Fountain of Memories
Chapter 8: Echoes of Madness
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the FF7 characters, they are the property of Squaresoft and I am just borrowing them for this non-profit fan fic.
The steady beeping of the heart monitor was the only sound which echoed around the small medical room. Reeve had become used to the sound by now. He'd spent much of his time in the last week standing at the bedside of a girl he hardly knew.
And why have you been doing that eh? Part of his mind asked, You met her barely more than two weeks ago. She's a murderer and yet you're still attracted to her… what's wrong with you?
He shook his head slightly with a frown, and realised that he didn't know why he felt the urge to protect this young, vulnerable woman. Whenever she looked at him with those large green, quavering eyes, he wanted to wrap his arms around her slender shoulders and tell her it would be ok.
Huh, not very vulnerable really is she? She's a vicious and vindictive killer, preying on the innocent. Betraying your hospitality and kindness.
Rubbing his head with a sigh, Reeve plopped himself down into the chair beside the bed where Aurora lay. She looked so innocent and beautiful lying there. Pale hair spread out over the pillow, pale face blank and almost serene, the pale green of the hospital bed linen seemed to soften her looks, making her appear somehow unreal. A lock of gold-white hair had fallen across her face, and Reeve reached out to move it. As his fingers brushed her face he suddenly realised what he was doing, and guiltily snatched his hand away just before there was a quiet knock at the door.
'Come in.' He said, wondering whom it was. Tifa poked her head around the door and smiled tightly at Reeve. She sat in the chair beside him and sighed.
'So, how is she?' She asked, her words taught and clipped short. Reeve knew that it cost Tifa a lot to come here and talk to him about Aurora. Despite being the one who had saved her life, Reeve got the feeling that she felt pretty much the same as Cloud and the rest of Avalanche did about the young woman.
'No change really.' Reeve replied carefully. He cleared his throat before asking, 'How are the others?'
Tifa looked away, and stared out of a nearby window, 'Pretty much as you would expect. Cloud's still not left his room and his having his food delivered to him. The last person who tried to forcefully remove 'persuade' him to leave is in another room of this infirmary having his broken arm put into plaster. Barret and Cid have been unusually abstracted and quiet. Red's been exactly the opposite. We can't get him to sit still for five minutes. Vincent and Yuffie…well they've been spending a lot of time together. Going for walks and talking quietly by themselves. I think Yuffie was pretty disturbed when she found out it was Aurora who killed the janitor. She kinda liked the girl I think.'
'Didn't you?'
'… yes I did. She saved our lives, and I trusted her without thought.' Tifa paused, and looked at her lap, 'Now I regret trusting her so readily, but I suppose there's no point in self blame.'
Reeve said nothing, and turned to look at the comatose girl. There was silence for awhile, until Tifa spoke again.
'Why do you come here every day Reeve?' He caught the edge in her voice. As if she was barely containing her outrage and anger that he would put Aurora over his friends.
Turning he looked the brunette directly in the eyes and replied; 'Why did you push Cloud out of the way when he was about to kill her?'
Tifa swallowed, and turned her head away from his steady, blue-grey gaze, and looked back at her lap. 'Because that would have been murder too, Reeve. She deserves to be tried and executed without taking Cloud with her.'
There was a brief silence before Reeve spoke again, 'Do you remember when they put you in the gas chamber Tifa?'
There was no reply. And Reeve looked over at her to see tears forming in her eyes, before she squeezed them shut.
Reeve sighed and decided to try reasoning, 'Tifa I know you must hate Aurora right now. I hate what she did to that old man but…… well I'm not basing the fate of the world on the fact that she killed that man without reason or remorse. Does the description of a cold blooded killer fit with the girl we knew back on that island? Do you think she would have even known one end of a sword from the other growing up on an island alone?' Reeve glanced back at Aurora. 'There's a lot more to this than meets the eye.'
When he turned back to Tifa he found her glaring at him. 'Yes you're right Reeve. There's a lot more to this than there first seems.' She thrust a cardboard file towards him, and stood up. 'This was retrieved from Hojo's secret lab. It's his own personal diary… well more a record of important dates really.'
Reeve opened the file and taking the sheets of paper from it, began to read. His eyes widening slightly as he read some of the entries.
Tifa was watching him when he finished reading.
'There's a lot of stuff in there which we'd already found out, but there's a hell of a lot which not even ShinRa knew, or cared to record.' She said, and then glanced over contemptuously at the young woman on the bed. 'There's an older brother who never seemed to surface. A wife we never knew about, but then, lets face it, we didn't know much about Sephiroth's private life before he came to Nibelheim. And then it turns out he had a kid too. A child with the same powers as him, and what's the betting we do know who she is.' Turning Tifa strode to the door and wrenched it open, but slowly turned back to Reeve who was sat with his head bowed, and face pale. 'I don't think she needs a reason to do this stuff Reeve. She's Sephiroth's offspring, and that's the end of it.'
The slam of the door echoed around the room, and Reeve winced. Sighing again, he rose from his seat and walked towards the door. Turning the main light off he left the room.
* * *
Come to me Aurora, I have something to give you.
What…Who are you?
I am you. I am a part of you which cannot be denied or controlled. I am you're dark side.
These thoughts don't sound like mine
We are not entirely the same entity, but you're being encompasses part of me. I am you're will power, you're determination, you're strength and speed, your agility and dexterity. I am everything about you which is strength, and I am in control.
Why do you make me strong? What do you want from me?
I was with you're father too, little one. He drew his great strength from me. He became my son, my warrior, my dark angel, but alas he was not strong enough to finish what he started. He was too attached to… certain worldly things which prevented his ascension to divnity.
My father… you were part of my father too…
Yes, Aurora. Now I want you to continue his work because I am reduced into the weakened state I was before he discovered me. I can only come to you as thoughts and actions, you must come to me, restore my full strength and receive the gift I have for you.
Why should I come to you? I don't know who you are or what your name is. I don't know what you have planned for me.
Only what I planned to give your father. Divine power and immortal life, becoming part of the planet and utilising it's power to become stronger still. Harnessing the power of the planet will give us enough strength to gain power from more planets still, until we are strong enough to work against the forces which work the universe as it is now.
You want to use my planet for your own gains and you expect me to help you? Betray my friends, and the millions of people who live here. Cloud and the others would never forgive me…
You think they will forgive you for what you have done so far?
What are you talking about? I have done nothing…
Images flashed on the inside of her eyelids. She was walking through the corridors of Midgar. A man was standing in front of her, and she looked him in the eyes as she saw the vicious sword in her hand stab and slash. She felt the glee and elation in her heart at the feel of the kill.
No…
A man was trying to crawl away from her, whimpering, his eyes pleading for mercy. She raised the Masamune.
NO!
She saw Cloud raise his sword over her, and saw the crazy look in his eyes. The feelings of fear and anger, in his icy blue eyes. She saw Tifa speaking to Reeve, and saw herself lying on a hospital bed. Tifa was talking… 'She deserves to be tried and executed…'. The words echoed over and over again.
NO!NO!NO!… It's not true… I didn't do any of that stuff…
But you did Aurora, you see how strong you can be when I lend you my power.
I don't want your power! I don't want to come to you, I don't want anything to do with you!
You're father said the same thing at first, but it made no difference. It's part of you to be this way. Do you think you can defy your fate? Besides… do you think you can stay here with your friends…Tifa's steely words echoed around her skull once more.
………………………
Come to me Aurora and receive what is rightfully yours…
…… Very well, I will come to you. Where must I go?
Let me in and I will guide you safely there myself.
…I don't have any choice do I, entity…
There are always choices. Maybe I will discuss them with you on our journey…
One last thing… what are you known as, entity?
I have had many names… but you may call me… Jenova…
Author's Notes: Well thare's another chapter for you're reading pleasure (I hope ^_^). If you read and review I will post up the next chapter nice and soon so you don't go insane and hunt me down or anything. Thanx for reading and please read and review because I like to know that ppl care ^_^ LOL