Eternal Fall

Wake up, child. It's time to start a new day. You want to become a great soldier one day, don't you?

"Yes, I do."

You must get stronger with each passing day.

"Why can no one else hear you?"

Everyone has an inner voice. But it is forbidden to speak of it. The punishment is severe.

"Why does my inner voice sound like a woman?"

Perhaps I'm your guardian angel.

"Perhaps."

They are coming... can you hear them? They are near you.

"The other boys? They're always near me. It's okay... they think I'm asleep. I don't have to move my lips when I speak to you."

But they will come. They will hit you again. They will hurt you.

"...I know."

So do something about them. Make an example of one of them.

"I don't want to. I can't."

Oh, but you can... you can.

"No. And I don't want to talk about it anymore."

But you can't block me out.

"Go away."

Never.... Never....

Eternal Fall: part V: Tantrum

Little Sephy sat in class that morning, earning many looks from the teenagers around him. He flipped through the last few pages of the textbook that had been assigned to them only a few days ago. He sighed, stretched in this chair, then dug into his backpack for the next book. They all watched as he started to read through it with amazing speed. They might have questioned whether or not he was actually reading it if it weren’t for the fact that he took the occasional note or checked the back of the book for a definition. Sephy knew they were looking, but he didn't care about them. He wasn't in the mood to deal with people making fun of him or staring at him. He knew today was the day people would beat him harder than normal. He heard the other boys in his barrack talking, and he knew that today was the day his age went from five to six. Sephy came to the conclusion that General Kinneas was informing them every time his age changed, because there was no way they could remember every year. Then again, they seemed to like to give him a good beating, so maybe this was like a holiday for them.

The class took a test, and Sephy finished first. He handed in his paper and heard a few nasty comments from the sixteen year olds in the front row. He groaned softly and left the classroom, looking every way possible to make sure an attack wasn't coming. He walked to a quiet area and leaned against a wall, sighing deeply and closing his eyes in thought. But then, a shadow fell over him. His eyes snapped open and he exhaled in relief when he saw Garamonde sensei standing in front of him.

"Good morning, Sephiroth," Garamonde sensei said with a smile. "Did class go well?"

"Yes, sensei."

"I am glad to hear it. It is good to see students who are so well rounded. You are good with school and good with the sword."

"Thank you, sensei," Sephiroth said.

But Garamonde could tell that the boy didn't believe him. It's not that Sephy didn't think he could trust Garamonde sensei. Sadly, the truth of the matter was that everyone else in this place had so thoroughly destroyed his self esteem that no compliment could ease him now. Garamonde felt uncomfortable standing with the little boy, for it was like being next to a robot or a statue. General Kinneas saw to it that just about every emotion and individual thought was beaten out of the young boy. And the other boys saw to it that he felt completely isolated and unimportant.

"Sephiroth, you truly are my best student. You get better everyday. Even at your young age you manage to do so much better than many of the older boys. I think you're the only one capable of moving on to newer things."

Sephiroth looked up at him slowly. "Thank you, sensei," he said again, without a hint of life returning to his features. "I will practice everyday."

Garamonde sighed very softly to himself before leaving to teach his next class. Sephy only stood there and let the breeze flow through his long silver hair, which was tied into a ponytail that fell against his mid-back. He felt the cold breeze as it hit his scalp, and it was as if the wind wanted to undo the tie that held his hair. But he tightened it, and headed for his barrack.

Why are you going there? They will hurt you! came the woman's voice. It boomed in Sephiroth's head now, and he was tired of hearing her so much.

"Stop talking to me. You're hurting my head," he said to her in his mind.

Oh, but you must do something about them. Vile creatures... all of them!

Sephiroth was starting to get angry. His days were normally bad, but he just couldn't let it roll off today. He couldn't let it go and he couldn't just drown in sorrow. He was angry. The fact that his age changed only reminded him of how much more torture everyone would inflict on him for the coming year.

As he walked to the barrack he passed his reflection in the dark mirror of one of the buildings. He continued walking, noting the fact that he didn't look as angry as he felt. General Kinneas had punished him every time he showed an emotion. Every time he seemed to feel! And the other boys could feel what they wanted! He hated Kinneas!

You hate them....

"Stop talking!"

Hate them!

"Why am I so angry!? It's you who is making me angry!"

HATE THEM!

Sephiroth's eyes started to glow bright green, and when he walked through the door of the barrack he saw the group of boys gathering to show their hatred of him. He continued to walk to his bed, his face showing no emotion. But his heart... his heart was beating fast.

"Looks like the pussy thought it would be a smart idea to come back," said one of the boys.

"Stay away from me," Sephiroth said, glaring at them.

"Well look who grew a pair of balls and decided to stand up for himself!" another boy said as they approached him.

Then the punches came. Sephy landed on the floor hard as the group swarmed around him. And this year, they didn't bother counting.

"You worthless sack of shit!" one of the boys yelled.

"Pussy!" called another.

"Fucking cum dumpster! We should give you to the older faggots and let someone fuck you up the ass!"

"Yea, I bet he likes cocks shoved into his ass! Don't ya pussy?!"

"Maggot!"
"Worthless shithead!"
"Whore!"
"Bitch!"
"WORTHLESS PIECE OF SHIT!"
Kill.
"WE WANT YOU TO FUCKING DIE!"
Kill....
"GENERAL KINNEAS TELLS US WHAT YOU SAY ABOUT US!"
KILL THEM!
"Yea, and you should see the stuff he gives us for beating your ass!"
KILL THEM NOW!
"This whole barrack is made up of guys who swore they wouldn't mind beating ass on command. Doesn't matter if it's a baby or a little bitch girl like yourself! It's all a huge set up to make your life a living hell. The worst of us were put here on purpose. Kinneas thought you should know that!"
NOW!!!!!!!!!!

Sephiroth shook violently, and they started to laugh at him for crying. But then... he grabbed the wrists of one of the boys. They went to hit him again, but some of them drew back when the saw the fierce glowing green gaze that slowly rose from the floor. Sephiroth wasn't crying now. He was laughing. But it wasn't normal laughter. He laughed like a crazy little child... like a maniac. It was so horrifying to see the little six year old with such an eerie gaze. Some of the braver boys went to hit him again, but he blocked their attacks and stood up slowly.

"I told you to leave me alone..." Sephiroth said, his glowing gaze burning through them. He started to laugh again, but this time, his voice seemed to echo and bounce off the walls.

Most of the boys found that they were somewhat afraid now. It was as though the little boy suddenly turned into a monster. They watched as his eyes darted from one of them to another. Few of them had ever seen such fierce mako eyes, and none of them neat hat he posed the mako radiation throughout his body. The glow was never apparent until now.

"Shut up you little fucker!" one of the boys said, annoyed.

Sephiroth turned to him slowly, and when he did, the boy felt a sudden swell of fear. He went to punch Sephiroth in the face, but the little boy caught his hand. The boy got angry, but soon he had other things to worry about. He started to scream and he tried to pull away desperately.

"Get him offa me!!!! the older boy yelled. "Shit! Get him off!"

The boys moved forward quickly and tried to pull Sephiroth away. But none of them could have expected what would happen next. Sephiroth, his eyes glowing, burst into flames. The boy in his grasp screamed and Sephiroth let go. But it was too late for him. It was too late for all of them. Fire ripped through their bodies and left no part of them untouched. Those of them who could still see saw Sephiroth, laughing in madness in the center of the flames. The silver-haired little boy remained untouched by the flames that seemed to surround his body. The other boys screamed and cried and some tried to run. But everything around them was on fire. The fire seemed to follow them. It seemed to have no end.

Sephiroth finally stopped laughing. He went to the area where his bed used to be, and he put his hand through a hole in the mattress and pulled out the materia Gast had given him last year. He then calmly walked out of the burning barrack, still untouched by the flames. Once outside, he collapsed into the arms of a fireman, his young features fading back to a tranquil look.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Nurse, what is his condition?"

"General Kinneas, I'm sorry about what happened. I heard he was the only survivor."

"Yes. I lost forty-four boys in that fire."

"Well, Sephiroth is completely unharmed. He just seems exhausted."

"He was inside the building while it was burning."

"Inside? How did he--"

"Live? Walk out unharmed? I was hoping someone could tell me that."

"I was told the are arrived here with materia with him."

"Is that what caused the fire?"

"From the look of the materia, it hasn't been activated in some time. Experts here aren't even sure it works. Mr. Garamonde took it and said he would keep an eye on it."

General Kinneas felt the anger boiling inside of him. He lost so many people in that fire. It wasn't as though he gave a damn about them though. He was more worried about people questioning the fire. It was then that a cold hand touched his shoulder.

"Let me examine him," a man said.

Kinneas turned around to see a man with long dark hair pulled back into a ponytail. He wore glasses and a white lab coat, and his eyes and smile were positively suspicious. It took the general a moment to realize who he was.

"Dr. Hojo," Kinneas said. "You're the one who sent him here."

"Yes. I came as soon as I heard what happened," Hojo said, heading for Sephiroth's room. "They summoned me to find out why my toy could walk out of a burning building unharmed."

Hojo entered Sephy's room and saw him resting peacefully in bed. His angelic little features shifted slightly, as if he were dreaming. But even though his eyes were closed, Hojo could make out the faint green glow coming from beneath his eyelids.

"Dr. Hojo," a couple of the doctors called to him. "It's an honor seeing you here!"

"A pleasure," Hojo said, still staring at the boy.

Silence hung in the air for a moment before the other doctor's gasped. "What is that?" they said at once.

"What is it?" Hojo asked, walking closer to take a look at the X-ray scans they were holding.

"We took X-rays of his arms, because we felt something hard in the region of each wrist. We thought it might be an old injury or fracture or even a tumor."

Hojo blinked and looked at the scans. There he saw a round, solid substance in each of little Sephy's wrists. His eyes widened and he walked over to Sephy's resting form. He gently pressed against the boy's wrists.

Sephy suddenly shifted. "Leave... me alone," he muttered, as if he were dreaming about the boys from the barrack.

Suddenly Hojo's sleeve caught fire, but only for an instant. He let his eyes trail over Sephy's wrist again, and caught a slight glimmer.

"Materia," Hojo said softly. "The mako radiation in the boy's body has condensed in certain areas. Sephiroth is the one who started the fire."

"How is that possible?!" one of the doctors exclaimed. "I've heard of no other cases like this."

"Nor have I, though it has been a theory," Hojo said. "It looks like I'll have to extend my stay here to examine this further."

It was at that moment that Sephy's eyes opened slowly. He turned his head and saw his very first tormentor. He felt as though his life could end right then and there.

~~~~~~~~~~

You did it. You should be proud.

"What?"

People will think twice about bothering you know.

"Why?"

Because you killed them....

"What? Who?"

Those boys. You killed them.

"I didn't kill anyone."

You burned them all to a crisp.

"Stop telling me lies."

Don't you remember?

"No, because you're lying."

Let me show you what I saw through your eyes.

"These... these thoughts.... These images.... I see fire. It's so hot. I see the other boys.... No.... No!"

Aren't you proud of yourself?

"NO! Make the fire stop!"

Silly boy, this has already happened. I'm simply showing you memories.

"I didn't want to!"

It serves them right. You made the vermin pay.



The nurses were startled when Sephiroth sat up screaming. "I didn't mean it! I'm sorry! I didn't want to! I didn't want to!" He held his head and screamed as if in terrible pain. "No! Make the fire stop! Make it stop!"

"It's okay, Sephy," one of the nurses said softly. "Don't worry."

"Get away from me!" he screamed, terrified that he might hurt someone else. He jumped out of bed and ran for the door, but someone stood in his way.

"Stupid boy," Hojo muttered, glaring down at him. "Look what you did. Forty-four young boys dead because of your carelessness."

"No..." Sephy murmured. "No...."

"You've hardly grown up at all," Hojo said, pushing Sephy back towards the bed. "If you don't learn to control you emotions, you'll end up hurting more people. The skin on some of those boys boiled horribly before they died. The ones who were burnt to crisps were luckier."

Much to Hojo's surprise, Sephy didn't cry. Instead he stared forward, playing the images over and over in his mind.

"It wasn't my fault..." Sephy murmured. "It wasn't. It was like... magic.... Bad magic."

"Magic?!" Hojo laughed bitterly. "Haven't you learned anything?! Never use such unscientific terms for anything. There is no such thing as magic. There is no such thing as a soul, for that matter. There is nothing that can save you... nothing besides yourself. There is nothing mystical in this world. Everything can and will be explained. As for the fire, the mako energy in your body has condensed in certain areas. You have small spheres of materia in your wrists which you set off when you killed those boys."

Sephy looked at his wrists sadly.

"I'm sure you remember your lessons on materia," Hojo continued. "Mako energy comes from the planet... it helps the planet live. Condensed mako turns into materia. Materia possesses the energy of the elements. In your body's case, the materia holds the fire element. But the interesting thing is that we have only been able to condense mako into materia in reactors. Why your body did it remains a mystery... for now."

Sephy didn't like the sound of that.... He knew what it meant. It meant that he would become Hojo's experiment again. He would get another sterile room and be placed on more sterile operating tables again and again.... And he strongly doubted that his military training would end.

"General Kinneas will assign you new living quarters," Hojo said flatly. "It looks like you're making a tiny bit of progress after all... when it comes to you being an interesting experiment for me. I will be back next week to begin my studies."

Sephiroth watched Hojo turn to leave, just as General Kinneas' heavy hand landed on his shoulder. Soon Sephiroth found himself in another room, in a barrack far from the other children. At least while they were abusing him, he still had others around. Now he only had silence. He couldn't figure out which was better....

~~~~~~~~~~

The next week, a large crate was shipped in from Nibelheim. It was taken straight to ShinRa headquarters, not far from the military youth base.

"Bring it down," one of the workmen called. "Bring it down slow!"

They slowly started to lower the crate onto a large elevator platform that would lower it down to one of the basement levels.

"Slowly. You got it. Slow. Good job, just like that."

Suddenly, the whole crate shifted. The men suddenly jumped back as the force of the shift sent the whole massive crate swaying from side to side.

"Be careful!" one man called to the machinery operators.

"It wasn't us!" they called back.

Suddenly a loud, anguished scream could be heard from inside the crate. Most of the men slowly stepped away as they heard pounding on the walls of the crate from inside. Again, the screams came.

"Shit," one of the men muttered. "What the hell is going on? How'd someone get trapped in there?"

And then came the loud scratching sound. The men looked at each other, questioning what it could possibly be. One man walked a little closer, intending to see if the person inside could hear him. But he stopped in his tracks as a large, clawed hand burst from the side of the metal crate.

"What the--?!"

Suddenly they were all running. Two red eyes glared through the hole in the wall of the crate. And soon... the creature inside made the hole bigger... and bigger....

~~~~~~~~~~

Sephiroth sat there on his bed in the dark. He let his little fingers run over the metal of the gun again and again. When it came to firing a gun, no one was better than General Kinneas. There was talk about how sharp their eyes were when it came to gunplay in the Kinneas family. Every boy in the family learned how to shoot with deadly accuracy. And now General Kinneas had provided Sephy with his own gun.

Sephy sat there, loading and unloading, again and again, over and over. He sat there, filling his mind with the mindless task until there was a knock at his door. And then, General Kinneas stepped through slowly, closing the door behind him. Sephiroth stood and saluted him as he should.

Kinneas slowly walked over to him, and little Sephy could smell the alcohol on him. He didn't know what to do when Kinneas lifted him up and lied him on his bed after sliding the gun and the bullets to the floor. The little boy stared up at the ceiling in confusion as the general rested his body on top of him.

"I'm going to shove it up your ass little boy," Kinneas hissed in his ear. "And it's gonna burn."

Suddenly Sephiroth remembered the stories he had been told about the boogie man burning bad little boys from the inside. Then he remembered the images he had seen in the magazines of the older boys, and he remembered their odd stories. And now... he violently pushed on General Kinneas, trying to push him off of his young body.

"No!" Sephy yelled.

"Shut up, boy! Don't you forget who is your superior!"

Sephy tried to yell, but instead he found his mouth covered by Kinneas'. He felt the disgusting way Kinneas' tongue slid into his mouth. Soon Sephy found himself trying to call on the fire in his body. But he couldn't concentrate. So again, he pushed, and this time, Kinneas practically flew off the bed.

Sephy jumped up and ran outside. He slipped in the mud a few times, but he kept going. He ran this way and that, and he knew that Kinneas was on his tail. He didn't know what to do though, because he couldn't think of anyone who might want to help him. He thought of Garamonde sensei, but he had no idea where Garamonde was located.

General Kinneas couldn't figure out how the little boy was moving so fast. It was as if he would disappear into the darkness at some points due to his speed. But Kinneas continued to follow him. Finally, little Sephy made a wrong turn and found himself cornered in a dead end between two large buildings. Kinneas smirked darkly at him and approached slowly. Sephiroth suddenly looked horrified, and he backed up against the wall. Kinneas laughed as the little boy tried desperately to climb the wall somehow.

But a low growl from behind Kinneas told him that he wasn't the one Sephiroth was afraid of. Kinneas turned to see a mouth full of sharp fangs, dripping with red. A large creature towered above him in the darkness, its eyes the color of blood.



The next morning, officers found Sephiroth shaking with fear in the alley. There were claw marks on the walls that looked like they had been made by some large beast. They also found General Kinneas. His arm was by the entrance to the alley. His intestines lined the walls. And his head rested by Sephiroth with a horrified expression in its dead eyes.

But what was more surprising was the third man they found. He had long black hair, and he was practically skin and bones. Scars covered his entire body, and he sat there completely nude, holding terrified little Sephiroth in his arms. When authorities called to the man he looked up, and they saw his eyes, the color of blood. He looked at them with hate-filled eyes. And before they could question him more, a group of Turks and other high agents of the ShinRa government rushed in and took him away.

"No!" the man yelled before he was pulled from Sephiroth. His gaze met Sephiroth’s suddenly. "I see you in my dreams. I have watched you since you were young. You were on every monitor in that lab. I heard you crying at night. I saw you suffering. Like her... you suffered as an experiment like her! Your mother...! Don't let them lie to you Sephiroth! Hojo is the devil and he's shown me hell! You should be mine! Just as she should have been!" They pulled the man away as he continued to scream. "YOU BOTH SHOULD HAVE BEEN MINE!!!!"


~*~*~*To Be Continued*~*~*~