CHAPTER VII
She opened her eyes, quickly, as the pain soon became unbearable. Aeris slowly fell to the floor, as she grasped tightly onto her side. The sharp pain, like billions of knives carving its way into her every whim. Her eyes soon came into focus, as she kneeled down on the floor, her long reddish brown hair, falling over her face. As her face laid matted with sweat.
Aeris bit her bottom lip, as she fell back against the bed, as the pain came to a stop. She closed her eyes, breathing in heavily, only to know that no one had been home that day. Not even Tifa, who seemed to come by nearly every single day, just to check on her. Aeris slowly picked herself up, as she leaned back against the bed, taking deep breaths, as voices began to echo endlessly in her head.
Those same voices that came to her every night she had slept. Whisperings, soft fragile voices, that seemed to play a melody. She felt herself falling from grace, as her breathing soon grew softer. And there she saw him, the tall man. His dark black hair rustling in the wind that followed. He stared at her, his sharp eyes not once moving away.
"Aeris! Aeris! Wake up!" Tifa called out, as she gently pressed her hand against Aeris' arm. Her eyes slowly opened, as she noticed a group of people standing around her. Some faces, that she hadn't at all recognized. Until her eyes came fully focused.
Aeris slowly sat up, as she pressed her hand firmly against her forehead, that felt freezing cold. Not at all, human-like, "What happened?"
Tifa sighed, a concerned look upon her face, "I think you had a bad dream..."
"Yea, it must have been bad," Yuffie uttered, glancing over at Cid, who had an annoyed look on his face, "But she should be feeling better by no time."
"Where's Cloud?" Aeris questioned, looking around the room.
"Don't try to hard, lookin' for that spikey-ass," Barret began, "He's off doin' somethin' he calls important." She slowly brought her knees below her chin, as her eyes closed, slowly.
"I think we'll leave you alone," Tifa uttered, slowly standing up and signaling the others. As they exited, Aeris' eyes slowly opened, as she felt tears beginning to fall down her cheeks. She slowly adjusted her eyes onto the open window, as thoughts encircled her. Who was she? And why was she here?
Cloud sat quietly, as he watched the townspeople walk by. The night air laid still, as calm as the skies had been. He paused, resting his head in his hands, as he sat on the sidewalk, thinking deeply. So much seemed to happen, yet all of it so sudden. She had popped out of nowhere, came back from the dead. But how?
That question had never escaped his head. Her touch was always so cold, never once was her body warm against his own. She looked the same, just like the old Aeris that everyone had known and love. But something seemed different, distant almost. Cloud let out a soft laughter, as he found himself and slowly stood up. He glanced up at the stars, then towards a young couple huddled close together by the entrance to a coffee shop.
He slowly turned away, when he noticed a figure before him. The man stood behind the shadows of the tall Midgar buildings, but only his eyes seemed to give off a bright glow.
"Zack?" Cloud murmured, his eyes squinting.