Chapter 51

When Zack woke me the next morning, I was still so tired it took some time for me to remember what the hell had happened. When I did, I groaned and burried my head under my pillow. "Is he back yet?" my muffled voice asked.

"No...Apparently the lights never went out..." he ripped the pillow off my head. "Get up, Eden, we gotta do something."

"What, kill him?"

"You need to talk to him, get him thinking straight."

"You talk to him." I yanked the pillow from his hands and lay down. "I don't want to see him."

"I understand...but what could I possibly do? Break down the door?"

"He'll kill you if you do."

"Then what?"

"I don't know!" I snapped.

"Alright..." he said unsurely. "I'll do what I can."

I heard him leave the room and as soon as he was gone, I bolted for the window. He was walked towards the mansion, but not in his usual confident way. Once he dissappeared inside, I lay back on the bed again, staring at the ceiling.

He returned about fifteen minutes later and I sat up expectantly. "What'd he say?"

"Nothing...He wouldn't talk to me. I stood there like an ass, talking to a door."

"He didn't say anything? Not even 'leave'?"

"Nop, nada."

I frowned. "Is he even there?"

"I heard someone walking around, so I think so."

He sat down next to me on the bed.

"Now what?" I asked.

"I guess we'll just have to wait for him to come out. He has to go hungry some time, right?" he sniggered.

I lay back down. "He's obsessed, he would starve before leaving that room..."

"What else can we do? Take him down together?"

I laughed. "We can't, he's too strong. We would need..." my voice faded.

"What?" Zack frowned.

"I was about to say Genesis and Angeal..." I solemly spoke. "Guess that's not an option anymore."

"Genesis is in the area, we could find him and ask him to help us."

"He won't, you know that. Sephiroth told him to rot, gave him the finger. He laugh at us, and maybe even kill us."

Zack hung his head in thought. "Should we inform Shinra?"

"And tell them what, exactly? Sephiroth found out he was created and has locked himself up in a basement? They want rid of him anyway, for knowing too much, any excuse is the right one for them right now. Don't expect help from Shinra."

"You're going to desert, aren't you?" he asked me.

"Damn right." I replied through clenched teeth. "They ruin everything they lay their hands on. I'm done, Zack, there's no one left. You seriously expect me to stay with Shinra after all this!?"

"No need to get angry, I was just thinking we could bolt together. I'm not staying either. I wanted to be a hero...Instead, life has only gotten worse for me...Maybe Lazard was right. Maybe unattainable dreams are the best kind."

"You are a hero, Zack." I said to him, holding on to his shoulders. "You still do what you think is best for everyone, you won't stop fighting for it. Being a hero is more than obtaining a First Class status, or fame or glory. It's what's in your heart that makes you a hero. Besides, I'm sure Aerith thinks you're a hero." I added with a wink.

His eyes widened. "Oh, yeah! Aerith! I promised I'd call." he exclaimed and ran from the room.

Even though I knew it was in vain, I tried calling Sephiroth. Of course, he didn't answer. Had I really expected him to? I walked to the window. Zack was leaning against the well, his phone pressed to his ear.

I felt happy for him, having such a sweet girl. Not too long ago, I had felt that way too.

My gaze moved towards the mansion, and I noticed the lights were still on. What was it he found down there? What was it that made him so obsessed he wouldn't come out anymore? What else was poisoning his mind? There was a little voice in the back of my head, telling me I had to act, or this was going to end badly. Would I just give up on him? I decided I wouldn't. I gnashed my teeth in determination and walked out the room.

Outside, Zack waved his hand at me as I stalked past.

"Eden! Where are you going?" he yelled through his phonecall.

"To get that son of a bitch out of there." I growled.

I pushed the door open with so much force, it nearly unhinged itsself. I went up the stairs, through the brick wall and down the spiralcase. Determination was pushing me on, even though I had no idea what I was going to do.

When I got to the door, I inhaled deeply and rested my head against the wood.

"Sephiroth" I said.

There was no reply.

"I know you're in there. Why is it you won't talk to me? What have I done to you to make you hate me?"

I realised I was sounding really pathetic, but I didn't care.

"I told you, I'm busy."

I was actually surprised to hear his voice.

"So busy, you don't have two minutes to spare, for me?" I sighed. "I thought...do I mean so little?" I asked more to myself than to him and I half expected him to say yes, but he didn't.

"I fear you have made a mistake ever engaging with me." he said.

"You wanted me to."

"I did. Everything has changed now."

"What has changed, Sephiroth?"

He didn't answer right away. "I...am something more now. You are all beneath me."

My blood ran cold at his words and I just couldn't comprehend them.

"Excuse me? How can you say that...?" I snapped, but he had heard me, for I heard his cold laugh resonating through the door.

"Because it is true." he said. "I am descendant of something greater, something with a purpose."

"You already had purpose. The world needs you, I need you."

"Someone else needs me now."

"Wha- Who? Stop this bullshit, Seph, can't you see what you're doing to me?"

"You've had your two minutes, now leave."

Anger boiled up properly now, and I'd had it with him. "You know what!? Fuck you, that's what!" I stormed for the staircase.

"Didn't work out, huh?" Zack said as soon as I stepped out, flinging an arm around my shoulders. He had been waiting for me by the front door.

"I think he's lost his mind." I said. "He's not coming out. What should we do? Should we leave?"

"I dunno, man, sounds like a bad idea. Maybe he'll come out once he's done down there."

"I'm afraid of what happens when he does..." I whispered and Zack squeezed my shoulder.

"Come on." he said, steering me away from the mansion. "Let's get your mind off things."

"How?"

"With some good old fashioned hunting." he looked at me mischieviously.