Pure Hearts

Ch.24

Dwindling Time

Marlene and Cloud ran over to Gen's side, they pulled him off the ground, sliding him over to rest his back on a grey, cracked rock. Cloud reached into his pack, throwing all his stuff out of the pockets, knifes, napkins, summons, Materia all came flying out of his pack. His heart sank as he realized that he used up all his Cure Materia in his battle with Sephiroth. He quickly grabbed his First-Aid and handed it to Marlene as he sheathed his sword. He quickly stood up as he threw his pack back onto his back.

"Marlene, wait here! I'm going to go get some help, keep him still and try to stop as much of the bleeding as you can!"

She watched as he dashed down the crater, hoping that he wouldn't fall flat on his face, she turned back to Gen, pushing her hands against his chest, but still the blood continued to flow from the wound. The smell of all the blood started to sting her nose, Gen's face continues to grow pale as more blood continued to flow.

"Just… just relax Gen. you're going to be fine, you've just got to tell yourself you're not going to bleed out right?"

Gen's eyes had become glossy; a faint light flickered inside of them, like a faint, dying flame on an old candle about to be blown out by the slightest breeze. His white feathers had begun to wilt, and shrivel; they had already lost their bright, luminous sheen as more blood escaped from their veins. His breathing had become raspy, and labored as he lifted his hand, gently placing it on her soft cheek. Small drops of blood escaped his lips as he spoke to her.

"Marlene… we both know that… I'm not going to be fine. I've just lost… too much blood."

"Don't say that genesis! Don't you dare-"

"Marlene… please don't make this harder… than it needs to be… for both of us."

Marlene's heart started to throb; she couldn't keep the tears back any longer as she tried to stop the bleeding. She couldn't tell her tears from the warm, rain drops that fell down her cheeks. Memories of all the happy times together with Gen started to reel through her mind. She tried to push the sorrowful feelings away, tried to rip out anything that continued to throb. But then, she remembered.

"Gen… you never answered my question I asked you. The one I asked when you were holding me in your arms, before you healed me. Why didn't you leave when you could have Gen?"

He tried to avoid her gaze, but his weakening body or his soul could not fight against her concerned face, her caring, beautiful brown eyes.

"Marlene… I didn't leave because… I found something that I thought… I would never find again. I regained a feeling… one I hadn't felt ever sense my mother died. I found a home… my sanctuary… a place where I could escape from myself… and my demons. A place where I finally felt safe again, I also found…"

He paused, trying to fight against the clogging in his throat. A shot of pain ran through his body, he fought back the pain, trying to keep control of his tongue, desperately wanting his words to escape his lips.

"I also found…" he finally continued. "I also grew… too deeply, passionately, ardently, and overpoweringly… grew to admire and love you."

Marlene's heart sank; she started to quietly sob as the rain began to poor harder from the heavens as if heaven itself was weeping. Small puddles were starting to form around them, full of pure, clean water. She scooped up a small portion in her hand, gently cradling it up to his chest. She slowly tilted her hand letting the water flow over the wound, trying to wash the blood away, and lighten the heavy burden in her heart.

"Genesis… I… can't you just heal yourself with the Life Stream just like you did with me? Because Gen… I can't do this without you, you have to pull through." She sobbed.

Gen smiled weakly, trying to hide the pain behind his eyes.

"No Marlene… I can't heal myself. My body is just… too weak… from destroying Sephiroth to try to control the Life Stream."

His arm started to shake from the strain in his waning muscles, his body screamed in pain as he felt his body begin to deteriorate. His hand started to drop before Marlene caught hold; she gently held it against her cheek, savoring his soft hand as he brushed his thumb back and forth on her cheek. His breathing started to slow as strained words escaped his lips.

"Time is closing in on us.

Quicker than I ever wanted it to.

I tried to make the moments last.

But still the time… it just keeps slipping away.

Minute by minute,

Our time together lessens.

Soon I will be saying… good bye.

To someone I love.

With every inch of my body and soul.

As I lay here crying.

There is just nothing more I can do.

There is nothing left.

Only time and distance.

That separates our love.

When can I see you again?

And feel your warms arms around me,

As we slept.

When can I feel your gentle lips?

To kiss me goodnight, and to always hear you say,

Goodnight my love."

The light in his eyes began to extinguish from within. The blue eyes finally met the brown, gen sharply inhaled, trying to fight back the darkness brewing in his eyes.

"Marle…"

His words never finished as his lips released a light, soft, cold breath. His eyes grew dark, his body could no longer fight, no longer had the strength to win the battle. He could only hear the faint echoes of Marlene's sharp cries as his world fell into a world of darkness.