Chapter Two
"Squall?" Cloud began hesitantly as he walked beside the scarred man. "Do you think Riku may be right about this place?" Something about the world was making the ex-SOLDIER edgy and he couldn't quite put his finger on why.
Steel grey eyes flickered with annoyance. "Don't tell me you're losing it too," Squall growled. He stumbled as his boot caught in the thick mud of the swamp. Muttering a few choice phrases that would make even Cid impressed, he hauled himself free.
"I'm not losing it," Cloud protested. "It's just that Riku knows more about darkness than anyone, and you know he's not one to get scared off easily." He shook his head. "You're feeling it too; I can tell."
Squall glanced at him in surprise. "What makes you say that?"
"You're edgier than normal, and, no offence, you can be a real ass when you're stressed."
"Hn. I'll work on that."
The group walked in silence, each eager to reach the town and find out what was going on in the eerily quiet world. Cloud was inwardly surprised Yuffie had managed to stay silent for so long, but instantly attributed it to the tension in the group.
Tifa's scanner beeped softly, causing all of them, even Squall, to jump. "The town should be right up ahead," the dark-haired woman said. She tugged a large crimson cloak out of her kit and handed it to Cloud. "Here: use this to cover your wing; we'll need to appear as normal as possible."
Inwardly wincing at Tifa's words, Cloud put the cloak on without complaint. He knew she didn't mean any harm, but it was still a sharp reminder that he wasn't as human as the rest of his friends. Adjusting the cloak so he could still draw the First Tsurugi if needed, he trailed behind Squall, watching the older man's back and wondering when he would get out of the foul mood he was in. "This place is making us all nuts," he muttered to himself.
"Only enter the village if you know your heart is pure," a soft voice called out from behind Cloud.
As one, the group whirled around, weapons drawn. Standing before them was a dark-haired little girl of about six or seven years. Her head was bowed and blood dripped down her pale forearms from some unseen wound. She trembled violently in her filthy dress, which was literally soaked in blood and grime. Cloud felt a chill run up his spine as he stared at the child.
"Oh, you poor thing!" Yuffie exclaimed, the first of the group to recover from shock. She ran toward the girl and knelt down, one hand reaching out to brush her stringy hair out of her face. As she did so, the girl looked up, revealing a face with gaping holes for eyes. Yuffie shrieked and backed away as fast as she could, bumping into Cloud and holding onto him tightly.
The girl turned her eyeless face to Squall and tilted her head slightly to one side. "You should listen to your dark companion, warrior," she commented almost casually. "Our world is doomed; only an eternity of torment remains for those who choose to stay. Will your heart be strong enough to save you?"
Squall snarled and stepped forward, Lionheart's azure blade flashing, but it was Sora who spoke first. "We defeated the darkness with our hearts before!" the youth said firmly, letting Ultima Weapon appear in his hand. "Our hearts are pure."
The girl laughed, a chilling, inhuman noise not unlike the giggling heard in the SOS transmission. "So you say, child. You will be judged as soon as you enter the village. This is your last chance to turn back."
"Whatever," Squall muttered, shouldering his gunblade. Turning sharply on his heel, the ex-SeeD walked away from the group and onto the dirt road leading into the seemingly deserted town. "You guys do what you want; I'm going to try to help this world."
"Squall!" Cloud yelled, jogging after his lover, his fear of entering the town forgotten momentarily and replaced by the desire to keep Squall safe.
"Dammit! Cloud! Get back here!" Tifa yelled, chasing after the two men. "Don't be an idiot!"
Sora shot the eyeless girl a smug look and bounded after the others. "Wait for me!"
Riku swore and followed Sora reluctantly, his feeling of danger increasing tenfold as he stepped over the town line.
"Hey, you guys!" Yuffie called, her voice trembling as she realized she was all alone. With one final glance at the little girl, she shuddered and took off down the path after Riku's retreating form. "Don't leave me!"
Squall stopped suddenly in the centre of the town, causing Cloud to run into him, knocking both men to the ground. The blond gasped, suddenly feeling an intense wave of frost wherever he and Squall touched. Shocked grey eyes met flickering blue-green and both men rapidly shoved each other away.
"What the hell?" Cloud gasped, rubbing his bare forearm where it had touched Squall's. He was used to the pleasant heat that burned through him at his lover's touch, but this freezing was a totally new experience.
"Are you guys all right?" Tifa asked, skidding to a halt beside Cloud with Sora, Riku, and Yuffie not far behind. "We saw you fall." She touched Cloud's shoulder gently, only to have the blond flinch at her touch. "Cloud?"
He relaxed into her touch when nothing happened. "When Squall and I touched, it hurt," he said, looking worriedly at his lover. "It was like being frostbitten."
Tifa frowned and walked over to Squall, tentatively touching his forearm, then his face. "Nothing?" He shook his head. "Do you think it was just a coincidence?"
Squall shrugged. "I don't know; maybe the sudden contact just startled us. Let me try something." He stepped in close to Cloud, his lips hovering over the other man's, waiting for permission. Cloud swallowed heavily and closed the distance between them, only to jump back in agony as blistering pain shot through him.
"Sora, kiss Riku for a second," Tifa ordered.
Shrugging, Sora grabbed Riku and kissed him gently. Everyone stared expectantly at them, waiting for them to jump back in pain. Breaking the kiss, Sora raised an eyebrow speculatively at his audience. "You want us to go further, or was that enough of a show?" he quipped.
"That's enough," Squall said quickly before either teen got any more ideas. His steel grey eyes flicked briefly to Cloud's and the blond was shocked to see fear reflected in them. As far as he knew, Squall was incapable of fear.
"You have been judged," a familiar voice said. The eyeless girl was standing on the path behind them once more. "Only the pure may leave here intact. Do not trust your eyes here; the only truth is what your heart tells you. Listen carefully." She threw her head back, blood streaming from the empty eye sockets, and chanted something in an unfamiliar language. A portal ripped into existence, sucking the girl in before closing with a hideous screech.
Cloud shut his eyes, trying to resist the urge to vomit. The smell the portal had left behind was sickening, like rotting flesh and blood. Squall stepped forward to hold him, but stopped himself just in time. He stood as close as he could without actually touching the ex-SOLDIER and let his breath ghost across Cloud's cheek.
"We'll get through this," he whispered.
Cloud opened his eyes, letting his lover see the terror that resided in them. "No, we won't," he said hoarsely. They were doomed the moment they set foot in the ghost town, he now realized. Riku was right; they were up against something far worse than the Heartless, Organization XIII, and Sephiroth all put together. They were facing the darkness itself.
Author's Note: For the record, I hate this chapter. It just wasn't working for me. I promise the next will be longer and better!