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Chapter 25

I went through the rest of the school day in a haze of worriment. I had constantly made stops by Mr. Franklin’s office, only to find the door was bolted shut, and the lights off. I called Reno’s cell constantly, even though the first attempt proved his phone was off. I was two seconds away from panicking…and no one could comfort my fears. My mind kept thinking my boyfriend was taken away from me…by who I don’t know…his parents? Hojo? Shinra? I didn’t even want to think of the possibility, of finding his in a gutter somewhere in New York. It was sickening.

At lunch, my mind was racing on overdrive, and even Rude’s small attempt at making me feel better, was in vain. His, “trust me, he is fine, he is probably at your house.” Why the fuck would he be at my house! I mean yeah he lives there now, but why wouldn’t he call me and tell me he was fine! I just couldn’t trust Rude…I couldn’t trust anyone until I saw my Reno face to fuckin face. I called my house, and my mom even said he wasn’t home! Where was he? I was about to go insane and beat the answer out of Rufus Shinra, as if he held the answer. I didn’t care, I just wanted my boyfriend back.

By one I couldn’t take it anymore, and I stalked out of class. Luckily, I had a sub, so he really didn’t any question- I am sure he expected me to leave eventually. I stomped down the hall way like a manic, trying to get my thoughts together, and ignoring the stares and whispers from my classmates. Being called a fuckin flaming fag was the least of my god damn worries! I walked past my locker on the second floor…when someone with an unnatural amount of strength pushed me again the metal locker.

My head hit the locker hard, causing my mind to swirl…and my vision to go blurry. I thought for sure I was going to pass out…but my vision returned…and I was met with the vile yellow eyes of the one man I could certainly fear. He smirked at me, his arm was pressed against my neck, holding me up against the locker. He seemed to enjoy cutting off my air supply…

“Hello Cloud,” he hissed, the smirk never leaving, “I will make this quick…you better tell your little boyfriend to keep his head out of issues that don’t concern him. He did his job, and if it were up to me I would have disposed of him a long time ago. But never-the-less, this little detour won’t hinder my ultimate plan…don’t you worry.”

“And what…plan is that!” I spat out angrily.

He cackled loudly, “To destroy everything you cherish.”

He released me, allowing me to collapse on the floor, out of breath. I coughed and groaned in pain, but it didn’t stop me from trying to get up and attack him; but by the time I managed to regain my composer, he was half way down the hall…and the phrase “you better find Reno before I do…” following him.

It was right there, in front of me, the whole time. Sephiroth…he was indeed behind all of the turmoil I have been going through for, what seemed like, forever. Him. I knew the who now, and I knew for sure…all I needed to know now was the stupid why! Why was he doing this to me!

I continued my journey down the hall…unable to think straight- who was I looking for again? Reno…or the answer to my multitude of questions.

-

After I busted out of the doors to my school, the whole world seemed to turn into a dream. I was walking, around Staten Island, my thoughts scattered everywhere. There was some kind of guiding light though, that I started to follow. I don’t know where it was leading me to, but trusted it. It would give me the answers I needed.

I think the first question on my mind was why? Why was I chosen to endure Sephiroth’s wrath? What did I do that was so horrible, that he felt the need to threaten my life, and the life of the people I cared for. I must have done something right?

Maybe I was born…ha. Just me being alive angers him so…angers him enough to destroy everything.

Heh, why should I care? What could Sephiroth do? Kill me? Would he dirty his hands himself? No…he would run away scared when the time came up. If this was Hojo, maybe I would be afraid, but Sephiroth? He is too conceded…

Right?

Perhaps I shouldn’t underestimate his power and his power over me. I guess I would be more worried if I knew exactly why he wanted to hurt me, and the people around me. All of this just didn’t make any sense. I feel like, this is a movie…non of this is real, it can’t possibly be real!

This is real, this is too real.

Somehow, I made it to the broken, vacant, church…the door slightly ajar. I saw her nimble hands playing with the flowers she loved so much. I saw now where the guiding light wanted me to go…somehow this girl had the answers to my questions- or at least she could put be at ease. I pushed the door fully open, and walked towards her- she didn’t look at me, but I think she knew it was me. I took a seat next to her, and waited to find the courage to say something…

The light was hitting her in a way, that she looked pure and innocent. She was unmarred, she was perfection…she was an angel.

“Aeris,” I began, but she quickly cut me off.

“You’re scared?” she giggled, “Why?”

I shook my head smiling, “I don’t think I am scared…I think I am just confused.”

“Confused? About what?”

She finally decided to look at me; her green eyes pushing me to answer as honestly as my mind would allow.

“Why Sephiroth wants to harm me…I guess I thought you would know.”

She laughed gently, “Me? Sorry to disappoint you, but I don’t know. I thought he was always jealous of you- why I don’t know.”

“Why not,” I joked.

I would expect her to scold me for laughing during a serious moment, but instead she laughed right along with me. Soft, gentle, laughter that came so naturally that it chased away the last bit of worry I had.

“He doesn’t hit me anymore,” she sighed, “He apologized for it the first time…”

“He doesn’t mean it,” I whispered.

“We broke up a week ago…” she smiled brightly, “he hasn’t talked to me since…all he said was he was sorry for everything.”

“So you aren’t worried about him?”

“He is a confused little boy Cloud, much like you. He is all talk, no action. He didn’t even have the guts to hurt you himself, he was banking on you and your suicidal tendencies to do the job.”

I groaned, “Then why did he attack me on my way out of school today.”

She shrugged and picked a flower, “maybe he is just mad his plan failed. You shouldn’t worry so much sweetie…this nightmare is almost over…”

“Almost?” I stared at her, but she still held that smile. She handed me the white flower she just picked…and I started to wonder…how were flowers growing in the middle of February? “Aerith…” I choked…but she was gone. The light was gone. I looked down at the flower in my hand, and it was wilting before my eyes.

It died in my hands.

-

I was confused again, walking down my block…however now I was worried about my Reno…my baby. I felt sick to my stomach. I had been searching for the rest of the day for him, and nothing, he was gone. I wanted to give up and just fall on my knees and cry. Give up.

“Cloud…”

Then I heard his voice. I looked up and saw him, standing in front of my house…not a scratch on him. He was fine…he was more than fine. He was perfect. I ran to him, throwing my arms around him, and pulling him as close to my body as physically possibly. I found my baby, I found him and he is okay.

His arms snaked around my waist, his hands gripping on to my shirt for dear life.

“Are you okay?” I sobbed, “are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” he whispered into my chest, “it had to do with my family, it’s okay.”

I think I started crying…I was so happy he was okay. I buried my face in his hair, taking in the scent of his Axe cologne and fruity shampoo…hah. He was real. I held him tighter, whispering how much I loved him, over and over again.

The wind blew violently, snapping me out of my thoughts. I opened my eyes and saw Aeris walking out of her house to get the paper…she wrapped her arms around herself, protecting her body from the brutal cold…

“We will be okay right Cloud?” Reno whispered.

Her eyes came in contact with mine…for a second I thought she was looking at me with hatred, but I was wrong. She smiled at me…she looked happy. She was finally free of the evil that once trapped her in a cage. It was a refreshing sight to behold- if she could make it, I thought…I could…I could.

“You will be okay…see,” she mouthed, and returned to the comfort of her house.

All the weight came off my shoulders, and I finally felt relieved of all the stress that started me that day. I looked down at my boyfriend, who in turn looked at me. We got lost in each others eyes…

“We are okay,” I said, “Heh, we are.”

The snow began to fall around us…like the lies. We all should have known, but I think we were too scarred to face the reality, of things to come.