Disclaimer: Don't own FF7
Author's note: Please review this. Support me with your criticism, comments.and demands. Story's moving kinda slow. But it'll all come together.hopefully.
~z_lancer
Once again, I find myself lying in bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. I know that I need to sleep, but that's been something that I've been unable to do for the past two weeks. I toss and turn in bed, never able to get comfortable. There are so many little things that make sleeping impossible. It's always either too hot or too cold, too loud or too quiet, too. It's all in my head, I know. It's all just things I make up to mask the real reason I can't, or don't want to sleep. So, what is the cause of my insomnia? Dreams. I.don't want to believe that I may be going insane, but that may just be the case. I've been having so many strange dreams lately, dreams about people and events that happened two years ago. Each one is shown more vividly than the last. And every single one leaves me wide-awake, usually in the middle of the night. And no matter how hard I try, I can never get back to sleep afterwards.
I've tried everything ranging from sleeping pills to hypnotism. But, the dreams still come, and I lay awake at night. I have no idea what the cause of these dreams is, and I have told no one, not even my closest friends. For some reason, I feel that it's something I have to deal with alone. I don't know when, or if they will ever stop. But, one thing's for sure: it's taking a toll on my body. Whenever I look in the mirror I see bloodshot eyes staring back at me. The residents of this town are avoiding me. Even the bothersome merchants are reluctant to approach. And if the dreams don't stop soon.
A cool breeze whisked into my room via the bedside window. The curtains rippled at its presence, as did my sheets. The night air felt good on my skin. I breathed the cool air in and it served to relax me a little. I positioned my hands between my head and the pillow, and I listened to the chirping of the crickets outside. I still didn't feel any sleepier though. I turned my head to the digital alarm clock to the right of my bedside. 2:34 A.M. Sighing, I sat up and pulled the covers off.
"Well, I'm certainly not going to get back to sleep. So I might as well go take a walk outside," I muttered. My clothes were all over the floor. I slipped off the bed and began to get dressed. I didn't bother to turn on the light. The little streaks of moonshine were enough for me to find my way. Once dressed, I searched for the room for my last possession. I found my sword propped up under the window, almost invisible in the darkness. I grabbed the hilt with one hand and used the other to close the bedroom window. Then I strapped the heavy blade onto my back. And finally after picking up the two keycards on the dresser, I opened the door and left the room.
The hallway was dark. All the lights were turned off. All the other guests were probably asleep.or too busy to care. That was good. I didn't feel like confronting anyone tonight. As quietly as I could, I headed down the hall, and then down the small flight of stairs at the end of it. The inn's lobby was dimly lit. The wooden, carpeted steps creaked under my boots as I descended.
The lobby was empty, as I had expected it to be. There was only a single light in the place, a small desk lamp at the front counter. That was void of anyone as well. I guessed that the night clerk had probably decided to neglect his duties. I shrugged. It works out better for me anyway. The last thing I needed was to have someone to find me leaving the inn in the middle of the night. My appearance already draws enough attention as it is (how many people carry a sword with a foot-wide blade?). And I'm pretty sure I heard some rumors in this town about me being a murderer of sorts. I headed for the inn's exit. But just before I could reach out and touch the doorknob, I heard a voice behind me.
"Late night stroll?"
I froze. Damn. I imagined a bunch of police cars surrounding the inn, and the sheriff telling me to come out with my hands up. Sure, even if whomever the voice belonged to did get scared and called the police, I wouldn't get in trouble for anything. But, it would still be too much of a hassle. I turned around to face the person. It was a young woman who looked about in her early twenties, around my age. She was standing behind the front counter, reading a magazine.
"I.I didn't see you there," I said.
"Sorry if I startled you," she said without looking up from the magazine, "I didn't think anyone was still up. Couldn't sleep huh?"
"No," I replied, opening the door.
"Figures. It's too quiet in this town."
"You're not from around here?"
"No. I used to live in a big city. Had to move here to find a job."
"Same here," I said, "And you're right. There's not enough commotion in these small towns to lull me to sleep." There I go again, making up reasons for my inability to sleep. "I'll be back in one to two hours."
The clerk nodded without looking at me. I took a step out of the inn and paused.
"On second thought," I stepped back inside and closed the door, "I think I'm going to check out now."
"At this time of night?" she still didn't look up from the magazine. I walked up to the counter and looked her over. She looked like a delicate girl, probably pampered by her parents all through her childhood. She had long, curly brown hair that fell loosely about her shoulders. Her skin looked soft and was of a lighter complexion than mine. She was pretty, I have to admit: full lips, slender and shapely body, a beautiful pair of full--- I shook my head. What am I doing? I looked away. I'm letting my mind wander way too much. The lack of sleep is really getting to me, gotta keep everything in check.
"Keys please," she held out her hand, her eyes still staring half- interested at the page in her magazine. I took the two keycards out of my pocket and handed them to her. Just as I was about to turn and leave, she stopped me.
"Hold on," she said, still not looking at me. She turned her head slightly to look at the computer screen on the counter.
"New policy here. I need your name and some kind of ID." When I didn't answer, she continued, "There have been some crooks causing trouble around town lately. Inn Keeper wants me to verify if all out guests are who they claim they are." I reached into my wallet and took out my bounty hunter's license.
"Here," I placed it in her outstretched hand. She took it and closely examined it. Her eyes suddenly went wide and she looked at me for the first time.
"So, you're that bounty hunter everyone's talking about," her face went back to that former bored look. Her candidness surprised me. My appearance usually intimidates the people in these small towns. I never expected anyone to respond with such lack of apprehension, or any type of emotion for that matter.
"Cloud Strife," she read off my license, "Manager's been talking about you."
"Oh?" I wasn't really surprised, though I pretended that I was, "What did he say about me?"
"A lot of things, mostly about how he didn't think you were as bad of a guy as other people in town think," she typed at the computer's keyboard, "But, he'd say that about anyone who's generous with tips." I didn't say anything, didn't know what to say. I think that's what comes of being alone for so long. Luckily, she wasn't that talkative either.
"It says here that you still have two day's stay left. You sure you're going to check out?" she looked me over, "It seems you could use the extra rest." I was consciously aware of my sleepless state: the bloodshot eyes and messy hair.
"I'm sure," I said tersely. I felt a little strange, something I haven't felt for a long time. This girl made me nervous, and I wanted to leave as soon as possible.
"Okay then," she clicked on the mouse a couple of times, "I've just ended your stay here." She held out my hunter's license, and I took it from her.
"Good night," she said. I nodded and walked out the door.
The night air was refreshing. I've never really had time to enjoy it until now. As a bounty hunter, I've always been on the move, going from bounty to bounty, one hunt after another: an endless cycle. I never really like taking time off the job, because that would bring me back to reality, my pitiful life, no real purpose with only the thrill of the hunt to keep me going. I have no home, no real family to go to. All I have is the hunt and the sword on my back.
The sky was filled with stars, so many, peaceful. Coupled with the silvery glow of the moon and the bright street lamps, the night was truly beautiful tonight. It's hard to think that there was a huge meteor shower only two nights ago, one that destroyed countless cities and lives. I saw it all that night. The sky was on fire. I walked to the edge of a small fountain and sat down on the stone circle that binds it. The water was still, for the fountain was turned off for the night. I put one hand into the water, enjoying its cool feel. I laid down on the stone surface and stared at the sky. I really do miss this. Just being able to look up at the stars where all my thoughts dissolve into nothingness.
I stand at the edge of the water. Looking up, I see an altar rising up from the center of the pond. There is a figure in it.
".Aeries." I step forward onto the first pillar. There is shuffling as the rest of the group begins to follow me. I hold out my hand and motion for them to stop. They do. They understand that I want to be alone with her, and so they wordlessly stay where they are.
I step onto the next pillar, taking care not to fall into the water below. Then, I proceed past three more pillars until I am finally before the altar. There is a small flight of stairs in front of me. I begin to climb them.
There she is, kneeling on the ground. Her eyes are closed, her hands put together in prayer. I climb the last few steps to her level. Suddenly, I feel a pain in my head. I shake it off and continue to walk towards her. She is still, unmoving, not yet noticed my approach. Soon I find myself standing over her. I try to reach out to touch her, but my hand does not obey. Instead, it reaches for the sword on my back. I try to shout out, try to warn her of the danger she's in, but my mouth will not move.
My sword is out now, and my hands are beginning to raise the weapon above her. I struggle for control of my body, but am greeted with a voice in my head. It tells me to strike. It tells me to give in to it, to stop fighting it. It tells me that she is the cause of all my pain, and that she must die. My hands are shaking, and the sword with it. I can't fight it anymore. I'm giving in. The sword begins to fall.
"Cloud!"
"Stop!" Those voices and the scampering of footsteps pulled me back to reality. My friends had seen what I was about to do and stopped me at the last moment. I am able to regain control of my body and quickly throw down my sword. I step back, pain pounds at my head.
"Ugh.What are you making me do?" She opens her eyes, roused by the shouts. She sees me and smiles warmly. I want to smile back, but I can't. Not after what I almost did.
I gasp in surprise as a black figure comes into view from above. It drops down, a long, thin sword in its hands. I couldn't stop it. It happened too fast. Sephiroth had thrust the blade through Aeries' chest. I watch helplessly as her eyes widen, and her mouth opens in surprise. My world froze at that moment. Her eyes close slowly and her body goes limp. I turn to him, still unable to move. He stares back, a slight smile forms on his face. He pulls the bloodied blade out of her.
I run up to Aeries and catch her before she hits the ground.
".Aeries." I said to the limp form in my arms. I shake her. I tell her to open her eyes. But, she doesn't move.
"This can't be real!"
"Do not worry. Soon the girl will become part of the Planet's energy," Sephiroth spoke, "All that is left is to go North. The 'Promised Land' waits for me over the snowy fields."
"There, I will become a new being by uniting with the Planet. As will the girl.."
".Shut up." I said, "The cycle of nature and your stupid plan don't mean a thing. Aeries is gone. Aeries will no longer talk, no longer laugh, cry.or get angry."
I pulled her body closer, "What about us.what are WE suppose to do?" I shut my eyes, but the tears would not stop. "What is this pain? My fingers are tingling. My mouth is dry. My eyes are burning!"
"What are you saying?" I could feel his eyes on me. His voice had a tone of surprise, "Are you trying to tell me you have feelings now?" I lay her gently onto the ground.
"Of course!" I stood up and shouted, "What do you think I am?"
"Ha, ha, ha." he laughed softly, "Stop acting as if you're sad. And there's no need to act as if you're angry either." He began to rise above the ground before my eyes.
"Because, Cloud. You are." He didn't finish the sentence, for he had flown upward and out of sight. But, that was not before something dropped from his ascending figure. What looked like a ball of green light dropped down and hit the ground before me. A burst of rainbow light blinded me.
My eyes flew up, and I looked wildly around at my surroundings. All I saw were the fountain, the town, and the night. I took a moment to slow my breathing. I took another look around. No, this was not the city of the ancients. She didn't die here. It was a dream, one that had haunted me for months after the actual incident. I shook my head to clear my thoughts. It's not something I like to remember, nor is it something I want to forget. But, why did the dream pick tonight to come back? I suddenly became aware that I still had my hand in the water. I withdrew and found that the skin had pruned. How long had I been asleep? I wiped my hand dry on my clothes and then looked at the watch. 3:22 a.m. Though it was the probably the most sleep I've gotten all week, I didn't feel refreshed at all, that and the added nuisance that my back and head now hurt from laying on the stone. I stood up, stumbling a little as I did.
Why the hell did I check out of that inn if all I was going to do was take a walk? Now I have nowhere to go, and I definitely don't feel like talking to that clerk again. I have to stop acting impulsively and start thinking. I grimaced and rubbed the back of my head. It hurt to think though. My mind always wanders onto painful memories. And once you start, you can't stop. That's why I like the hunt. You're wholly focused on one thing, and most of the time, you're not thinking at all. You let your instincts carry you through. So why did I decide to take a break from the job? Afraid for my health I guess. You never get much rest while tracking down someone. So, I decided to take some time off and catch up on some sleep. Little good that did.
The town hadn't stirred at all since I fell asleep. The sky was just as dark and star-filled as before. The silence was peaceful. I walked down the quiet street going nowhere in particular. I neared a lamppost and glanced upward at it. My eyes followed the moths as they danced aimlessly in the lamplight. Coming here was a bad idea. God it hurt to think. I have to get out of this place. Not just that. I need to get away from myself, if only for a while.
What the hell is wrong with me? I was never this way before. I shook my head. I was never this sad, never this pathetic. I'm wandering these streets alone, talking to myself about how crappy my life is. Where'd he go? Where's my content, happy self? This would have made a lot more sense if I were drunk. It's probably the insomnia. I'd like to think that not being able to sleep has multiplied my consciousness and that I'm not going insane. My eyes have been opened to how meaningless life really is. I'm thinking too much. But, I'd rather keep the illusion that I have the ideal life. God, I need a pint. The tavern's closed though.
I walked a short ways further and found a bench in the shadows to sit on. I really didn't want anyone to see me, because it always meant trouble. There are waited, hoping desperately for the sun to come up, so that I could stock up on supplies and finally get out of here. I really don't like these small towns. In these places, people notice you, and gossip spreads like wildfire. Sometimes, I wish Midgar hadn't been destroyed. It was really the only placed that I felt at home. There, no one sees you. You're always part of a crowd, and no one notices. I sighed. Perhaps I'd visit the ruins some day.
I closed my eyes and tried to shut out the outside. But just as I felt like I was about to doze off, a soft, scraping sound roused me. At first, I thought it was some stray animal. But, when I looked up to the roof of the store where I thought the sound had come from, I saw a figure. By it's shape and size, I knew it was human. I watched silently as a figure moved across the roof. Once it reached the very edge of the roof, it jumped swiftly onto another building and disappeared down the other side of the roof after that. Naturally, I decided to follow.
With the prospect of something to do, all the sleep and weariness was gone from me. I loosened the strap that held my sword and headed into the alleyway next to the building in which the figure had disappeared. I walked as silently as possible, taking care not to step on anything that would alert my quarry. All the while, I listened for footsteps, for any kind of noise. I turned a corner and saw the figure again. It was walking in the opposite direction. I followed, staying a safe distance away and keeping in the shadows a much as possible. Sure. I could probably sneak up on and grab whoever it was now. But, then what? I have no evidence of any wrongdoing. You can't arrest someone for looking suspicious, though it's happened a few times to me (I've never been caught sneaking around on someone's roof though). It's best to follow, and then see what happens.
The figure walked silently, and so did I. Still, I couldn't make out his whole form, only part of the torso and head. The shadows seemed to move with him and cover his body. The only thing that stood out was the long thin stick strapped to his back. A ninja perhaps? He sure walked like one. I followed him for about 30 meters before he turned the corner and disappeared form my view. I quickened my pace for fear that I might lose him in the darkness. I turned the corner and breathed a sigh of relief. My quarry had not eluded me. He was still creeping forward silently with his back turned to me. With ever step he took, I took two. Soon, I was so close, I could hear him breath. I had to be quiet, and I knew I could be absolutely silent (something that I got from pre-SOLDIER training). If he were a ninja, then he would have heard me right now, no matter how soft my steps were. Yet, it doesn't rule out that he isn't a ninja. Not even the most skilled of them can hear the footsteps of someone who had been infused with mako. It gives off an aura that dims, or even blocks the senses of a being. That is if the human container wills it. Another few steps and I was almost walking right next to him. It was at this precise moment that the lid of a nearby garbage can sprang open and fell to the ground with a loud clang. On instinct I flattened myself against the wall in the shadows. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the figure spin around looking this way and that, and ready to bolt like a frightened cat. It turns out, what caused the lid to fall was an alley cat. The feline hopped nimbly out of the trash and onto the ground a few feet away from me. Good thing I'm not the type of person that yells out when startled, or I might have drawn attention to myself.
"Shit," I cursed quietly, waiting for my heart to pound steadily again. The figure seemed to be doing the same thing. After a while, the figure was satisfied that it was only a cat and nothing else. With one last backward glance, he began to move again. I started to follow, but was stopped by a hissing sound near my feet. The stray cat had edged closer to me while I had been waiting. Though I could only see the eyes and the outline of the cat, I could picture its hairs standing on end and its arched back. It continued hissing at me. I saw that the figure had stopped walking and was looking back at the cat that was hissing at the shadows in which I stood. This was bad. This stupid animal was going to reveal me. I slowly moved my foot to try and gently nudge it away. That was a bad idea. The cat must have taken it as a threat because it jumped on my leg. I grunted in pain as I felt its teeth sink into my leg. The animal cried angrily as I pulled at it. Its reluctant claws tore off patches of my pant leg along with some flesh when I pried it off and threw it away from me. The feline landed on all fours and scampered away.
I saw the figure run and turn the first corner. I ran after him despite the stinging pain in my right leg. But, when I turned the corner after him, he was not there. It was just another empty alley. He was gone, vanished into thin air.
Author's note: Please review this. Support me with your criticism, comments.and demands. Story's moving kinda slow. But it'll all come together.hopefully.
~z_lancer
Once again, I find myself lying in bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. I know that I need to sleep, but that's been something that I've been unable to do for the past two weeks. I toss and turn in bed, never able to get comfortable. There are so many little things that make sleeping impossible. It's always either too hot or too cold, too loud or too quiet, too. It's all in my head, I know. It's all just things I make up to mask the real reason I can't, or don't want to sleep. So, what is the cause of my insomnia? Dreams. I.don't want to believe that I may be going insane, but that may just be the case. I've been having so many strange dreams lately, dreams about people and events that happened two years ago. Each one is shown more vividly than the last. And every single one leaves me wide-awake, usually in the middle of the night. And no matter how hard I try, I can never get back to sleep afterwards.
I've tried everything ranging from sleeping pills to hypnotism. But, the dreams still come, and I lay awake at night. I have no idea what the cause of these dreams is, and I have told no one, not even my closest friends. For some reason, I feel that it's something I have to deal with alone. I don't know when, or if they will ever stop. But, one thing's for sure: it's taking a toll on my body. Whenever I look in the mirror I see bloodshot eyes staring back at me. The residents of this town are avoiding me. Even the bothersome merchants are reluctant to approach. And if the dreams don't stop soon.
A cool breeze whisked into my room via the bedside window. The curtains rippled at its presence, as did my sheets. The night air felt good on my skin. I breathed the cool air in and it served to relax me a little. I positioned my hands between my head and the pillow, and I listened to the chirping of the crickets outside. I still didn't feel any sleepier though. I turned my head to the digital alarm clock to the right of my bedside. 2:34 A.M. Sighing, I sat up and pulled the covers off.
"Well, I'm certainly not going to get back to sleep. So I might as well go take a walk outside," I muttered. My clothes were all over the floor. I slipped off the bed and began to get dressed. I didn't bother to turn on the light. The little streaks of moonshine were enough for me to find my way. Once dressed, I searched for the room for my last possession. I found my sword propped up under the window, almost invisible in the darkness. I grabbed the hilt with one hand and used the other to close the bedroom window. Then I strapped the heavy blade onto my back. And finally after picking up the two keycards on the dresser, I opened the door and left the room.
The hallway was dark. All the lights were turned off. All the other guests were probably asleep.or too busy to care. That was good. I didn't feel like confronting anyone tonight. As quietly as I could, I headed down the hall, and then down the small flight of stairs at the end of it. The inn's lobby was dimly lit. The wooden, carpeted steps creaked under my boots as I descended.
The lobby was empty, as I had expected it to be. There was only a single light in the place, a small desk lamp at the front counter. That was void of anyone as well. I guessed that the night clerk had probably decided to neglect his duties. I shrugged. It works out better for me anyway. The last thing I needed was to have someone to find me leaving the inn in the middle of the night. My appearance already draws enough attention as it is (how many people carry a sword with a foot-wide blade?). And I'm pretty sure I heard some rumors in this town about me being a murderer of sorts. I headed for the inn's exit. But just before I could reach out and touch the doorknob, I heard a voice behind me.
"Late night stroll?"
I froze. Damn. I imagined a bunch of police cars surrounding the inn, and the sheriff telling me to come out with my hands up. Sure, even if whomever the voice belonged to did get scared and called the police, I wouldn't get in trouble for anything. But, it would still be too much of a hassle. I turned around to face the person. It was a young woman who looked about in her early twenties, around my age. She was standing behind the front counter, reading a magazine.
"I.I didn't see you there," I said.
"Sorry if I startled you," she said without looking up from the magazine, "I didn't think anyone was still up. Couldn't sleep huh?"
"No," I replied, opening the door.
"Figures. It's too quiet in this town."
"You're not from around here?"
"No. I used to live in a big city. Had to move here to find a job."
"Same here," I said, "And you're right. There's not enough commotion in these small towns to lull me to sleep." There I go again, making up reasons for my inability to sleep. "I'll be back in one to two hours."
The clerk nodded without looking at me. I took a step out of the inn and paused.
"On second thought," I stepped back inside and closed the door, "I think I'm going to check out now."
"At this time of night?" she still didn't look up from the magazine. I walked up to the counter and looked her over. She looked like a delicate girl, probably pampered by her parents all through her childhood. She had long, curly brown hair that fell loosely about her shoulders. Her skin looked soft and was of a lighter complexion than mine. She was pretty, I have to admit: full lips, slender and shapely body, a beautiful pair of full--- I shook my head. What am I doing? I looked away. I'm letting my mind wander way too much. The lack of sleep is really getting to me, gotta keep everything in check.
"Keys please," she held out her hand, her eyes still staring half- interested at the page in her magazine. I took the two keycards out of my pocket and handed them to her. Just as I was about to turn and leave, she stopped me.
"Hold on," she said, still not looking at me. She turned her head slightly to look at the computer screen on the counter.
"New policy here. I need your name and some kind of ID." When I didn't answer, she continued, "There have been some crooks causing trouble around town lately. Inn Keeper wants me to verify if all out guests are who they claim they are." I reached into my wallet and took out my bounty hunter's license.
"Here," I placed it in her outstretched hand. She took it and closely examined it. Her eyes suddenly went wide and she looked at me for the first time.
"So, you're that bounty hunter everyone's talking about," her face went back to that former bored look. Her candidness surprised me. My appearance usually intimidates the people in these small towns. I never expected anyone to respond with such lack of apprehension, or any type of emotion for that matter.
"Cloud Strife," she read off my license, "Manager's been talking about you."
"Oh?" I wasn't really surprised, though I pretended that I was, "What did he say about me?"
"A lot of things, mostly about how he didn't think you were as bad of a guy as other people in town think," she typed at the computer's keyboard, "But, he'd say that about anyone who's generous with tips." I didn't say anything, didn't know what to say. I think that's what comes of being alone for so long. Luckily, she wasn't that talkative either.
"It says here that you still have two day's stay left. You sure you're going to check out?" she looked me over, "It seems you could use the extra rest." I was consciously aware of my sleepless state: the bloodshot eyes and messy hair.
"I'm sure," I said tersely. I felt a little strange, something I haven't felt for a long time. This girl made me nervous, and I wanted to leave as soon as possible.
"Okay then," she clicked on the mouse a couple of times, "I've just ended your stay here." She held out my hunter's license, and I took it from her.
"Good night," she said. I nodded and walked out the door.
The night air was refreshing. I've never really had time to enjoy it until now. As a bounty hunter, I've always been on the move, going from bounty to bounty, one hunt after another: an endless cycle. I never really like taking time off the job, because that would bring me back to reality, my pitiful life, no real purpose with only the thrill of the hunt to keep me going. I have no home, no real family to go to. All I have is the hunt and the sword on my back.
The sky was filled with stars, so many, peaceful. Coupled with the silvery glow of the moon and the bright street lamps, the night was truly beautiful tonight. It's hard to think that there was a huge meteor shower only two nights ago, one that destroyed countless cities and lives. I saw it all that night. The sky was on fire. I walked to the edge of a small fountain and sat down on the stone circle that binds it. The water was still, for the fountain was turned off for the night. I put one hand into the water, enjoying its cool feel. I laid down on the stone surface and stared at the sky. I really do miss this. Just being able to look up at the stars where all my thoughts dissolve into nothingness.
I stand at the edge of the water. Looking up, I see an altar rising up from the center of the pond. There is a figure in it.
".Aeries." I step forward onto the first pillar. There is shuffling as the rest of the group begins to follow me. I hold out my hand and motion for them to stop. They do. They understand that I want to be alone with her, and so they wordlessly stay where they are.
I step onto the next pillar, taking care not to fall into the water below. Then, I proceed past three more pillars until I am finally before the altar. There is a small flight of stairs in front of me. I begin to climb them.
There she is, kneeling on the ground. Her eyes are closed, her hands put together in prayer. I climb the last few steps to her level. Suddenly, I feel a pain in my head. I shake it off and continue to walk towards her. She is still, unmoving, not yet noticed my approach. Soon I find myself standing over her. I try to reach out to touch her, but my hand does not obey. Instead, it reaches for the sword on my back. I try to shout out, try to warn her of the danger she's in, but my mouth will not move.
My sword is out now, and my hands are beginning to raise the weapon above her. I struggle for control of my body, but am greeted with a voice in my head. It tells me to strike. It tells me to give in to it, to stop fighting it. It tells me that she is the cause of all my pain, and that she must die. My hands are shaking, and the sword with it. I can't fight it anymore. I'm giving in. The sword begins to fall.
"Cloud!"
"Stop!" Those voices and the scampering of footsteps pulled me back to reality. My friends had seen what I was about to do and stopped me at the last moment. I am able to regain control of my body and quickly throw down my sword. I step back, pain pounds at my head.
"Ugh.What are you making me do?" She opens her eyes, roused by the shouts. She sees me and smiles warmly. I want to smile back, but I can't. Not after what I almost did.
I gasp in surprise as a black figure comes into view from above. It drops down, a long, thin sword in its hands. I couldn't stop it. It happened too fast. Sephiroth had thrust the blade through Aeries' chest. I watch helplessly as her eyes widen, and her mouth opens in surprise. My world froze at that moment. Her eyes close slowly and her body goes limp. I turn to him, still unable to move. He stares back, a slight smile forms on his face. He pulls the bloodied blade out of her.
I run up to Aeries and catch her before she hits the ground.
".Aeries." I said to the limp form in my arms. I shake her. I tell her to open her eyes. But, she doesn't move.
"This can't be real!"
"Do not worry. Soon the girl will become part of the Planet's energy," Sephiroth spoke, "All that is left is to go North. The 'Promised Land' waits for me over the snowy fields."
"There, I will become a new being by uniting with the Planet. As will the girl.."
".Shut up." I said, "The cycle of nature and your stupid plan don't mean a thing. Aeries is gone. Aeries will no longer talk, no longer laugh, cry.or get angry."
I pulled her body closer, "What about us.what are WE suppose to do?" I shut my eyes, but the tears would not stop. "What is this pain? My fingers are tingling. My mouth is dry. My eyes are burning!"
"What are you saying?" I could feel his eyes on me. His voice had a tone of surprise, "Are you trying to tell me you have feelings now?" I lay her gently onto the ground.
"Of course!" I stood up and shouted, "What do you think I am?"
"Ha, ha, ha." he laughed softly, "Stop acting as if you're sad. And there's no need to act as if you're angry either." He began to rise above the ground before my eyes.
"Because, Cloud. You are." He didn't finish the sentence, for he had flown upward and out of sight. But, that was not before something dropped from his ascending figure. What looked like a ball of green light dropped down and hit the ground before me. A burst of rainbow light blinded me.
My eyes flew up, and I looked wildly around at my surroundings. All I saw were the fountain, the town, and the night. I took a moment to slow my breathing. I took another look around. No, this was not the city of the ancients. She didn't die here. It was a dream, one that had haunted me for months after the actual incident. I shook my head to clear my thoughts. It's not something I like to remember, nor is it something I want to forget. But, why did the dream pick tonight to come back? I suddenly became aware that I still had my hand in the water. I withdrew and found that the skin had pruned. How long had I been asleep? I wiped my hand dry on my clothes and then looked at the watch. 3:22 a.m. Though it was the probably the most sleep I've gotten all week, I didn't feel refreshed at all, that and the added nuisance that my back and head now hurt from laying on the stone. I stood up, stumbling a little as I did.
Why the hell did I check out of that inn if all I was going to do was take a walk? Now I have nowhere to go, and I definitely don't feel like talking to that clerk again. I have to stop acting impulsively and start thinking. I grimaced and rubbed the back of my head. It hurt to think though. My mind always wanders onto painful memories. And once you start, you can't stop. That's why I like the hunt. You're wholly focused on one thing, and most of the time, you're not thinking at all. You let your instincts carry you through. So why did I decide to take a break from the job? Afraid for my health I guess. You never get much rest while tracking down someone. So, I decided to take some time off and catch up on some sleep. Little good that did.
The town hadn't stirred at all since I fell asleep. The sky was just as dark and star-filled as before. The silence was peaceful. I walked down the quiet street going nowhere in particular. I neared a lamppost and glanced upward at it. My eyes followed the moths as they danced aimlessly in the lamplight. Coming here was a bad idea. God it hurt to think. I have to get out of this place. Not just that. I need to get away from myself, if only for a while.
What the hell is wrong with me? I was never this way before. I shook my head. I was never this sad, never this pathetic. I'm wandering these streets alone, talking to myself about how crappy my life is. Where'd he go? Where's my content, happy self? This would have made a lot more sense if I were drunk. It's probably the insomnia. I'd like to think that not being able to sleep has multiplied my consciousness and that I'm not going insane. My eyes have been opened to how meaningless life really is. I'm thinking too much. But, I'd rather keep the illusion that I have the ideal life. God, I need a pint. The tavern's closed though.
I walked a short ways further and found a bench in the shadows to sit on. I really didn't want anyone to see me, because it always meant trouble. There are waited, hoping desperately for the sun to come up, so that I could stock up on supplies and finally get out of here. I really don't like these small towns. In these places, people notice you, and gossip spreads like wildfire. Sometimes, I wish Midgar hadn't been destroyed. It was really the only placed that I felt at home. There, no one sees you. You're always part of a crowd, and no one notices. I sighed. Perhaps I'd visit the ruins some day.
I closed my eyes and tried to shut out the outside. But just as I felt like I was about to doze off, a soft, scraping sound roused me. At first, I thought it was some stray animal. But, when I looked up to the roof of the store where I thought the sound had come from, I saw a figure. By it's shape and size, I knew it was human. I watched silently as a figure moved across the roof. Once it reached the very edge of the roof, it jumped swiftly onto another building and disappeared down the other side of the roof after that. Naturally, I decided to follow.
With the prospect of something to do, all the sleep and weariness was gone from me. I loosened the strap that held my sword and headed into the alleyway next to the building in which the figure had disappeared. I walked as silently as possible, taking care not to step on anything that would alert my quarry. All the while, I listened for footsteps, for any kind of noise. I turned a corner and saw the figure again. It was walking in the opposite direction. I followed, staying a safe distance away and keeping in the shadows a much as possible. Sure. I could probably sneak up on and grab whoever it was now. But, then what? I have no evidence of any wrongdoing. You can't arrest someone for looking suspicious, though it's happened a few times to me (I've never been caught sneaking around on someone's roof though). It's best to follow, and then see what happens.
The figure walked silently, and so did I. Still, I couldn't make out his whole form, only part of the torso and head. The shadows seemed to move with him and cover his body. The only thing that stood out was the long thin stick strapped to his back. A ninja perhaps? He sure walked like one. I followed him for about 30 meters before he turned the corner and disappeared form my view. I quickened my pace for fear that I might lose him in the darkness. I turned the corner and breathed a sigh of relief. My quarry had not eluded me. He was still creeping forward silently with his back turned to me. With ever step he took, I took two. Soon, I was so close, I could hear him breath. I had to be quiet, and I knew I could be absolutely silent (something that I got from pre-SOLDIER training). If he were a ninja, then he would have heard me right now, no matter how soft my steps were. Yet, it doesn't rule out that he isn't a ninja. Not even the most skilled of them can hear the footsteps of someone who had been infused with mako. It gives off an aura that dims, or even blocks the senses of a being. That is if the human container wills it. Another few steps and I was almost walking right next to him. It was at this precise moment that the lid of a nearby garbage can sprang open and fell to the ground with a loud clang. On instinct I flattened myself against the wall in the shadows. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the figure spin around looking this way and that, and ready to bolt like a frightened cat. It turns out, what caused the lid to fall was an alley cat. The feline hopped nimbly out of the trash and onto the ground a few feet away from me. Good thing I'm not the type of person that yells out when startled, or I might have drawn attention to myself.
"Shit," I cursed quietly, waiting for my heart to pound steadily again. The figure seemed to be doing the same thing. After a while, the figure was satisfied that it was only a cat and nothing else. With one last backward glance, he began to move again. I started to follow, but was stopped by a hissing sound near my feet. The stray cat had edged closer to me while I had been waiting. Though I could only see the eyes and the outline of the cat, I could picture its hairs standing on end and its arched back. It continued hissing at me. I saw that the figure had stopped walking and was looking back at the cat that was hissing at the shadows in which I stood. This was bad. This stupid animal was going to reveal me. I slowly moved my foot to try and gently nudge it away. That was a bad idea. The cat must have taken it as a threat because it jumped on my leg. I grunted in pain as I felt its teeth sink into my leg. The animal cried angrily as I pulled at it. Its reluctant claws tore off patches of my pant leg along with some flesh when I pried it off and threw it away from me. The feline landed on all fours and scampered away.
I saw the figure run and turn the first corner. I ran after him despite the stinging pain in my right leg. But, when I turned the corner after him, he was not there. It was just another empty alley. He was gone, vanished into thin air.