"What are you doing here?" I stood there in my fighting stance watching
him. The great Sephiroth standing right in front of me, looking just like
he did that night. He was relaxed, his great Masamune held loosely by his
side. I couldn't look at it, I could remember all to well the pain when he
cut through me with it. He was smiling.
"Did you really think you had seen the last of me? Did you and your 'hero'
really think you could defeat someone as strong as me?!" As he spoke his
voice became more and more angry and he was coming closer to me. Terrified
I cast a fire spell but to my horror he raised his hand and it reflected of
him and hit me instead. I fell to the ground and before I knew it he was
stood over me, I tried to get up but I felt a rush of pain as I realised he
had one foot on my hair.
"What do you want?!" I screamed "Haven't you done enough? Isn't it enough
for you? You took away everything dear to me, you destroyed my life and
every night you haunt my dreams. What more do you want?!" I screamed, one
of my hands was on my hair trying to free it.
"Done enough?" He said, his voice now calm. "My dear Miss Lockheart, until
I fulfill my aim nothing I do shall ever be enough. He moved so fast I
couldn't do anything to stop him, next thing I knew he had grabbed me by my
top and pulled me up so I was on my feet, his sword was also raised and he
put it to the side of my neck. I shivered as I felt the cold steel pressed
against me, he didn't press any harder. I looked into his mako eyes trying
to figure out what he was going to do next.
"Not again," I whispered. He smiled,
"At least last time was quick, I won't be so kind this time. It's not my
fault you and Strife refuse to die." He said calmly as he looked me up and
down. I could now feel the sword pressing harder against my skin and I felt
a tear run down my cheek. Sephiroth face was close to mine and when he
spoke I felt his hot breath but I couldn't turn away, I was afraid to move.
He moved his hand from my shirt to around my waist, he held me tight in
his iron grip. What could I do? There had to be a way out! I thought
terrified. "Where is he now?" He said with a satisfied smile. He then moved
his head down to the other side of my neck. I felt his teeth bite into my
skin, he bit harder and harder until I felt a drop of blood run down my
neck. I was in so much pain and so afraid I couldn't even call out. I could
smell the blood, the smell was so strong...
"Tifa... Wake up!" I opened my eyes, I looked around me for Sephiroth but all I saw was Cloud's face, he looked worried. I quickly sat up and put my hand to my neck. I couldn't feel anything but... could I still smell blood?
"What's wrong?" I asked but I was almost afraid to hear the answer. Cloud put his hand on mine and squeezed it tight. He looked so confused. "Something's wrong. Look outside." He said pointing to the door with his other hand. I starred at the door for a moment, who opened it? I got up and walked out of it, the smell of blood grew stronger as I moved along the corridor, Cloud was close behind me. On the floor I saw the guard dead. Seeing a dead person was hardly new to me but for some reason, I was afraid. The dream was still fresh in my mind as I bent over the guard inspecting his wounds.
"I wonder what happened..." I said quietly. His body was so mangled I couldn't make out what killed him. Cloud put his hand on my shoulder and pulled me back as if he didn't want me to see. I stood up and turned to face him. "He should have the key on him..." Cloud muttered. I watched him take the keys from what was left of the guard's belt. He started to make his way to the prison cells but I didn't move. I kept staring at the body, trying to make sense of the situation. Cloud's hand was once again on my shoulder.
"Come on, Tifa," he said softly as I turned to look at him, "get Aeris, I'll go help Barret and the others." he said as he handed me a key. 'Damn! Why was he telling me to get Aeris?!' I thought slightly irritated. I really did not want to talk to her after yesterday. I opened the door and she sat up and looked very surprised to see me. "Tifa!" She said smiling at me with a very sweet but very clearly fake smile. "We don't know what's happened." I said looking at her calmly. "We woke up, our cell door was open and the guard dead." I said as I came into her cell. She got of the bed. "We can finally escape." She said still smiling. 'Drop the act!' where the words repeating themselves in my mind. We stood there in silence for some time. I was looking at the floor when I heard a noise behind me, I turned around and to my relief it was Cloud. I walked past him and looked down the corridor. Red was already making his way down it. I had to be strong... it was just a dream after all. "Come on, let's follow Red XIII!" I said indicating for Cloud and Aeris to follow me. I soon wished I hadn't. The Shinra building was full of dead bodies and the walls were covered in blood. Everywhere I turned I saw death and destruction. "This feels all too familiar." I said quietly to Cloud who was walking close beside me, his sword drawn. "I know." He said quietly, "stay close to me, whatever it was could still be here." He said taking hold of my hand. I nodded as we approached Red XIII who had paused where the metal dome had been only a few hours ago. "...Did it get away? Jenova...?" Cloud asked, I looked over to him... he looked scared. "Jenova Specimen... Looks like it went to the upper floor using that elevator for the specimens." Red said, he was so calm. I bit my lip as we climbed the stairs, terrified of what we were going to find. I couldn't stop thinking about my dream, it was so clear and felt so real... 'It was just a dream, it was just a dream...' I said to myself over and over but not believing it for a second. We finally got up to the top of the stairs and there it was. President Shinra on his desk and in his back... 'NO!' my thoughts screamed. 'No it can't be! That sword... it can't be!'
"He's dead... The leader of Shinra, Inc. is dead." Barret said but his words were so quiet. I ran to the president to get a better look at the sword. Maybe I was mistaken. but I closer I got, the harder it was to avoid the truth. "Then this sword must be...!?" I said finally. My whole body shaking. I could feel a pain in my chest, in the area that sword had struck me at the age of 16. "Sephiroth's!!" Cloud said, venom in his voice. "...Sephiroth is alive?" I asked. 'please say no' my mind whispered. "...Looks like it. Only Sephiroth can use that sword." Cloud said quietly as he came up behind me and put his hands on my shaking shoulders. I turned around and wrapped my arms around him. He held onto me tight. "Who cares who did it!? This is the end of the Shinra now!" Barret said, joy in his voice... poor man, he didn't know. I buried my face in Cloud's chest and closed my eyes. I didn't want to be here anymore... Cloud suddenly let go of me but I stayed where I was with my back to them. I could hear voices, they had captured a member of Shinra and were quizzing him about what happened. I listened as he confirmed Sephiroth was here. I stayed where I was wishing I could wake up from this terrible dream. "He was saying something about not letting us have the Promised Land." I heard the man say. I turned and looked around me. Cloud and Barret were holding onto the man, I recognised him from the meeting we had witnessed the previous day. "Then what?" I said, my voice was angry. "Does that mean that the Promised Land really exists and that Sephiroth's here to save it from Shinra?" I said in a sarcastic tone but Barret didn't seem to understand me.
"So he's a good guy then?" He said looking confused. "Save the Promised Land? A good guy? No way!!" Cloud shouted. "It's not that simple!! I know him! Sephiroth's mission is different!" he said as he put his hands over his face. I moved over to comfort him when I heard a noise. It was the sound of a helicopter. "Rufus! &*%$!! I forgot about him!" Barret exclaimed. I turned to face him, what now?! "Who's that?" I asked.
"Vice President Rufus. The President's son." He said quietly. Oh fantastic! The bastard dies and now his son is going to take over. Damn maybe it would be a good thing. You can't judge a person before you meet them. "I wonder what kind of person he is..." I said as I watched the helicopter through the windows. We ran to the balcony to find the new president talking to the man from before. On seeing us he ran away leaving the young man alone with us. He was a good looking guy, about 20 or so dressed in white.
"Who are you guys?" He said looking us all up and down. We all introduced ourselves, I hated the way he was looking at us. He thought he was above us. After we had spoken he simply shrugged and said.
"What a crew." He ran his fingers through his hair and looked me up and down a few times, held his gaze on my beasts then my face. I glared at him. "Well, I'm Rufus. The President of Shinra, Inc." He said smirking.
"You only President, 'cause your old man died!" Barret reminded him.
"That's right." He said smiling. "I'll let you hear my new appointment speech." He said as he once again started to look at me. I clearly did not want to hear a speech but he started anyway. He circled me a few times as he spoke, looking me up and down then moved to the others. "A little fear will control the minds of the common people. There's no reason to waste money on them." He concluded. There was a long pause before I turned to the others and said.
"He likes to make speeches just like his father." I so badly wanted to kill him. Then Cloud turned to Barret, his face was full of fear. I was shocked.
"Get outta this building with Aeris!" he said. His voice was urgent.
"What?" Barret said shocked.
"I'll explain later! Barret! This is the real crisis for the Planet!" he said.
"The hell's that supposed to mean?" Barret asked now looking equally worried.
"I'll tell you later! Just take my word for it! I'll go after I take care of him!" He said calming a little.
"Awright, Cloud!" Barret said, he seemed to trust him now. I wasn't sure if Cloud wanted me to go with the others or not he hadn't said. I thought it best to follow them anyway. I knew Cloud could look after himself. As we made out way downstairs Aeris stopped.
"Cloud... I just thought of something." She said. Maybe I shouldn't have left him. Who was I kidding there was no way I could walk out of this building without him. I moved towards her.
"...I'll wait for Cloud! Everyone, get to the elevator!" I said in the most commanding tone I could manage. I went back to the doorway to wait for Cloud... God damn I hoped he was all right.
"Tifa... Wake up!" I opened my eyes, I looked around me for Sephiroth but all I saw was Cloud's face, he looked worried. I quickly sat up and put my hand to my neck. I couldn't feel anything but... could I still smell blood?
"What's wrong?" I asked but I was almost afraid to hear the answer. Cloud put his hand on mine and squeezed it tight. He looked so confused. "Something's wrong. Look outside." He said pointing to the door with his other hand. I starred at the door for a moment, who opened it? I got up and walked out of it, the smell of blood grew stronger as I moved along the corridor, Cloud was close behind me. On the floor I saw the guard dead. Seeing a dead person was hardly new to me but for some reason, I was afraid. The dream was still fresh in my mind as I bent over the guard inspecting his wounds.
"I wonder what happened..." I said quietly. His body was so mangled I couldn't make out what killed him. Cloud put his hand on my shoulder and pulled me back as if he didn't want me to see. I stood up and turned to face him. "He should have the key on him..." Cloud muttered. I watched him take the keys from what was left of the guard's belt. He started to make his way to the prison cells but I didn't move. I kept staring at the body, trying to make sense of the situation. Cloud's hand was once again on my shoulder.
"Come on, Tifa," he said softly as I turned to look at him, "get Aeris, I'll go help Barret and the others." he said as he handed me a key. 'Damn! Why was he telling me to get Aeris?!' I thought slightly irritated. I really did not want to talk to her after yesterday. I opened the door and she sat up and looked very surprised to see me. "Tifa!" She said smiling at me with a very sweet but very clearly fake smile. "We don't know what's happened." I said looking at her calmly. "We woke up, our cell door was open and the guard dead." I said as I came into her cell. She got of the bed. "We can finally escape." She said still smiling. 'Drop the act!' where the words repeating themselves in my mind. We stood there in silence for some time. I was looking at the floor when I heard a noise behind me, I turned around and to my relief it was Cloud. I walked past him and looked down the corridor. Red was already making his way down it. I had to be strong... it was just a dream after all. "Come on, let's follow Red XIII!" I said indicating for Cloud and Aeris to follow me. I soon wished I hadn't. The Shinra building was full of dead bodies and the walls were covered in blood. Everywhere I turned I saw death and destruction. "This feels all too familiar." I said quietly to Cloud who was walking close beside me, his sword drawn. "I know." He said quietly, "stay close to me, whatever it was could still be here." He said taking hold of my hand. I nodded as we approached Red XIII who had paused where the metal dome had been only a few hours ago. "...Did it get away? Jenova...?" Cloud asked, I looked over to him... he looked scared. "Jenova Specimen... Looks like it went to the upper floor using that elevator for the specimens." Red said, he was so calm. I bit my lip as we climbed the stairs, terrified of what we were going to find. I couldn't stop thinking about my dream, it was so clear and felt so real... 'It was just a dream, it was just a dream...' I said to myself over and over but not believing it for a second. We finally got up to the top of the stairs and there it was. President Shinra on his desk and in his back... 'NO!' my thoughts screamed. 'No it can't be! That sword... it can't be!'
"He's dead... The leader of Shinra, Inc. is dead." Barret said but his words were so quiet. I ran to the president to get a better look at the sword. Maybe I was mistaken. but I closer I got, the harder it was to avoid the truth. "Then this sword must be...!?" I said finally. My whole body shaking. I could feel a pain in my chest, in the area that sword had struck me at the age of 16. "Sephiroth's!!" Cloud said, venom in his voice. "...Sephiroth is alive?" I asked. 'please say no' my mind whispered. "...Looks like it. Only Sephiroth can use that sword." Cloud said quietly as he came up behind me and put his hands on my shaking shoulders. I turned around and wrapped my arms around him. He held onto me tight. "Who cares who did it!? This is the end of the Shinra now!" Barret said, joy in his voice... poor man, he didn't know. I buried my face in Cloud's chest and closed my eyes. I didn't want to be here anymore... Cloud suddenly let go of me but I stayed where I was with my back to them. I could hear voices, they had captured a member of Shinra and were quizzing him about what happened. I listened as he confirmed Sephiroth was here. I stayed where I was wishing I could wake up from this terrible dream. "He was saying something about not letting us have the Promised Land." I heard the man say. I turned and looked around me. Cloud and Barret were holding onto the man, I recognised him from the meeting we had witnessed the previous day. "Then what?" I said, my voice was angry. "Does that mean that the Promised Land really exists and that Sephiroth's here to save it from Shinra?" I said in a sarcastic tone but Barret didn't seem to understand me.
"So he's a good guy then?" He said looking confused. "Save the Promised Land? A good guy? No way!!" Cloud shouted. "It's not that simple!! I know him! Sephiroth's mission is different!" he said as he put his hands over his face. I moved over to comfort him when I heard a noise. It was the sound of a helicopter. "Rufus! &*%$!! I forgot about him!" Barret exclaimed. I turned to face him, what now?! "Who's that?" I asked.
"Vice President Rufus. The President's son." He said quietly. Oh fantastic! The bastard dies and now his son is going to take over. Damn maybe it would be a good thing. You can't judge a person before you meet them. "I wonder what kind of person he is..." I said as I watched the helicopter through the windows. We ran to the balcony to find the new president talking to the man from before. On seeing us he ran away leaving the young man alone with us. He was a good looking guy, about 20 or so dressed in white.
"Who are you guys?" He said looking us all up and down. We all introduced ourselves, I hated the way he was looking at us. He thought he was above us. After we had spoken he simply shrugged and said.
"What a crew." He ran his fingers through his hair and looked me up and down a few times, held his gaze on my beasts then my face. I glared at him. "Well, I'm Rufus. The President of Shinra, Inc." He said smirking.
"You only President, 'cause your old man died!" Barret reminded him.
"That's right." He said smiling. "I'll let you hear my new appointment speech." He said as he once again started to look at me. I clearly did not want to hear a speech but he started anyway. He circled me a few times as he spoke, looking me up and down then moved to the others. "A little fear will control the minds of the common people. There's no reason to waste money on them." He concluded. There was a long pause before I turned to the others and said.
"He likes to make speeches just like his father." I so badly wanted to kill him. Then Cloud turned to Barret, his face was full of fear. I was shocked.
"Get outta this building with Aeris!" he said. His voice was urgent.
"What?" Barret said shocked.
"I'll explain later! Barret! This is the real crisis for the Planet!" he said.
"The hell's that supposed to mean?" Barret asked now looking equally worried.
"I'll tell you later! Just take my word for it! I'll go after I take care of him!" He said calming a little.
"Awright, Cloud!" Barret said, he seemed to trust him now. I wasn't sure if Cloud wanted me to go with the others or not he hadn't said. I thought it best to follow them anyway. I knew Cloud could look after himself. As we made out way downstairs Aeris stopped.
"Cloud... I just thought of something." She said. Maybe I shouldn't have left him. Who was I kidding there was no way I could walk out of this building without him. I moved towards her.
"...I'll wait for Cloud! Everyone, get to the elevator!" I said in the most commanding tone I could manage. I went back to the doorway to wait for Cloud... God damn I hoped he was all right.