"In the darkest hole, you'd be well advised
Not to plan my funeral before the body dies
Come the morning light, it's a see through show
What you may have heard and what you think you know." "Grind", _Alice In Chains_
*****
Even with her aching eyes closed from the world, Aeris could still hear the approaching footsteps of the team of angry guards. They were moving at an enormous speed, and she knew it would only be seconds before they reached her stiff form. Their yells of support and bloodlust had faded into an empty void, as she concentrated on what mattered most in her last seconds on the planet.
She had lived an interesting and beautiful life... She experienced love of many kinds... Aeris thanked her ancestors for giving her such an enlightening existence and smiled softly. This is the way it was supposed to end. Her only regret was not telling Cloud how she felt... but she would soon be able to resolve that issue. She will meet him in the Lifestream.
When the footsteps had become steadily louder, Aeris knew that they had finally reached her. She sucked in a stale breath to prepare for the blow that would end her life.
The blow never came.
She opened her emerald eyes in confusion to see the guards rushing past her, their metal armor brushing her sides roughly as they breezed by. In her shocked state, she was almost knocked down by the force exerted from the men, but caught herself in time to not become trampled to death. Their nervous chatter had grown considerably louder, as their yells slightly deafened her ears.
They acted as if she wasn't even there... And they had completely bypassed her, never giving her a second glance.
She stared at their disappearing forms in bewilderment. She was shaking all over, her mind trying desperately to comprehend what happened. She was alive! ...but how? If she wasn't the target of these men... then who was?
She rounded a nearby corner and peered warily at the retreating men, listening intensely to hear snippets of their distant conversation.
"Don't be afraid!" one man said, "You haven't been trained for anything like this, but all of us together can beat it!"
"Listen men," The man leading the pack said confidently, "I've seen the beast... It's a demon... but I want you all to remember, he is a man too! Nothing different from any of us.."
A demon that is a man as well?? Aeris blinked frantically in disbelief. Could it be? Could Vincent have survived after all? Her heart pounded with exhilaration at the knowledge that she was not alone in this prison. Vincent was alive! She didn't have to go through this alone! But her new resounding hope was soon shattered by the fact that the guards were going to kill her only existing friend.
She had to stop them! She didn't know what she could possibly do, but she couldn't just stand by while these ruthless guards killed Vincent. With a renewed purposed, Aeris ran swiftly down the bleak corridor, her steps matching those of the men in front of her.
****
Cloud stared terrified into the crimson eyes of the demon leaning in front of him. Those were eyes of little pity... eyes that glorified at the sight of blood and death. He swallowed nervously and held his breath out of fear.
The moment seemed to hang forever into eternity, the razor sharp claws situated mere inches from his skull. The beast was still playing with him, as a cat toyed mercilessly with a mouse for hours, torturing it with the hope of release before biting swiftly into it's soft, warm neck. It was a cruel fate that he had received, but one that he deserved nonetheless.
He imagined that Chaos was smiling the way it's mouth snarled awkwardly around its elongated teeth. It truly was a beast... one that must have outranked hell itself. However, Cloud didn't stray from it's murderous gaze.. Afraid that if he did, then Chaos would strike with outmost fierceness in that very moment.
"Please..Vincent.." Cloud murmured his last desperate plea to his imprisoned friend. The words were so low that he himself didn't think he uttered a word. However the demon's superior hearing caught every syllable, and if possible, his mouth stretched even further.
Its keen eyes narrowed to slits as it prepared to bring its enormous claw down on the blonde's head. The only thing left for Cloud to do was to wince as he turned his head to the side, eyes shut in an intense barrier.
"Hey you!" A gruff voice echoed off the stone walls.
Chaos lifted his head to the source of the interrupting sound, allowing its arm to descend slowly to its side.
"Yeah you, you fucking maniac!"
The horde of armored guards had finally reached their source of anger, and stood silently around their appointed leader, eyes full of terror and animosity. Their swords were now held in trembling hands, though some looked more courageous than others. The leading guard held a revolver in his hand, his aim already locked on target.
Chaos sized up its threats and backed up a few steps from the blonde. This obviously wasn't the right time to feed. Somehow the humans had won the odds, and it was terribly outnumbered. It growled in reply, and stared ominously at the armed man in front of it. Cloud looked anxiously at the beast who would have killed him just minutes ago. An unnerving fear settled in the red irises of its eyes as it tried to figure out a way around this obstacle.
***
Aeris ran with all the strength she had left, just in time to see the events unfolding before her. She stopped suddenly in her tracks as the image focused into her brain.
Cloud was alive!
****
A/N: Yes! This story isn't dead (just my inspiration... don't worry, I'm looking for it!). I know this is a lot shorter than usual, but please forgive me all those readers out in computer land! As for plot ideas, I am in a rut.. so don't expect much out of me in the next little while. I'm also working on my other long story Awakening Spirits (a Quistis/Vincent fic, btw).. so.. lots of problems for me! Anywho, to make a long ramble short, here was chapter 14 of Ripple. Hope you enjoyed it! please review, as always, to tell me your thoughts.
Kimmie
Not to plan my funeral before the body dies
Come the morning light, it's a see through show
What you may have heard and what you think you know." "Grind", _Alice In Chains_
*****
Even with her aching eyes closed from the world, Aeris could still hear the approaching footsteps of the team of angry guards. They were moving at an enormous speed, and she knew it would only be seconds before they reached her stiff form. Their yells of support and bloodlust had faded into an empty void, as she concentrated on what mattered most in her last seconds on the planet.
She had lived an interesting and beautiful life... She experienced love of many kinds... Aeris thanked her ancestors for giving her such an enlightening existence and smiled softly. This is the way it was supposed to end. Her only regret was not telling Cloud how she felt... but she would soon be able to resolve that issue. She will meet him in the Lifestream.
When the footsteps had become steadily louder, Aeris knew that they had finally reached her. She sucked in a stale breath to prepare for the blow that would end her life.
The blow never came.
She opened her emerald eyes in confusion to see the guards rushing past her, their metal armor brushing her sides roughly as they breezed by. In her shocked state, she was almost knocked down by the force exerted from the men, but caught herself in time to not become trampled to death. Their nervous chatter had grown considerably louder, as their yells slightly deafened her ears.
They acted as if she wasn't even there... And they had completely bypassed her, never giving her a second glance.
She stared at their disappearing forms in bewilderment. She was shaking all over, her mind trying desperately to comprehend what happened. She was alive! ...but how? If she wasn't the target of these men... then who was?
She rounded a nearby corner and peered warily at the retreating men, listening intensely to hear snippets of their distant conversation.
"Don't be afraid!" one man said, "You haven't been trained for anything like this, but all of us together can beat it!"
"Listen men," The man leading the pack said confidently, "I've seen the beast... It's a demon... but I want you all to remember, he is a man too! Nothing different from any of us.."
A demon that is a man as well?? Aeris blinked frantically in disbelief. Could it be? Could Vincent have survived after all? Her heart pounded with exhilaration at the knowledge that she was not alone in this prison. Vincent was alive! She didn't have to go through this alone! But her new resounding hope was soon shattered by the fact that the guards were going to kill her only existing friend.
She had to stop them! She didn't know what she could possibly do, but she couldn't just stand by while these ruthless guards killed Vincent. With a renewed purposed, Aeris ran swiftly down the bleak corridor, her steps matching those of the men in front of her.
****
Cloud stared terrified into the crimson eyes of the demon leaning in front of him. Those were eyes of little pity... eyes that glorified at the sight of blood and death. He swallowed nervously and held his breath out of fear.
The moment seemed to hang forever into eternity, the razor sharp claws situated mere inches from his skull. The beast was still playing with him, as a cat toyed mercilessly with a mouse for hours, torturing it with the hope of release before biting swiftly into it's soft, warm neck. It was a cruel fate that he had received, but one that he deserved nonetheless.
He imagined that Chaos was smiling the way it's mouth snarled awkwardly around its elongated teeth. It truly was a beast... one that must have outranked hell itself. However, Cloud didn't stray from it's murderous gaze.. Afraid that if he did, then Chaos would strike with outmost fierceness in that very moment.
"Please..Vincent.." Cloud murmured his last desperate plea to his imprisoned friend. The words were so low that he himself didn't think he uttered a word. However the demon's superior hearing caught every syllable, and if possible, his mouth stretched even further.
Its keen eyes narrowed to slits as it prepared to bring its enormous claw down on the blonde's head. The only thing left for Cloud to do was to wince as he turned his head to the side, eyes shut in an intense barrier.
"Hey you!" A gruff voice echoed off the stone walls.
Chaos lifted his head to the source of the interrupting sound, allowing its arm to descend slowly to its side.
"Yeah you, you fucking maniac!"
The horde of armored guards had finally reached their source of anger, and stood silently around their appointed leader, eyes full of terror and animosity. Their swords were now held in trembling hands, though some looked more courageous than others. The leading guard held a revolver in his hand, his aim already locked on target.
Chaos sized up its threats and backed up a few steps from the blonde. This obviously wasn't the right time to feed. Somehow the humans had won the odds, and it was terribly outnumbered. It growled in reply, and stared ominously at the armed man in front of it. Cloud looked anxiously at the beast who would have killed him just minutes ago. An unnerving fear settled in the red irises of its eyes as it tried to figure out a way around this obstacle.
***
Aeris ran with all the strength she had left, just in time to see the events unfolding before her. She stopped suddenly in her tracks as the image focused into her brain.
Cloud was alive!
****
A/N: Yes! This story isn't dead (just my inspiration... don't worry, I'm looking for it!). I know this is a lot shorter than usual, but please forgive me all those readers out in computer land! As for plot ideas, I am in a rut.. so don't expect much out of me in the next little while. I'm also working on my other long story Awakening Spirits (a Quistis/Vincent fic, btw).. so.. lots of problems for me! Anywho, to make a long ramble short, here was chapter 14 of Ripple. Hope you enjoyed it! please review, as always, to tell me your thoughts.
Kimmie