Chapter Twelve: Night Break
Disclaimer: I don't own anything, okay? Keep your lawyers leashed.
A dim light flickered in the silent kitchen, the only sign that someone in the house was awake. It was still, with most of the residents sleeping, exhausted after worrying themselves sick. Cloud had been kept asleep at Aerith's insistence, her face pale and her hands shaking so much that Tifa had made dinner instead. Cid had locked himself in his hangar, furiously beating and banging on machines as though they were the reason Cloud had passed out in Leon's arms. Yuffie had been sent out to find Vincent, who had disappeared during the night, though no one really thought she'd be able to find the mysterious gunner. With everyone else busy, it fell upon Merlin and Leon to continue their research, pouring over books and scrolls and even a tapestry all day without stopping.
It was close to midnight when Merlin had gone to bed, letting his hand rest on Leon's shoulder for a moment and sighing sadly before he left the kitchen. Leon wondered if the wizard was giving up, and gritted his teeth, immersing himself in his reading once again. He had to find something… anything.
Turning the page, he found himself staring at a picture, and with a start, he grabbed the book and his gunblade before running into the night. As the brunet ran, a crimson shadow slipped inside the house, cloak swirling between the door just before it shut.
--
"Cloud, wake up."
There was a voice. He could hear it, just out of reach. It was familiar, somehow, and Cloud found himself struggling to get to it, pulling his arms away from invisible ties and slowly, slowly coming out of sleep. Drowsily, he blinked, blue eyes slightly hazy. "Vincent? What happened?"
The black-haired gunman was crouched next to his bed, but when Cloud spoke raised his fingers to his lips. "Quiet." After listening for any sounds, the pale man turned back to Cloud, red eyes meeting blue. "You passed out. I'm not sure why. But something is going on here, Cloud, something that you and I are unaware of. Last night, I saw something. You were dreaming. Merlin and Leon were in here, and they were doing something to you; some sort of spell, I believe."
"What? But why would they…?" Cloud frowned, sitting up slightly.
"I don't know. But it seems we are the only two who are unaware as to what is really going on. Why the town needs restoring, why no one goes to the ruins outside of town… I was experimented on before I came here, which is why there are demons in my head. I know that much, but I can't remember anything clearer than that and the faint memories I have of Cid."
Cloud's eyes grew wider. "Vincent! When you first came here, Chaos came out – he and Cid were talking, and he said that he and the others remembered everything, but that you were being repressed by something…"
"Of course," Vincent breathed. "The demons are probably unaffected by the repression process. But why would you be of interest?"
Cloud swallowed. "I've been having these dreams… I know people, without ever meeting them. I knew Aerith, Yuffie, Cid, Tifa… and you, without knowing you."
"Then you feel it as well. What about Merlin and Leon?" Cloud shook his head.
"It's just certain people, and people I've never seen here. I'll get flashes of names, someone's face, a personality quirk… it's mostly feelings, though."
Vincent nodded, taking in the information. It matched with his own, for the most part, and further convinced the dark haired man that something strange was going on. But… "How did you get here, Cloud?"
"I…" Swallowing, Cloud sat up, noticing that he was still wearing his clothes from earlier. "I jumped off a cliff… I was trying to kill myself." Pausing, he frowned, then laughed weakly. "It's strange… I can't remember why…"
"…When Miss Lockhart found me, Chaos had just finished putting me back together. I found bullets where I'd been lying, and there was one, bloodstained, in my hair. I don't know what's going on here, Cloud, but it's something strange enough to make you pass out at the slightest flash of silver. I think we should leave, tonight."
Cloud nodded, already getting up and hooking his sword onto his back. Vincent seemed urgent, and was talking… this was serious, and even though he'd only known the man for a few days, something within him was telling him that the gunman didn't speak this much unless it was important. "What about Cid?" he asked, turning to look at the gunner.
"What about Leon?" he retorted, red eyes glowing slightly.
"…Fair enough." Cloud bowed his head, and the two stole out of the house and into the night.
