Well, here is my sad attempt at a very very strange fic I wrote a long time ago... It's pretty sad and confusing, so, that's your warning! Tell me what you think, huh? Please?
Don’t close your eyes.
The nightmare will return to you.
The place shall be dark, with little wisps of mist softly stroking your downcast face. Evil is gladly welcomed here. It beckons to you, threatening to steal away the innocence of a youth.
This is where the girl first appeared; not really sure where to go, or what to do when she got there.
What separates a child-like wonder from the dim, depressing foundations of adulthood? She would soon find out.
“Cloud?” she called out, only to hear her own voice reverberate off the dark, empty halls. Sadly, she trudged on.
Room after room of dark empty space happily greeted her. The suffering of not being able to see her childhood sweetheart swallowed and thoroughly digested her. Yet, ever determined, she continued her quest.
A fainted whisper brushed by her ears, and she nearly leaped with joy.
"Cloud?" she said again, slighty louder than before.
More whispers greeted her ears, but none of them were an answer to her call. Bewildered, she began again, straining to hear the voice of a loved one lost among them.
Turning a corner, she saw a man, but not the one she had worked so tirelessly to see. His features, though they could not be seen in the dark, engraved a small terror in her heart.
His long silver hair draped around his back. He wore a long, black trenchcoat, which showed her his brute manliness. When his eyes met hers, those glaring green his burned a hole through her soul.
He stared at her for awhile, as if he meant to freeze her by sending chills down her spine. Somewhat satisfied, he circled around and left her alone again, kicking up mist in his retreat.
Her heart beat steadily in her chest momentarily. Slowly, she once again became capable for rational thought.
"Maybe... maybe he knows where Cloud is." she said out loud to herself, comforted by the sound of her voice reminding her of her trial. She didn't want to see that man again, but if it meant she could find Cloud, she would do anything. Nothing, not even that man's cold manner would get in her way.
She ran after him, no longer scared of him, but afraid that he had already gone too far ahead of her. She passed many hallways and passages.
Then, she heard a small scream.
She felt her heart pound against her chest as she came to a halt. It took her only a moment to recognize who that voice belonged too. She prayed that it was only her imagination, and her denial soothed her apprehension.
"Quiet. Hold still and shut up, and you live might live though the night."
She squeezed her eyes shut until they hurt, and walked forward a few paces.
"Please... please don't be..."
She opened her eyes once again, and saw exactly what she hoped would not be.
The man with the silver hair and the cruel eyes had come across a long sword, and he was holding it to Cloud's throat. Cloud eyes were closed, as if, for the moment at least, he were at peace with his surroundings.
She screamed and fell to her knees. After searching so long and so hard, to find him like this? It was almost too much to bear.
At the sound of her voice, Cloud's eyes snapped open. He immeadiately found her, and gazed longingly at her. The look of peace couldn't be found in them. Only fearful anger, and stronger than that, the pain.
Cloud started to speak her name, but the man covered his mouth with his hand, restricting his voice.
"You... you are the one who seeks this boy?" the man asked, a devilsh smile curling his lips.
"Please, don't hurt him." she replied, bringing her hands together in a pleading position. His smile grew, and she wished she hadn't given him the edge over her.
"Do you wish for him to live?" He asked again.
The question cut through her heart like a heated blade. She was silent for a moment, collecting her emotions so they might not give her away.
"Yes." she said hesitantly.
"Then there is something you must do."
Her heart skipped a beat. She wondered what he could possibly want from her; she had nothing.
"What do you want?" she asked with a hint of derision.
He began to walk forward, keeping Cloud in front of him.
"I want you to take his pain."
Despite her control, she jumped. Take his pain?
"H-how do I do that?"
"Leave that to me." he pushed Cloud forward slightly, though his grip on the boy did not weaken. "This request should be a simple one for someone like you, especially if you claim to love him..."
The girl shuddered. It was true; she loved him with all her heart and more. But even still, to endure suffering in the place of another? She wasn't sure she could do it. But when she looked into Cloud's eyes, any doubts she may have had before vanished.
Salty tears rolled down her face as she solemnly accepted his offer. The man grinned, more than a bit pleased with himself. He brought his sword down, and half pushed, half threw Cloud at her. She stood and ran to him, allowed her emotions to come out as she enveloped him and sobbed freely into his shoulder. He was alright, and that was all that mattered,
Cloud stood there, unmoving as though he were a stone. Then, when he could move again, he raised his hands and ran them through her hair in a comforting manner.
"There. It is done." the man behind them spoke. "Now... I must wish the two of you the best of luck."
She could've spat. But instead, she drew Cloud closer and glared at the man with a silent indignancy.
Where do I go from here?
What happens now?
She and Cloud were lost in the desolete place. This particular hallway seemed to go on forever. Cloud suddenly stumbled and fell, hitting his knees hard on the floor. She cried slightly and ran to him. Though he bled, he was able to get up and begin walking again.
Her pace was broken, but she managed to limp after him.
What goes on when your children are asleep?
How could you be so sure?
Cloud had started to walk faster, as though a sense of urgency had overtaken him. She tried to keep up with him, though her limp had caused her to remain somewhat behind.
"Cloud? Cloud, please..."
He turned and glanced nervously at her. He walked towards her and instructed her to lean on him for support. Pain shot up her leg like a knife, and though he was trying to help, she felt as though she just couldn't take much more...
Cloud stopped sudenly. She noticed the worried look on his face. He pulled her closer and stared suspiciously down the hallway in front of them. Her heart began to race, and she buried her face in Cloud's chest. She just wanted it all to end...
When she finally looked up, the man was standing in front of them. She cried out weakly. Cloud glared at him, and stood protectively in front of her.
"Well... you certainly seem happy to see me." he said with a smirk.
Cloud said nor did anything. He just stood there and glared at him defiantly. The man's smile faded.
"Why don't you say anything? Are you just upset that I best you?"
"Stop it! You have what you wanted, leave him alone!" she screamed out loud.
The man glanced at her momentarily. Then, he drew his sword...
...and slashed Cloud across his chest.
Cloud didn't even feel it, and took the blow as though it were nothing. He was oblivious to what had just happened. But when he heard her scream, he realized what was going on.
She staggered back, grasping her chest, trying desparately to catch her breath. Tears streaked down her face as she fell down to her aching knees. Before long, the pain had cause her to pass out.
Cloud put his hand to his heart, and pulled it away to see the blood dripping off of his fingers to her face. He stared at it in disbelief. Behind him, the man's cruel laughter echoed off the walls.
The mist swirled around the girl until she was perfectly concealed from sight.
So the story ends. Ask yourself this question now:
"Are your children really safe when they are asleep?"
Tell me what you think, huh? Please?
Linear Mode
