Lean On Me (FF7)

54

"Cloud, relax. You're not gonna die. And then it's not the time because... just look," he frowns, nodding down towards whatever Aeris is looking at.

I stiffly stand by her side, looking down into the pool of color. It's like the last time, when I can see myself from a distance. Only this time, Vincent and Barret rush into the room and desperately turn the electrify off. My cold body stops moving to the shocks and they try to loosen the straps on my wrists.

"You need to wake up and help them get out of there," Aeris says, frowning at the image.

"How exactly am I supposed to wake up," I glare at the ground.

"I'll help, just... I'll do it," she sighs, shaking her head. I look up at both my distraught friends.

"What's wrong?"

"Cloud... The time is coming near where you will have to try to defeat Sephiroth one last time before another break. He will come back," Zack sighs.

"What do you mean try?" I ask, a little frightened.

"I mean you won't. He'll defeat you this time around. But you'll survive it just fine and move on with your life," He smiles. "And he will come back and try to ruin your new life. That's all I'll tell you."

"But what about the materia?"

"Don't let him get his hands on Denzel's staff," Aeris says and everything begins to fade again. "Don't give up, Cloud!"

Suddenly, I can feel the pain of all my wounds again, plus a pounding headache, as my eyes slide open with a groan. Vincent's scarlet eyes flicker up to mine and he releases a sigh of relief.

"I thought you were dead. Now let's get out of here."

"Can you run?" Barret asks when I push myself to stand.

"I'll try," I nod and he hands me my sword.

"It was on the floor."

"Thanks," I say before following Vince at a slow jog, wincing with every movement.

"The girls will hold them off just long enough for us to get out," He explains as he leads us through a twisting series of tunnels. "Thank goodness that shock chair set off, we never would've found you."

"It kinda hurt," I wince.

"Let's not worry about the terrible shape you are in right now and just get out of here."

I hear another clash of metal and the snap of a bone breaking.

"Let's just hope that was Tifa's victim," Barret grimaces.

"Up here," Vincent rushes me, and I nearly make it, but then something hits the back of my head and I stumble, falling onto my sliced up front.

"Shoot, sorry," Barret mutters, tugging me to my feet, but I almost fall over again, so Vincent just drags me as best as he can out the door and down the... mountain? From here, I can see a blurry form of Nibelheim. Of course, they're only blurry because Barret accidentally hit me on the back of the head with his gun arm. Idiot...

"They're comin'!" Barret calls from behind us as we try not fall off the edge of the narrow path.

"Who?" Vincent calls back, holding under my arm as a support.

"All of em."

"Crap," Vincent mutters. Then he leaves my side, spotting around a ledge. I press my body against the side of the mountain and look at Barret hopelessly. He holds up one finger and then I wait. Seconds later, a huge... thing comes around from where Vincent was, it's dark scales, widespread red wings, and dagger like claws scaring me. But one thing gives it away. It's gentle red eyes. Vincent?