Chapter 24: Prisoner within myself
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I don't know what's happened. One moment, I was going after Kadaj, then the next, I'm all alone. I'm in a dark never-ending world, running into nothing. My legs are tight from running so far and my lungs feel like they are going to collapse. I want to stop, be able to breathe just for one second, but I can't force myself to do it. I have to get back. I have to help Cloud.
As I look ahead, I see someone else in the darkness. My legs seem to have found strength, now that I have found someone. I don't know who this person is, yet I can't help but smile.
"Hey, over here!"
I'm finally close enough to see this person now. It's a woman, perking her head up as she hears me. She turns to face me, her expression slowing my sprint to a halt. She shows no attempt in returning the smile I gave her. One hand gently rests on her chest, the other trying to hide her tears escaping her eyes. A swift breeze flips her hair in front of her face.
“I'm sorry, child. I cannot bind it any longer.”
"Bind? What-"
“You have to fight it now.”
"Fight what?!"
“I don't have any more time to explain. I wish-“
"Please! Tell me what's going on! Where am-"
“You've turned out to be an amazing woman.”
"......Huh?"
“I wish I could've met you another way.”
"Why-"
“Good-bye....”
A beam of light suddenly appears from the ground, completely surrounding her. Her long brown hair slowly turns into long pieces of metal hanging loose. Her skin goes from a perfect tan to a putrid purple. A name plate takes form across her forehead, letters being engraved to become the inevitable word. The light disappears, revealing this new being. I'm seeing the person who holds the key to this planets victory, or destruction.
"At last..........I am free."
"Who are you?!"
"........You must be the one who has given me life. I thank y-"
"I have not given you anything! Tell me where the heck I am!"
"Your rightful place.............under my command!"
Her bright white eyes meet mine, paralyzing me with invisible bounds. She raises her hand towards me, a dark cloud emerging from her fingertips. Before I was swallowed whole, I hear her say "Now, this body is under my control."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What troubles you, human?"
".........Alysha, what's wrong?"
"Alysha?........Oh, so that's her name."
"Answer me! Now!"
“I'm right here, Cloud!”
"Sorry, but she is no longer with us."
“No! Listen to me, please!”
"Quit talking like that. You're standing right in front of me."
"............Indeed I am."
“CLOUD!!!!!!!!!”
"In a real body, of flesh and blood. It's been so long since I've enjoyed this feeling of freedom."
“....He can't hear me.”
"Now, to let my power be known."
"ALYSHA!!!!!!!!"
"I am not Alysha!"
At that moment, my sword is drawn, knocking Cloud back inside the church.
"I am Jenova. Beg for mercy from me!"
My hand is raised as the wind encircles all around us. I feel a smile form, then disappear as I feel what's happening to my arm. Black ichor is oozing from the geostigma marks all the way down my arm. She may be in control of my body, but I'm the one feeling all the pain.
“Aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
"So, this body has already fallen victim to my superior power?" My hand is lowered and the oozing stops. "Very well. Besides, there are other ways to kill humans."
My sword is pointed at Clouds shocked face. "The first human to die by my hand."
“NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
I swing and the fight begins. I charge forward, feeling myself striking hard. Cloud dodges and my sword stabs the wall.
“Leave him alone!”
"Prey that likes to play hard to get, huh? This will be fun."
“Run, Cloud!”
I pull my sword out and run after him. Cloud stands firm where he is and waits for the strike. He easily blocks it as I come forward strong.
“Cloud, get away from me!”
"Is it too difficult to follow one little demand?!"
"Demand?"
Cloud pulls away and holds nothing back. I feel myself jumping from pew to pew backwards, with Cloud coming at me from behind. I suddenly turn and jump in the middle of the aisle, Cloud doing the same as well. I see his grip tighten around the handle as he gives me his piercing death glare.
"I told you to leave her alone! Was that so hard to understand?!"
Cloud jumps in the air and thrusts his sword down hard. I leap forward out of the way, then jerk back toward him. Our blades meet, along with our eyes.
“Come on, Cloud. Look beyond what you see and you'll find me! Look hard!”
"Of course, no foul being would ever agree to anyone's terms if it didn't help them."
"Precisely."
My sword is pushed forward and slid down. I see a faint red line form just above his eye.
"But then again, humans are too simple-minded to understand my motives."
"That must be the reason why we beat you last time."
".......No, you just got lucky."
“He'll stop you. You won't win!”
"........Heh heh heh HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!!"
".........What's so funny?!"
"I finally realized why you've been going so easy on me."
".........................."
“Oh no!!!”
"This girl was important to you."
"............Shut up."
"She was more than just your best friend. You loved her."
"Shut up!"
"And now, she's gone fr-"
"SHUT UP!!!!"
I'm impressed at how fast Cloud moves. He swings and strikes with such speed I think he's Loz for a moment. I can feel something cold slide across my cheek, then a drop of blood forms at the scratch.
"She is not gone! I know she's still in there!"
"It's so funny how in denial you are."
"Keep talking like that to please yourself, but I know I'm right."
"You have nothing to prove-"
"She made a promise to me!"
“..........A promise?”
"Words are meaningless to your kind, yet sting better than the sharpest blade. Face it, she lied t-"
"She would never lie to me! I know you're still there, Alysha! Remember what you said to me?!"
“............What.............I said......”
"I'm not going anywhere...............I love you, I'll never leave you."
“.........I'll..........never leave you.”
"Say it for me! Tell me your promise!"
"Enough!"
Cloud's thrown off as I back him up into a pew. He lands on his back but still manages to block my attack. My wolf pendant blocks her view as it dangles in front of the sword.
"Worthless filth!"
As if watching in slow motion, my hands grab the wolf’s face and yanks hard. The twin snaps from the force and it falls to the ground. It's as if my heart stops beating the moment it hits.
“.........Grandpa.....”
"Fight back! Don't let her get away with it!"
"I've lost all of my patients with you."
“........Fight back..........”
"Don't let her win!"
"Your attempts are futile!"
Clouds sword is knocked out of his hand and my fist comes around, Cloud taking a hard hit to the chest. While he tries to breathe another punch comes around, hitting him in the face hard, sending him flying outside the church.
“.............Let her win.........”
My footsteps echo as I see him try to stand. As he balances on one knee, my hand grabs his neck and lifts him off the ground. The strength that keeps him from escaping is not mine.
"Don't worry, you're always going to have a special place in my heart, as the first human I kill. I'm sure you'll never forget the day your true love takes your life as well."
My hand releases the sword and reaches behind my shoulder. I feel my finger roll the barrel as "Audubon" is pointed towards Clouds face. It glows a faint silver as my finger finds the trigger.
"Perish."
~~BLAM!!!~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
".............NEVER!!!!"
I open my eyes to see the gun pointed in the other direction. My grip loosens around his neck, dropping him in front of me. His breaths escape in coughs as I begin my fight internally with myself.
"Go away!-I.....won't!-GRAAAA!!!!-Stop....it!!"
".........Alysha?"
"I own this b-You........won't............win!"
"Keep going! She can't control you!!!"
"You shall d-No.........I............won't................kill!"
It takes all of my will power to focus on my hand.
"Audubon's" glow flickers from silver to red, then silver again. It's as if it knows of the fight within and doesn't know if it should obey or not. My fingers loosen their hold, allowing "Audubon" to fall at my feet.
"Pick it u-Get out of my head!"
"Yes! Come back! Prove her wrong!"
"I won't-I'm not..............going anywhere!"
".....What?"
"Give up n-I.......love you!"
"..I love you too! Don't leave me!"
"Pathetic huma-I'll never leave you!-GRAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!-I PROMISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Cloud takes a step forward, but something behind me stops him. I fall to my knees and grab my head.
"Let me ru-Get....out!-You can't st-Get out!!-This can't be!-GET OUT!!!!"
I put my head to my knees and scream to the heavens. As if in unison, I hear the cry of a wolf behind me. It's sadness brings tears to my eyes. As I watch them fall, two green tears escape as well. The fire sensation is gone, along with Jenova.
"......I'm.........back........I'm back! Clou-" I'm pinned to the ground as Clouds lips attack mine. There's nothing gentle about it; nothing but a force that refuses to let me go. He only pulls away once he needs to breathe.
"Don't.......ever............scare melike that again!"
"I'll try not to."
He gives one more kiss before standing up. "Ready to go stop Kadaj?"
I'm on my feet faster than Cid can light a cigarette. "Born ready. Let's go!"
I run over to our bikes as Cloud steps back into the church.
"Where are you going?!"
He disappears inside the door for a moment, then comes back with something in his hand.
"You forgot something."
He reaches around my neck and puts my pendant back in its place. Only now did I realize what's happened to his arm.
"Your geostigma, it's gone!"
"Soon yours will be too."
“Let's go.”
"......Aerith?"
Fenrir roars to life as I start Kisume as well. We spin around and take off through the ruins of Midgar.
Until the next chapter
Chapter 25 sound bring out more that's not explained yet, or at least hint it. See you then.
