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There aren’t very many places where it’d be normal to find a man with his brains splattered against a tree, but a war zone was one of them. And it was far from the first time Lee had had the pleasure of seeing a fellow Shinra trooper suffer a gunshot wound to the head. Those bodies, however, were nothing like the one he was looking at. The muzzle of the gun that killed him was still angled towards his mouth—and in his hand. The body was bloated and red with what had to be a week of decay; if the cloud of flies wasn’t bad enough, the smell had nearly doubled him over. And, something had gotten to his remains. Lee didn’t consider himself to have a weak stomach, especially not after three years in Wutai, but the longer he looked, the harder it was to hold down his lunch. It—whatever it was—had torn his chest wide open. Tatters of the familiar blue uniform and flesh were scattered like pieces of fucked-up confetti. The soft insides were pulled out and resting in front of him. The viscera was laid almost neatly on his lap, a putrid pile slowly turning black as it rotted and writhed with bugs that’d made their home. Flecks of long dried blood covered the nearby foliage in black and brown. “Ifrit…” Lee muttered, suppressing a shudder. He glanced at Sephiroth, who he’d been accompanying on patrol. “Is he one of ours?” “Everyone in our company is accounted for,” he replied. “Whoever this was, he belonged to a different unit.” Lee formed a rough map in his head, bringing up more questions. “The closest other camp is almost thirty kilometers from us. Why they hell would he be all the way out here?” He looked briefly into the milky eyes of the former soldier. “Why walk all this way just to kill yourself?” Sephiroth’s eyes narrowed. “Why indeed…” He walked closer to the body and raised his hand. The insects were blown away by a powerful gust from the Aero he cast, clearing him a path. Lee turned away from the corpse and began scanning the surrounding trees, while Sephiroth knelt down to investigate. “What do you think did all of that to him?” Lee asked, “some kind of scavenger?” “Not likely,” Sephiroth responded. “There are no tracks or droppings. The softer flesh on his limbs, face, and groin are mostly intact. Hmm…interesting.” “What?” “The heart is missing. All the other organs are pulled out, but otherwise untouched. Odd, considering how nutritious kidneys and liver are. However, there is a gap in his thoracic cavity, just next to his left lung, right where the heart should be. It’s not in the pile, either.” It took a moment for the implication to sink in. Whatever had done it, hadn’t done it to feed. Wutai, maybe? He guessed that would make some sense, send a message, try to scare whoever found it. But then why make it look like a suicide? Lee’s gut slowly began twisting as the wrongness of it all. Everything, every single thing about that body was setting him on edge. It shouldn’t have bothered him. He’d seen death, comrades stabbed, shot, blown to bits, torn to pieces. Goddess he’d seen more fucked up shit than he’d like to think about, but nothing had rattled him nearly as much as the rotting corpse just a few meters away. The tiny voice that years of combat training had silenced was slowly coming back. Run, it whispered to him. Run. Wrong. Danger. Run. “Should we go back and report this?” Lee’s voice quivered, betraying him. “Like, right now?” No response. “I know that we haven’t finished the entire perimeter, but I reeeaaaally think we need to tell someone else, so let’s leave right the fuck now. Uh…sir.” Again, nothing. Lee swallowed and began turning away from the tree line. “I just think that—” Sephiroth was standing again. He was facing Lee, stiff and unnervingly still; Lee couldn’t even make out the rise and fall of his chest as he stared, unblinking, at some point behind him. His pupils were…changing. They were narrow, then they would grow wider, before snapping back into slits and repeating the process. “Um, Sephiroth?” Lee tried. “Are you…what’s wrong?” “...do you hear that?” he muttered. “That song.” Lee was, officially, freaked the fuck out. “N-no. What song?” Sephiroth didn’t answer him. He just kept staring. Lee watched his eyes widen in the slightest, and his pupils blow up, consuming his irises in black, as he looked at something. Something behind him. Lee felt a bead of sweat tickle down his temple. He swallowed again, feeling his heart flip-flop in his chest, and slowly began to turn. There was nothing. It was just the jungle, just trees and ferns stretching out into the dark, only slivers of sunshine illuminating the wilderness ahead. He squinted and tried to look for anything abnormal, but he found only trees. “What were you—oof!” Something hit him from behind, knocking the air from his lungs and forcing him to the ground. Lee barely managed to land on his hands and knees to avoid smashing his face into a tree root. Pain stabbed through his arms, from wrist to elbow, to say nothing of the thorns digging into his knees. A tight groan escaped through gritted teeth. “What the fuck?” He looked up and saw a flash of silver and black. It was moving in a straight line, far faster than he could hope to chase, and disappeared. Lee blinked, then forced himself to his feet. “What the fuck!?” he yelled. “Hey!” Sephiroth ditched him. He knocked him over, and then ditched him in the middle of the damned jungle. Ifrit, it felt like he’d been hit by a truck. He raised both middle fingers in the general direction Sephiroth had walked in, not giving a shit at the moment if he saw. What the hell was he supposed to do now!? Wait here with creepy dead guy until he came back? Lee turned back to the body. Milky eyes stared directly at him, meeting his gaze. No, they couldn’t have been staring at him, he was dead. Those eyes were dead, and colorless, and empty. They couldn’t have really been looking at him. But, Goddess, why did he feel them gazing into his being, pinning him in place? He noticed then, how quiet it was. The wind had stopped, no longer rustling leaves to create a gentle, ambient hush. No more birds or insects chirped. Even the flies seemed to slow their feast, finding a piece of meat to instead rest on and wait. Run, the little voice said again in what wasn’t quite a whisper anymore. Wrong. Danger. Run. Lee turned away and began speed walking back the way they’d came; Sephiroth could take care of himself, dammit. He was getting the hell out of there, consequences be damned. It started off as a march at first. He was a little freaked out, but mostly pissed, filled with indignant anger at being pushed away and ditched. But then the silence began to weigh on him. His boots crunching against the foliage and his unsteady lungs were the only sounds. It felt like a void, and the nothingness began to seep into his pores.
Run. Run. Run.
Lee began marching faster, hoping he could somehow outpace it. He refused to run, to give in to fear. He needed to stay calm, force down the panic threatening to bubble out of his chest and make his way back. But it was just so terribly quiet. It was a silence he could feel, a silence that only he was breaking, and he knew that anything lurking in the dark would be listening. It was such an unbearable, terrible… No…no it wasn’t silent. Not anymore. There was a low-pitched clicking behind him, too rhythmic to be an animal, yet too uneven and jarring to be a machine.
RUN
Lee felt like his heart was going to tear it’s way out of his chest. The clicking was following him. It was following him. He could feel it, chattering and whispering and watching. His lungs began to pant, sucking in the sticky forest air so quickly his head began to spin. He needed to get out of there. He needed to get away from the silence, and the clicking, and the eyes. Milky dead eyes staring into his back, condemning him to his death. They were going to tear his belly open, and rip his still-beating heart from his chest.
RUN!
His legs began to speed up out of his control. First it was a jog, then it was a run, and then it was a sprint. He could feel it behind him. Following him. It was following him. It was chasing him. He was running and It was chasing him.
RUN RUN RUN RUN!
He dropped his weapon and flailed through the branches and leaves. There was nothing but him and It and fear. His vision began to narrow, the blackness threatening to swallow him whole. There was another noise now, joining the clicking and chattering. A scream, high-pitched and animalistic. His throat burned, maybe it was him. He ran from that, too. It kept up it’s chase, bringing silence and death and nothing. He could feel it’s hot breath on his neck. The screaming grew louder, his throat began to bleed, his head grew lighter. His legs burned, his trousers became soaked in piss. He tasted salt on his tongue. Tears. Piss. Blood. Nothing. Fear. RUNRUNRUNRUNRUNRUNRUN— Lee opened his eyes and gasped. He was face down, in the dirt. There were sounds. Birds, insects, wind. Voices shouting at him. It was gone. “Lee! Hey!” a deep voice called. A hand grabbed his shoulder and rolled him over. Goddess, he was so tired. The sun seared into his eyes, and he shut them. “Go get medical. Hey,” the hand shook him. “We’re getting you help, okay? Look at me.” He knew the voice. Lee opened his eyes again. Mako glow. Blue. Black hair. Broad. “Lee, we’re going to help you,” Hewley said, “but I need you to tell me what happened. Where’s Sephiroth?” What happened? What…? “We...I...don't know," he muttered. His head lolled to the side. He was so, so tired. "Lee? Lee, where is Sephiroth?" "...gone," he sighed. "He left. Just...walked away. Left me...with the..." His mouth wouldn't move anymore. He was too tired to speak, too tired to look. More hands lifted him onto a cot, and Lee closed his eyes, letting the darkness swallow him.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
"Genesis?"
Angeal's voice crackled through the radio.
"We need to talk,
right now."
Genesis didn't look away from the map and papers on his table. He'd only just landed that morning, and his entire day had been consumed by cleaning up the damned mess the previous officers had left when they deserted. At the moment, he was in the middle of trying to organize the company into some semblance of coherency; whatever it was, it could wait.
"Seriously? I've known you for fifteen years now. I know you're there, stop pretending you can't hear me."
He rolled his eyes. "I am unavailable to take your call, please leave a message after the beep," he muttered.
"Genesis, Sephiroth is missing."
Genesis picked up the radio. "What do you mean he's missing?"
"Sephiroth disappeared two hours ago,"
Angeal continued.
"He was doing one last perimeter check before we switched out. The infantryman he was with tore out of the woods like a bat out of Hades, but Sephiroth wasn't with him. He said they'd found a body, Sephiroth went into a trance or something, then walked off into the wilderness.
Something
chased him out of the forest right after."
He pinched the bridge of his nose. Here we go again. "Are you sure he's actually missing? Do you trust a random grunt to recognize abnormal behavior for Sephiroth, because the man is normally quite odd. Maybe Sephiroth was, you know, being himself, and the infantryman got spooked. Hell, the two of us have lost track of him for longer than that."
"Yes, I'm sure. You weren't there when it happened, but I can tell something's not right about this. I'm…I'm going to go after him."
Genesis rolled his eyes again; leave it to Angeal to overreact. "...if you say so. Have you already put a search party together?"
"I'm going alone, there's no reason to put more of our men at risk. And no reason to freak anyone out yet."
"Angeal," he sighed, rubbing his nose once more, "forgive me for my bluntness, but you're being an idiot. Even if he is lost–which I don't think he is–what good will wandering around by yourself do? I think you should wait a while longer, then if he doesn't come back–"
"I don't really give a shit what you think,"
Angeal snapped.
"I am not waiting any longer. I can't explain it, but something's seriously wrong. Genesis…I think Sephiroth's in danger."
His offense at being interrupted was snuffed in an instant. Genesis had known Angeal since they were five. He knew his habit of blowing things out of proportions, assuming the worst and making a fool of himself over trivial matters.
This wasn't that. The strained, subtle tremor in his friend's voice…he'd never heard that before, and it unsettled him.
Perhaps...something
was
wrong. Not Angeal wrong, actually wrong.
"...okay. What do you need from me?"
"I need you to keep an eye out, and stay near your radio. From what the trooper said, he's headed in your direction. If he kept going that way, he might be close by. I'll come back on the radio by nightfall and tell you if I found him. If I don't, send a message to Midgar and get a full search and rescue party together. Until then, if anyone asks questions–"
"Run interference and prevent premature panic by being a general hassle and annoyance to high command. I know my strengths." He pulled out the watch schedule. "I'll have the next round of watchmen look out for anything unusual and check the perimeter while you're out. Angeal, be careful, and try not to end up in…Dug…Donga…whatever hellhole you said your apprentice was from. I'll never let either of you hear the end of it if I need to save you both."
Angeal snorted on the other end.
"And you try not to get your head stuck in a doorway on the way to our rescue. I'll radio back at dusk."
The channel went silent. Genesis stared at the device for a moment longer, then gnawed on his tongue. If Angeal was worried that something could be putting Sephiroth in jeopardy, what did that mean for him?
No, he'll be fine
. He stood up and walked out of his tent.
Angeal won't be easily turned around, his sense of direction is incredible, as is his environmental awareness.
Then again, so was Sephiroth's. Genesis didn't think it was possible to sneak up on him, and he seemed to have a near-supernatural ability to orient himself.
And yet, according to Angeal, he was lost. Genesis slowed his steps. No, not just lost. In
danger.
Sephiroth was…in danger?
He scoffed and sped up again. The more he thought about it away from the conversation, the more idiotic it seemed. Angeal had to be overreacting again, and he cursed himself for entertaining it. Maybe Sephiroth did lose track of where he was, but in danger?
Ridiculous. What in these woods could possibly pose a threat to the
Great Sephiroth?
Unbeatable, incomparable, perfectly-fucking-perfect Sephiroth? Nothing, that's what. Now they were running around like morons trying to 'save' the last person who would ever need it.
Sephiroth is perfectly fine
.
He came to a halt at the treeline. It was quieter than usual, no obnoxious insects screaming at them.
…right? He…he's fine. He has to be.
Genesis looked out into the distance.
Was
there something hiding in the dark out there? Waiting? Watching?
Stop it
, he scolded,
there's nothing out there. Nothing except bugs and wild animals.
He couldn't feel eyes on him. Nothing was staring at him as he stared back, so the hairs on his body had no reason to stand with a shiver down his spine. No…
being
was waiting.
Watching.
That…ticking. Was it always there? Was
it
waiting?
Was it also watching?
Hungering?
"Rhapsodos?"
Genesis felt his heart leap into his throat. He tore his gaze from the forest with a start. "What!?" he snapped, hiding his surprise with anger. The sergeant at his side jumped as well.
"Sorry, sir. It's just," he stuttered, "well, you've been standing here for nearly an hour. I just wanted to make sure everything was alright."
His mind faltered. "...what?" he managed to repeat. "That's not...no, I got here all of two minutes ago."
"Sir, my squadron and I saw you walking here on our way to the mess hall. We could see you standing here this whole time?" The sergeant's brow furrowed. He glanced momentarily at the other soldiers several meters behind them, whispering amongst themselves and watching with concerned frowns, then turned back to him. "With all due respect, are…you okay?"
Genesis blinked. "I'm…" He shook his head, suddenly aware of the heavy fog that seemed to have settled over his mind. "...fine." His gaze snapped back up to the man in front of him. "I am perfectly fine, thank you," he repeated firmly. "I just thought I saw something. Alas," Genesis gestured to the treeline and turned his head, "I was wrong, for the woods are as empty as–shit!"
He locked eyes with Sephiroth, standing a hundred meters or so away. Genesis brought a hand to his heart as it tried to escape.
"Goddess alive," he muttered. Sephiroth didn't move from his spot, instead just continuing to stare at him. Genesis let his hand fall, waited for him to do something, then threw both of his arms up.
"Hey!" he called. "What in the name of the Goddess are you doing!? Angeal's hair is going to look like yours by tomorrow morning!"
"Uh…sir?" the sergeant whimpered.
Genesis stepped forward. "Go radio Company 19. Make sure Hewley knows I said 'you're welcome.'"
"O…kay, but," he looked in the direction Genesis had begun walking, "who are you–"
Sephiroth turned and began walking away as soon as Genesis approached.
"Oh, are you serious!?" Genesis marched off after him, breaking sticks along the way. "Do you not hear me? Hello?"
Genesis knew for a fact that he heard him, because he'd begun walking faster, fast enough that Genesis had to break into a jog.
"Sephiroth!" He sped up. "Hey, what the hell is your problem!"
His response was to run, forcing Genesis to follow suit. His blood boiled; Sephiroth wasn't just ignoring him. No, he was
toying
with him.
Did he think this was
funny!?
Sending them both on a chase to find him, just to prove how damned superior he was!?
The fury caught fire in his veins and powered him forward, but he quickly lost sight of Sephiroth. He skidded to a halt in a large clearing and scanned it for any trace of him, yet found nothing.
"You," Genesis huffed, "insufferable twat! Are you happy now!? Did you enjoy watching me make a fool of myself!?"
The only sound was the wind. He barked out a laugh and threw his hands up again.
"You win, congratulations! Come on out now so you can gloat on the way back!"
The trees gave their response, a rustling cackle that mocked him where he stood.
Genesis clenched his fists. "Sephiroth! I know you're out there!" he cried. The silence drove him nearly mad, his teeth grinding together so hard that iron exploded onto his tongue. "Hey! If you can hear me, this is why Angeal and I are the only ones who tolerate you!"
Genesis knew he was out there. He
knew
that Sephiroth was just out of sight, listening to him.
Laughing
at him.
"You know what!?" He spun around. "I hope you aren't responding because you're lying in a ditch! I hope you broke your fucking neck!"
That last proclamation bounced through the canopy, crashing into his ears as it echoed. And it hurt. Goddess it hurt, so much more than any anger could.
Genesis let his shoulders slump down. "...Sephiroth?" he asked the trees. "Please say something."
The forest offered no reply. He was starting to feel terribly alone.
"Hey, I didn't mean any of that. You
know
I didn't."
He had to know that, right? Genesis tried to ape a smile. "It's dreadfully quiet, you know. If you don't say something, I just might have to fill the silence. Perhaps with a literary analysis?"
"I hope you broke your fucking neck"
The whisper tickled his ear. Genesis whipped around, but was met with no one.
"I hope you broke your fucking neck"
was whispered into his other ear. A gruesome image flashed across his mind of just that, and it roiled his stomach.
"Sephiroth, can you say
something!?"
he pleaded, abandoning his pride for the moment. "I get it, you're upset with me. But just…
please
say or do something so I know you're alright, and then I'll leave you alone."
He waited, in the silence. Genesis held his breath, and waited, and waited, until he noticed a shadow behind his own. An unmistakable silhouette. He immediately turned around.
"Sephiroth," he said in greeting. To no one. There was nothing but empty air.
That...shouldn't have been possible. Sephiroth was terrifyingly fast, but not even he could have done that. How could he have done that? Genesis slowly let his eyes drop to the muddy forest floor, and found no footprints aside from his own. Sephiroth wasn't there.
Was he ever there? Was he...following Sephiroth at all?
Genesis spun on his heel and began searching for his trail of broken sticks. As soon as he found it, he marched over to that edge of the clearing, determined to get the hell away from this Goddess-damned trip. His foot stopped just before entering the woods.
Did…he come from that way? Or…
He turned around. There was another trail leading in the opposite direction. And another to his right. And to his left.
Every line of trees, in every direction, had sticks broken off at the same heights. All were identical, none could be distinguished.
And he was hopelessly lost.