AN: Hey everyone!

Well, sorry for the long wait, few things going on these days, but I finally have this update you all :). Thanks to the following for your awesome reviews:

ita-chan01,

Kairi-loves-Sushi

Silverfox3220

Life'sAbitchAndThenYouDie

Hope you all like this update!

Disclaimer: I own this laptop, this glass of Pepsi, this Horrible Histories magazine and this idea, Square-Enix owns Final Fantasy VII.

Chapter Five: Hope

"What happened?" I asked, knowing the nervousness in my voice. I waited for her reply.

"Zack, you…you turned into a monster…"

Did she just say...?

"W-What do you mean?" I felt my fingers start to tremble. I clenched my hands into fists, digging my fingers into my palm to stop the shaking. It didn't work. They kept shaking and twitching like crazy.

"It was...I..." she paused for a moment. She was trying to find the right words. She was trying to make it less of blow and shock to me. She was trying to forget what happened. She was in shock and horror of the events. She wasn't able to retell them fearing it would only make her worse.

That was something I didn't want.

"Aerith, if you don't want to-"

"It was horrible!" she sobbed. She was crying. Darn it! "You...You l-looked s-s-so...scary. I saw you explode into something ...y-you attacked Hojo with those cl-l-l...I got so frightened. You didn't know who I was when I tried to calm you down. You were about to...You tried to...I...Hojo called in security...You were knocked out...Zack, I..."

I didn't know how to take this. I could understand what she was saying even if she wasn't clear. I knew she saw something horrific come out me, something that frightened her into shock.

What if I was still in that form right now...?

Quickly looked myself over again. I didn't see anything abnormal or horrific. I felt my face. Nothing there either.

I wanted to respond back to Aerith but I couldn't. I couldn't find the right words to her that everything would be alright, because I knew it wouldn't. We were in the Shinra mansion with no means of escape. I had apparently become something that nearly killed Hojo –though I wouldn't have minded doing that part. We wouldn't escape...

'What do you mean?'

I straightened hearing the voice. I knew that voice. No, I couldn't have heard that right, my head's playing tricks on me, surely...

'No, I'm here...'

"Angeal?" I couldn't possibly be hearing him in here. I must be going insane or something like that. Maybe it's the experiments.

'Yes, it's me.'

"But...how?" I questioned quietly in case Aerith heard me. If she did she probably thought I was going crazy.

'The lifestream. Aerith is a Certa, therefore she has the closest contact with the planet and the lifestream. She doesn't know that I'm contacting you.'

I folded my arms "Don't get wrong it's great to hear you and all, but what do you want?" Some of what I said was sarcastic. I don't know why Angeal would want to contact me. I don't know what help he would be for me in this place.

'What happened to the Zack I use to know? He never gave up, even when times were bad! Not only that, he remembered his honour as a SOLDIER.'

For some reason those last few words seemed so hollow to me, like they had no purpose in life anymore. I was out of hope and I didn't believe in it anymore. I had changed. In some ways I had changed...

'Not all hope is lost, Zack.'

"Yeah it is." I replied dully.

'No, it isn't. Just remember, embrace your dreams, and never forget your honour as a SOLDIER...'

I felt his presences leave my head. But as that presences left familiar words echoed in my head."Embrace your dreams and whatever happens, protect your honour...as SOLDIER!"

What had I done? What the heck was going on with me? How could I forget my honour, my dreams...

My lost hope had concealed everything I knew and stood for. It concealed my honour and my dreams. My honour as SOLDIER and my dreams with...Aerith. I'd get out of here, with her. I'd find a way out of this, I know I will. I don't know how but I will. There has to be something I can do to get us out of here, I know there has to be!

Not all hope is lost...

Aerith

I couldn't hear Zack now. He must be as shocked as I was. I've never seen Zack shocked. I couldn't picture him being that. I always saw him as being the optimistic and cheerful. But now, he truly has changed in some ways. He isn't, if at all, very optimistic like he use to be. He seemed almost...disturbed.

Anyone would be if they've been in a place like this for five years of their life.

They'd lose all hope...

I still remember what he looked like. I didn't want to see it anymore. I wanted the images of that monster gone from my mind. But they wouldn't move. Those images that made me scared.

I remember trying to calm the monster down but he almost attacked me if it weren't for the security.

Wait, what was I saying? That monster...was Zack. He was still inside. The monster just took over his body and made it look like he was a shell of something that horrific. I remember the flashes of red, not only of the blood, but the eyes. Those eyes burned into mine. They weren't the sky blue eyes knew and loved, they were ones of hatred and torment.

My memories swayed in my head until one started to come across my mind. The images of Zack as a monster were pushed away to my relief to be replaced by a memory. I smiled when I knew what it was...

"Hmm...Not quite...what I expected."

"Really? I think its fine. It's all about the flowers anyway"

He was right about the flowers. It was about the flowers. I looked the wagon over again, taking in every detail. Like I said, it wasn't what I expected. I was glad he did for me though. I really was glad he did but...I don't know. I was expecting something a lot...nicer. Yeah! That was the word! Nicer.

"I want a nicer one" I said looking at him.

"Stop being so picky!" he said raising his arms slightly. The expression on his face looked almost hopeless, but yet it had some playfulness. Also, a ting of annoyance. I didn't mean to make him angry, it was just a tiny wish I had.

I took two small steps towards him "A tiny little wish, that's all" Then I turned around, my back facing him.

"They're tiny, but you have lots, right?"

"That's right," –I turned back to him and tilted my head to the side –"wanna hear?"

He chuckled and leaned back "How many you got?"

As I started turning around again I counted on my fingers. I remembered every wish I had "Hmmm...twenty...three?" I turned around to him with a smile.

He slumped over with his mouth gapped open in mock surprise. He straightened up with a smile saying "Write them down, so I don't forget."

I know Zack never forgot my wish. I always hoped he wouldn't. I still hope right now he hasn't.

I remember what I wrote on that piece of paper. It was something I really meant, something I alwys wanted. Something I hoped for when he got back.

I wrote:

My greatest wish is to spend more time with you...

It's just like that I hope we can get out here. I have hope and faith that we'll find a way out of this.

I just know it...

Right, end of chapter. I wasn't sure if this one turned out right. About the wishes, in that scene with the wagon I think that's what she wrote. I'm not entirely sure...

Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter!

Keep Writing!! ;)