"How is he?"

"He hasn't left her room since we brought him home a week ago. Not for food, not to go to the bathroom, not for anything."

"Will he be ready for tomorrow? Do we need to wait longer?"

"Cloud . . . she needs to be put to rest. Denzel needs to say goodbye."

". . . is he still saying it was a ghost that attacked?"

"He only sits in there and holds Marlene's doll. "

"What do you think the chances are of hunting down a ghost Tifa?"

Disgusting! This city was absolutely disgusting. The people are actually smiling at me? Smiling! The nerve of these idiots! Do they not see how absolutely pathetic they are? Streets are lined with rat corpses, newspapers, and the sludge from their own bodies. Buildings are dark, dank, and dirty. How dare they smile when they should be killing the idiots who make cities as disgusting like this.

Ah, mass genocide. The screams would be lovely.

I'm not sure what town or city I am in. I only know how disgusting it is. My last victim managed to damage me a bit. I was distracted by his silent screams as I was dragging his intestines from his body with my toes. Imagine my mild surprise when he managed to lunge up from the ground and bite my finger off. Really, if he did not want his body taken apart he should learn not to invite strangers into his home in the middle of the night. Especially when the stranger looks as pale as a ghost, very dangerous indeed.

I stroked the finger in my pocket absently. Apparently this abominable city had a decent hospital. If they cannot fix me . . . I wonder how long it would take to murder everyone in the hospital. Would it I have to come back the next day or that night? I would have to be quick enough not to alert the authorities or at least be gone by the time they arrived . . . or perhaps I could manage to murder the law as well. Oh! I know. I could have them slit their own throats . . . fear always make victim's cooperate with the most wonderful games.

Wait . . . I remember this city. I remember this wretched city. Not this section, but it reminded me of something . . . someone. My feet stop without my permission as I gaze at the broken angel statue. Amazing, it was still in the same alley, after all these years. Of course, the statue was not broken back then. I remember it well. Harsh, jagged curves had made this angel, not soft ones. Clay and limestone made up the rather unusual artistic piece. His face, before it was broken, used to face upward tilted to the sky, a smirk on his lips, and unruly hair. I made this angel so many years ago. Not by myself, but with a girl. A girl, (not a woman, she was much too childish for the title) was making it for her "boyfriend."

"He called me an angel when he first saw me. Let's see what he thinks of this. Tee hee."

What a sweet girl. Her name eludes me at the moment, but I remember thinking it was ironic. A few letter changes and her name would have been exactly the same as the goddess of discord. What a sweet girl . . . her face would have looked so lovely covered in blood. If she had just accepted my offer to meet later for lunch, she would have been covered in her own crimson blush. When I suggested it, she moved to say yes, but then stopped. Her face was so frightened when she stammered out a no. She left in such a hurry, she left the angel behind. I thought she would have come back for it, we put a lot of work into it. Ungrateful wretch . . . she was indeed an angel. Clever boyfriend.

HONK

Years of self-control kept my nerves from jumping at the sound. I turned to shout at whoever the driver was. A rusted hood and headlights filled my vision. An irritated sigh escaped me as the car collided with my torso.

This is the third time this year a car has hit me. Although the first two weren't accidents . . . very tricky victims. The world spun around me rapidly. Roads, buildings, rat corpses all blending into one, until my body made contact with the ground once again. My rapidly darkening vision managed to catch a glimpse of the car. Seven digits located on the back etched itself into my memory. 'You're next' my mind whispered to me. I was inclined to agree with my mind, it did have wonderful ideas at times. As my vision faded, a pair of dazzling blue eyes made its way into my vision, blocking the car. The beautiful blue eyes looked wide and worried. Child-like even. Blue faded to black.

Black faded to green.

Tendrils of green seized me. At first, it was comforting, almost like an embrace. The green tendrils soothed my soul, coaxing it to release. Release to where I'm not su. . . lifestream. Lifestream? Oh no. I refuse to die right now. I need to see agony on the car driver's face. I need more of that addicting copper taste on my tongue as I drink more blood from a glass. There have not been nearly enough eyes staring at me unfocused.

I have not killed enough yet.

The soothing of the green stopped, instead trying to force me. I could feel it pulling, straining to drag me to my final resting place. No, now is not the time. It's not the time. I burst free.

Sparkling blue eyes filled my vision. Beautiful, marvelous blue eyes. I do not believe I have ever seen anything so lovely.

"Are you okay?" the blue eyes spoke.

I forced my eyes to focus. Kneeling beside me was a child, a beautiful child with brown hair and those beautiful blue eyes. They seemed slightly solemn as they gazed at me, he had already experienced a hard life. A slight scar was on his forehead, light freckles contrasted it across his cheeks. Such a healthy boy, such a beautiful boy. His eyebrow furrowed in concern.

I sat up slowly, "I believe I am alright little one."

Blue eyes smiled. Not a grin, a simple smile. My goodness, what a beautiful boy.

"That's great." The boy stood, "I was worried. I guess people haven't changed that much, even after geostigma. They're recovering though."

Geostigma. What in the world was that? Perhaps I need to socialize more. If I am not up to date with what is going on in the world, victims hesitate to let me in.

". . . it's starting to be a diner instead of a bar. I think it's cooler as a bar though, don't tell Tifa. She thinks that it's a great idea. 'Isn't it nice to have other costumers besides drunks Denzel?'"

. . . apparently the child is dragging me somewhere. Denzel? His name is Denzel? What a strange name for such a lovely child. I would have named him something elegant like Haven. His eyes are too beautiful this world. His hands are too soft for such solemn filled eyes. . . He is too much for this world.

A flash of brown caught my eyes from behind. I allowed my gaze to wander there. A muddied white flower was twirling around in the air. Just twirling, flakes of the dirtied brown flicking off each time the twirl changed direction. Pale hands grasped the flower gently, seeming to bounce it as well as twirl it. My gaze shifted to small, dainty feet, skipping merrily along. My eyes traveled upward, slowly over a white sweater dress. Sweet lips entered my vision. Sweet. . . until they smiled. The smile sparked a rage inside me.

I. . .

"Denzel!"

. . know

"Marlene, you know Tifa told you not to walk out by yourself!"

That . . .

"You're walking by yourself."

. . . smile.

"I'm a boy, it's different."

It was my mother's smile.

"How?"

How dare this chocolate eyed Marlene girl have my mother's smile.

"I can defend myself better."

Enough of that smile. The hand the blue eyed child held tightened around his. My other hand reached out to grab the girl. She shrieked, he stared. His beautiful eyes widened, but he did not make a sound. Instead, his gaze firm, he kicked me, as hard as he could. My leg buckled. I forgot I had been hit by a car.

Denzel grabbed Marlene's hand and started running. Her feet were practically off the ground as he entered a cobblestone alley. The girl's braid swung behind her. A braid . . . a ribbon . . . just like the ungrateful angel who ran away from me all those years ago. I stood and strode after them. Silly of them to go down alleys. . . especially alleys made of stone. Stone could easily crumble under the right circumstances. Especially in this slightly decayed town. I pulled out my earth materia.

***

Cloud's head jerked as he heard the bar began to shake. The customers glanced around in drunken confusion as they clasped their glasses protectively. He stood and maneuvered his way across the bar, only one person on his mind. Tifa. Glass shattering reached his ears and he increased his pace. Where was she? She could handle herself . . . but maybe she needed him.

He found her, pressing her body against the crates of glasses, trying to prevent them from falling. She saw him, and jerked her head forward. There were more crates that needed support. A lot of alcohol and money would be lost, money that would take a while to earn. Cloud nodded and pressed himself opposite to her, trying not to blush at the close proximity.

"When was the last time we had an earthquake?" Tifa grunted, shifting her legs for better leverage.

Cloud shrugged and shook his head. He pressed his back more firmly into the crates. Why were bottles shaped so awkwardly? It made it easy for the necks of them to escape the crate just so and press into his back. He should have worn leather today. Slowly the earthquake stopped, reduced to slight tremors. Tifa sighed and lifted herself up, brushing against him lightly. A slight blush made its way across his face.

Tifa gasped, "Marlene! Denzel!"

His hand snatched her arm as she tried to dash towards the back door, "I'm sure their fine Tifa. Denzel knows how to take care of himself. More than likely Marlene is with him."

"I know, but," Her wine red eyes turned to him, "Didn't that earthquake feel strange to you?"

Cloud shook his head and tugged her into a slight embrace.

"They'll be back before you know it."

***

I snickered as I heard the city's cries. More importantly, I heard the cries of the two children. I jogged lightly towards the alley they headed, twirling the materia on my finger as I did so. Their cries become louder as I neared the alley, calling for help. Too bad everyone was busy tending to their own, such a shame the silly children tried to go down a freaking alley. Really? Do they not realize alley's are very dangerous and should never be used for shortcuts?

My breath quickened as I walked further into the alley, carefully making my way through the rubble. Oh, there are the children. My, they are in a better position than I could have imagined. The child Marlene's legs were pinned beneath a slate of rock. Denzel . . . no . . . my Haven, fared slightly better. His left side was pinned beneath some rubble, his right hand frantically trying to pull Marlene from her captivity. His eyes turned to me. Oh rapture, his eyes were angry. Beautiful, beautiful. I wish . . .

"Get away!"

Ow . . . Haven, why do you throw rocks at me? I leaned down to him, my face so close to his, my ragged breaths fanning his face.

"I want you to watch," I whispered, "as I take away your angel. Clever Haven, clever boyfriend. She's no angel. She made me help and then didn't come with me to lunch. Bad Marlene, bad. Her face would look so lovely covered in blood."

"You're crazy!" He spit at my face, still struggling to get Marlene free.

I stomped on his hand, satisfied as I heard the satisfying crunch-pump sound. Good, that eliminated the problem, can't have Haven distracted me now can I? I fixated my gaze on Marlene . . . no . . . angel girl. Oh, who cares. My body is crying for her blood. Her chocolate eyes gaze at me, fear visible. She whimpers, calling out to 'Denzel.' His name is Haven, he's mine.

My knife makes a strange sound as I pull it from my belt. Like a bell, it rings. Rings so merrily, it's happy for blood again. Her screams make me shudder as I carve hearts and angels into her skin. All along her arms, lovely lines along her neck. I'm helping her become beautiful. Haven is screaming at me to stop, swinging his arm trying to hit me. His voice is distant, the girl's screams are all that I hear, all that I need. They make me whole at this moment of bloodlust. I swipe my hand across her bloodied arm and transfer it to her face. Her eyes grow wider, her screams are more delicious.

I leaned down to her level, "Your face looks so lovely covered in blood."

More blood pooled in my hand, I squeezed it over her mouth. Her screams had a slight gurgle to them when I added blood into her mouth. Tears ran down her cheeks as she screamed louder. Haven was crying as well . . . his eyes look so beautiful filled with tears.

"Hey! Hold on down there! I hear you!."

Crap, freaking good-doers. I heard the footsteps of a man rushing down the alley. How dare this stranger ruin my fun! My killing was going to become rather anticlimactic. Probably thinks Marlene is screaming because she's injured from the 'earthquake.' I had to cut this short then. Whoever this helper was slowed down as he had to find a way pass the rubble. No time to waste then.

I turned my gaze back towards the chocolate eyed one. Her breathing was harsh. Haven was crying harder now, screaming for whoever was coming to hurry. I smiled at him and smoothed out his hair, grabbing a rather large looking bolder near him.

His eyes met mine as I positioned the rock above her head. He mouthed the word no. I smiled, and began to bash my mother's smile off of the girl's face. Her screams started to cease as I pounded the rock harder and harder against her face. I wish I could have torn out her heart. Finally, my mother's smile was dead once more.

Haven still cried.

"Don't worry little one." I cooed, "I'll come back for you one day. "

The footsteps were getting closer, faster.

"To make sure you won't doubt me, I'll take something of yours. You'll know I'll never forget you, and will come to return it someday."

My knife began to sing with his melodic screams.

***

Finally, the hospital is in sight.

"Sorry." A blonde haired man grunted as he bumped into me. His silver wolf earring glinting. His eyes turned concerned, "Do you need some help?"

I laughed "I'm fine. Just got hit by a car. Lost my finger too."

He nodded and walked away, only looking back once to make sure I was okay.

His eyes were beautiful too. Mine is more beautiful though.

I fingered my new beautiful eye that lay beside my finger in my pocket. My own beautiful blue eye from Haven. He'll need it back one day, he'll be mine one day.

***

Thank you for reading.

I appreciate the reviews I have gotten. Thank you for the critique SZix , I appreciated it and tried to apply it to this chapter. (I love your writing by the way!)

I hope you all continue to read.