I don't know what it was that woke me up, between the sharp roaring in my ears or the heavy mist pushing its way into my lungs. Either way, I was suddenly awake and face to face with another oversized bird. It was only above me or a fraction of a second, though, before it was shoved roughly towards the already broken window, and replaced with a towering, wolfish beast.

If I had to choose between the bird and the beast, I think I'd have to prefer the bird.

Propped up on my elbows, I stared up at the wolf-monster, my mouth partially agape. The beast growled furiously at its opponent, slamming its curled fist against the bird's long beak. It squawked in response and scrambled over the windowpane. It spread overly large wings and took for flight, barely escaping through the window. The beast leaned after it, searching the sky. Distracted.

I quickly threw back my cot sheets and dove for the floor. I stumbled to my feet, nearly eating tile, and rushed to the door. The noise of claws against tile reached my ears. The beast had turned towards me. In my mad dash, I wasn't very quiet. As I pushed past the infirmary door and into the hall, it hurried after me with an annoyed rumble in its throat. My legs moved faster, my muscles tired still, but filled with adrenaline. As I rounded the corner, I heard the woomph of some machine just up ahead and my eyes lifted to the source. Something was rushing towards me, very narrow and round, it flew with speed as fast as Vincent's bullets, but much, much bigger than their size. Confused and surprised by this new attack, I hesitated, my feet skidding and halting me in place. I had half a second until the rocket impacted with my body and my existence was over with.

It didn't come.

My eyes were still squeezed shut. My heart was pounding in my aching chest. My muscles were protesting their use. My breathing was rapid and sharp, and difficult with the mist inside my lungs. I listened to my pulse, thinking that was the last thing I would hear, but the impact still never came. And then I felt something. I felt fur around me, warm against the skin of my arms. The warmth withdrew gradually and I opened my eyes to see the face of the beast.

Yellow eyes stared at my face. Their fierce glow radiated with annoyance. An annoyance I recognized only after knowing for a day. The feeling of great stupidity flooded me as my cheeks flamed red. "Oh, Vincent..?"

A dark aura surrounded him then and hung in the air for an extended moment. It looked like a dark abyss but as it vanished, it left the tall, pale gunman in its place. He shot me a displeased look before he turned away, facing the one who launched the rocket. As he turned, his back was revealed to me. Burned and bloody. He had taken the impact for me. Guilt now joined the feeling of stupidity.

"What are you doing?" Vincent's voice brought me from my self-loathing. But he wasn't talking to me, but my attacker. Stepping closer, I peered around Vincent's side at the man in the WRO uniform. His empty rocket launcher was lowered to his side. His eyes, dark brown, were filled with wild hatred.

"I've seen her before," the man declared. He lifted a crooked finger and pointed towards me. "She's evil, Mr. Valentine. I've had dreams about it. I've had visions!"

My brow creased in confusion and disbelief. This man had to be delusional. Even if I was 'evil', what makes him think he has the right to take me out with such heavy artillery? My mouth stayed shut, though. I was interested in what he had to say.

Vincent wouldn't have it, though. He leaned forward intimidatingly, growling to the man, "I don't have time for this. Get out of my way. If she's a danger, I can handle her."

"In my visions, she kills many! She's worse than Sephiroth!"

The name nearly knocked be back. A sudden throbbing erupted in my head. I've heard that name before. I squeezed my eyes shut and I-

I remembered.

He stands before me, with his long, beautiful silver hair and glowing, cat-like green eyes. He is a beauty uncommon with the mortals. "I have a plan," he says to me. "I'm going to die, but I'm coming back."

I am propped with my back against a partially ruined brick wall. I am scanning my nails, ridding them of dirt. "Your mother gave you that power," I observe without lifting my head. "Jenova, I mean."

"That's my only mother," he snarls at me. I feel my lips curving into a grin. He realizes he doesn't impress or intimidate me, and he settles down again. "And yes, she did. Anyway, I need something. I need a-"

"I know, Sephiroth." I push myself from the wall, finally lifting my eyes to his. My feet carry me to him, my hips swaying as I walk. My eyes scan the bare chest visible under his leather jacket. It is such a seductive look on him. I grin. "You need the girl. She's strong, she can carry our will. There's room." My hand lift and my fingertips slide under the black material. His skin is cold, familiar.

He turns more, facing me completely. My head tilts so I can look at his face better. "How do you always know?" he murmurs in a sigh. "You've always known everything." He glanced over his shoulder then, at the army at the bottom of the hill. The birds were slumbering, waiting until they were needed. "The Szhaars are loyal to us-to you. Their creator."

"See? She knows what I'm talking about!"

"Shut up."

My head throbbed. My blood ran cold. My vision blurred. "Sephiroth," I breathed painedly. My voice was puny and weak, but the power that laced it was undeniable. I demanded a response, but not from Vincent or the man.

Hello, Adena. If that's the name you want to call yourself.

I felt Vincent's hand on my shoulder, but I nudged it away. I needed to process, to think. I was so confused. I shot a harsh look at the other man, for no reason really. It wasn't his fault. I just so desperately wanted what he was saying to be wrong. I didn't want to be evil.

Who are you? I demanded from the voice in my head. Why are you here?

I am the destruction of this world, and everything on it. I am a new beginning. I am Jenova's son. You are my vessel.

Something began stirring inside me, something powerful and strong. My lungs burned like fire, a flame that quickly spread throughout the rest of my body. I gasped for air, for some sort of relief, but nothing came. No, no, no! I was panicking now. I didn't know who or what this being was, but the malevolence that radiated throughout his thoughts, echoing into my own, terrified me. My palms flattened against my temples, my fingers curled into my hair. "I can hear him," I cried to Vincent.

The gunman hesitated, backing up a step. I didn't have to look at him to know that his crimson eyes were wide with disbelief. I could feel his bewilderment and confusion mixing in with my own. All the while, the malicious voice laughing in the depths of my mind.