Chapter 12
He wanted me to join him? I couldn't believe it. He was the one who caused all my sorrow. It was because of him that my family was killed. How could I be on his side? I could feel even more rage build up inside me. I walked up to him and gave my answer.
"Never", I said to him looking straight into his eyes. I didn't wait for a reaction, so I quickly walked away. If he didn't tell me where Cloud was, I guess I had to find him myself. But then I heard his voice once again.
"Even if it costs your beloved prince's life?" he asked. I stopped walking and turned around.
"What are you talking about?" Something in his tone of voice scared me. The feeling inside me that something bad was going to happen instantly got worse.
"You would do anything to make sure that he is safe, wouldn't you?" he asked as he started to walk slowly toward me. The smile never left his face. I quickly became bothered by him and all his stupid questions.
"I'm not believing a single thing you say until I see Cloud", I said loudly. He stopped and sighed.
"Very well", he said simply. He turned and went back down the stairs. I decided to follow him. We went all the way back down to the first floor and Sephiroth led me to the door that led back down to the dungeon.
"He's in one of the cells. When you are done talking with him, come back to me and tell me your real answer". After that he walked away. I opened the door and went down the steps. I tried out my new abilities and I quickly sensed Cloud's presence in the cell that was closest to me. I walked through the doorway and found him still unconscious. He seemed to not have awakened from his sleep during the day. I gently woke him up.
"Aeris, what's wrong?" he asked. I began to tell him about everything Sephiroth told me. He became visually upset and he stopped me. "We have to get out of here", he said.
"But we have to do something about Sephiroth", I said. "We also need to know what happened to Tifa and Vincent".
"I agree with you Aeris, but we're still not used to our abilities yet. We can't do very much right now. And don't worry about Tifa and Vincent, okay? We'll find them". I just nodded. Cloud stood up and walked to the doorway.
"But what about what Sephiroth said to me? If I don't go to his side, he might kill you". Cloud stopped and turned to look at me.
"No matter what happens Aeris, do not give in to him. He will only lead you into a world of pain. Even if it does cost my life".
"But…" I started to talk.
"Aeris, remember my words", he interrupted. I looked down and sighed.
"Alright", I replied.
I followed him out the door and up the steps. We stopped and looked around.
"What are we going to do now?" I asked. "I don't think that Sephiroth will let us leave that easily".
"I don't think so either. But we have to at least try. We can't go to the drawbridge because that's on the other side of the castle, but there should be a secret door around here".
"A secret door?"
"Yeah, in case of emergencies", he replied. We walked around looking for the door when Sephiroth showed up.
"Make up your mind yet?" he asked me.
"You have my answer, Sephiroth", I said. Sephiroth's smile disappeared.
"Well, I guess you intend to leave then, hmm?" Sephiroth said in a strange tone. He didn't bother to wait for our answer. "The door's right here". He pointed to a metal door with a metal bar across it. "Go ahead".
Both of us were confused. Why would he let us leave after all of that? Cloud walked slowly to the door and opened it. Sephiroth backed away from us and put on a friendly smile. I looked at Cloud and he shrugged. He walked through the door and waited for me on the other side. I walked to the door and that familiar dizzy feeling came back. It happened so fast that I had no time to react. I stopped and I looked at Cloud. It was then I felt warmth on my skin again. I realized I had almost slept right through the night and the sun would be coming up soon. I told myself to run through the door but nothing happened. Cloud looked confused.
"Aeris, hurry!" he said. I smiled at him again. It was then he realized I wasn't myself. "Oh God, not again", he said under his breath. The air was quickly beginning to get warmer. There was not much time left. I heard Sephiroth whisper what he wanted me to do. I started screaming no inside my head. The sky was beginning to turn orange. At that moment, a tear somehow escaped and fell down my face. My eyes began to burn. Cloud walked toward me and suddenly, against all my power, I slammed the door and locked it with the metal bar. Right then, Sephiroth pulled me back away from the door and held me there. I started screaming and I tried to get away from him and open the door. I heard Cloud hit the door as hard as he could, over and over again. I started crying to Sephiroth to please let me go, I needed to save him. Soon, Cloud's attempts at breaking down the door stopped. I started to become weaker because the sun had almost risen. I stopped crying to Sephiroth and I began to yell I'm sorry to Cloud. I repeated it over and over again, wishing I would somehow be forgiven for this. But then, he communicated to me through my mind.
"Aeris! It's not your fault! Please don't be sad over this. You can't fight what is meant to happen. I just need you to be strong, okay? Know the things I have said to you and you will be okay. I will forever love you and just remember that love always survives death".
I stopped struggling against Sephiroth's hold and I just wept. With each passing second, I became weaker. Sephiroth dropped me and I fell to the floor.
"I love you", I whispered. A few seconds later, I fell into a dark dreamless sleep".
"Oh my God, did he really die?" Darius asked. Aeris just looked up at him. She was fighting tears from falling from her eyes. But it was apparent that she lost that battle. Tears were now steaming down her face. She continued with her story.
"When I woke up, I was alone. Sephiroth was nowhere to be seen. I looked up at the door and wondered if it really happened. I almost expected Cloud to somehow surprise me from behind. I got up and walked to the door. I removed the metal bar and I stopped. I was almost too scared to open it but I knew I had to. I opened the door and I expected to find him there. But the only thing I saw was a spot on the ground where a patch of grass had been burnt.
"No", I whispered. I started to cry yet again. But I was tired of crying. I had to do something. He told me to be strong. It was time to act like it. I sat there on the grass for the rest of the night looking up at the constellations. Suddenly they didn't seem so beautiful.
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Ugh, too sad. But hey, this is the mood I'm in when I think of school! Bad huh? Anywayz, tell me what you think! I have to go and try to get some sleep. See ya!
Yunalesca Strife ^_^
