Searching for forgiveness
~ Your Truth is My False ~
"...Almighty God, The One and Only, Please help me in this time of loss and overwhelming grief. I came here today to pray for my fallen friend. I beg You to forgive him his sins. May his dead body rest in peace and may his soul, stricken with remorse, be with You, Oh merciful God. Amen."
You open your eyes and unfold your hands as you end your prayer. After your argument with Tifa you decided to go to the deserted Sector 5 Church, which is located at the center of Midgar's slums. Since Cloud's body couldn't be found anywhere after the collapse of the Sector 5 Reactor, there was no funeral. But ever since Cloud's demise you somehow felt the need to say your prayer and so you did...just as you did after Aerith's death. Now again you're kneeling in front of the altar, crying softly.
"You know, I never thought I'd have to come back here ever again...," you whisper, twirling one of Aerith's flowers between your finger and thumb. Surrounded by all these beautiful flowers - the flowers Aerith cherished so deeply - you strangely enough can't help but feel that she's still there. Even though you can't see her, nor hear her voice you can feel her presence...
"Wasn't it bad enough to lose you?! Now fate has also taken Cloud!"
You lower your gaze as warm tears start to roll down your pale cheeks again.
"Why? Why did he have to die?! All he ever wanted was to protect his loved ones; You, Tifa, Marlene, Denzel, everyone! He didn't deserve this! None of you deserved to die!...And yet-...you had to. But...," you mumble, wiping off your tears, "you're gonna take care of him, right Aerith? I know he's with you; he's gotta be! And one day-...One day we'll see each other again...and then we'll all be together again...right?"
Some minutes pass in silence while you're lost in contemplation before you eventually shake your head, chuckling sadly.
"Jeez, what am I talking here? Clinging onto a wonderful, but just as rediculous thought just because I can't handle the truth isn't going to help me either...Quite the reverse!" you muse melancholic.
But your thoughts are interrupted when suddenly someone enters the church. You turn around, your eyes widening in shock as they land on a a short stout man with thinning blond hair who is dressed in a burgundy suit.
"You?!" you yell, narrowing your eyes at him.
"Do we know each other?" the man asks, studying your face contemptuously.
You grit your teeth and clench your fists as you desperately try to suppress the urge to punch him in his ugly face.
"However," the man eventually breaks the tense stillness, "did you by any chance see a man pass here?"
"Yes, I indeed did," you answer, grinning.
"I'm all ears," he replies impatiently; his arms crossed.
"He's standing right in front of me," you smirk.
"Ugh, not me you little twerp! I'm searching for a tall man who is dressed all in black. He has spiky blond hair and carries a set of Fusion Swords," he growls, causing you to gasp.
"Cloud! You mean he's alive?!" you blurt out without thinking.
When you realize what you just did though, you immediately cover your mouth with your hand, mentally slapping yourself.
"Ah, so you know him, eh?" the man grins; his eyes are sparkling ominously. "Where is he?"
"How should I know?" you retort, determined to hide any information that could be of importance to him.
"You're a member of AVALANCHE, aren't you?"
"Maybe, maybe not," you answer, shrugging slightly. "But even if I was a member I wouldn't tell you anything about his whereabouts!"
"Hmpf! Quite courageous of you...You've got spunk, I'll give you that. Looking at your stubbornness though, I can't help but ask myself: Do you even know who I am?"
"Of course I know who you are, Mr. President Shinra," you reply through clenched teeth, sending him a furious glare. "You are the murderer of my dearest friend, after all."
"Oh, I wish I was!" President Shinra laughs.
"What do you mean?" you ask sceptically, causing him to pause.
He watches you for a while, a kind of confused look on his face. Some seconds later however, his bewildered look turns into a mocking grin.
"Oh, I see. So he didn't tell you, huh?"
"Tell me what?!" you probe impatiently and kinda annoyed.
"You said you consider him your dearest friend, yes?" he laughs nastily. "Looks like your dear Cloud sees things a little differently though. Or how do you explain he kept it a secret?"
"He kept 'it' a secret? You mean-?...But why would he?" you whisper, lowering your gaze as you begin to understand.
"Yes, why would he?" Shinra repeats, apparently amused.
"So he really is alive...?"
"Yes he is. Your beloved Cloud didn't die that day, much to my dissatisfaction. And yesterday I got information that he's currently staying somewhere here," the president confirms, causing you to snap out of your daze.
"Well, looks like you should fire your informant then. 'Cause as you can see Cloud is not here," you point out.
"Maybe not. But therefore you are," Shinra muses, slowly approaching you.
"What do you mean?" you ask, narrowing your eyes at him.
"Oh, I think you exactly know what I mean," he grins, reaching out for you.
Your eyes widen in shock and you quickly step backwards as he comes rushing towards you, unfortunately stumbling as your back comes into contact with the altar.
"Stop it! I-I'm warning you! Don't you dare touching me or I-," you start, but he interrupts you.
"Or you what, huh? You're nothing but a weak girl, what could you possibly do?" Shinra laughs before grabbing your wrist and pulling you up on your feet.
"Get your hands off, bastard!" you growl through clenched teeth, trying to free yourself from his grip, but he's too strong.
"Ha! Is that the best you can do?" Shinra sneers, dragging you with him.
"Let me go!" you yell.
"What fun it'll be to see him suffer as his lover dies a painful death. Afterwards he'll beg for his own death. And I, as merciful as I am, will grant him his wish," he fantasizes, ignoring your resistance.
You clench your fists as he bursts out laughing. The next moment however, he's silenced as you slap him across the face; your fingernails leaving four bloody scrapes on his cheek. He whines and lets go off you to touch his hurting cheek. You leap the chance and run towards the gateway, yelling for help.
"Help! Somebody help! He's trying to kill me! Please, help me! Heeeelp!"
"Why you damn little bitch. Come back here!" Shinra commands, still covering his cheek with his hand.
