((Wee!! Chapter three here! I hope you all enjoy. And yes, I did change Tifa and Cloud's age, because it is my fan fiction. So ha. Please tell me what you think of the new name for my story too. Tell me if you want me to do reviewer responses while you are at it. Sorry if it is kind of hard to read at the parts were people are talking, when the document gets uploading it loses all that spacing, so yeah, don't hiss at me because I can't fix it.
Disclaimer: I do not own FF7 or any of the messed up schizoid people in it coughcloudcough.))
Aiko gazed around the theater and had to hold her nose as she walked closer to the pool of blood. She looked down at some of the bodies and found that most of them had been killed by having their throats slit. Aiko tried to stay out of most of the blood but found it harder then it looked to be. She moved around slowly, trying to find the opening she needed. Since it didn't seem to be in plan view, she thought maybe it would be behind the stage. Aiko pulled herself up on to the polished wooden stage and walked over to the curtains. She slid behind the fuzzy red velvet curtains and looked around. Ha there it is! Aiko picked up her pace as she headed towards the small opening with the gray ladder sticking out. Aiko took note of the area as she walked. There must have not been as many people back here when the killing happened... She glanced around the room and only saw one girl that lay dead. She had fallen close to the ladder that leads down to the power room. She must have had the same idea as me... Aiko tried not to think about what had happened to them all. She may have been a cold person, but she wasn't heartless. i I am going to need therapy after this... /i Aiko walked around the body and looked down at her face. It she looked to be about 18 years old, just one year older then she was. She had long brown hair that went down to about her waist. She was wearing a very beautiful teal dress; there was a large tear in the fabric, around it were deep red stains. Blood... Aiko sighed. She must have been waiting for someone important, or she wouldn't be dressed to nice. Aiko wondered who it was. She felt sorry for him if he was still alive, but then he could have been one of the dead that lay on the floor.
Aiko sighed and looked back to the ladder that lead down and stepped forward. She was just about to grab hold of the metal when she felt something seize her ankle. A quiet yelp escaped her mouth. What the hell Aiko pivoted to see what was holding her. It was the girl. She's still alive!?! Aiko was astounded.
"D.... Don't....... leave......." The girl murmured as she released Aiko's ankle.
She's dying. Aiko dropped down next to her. "It's okay, I'm right here."
"Please....... Please......" She reached her hand out towards her.
"What? What is it?" Aiko took hold of her hand. "What do you need me to do?"
"Give....... This....... To..." Her hand was shacking violently. She moved her other hand up to her neck. She pulled of her necklace, and held it out to her.
"Who do I need to give this to?" Aiko took the necklace from her other hand.
"Give...... to...... Cl..... Cloud....." Her brown eyes swelled with tears. She let her hand that had held the necklace fall. "Please......"
"I will. I'll give it to Cloud for you. I promise."
A faint smile came across the girl's face. "Thank..... you........." Her eyes slid closed, and Aiko felt her arm go limp. She let go of her hand and watched it drop to the floor. Aiko sat there for a moment, taking in what had happened. Why had so many people been killed? What had they done to deserve such a grizzly death? Why has shebeen spared? Now's not the time for this. She forced herself to stand. I can't stop now. Aiko put the necklace in her pocket, hoping that she would be able to keep her promise. She latched her hands tightly to the cold metal of the ladder and started down.
Cloud pushed himself up slowly. It was dark, and he could hardly see. He stood up gradually, using one of the chairs as a crutch. Whatever he was in was swaying because of his movement. He head was throbbing, but other then that he felt alright. He looked around, now that his eyes had become accustomed to the darkness, and tried to remember what had happened. His memory was slightly fuzzy. I must have hit my head of something... He shook his head slightly and ran his fingers though his bangs. First I was in the trolley.... Then the wires were shaking... And then.... Cloud closed his eyes. No, it couldn't have been... He's dead... Cloud's eyes snapped open as he forced the thought out of his mind. That didn't matter right now. He first had to think of a way to get out.
Aiko dropped off the ladder and looked around. She was on a narrow catwalk, and couldn't see what was beneath her. She took one step forward, feeling the bars under her hands quiver slightly. No point in being scared off now...Aiko took a determined deep breath and pressed on. She walked for about two minutes and finally reached a large terminal box. "Yes!" Aiko pulled it open and looked at all the switches. After a few moments she saw that the main power switch had been turned off. This better work... She reached out and flicked it to 'on'. Huge, blinding lights snapped on. Aiko shielded her eyes. She opened them to a slit, and lowered her arm. She blinked a few times to get used to the light, and then figured that she had better move on.
Sephiroth felt his sword slice cleanly through the last person in the room. He had now killed just about every last human on the Golden Saucer. He swung the sword sharply before sheathing it, sending the blood that had been on the sword splattering all over the wall. He took one look around before walking to the exit of the café. The lights flickered and then snapped on. Sephiroth narrowed his eyes to see. Damn that girl. She must have found the main power source. No matter... My work here is done. Sephiroth smirked. Too bad that there where not more of the bastard's friends... He couldn't wait to see the look on Cloud's face.
Cloud was blinded as the lights in the tram snapped on. The trolley groaned as the propellers revved up and started moving again. There was a sudden jerk as the tram started back up along the cables towards the Golden Saucer. He quickly sat down to stop himself from falling over. Wonder why it took so long to get the power back up? Cloud watched as the station grew closer. He had a very bad feeling about all of this.
Aiko sprinted past more of the hooded psychos that seemed to just pop up out of no where. They seemed to be following her. She jumped into the doorway that lead to the station. She had been lucky that none of them had been armed. All of them hadn't given chase to her, but she didn't want to risk anything at this point. Aiko stepped into the circular lobby of the station. There were more of the eerie people in the black cloaks, but they paid no heed to her. Aiko looked around cautiously at them, and took a hurried pace across the lobby. Gees, the guys are all over the place... She stepped out of the circular room and ran into the station. She could hear the familiar roar of the propellers that powered the trolley. Oh, thank god. I don't have to wait for the tram. Aiko skidded to a halt and tried to calm herself. There were none of the hooded people in the station, which made her feel a little better. It's all over now. No more creepy people in the black cloaks, assassins with huge swords, and no more dead bodies. Aiko reached into her pocket and looked at the necklace that the girl had told her to give to 'Cloud'. It had a silver chain that connected to a circular metal ring. In the center of the ring was a small white sphere. It just seemed to 'float' in the center. Is that..... Materia? Aiko peered down at the white sphere and poked it. It was very beautiful. Aiko came to her senses and mentally shook herself. It's none of you business. She stuffed the necklace back in her pocket and sighed. Aiko shivered, looking around the station. She gasped slightly when she saw the mass of people in the black cloaks right behind her. Oh shit! They weren't there before! Now what do I do? They had completely surrounded her. She curled her hands into a fist as she felt the wind from the trolley whip at her legs. Well, time to run. She told herself as she heard the tram screech to a stop. The door slid open as Aiko closed her eyes and made a break for it. Please don't come after me; please don't come after me.... Just before the opening into the tram she rammed into something very hard.
Cloud watched the station grow closer as he tried to think. None of this made any sense. There's no way that Sephiroth is alive! I killed him! And, even if he did live, the surge of Holy would have killed him. Cloud couldn't help but feel he was deeply mistaken. Cloud stood up as the tram stopped and stretched. No point in worrying about it now I guess... The door glided open as Cloud yawned, closing his eyes. He took one step out of the door, opening his eyes, just in time to see some crazy kid coming straight at him. What the hell?!? The girl rammed into him, sending them both careening backwards. The back of Cloud's head smashed against the ground.
Aiko felt herself, along with whatever she had rammed into, falling. Her fall was soft. The thing I rammed into must have broken my fall... Aiko sighed. It took her a moment to realize that the 'thing' she had fallen on was warm, and it had a heart beat. Aiko snapped open her eyes and sat up. She was sitting on some guy. "Holy shit!" Aiko screamed and jumped up. She scuttled away from the body and tried to recover from the scare. After Aiko's heart went back to its normal pace, she looked down the man; he appeared to be unconscious. He must have hit his head on the ground.... Aiko's mind suddenly snapped back to the problem at hand. The people in the black hoods were watching her, and she suddenly felt very embarrassed about running into the guy. She felt her face burning with blush, as she tried to shake off the feeling. Come on Aiko, pull it together. It sure as hell doesn't look like any of them care. She shook her head and focused on the people in the cloaks. Many of them were shifting, as if they were expecting something. All of them turned simultaneously. Many gave nervous quivers, and they started to part, making a path. Shit! What now??
Cloud groaned as he sat up, rubbing his head. The same girl that had rammed into him was standing next to him. At the sound of his movement she turned her head. A look of shock came over her face when she saw he was up. Cloud stood up, still rubbing the back of his head. It was still reasonably painful, but he had been through worse. Cloud glanced over at the girl, who still looked astonished. "I'm fine." Cloud barked. The girl had flinched when he had raised his voice, but he didn't care. She had plowed him over, so she would have to deal with it. He now turned his attention to what she had been staring at before she had noticed he was up. Fuck... Cloud now realized that he had been mistaken. There were at least twenty of Sephiroth's cloaked followers. Damn it... Cloud was shaking with fury. This can't be happening...
"Um..... Do you know who those people are.......?" The girl asked shyly.
Cloud glanced at her, "They are followers of a psychopath named Sephiroth."
"Hah... I never knew you had such a high opinion of me." Cloud's blood froze in his veins at the sound of that voice.
"Sephiroth..." Cloud spat.
"Good to know you still remember me." Sephiroth chuckled to himself.
"What the hell are you doing here?!?" Cloud growled.
Sephiroth just laughed, "Wouldn't you love to know?"
Cloud growled, "Get the hell out of here, before I kill you."
Sephiroth laughed again, "You can't kill me; you're far too weak to do so."
"Shut the hell up!!" Cloud drew his sword and rushed Sephiroth.
Aiko took a few steps back as she watched Sephiroth and the other guy yell at each other. I wonder how they know each other? They must really hate each other... Aiko turned to face Sephiroth when she noticed something strange. It's happening again... Time had seemingly slowed down again, except everything was still in color. She turned back to the other man, and was shocked to see large black, dragonish wings protruding from his back. She looked back at Sephiroth, and saw that he now had one black and one white feathered wing. What's going on? Why am I seeing this? Aiko closed her eyes tightly. What's wrong with me!?!? She opened her eyes again. Everything was as it was before.
The one guy pulled out a huge broad sword and charged at Sephiroth. Sephiroth drew his equally large sword and the two clashed. The man with the broad sword pressed harder against Sephiroth's blade and swept his sword forward, sending Sephiroth sliding back. Sephiroth skidded to a halt, growling slightly. He kicked off and propelled himself forwards again. He wheeled his sword out before him and slammed solidly into the broad sword. "You cannot win." Sephiroth muttered.
"You keep thinking that." The man with the broad sword growled. Sephiroth smirked, and punched him soundly in the gut. The other guy drooped his guard, and Sephiroth seized the chance. The only reason he wasn't cleaved in half was the solid kick he pulled off; hitting Sephiroth in the stomach. Sephiroth growled, fresh blood dripping down his sword, he hadn't made his kill, but he had wounded the other man. The guy with the broad sword held his side, clutching the bleeding cut. "Hm, cheap shoot."
Sephiroth smirked, "Now to finish you once and for all."
That guy can't wield that sword one handed, and if he takes his other arm off the cut, it will tear open more then it already has, and he will bleed to death. Sephiroth lifted his sword above his head. The people in the black cloaks crowded around, forming a ring around the two. The guy with the broad sword scowled. He can't run now... Aiko could hear her heart pounding. Am I just going to watch him die? There's nothing I can do.... Oh damn it! I am going to hate myself for this later! Then only thing Aiko felt was the flesh of her palms parting and the warmth of her oozing blood.