The Dream

The woman in the water—raven hair billowed softly and quietly against her back in the quarter moon setting. Her feet hid in the glittering sand, occasionally licked by the hungry waves that crashed onto the beach tonight. The tattered gown that hung ever so frail for her soft, curvy shoulders stained by blood and tears; it trembled in this rhythmically calm wind swirling about this scenery.

It frightened me.

For the woman of raven-like tresses had called out to me, extending a small hand, beckoning me to save her.

"Help me…please…" she begged imperceptibly, and vanished among the starry sky.

I bolted from that cold nightmare. The still but moist air in the ruined chapel—the place I made my slumber—mixed with the small droplets of sweat covering my forehead. And I sighed. That was the third time this week about her. Ever since Tifa died 2 years ago against Sephiroth, my dreams have all turned livid, nothing pleasing to my observant eye.

But that girl…

She was beautiful and graceful in a sorrow-filled way, covered in blood and wounds. In the dreams, she would wear a gown, and sometimes even a SOLDIER ensemble, carrying a sword as large as my own, and surround by a delicious fragrance of hyacinth and sweet peas. What was her name? I had to know.

Beep.

"Hey Cloud. We need you. It's important. Come on down to the Healin' Lodge—"

Message Deleted.

"It's Reno again—"

Message Deleted.

"Hey—"

Message Deleted.

"Cl—"

Message Deleted.

—Ring.

—Ring.

—Ring.

The phone flipped open in close proximity of my ear, "What?"

"Hey, it's Reno—" Why was he calling so many times, or leaving so many messages?

Click.

Ring.

"Hey, it's Reno—" I don't want to hear it, Reno. I know what you're about to ask me.

Click.

Ring.

I opened up my phone, and it read no number at all. And Reno wouldn't 67 me just to speak with me. Mashing the talk button, I held the phone up to my ear once again.

"Cloud?" A female voice rang. "Help me."

Dead line.

I readied my hand on the sword strapped to my back. Feeling Reno's presence behind the door I was about to open, it would come in useful. As expected, Reno charges toward me as the door swings open, but I stepped out the way with relative ease, fighting a smirk as he stumbled out the door. The door slammed shut, and my hand naturally reached for the lock to keep him out.

"Okay, so you're good," Reno stated.

But I was looking at Rude, the bald Turk from a long time ago, adjusting his gloves on his hands.

Reno blurted, "Go, Rude, lookin' sharp!" It was as if he saw his partner through the door, professional-looking in his suit, freshly shaven, and habitual shades covering his eyes.

He was about to lung forward at me, but I quickly stopped him by lifting the sword to his neck. Rude drew back a bit in surprise and slight shame that he had been defeated before even started. And then I heard his voice again.

"Good. You fight like the SOLDIER you once claimed to be," Shinra, wheelchair-bound, rolled into the room from another. His entire being had been concealed with one large cloth of some sort, his feet and a faction of his hands exposed. "You haven't lost your touch."

"Rufus Shinra?" I shifted to a less aggressive stance, throwing my sword back into it's modern-day style sheath strapped to my back. I wouldn't need a sword to fight Shinra anyway. "I feel sorry for you."

"We need your help, Cloud." It was like Shinra to cut to the chase, like he did now.

But it didn't matter.

"Not interested," I snapped coolly.

"We've been doing some investigating on many things that my company has created…"

"I don't care."

"…to help ensure a better future for this planet…"

I finally cut him off in a furious tone, "I'm leaving!"

"Shinra owes the planet a lot. We put it in the horrible state it's in. As a first step to help the planet, we started an investigation in Sephiroth's wake. What do you think we found?"

Nothing could conceal the shiver that course down my spine upon hearing that name. That name was sin itself. That man was sin. With his silver hair, green illustrious eyes and lengthy sword, this man you could not tread across unless done lightly. Zack and I…we would know. We treaded on egg shells with him and still had to battle him.

"Nothing," he finally answered, "You can relax."

"…And what does all this have to do with me?"

"You want to help rebuild Shinra, don't you?!" Reno inquired excitedly.

That was the worst thing that idiot has ever asked me.

"Not interested."

I didn't even make it out the door.

"Her name's Melody."

…What?

I turned back to face Shinra.

An imaginary smirk crossed Rufus' face as he went on, I'm sure of it. "She's beautiful, isn't she? Raven hair, honey eyes…the face of an angel from hell."

"She's a SOLDIER," I noted; never seeing her eyes, I could only assume he was correct. And by them being honey, they had to have been tainted with mako…

Shinra replied, "I can never deny the fact you're clever."

"Whatever," I walked out, acting as if unconcerned.

Ring.

New Message.

Ring.

New Message.

"Hey, Spiky! What's crackin?! It's Barret; I just found the biggest damn oil rigs you've ever seen! I'll clock in early and come see Marlene and Denzel soon, okay? Peace!"

Click.

Message Erased.

"How does it look, Marlene?" Denzel asked weakly. The Geostigma was getting worse and worse. They both knew, Marlene and Denzel. The girl, just a child, could only sigh with anxiety, still waiting on Cloud to come home. He promised he'd be home, and with herself and Denzel all alone everything seemed a bit…depressing.

There were footsteps in the hall.

"Cloud!" Marlene's face lit up as I walked in; she rushed to meet me in the doorway.

I stopped when she came close enough to embrace my middle, her tiny arms barely getting around my waist like everyone else could.

"How is he?" I asked lightly.

"Not that good," answered the little girl, her face turning sad suddenly. "He was talking and crying in his sleep—he said something…I think it was, 'Melody is coming soon….'"

A silence slowly dragged.

"Who is Melody?"

"I'm not sure, Marlene," I lied.

I think I knew definitely who she was.

-end-

A/N

GAWD!!

I finally got this out. I've been wanting to get it out. But I warn you, it's a bit jumpy. I know I'm not supposed to jump a lot but it goes hand in hand with the story to jump, especially this one.