The Cry of Darkness - Part 1
Disclaimer: Do not own this - only my own characters
A quick glance across her shoulder told her all she needed to know - her life was in danger. She ran faster and faster, trying not to look back. She begged her legs to run faster, but it was no use. The form was gaining on her, no matter how fast she ran. Quickly she tried to take shortcuts through the backstreets of the town, as beads of sweat ran down her forehead. Through alleyways she ran trying to ignore the voice behind her name. Her bare feet stung as she ran across jagged stones. As she turned left down the next street, she came face to face with a brick wall. She turned around and looked behind her, her heart pounding in her chest. A dark shadow approached her, lifeless, as she felt the air grow cold around her. Time to die her mind called as a quick glimpse of blood-red eyes filled her dreams forever.
*****
Slowly Vincent walked through the streets. He hated this town. The village of Shimon was built within one mile of the ruins of Midgar. A cold wind blew around his legs and he quickened his pace. To him, this village screamed out death. He was only here because a strange force, which seemed to tug at his chest, had drawn him to it. The wind was picking up quickly now, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to stand up without swaying. Just as Vincent was about to leave the village, he heard a girl scream close-by. He ran down the alleyway to see what had happened - but saw nothing. As he turned around, he saw a dark shadow approaching him. As the shadow got within a couple of meters of him, a shrill ringing pierced through his head. Pain soared throughout his body as he closed his eyes and tried hard not to scream. After a few seconds he risked a glance upwards. The creature was extending a long fuzzy arm towards his face. As it made contact, the ringing stopped, and Vincent fell to the floor, unconscious.
*****
Wake up. The cry is coming - stop it. Wake up. You must stop it.
Vincent awoke drowsily to dreams and thoughts clouding his head. He slowly opened his eyed and looked around him. He was in a tiny, but cozy room and he was lying down on a bed. Sitting on a windowsill opposite him was a girl, staring into the distance. Slowly, he tried to get off the bed, but his legs buckled underneath him. As he sat back down on the bed, he noticed the girl was now looking at him, smiling.
"You are still too weak to move, Vincent."
"How do you know my name?"
"I know many things. Your name happens to be one of them."
Vincent stared at the girl. "Who are you?"
"I dare say you'll find out soon enough. For now, my name is Eryll."
"How did I get here?"
"You are curious. I brought you here. You must be careful. They are coming, and soon they will be everywhere."
After saying this Eryll turned back to look out of the window, humming to herself, whilst telling Vincent that their conversation was over for the time-being. Vincent frowned. There was something profusely strange about Eryll. She looked to be in her early teens and she had long dark hair past her waist, and vivid green eyes. Her voice was quiet and calm, though to Vincent it seemed to suggest that she had some kind of superiority. She had a small scar on the left-hand side of her face, but Vincent was not the type to inquire as to how she received it. Vincent was thinking about what it was about her that confused him, when Eryll's soft voice cut into his thoughts.
"Do you know why they seek you?"
Vincent was confused. They? Seeking him?
"You do not. Very well, you shall find out soon enough for they are almost upon us." "Who are they?" Vincent asked quietly.
"Do you pretend to be ignorant?" After her eyes seemed to penetrate through him she replied. "You do not know. They seek you for what you have. 'They' is evil at it's greatest and most powerful. They belong to the cry. The rest you need not know. Not yet."
Vincent nodded, though he had no idea of what she was speaking. The Cry? After a few moments Eryll jumped down off the windowsill and walked across.
"Can you walk?"
"Hm?"
"They are stronger, but we can outrun them." "I'm fine."
"Good. Follow me."
Eryll led Vincent out of the door and out into the streets. Struggling with the pain in his leg, Vincent struggled to keep up with the girl. Not once did Eryll look back over her shoulder to see where Vincent was, which lead him to believe that; either she didn't care at all, she wanted to lose him in the alleys or she was as worried for herself as she was for him. Eryll eventually ran out of the village and turned to run up a hill. After what seemed like miles of torture Eryll stopped at the top of the hill and looked down over the village. She turned to Vincent who had crouched down on the floor, still weak.
"Look," she said, indicating the village. Vincent pulled himself upright and looked at the view. The village of Shimon was overrun by dark shadows, and dark flames engulfed most of the buildings. Although the flames were immense and the shadows were numerous, they did not spread out any further than the outskirts of the village.
"The village of Shimon, the heart of the cry," whispered Eryll, to no one in particular.
After watching for a few minutes, a humming could be heard in the distance, humming a tune rather like the tune that Eryll had hummed back in the room. Vincent looked across at her, and to his surprise she seemed very panicky. Her face had lost its entire colour and she was after something in her belt. Suddenly they were surrounded by hooded figures, and a knife was at Vincent's throat. Looking around for Eryll, he could deduce that she had just disappeared. A fist made contact with the side of his head and once again he found himself slipping into darkness.
*****
The time is now, let the world burn.
*****
"Cloud? Cloud! CLOUD!"
Cloud jerked awake to the sound of pounding on his front door. Groaning loudly, he made his way down the stairs and to the front door, so he could see the idiot who had woken him up. Opening the door he came face to face with Barrett, who barged past him into the room, and began to frantically search all of the downstairs rooms. Cloud looked at him.
"What are you doing?"
No answer.
"Barrett! What are you looking for?"
"Have you seen Tifa?"
"Well rest guaranteed that she isn't hiding behind the curtain. Seriously, I haven't seen her for ages, why?" "That's the problem! No ones seen her for ages! She left suddenly without even saying a word! Urgent meeting - now!" Barrett turned and walked back out of the front door. "You comin', Cloud?" "Wait a minute," Cloud grumbled. ******************
Eryll hastily looked behind her. She had been closer than she had intended; a little more precaution wouldn't go amiss in the future. She felt rather sorry for Vincent, if he had died - he would probably be better off, on the other hand; if they had captured him, then he was in a much worse state than before. Turning around, she could hear footsteps approaching her.
"Well, Eryll. I see you did return."
"Yes."
"Good. Come quickly. He has arrived, and soon my plan will be complete."
He? I'm sorry Vincent she whispered. Really I am. I hoped this wouldn't have to happen.
********************
Vincent awoke drowsily. Looking around, all he could see were wires; of all colours and proportions. What worried him most was that all the wires seemed to be connecting him to a large machine. Slowly, and with pain, he tried to move an arm, but failed. He sighed and looked to see what his situated was. He was lying on a table of some sort, with many machines and computers surrounding him and around the room. His keen sight picked up a movement near the direction of the door, but on further examination, nothing could be found. Suddenly, a figure in a white coat entered the room.
"Hojo." Vincent murmured. Hojo laughed. Over the years Vincent had forgotten just how annoying that cackle was.
"Hee-hee, glad to see that you remember me after all these years."
Who could forget you thought Vincent to himself. Still, he managed to keep his face straight and stare blankly back at Hojo.
"Oh, yes. Down to business, introductions, introductions - such a complete waste of time. But, there is one person you should meet before our little operation. Eryll, come here. Show this being to the chambers. I shall wait for you there. Quickly." After this Hojo left the room.
Out of the shadows in the corner Eryll stepped forwards, now dressed in black, as opposed to the white clothes that she was wearing earlier. Here hair was tied neatly back into a ponytail, and as she stepped into the light, Vincent could detect a glisten in her eye. What it was he couldn't tell - Malice? Hate? Sorrow? Any of those or more it could have been, but Eryll kept her feelings inside even closer than he could. What annoyed Vincent most was that he had trusted this girl; rather, he felt that she could be trusted, She had taken care of him when he had been attacked, and she had tried to lead him away from trouble. And now she had betrayed him. It just didn't make sense. Did everyone take delight in playing with his trust?
As Eryll sat down at the computer and started typing some codes in, Vincent thought about Cloud and the others. Would they come looking for him? Would they even notice that he'd gone? Probably not. Thinking back, Vincent wasn't even sure how much he'd meant to all of them. Sure, most of them had kept in touch with each other, but maybe that was only out of kindness. If he had to be optimistic, he'd one of them would come. Maybe.
After Vincent had pondered this for a while, Eryll tapped one more key on her keyboard before turning around. Almost simultaneously the wires holding Vincent to the machine came undone, as Eryll turned her chair to face him. Slowly Vincent stood up. After some time, Eryll did the same.
"I said that I would take you to him. Come," Eryll whispered in her soft voice. "If I don't wish to?"
"I will make you come. Hojo did not specify for me to bring you to him alive, did he?"
"What makes you so sure that you can force me to follow you?"
"Do not defy me! I am more powerful than you could ever wish to be! I could destroy this earth in an instant."
"If you are so powerful, then why are you under Hojo's command?"
"I do what I want. I have always done, I shall always do. For the moment I shall follow Hojo, but soon, soon, I shall be free to do what I wish. Do not ask what I wish to do, for it does not concern you. By the time my plan has come into action, you shall be dead."
"I am not coming with you."
Eryll shook her head and smiled. Closing her eyes, she snapped her fingers once and Vincent felt his arms and legs become devoid of feeling. Unable to move, he dropped to the floor. Eryll waved her hand and Vincent felt himself floating up in the air. Unable to stop himself, he followed Eryll as she led him down many stairs deep under ground. Vincent told himself to find out how he had never seen this place before when - correction - if he got out of here. Eventually Eryll entered a room, not too unlike the other which they were in previously, where Hojo was busy at a machine. As they entered the room he looked up from his work.
"Hmmm? Oh, good. Put him over there. No problems were there, he came willingly?" Eryll smiled at Vincent before replying.
"He came very willingly."
Vincent watched her go out of the corner of his eye; watched her slink back into the shadows.
*****
Disclaimer: Do not own this - only my own characters
A quick glance across her shoulder told her all she needed to know - her life was in danger. She ran faster and faster, trying not to look back. She begged her legs to run faster, but it was no use. The form was gaining on her, no matter how fast she ran. Quickly she tried to take shortcuts through the backstreets of the town, as beads of sweat ran down her forehead. Through alleyways she ran trying to ignore the voice behind her name. Her bare feet stung as she ran across jagged stones. As she turned left down the next street, she came face to face with a brick wall. She turned around and looked behind her, her heart pounding in her chest. A dark shadow approached her, lifeless, as she felt the air grow cold around her. Time to die her mind called as a quick glimpse of blood-red eyes filled her dreams forever.
*****
Slowly Vincent walked through the streets. He hated this town. The village of Shimon was built within one mile of the ruins of Midgar. A cold wind blew around his legs and he quickened his pace. To him, this village screamed out death. He was only here because a strange force, which seemed to tug at his chest, had drawn him to it. The wind was picking up quickly now, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to stand up without swaying. Just as Vincent was about to leave the village, he heard a girl scream close-by. He ran down the alleyway to see what had happened - but saw nothing. As he turned around, he saw a dark shadow approaching him. As the shadow got within a couple of meters of him, a shrill ringing pierced through his head. Pain soared throughout his body as he closed his eyes and tried hard not to scream. After a few seconds he risked a glance upwards. The creature was extending a long fuzzy arm towards his face. As it made contact, the ringing stopped, and Vincent fell to the floor, unconscious.
*****
Wake up. The cry is coming - stop it. Wake up. You must stop it.
Vincent awoke drowsily to dreams and thoughts clouding his head. He slowly opened his eyed and looked around him. He was in a tiny, but cozy room and he was lying down on a bed. Sitting on a windowsill opposite him was a girl, staring into the distance. Slowly, he tried to get off the bed, but his legs buckled underneath him. As he sat back down on the bed, he noticed the girl was now looking at him, smiling.
"You are still too weak to move, Vincent."
"How do you know my name?"
"I know many things. Your name happens to be one of them."
Vincent stared at the girl. "Who are you?"
"I dare say you'll find out soon enough. For now, my name is Eryll."
"How did I get here?"
"You are curious. I brought you here. You must be careful. They are coming, and soon they will be everywhere."
After saying this Eryll turned back to look out of the window, humming to herself, whilst telling Vincent that their conversation was over for the time-being. Vincent frowned. There was something profusely strange about Eryll. She looked to be in her early teens and she had long dark hair past her waist, and vivid green eyes. Her voice was quiet and calm, though to Vincent it seemed to suggest that she had some kind of superiority. She had a small scar on the left-hand side of her face, but Vincent was not the type to inquire as to how she received it. Vincent was thinking about what it was about her that confused him, when Eryll's soft voice cut into his thoughts.
"Do you know why they seek you?"
Vincent was confused. They? Seeking him?
"You do not. Very well, you shall find out soon enough for they are almost upon us." "Who are they?" Vincent asked quietly.
"Do you pretend to be ignorant?" After her eyes seemed to penetrate through him she replied. "You do not know. They seek you for what you have. 'They' is evil at it's greatest and most powerful. They belong to the cry. The rest you need not know. Not yet."
Vincent nodded, though he had no idea of what she was speaking. The Cry? After a few moments Eryll jumped down off the windowsill and walked across.
"Can you walk?"
"Hm?"
"They are stronger, but we can outrun them." "I'm fine."
"Good. Follow me."
Eryll led Vincent out of the door and out into the streets. Struggling with the pain in his leg, Vincent struggled to keep up with the girl. Not once did Eryll look back over her shoulder to see where Vincent was, which lead him to believe that; either she didn't care at all, she wanted to lose him in the alleys or she was as worried for herself as she was for him. Eryll eventually ran out of the village and turned to run up a hill. After what seemed like miles of torture Eryll stopped at the top of the hill and looked down over the village. She turned to Vincent who had crouched down on the floor, still weak.
"Look," she said, indicating the village. Vincent pulled himself upright and looked at the view. The village of Shimon was overrun by dark shadows, and dark flames engulfed most of the buildings. Although the flames were immense and the shadows were numerous, they did not spread out any further than the outskirts of the village.
"The village of Shimon, the heart of the cry," whispered Eryll, to no one in particular.
After watching for a few minutes, a humming could be heard in the distance, humming a tune rather like the tune that Eryll had hummed back in the room. Vincent looked across at her, and to his surprise she seemed very panicky. Her face had lost its entire colour and she was after something in her belt. Suddenly they were surrounded by hooded figures, and a knife was at Vincent's throat. Looking around for Eryll, he could deduce that she had just disappeared. A fist made contact with the side of his head and once again he found himself slipping into darkness.
*****
The time is now, let the world burn.
*****
"Cloud? Cloud! CLOUD!"
Cloud jerked awake to the sound of pounding on his front door. Groaning loudly, he made his way down the stairs and to the front door, so he could see the idiot who had woken him up. Opening the door he came face to face with Barrett, who barged past him into the room, and began to frantically search all of the downstairs rooms. Cloud looked at him.
"What are you doing?"
No answer.
"Barrett! What are you looking for?"
"Have you seen Tifa?"
"Well rest guaranteed that she isn't hiding behind the curtain. Seriously, I haven't seen her for ages, why?" "That's the problem! No ones seen her for ages! She left suddenly without even saying a word! Urgent meeting - now!" Barrett turned and walked back out of the front door. "You comin', Cloud?" "Wait a minute," Cloud grumbled. ******************
Eryll hastily looked behind her. She had been closer than she had intended; a little more precaution wouldn't go amiss in the future. She felt rather sorry for Vincent, if he had died - he would probably be better off, on the other hand; if they had captured him, then he was in a much worse state than before. Turning around, she could hear footsteps approaching her.
"Well, Eryll. I see you did return."
"Yes."
"Good. Come quickly. He has arrived, and soon my plan will be complete."
He? I'm sorry Vincent she whispered. Really I am. I hoped this wouldn't have to happen.
********************
Vincent awoke drowsily. Looking around, all he could see were wires; of all colours and proportions. What worried him most was that all the wires seemed to be connecting him to a large machine. Slowly, and with pain, he tried to move an arm, but failed. He sighed and looked to see what his situated was. He was lying on a table of some sort, with many machines and computers surrounding him and around the room. His keen sight picked up a movement near the direction of the door, but on further examination, nothing could be found. Suddenly, a figure in a white coat entered the room.
"Hojo." Vincent murmured. Hojo laughed. Over the years Vincent had forgotten just how annoying that cackle was.
"Hee-hee, glad to see that you remember me after all these years."
Who could forget you thought Vincent to himself. Still, he managed to keep his face straight and stare blankly back at Hojo.
"Oh, yes. Down to business, introductions, introductions - such a complete waste of time. But, there is one person you should meet before our little operation. Eryll, come here. Show this being to the chambers. I shall wait for you there. Quickly." After this Hojo left the room.
Out of the shadows in the corner Eryll stepped forwards, now dressed in black, as opposed to the white clothes that she was wearing earlier. Here hair was tied neatly back into a ponytail, and as she stepped into the light, Vincent could detect a glisten in her eye. What it was he couldn't tell - Malice? Hate? Sorrow? Any of those or more it could have been, but Eryll kept her feelings inside even closer than he could. What annoyed Vincent most was that he had trusted this girl; rather, he felt that she could be trusted, She had taken care of him when he had been attacked, and she had tried to lead him away from trouble. And now she had betrayed him. It just didn't make sense. Did everyone take delight in playing with his trust?
As Eryll sat down at the computer and started typing some codes in, Vincent thought about Cloud and the others. Would they come looking for him? Would they even notice that he'd gone? Probably not. Thinking back, Vincent wasn't even sure how much he'd meant to all of them. Sure, most of them had kept in touch with each other, but maybe that was only out of kindness. If he had to be optimistic, he'd one of them would come. Maybe.
After Vincent had pondered this for a while, Eryll tapped one more key on her keyboard before turning around. Almost simultaneously the wires holding Vincent to the machine came undone, as Eryll turned her chair to face him. Slowly Vincent stood up. After some time, Eryll did the same.
"I said that I would take you to him. Come," Eryll whispered in her soft voice. "If I don't wish to?"
"I will make you come. Hojo did not specify for me to bring you to him alive, did he?"
"What makes you so sure that you can force me to follow you?"
"Do not defy me! I am more powerful than you could ever wish to be! I could destroy this earth in an instant."
"If you are so powerful, then why are you under Hojo's command?"
"I do what I want. I have always done, I shall always do. For the moment I shall follow Hojo, but soon, soon, I shall be free to do what I wish. Do not ask what I wish to do, for it does not concern you. By the time my plan has come into action, you shall be dead."
"I am not coming with you."
Eryll shook her head and smiled. Closing her eyes, she snapped her fingers once and Vincent felt his arms and legs become devoid of feeling. Unable to move, he dropped to the floor. Eryll waved her hand and Vincent felt himself floating up in the air. Unable to stop himself, he followed Eryll as she led him down many stairs deep under ground. Vincent told himself to find out how he had never seen this place before when - correction - if he got out of here. Eventually Eryll entered a room, not too unlike the other which they were in previously, where Hojo was busy at a machine. As they entered the room he looked up from his work.
"Hmmm? Oh, good. Put him over there. No problems were there, he came willingly?" Eryll smiled at Vincent before replying.
"He came very willingly."
Vincent watched her go out of the corner of his eye; watched her slink back into the shadows.
*****