Due North… Cloud calculated. It’s not far… It’s very near… very…

Where was he going…? To where…?

To Aeris? To Sephiroth?

Cloud had absolutely no idea what’s going to happen once he find Aeris. She was silently praying, her soft voices surprisingly articulate in his head.

She’s calling to Holy…

Cloud’s heartbeat quickened. Aeris was way ahead of him. She always had been and now, she was putting herself in danger because of him.

Sephiroth was near. Cloud was certain about that, too. And Aeris… she was in danger!

Cloud gasped for breath. He hadn’t realized that he was running around like a lunatic. The place was dark and empty, the beautiful shell houses all gloomy among the darkness. He didn’t know where he was heading. He didn’t know what he was expecting. But, he could feel his instinct arousing his every nerve to go to that place.

At last, Cloud reached the far northern part of the city where there was small clear pond in front of the small shell house. The voice was near.

Cloud entered the small shell house… and to his surprise, he found the opening in the midst of the small room. A large fish statue that had look so real had blocked it. But now, there were small leading stairs that seemed to go down. Cloud took the stairs without further hesitation.

The stairs seemed to last forever. The transparent stairs made Cloud almost lose balance and fall headlong down the small house underneath. It coiled downward like a back of a huge python and led further down. Cloud took two steps at a time. He wasn’t afraid anymore.

He had to find Aeris. And the voice was very near, as if Aeris was whispering right beside his ears.

Cloud was quite breathless when he reached the end of the stairs. In fact, he was gasping for air. His heart seemed to jump out of the throat as he tried to slow down his breath. Then he realized the special atmosphere of the place. It had a glint –yes, a glow around the place. It felt comfortable and very precious. It softened Cloud’s heart as he glanced around to feel it around him. It almost felt real.

Then he saw her.

“…Aeris…”

She was kneeled on the middle of the small altar. Her eyes were closed, her hands clasped together and her lips moving in a gentle murmur of her prayer. She seemed absolutely oblivious to his presence and she didn’t look up when he took a step towards her. Then, he heard running footsteps behind him that halted only a few feet away from him.

“Aeris?” He heard Tifa exclaim in disbelief. Barret stopped her when she tried to follow Cloud onto the altar. When she looked at Barret questioningly, Barret shook his head.

Leave them alone for a while.

Of course, Tifa knew Cloud wanted to talk to Aeris alone. But…

Cloud mounted the round supports that connected the altar to where he stood. Beneath his feet, Cloud realized that the clear pond water was somehow connected to the clear water he was seeing now.

He reached the altar and stood still. Aeris still showed no sign of recognition. Her prayer, her closed eye lids and her sober expression… Cloud realized how precious each element was. She was praying for the planet. How she knew the way, Cloud had no idea, but he felt frustrated that she had not told him, nor did she tried to discuss it with him before running off to this remote place. Obviously, Aeris didn’t care or she was quite selfish to make him or his friends suffer.

Then, suddenly, Cloud heard someone’s voice.

Well, it’s about time you showed up…

Huh?

We’ve got to stop her soon…

You again… Sephiroth…? What are you…

Wake up!

So many words flashed through his head. So many unspoken, yet clearly understood words all passed right through Cloud’s head as he stared down at Aeris praying.

The time seemed to stop. The flapping of the gentle sound of the water seized. No sound was heard except for the hammering of his own heart. The ringing inside him seemed to get louder as Cloud grabbed the side of his head and shook it to make the voice go away.

You know you can do it, Cloud…

Stop, STOP!!

You don’t have any choice… and you know it…

What are you saying…? That I should…?

That’s right… be a good boy, Cloud…

Cloud’s whole body shook as he tried desperately to get a control of himself. His body slumped forward and shook his head violently as if he was in too much pain.

Please… Aeris…

You can’t do otherwise… now, be a good boy…

I can’t hold on much longer…

CLOUD! DO IT!

…RUN!!!

Tifa and Barret watched in silent horror as Cloud suddenly bolted upright from his position. With the sound of his shaky breath from the struggle he went through, he drew his sword from the back in a single motion. Still, the voice was throbbing through his mind like a razorblade.

That’s it… Cloud…

Aeris…

Cloud slowly adjusted his sword. Tifa screamed. Barret almost went out of his mind. “CLOUD!!!” He yelled, running up to the altar.

No, too late…

He poised his huge sword at Aeris’s head. A few seconds seemed to pass as Cloud stared at Aeris with empty and cold eyes. Tifa’s cries didn’t bring his mind back to focus.

His mako eyes flashed.

The sword cut through the air in a single motion. That moment, Aeris opened her eyes. Her eyes widened for a brief moment. She didn’t have a chance to shout for help.

Tifa screamed.

Please, Cloud, you don’t know what you are doing…!

“Cloud! Stop!!!”

Good boy…

Barret finally reached Cloud when he brought it down. Without thinking, Barret banged the back of Cloud’s head. The metal sent Cloud lose his grip on his sword.

The sword fell next to Aeris with a loud clash.

Aeris…

Last word he uttered before he fell face down, on top of terrified Aeris.

…I’m sorry…

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