Chapter Six

I ended up staying at the mansion. Whatever Vincent had to 'lay to rest,' I was pretty sure he didn't want my company to do it. Meanwhile, I decided that if I was going to wait around in this dump, I might as well make it more livable. Out in back, I found a collapsed Chocobo stable, and a small well. I managed to haul up a bucket of surprisingly clean water, and went to work, deciding to tackle the hideous green mold on the walls first.

Upstairs, I was surprised to fine one of the bedrooms had already been cleaned. There was still mold on the walls, and cobwebs in the corners, but there was a new mattress and bedding on one of the old, rickety frames. This, it seemed, was where Vincent slept. At least it wasn't a coffin.

But, come to think of it, did Vincent even sleep? When we had been travelling on the Highwind, I remembered waking in the middle of the night to the sound of footsteps on several occasions. Each time, I'd found Vincent out prowling the deck, professing insomnia, and apologizing for disturbing me. Maybe he really was a vampire. . .

I didn't really know why I felt compelled to straighten up such a run-down place. I suppose it was just something to do while I waited for Vincent to come back. Come to think of it, I didn't really know why I felt the need to wait for him, either. But the fact was, the guy looked on the verge of death, and to be honest, I was afraid to leave him alone. Where was the Vincent who had gradually spoken to us more? Who had smiled when I'd made it to the Highwind? Who had even laughed, and made jokes, albeit rarely? I wasn't sure, but I wasn't leaving until that Vincent Valentine returned.

It had been almost two days, and there was still no sign of Vincent. I didn't know how long he had planned to be gone, but something about his prolonged absence disturbed me. I was starting to get worried, and I didn't like it.

I also had no idea what to do about it. I could try to look for him, but I couldn't remember how to get to the hidden lake. And what if I did find it, and Vincent, and he was perfectly fine? It didn't matter how reserved he was, I had a feeling that if I intruded upon whatever he was doing, he wouldn't be too happy about it.

I tried to keep my mind off it. I went into town, and assured the mayor there was nothing out of the ordinary in the mansion. I picked up some dry food to take back with me, and I told myself that if anyone could look after himself, it was Vincent. But I still couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right.

A storm was brewing. I could see the dark, ominous clouds gathering on the horizon. I searched frantically for shelter, but everywhere I turned doors were slammed in my face.

"Why?" I cried out, pleading with them for an explanation.

"Because all you did was watch."

I spun around, and saw Vincent standing behind me. His usually sanguine eyes were two dark pools that threatened to pull me in.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, growing more confused and apprehensive.

"You remained silent, when you could have prevented it all. That is your sin."

"No. . ." I whispered, shrinking under his accusing glare. "No. . . I couldn't tell him. . . I was afraid of what would happen. . .I was afraid. . ."

"All you did was watch," Vincent repeated. My eyes widened in fear and shock as he raised the Death Penalty, aiming it at me. His eyes were as cold as ice. "How will you atone?"

My feet were rooted to the spot. I couldn't move. Vincent pulled the trigger, his face void of emotion. I couldn't move.

I woke drenched in cold sweat. I thought I was screaming, but then I realized the sound wasn't coming from me. It was. . . howling. The Lifestream may have gotten rid of most of the monsters, but it hadn't gotten rid of the wolves. For once, I was glad they had woken me up, but their eerie, mournful cries sent shivers down my spine.

I got out of bed and tiptoed down the musty, dark hallway and into the bathroom. The plumbing still worked, but when I tried to pour myself a glass of water from the sink, all I got was a cloudy, rust-colored liquid that smelled strongly of sulfur. Holding my nose, I poured the water out and headed back to the bedroom. The bed I assumed Vincent had fixed up was comfortable, but it was a long time before I was able to fall asleep.

I'd had enough. I was tired of waiting. I was going to find Vincent, no matter how long it might take me. It took a few hours to get everything together for my search, and even longer to shake the feeling that this was way too similar to the morning I'd left Cloud. But I told myself that this time, I was finding someone, not leaving them.

Nevertheless, as I set out for the mountains, doubt seemed to follow me. Over the past few days, my guilt concerning Cloud had slowly increased, until it was a constant, nagging thought in the back of my mind. The nightmare hadn't helped either. Vincent's accusations had seemed all too reasonable. My silence had led to Cloud's identity crisis, to Meteor itself. But I'd stayed with him, I'd helped him find himself again. That made everything right, didn't it? Hadn't I already redeemed myself? Even after Meteor had been destroyed, I'd stayed by his side. I'd endured the silence, the ignorance with which Cloud had heard everything I said to him, especially about settling down. It wasn't because he didn't care, I knew that. He'd just always been rather naïve when it came to how I really felt. About AVALANCHE, about Meteor, about Aeris. About him.

My thoughts were interrupted by the rather large rock that suddenly inserted itself into my path. The woman who'd spent her entire childhood learning martial arts, from one of the most renowned Masters in the world, had just tripped and fallen flat on her face. Luckily, no one had been around to see it.

I picked myself up, brushed myself off, and took a moment to gather as much of my dignity as possible. Taking a good look around, I tried to guess how far I'd come, and just where on the Planet I was supposed to go next. Behind me, I could see faint wisps of smoke rising above the trees, coming from the chimneys of Nibelheim. The craggy, gray peaks of the Nibel Mountains rose forebodingly in front. It seemed as good a direction as any.

I'd been walking for hours, and I'd come to one conclusion. I was completely and utterly lost. I didn't own a compass, but I had my martial arts skills, and maybe those would come in handy.

Closing my eyes, I tried to block out everything around me. The trees, the mountains, the sound of running water, all faded from my mind as I tried to get my bearings.

Wait . . .running water? The hidden waterfall! I took off running, I could almost see it; the peaceful, crystalline pool, fathoms deep, the sound of the waterfall echoing off the rock that surrounded it. I could see Vincent, standing there, cool as you please. Maybe he'd even be glad to see me. If Vincent was ever glad. But the sight that met my eyes was not the one I imagined.

The water of the secret lake was red. The ground squelched when I walked, and within seconds, my shoes were soaked through. I was walking on blood. Crimson waves washed gently onto the narrow shore, making the entire scene feel . . .surreal. I wanted to wake up from this nightmare, I was begging to wake up. But the nightmare was only just beginning.

On the other side of the lake, floating half in, half out of the water, lay Vincent Valentine.