Fall Of Darkness Chapter 10 - Beast In The Dark

Terror In The Dark City

I can sense him…
He is not far away…


The walk to the Forgotten Capital was a very long one. Cloud and his team were feeling quite cold as they climbed the treacherous path up the surrounding hills, and local monsters were not any comfort. Shera, James, and Cait Sith had quite a bit of trouble on the way up. James didn’t like heights, and Shera was very nervous after a few close quarter battles. Cait Sith was having trouble bouncing up the hills, so Cloud carried the cat on his back, and Barret assisted, after much griping, the moogle up the hill.
After about forty-five minutes, they reached the top of the hillside, and the spectacular Forgotten Capital appeared before them. Shera gasped in awe, taking in the unworldly buildings that seemed to be stone shells, built by nature. The shining green rocks reflected in her eyes.
Cloud was not so fond of this city. He tried as hard as he could to go on autopilot, and keep his brain shut down. He did not want to remember the last time he was here.
Suddenly, Tifa squeezed his shoulder. “Cloud, look over there!”
Cloud turned in the direction Tifa was pointing. Off to the right, about two hundred feet away, was a lone figure, standing motionless.
It was clad in red, with a long cape, billowing in the wind.
Cloud jogged over to where Vincent Valentine stood, shocked to see him here. He slowed as he neared him, but he was sure Vincent heard him. But Vincent did not turn his head. His eyes were fixed upon the heart of the city. Cloud looked at Vincent a few moments, then opened his mouth to speak.
“Vincent…?”
“You feel it, don’t you?” Vincent asked, not turning his head.
Cloud raised an eyebrow.
“I’ve felt it for some time now.”
“Vincent, what are you talking about? And where have you been anyway? No one has seen you for months.”
Vincent breathed deeply. “I’ve been here and there…looking for a place in this world. I have no home to go to. I stayed at Lucrecia’s Cave for a while, but then I started my journey here a few days ago.”
“Why?”
Vincent was silent. His blood red eyes narrowed as he gazed at the city.
“Well, I know why we’re here. We were asked to investigate several mysterious deaths in Bone Village. But why did you come here, of all places?”
Vincent reached up and pulled a few loose strands of hair from his eyes. It was the first time he had moved since Cloud spotted him. “Normally, I can sleep for weeks without stirring. But since recently, I cannot sleep at all.”
“You can’t sleep?”
“I can sense it. All the way across the world, I felt it. It is strongest at night, when the wind blows. After several restless days, I decided to follow it. It led me here.”
“What led you here?”
Vincent motioned to the city. “Just listen to the wind.”
Cloud raised an eyebrow at Vincent, but did as he said anyway. He had a skeptical look on his face.
He heard the wind blowing, but nothing else.
Then…slowly…he began to notice something else.
Like before, there was something deeper than the wind…something that made Cloud’s spine tingle. He didn’t know what it was, but he knew it was there, creeping up on them. It was stronger here, and Cloud heard his heart thumping in his chest.
Cloud shook away the feeling as quickly as he could.
“You can’t ignore it Cloud.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“It’s coming from here. From the heart of the city.”
Cloud looked back at the center building. “Yeah…I think we’re both looking for the same thing.”
“I must know what it is.” Vincent turned to Cloud. “I think it may be…him.”
Cloud shook his head. “No. I’m sure it’s not.”
“Cloud…”
“I killed him with my own hands Vincent. And besides that…just trust me.”
Vincent shrugged.
“Do you have your PHS?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Then let’s go. I’ll fill you in on the details on the way.”


He plodded down towards the city, his friends not far behind, with no expression on his face. The cold stung his cheeks, but he ignored it. He tried to ignore everything. All the disturbing dreams…the memories…the pain…he wanted it out of his head. He had a job to do, and he would not fail to do it. But no matter how hard he tried, he could not shut it all out.
He…will…come…for…
Cloud shook his head. Not now. he thought. This will not distract me now. But I promised to tell them…later. I don’t need them worrying about…about this now.
“We’re almost there people.” Cid said. “Let’s pick up the pace a little. I don’t wanna be here after nightfall.”
“You heard him.” Cloud shouted.
They all started walking faster, and within a few minutes, they were walking across the strange rocks that made pathways in the city. It was a strange green color…a type of rock not found anywhere else in the world. Maybe the Cetra synthesized it?
It’s possible. They did some ama…
Cloud stopped cold in his tracks. The sound of other footsteps stopped, so he figured everyone else did, too.
“P-people…why are we…” Cid’s voice came, and then trailed off.
It hit them all at once…
The sense of something else here…
Something dark…
“C-Captain…I don’t like this.”
Cloud shared Shera’s feelings. Why would his teeth not stop chattering?
“Shit man, what the hell is going on in this place?” Barret said.
“That’s what we’re here to find out.” Cloud said. “Staying here isn’t improving our situation…we’ve been through worse.”
With that, they all moved forward. The air in the city was thick with fog, and a slight mist covering the ground. The air was bitterly cold, and Cloud could hear teeth chattering all around him.
“Holy shit man, look at this!” Cid yelled. Cloud turned in his direction, to the right, and walked over. He was near one of the many huts in the city.
“What’s up Cid? What did you…oh man…” Cloud could not believe his eyes as he looked inside the hut. He heard Tifa gasp behind him, and Barret swearing.
Sometimes, in the winter, one could find beautiful, gigantic icicles hanging from ceiling here. But now, in the summer, icicles would be very strange. But to find a huge, five-foot thick ice pillar floor to ceiling? That’s beyond strange.
“What the hell is this?!” Cloud muttered.
“Cloud, what did this?” Yuffie asked.
“I don’t know…magic, maybe. But the ice looks more natural…I don’t know.” Magic ice didn’t have the glossy sheen of natural ice. While Ice materia did collect water molecules and concentrate them to form the ice, it had a dull, flat look. Cloud removed his glove, and reached out and touched the ice. The cold stung his fingertips, and he quickly retracted his hand. Upon further inspection, he saw that the ice covered the entire ceiling. Several icicles hung down over him.
“What could have done this? It can’t be that cold here!” Shera said.
“I don’t know…” Cloud said, still looking at the ice.
“Y’all ain’t gonna believe this, but they’re all like that.” Cait Sith said, bounding over from an adjacent hut.
“I believe it…” Cloud said. He then turned around. “Who has Fire materia?”
Cid, Yuffie, Tifa, and Vincent all responded in the affirmative.
“OK. We have to get rid of this ice.”
“What?!” Cid shouted.
“If this ice continues to grow, and I think it will, especially if there’s rain, it’s going to shatter these buildings. We can’t let that happen.”
Cid nodded. “So what do we do?”
“Fire1 will burn this off pretty quickly, just don’t go further than that. I don’t know if these buildings will burn, but let’s not risk it. And make sure you get these…” Cloud swung his sword and took several icicles off the ceiling, “Because if they hit you in the head, you’ve got problems.”
“Why don’t we just break the ice like that?” Yuffie asked.
“Might damage the building. C’mon let’s go. This should take no more than an hour.”
Nobody really wanted to stay here that long, but proceeded as asked anyway. Cid told Shera to stay with Cloud while he and Barret hit the first few huts. He said she’d be better off staying in one place, being that she was scared out of her mind as it was. She was in no mood to protest.
She watched Cloud as he used his materia. He heated his sword until the end of the blade was bright red, and then used the intense heat of the blade to melt the ice.
“Where did you learn to do that?” she asked.
“Just one of the tricks I picked up when I worked for Shinra. If you heat the metal real well, it’ll stay hot and you won’t have to waste your energy. Comes in handy if you’re stuck in the cold.”
Shera nodded.
“Want me to make a campfire for you or something?”
“That’s OK Cloud.”
Cloud nodded. “Still want to stick around? Just say the word and we’ll get you home.”
“I may be scared Cloud, but going home wouldn’t help.” Shera paused. “Cloud, are you OK being here? I know that…” Shera stopped when she saw Cloud’s face fall. “I-I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have…”
“It’s OK Shera.” Cloud shut his eyes, but continued working on the ice. “I…I try not to think about it. But I remember it all…especially now.”
Shera sighed. “I know it must be hard.”
Cloud didn’t respond.
“Just remember Cloud…we’re here for you.”
“…Thanks.”
Cloud continued to melt the ice with his sword, as Shera watched him, rubbing her hands together to stay warm. Her mind was racing with so many things. She had never been so afraid in her life; the cold, foreboding air was like nothing she had ever felt before. But she kept quiet. She was not here to complain, and though she felt somewhat guilty for forcing her way in, she would not leave Cid in danger again.
Danger?
Yes…she was sure of it…
This place…was filled with danger.


AVALANCHE had no problems removing the ice from the huts of the city. Within an hour, the task was complete, and even though the water that had spilled when the ice melted was re-freezing, it was nothing to worry about.
Cloud focused his attention on the main building of the city…in the very center of it all.
“We’ll head there…we’ve already been around almost everywhere else, and nobody’s seen anything.” Cloud bit his lip. “If there’s anything here, it’s in there.”
“Cloud…what about the waterfall?” Tifa asked.
Cloud raised an eyebrow.
“Where…where Bugenhagen used the Key of the Ancients.”
Cloud nodded. “It’s frozen solid…I looked. The last time I was here…it was showing…it…” Cloud shook his head. “Nevermind. Let’s go.”
They began to walk down the center road. The building before them was quite large. No one really knew how this could have been built, but the Cetra had mysterious ways. Holes in the roof let small amounts of sunlight and rain in, but the inside was always so perfect.
When they reached the inside of the building, Cloud was stunned to realize that the lake…her lake…was not frozen. How could that be?
It’s you Aeris. It must be you.
Cloud knew that the others must have been thinking the same thing as well, judging by the way they looked at the lake. Even Shera, who barely knew Aeris, seemed to sense this.
James was silent. He remembered Cloud talking about her on TV. He didn’t want to say a word though. He knew the pain his new friends must be feeling.
That poor girl…
Cloud motioned towards the smaller building inside this one. The building that led to the City of the Ancients.
I have a feeling…this is…
Cloud’s remembered his dreams, and chills went down his spine. He knew…something was here.
As the others followed Cloud into the center hut, Tifa walked over near the lake. As she looked at the water, tears fell from her eyes. They were warm on her cold cheeks.
Aeris…
Tifa noticed the small memorial that Cloud had built. A stone, engraved by his sword:

In Loving Memory of Aeris Gainsborough
The Last Cetra
A flower in a sea of weeds
May your spirit forever guide us,
May your love forever shelter us,
May your kindness forever warm us,
May your words never be forgotten.
You are loved Flower Girl
Rest In Peace

Tears began to flow thick from Tifa’s eyes. She had never seen the memorial before, and it went straight to her heart. The thought of her friend…her sister…lying at the bottom of this lake, was too much.
“Tifa?”
Tifa dried her eyes and spun around at Cloud’s voice. “I was just…I just wanted to see.” Tifa saw the pain in Cloud’s eyes as she walked over to him. He put an arm around her and led her inside.
Cloud did not want to look at the lake.
When hey reached the inside of the hut, they saw that the fish statue that guarded the way down was not there.
“Where did it go?” Yuffie asked, looking around.
“I don’t know…it isn’t supposed to open.” Cloud said. He peered downward. He could see the beginning of the huge, crystal staircase that led to the City. “God, do you feel that?”
The air coming from below was beyond freezing. It made the air outside seem warm.
“There is something really wrong here…” Cloud muttered.
“Cloud!”
Cloud heard Reeve’s voice from his PHS. “Yeah, go ahead Reeve.”
“I’m losin’ your trackin’ signal. There must be some kinda interference.”
Cloud didn’t want any more bad news. “We’re going down the City of the Ancients. We won’t get lost. We’ll be back up in a few minutes.”
“OK, but y’all make it quick. The PHS probably won’t reach down there either, and I don’t wanna lose you guys for too long.”
“Gotcha. Cloud out.” With that, Cloud motioned for them to proceed down. “Watch your step. It’s a long way down.”
Cloud’s boots thudded against the translucent stairs, and echoed everywhere. He could barely see down, but could make out the dim outline of the stairs below. A few yards further, and there’d be an opening. Once inside, they should be able to see clearly.
“Cloud…” Vincent said softly, “Do you think something’s down here?”
Cloud paused. “I don’t know. There’s only one way to find out.” They proceeded further down. “There’s the opening.” Cloud said, pointing to a dim outline in the rocks.
Cloud walked with caution inside…
“What the hell…” came Cloud’s stunned whisper.
“What is it Cloud?” Tifa asked, as she began to shiver in the bitter cold.
Cloud was shocked beyond words. He remembered this city very well. He hadn’t been down here since…that day, but he remembered the amazing glimmer of the water. The way he buildings seemed to shine by themselves, without outside light. The way the City seemed to go on forever, with no walls visible anywhere. The way the city seemed to be alive with the spirit of the Cetra.
But now, it was pitch black.
Gasps behind him told him that the others realized this as well, and he heard Cid whisper something to Shera and James.
“C-Cloud…what h-happened down here?” Tifa asked. “It’s f-f-freezing.”
“I don’t know…I…this is b-bad.” Cloud switched on his flashlight. “Lights on, but keep them on the s-stairs…just k-keep your footing.”
They proceeded with extreme caution. They could see absolutely nothing around them, as if they were in space.
Fear hit Cloud like a wrecking ball.
It took them several minutes to reach the bottom. Cloud could tell his companions were scared by the way that they bunched together inside the first building. He wasn’t feeling great either. The foreboding air in this place was enough to stun anyone speechless. What had happened to this beautiful city?!
“Barret, c-come with me. The rest of you stay here…we’re gonna get a quick look, and get out of here.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Cid said.
Barret joined Cloud as he walked from the building, and they panned their lights around. The buildings were there. Everything was intact. The water below had not drained. So why did the city not glimmer the way it used to? Why did their lights not reflect throughout the city?
“Man…this place givin’ me the heebie-jeebies.” Barret said.
Cloud did not respond, only continued looking around. He advanced across the platform, and turned left.
“Anything?”
Cloud panned around a bit more. “Nope.” He looked left and right. “This place is empty…there’s nothing.”
“Then what the hell ig g-going on?”
“I don’t know…I’m going up to the altar.”
“What?”
Cloud looked over his shoulder. Barret was a few feet away, but he could not see him, only his light. “I just…I have a feeling.”
“Don’t you go losin’ your head man…”
Cloud said nothing. He looked around for the stone pillars that would lead him up to the altar. He found them just off to his left. He made the jumps with ease, and eventually reached the stairs that would take him up.
Aeris…
He struggled to keep the memories from clouding his thought as he ascended the staircase. But when he reached the top, he failed to do so. As he looked about the altar, he could see the exact spot in which she had been kneeling…the place where he laid her down to battle Jenova…the place where he had held her…as her eyes…closed…
His tears began to fall as he struggled to stay on his feet. He stumbled to the center of the altar, his head throbbing.
Aeris…why…why did…what…is…that…what?!
Cloud didn’t see it coming as it rushed over him. A wave of pure, cold fear. He dropped to his knees as his vision became blurry. His head felt like it would explode. He tried to speak, but could not. His flashlight fell from his grasp, and rolled away. Cloud was on his hands and knees, tears falling heavy, begging whatever this was…to release him
And suddenly, his vision faded altogether.
Help me…
What?
You must help me…you must see…
Without warning, Cloud’s vision returned, except now, he could see clearly.
He could see Aeris, kneeling before him in prayer.
He could see her slowly raise hr smiling face towards him…
…and for an instant, the cold was gone…
…but only for an instant. Cloud knew what was coming. As Aeris became uneasy, he turned his head upward…
…and the black shape was there. It was moving at inhuman speed. In his peripheral vision, he could see Aeris turn her head towards it. When he looked back to her, her face was turned.
Cloud looked up, and noticed he was shaking in fear. The black shape was almost upon them…
…and time seemed to slow to a drag as it finally landed…
…right before Aeris.
Cloud’s wide eyes found her, but her head was still turned. Cloud looked to see what had landed before her…
…but then, the light went out, as if someone had smashed a bulb somewhere. In the darkness, he could barely see Aeris, let alone the dark form before her. But he knew it was there. The fear he felt told him
Aeris began to turn back to him…
…he waited to see her face…
…if he could just see her face, he knew that everything would be alright…
…but when her head turned all the way, Cloud’s heart surely stopped.
The angelic face was gone…
In it’s place…
Was a skinless skull…
And where her shining green eyes had once been…
There were eyes as red as blood…
Crying black tears…
And Cloud began to scream.
And then he realized his sword was in his hands…
…and before he could do anything about it, he thrust it at Aeris.
The sword struck the skeleton face…
…and she shattered like glass.
He had seen this before.
Cloud tried to retract his sword, but it would not move.
He saw the enormous hand…
…the outstretched arm…
…and as he traced it upward…
…looking for a face…
…something struck him.
His brain began to flood with images.
Screams sounded from all around him. He realized that he was standing knee deep in blood, and the sky above was red. Floating in the blood were bodies. Some looked like those at Bone Village, and he saw the black sludge mixing with the blood. Other bodies were mangled, with torn flesh and protruding, broken bones. Faces torn apart, with missing eyes and burnt flesh. Some had been disemboweled, and their organs floated freely in the blood. The stench of death was overwhelming.
As he looked up, he saw people running. Struggling to move in the thick blood, that stretched on as far as the eye could see. He watched as some were thrown through the air by an invisible blow, splattering blood, and sending piercing screams through the air. Others were dragged under, to drown in their own blood.
He looked around him, and saw a man whose flesh was melting away from him. His eyes fell from his head as he began to dissolve into the blood. Cloud tried to scream, but could not.
Suddenly the ground began to shake, and explosions sounded somewhere in front of him. Cloud tried to run, but his legs would not respond.
Suddenly, people began to come crawling out of the blood. People with missing body parts, decimated faces, split eyeballs, and shattered skulls. They groaned inhuman groans as they surrounded Cloud. Their fingers, some with no flesh, began to tear at him. First at his legs, and then at his waist. He fought desperately to free himself, but the more he fought, the more creatures appeared. Pain wracked his body as the creatures sank their nails and teeth into his flesh. His blood was soon soaking his uniform, and he felt himself being dragged down.
He screamed. He screamed his throat dry. As he was pulled down, the flesh slowly being stripped away from him, he felt intense he. Blood clogged his throat as he saw more creatures go flying through the air, trailing fire behind them. Deafening explosions rocked the ground, and he saw fire sweeping towards them. It burned through the thousands of creatures that had come from the blood, which he realized was up to his neck. Just before the flames reached him, he was pulled under, and the things above him were enveloped.
Cloud held his breath and shut his eyes. The intense shaking told him that the fire was still passing over, and he flattened himself as much as possible to avoid being burned.
It seemed like eternity before the shaking stopped, and the heat died down. When Cloud was sure that the fire had passed, he tried to stand, and reach the surface…
…but when he planted his feet on the ground and stood up, he was still under the blood.
He began to swim, pushing himself upward with all his might. He was in desperate need of air. He swam and swam through the blood, but cloud not reach the surface.
His lungs ached.
As his mind weakened from the lack of oxygen, his mouth opened, and the blood poured in.
He could taste rotten flesh, and felt pieces of it go down his throat, and fill his lungs. Cloud felt his stomach eject it’s contents, which mingled with the blood filling his lungs.
His mind began to slip away…
And just as he began to feel death slipping over him…
Something forced his eyes open…
They stung like they were on fire…
But he saw that the blood in front of him had parted…
And then…
…from out of the blood…
…came a pair of terrifying eyes…
…and a dark…
…evil…
…face…


Cloud screamed as he felt a pair of huge hands pin his limbs. He thrashed and struggled with all his might. He began to notice other hands as well. The creatures. They had returned. Their hands felt…
…soft?
The hand on Cloud’s face was smooth, and gentle, despite the harsh, strong hands that held his arms and legs. Cloud slowly opened his eyes…
To find a face, just as twisted in horror as he knew his own was.
It was Tifa.
Cloud locked eyes with Tifa…and relaxed. Tears streaked her face, and her breathing was heavy.
Oh God…what am I doing?!
Cloud relaxed completely, and the hands released him. He knew that it was Barret, Cid, Vincent, and James. As soon as they backed off, Tifa embraced him, crying.
He slowly wrapped his arms around her, and gently rubbed her back. The terror he felt only seconds ago was gone, but the memory was fresh in his mind.
“Cloud what happened? What is happening to you?” Tifa broke the embrace and looked him in the eye. “You can’t keep this from us anymore. It’s hurting you Cloud. I want to know what it is.”
Cloud sighed. “Tifa…I promise, I’ll tell you as soon as we get back to Bone Village and settle in.”
“You promise?”
“Yes…I think it’s important.”
Barret helped Cloud to his feet, but Cloud had trouble standing up. “The hell’s wit’ you, man?”
“I…my legs are weak…I’ll explain everything, but we have to get the hell out of here. Right now.”
“What’s the problem?”
Cloud was silent.
“Tell us, man.”
“…We’re in danger. There’s something very dangerous…and it’s not far away.”
“What?!” Cid shouted.
“We have to get away from here, and quickly. You just have to take my word for it.”
Barret gave Cloud a look, then nodded. “No prob man, but you’d better tell us everything once we get back.”
“Sure…just…let’s get the hell out of here.”
Barret and Tifa helped him walk down the steps, as he could barely walk by himself. Getting him across the pillars was quite a task; Vincent was able to jump very high, but with Cloud’s weight, he barely made it from pillar to pillar. When they finally reached the building where the others were waiting, Yuffie ran over to him.
“What is wrong with you?! If I didn’t see your flashlight fall, you’d still be laying there!” she screamed.
Cloud glared at her.
“…Are you OK?”
Cloud’s glare turned to a faint smile. “Yeah…yeah I’ll be fine.”
With that, they began to climb the long staircase. Tifa supported Cloud on the way up, with Barret and Yuffie bringing up the rear.
“Man, I can’t wait to get the hell outta this place…” Barret muttered.
Yuffie agreed silently as she walked behind him. She was very confused. This city was so beautiful…did it just die? Or did something happen to it? She didn’t understand, and wasn’t sure she wanted to. The whole thing was frightening. As she reached the opening in the wall, she looked over her shoulder for a final glimpse of…of whatever she could see.
It was perfectly dark.
But Yuffie thought she could see a dim outline…something down below. It was far down…and very dark. Was it just her? She shut her eyes tight and reopened them.
Nothing.
The hair on the back of her neck stood on end.
This place is getting to me…
With that, she turned and hurried out …
…and a pair of burning eyes opened to watch her leave.



Author's note:
Creepy enough for ya?
Stay tuned...something big is coming...
Thanks,
Chris



Chapter 10 - Beast In The Dark

Chapter 12

Index

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