His steps were ginger, his breath was careful as he continued on his way through the secret passageway of the Shinra mansion. The mansion was that fearful looking figure basking in the gentle pastures of Nibelheim. None of the villagers seemed to dare come near it, they all kept their distance and minded their business, not prying into what happened beyond those large walls of smoke and mirrors. The villagers didn't realize how much trouble, pain, and confusion they were saving themselves from. They were very wise in their decision to stay at bay when it came to the mansion.

Zack knew far too much now, he was far too informed and he was envious of the villagers, for they didn't know what kind of horrible things happened beneath the ground that they lived on.

He'd found the secret door on accident as he was wandering through one of the rooms. The young man had been observing a bookshelf, trying to stay professional in this matter, however, he soon grew tired. "Why in Shiva's name did Angeal have to tell Lazard to give me this missi - yaah…!" His complaining was cut short when he flumped back against the wall. Suddenly, the wall gave out and flung from beneath him, as though it were on a set of hinges – he realized later that it was.

Panic struck him and his breathing went stiff as he landed on the boards that were used as stairs, the large winding staircase that creaked and shifted beneath him. His eyes widened and he clasped onto the greasy bricks behind him, leather covered fingers biting into the rock. "H-holy…" he stared in shock under himself, staring downward in amazement. After catching his breath, he slowly began his descent, letting one hand slid along the slime and mold covered wall, "…What's all this?" he asked himself, "Only one way to find out," He reminded himself, "Ugh…I talk too much," He shook his head and pressed a palm above him eyes as he made his way to the end of the stares.

He gawked at the large tunnel that lay out before him; the air was cool and the darkness made it difficult to see, however, he soon found his way along the path. "Who would make something like this?" he marveled at it silently as he continued on his way, with his hands pressed to the wall so he could have some bearings in the darkness, something to help him navigate.

Before he knew it, his finger bumped into something. It felt like wood, he slid his hand along it until his palm bumped into a door knob. Grasping it with his fingers, he jiggled the handle.

Locked.

He tried harder; maybe the tumblers were brittle by now.

No good.

"Hmm," He stepped back before lifting his leg and kicking at it once.

The door creaked.

Another kick.

A crack.

One more kick and the door shattered open with Zack loosing his balance somewhat. He stumbled forward and managed to trip on the hard stone beneath him. Landing with his hands out in front of him, he took a breath as he lifted his head. "Coffins?" He stared, eyes wide. "What are these doing here?" He pondered, "Please say there's nothing dead inside," He cringed as he pushed himself up and dusted off the front of his Shinra issued navy blue pants. He took several steps forward. There were several coffins, all wide enough and tall enough for people. These weren't just for decoration. Zack's stomach flipped, and then he saw the open coffin.

It wasn't all the way open though. It seemed that the lid hadn't been slid on the correct way. He could see delicately weaved spider-webs lacing the gap that lead to the inside hollow of the large coffin. He came closer, brushing his fingertips over the surface and gathering dust off of it. The cover of the coffin was more intricate than he could believe, large detailed carvings were embedded deep into the surface. Someone had spent a lot of time crafting these. However, he was still curious.

"Can't believe I'm doing this," He shook his head and pushed himself up from his knee, "Never imagined I'd be a grave-raider," He forced a thin laugh from his mouth as he grabbed onto the cover and pulled it forcefully up from it's resting place. The wood was heavier than he thought it would be. When he opened it all the way and glanced inside, it dropped suddenly to the floor, issuing a large crack as it smacked the stone.

"Sweet…Shiva…"

Eyes. There were eyes staring back at him, dark crimson and burning with disinterest and boredom. There was a person.

A…a person?

A person who was clearly breathing.

Zack stumbled backward when those pale lips moved. "What are you doing here?" The face in the coffin asked him.

This time, he fell, clattering loudly to the ground, "Wh…what's going on?" He stared wide-eyed and in disbelief, "How long have you been down here?" He shot back to the figure who was now sitting up in his cozy coffin.

"How long?" The equally dark-haired figure looked away and shrugged his shoulders, "I've lost track of time, several years at least," He answered.

"Years?!" Zack gawked, "You're serious?" He stared at the other in a dumbfounded manner.

"Now…if you'd leave me alone," The longer-haired man said before laying back down.

Zack scrambled to his feet, "H-hey! Wait a second, You're just gonna stay down here?" He stared at him from the side of the coffin, "You can't be serious!" He tilted his head in curiosity. Ah, ever the puppy, indeed.

"I'm quite serious," The other insisted.

"What? No way! C'mon, let me at least take you to the inn so you can sleep in a real bed," Zack insisted back just as stubbornly.

"I'd rather not," It was a curt reply.

"Why not?" Zack was persistent.

"This is my punishment, it isn't supposed to be enjoyable,"

"Wh…what? Punishment for what?" Zack waved a hand carelessly, "Whatever, I'm not leaving you down here…at least, not without knowing your name," A grin came over his face, stealing his features handsomely.

The red-eyed figure rolled those entrancing crimson eyes of his up to the youth's face, "Vincent…Valentine," He replied indifferenty.

"Vincent," Zack tried out the name, "Well Vincent…let's get going," He smirked, "Your face is defnintely one that the world needs to see,"

Vincent rose a dark brow, "The world has seen it enough times before,"

"No way, man, Come on, it's not even comfortable in there!"

"Comfortable enough," He argued back.

Zack grabbed him by the hand and tried to pull him up, however, Vincent struggled obviously not wanting to go. Before either of them took take another breath or give a blink, Zack stumbled and feel forward. A thud was the sign that both of them had fallen back inside the red satin-lined coffin. Zack stared down and smirked happily, perhaps he'd planned that – or at least this was what went through Vincent's mind in that instant.

The SOLDIER's eyelids dropped halfway, his voice falling into a light teasing whisper, "Maybe you're right…this is more comfortable than a bed,"