AN: Thanks to those who have stuck with me this far. You know who you are, and I really appreciate all your help and encouragement. ^_^ Nya!

The Worm

The night was still and calm; above, the heavens were weakly sparking with shards of silver glass, partially hidden by the thick clouds of smog and dust that rose and clogged the air. The pungent, acrid scents of Mako and filth hung on the wind, ready to squeeze the breath out of anyone unlucky enough to smell them. The breeze was sharp, biting; it leapt around corners and attacked with icy cold fangs. Glinting buildings hungrily crowded the streets, hulking gray wolves half-enveloped by shadow. The city of Midgar, a dry, soulless husk during the day, was transformed into a dark, ravenous beast by night, eager to feed on the sufferings of many. The inhabitants were hidden away in their cramped homes, slumbering uneasily in the belly of the beast as their lives slipped away without their even knowing. Midgar's appetite was insatiable; there could never be enough misery and despair in its mind.

Walking down the black empty vein of a street was another creature of the night, with confident powerful strides and long silver hair. Strapped onto his back was a long, thin blade, legendary in its own right. A small, calculated smile was on his handsome face as he cut through the darkness with ease, and Midgar snarled at his arrogance. But Sephiroth did not fear the slavering city surrounding him, nor did he even care about it, and Midgar lost its predatory features before his indifference. A motorcycle roared down the street, barreling straight towards Sephiroth and showing no indication of swerving. The driver's eyes were large and vacant, and patches of toxic green oozed through his skin. Another victim of Shin-Ra and their greed, somehow he had contracted Mako poisoning, and had lost his mind.

With a casual, almost lazy motion, the Masamune was unshealthed. Sephiroth waited until the last possible moment, with the motorcycle's lights glaring into his eyes, and neatly stabbed the driver through the chest. With a spray of red blood, the man fell forward on the handlebars.  The motorcycle, heedless of its slain occupant, careened down the sidewalk and crashed with a fiery explosion into the side of a building.

Throughout the entire ordeal, Sephiroth's face remained totally void of emotions, barely registering he had just killed a man. He carefully wiped the blood from Masamune and slipped it back into the sheath. His mind at that moment could not be father away, as he was focused on only one thing: a delicate being of red, pink, and brown, spun from earth and sunshine, with the Lifestream in her eyes.

Aeris.

Nothing would keep him from getting what he desired, and that was her. After picturing her in his mind, Sephiroth's traveled to what he would do upon reaching her. He knew instinctively, almost as though the actions were bred into him for this single purpose of desecration. 

He wanted…to corrupt her. He wanted to see her defiled, dirty, down on her hands and knees before him, knocked off her tangible pedestal of purity. Aeris represented everything that he was not; for that he hated and loved her. She was the most exquisite form of torture possible for him, like an angel who he could touch if only he broke her wings. He didn't mind. He would probably enjoy it.

Sephiroth knew he could have his choice of women or men, and the one he wanted, his direct opposite, belonged to another…Zack. That's whom she would be expecting, who she wanted to come, but not who would show up. Instead of her rakish, charming knight, she would get the enigmatic dark angel Sephiroth.   

She cannot be Zack's for long. I will make her love me…even if foolish Zack has already claimed her for his own. Sephiroth smirked. That has never stopped me from taking what I wanted before, and I'll be damned if I let it stop me now.

Behind him, the city of Midgar trembled eagerly, scenting that soon there would be fresh pain to slake its thirst.

"Goodbye, Mother!" Aeris called as she hurried from the house, a shawl wrapped around her narrow shoulders. Elmyra waved as her daughter retreated into the night.

"Have a good time, sweetie! And please, be careful!" She clasped her hands together at her chest, a motion very reminiscent of Aeris.

"I will!" floated back the reply. Elmyra swallowed hard, her smile fading, and tried to keep the knot of worry from settling in her throat. It was just…it seemed like there was something unnatural about tonight. She hoped desperately that Aeris would be alright; she hadn't even wanted to allow Aeris to go meet her secret boyfriend, but the girl was just so excited, she couldn't say no. And Aeris had looked so beautiful in the thin-strapped gown…My gown, thought Elmyra with a hint of melancholy, remembering how she had worn it when she was Aeris's age, going out to meet the man who would eventually become her husband…but that was ages ago, when life was simple and not as dangerous as it was now. Aeris was out there alone, and that caused a sick feeling in her stomach. Any number of things could happen to the girl, and none of them were good.  

A tear trailed down Elmyra's cheek as she stared out into the darkness, and shivered. Her stomach clenched as her eyes took in the abnormal green glow of Midgar, and the marrow in her bones ached. The last time she had felt remotely like this was the day she found Aeris at the train station, after watching Ifalna die from incurable wounds. The woman's eyes had been so pleading as she begged for Elmyra to take care of her little girl, it was heartbreaking. But even then, it was pity and sadness and nervousness.  

This…couldn't just be nervousness; this entire night was wrong! Elymra forced herself to look away from the burning mix of black and green, and instead gazed down at her clenched hands.

Oh Aeris, my heart…please, please be careful!    

The only response to her prayer was the stirring of the pale, sparse blades of grass under the breeze, and the lonesome keening wail of the wind. 

A petite, obviously female figure stood on the roof of the Church, a silhouette outlined in silver from the stars that shone through the clouds. Aeris exhaled and watched as the visible white puff of air rose from her mouth and trailed upwards.

"I didn't know it was going to get so chilly," she commented quietly, drawing her shawl closer around her narrow shoulders. "Or maybe it's just that this dress bares too much skin." She amended. Aeris smiled down at the gown, feeling a little silly and out of place, like a princess in a kingdom of soot and trash.

"It's fancier than what I'm used to, true, but Mother was so happy to see me wear it…" She twirled around lightly, admiring the way it swirled around her legs. The dress was long and almost reached the ground. It was light pink silk, overlaid with a covering of black lace in spiraling, abstract rose patterns. The straps were thin and crossed in the back, and the cut of the top was modest. A thin matching black lace choker was around her elegant, craned neck; hanging on the choker was a small Materia, a drop of emerald blood against pale skin.

Aeris touched her fingers to it gently, feeling the comforting warmth emanating from it like sunshine. She smiled and marveled at how this Materia, her birth-mother's, always had the power to make her feel better and put her anxiety to rest.

She glanced up towards the sky, green eyes attempting to pierce the cloudy darkness of the night. Aeris gasped as suddenly, a bright flare of blue and silver sparked against the smoky backdrop, and streaked across the heavens. The meteor shower was starting, and it was one of the most beautiful things Aeris had experienced during her short lifetime, along with newly budding flowers, the sound of raindrops on the roof, Elmyra's warm comforting hugs, and Zack's smile.

She sighed. Zack…He was late, and she didn't like to think about the possible reasons why. He might have gotten caught, or lost in the slums, or mugged, or maybe even struck with the realization that he didn't like her at all and didn't want anything else to do with her. Aeris bit her lip, chiding herself silently; she should have more faith in Zack than that. And besides, it's not like we have a commitment to each other or anything. This is one date—no, not even really a date, just a friendly meeting between a girl and a guy.

Another meteor, smaller than the first, shot by next to its predecessor's fading trail. It briefly lit up the darkened sky, and Aeris started as the light crept slowly over the roof. She noticed a pair of legs emerging from the stairs, shifting slightly as they climbed. Black boots, dark baggy pants…"Zack!" Happily, Aeris hurried over to greet him.

And stopped short as the flare from a third meteor illuminated the man's face. He was a silver black green blur before her eyes.

It was Sephiroth.

The hard sky behind her suddenly exploded with streaming meteors, trailing cold fire behind them, and for a moment night became day. The Planet burst into awareness in her mind, awaking from its usual slumbering dormancy, and shrieked frantic incomprehensible things at her. Her head throbbed under the assault, and she struggled to focus on the situation at hand. Sephiroth hadn't moved since she noticed him, instead choosing to stand motionless, arms crossed, and watch her. His silence, added to his emotionless mask, black clothing, and imposing stature, frightened Aeris enough to mentally push away the Planet's garbled screams.   

"G-General?" Aeris squeaked. "Wha--? What are you doing here?" Her voice sounded weak and a knot settled in her throat. Sephiroth smirked, but gave no other outward sign that he had heard her. Aeris took a few steps back, and her skin prickled. She swallowed and tried again.

"General Sephiroth, what are you doing here?" Aeris couldn't keep the fear from her voice; the question ended up sounding thin and pleading. Her muscles tensed, and again she moved back to avoid him, although he didn't move.

"Finding you, of course," he answered in his silky, powerful voice, his eyes still locked with hers.

"W-why?" Another step back.

He smiled then, and his eyes narrowed. "To inform you that due to…unfortunate circumstances, Zack will not be meeting you tonight."

Aeris felt as though one of the meteors scarring the sky above had crashed down into her. She was aware of how very cold and exposed in her dress she was, and every inch of her bare skin crawled. Oh gods…Zack isn't here…and Sephiroth is! I have to get away from here! I always try to see the good in people but all I see in Sephiroth is anger…a-and madness…I don't know what he's going to do to me!

Retreating, her foot moved backwards and encountered only empty space; she had reached the end of the roof. Aeris let out a small scream as she lost her balance, her arms flailing wildly as she tried to propel herself in vain. She started to fall backward, and squeezed her eyes shut as she envisioned plummeting to the pavement below to become a bloody mess.

But luckily, or perhaps unluckily, she felt strong arms around her, supporting her and pulling her safely back up to the roof. Sephiroth had saved her, but his emerald eyes that were so like her own—no! He's not like me!—were smoldering, brimming with emotion. Anger…disgust? Or…desire? She was keenly aware of his hands gripped tightly around her upper arms.

"But luckily for you, Aeris," he said, and the way in which he said her name resonated horribly in her ears, "because I knew you were expecting to see someone…I took it upon myself to take Zack's place."  

Aeris wondered if she would have been better off plunging to her death on the ground below. At least then she would know what would become of her.

"I've got you now," he whispered so softly she wasn't sure he really said it. "You're mine."

Against her will, a tear slid down her cheek, and with a strange fascination he watched it fall. Aeris felt panic and whirling vertigo pressing in on her from all sides; her heart was too loud in her ears, and she tasted bitter desperation like bile in the back of her throat.

Her mind screamed for anyone: Zack, Elmyra, the faint memory of her birth mother Ifalna, her Ancient ancestors, even Tseng. Anyone other than the smiling demon of silver and shadows holding her…