Chapter 53

I woke up much later, not even knowing how much time had passed. I tried recalling what had happened, and was reminded very suddenly by a sharp pain in my lower torso. I cried out, sounding like a wounded animal.

I was lying in between the pods in a heap, and I had no idea how I got there. The last thing I remembered was Sephiroth's voice in my head, and tears started running down my cheeks when his betrayal hit me.

Then I remembered Zack, Cloud and Tifa, and I bit back my tears. I hoped they were alright.

It was a long way down and I reached out to grab the railing by the stairs I was huddled up against.

I cried out again, struggling to pull my damaged body along. I managed to pull myself upright and I flung myself over the rail, dropping down on the stairs on the other side. I panted as I sat up against it. When I looked down, I saw blood everywhere, covering nearly every inch of my lower body. Tears burned again.

"Why...why did you do this...?" I breathed.

I turned my head to look for Zack, but he wasn't on the stairs anymore. In fact, there was no one here at all. Cloud wasn't here and neither was Sephiroth. What had happened to them?

I crawled down the stairs in agony and every move was greatly exhausting.

I rolled onto my back when I reached the bottom, just having to catch my breath and rest for a minute. When my head rolled to the right, my eyes widened. Tifa was still there on the floor, bleeding, like me.

"Tifa" I whispered, but hardly any sound made it out.

I continued my crawl in her direction, whispering to her every inch of the way. She never answered, but when I reached her, she was still alive. Her breathing was shallow and her skin extremely pale, but she was alive still.

I lay my head down in her stomach, too tired to hold it up. I lost conciousness again, thinking of Zack and Cloud, and what had happened to them. I knew they would never leave Tifa behind.

When I woke again, I was blinded by a bright, white light. I lifted my hand to shield my eyes from it. I suddenly felt a hand on my arms when I tried to roll over.

"Easy there, Miss Fox, take your time."

I looked up at who was speaking to me, at first not recognising this man. But then I remembered seeing him a few times before. I was in the infirmary, back at HQ.

"What happened?" I whispered.

"Nibelheim alerted us about what happened to their village. We sent out a team to see what could be salvaged. You and Miss Lockheart have been brought back to Midgar. She will live, and so will you. Although, it will remain a scar I'm afraid, you went without cure too long."

"And the others?" I asked, not bothered with beauty right now.

"What others?"

"Zack and Cloud and..."

"Sephiroth?" he added.

I didn't reply.

He sighed. "They informed us about what he did...he's dead, he never made it out of the reactor. But the others...no one made it out of the reactor, Miss Fox."

My eyes widened. "No one did?" I sat up and my head burst, but it didn't matter. "They were right there, with Sephiroth! Where could they have gone?"

"There was no one but you and her in the reactor. We found Sephiroth's sword bloodied by the edge of the catwalk. Can I get you anything? Something to eat?"

"Where is he?"

"Disappeared, we don't know where. Do you want some water?"

I shook my head and lay back down. He seemed to catch up on my mood and he placed a hand on my own.

"I'm sure you'll find your friends. Rest now, all will be better when you wake up." he smiled and left, leaving me to my own, dark thoughts.

"Eden"

I heard a voice saying somewhere far away.

"Eden, wake up."

I groaned and slowly open my eyes. They were met by Tifa's.

"Tifa" I said, while trying to sit up.

I was feeling better, as if I had been asleep for years.

"Eden, are you okay?"

I looked at her without answering.

"You were thrashing and screaming. You must have been having a nightmare."

I frowned and tried to remember, but I couldn't. Although it wouldn't be surprising, after all that had happened lately.

I actually felt sad not remembering, because maybe in my dream, even though a nightmare, I could have been with him one last time.

"Tifa...do you know? What happened?"

She shook her head. "I don't remember anything...not even you getting hurt. I woke up here, just like you did."

I didn't tell her I had woken once before, inside the reactor, I didn't feel like talking at all.

"I was hoping you could tell me what happened to Cloud..." she said, hanging her head.

I felt terrible, but truth was, Cloud was the least of my worries right now. There was a emptiness inside me, a longing for something that would never come back.

"I hope they're doing okay." she continued. "Maybe we should go find them?"

I felt angry with her for no reason but the bitterness inside me, and I had to refrain myself from beeing mean to her. She went through a lot and none of it had been her fault.

"We'll see." I said.

She nodded with a slightly hopefull face, before she left for the exit. "Oh, the doctors said we were well enough to move around, you should try and get some walking done, you've been in that bed for way too long already." she smiled.

"How long?" I frowned.

"About three weeks." with that, she left.

"Three weeks?" I asked myself out loud.

"Yes, two weeks and five days, to be exact." the healer said as he appeared next to my bed. "So I would say it's time for you to get out."

He didn't sound annoyed, but kind. Still, it was obvious he meant it.

"I don't want to." I said and turned away from him, hugging my pillow.

There was no reason for me to get out of bed anymore, not after...

"Yes, you do. You're young, you have plenty more to look forward to. You're First Class, stop feeling sorry for yourself. Now, get up!" he nudged me.

"I don't want to!"

"Alright then." he simply said before he walked over to the foot of my bed. "I'll give you a hand."

"What are you doing?" I asked him as he started rolling the bed out of the infirmary.

"I have far more important things to do than listening to your pity. I'm a healer, not a schrink." he pulled me out into the corridor and left me there. "By the way, the President wanted to see you as soon as you're able. I'd say that's about now."

"Hey!" I shouted after him as he dissappeared through the door and I jumped out of bed to tell him exactly what I thought of this treatment.

Unfortunately, my legs had been asleep for three weeks and they hadn't woken up yet. I immediately buckled through my knees and had to catch myself on the edge of the bed.

"Sonofa..."

Ten seconds later, he reappeared with a huge syringe in his hand.

"What are you...? I started, but I was cut off as he stuck the needle into my arm. "Ohw! What the hell was that!?"

"Mako" he stated matter of factly. "Best way to get you back on your feet."

"Little warning next time?"

He grinned and left me again. Healers...

It appeared he was right though. I felt new strenght course through my veins and muscles and my legs began to carry me. I pushed myself off the bed, trying to find my ballance. It took me a few seconds, but soon I could stand without support. The first few steps were wobbly and unstable, but it didn't take long before I regained my old stride, though a lot less lofty than three weeks before.

"Eden!" I heard my name get called and I spun around. "Eden! Oh, Gods, I'm so glad you're up!" Max came running towards me and hugged me in a death grip.

"Max...You're breaking my wound." I forced out, but I was glad to see a familiar face.

He slightly loosened his grip on me and I hugged him back. He helt me tight, and I felt how much he cared for me. It made me emotional and before I knew what was going on, I was crying my eyes out on his shoulder.

"You're all that's left now." I cried. "They're all gone...Zack, Genesis, Angeal, Se-" I cried even harder when I realised what I was about to say.

Max soothed me with his voice, telling me comforting things and I was grateful.

"If you want to talk, you know I'll listen."

I nodded into his neck, still unable to speak.

"Are you okay, Eden?"

It was a simple question, but the tone behind it made it sound like so much more. I let go of him and stared at the ground. I felt my eyes were puffy and my face was wet.

"I'm not sure..." I said before looking him in the eye.

"I know...Zack was my friend too...I wanted to go find him, but we weren't allowed..."

It took a moment for me to comprehend what he had said. Zack? That's when I remembered, no one else knew about Sephiroth and I. No one would, I promised myself. It was better that way.

"They have sent no one to find them? Not even a recon-team?"

"Nothing...It's like they don't want them to be found."

"I wouldn't be surprised." I growled and pushed past him.

Surprise and confusion arrose on his face at the sight of my sudden change of behaviour.

"What's wrong?" he asked. "Where are you going?"

"To see the President." I said with determination.

"Seriously?"

"I'm the only First Class left and he's requested my audience. He shall have it." I said as I stakled towards the elevator, Max jogging up behind me.

"Are you...gonna cause trouble?"

"Hell yeah." I said, allowing me one last look at Max's mischievous grin before the doors slid shut.