just drunk it from the sides? But, maybe this was the only way the cure would work properly.
Suppressing her shivers and ignoring the goosebumps creeping up her legs and arms, May waded in deeper, until she actually came to being a mere yard away from where the silver-haired boy stood, watching them closely. Still taking measures to avoid his eerie gaze, she stared down at the black water then, tucking Mog under her arm (who she just noticed she had accidentally submerged), slowly lowered her hands into the pool. Letting them linger underwater there for a few moments, she lifted them again, this time full of the black water. Raising her cupped hands to her lips, May quickly drank the water before it could all slip away.
As it slipped down her parched throat, May thought she actually felt something, like a slight tingle that raced through her entire body, and at once, she believed the cure to be true. For the first time that night, her fears were actually being lifted as she realized the silver-haired men might not have been lying after all. But, before she could feel her neck or look at her arms to see if anything had happened to her Geostigma, if the cure was working, the scariest thing besieged her senses.
Everything was becoming distorted to her. She was becoming numb to the coldness of the water. The images of the silver-haired men were becoming blurred and faint, slipping in and out of focus. The cries of a frightened girl's voice sounded distant and indistinct, as if she was turning deaf. She felt as though she had lost control of her body. She wanted to cry. She wanted to scream, but nothing would obey her.
She lost sense of who she was. She couldn't remember anything about herself. She couldn't remember anything that had happened. None of the fear. None of the doubt. Kallie, Daddy, Mrs. Eliot, her friends—she forgot everything. All she knew was the voice that whispered inside her head, and the instinct that tugged at every bit of her body.
She had something she needed to do. She had someplace to go. There was someone she needed to find.
Mother…
May would never know the way her eyes had gone from hazel to eerie green, or how her pupils had turned to catlike slits.
