I don't own Final Fantasy or any of their characters. Only my own.

Because of the length of the chapter I have decided to divide it into 3 parts. I also wasn't happy with my previous first chapters, so I rewrote most of it.

Chapter One

Part 1

Goddess, she was hungry. Starving. The omelette she had made this morning had seemed filling enough at the time, but hunger pains hit before she boarded the afternoon train. She had to make a quick stop at a local convenience store to buy a roast beef sandwich and two small bags of chips before catching her commute to Shinra headquarters.

But she was still so intensely hungry. And cold. This week's temperature had dropped more than the Midgar's weather forecast had predicted and there wasn't of hint of the climate improving. Instead they got darker days, colder night and raw freezing wind roaming the mostly vacant streets. Most souls stayed home after their work hours were finished. A lot of clothing stores and smaller restaurants closed right before it got too dark. Around 04:00PM.

"I should have just stayed with Marlo. Comfy couch. Warm soup. With a side of ribs. A rotisserie chicken. Cookies. Oh, Goddess," Remy stopped muttering to herself about food and instead burrowed her face deeper inside her scarf. She was one of the few fools venturing outside so late and rather than entering the large building housing various CEO's, Soldiers, infantrymen and the President of Shinra Electric Company and probably a decent heating system, she chose to remain outside. Almost within arm reach of the grand doors. And just stare at the foreboding place.

"So hungry." She hastily reached into her shoulder bag. She vaguely remembered having a half-eaten chocolate bar in one of the smaller pockets lining the inside. Her hands were shaking so much, and she was so impatient and restless that finding it took longer than it should have.

She stuffed she remains of the stale chocolate bar past her cold blue lips not caring if she choked on it.

Her hands were lightly discoloured with what appeared to be deep wine stains and a very foul metallic aroma punched her tongue pressuring her to find the nearest garbage can and heave repeatedly.

"Dear Goddess, that smell." Stumbling away from the filth, she squatted down on the ground with the palm of her hands digging into her eyes. She wasn't hungry or cold anymore, but now that smell and taste wouldn't leave her senses. Her brain refused to make the connection that what she was smelling, and tasting was probably blood. The same thing that was staining her hands.

But it wasn't real. Not entirely. It was some sort of vision. She had learned very quickly after the accident that she would often get visions or sensations of events that hadn't happened yet. Or like that times her best friend Marlo had visited her in the hospital. She could feel her friends worry. She couldn't remember her face or anything about her, but she could feel the love and worry.

Remy didn't know if these powers were a direct cause of what had happened to her and caused her amnesia, or if this vexing gift was something she always possessed.

She didn't know. She couldn't remember.

"Miss Caliana?"

Someone called her name. She opened her eyes and saw long gangly claws had replaced her short red painted nails. And her hand was bony. Almost like she hadn't eaten in forever. But it wasn't real, and Remy had to force her breathing to remain steady and normal. Past her disfigured hands she saw long silver her being roughly tossed around by the wind. Some of it strands even smacked her in the face or ended up in her mouth. She didn't dare look up.

"Remy? What's wrong? Angeal, get a physician!" This time large black leather gloved hands took hold her upper arms and pulled her up slowly. "Let's get you inside and warm."

"No." She shook herself out of his grip and moved away from him. "I don't want to go in there."

Intense green eye with the hue of sour apples locked in on the laceration peeking out of her hairline. The wound was only recently closed so the stiches and bruises were still present, and very visible.

Remy tried to rearrange her hair to cover the injury, but the harsh wind wouldn't let her.

"I'm fine," she told him, and it was mostly true. The taste and smell were gone, but her hands still looked weird. And she was certain the General didn't see what she saw. Blood stained hands and claws. "Actually, no. I'm not fine and I think it would be best for me to just go back home."

A wave of pain hit her in the stomach again and this time she emptied out her stomach contents right in front of him and on her shoes.

"I believe we might have different definition the word fine," the General said and tried to keep her a dark airborne hair out of her face. "Regardless, lets bring you inside so that you can lie down and get warm. And perhaps explain what happened."

One of his gloved fingers carefully brushed next to the cut on her forehead. Then with a firm hand on her shoulder he led her inside the Shinra Electric Power Company.

After getting a quick examination by one of the doctors in their infirmary and receiving a lecture about persisting to be an uncooperative patient, she was now seated in Sephiroth office as he read the incident report from her accident. Supposed accident.

All she knew was that she was found by a neighbour unconscious on the sidewalk along her apartment building. Then later woke up in the hospital with little to no memory.

Her shoulders relaxed a bit because it was only a vague preliminary report and it didn't include her memory loss. "Honestly, I'm fine. My own doctor has already given me the green light. I'm completely fine." I'm lying, her doctor had specifically instructed her to take it easy and not force her memories to return. She ignored both suggestions.

"You don't know who the culprit is?" He was still glaring at the document.

"Honestly I don't remember much. Maybe no one did anything. Maybe I just fell." Her pitch was higher than a mouse's. So, she tried to lie again. "Honestly, it looks worse than it is. It was just a simple fall. Nothing more. I'm fine."

This time he did look up which forced her to avert her eyes. This was a man who was used to extracting information from more hardened people than herself. If he pressed the issue, then she would probably tell him everything. Even her parents' middle names. If she could remember their middle names.

So far, she had no information on who her blood family was. Even Marlo told her that she knew nothing of them. Apparently, they had been a secret to everyone.

"If you don't wish to speak of it then I won't force you. You're entitled to your privacy." His smile was beautiful. "I'll just wait for our doctors to pull your medical records."

That could be problematic.

"Or maybe you don't." Remy shrugged. "You know, entitled to my own privacy and all that."

That made him smile even more and Remy wondered how well she in all honesty knew him. She had kept very detailed notes and records of all her meeting and interviews witch the Soldier elite. Including ones, she hadn't shared with her Shinra handler even when she was required to. It was stated in the contract she had signed that all her outlines must be proofread first. Apparently, she used to be a bit of a rule breaker.

She had religiously studied all the information she had acquired on these men in preparation for today. And hopefully leave without more people fussing over her wellbeing. Other then the slight throbbing headaches, hallucinations, weird dreams and nausea, she was perfectly fine.

Yes, other my mental state, I'm perfectly fine, the real upsetting part was that all her visions and dreams had later come true. Though it was usually small stuff that she witnessed in advance. Her friend Marlo dropping the groceries, her friend Marlo stubbing her toe, her friend Marlo's cat being stolen by her upstairs neighbour.

Remy sighed as she envisioned the argument they were going to have later. She desperately wanted to return to her own apartment and find some normalcy in her life. And not depend so much on others.

A quick glance down showed that her hands were back to normal. What was the meaning with that? Why claws?

Sephiroth cleared his throat. "Remy?"

"Maybe I should just go home." And they can find another author for this project, "And we'll reschedule for another interview with him. I'm sure he won't mind. Probably has better things to do anyway." She was supposed to meet a new protégé, Zack Fair, today and according to her notes they had never spoken before. She had hoped that at least their interactions would have gone smoothly.

He frowned at her again. Her behaviour was a bit out of character, and he had trouble pinpointing the cause of it. "Perhaps you're right. I'll have someone escort you back to your apartment."

Not now, "I'm really not feeling very well." Her stomach was twisting into itself. She was hungry again. "Or rather can we get something to eat? I'm starving."

The door to his office opened and the devil walked in. Sort of.

"Hey, listen. I know he's not a deserter. Come on, I know him! Something bad happened here. He didn't just- "Zack stopped short when he noticed she was there with them. "Ah,sorry. Am I interrupting something?"

"Yes," Sephiroth answered.

"No," she replied at the same time. "I was just leaving."

"Miss Caliana if you would kindly wait in the hallway." Sephiroth stopped her from fleeing. "Zack will be the one ensuring your safe return."

"Eh, yeah. Sure." Zack scratched his neck. He was uncomfortable by the look he was receiving from him superior, and the man he viewed as a hero. "But we really need to talk about Mycroft. The guy is missing. He didn't desert anything. I would bet my reputation on it."

"There's a five gil minimum," the General joked. "And this is a discussion to have in private, soldier."

Both men looked at her as she was still seated in the only guest chair. "I guess I'll wait outside."

An alarm went off somewhere in the building making both men curse.

"Not again. Second time today." It was said so low, Zack probably hadn't intended for her to hear it.

"Stay with her," Sephiroth ordered and hurriedly left his office, leaving both alone and Remy slightly confused.

"Roger that." Zack said to the closed door.

"What do you mean second time? What happened?" Remy asked.

Zack swung around and leaned down so that they were at eyelevel. "Curious one, right?" He smiled and leaned back to stretch his arms. "Sorry, but top-secret stuff you know. We can't speak about these things with civilians."

"What about Mycroft? What happened to him?"

"Ah, dammit." He cursed. "Listen you didn't hear any– "

Remy doubled over in pain. She was hearing voices that she was certain weren't in the room with them.

-Feed it! Feed it! Damn you, restrain it!-

-He's getting out! Run!-

-our research-, -never mind the consequences-

-Hurry! Hurry! Damn you, hurry!-

-Ahhhh!-

-Restrain the creature!-

-our creation-

-the Wendigo-

They were all speaking over one another and it was hard to make out the words. Everything sounded like echoes at the end of a tunnel. And the nausea and hunger were back.

And paranoia. A very acute sense of fear took a hold of her and she felt like they needed to run outside this instant.

"Zack, we have to go. Come on. We have to go!" She raised her voice when all he did was look at her like she was a lunatic. Remy sat down on the cold floor and hurriedly removed her shoes. "Trust me we can't stay here."

On her bare feet she quickly exited the office and ran down the hallway to where the elevators were located. She pressed the button and was spun around to face a worried Zack.

"I-I don't know what to say here, but is there someone you want me to call? Or someone I need to call?" He studied the wound on her head and briefly considered he mental state. "Are you sure you are okay?"

"Never better." She lied. "Actually, I'm not sure. I'm not sure of much right now. Maybe I'm crazy, but I need to go outside. Now."

The elevator dinged and opened. Remy entered and looked hopefully at him. "Please come with me?"

Zack really wasn't sure what proper procedure would be in this situation but when the doors were closing, he blocked them and stepped in with her. Then pressed the button for the lobby. "Alright. I'm with you."

The entire first floor was in chaos. People were crying and pushed their way inside the lift just as they exited. Numerous armed Shinra infantrymen were lined up with their guns pointed at a skinny large humanoid creature with yellow glowing eyes that just bulged out of its sockets.

The creature wore a Shinra issued uniform.

"What the hell is that?" Remy whispered.

Zack ignored her as he stepped forward and drew his sword.

"Hold up, puppy. Not so fast." A red head in a ponytail stopped him. "We're to take this thing in alive. Orders from Tseng." Which meant it was an order from the president.

The creatures breathing was quick and shallow, but it was also smiling. With teeth that were grated to razor points. The big skinny mass was bent over a young man, and if the blood around the mouth was any indication, seemed to be eating him. Part of the man's thighs at least.

"Make it stop! Please someone make it stop!"

A handful of infantry men raised their weapons higher on the monster, but no one was firing or trying to restrain it. Or even making and effort to approach it.

"Shouldn't someone do something?" Remy helpfully suggested.

The redhead gave her an appreciative glance, although his eyes did stop momentarily at her feet. And lack of footwear.

"You need to let the Turks handle this." He told Zack.

"I would if you did anything." Zack hesitated, but then nudged Reno to the side as he approached the thing with his weapon drawn. "Time to be a hero."

Soggy pieces of red meat fell from its teeth and next to the man's head whom was still alive. The monster had one long gangly hand over his mouth so that he couldn't scream, but his eyes were open wide and terrified.

Then the thing started coughing. One fist wrapped security around the man's ankle as he tried to crawl away. Two long and lanky fingers reach into its mouth and down its throat as it removed the piece of flesh that was choking it.

And it just smiled.

Wendigo,

The word sounded familiar, but Remy honestly didn't know what it meant.

"Zack, get her to safety and then help Angeal secure the other one." Sephiroth spoke as he joined them.

"There's another one?" She asked.

The monster flung the man past all of them and shattered his skull as the body hit wall. Then faster than she could blink it disappeared past the double doors, breaking them in the process, and fled out into the dark city.

Snow started falling in its wake. A first for Midgar.

I feel better about the rewrite.

Leave your thoughts in the comment section and have a nice day!