Final Hell

“Let’s get this party started.”

Chapter Two: Crash Down

Song to Read By: Theme of Laura, Akira Yamaoka

Flying over the ocean was like floating above an endless, black abyss. Cloud stood at the window, watching it below, trying to ignore the helpless feeling that was taking over him.

Is this really the way to go? He wondered, biting his lip. I left without telling Tifa anything. What if she’s right? ... what if...?

Sighing, Cloud leaned his forehead against the glass, his breath fogging it up. He watched it fade and reappear as he breathed in and out; he focused on it. Cloud forced himself to think of nothing else. Slowly his eyes closed. The rocking and humming of the ship, the smooth feel of the glass, the chill in the air, Cloud let it become him. He was actually getting rather sleepy. Before he could nod off, footsteps approached him.

Cloud slowly opened his eyes. “Excuse me sir.” It was a young crew member, who kept glancing away from Cloud nervously. He seemed very shy. “The Captain asked to see you. If - If you would sir.” He gestured as if to lead the way.

Nodding, Cloud leaned away from the wall. The two began walking, the crewman in the lead. Cloud took the time to examine the halls of the airship.

It wasn’t his first time in an airship, but it was the first time in a long time. And Cid Highwind’s airship was much sleeker and nicer than the ships Cloud was use to riding on. The last time he’d ridden one was when Aerith had decided to research her ancestry, and had wanted to travel to her homeland. So, she, Zack, and Cloud had piled their money together, paid to ride one of the cheapest airships they could get, and flew across the ocean, to the north. The ship had been a wreck, but the trip was fun all the same. It had been one of the greatest time’s of Cloud’s life, the time he spent traveling with those two.

Now, the memories brought him to tears. The blond wiped them away quickly as he stepped through the door to the front of the of the ship. The last thing he wanted was for that redneck Cid to ask him “why the hell he was cryin’”.

The front deck was split level, with a large front window, and a glass floor near the front, away from most of the equipment. A row of computers ran around the room, and on the second level stood Cid, hands on the steering wheel, a serious grimace on his face. Cloud was almost afraid to interrupt him, but Cid had asked for him...

“Captain?” Cloud muttered. The other blond grunted and turned, nodding to him.

“Hey, uh... Squall, right?”

The younger man frowned. “It’s Cloud.”

“Right. Come on up.”

Cloud stepped up the stairs. Once he was standing near the pilot, he took another look around. It was a nice view. He could see that they were no longer over the ocean; they were flying above land again.

Cid glanced away from his steering to Cloud. “So, ...” he looked over Cloud, head to foot. “You gonna tell me about this town we’re headed towards?” Finally he returned his gaze to his work, which Cloud was thankful for. He didn’t want to lie to Cid’s face, looking right in his eyes.

“Not much of a town... not anymore.” Cloud muttered. That much was true; but that was where the truth ended. “There was a fire, started in hte inn; one of the cooks left the burner on. Nibelheim was too small to have its own fire department, and by the time help arrived, it was too late.” It just so happened that Cloud was very well versed in that lie. He said it the exact same way each time he retold it, to anyone who asked him about his hometown.

“Hn.” The Captain didn’t look too happy with the explanation. “Was, uh... was this all common knowledge? Y’know... on the news, and shit?”

Cloud shrugged half heartedly. “I guess.”

For once Cid didn’t curse or comment, just lowered his eyes. Lost in his own thoughts. What a luxury, Cloud thought bitterly, envying the other man. Cloud could never just “think”; if he so much as closed his eyes and tried, the image of fire leapt to his mind. It was burned into the backs of his eyelids, and would never leave him in peace.

A moment passed in silence. Cid gripped the wheel tightly, distressed over something. Cloud wasn’t sure if he was allowed to leave, but got his answer when Cid grunted and waved him off. As he stepped down the stairs, an auburn haired crew woman approached him. She was rather pretty, in a girl next door sort of way.

“Sir, we’ll be arriving shortly, please make sure you’re buckled in before we land.” Then she smiled and returned to her job.

Cloud turned and walked out the door. Once it slid shut behind him, he released the emotions he’d been withholding. A few tears escaped his eyes. He kept walking.

The hollow echo of his boots hitting the steel floor invoked a memory; in reality, Cloud was walking down a hallway in Cid Highwind’s airship. But when he closed his eyes, when he let the past return to him, he was instead walking through one of Shinra’s medical laboratories.


This Cloud was sixteen, with a heart full of hopes, dreams, and promise. This little blonde, standing at hardly 5’5” and with scrawny limbs, was training to join Shinra’s SOLDIER elite. This Cloud had yet to have his heart torn asunder.

“How is he?” The teen questioned frantically as he moved across the floor towards the group of doctor - scientists. These Shinra employees only blinked in response. Realizing his mistake, Cloud shook his head. “Err, I mean... what is the status of - of 1st class SOLDIER Zachary Fair?”

The doctor quirked an eyebrow. “And who are you to ask?” He was eyeing Cloud’s uniform, which was one of the Shinra infantry outfits. It was not a SOLDIER uniform. It revealed Cloud’s ‘authority’, which was none. He hardly had clearance to clean the SOLDIER restrooms. Which would’ve been an honor, of course.

But, Cloud didn’t back down. “He’s my friend.” Cloud could’ve said many things - my best friend. My only friend. He’s like a brother to me.

None of those statements would’ve helped. They would not let him through. Feeling helpless and worried, the blond cadet left the hospital, slamming the door behind him.

Once he stood at the bottom of the stairs, he huffed and sat down, next to a girl his age in a pretty white dress.

“Did they say anything?” She asked frantically, as she toyed nervously with her long braid.

Cloud shook his head and sighed. “They wouldn’t even let me in.” He hung his head, hands on his knees.

The girl beside him lowered her eyes as they darkened and turned grim. A look of hate that seemed uncharacteristic of such a pretty girl came over her face. “Shinra...” A few tears fell down her flushed cheeks.

Slowly, Cloud glanced back up at her. “A - Aerith?” The girl was curling up, head in her hands, arms resting on her knees. Immediately Cloud moved closer to her, and when her heard the girl sob, he gently wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

“The whole c - company...” Aerith muttered, her voice cracking. “All of them... j - just...” Cloud shushed her, rubbing her back to console her.

“He’ll be all right.” The blonde promised. Suddenly, Aerith raised her head and set a hard look on him.

“Really?” She whispered. “He’ll be all right? That’s all you can say?” Cloud was stunned.

“Aerith...?” He held her tighter. “This... this isn’t like you...”

She turned away angrily, biting her lip. “Do you even know me anymore?” This didn’t only shock Cloud, it hurt him. Aerith didn’t give him time to respond. “More and more, you and Zack stay in that place. You obsess over it. And they -” She spun back around. “They keep injecting - changing you! I can sense it! I don’t like it!”

“Aerith, please!” People were beginning to stare.

Luckily for Cloud, Aerith gave one last pitiful sob and feel silent, head resting on her legs, her braid falling over her shoulder.

Cloud snapped out of the memory and into the present when he felt the freezing cold hand grip his own, fingernails digging into his palm. Frightened, he jumped and glanced to the left, but no one was there.


After a moment, he began to breath easily again.

Why did I think of all that now...? He wondered, his left hand lifted towards his face. Why did that memory surface? Cloud looked like he was about to cry for a moment, imagining the beautiful flower girl in his mind... she couldn’t be dead! She couldn’t!

Suddenly, Cloud felt a cold breath on his neck, as if someone much taller than him was just behind him. He spun around and saw no one.

“Cid!” Cloud screamed out of fear. He was in no mood for games. “Cut it out!”

His shouts echoed and no one responded. Still, Cloud remained where he was, waiting. Finally, once he felt calmer, he turned around.

Someone was standing in the doorway no more than a few feet from where Cloud stood. The blond almost jumped out of his skin, but this time, managed to keep from screaming. The person did not seem to respond to Cloud’s fear. In fact, it almost looked like they were in a trance.

The person was a teenager, shorter than Cloud by a few inches, with long brown hair pulled up into a braid, a pink bow tying it back. Her eyes were the most vivid green, and she wore a summer dress, which flared out above her knees, was white, and had blue flowery designs on it.

It was Aerith; a much younger Aerith, to be sure, but her nonetheless. It was the Aerith Cloud remembered a moment ago, they way she had looked when she was sixteen. A small, innocent smile was on her face.

“AERITH!” Cloud screamed in joy, not totally realizing that she was too young to be the real one. He clearly wasn’t thinking straight. Immediately he raced towards her, reaching to pull her into his arms. But next he knew, he was falling, his arms full of air. Cloud spun back around. He had passed through the space Aerith had stood, like nothing had been there.

When he turned, he could now see Aerith standing across the way, her smile turned into a grin. Girlish laughter echoed through the space. Once again Cloud screamed her name, and raced after. This time, he watched as the girl slowly turned and began to run down the other hall, away from him.

“WAIT!” He shouted.

Suddenly, a terrible rocking ran through the ship, and for a moment the ground flew sideways and Cloud was knocked off his fit. He hit the ground hard as the entire ship rumbled in agony. Still, he rushed to his feet.


Everything shook like an earthquake had hit; the joints squealed in complaint as screws came loose and valves exploded, hissing like snakes. Amidst the chaos and confusion, Cloud struggled to stand and run down the hall Aerith had run into. Even with all the horrible noise, Cloud could hear her laughter...

One of the screws popped off the wall and flew through the air, almost hitting Cloud. More of these giant projectiles began flying around, and the blond could only hit the deck and cover his head. As he protected himself from the debris, Cloud glanced through his fingers and saw the hallway was empty.

Aerith was gone.

-=-=-

Only a few minutes prior, Cid Highwind’s crew had been dealing with a problem with the guidance system.

“Whaddya mean, we’re there! There’ ain’t no town! We can both see that!” Cid shouted at his subordinate. the man he was shouting at had worked for Cid for a long time, and thus was use to his treatment.

“Yes, but the system indicates that we’ve arrived. Perhaps the boy was right.” The crewman murmured gently. “The town could’ve been destroyed.”

A hopeless, almost defeated look came over Cid’s face. “But then - where did Shera -”

“Sir!” Another crewman, a woman, ran forward. “The weather’s changed dramatically. We’re about to run into a cloud bank!”

“Screw that.” The Captain murmured. “Damn it all, we just did.”

He nodded to the large windshield ahdead. His men turned; gasps ran through the room.

The entire windshield was covered in a great, black fog, entirely too thick to see through, almost too thick to be natural.

“This ain’t good. Goddammit!” The pilot cursed.

“We should turn back immediately. This is a very mountainous area - we could be in serious trouble!”

“We could? Really? I think we are!” Someone else shouted.

“We should land right now - who knows were this bank ends, we could already be deep inside it!”

“Shut the hell up, all of you!” Cid grimaced and tightened his hold on the steering wheel. Another curse escaped him and her slammed his fist against the metal.

“Shera...” He muttered. “Where the hell are ya?”

The ship lunged forward suddenly, taking the crew by surprise and throwing many of them around like dolls. Cid himself was flung against the wheel hard, hitting his throat against the top.

“Shit! What’d we hit!” The Captain shouted. All sorts of sirens were going off, and red lights flashed.

“I don’t know, radar’s jammed!” One crewman shouted.

“Communications too! I can’t reach the engine room!”

“Everything’s going crazy! The controls aren’t working!”

“GODDAMMIT!”

-=-=-

“Wait!” Cloud shouted, though he had no idea if Aerith could hear him or not. He was hardly thinking clearly - all he could think of was She’s here she’s here she’s alive she’s ALIVE! Nothing else occurred to him.

Adrenaline mixed with fear drove Cloud to his feet as he rushed down the hallway, looking for shelter. It seemed that the airship had become a death trap, falling apart and dooming all those stuck within. There was no where to go.

Cloud kept running, past crewmen rushing to their stations. One such man grabbed Cloud as he ran by, nad held on tight to keep the panicked man from escaping.

“Sir! Sir!” He screamed to get Cloud’s attention. Even when Cloud did listen, he hardly heard a word. The man pointed down the hall and to the left, and said something, but before he’d finished Cloud was off again.

Aerith, where’d you go? Aerith! Is Zack with you? Come back!

“Aerith!!”

The heat... it was everywhere... the pipes that exploded let out bursts of steam, and the rushing bodies all around let off heat, too. It was so warm... warm like...

Warm like fire.

And suddenly, he was back there, back in Nibelheim. But the woman he was chasing wasn’t Aerith, it was his mother... he had to find his mother... before she could get hurt...

And everywhere, all around him, people were screaming... running... Thundering roars deafened as the fire cackled and raged and the wood houses tumbled apart. The fire was so close... so close...

“Sir! Sir!”

A crew woman grabbed Cloud’s shoulders and hoisted him up, dragging him down the hallway. At some point he must’ve fallen to his knees. “You have to get out of here! You have to go!” As Cloud returned to himself, he began running again, and the woman led him through the crowd to the escape pod.

As she began, pressing buttons on the wall, Cloud rested. “What about... all of you?” He asked.

The woman turned and smiled as the pod doors opened. Cloud realized it was the same auburn haired woman who’d spoken to him earlier. His eyes went to her name tag; it read “Jessie”. “We’re the crew, sir.” She gestured to the pod. “We go down with the ship.” The she moved past him, patting his shoulder as he went.

The man spun around to watch her go. Then with tentative footsteps, he stepped into the escape pod.

-=-=-

Another thunderous screech split the air as metal ripped apart. Cid cursed and struggled to keep the steering wheel steady. “What the hell was that!?”

“I don’t know sir! None of this shit’s working!” The instruments were squealing madly, none of them doing their job.

A crack, like breaking glass; then another, and another. Horrified Cid watched as the windshield began splitting, tiny cracks racing across it like a mosaic. “Fucking hell...” Cid gripped the wheel so hard his hands turned white.

Lurching forward, the ship suddenly began flying at angle, then free falling through the air. Screams filled the room, and those who weren’t tied down or holding on tight enough were tossed like dolls against the windshield, breaking it more and painting it with their blood.

“GODDAMMIT everybody sit the fuck down and buckle the fuck up!!” The Captain screamed as the ship fell faster.

All at once the fog disappated and the crew could see that they were mere seconds from crashing into a dilapidated house, nose first. there was no time to prepare as the metal screeched and wood burst, and the front window finally shattered. Those buckled in fared better than those who, like Cid, were merely hanging on for dear life.

The Captain was thrown over the wheel, falling through the empty space, careening downward. But he did not hit the ground; the ship had barreled through all the levels of the house, into the basement, which looked so dark it might go on forever. It was unfathomably deep. Cid fell through the air, through the broken windshield, and into the house, tumbling into the darkness.

-=--=-

Before Cloud could even sit down, the escape pod suddenly broke away from the ship. It lurched sideways, knocking the man off his feet, and then it plummeted. Cloud didn’t even realize he was screaming again until his voice went hoarse.

Faster and faster the ship flew, spinning like a top in free fall. After what seemed like ages, but was only mere seconds, the escape pod crashed hard into something, then fell again, and hit the ground. On the second fall, Cloud lurched forward, his head hitting the metal wall hard. Immediately, he was knocked unconscious.

-=-=-

In Midgar, Tifa Lockhart struggled to compose herself as Shalua Rui’s sudden question rang through her mind.

“Where was I... when Sephiroth...” She closed her eyes tight and let out a weary sigh.

The taller woman cast a learned gaze over her. “You were there.” Tifa shook her head.

“No, but I - I’ve had to deal with the damage.” Her words came out as another sigh.

“Meaning, Cloud Strife?” Shalua asked. The other woman’s look hardened.

Glaring, Tifa stood. “What does this have to do with you?” She backed away. “How dare you come here and - and drudge up all these bad memories!”

Seemingly, Shalua understood what Tifa was saying. She backed off. “I’m not a reporter, nor am I from Shinra. I’m not here to pry.”

Still, Tifa seemed skeptical. “Then why come here?”

It didn’t seem like Shalua wanted to answer that question. She glanced away, eyelids fluttering.

“I...” She sighed. “First, let me ask you: has Cloud told you anything about Nibelheim?”

Tifa returned to the defensive. “I’m not answering any questions until you answer mine.”

“It’s not about that.” Shalua sat on a stool, legs crossed. “You won’t understand why I’m here unless you at least slightly understand what Nibelheim really was... is.”

Tifa’s expression changed. “‘Is’?” She looked concerned.

The other woman nodded, and motioned to the couch. “You might want to sit down.” She did so, apprehensively.

Once they were comfortable, Shalua began her twisted tale.

“You and your friend Cloud grew up together in Nibelheim correct?” Shalua started. After a moment, Tifa murmured, “Yes”.

“Then you know that Nibelheim was a small, unimportant place, not even popular with tourists. The only place of import in the town was -”

“A medical lab.” Tifa said. She glanced away, lost in memory. “I remember when they set it up, in that creepy old manor. Shinra used it to treat wounded SOLDIERS.”

“That wasn’t it’s true purpose.” Shalua explained with a frown. Sighing, she brushed a piece of hair out of her face. “Shinra was forever looking for better, cheaper ways to be powerful and wealthy. Power and money, that was everything. The NIbelheim med lab was used for some of Shinra’s darker dealings.”

“Like, what?” Tifa asked. “What’d they work on, materia, or guns, or something?”

“I’m afraid not.” Shalua paused, trying to think of the best way to put her words, though there truly was no easy way to say them. Meanwhile, Tifa felt her blood rush as thoughts raced through her head.

Then... if not materia, or weapons... what could it be?

Then Tifa thought of the SOLDIERs, the injured men she’d always seen coming in and out of the lab.

“Don’t tell me... humans were...?” Shalua answered Tifa’s whispered question with a nod.

“That’s what SOLDIER was. Modified humans. Of course, that modification was done most anywhere controlled by Shinra. Nibelheim... went much deeper.”

A horried shiver wracked Tifa’s body, and she turned away. “My home... they...” The terrible truth began to sink in. “The fire...”

“Sephiroth was one of those experimented on. Perhaps he got tired of it. I don’t really know, and to tell the truth, I don’t care. He doesn’t interest me.” Shalua tapped her finger against her chin. “I know this is hard to digest, but I need you to answer my questions now.”

Forlorn, Tifa simply nodded. “Good. First, where is Cloud Strife?”

This question Tifa couldn’t answer. “He disappeared this morning. It’s not unusual for him to come and go, but...”

“But?” Shalua was getting impatient.

Nervous, Tifa began to explain the letter and the argument she and Cloud had had.

“Wonderful...” Almost before Tifa had finished speaking, Shalua stood and sauntered to the door. Tifa leapt up and followed after.

“Wait!” She shouted. “Where are you going?” Tifa followed the woman outside.

“I need to talk to your friend, and right now he’s probably headed back ‘home’. If he steps foot inside that town...” The woman’s look lost some of its strength. “Then I’ll never get my answers.”

“If you’re going after Cloud, take me.” The brunette demanded. “I have to go.”

“And what of your son?”

Despite the fact Tifa was surprised by the question, she quickly said, “I know someone who can take care of him. I’ll call him on the way.”

After a moment of grin thought, Shalua nodded. “You can come. Don’t bother packing anything, just take your phone.” Tifa agreed, running back in to get her keys and her cell, then rushing back out.

“One more question.” Tifa said as they walked down the street together. She followed Shalua’s lead down a dingy side street. “Why are you doing this?”

Shalua quickly responded. “I’m looking.” They came up upon a blue Honda civic. Shalua unlocked it and stepped into the driver’s seat. Tifa hesitated.

“For what?”

The older woman glanced at Tifa. Without pause, she told her.

“My reason to live.”

-=--=-

TWO DAYS LATER

Midgar

Highwind Dissapearance Communiqué

... The Shinra model Highwind airship took off from the Central Midgar terminal at approximately 8:45 a.m. It crossed the channel and arrived at Nibel mountain range around 3:30 p.m.

At 3:34 p.m., the Highwind crew sent an emergency alert to the tower, reporting a sudden drastic change in the weather and engine failure. Other instruments began to fail a few minutes later, and at 3:41 p.m., communications with the ship was lost.

At approximately 3:43 p.m., the Highwind disappeared on radar, and could not be relocated.

Search teams were sent to the Nibel mountains, but as of yet, no remnants or suvivors have been found...

-=-=-

The real fun begins next chapter.

Hehehe... 83

Also, I need the reader’s opinions on which pairings to do. There are many to chose from.

The only one that is dead set is Aerith and Zack. That one is definite.

Others could vary, and I welcome any type of pairing, hetero, gay, or lesbian. Here are a few choices for the readers to decide upon. And yes, romance isn’t exactly the focus here, but it does spice things up.

We could have:

VincentCid, or CidShera and VincentReeve.

On the Cloud side, I’d really love to have a SephCloud, eventually. If y’all don’t oppose it too much.

Also, perhaps:

AngealGenesis

BarretTifa, RenoTifa, or ShaluaTifa

Yes, that last one isn’t exactly common, but Shalua and Tifa are going to do a lot of work together, and I think if they ended up together, it’ll add a whole nother level to the horrid evilness and darkness and gore of this story. Because something very bad will happen. 83

Also:

DenzelMarlene (Awww!), or DenzelShelke. Yes, that one’s also weird, but it too will add to the horrificness if that pairing happens.

Any others I can think of... hmm... not really. If y’all have any more ideas, send them my way.

I like to spice up my horror fics with sex.

XD

SULHADAHNE