Cloud looked at the macabre scene that stood before him. All round him he heard cries of lamentation. The pungent smell of death lurked in the air. The city was clearly suffering from Sephiroth's wrath. Everywhere he looked there was buildings burning and falling down. A thick cloud of smoke filled the sky above. Cloud wanted nothing but to avenge the harm that came upon Zack. He could not believe that his role model was capable of causing such havoc. He always though the general was strong but humble.
Cloud began to cough uncontrollably. He inhaled too much of the noxious fumes that the fire produced. He fanned the air around him. "Cloud?..."Cloud looked around for the source of the sound. "Cloud..." He notice that the voice was coming from a collapsed building in front of him. He ran up to the rubble and started to throw rubbish in different directions. Finally he saw something pink in. He moved more junk and found the a body with the out line of a girl. It was not just any girl, it was Arith, one of Cloud's good friends. "Aerith!," Cloud yelled. He bent down and pulled the young woman into his arms.
Arith opened her eyes and looked up at Cloud. "Are you okay?" he asked. He had one of his hands wrapped around her waist for support. Arith waited a few seconds, holding her forehead with her palm. Once she was sure that she could stand up on her own she nodded. Cloud removed his hand from her side and slowly moved his hand up to Aerith's forehead. He gently moved her hand from the spot so he could check the wound. She had a small gash at the top of her head. Cloud rubbed the bloodied spot with his thumb then looked back and her.
"What's happening?" She asked. Cloud look down for a few seconds. He lifted his head up at the sky then said "Sephiroth. He's lost his mind." "Oh..." Arith said. She had a look of sadness yet acceptance. Cloud admired how she could stay calm in the most stressful situations. "Let's get you out of here before it gets even more unstable." Cloud said with a small smile. I don't want to see her get hurt he thought. "Hm" Aerith said while smiling back, now directly facing Cloud, only a few feet in front of him. My gallant knight she walked up to help guide her safely out of the mess but came to a complete hult.
He saw a thin line of blood trickling down from Aerith's lip. He felt something sharp and cold touch his chest. He looked down and saw a long sword sticking out from Aerith's body. The blade pierce right through the girl and then quickly slid out. Arith, still smiling, fell. Her legs giving way underneath her. Cloud raced up to her. closing the few feet that separated them.
"Cloud..." the girl whispered. He looked down at her with complete fear and shock. "I'm sorry. I died." Tears began to flow gently from her eyes. "I'm sorry I couldn't help. Stay safe, okay?" She slid her hand through his hair. Cloud then grabbed hold of it held it to his cheek. The action sounded a knell not to far in the distance. He could feel the warmth of her hand slowly fade away. The pain she felt started to curtail. Her hand then fell from his face and he then knew that she was necklace she wore was no longer iridescent, for the ash had turned it completely black.