Chapter two – The Message

A/N: Hey there, I hope you like my fanfic. I'm not developing the action too much, I know. I managed to write something, so I hope you like it. I really liked the plot about Jenova draining life from planets and using them to sail through the universe, so I thought it's good to mention it in this chapter. Enjoy!

Sometimes, when I am born anew in yet another of the worlds I ask myself a question. How the hell am I supposed to find Eden?! Well, the answer is easy, I just… feel it. Whenever I arrive to a new world, I know the language i'm supposed to speak, i know my destiny, I can just… feel what I'm supposed to do. I yhink that The Monster knows about the worlds she sends me to, se quietly tells me what to do. I like to think that this is the truth, that she is rather my guardian, giuding light, rather than… to think that I am her vessel or her puppet. And Even though I like to believe that Eden really is giving me independence from The Monster, I don't know what is the truth exactly. I seek it, like I seek the drug. I feel like seeking, the truth, my hellish drug, in fact if I had the choice, i culd be seeking anything. It's just… natural. I wonder… how will I find Eden here. Through almos all my journeys, I've encountered many ways of getting it. Sometimes it is Eden-infected spring I have to drink water from, sometimes my instincts lead me to a drug dealer, sometimes to a cave full of crystallized Eden or covered in something like Eden-moss. There are many ways of getting my hands on it, it doesn't even matter what form it takes. Iwhat matters is how long it will take me to get to it and how fast will my supply end. I just have to get my hands on the drug and use it wisely, so that I can surive. And when I run out of my precious… then The Monster puts me to death, just to let me be born anew. And so the story carries on, I struggle, I risk my life for Eden… and when I finally reach it, the timer is set. As long as I have the drug, I will live. This is my destiny and i cannot fight it any longer. I have to give in, do what she wants. But this is no guidance, just manipulating and control.

„What form will you take now, my precious?"

I run through the streets, just to run. I want to get to know this teritory, excercise, and to waste some time. Maybe it it why, I have too much time now, I would be bored taking care of the two wounded people and an Orphan. So I have to go, run as fast as I can, just to have some pleasure other than drugs. I cannot give completely in, I have to be myself, just for a while. Even if these moments are short, I don't wanna miss them. I want to stay myself for as long as I can, that will make me feel… satisfied. I think. While running, I pass an old church. Could it be…? No, not in this church. There's no Eden there, I'm sure. Almost sure… there truly is something tempting in this building, though. Oh boy, why are churches always like that… they seem to be calling to people to visit them, though I'm not a believer, I do love churches. Like i Llove the slums. And now i run into a church in the slums! It looks nice… promising. Although, I don't really believe in promises. And i'm still a little bit afraid of what I may run into. It is not that i fear the church itself but… I don't really want to go into a trap. Even if i haven't done much in this world, It's still the same. It is as always, some memories from my previous life, lives, are still alive. But I'll forget eventually, there's nothing to worry about.

I venture further into the slums, trying to feel… anything at all. Even a hint of something… not normal.

„I still have quite a lot of Eden. I should not worry, for now". Yes, but if those beautiful men become addicted to it, because of me, there will be quite a lot to worry about. I know the pain of Eden addiction, I've been carrying it for ages now… and I wouldn't like to drag anyone into this. This is my burden and mine alone. I won't let anyone but me carry it, if I were to see anyone like me, I'd rather not burst into tears of joy but of pain and anger. For Eden is my responsibility, now and ever.

The world I arrived to is already dying, although people truly are leading as peaceful lives as the can. Not bothering anyone, living like shadows. Shadowland. That name would fit well. I like it. Like i like the slums.

I try to get higher, usually the higher I am, the more I can sense, I can locate Eden more easily. Although on my way I stumble upon something I can classificate as „odd" or „weird". „Bizzare". A black box with a warning tape saying „SEAL". What can it be? Interesting… Above me, I can hear the sounds of a… fight? I look up to the stormy sky. I guess… yeah, someone's fighting. Now, basic questions: am I in danger? I think that I'm not. Should it bother me? No, if someone wants to fight, it's their problem. Not all the intelligent creatures want or know diplomacy and negotiations. My problem is solved.

I kneel down and open the box carefully, just to see terrifying view.

There's a… head of a beautiful creature. Looks feminine to me, she has the same hair shade as those men. Her face looks horrible, her skin is grey with a little shade of blue, her cheek bones seem to be almost piercing the skin of her face. Also, there is a gunshot wound going through a part of her neck. Something green is still flowing, more like seeping out of the wound, slowly. Her blood probably. Poor little thing. I don't know but.. I felt its prescence, it was… calling out to me. Maybe… I could use her somehow. To find Eden! That must me it… that's the only thing that makes sense. This creature… I can't help but to gently put my hand on her cheek. She looks so young…

De… stroy… it!

„W-what!?"

I can hear the Monster's voice at the back of my head.

De… stroy… it!

The head opened her single red eye, its shine blinded me for a while. Then… a wave of memories came flooding into my head, scenes flashing before my eyes. Like a dream… although I was wide awake.

„Proffesor? Proffesor!" I can hear a child's voice… No. It's… mine! That's my voice. I can see a laboratory now, it's very modern, for many civilizations, futuristic. Although some technologies there are really old-fashioned. My hand reaches out to the shadow that disappears, fades into the light beyond the door, the glass stops my hand.

„Proffesor!" I shriek as water… or at least some kind of fluid fills the glass tube.

Then is nothing. True void, nothingness… and suddenly, a choir of voices.

OUR CREATION.

RESEARCH.

ANNIHILATE.

I can see a body, it's like made of glass or crystal. Its veins… are cracks in fact. And when it breaks…

The scene changes.

I can see the fire, mountains falling apart, one by one to the abyss, flames consuming them. Great rock isles float on whatever's left of the planet. It falls apart… or rather collapses into itself. Implosion.

„It is because of your foolishness, Eckart" I can hear a voice… it is well known to me.

I can see her, the Monster. Before she became what I call her.

Her body, wounded, wounds infected. She cradles me like a child.

„You are my greatest sin… my dishonor"

That's what she tells me, before falling into the abyss.

Above her shoulder I can see the real monster.

With the same head as in the box.

I snap out of this vision, shivering, I feel like I'm dying inside. What the hell… this vision was just… could it be… my first life? I have troubles with breathing, also, the Monster won't shut up, telling me to destroy the head… I take out an Eden pill and take it to break free. She will be quiet if I stay influenced by Eden.

The sky starts to brighten and the rain falls. I found myself hanging from one of the buildings… How the hell did I even get here int he first place!? Oh boy… guess The Monster is the only one who knows what She, The Monster is up to. I guess I tried to fight her unconciously in my „dream", because the head is not destroyed. I can still feel it. Good sign, as for me. I still have my own will. I try to get to one of the corners of this flat, it just…. Seems more resonable to me. And as I get close, I can hear somebody's voice.

„B-brother…"

A moment of silence. Then another voice, stronger and deeper one.

„Oh…" silence, just for a while „Rest in peace, Kadaj"

More death. I think this world is a very sad one, illness, death, grief…they are all here. And I have the medicine… maybe it doesn't cure everything but is a real lifesaver. I can hear some steps, and then crawl up. The motorcyclist blonde swordsman leaves his 'brother' behind, and goes somwhere else. I think he's praying. To the rain, and a few rays of sun, he is calling out silent words.

I silently go up, trying not to bother him. I take one Eden pill I hid in my jacket's pocket and put it under Kadaj's tounge. Maybe Eden doesn't revive the dead but if applied quick enough, it surely can do something.

The swordsman seems to notice that so I act like a fool, as always. Before he turns around, slowly, I'm already hanging from the edge of this tall building.

„Hm… so, Kadaj, the Lifestream and your beloved mother rejected you, huh? Poor little thing, you were nothing but a pawn in Sephiroth's game"

„Get down" the Monster says „The swordsman will show you the way"

Why is she speaking… I already took three pills today! That should be way more than enough to shut her up.

But I am obedient. As he turns around to find a risky way down, I get to Kadaj, put him over my shoulders, as I was thought in military during one of my lives, and try to follow the swordsman. Of course, having a wounded man and a head of a-very-important-creature doesn't help me but after a few hours of careful climbing and praying not to accidentaly destroy the head or drop Kadaj letting him fall down and smash to the ground, I could finally step on sweet ground.

„Mother?" I can hear Kadaj's voice.

„Oh… You awake? Don't worry, Kadaj. I'm taking you to your brothers." I say as I walk down the streets. He is weak, very weak… but Eden helped him. There's still hope.

As I approach the house, Kathy runs towards me.

She is in tears.