Disclaimer: False: I own FF7 and its characters.
True: I do not own a single scrap of FF7. Nor do I own anything but my characters (Yes, Tybalt and Elias is MINE!) and the plot, nothing else.
AN: Get ready for more angst…… well, in Seph's part anyway…… But finally a sort-of long chapter! Which is not actually long, but longer from the rest! Mwahahahahahahaha……
Legend: Refer to last chapter.
'Abandon every hope, ye who enter here.'
Dante (1265-1321) Inferno, Canto III Inscription over the gate of Hell
Chapter 4: Wheel of Fate- part Two
The lord among the Reapers, servant of the Planet, sat along the banks of the Lifestream, staring deeply into the waves and ripples of glowing river. He looked intently into the depths, reading its motions, golden eyes reflecting the rich emerald light from the stream.
He studied the radiant waters, his brow furrowing. He held his palm over the green Mako. Its surface fluttered in response, turning into a shade of deep red. He drew his hand away quickly.
He watched the red turn back into reminiscent green, although a tint of the haunting color remained. He looked on as the tint of red spread through out the entire river, tainting it.
This could not be good. The elder stood, his crimson swishing to and fro as brushed away imaginary dirt. He departed the spot, deep lines creasing across his forehead.
Danger was amok.
Sephiroth gazed blankly at the crude wall opposite to him. His head was throbbing from the severe attack it received recently. His condition considerably worsened every day since he was confined to the dark, desolate cell. And now it smelled like a mixture of dried blood and dirt. Which were exactly the ingredients of the stench. He sighed. He stretched his pant-covered legs, ripped and torn in several places. His ankles looked like hell. So did his wrists. His silvery hair was a tangled mess caked with blood and earth. His trench coat had better days, to say the least.
He lowered his head to his hands. He shut his eyes, feeling the nauseating sensation washing over him again and again. His entire body ached. It felt as if his internal organs where ripping themselves up inside him.
No, not again…….
He gasped for breath, landing once again on his knees, palms slapping hard against the ground, gripping the thankfully solid floor. He felt violent churning within him. Waves of haunting images slammed into him, each like a blow of a sledgehammer. He gagged as blood rose up and out of his panting mouth, spraying the dim ground with splatters of crimson blood.
His chest heaved as he fought for air through the torrents of pain attacking the very being of him. Tormenting images of distressing memories flashed before his eyes as he collapsed in disturbed unconsciousness.
Elias hurried down the dark halls, ignoring the howls and moans of pain from the mouths of the prisoners lined at either side, writhing in their chains. Usually she enjoyed the sight with sadistic glee, watched their torment as they plowed through their punishments. But now wasn't the time for such amusement.
Something was wrong in the Planet, she knew. She could feel it in the air. Being one of the oldest servants, the female reaper could feel the changes in the movements in the air, which was circulated through the Lifestream itself. Her eyes narrowed. It was definitely serious. The atmosphere around the cavern has changed drastically. Not even the Meteor incident has excited the Planet so.
She burst into the meditation chamber of the Elder, where he sat in the center of the smooth stone floor, in front of the glowing ball of light. His eyes were closed as he whispered the Cetra's language, the language of the Planet itself. She watched as the orb gradually lost its light, and the elder stood up.
'Elder, was that the Guardian of Haven?'
'Affirmative, Elias. Have you noticed?'
'Acutely, my lord. What is happening? '
He paused, letting his breath out slowly, his eyes intensely grave.
'It is not known. Neither the guardians nor the Cetra has given an answer. They are as perplexed as well as alarmed as we are.'
The door slid open, revealing a tall figure of black cloak. He removed his hood, revealing a man of flaming red hair, of length that reached mid-way to his waist. His eyes darted to the two elder reapers.
'Lord, the northern chambers have crumbled.'
The elders glanced at each other with troubled eyes.
'Elias, gather as many minions as you can and hold the northern chambers. Do not let a prisoner out.'
'Yes, sire.' She rushed out, northbound, with her robes rippling as she briskly walked to do her assigned task.
The elder put on his crimson hood and motioned the other reaper to follow.
Anarchy was about to arise. And there was no way for sure what its motives are.
In the southern chambers the youngest reaper stood by, watching fine cracks spreading through thick wall. Beside that wall was a door sturdily locked and chained. As he stared at the lines running across the stone, he heard the rattle of chains and soft groans behind it.
He was awakening. He reached out and touched the deepening fractures, and fine dust showered like rain from the low ceiling of the tunnel. Walls began to splinter and crumble and a deep rumbling was heard, approaching his location. He solemnly waited as the prisoner inside the cell rouse a rude awakening.
The first feeling he experienced as he went out of the darkness was pain. As usual. Every inch of his body was screaming in pain in underwent. He was numb all over. If it weren't for that catastrophic noise, he would still be in slumber.
Which brought the next train of thought.
As his eyes began to focus, he heard rumbling ahead and watched the ceiling crumble and crack from the shuddering of the entire cave. It was about collapse. With him under it.
Move…. His body wasn't answering to his commands.
The stone began to tremble violently and cracks widened.
Move, you idiot.
Stones fell from the roof of the cave, with it cascades of fine dust.
Dammit, move!
Move!
Move!
His body screamed in protest as he clawed at the floor and pulled his aching body away from the spot. He made it just in time as a shower of rocks plummets the ground.
He dodged more flying stones as the ground shuddered intensely, making the notion of standing up nearly impossible. Like he would anyway.
He gasped in pain when a large rock stabbed his struck his right shoulder. He could the bone crack at impact, as blood oozed from the gash the stone left. He gripped his shoulder as moved painfully to the left to miss the giant behemoth of a boulder the was hurtling from the air. He remained there as the tremors soothed, growing fainter and fainter. He closed his eyes, panting softly as he waited his heart stop beating rapidly. This must be the unluckiest day of his years in the afterlife. But in fact, he wasn't very lucky at all in both lives. He was damn cursed.
'It seems so, Sephiroth…'
His eyes flew open. This voice…. It wasn't Elias.
Who are you?
'You may call me Tybalt, Sephiroth.'
What's your business with me then, Tybalt?
'Ah… I have a request…you may also call it an offer. I want you to find out the source of this disturbance and eradicate it. I have a feeling you may know.'
'And why do you think I know?'
The voice remained silent for a few moments, and spoke again.
'The feeling of the power…. It seems similar to yours.'
You mean you have a hunch, don't you?
'You may state it as such.'
Sephiroth sighed as he eased himself against the boulder beside him.
Is this what you reapers agreed on?
'No. I am on my own. That is why you must escape now to go unnoticed.'
And why must I concur to this 'offer'?
'It may give you a second chance.'
Of what? Life? Reincarnation? Is that what you are suggesting?
'Affirmative.'
Sephiroth was silent for a moment. His eyelids lowered as he studied his bloodied hands and lacerated wrists. He lifted his head and stared at the wooden door half-hidden by crumbled stone.
I accept.
'When one door is shut, another one opens'
Cervantes (1547-1616) Don Quixote
AN: It seems I'll never get tired of angst fests! Should I cut it out a bit or should I continue it in later chapters? (Because I have a feeling there'll be more angst fests to come) And also, I'm sorry if it's kinda confusing... playing tricks on me... -.-
Sulphurya - Waaahh… You're making my head grow bigger…
Yuka-san – His pain will not be ending soon as long as I'm here:explodes into maniacal laughter:
Freddie2789 - :blink&sweatdrop: uh….okay?
Comments? Suggestions? Questions? Feel free to say/ask. I need it. -.-'