Music listened while writing this: still Craig Armstrong's "Escape"

Disclaimer: I don't own them red sexy guys, nor anyone else from FF7; not even Hojo, lucky bastard! Geeez!!

BLOOD RED WAS THE NIGHT

Chapter 1 – Shattered worlds

So tired that I couldn't even sleep
So many secrets I couldn't keep
I promised myself I wouldn't weep
One more promise I couldn't keep

Soul Asylum – „Runaway Train"

I lower myself on the floor next to him and I stretch my hand towards him hesitantly.

Something seems weird and utterly wrong about him and I can't even say what.

Both hands are thrust in his hair and his body has a slight rocking motion, as he's bent over his knees. The howling ceased, but a long, low wail leaves his lungs almost incessantly. He sounds like a deadly wounded animal.

What could possibly happen to him while being alone here? I've never heard someone wailing like this before.

Well, I'm still trying not to think how my own grief must have sounded when Chaos was dragging me from my coffin at night to roam the land, scaring the godsforsaken insomniacs.

Finally I put my hand on his shoulder and try to turn him around to see his face. And I freeze. My hand grows suddenly weak and almost falls from his shoulder as I stare at him feeling numb.

- - -

Suddenly I realize I've watched him every since he came here, I followed his movements and I listened to his rants, but I never really looked at him, not once.

The kid looks old.

Older than me.

Yet he can't be. He can't be!

- - -

White strands of hair fall over his face and his skin looks withered. And ashen, just like mine.

But I am dead.

And I am more than twice his age, yet he looks older than me.

This is completely wrong.

He shouldn't look like this.

... Hojo, is this one more of your dreadful deeds?...

- - -

The kid is all curled over himself now and shaking, head in his hands, staring towards me with a haunted look. But I don't think he really sees me.

He looks all lost, worn out and ill.

Finally I stretch my arm again to steady him before he collapses completely. And I bring it back hastily at my chest. Again. Burnt. My hand was burnt.

By tears.

They're flowing from his eyes, falling one by one on his red coat. Burning tears, leaving ashen marks on it, almost invisible wisps of smoke making the air tremble around them, the already foggy air, filled with the smoke of the fire outside. He doesn't seem to acknowledge them, he just goes on rocking back and forth.

I don't know what to do and I'm already fighting Chaos that turns inside me, excited by the masacre that has to be outside the manor. I don't want to let him take the lead, not as long as I can fight it; I would hate to be dragged again all over the land like a helpless doll watching from the inside.

Suddenly I feel tired and angry of all this and I grab the kid by both his shoulders and shake him hard.

„What happened to you?" I growl.

His head snaps up and he gapes at me as if noticing me only then. And he keeps gaping numbly at me with lifeless eyes, though tears flow ceaselessly from them.

Then he finally opens his mouth.

„I... killed him.", he chokes in a harsh whisper. „I... sent him there. And... now... he's dead."

Then he goes numb again.

Shiva, I don't have time for this!! Chaos is getting angrier by the moment, I can feel it!

I shake him mercilessly again and bark into his face.

„Pull yourself together, kid! Who died??"

He stares at me and suddenly a small spark lightens his vision in a dangerous way; as if he recognizes me somehow. Then he just laughs and I can feel my skin going up in goosebumps. It's the most miserable laugh I can remember hearing and it shatters my ears while pain explodes through his eyes like a raging train, darting at me.

„Your son, you stupid!! It's YOUR SON!! Sephiroth... is dead."

Then he just slides from my grasp and his head hits the floor.