Thanks to everyone who has stuck with this story. It's not like the usual fanfiction – it's very high-drama! And crazy plotlines! I've mostly hi-jacked the FVII story.

Currently, I'm trying to get a lot of scenes written. And I've been challenged writing scenes from Ch45-48. I've broken up the chapters into various scenes, for dramatic effect. (so far I haven't done that in this story) I'm hoping they flow alright, but as yet I'm not convinced the scenes are positioned correctly. You may understand as you read them (once they are all posted) Any feedback on this is great.

I've started rereading the story. Much revision is needed! sorry for any holes. I know some people have read this story more times than me. :(

Also, please don't be discouraged after this chapter. (because I'm pretty sure someone will be L) PM me if you have too!

Thanks again


~ 45 ~

The Darkest Day

Cloud lay on his back on the bench with his head resting on Denzel's bag. The train clacked along at an agonizing pace while he attempted some sort of sleep. Earlier, he asked Cait to get him in touch with Reeve, but Cait had no success. It was a dead connection. Even Cait was puzzled. At Cloud's sour look, the cat declared in pompous defense it had nothing to do with him, no, something else was blocking the signal. Now Cloud was left to worry about Reeve and all the people at WRO and Rocket-Town.

He took the wolf ring from his pocket and rolled it in his fingers. The scene from the life-stream of his father giving it to his mum stuck with him. The significance was more profound than he had realized on past reflections. Memories of his father were never solid, they were more like feelings that came randomly. His mother rarely spoke of him, and never any detail on his past or what he did. She never mentioned what happened to him, and he never pushed the subject, assuming she really didn't know. But now… he frowned, remembering… she told him, he went out one night, and never returned. Just like that – they never saw him again. No body, so no burial. He remembered his disbelief, and the loneliness which was more devastating. And the endless waiting for him to return – waiting – would his dad stay away this long? Over the months, Cloud became more discouraged, more disappointed. He really wasn't going to come back…

His childhood was built on that insecurity, the bewilderment… why did his father leave them?

So when Tifa's mother died, he understood the hole that's left in your life. The heartache. For the first time he thought someone else would understand him. But when she wanted to go over the mountain… even he thought it was extreme, but, she wanted to go so badly. Maybe, just maybe, she was right… he sighed – that all ended disastrously.

In all those years, his mother never came out and said his dad died, not directly. But as time passed, that was the best conclusion he had, because anything else was shameful. He and his mum planted a blossom tree in the back garden in memory. A tree that would eventually burn along with everything else. On that last trip, his mum gave him the ring and finally told him – his father really did die. She cried, and it seemed she grieved all over again. He lamented he didn't stop longer, didn't say something – but no, he had to rush off. He had duties. Her words still remained, like the last link with his past life, "It doesn't matter what you end up doing, or where you go, I'll always love you and be here, waiting for you to come home and visit." He had stuffed the ring in his pocket, and said he would come back later to talk. That later never came.

He rubbed his eye and took a tired breath.

"Tired?" Denzel asked from where he sat on the center bench.

"Kinda…" Physically he wasn't too bad, his body was used to excessive pressure and being pushed to the limit. It was all the other sort of tiredness. The fed-up type. Emotional weariness.

Denzel fingered the wolf pendant around his neck. "It's pretty special, huh?"

Cloud went back to studying the ring. "This is the original."

"It's like a family heirloom, that sort of thing?"

"Yeah…" he concentrated on the wolf face, digging up any memory he could on his father. But it was that night he gave the ring to his mum that stood out. That night. The last time he would see his father. Where did he go that was so important? And why didn't his mum tell him? "Family heirloom…" he mumbled, thinking how apt that was.

"Has a nice ring to it." Denzel chortled.

Accustomed to his humour, Cloud smiled. "If the name fits…"

"A never-ending circle." Denzel grinned.

"Denzel!" Shelke paced restlessly on the other side of the carriage. Cait, Nanaki, and Deneh had gone to the back cabins while Veld and Cissnei were up front. It left the three to rest, but that was more like waiting impatiently.

Denzel threw his hand in the air. "Okay, okay, it's wearing thin—"

Shelke stopped to stare at the two of them. "I think you two need more sleep."

Cloud chuckled at her agitation. "Probably." He tucked the ring away and sat up and said to Denzel, "I'll tell you about it one day."

Denzel turned to see her behind him. "Who can really sleep anyway?"

Cloud nodded, he could relate. He was used to this chaotic form of travel, infrequent spots of rest, long hours in the seat, and sporadic fighting any type of creature, from his work crossing the Planet, but also from his search for Sephiroth all those years ago. But this was different. It reminded him more of the time they searched for Aeris. They kept going relentlessly until she was found. And still… it made the search for Tifa even more poignant. His own state of being depended on it, his life might never be the same.

The train slowed right down.

Cloud grumbled, "Is it slower?"

"Maybe we're there?" Excitement came over Denzel's face.

Shelke leaned on the back of the bench and gazed out the window. Nothing out there except darkness and her own reflection. "Nothing."

The train came to a complete stop. Cloud stood up to go to the intercom.

Elfie's voice sounded through the speaker, beating him to it. "Look's as if the ride's over."

"Where are we?" Cloud tried not to sound too hopeful.

"Don't know. Middle of no-where I expect," Elfie said with weary frustration.

"We've broken down?" Cloud said.

"No. The track appears to be obstructed up ahead." She paused, "Might pay to get your things and come out."

Cloud sighed with disappointment. "Right, we'll take a look." He gathered his weapons and sheathed them back in the holster. He opened the automatic door and jumped down.

Denzel and Shelke attached their packs and jumped down after him into the dark tunnel. Denzel said, "Maybe it's a collapsed tunnel?"

They walked past the driver cabin and met with Veld and Cissnei a few meters ahead of the train. The light from the train beamed into the darkness. About 300 meters ahead, the cavern walls were coated with a thick pitch black substance. The organic matter was congealing on the overhead rock and fell in great glubs onto the track as they watched. It also appeared to be spilling up from the earth, covering the rail with gunk.

"What is that?" Cissnei said.

Veld replied, "I'm going to make a guess. You may not like the answer."

Cloud stopped at the sight of it. A wave of anxiety assaulted him at the sight of the palpable evil taint. "Jenova…" he muttered with dismal realization.

"Coming out of the earth?" Denzel gasped with shock.

Shelke said, "It is possible the planet is exuding the Jenova plague."

The black matter oozed for meters down the track and appeared to be swelling in density.

Denzel said, "It's like…" his voice dropped with effect, "the geostigma."

Cissnei nodded. "But epic proportions."

Staring at the obstructed track, his only known way of finding Tifa, Cloud was confounded by the new dilemma. He scrunched his mouth up with frustrated anger.

Deneh and Nanaki padded up and stopped beside Cloud. Nanaki commented, "The planet is ill, indeed."

"It is unsafe to proceed, that's for certain," Veld said.

Cloud couldn't agree more. Nausea was slamming into his gut and his lungs were heavy with the toxins in the air. "Can we go around?" The Jenova plague was not present where they stood, but that might be a matter of time.

Nanaki walked to the first cave opening along the tunnel and sniffed the air. "Perhaps. I could lead you."

"At the least we might come out up top," Veld said, "And find out where we are."

Elfie jumped down from the train and joined them. She stared down the track. "It is as I feared."

Veld nodded. "They must be doing it."

"And it's so far advanced," Elfie said with dread. "How long have they been polluting the life-stream, with no one being the wiser?"

Cloud studied the black tunnel in consternation. That such a thing could happen and no-one realize. Even he didn't know, but hadn't he started hearing a voice again? "But now we know."

"Maybe," Cissnei swept her arm out wide, indicating the Jenova coated tunnel, "But how can we combat this?"

Her question was left hanging for a few moments, and finally Denzel replied, "Well, maybe when we see it in operation, we might, I don't know, figure something out…"

Cloud pressed his lips together, holding back his smile. Maybe. Denzel's optimism always provoked him to hope. But the fact was, Cloud didn't care about Jenova, or the state of the life-stream, he just wanted Tifa back. Then he could face dealing with the fate of the planet.

"Right," Cissnei quipped, "You think it's that simple?"

"I didn't say simple." Denzel stood with his hands on his hips in defense. "I'm saying, it won't be impossible. Someone will have to do something."

Cissnei gestured towards Veld and Elfie. "You think we won't try?"

Elfie stepped up to the two of them, and raised her voice. "When the time comes we'll all help, we'll need everything everyone's got."

"We're going to need it." Veld breathed a heavy sigh.

Denzel turned back to the infested track, and despite his words he looked dismal. "But right now, we can't even walk through this?"

"Certainly, I wouldn't advise it," Shelke said, "There is no way of knowing how the poison will affect your body, or more significantly, your nervous system."

Elfie nodded. "Maybe there would be no affect, but the risk would be great."

"Yeah, if you want to end up with the Stigma again, or worse, as a Jenova fiend," Cissnei added, "Me, I prefer free air."

Cissnei's remark rattled Cloud, but after all, wasn't she right? He knew all about it, and he didn't want to go through that. Not again. All those bleak feelings were flooding back like a ghost pain. "We're not going that way."

"I guess it's the tunnels then," Denzel replied.

Veld added, "There's no guarantee we won't come across more of this."

"Maybe," Cloud said, "But now, it's the only way."

"As long as we don't get lost." Denzel walked with Deneh over to Nanaki by the cave entry.

Cissnei followed him. "Let's hope we don't."

"We will not base our fate on hope." Nanaki stared at her with his one eye. "I will guide you."

Deneh stood next to him. "I shall follow at the rear."

Nanaki nodded and set off.

Veld said to Cloud, "Where's Cait?"

Cloud looked towards the train with irritation. Surely he wasn't lazing around inside? "Asleep maybe?"

"I will go and find him." Shelke ran to the train.

Veld said, "We'll head off." Elfie and Cissnei walked past him and into the tunnel. "You'll catch us up."

"Right," Cloud replied.

Veld disappeared after the others.

Cloud paced with impatience and Denzel stood watching him. "Cait really does whatever he likes, eh?"

"Sure does."

After some minutes waiting, Cait, on his mog, leaped off the back of the train. The mog bounced along like a near deflated ball. Shelke, with a vexed look, came up behind him.

"Decided to join us." Denzel shook his head with a grin.

"At least you waited this time." Cait sniffed.

"Didn't you notice we stopped?" Cloud said.

"I—" Cait stood up tall on his pet, "was attempting to fix that blasted machine."

"Doesn't matter now," Denzel said, "We can't go any further." He pointed down the track.

Cait shielded his eyes and peered down the lit track. "Oh, gracious me. What a frightening mess."

Deneh stood and her voice was stern. "We must depart. Come."

"It looks dim." Shelke switched a light on, on her belt, and said to Denzel, "It should help."

"Hey, thanks for thinking of me." Denzel gave her a teasing grin

She walked by him, and said, seriously, "I am always prepared."

Cloud followed after Denzel. A few meters behind them all, Cait waddled at a slower pace.

~ 7 ~

Cloud walked behind Denzel through the rocky tunnels. Deneh and Shelke were ahead, but he could still see them and the light shining on the rocks. Nanaki and the others must have been a lot further along, because he couldn't see or hear them.

Cait walked at the rear, getting more behind them as they went.

The Jenova substance had unsettled Cloud, and the unease only worsened as they walked. He could fight people and monsters, but that… the Stigma was an entirely different battle. For him at least. It was the worst kind of offense the enemy could throw at him.

"….and then I felt some relief! It was amazing. Did you put something in my blade?"

Denzel was speaking to him and Cloud must have zoned out. "Huh? …yeah," he added materia while Denzel slept. Lucky he did too. "Thought you might need it. Eventually."

"Yeah… I did," he mumbled something under his breath.

Cloud was too preoccupied with his own apprehension to listen. He gazed about the expansive cave they entered. The atmosphere was oppressive, and a foul stink was in the stifled air. With trepidation, he observed the rocks. Black matter oozed over the ceiling and flowed down the wall. "Damn." Cringing, he turned around to see more of it streaming from the rocks behind them.

"It's ahead as well." Shelke called back to him.

Cloud called back to Cait, "How's it back there?"

Cait yelled in response, "Terrible. Like the rocks are bleeding. Giving me chills. It makes me wonder if it's a trap."

Denzel frowned at the muck. "Yeah… it's making me sick."

Cloud recoiled at the stuff, feeling ill as well. It wouldn't surprise him at all, if Jenova somehow knew he was coming.

Deneh came back and stood with Shelke. Shelke said, "We shall continue?"

"Currently there is no other way," Deneh informed them, "We must go forward."

"It's just so…vile," Denzel frowned with alarm.

"I don't like it." Cloud pursed his lips together, containing his dread. The black ooze was just like the stigma. He shook his head, trying to throw off the memories. "But we have to keep moving."

Deneh bowed her head and started off, followed by Shelke.

Denzel said to Shelke, "You don't seem worried about it. Maybe it doesn't affect you?"

"I sense its poison," She replied over her shoulder, "It is my hope we won't have any long-term effects."

"What?! You make it sound like we'll have short-term affects?" Denzel moaned, "Darn, I hate this stuff."

"Just don't touch any of it," Shelke remonstrated.

"Don't worry about that," Denzel grunted, "it's like the Stigma again, but like Cissnei said, this is more epic." He continued gazing at the walls, muttering to himself as he walked.

Cloud remained silent, his arm was pulsating with building pain, and despite the chill air, his skin ran hot with a burning fever.

Denzel paled and held his head as if with a sudden pain.

"You right?" Cloud put a hand on his shoulder.

Denzel rubbed his forehead and sweat tricked down his neck. "It feels the same… "

"I know." Trouble was, he was also reliving all the same pain. It was not a good sign.

The tunnel continued on the same with no break in the black gunk, except maybe more of it was spewing up from the ground. Eventually the rock passage opened up to a high roof cavern. More of the Jenova was there, coating the rocks and gushing up from the rocky floor. A couple of exits were in the cavern and they stopped to work out which way to go.

A sullen quiet descended on the group. Cloud withdrew into his thoughts as he tried to guard against the toxic force crushing his reasoning. He flinched at the pain assaulting his body. Without thinking, he grabbed his arm that throbbed with a blistering pain. He dreaded to see his skin. Thankfully, nothing was visible. But, that didn't reassure him.

Denzel watched him with a concerned raise of his brows. "I've got it too."

"Phantom pain?" Shelke glanced between them with an unusually worried expression.

Cloud shook his head, and gave an involuntary cry of pain. "Feels real enough." Aside from that, a voice was waking up in his head. Malevolent declarations he thought long gone, now potent and seeking his attention again. Like that time before. It seemed his worst fear was about to happen.

"Damn…" Overcome, he moaned and fell to his knees, submitting to the agony in a crumpled heap.

~ 7 ~

Led by Talana, Althaea and Branan climbed down the ladder, and Marlene came at the rear, not really knowing what she should be doing. She suddenly wished she could stay behind. But Talana had ordered her to follow them.

Downstairs, the Elder met them in a frantic panic. "We are being attacked!"

"I know!" Talana pushed him aside and marched on.

They didn't need to be told, and Marlene didn't even need to sense it. Gunfire and shouting echoed from the lower plateau and could probably be heard around the canyon.

Althaea stopped and put her hand on the old man's shoulder in comfort. "Elder Hargo, you and the other keepers must keep well hidden. Do not endanger yourself. The time is coming when your knowledge will be needed."

The two Cetras waiting outside ran to them. The first man said, "They will need our aid."

"I'm ready to go." Branan took out his two swords and was ready to dash off.

Talana also unsheathed her long blade. "We must fight."

Althaea looked into Talana's eyes. "You must protect the materia, and Marlene."

Talana nodded. "I will." She turned to Marlene, "Come. But you must stay back."

Marlene's voice quivered with shock, "Should I stay here?"

Althaea said, "No, it might be too dangerous if you are alone. Go now. Gaia's power to you."

Branan ran down with the other Cetras, and Marlene followed Talana through the inner dwellings and down to the batlle. She was surprised to realize Althaea was staying behind. "She's not coming?"

"No. We all have our duties to fulfill."

She really wasn't sure she understood, but there was no time to discuss it. Talana and Branan raced out into a fierce battle taking place on the plateau.

Hesitant to get closer, Marlene peered out the doorway. Now she really did feel like baggage, "but, important baggage…" she scoffed at herself.

Outside, the Harbingers, similar to the ones from the underground city, fought against the Cetras with a deafening commotion of shouting and elemental spells. There were even creatures, which she knew as shadow creepers, fighting as well. The magic essence in the air was electric.

Branan faced off against a tall man in a long dark-blue high collared cloak. His face was completely concealed, and he fought with a big sword. Branan swung both his swords like a crazy berserker. But whatever his technique, he was doing a good job at making his opponent work.

On the other side, Talana wielded her weapon on Harbingers and another fully helmed man. She was like a beautiful dancer who never faltered or seemed to tire, no matter how intense the enemy's attack. Mesmerized by her fluid movements, Marlene stared spellbound.

One Harbinger stood apart from all the others. Clothed in a white and silver uniform, he wasn't like the rest of them. His white hair stuck up at the back and sides, and he stood watching the battle with an unpleasant grimace. He must be their leader, she surmised. He gazed around as if looking for something. Gaia, the white materia! Her chest tightened with fear at the realization.

Dassiel faced him, his one great sword at the ready and his body glowed a pale green. "Weiss, you scourge of the earth."

"So, you've heard of me." The one in white, unsheathed his two blades from his back. "I'm thrilled." The leader of the Harbingers and the Cetra started attacking each other.

Even Marlene had heard that name before. So was he a Harbinger? It was this man and his followers, who attacked Edge back then. But she thought he was killed? The Cetras really were in trouble if they had to face that fiend.

After scanning the battle, Ely and Belia were nowhere to be seen. But where were they? Were they in trouble? She crept out from the doorway. Keeping near the wall, she stopped to watch the heated battle with fearful awe. Fire and ice shot through the air as well as explosives. The earth shook under her feet, and her skin prickled from all the elements colliding together.

On the highest ledge, Althaea stood tall, her white gown and hair, made her look like a star in the lowering sun. She raised her staff, and shimmering strands of life-stream rained down. Marlene squinted up at her with wonder – she was casting healing on all the Cetras. Not only that, she was directing magic on the battle field where it was needed. Truly spectacular.

But, Marlene needed to find Ely and Belia. Fearful over their whereabouts, she just wanted to know they were safe – somewhere. Whether it was the right thing to do or not, she crept closer to the edge of the plateau. Perhaps they were lower down where she could hear more fighting. She stepped closer to get a better view.

Shadow creepers ran towards her. Falling back on her bottom, she cried with alarm.

From out of nowhere it seemed, Talana ran into them, striking them all dead with one blow. She shouted, "Don't endanger yourself. Keep back!" She leaped back into the fray.

Marlene was too slow to forget the special power she had. Despite the woman's brusque manner, she breathed a grateful sigh. She had to admit, she was getting used of it.

She glanced over her shoulder to see the white-haired man win a blow on Dassiel. Cringing with fear that something terrible might happen to him, she resisted crying out and bringing attention to herself. Dassiel fell. A soft haze covered him, and protected him from further hits.

Weiss stared up at Althaea. Brandishing one of his weapons at her, he yelled, "Come down old woman, or shall I come to you?"

Marlene sensed an angry tremor through the Cetras. Even Talana stopped to eye the perilous situation with concern.

Althaea jumped down and landed gently on the rock ground. The Oracle and the Harbinger leader faced each other while the fighting continued around them. It was peculiar to see the two, both white-haired and in white, speaking together. Marlene had a fleeting query, whether they were related – then she decided she didn't want to know.

She said to him, "You have destroyed much of this planet. Your end is near."

Weiss jeered, "Is that what it speaks to you? And you really believe it."

"I have seen it."

"I'll show you what I see." He moved with heightened speed and reflexes, swinging his double blades.

Althaea was not slow to respond, and she defended with a handful of magic directed at him. Their fight became a haze of green and white erupting around them, and at such a speed Marlene couldn't see any details. Such a fight she had never witnessed before.

Weiss' voice lifted above all the commotion. "I want the materia! Tell me where it is and this will be easier for everyone."

"I will never." The Oracle pointed her staff at him and he flew backwards.

He stood with an irate expression. "You're making this hard."

Althaea followed him, jumping all the way down, and landing gently on the rock ground. "I will do all I can."

Weiss drove into her with lightning speed, the movement of his weapons near indiscernible. "And so will I."

Althaea fended his attacks off with an invisible ward, and she breathed hard, but did not stand down. The fought for some harrowing moments before Weiss was kicked back once again, and Althaea stood prepared for more assaults.

"I've had enough playing." Weiss cast a look around and spotting a helmed man nearby, he said, "It's time. Shoot it!"

The man in the long coat took a huge firearm from his back and aimed it towards the flame on the plaza. He fired it. The ground exploded in black fire, extinguishing the solitary flame. Out from the poisonous eruption, and darkening the air, polluted life-stream started raining down on them all.

"The star…" Althaea gazed at the infectious cloud of Jenova with horror. "What have you done?"

Weiss replied, "Perhaps someone else will willingly tell me where you have hidden it."

Cetras started collapsing and staggering under the noxious weight of the tainted life-stream. Marlene tried not breathing in the Jenova gas, but so far she seemed not be affected with it, at least not like the others. But she was the only one. The Cetras were breathing in the poisonous air, even Talana and Branan were succumbing to it as they fell. It wouldn't take long for them to be sick.

Frightened for their fate, and suddenly realizing how vulnerable she was, especially if they did turn into Harbingers, she needed to find Ely and Belia urgently. Through the fumes, she crawled to the edge of the plaza and looked down to a ledge below. She caught sight of him, alone and at the feet of armed men. Where was Belia? Finally she saw her, inching her way along a narrow ledge, and away from Ely. "Darn it!" Helpless from such a distance, she could only watch him face the men.

~ 7 ~

Gunfire echoed through the canyon. Ely looked up to the plateau above them. Shouting, and a thunderous boom split the air. "What's happening?"

Belia folded her arms and said mournfully, "It's them. They've here."

"I've got to go up. Come with me, you'll be safer." He slid out his sword and started for the steps.

Up from the ground, sprung shadows that formed four-legged creatures. Their pointed snouts snapped at Ely. He leaped back and slashed at them. They kept at him and he continued cutting into their bony flesh. His blows hit hard. The creatures vanished into shadowy dust only to reappear in a different position. The things were disturbing, but he was more concerned with Belia. She stood back, cowering in fear. Watching helplessly. Yet oddly they appeared not to notice her, which he thought must be a good thing.

Finally it seemed he defeated the monsters, only to have armed men walk down the stairs. The men were in brown and grey, rough robes, and they were surprised to find him. Cornering him, and Belia, further back against the wall, they approached.

"Shit…" Ely muttered. Remembering the materia in his pocket, he focused on it, hoping it would do something useful in the dire situation. An olive-green aura shimmered over him. He felt stronger and safer. That's something – he guessed, but not sure exactly what.

Two men came at him. One with a sword, and the other a short gun-blade. With their dirt stained, bearded faces, they reminded Ely of the ones back in the city where he and Marlene were imprisoned. Harbingers.

"It's just a kid," one of them said.

Ely's blood boiled at the statement. Damn, he just lacked the experience, is all. He was going to go all out to show them he was capable.

The Harbingers attacked him front on. He kept moving, dodging their strikes and trying to land his own on them. He thought it best to concentrate on the one shooting the gun. Taking the risk, he stepped in, slashing at his opponent's arm. The augmented blade froze the man's whole arm, and with that he was able to run him through. Dead.

"Kill him!" The other man shouted to his comrade behind him.

Ely's blade was good, but it was still only one. He swung it with an accelerated speed, defending against an enemy determined to bring him down. He managed to debilitate another opponent.

The other Harbinger shouted with rage, and swung his weapon into him. Ely was too fast and continued evading. Gunfire coming from a third man was the real challenge. Ely dashed from the line of fire, hoping Belia wasn't in their sights. An innate fear pounded in his mind. Was he fighting for himself and Belia? Could he really do it on his own…?

Belia slumped against the wall, clinging to it as if she had nothing else, like the child she was. But Ely knew better. "Belia?! Are you hurt?" Her fear-filled placid demenour unnerved him. "Anything you could do, would be…. great…" he didn't like saying it or asking, and if it was any other kid, he wouldn't. But he knew she had the power.

She dropped to her knees, and vomited black pile on the ground.

That's a bad sign…. look's as if it's just me. He could do nothing for her, and not much for himself either.

Bullets swept across his path, and flew by his head, and all around him, it seemed. He felt nothing – an invisible protection surrounded him. Must be that materia? Whatever it was, it gave him the opportunity to stab into the man who shot at him.

"You'll die for that," the other Harbinger barked, and ran at him with his sword, delivering heavy blows as if to smash through the ethereal protection.

The materia gave Ely more boldness to take some risks. They fought together as equals for some moments, but Ely could not break through the man's parries.

His enemy pushed into him, his dirty, sweating face sneered, "Enough." He opened his hand, leveled at Ely's chest. Green energy traveled over Ely's body.

Instantly, Ely sensed his vulnerability. Something had happened. With a quick scan, he couldn't see Belia, and for a moment, he was more concerned with her than his own fate.

More Harbingers, carrying guns, ran down the steps. Without coming closer, they stopped and fired into Ely.

His chest and arms stung and burned from the ammunition tearing through him. He wanted so much to keep going, but his body wouldn't let him. He collapsed to his knees. The metallic taste of his own blood was in his mouth and he lost his breath. Blood was soaking his shirt and trailing over his skin.

The man before him spoke, but the only thing Ely could hear was someone screaming. His name. And so full of fear…

She's always so… worried…

The Harbinger thrust his sword into Ely's chest.

The screaming faded away.

He fell into a painless white nothing.

And was gone.