Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Bring Me to Life ❯ Bring Me to Life ( One-Shot )

Bring Me To Life

 

How can you see into my eyes, like open doors? Leading you down into my core, where I've become so numb.

 

It was cold and dark in Vincent's coffin. There was no room to move and barely enough to breath as he slowly awoke from his deep slumber.

 

How long has it been?

 

A distant sound, like a drum, was pounding against his ears.

 

What's going on? Why won't they let me sleep?

 

A small chink of light told him that someone was moving the lid. It continually got larger and larger as it was slowly shoved off of the coffin. “I found him! He's in here! Quickly!”

 

A woman's voice. That's not Nanaki.

 

A young woman, about twenty, looked into the coffin. Her long silver hair was done up in a loose ponytail and hung over her shoulder. She was slightly surprised by the cold, hard gaze that met her. Old Nanaki had said he would be like this.

 

What does she want?

 

Without a soul. My spirit sleeping somewhere cold. Until you find it there and lead it back home.

 

“He-hello. My name is Samara. Old Nanaki sent me to find you.”

 

Old Nanaki? I must have slept a long time.

 

Vincent looked deep into Samara's bright green eyes. There was something vicious hiding behind her innocence. “Where is Nanaki?” His voice was dry and harsh from the many long years in the coffin.

“He's in Cosmo Canyon. He was busy teaching the young ones to come. He sends his sincere apologies.” A deep sigh escaped Vincent. That was all well and good but there was no reason for him to be awake. His scarlet eyes began to close slowly as his body settled back to sleep. He was jarred awake once again as a hand took hold of his.

 

Wake me up! Wake me up inside! I can't wake up! Wake me up inside! Save me! Call my name and save me from the dark. Wake me up! Bid my blood to run. I can't wake up! Before I come undone. Save me! Save me from the nothing I've become!

 

What does she want from me? Can't she see that I want to be left alone?

 

“Please don't go back to sleep!” Her voice was desperate. “Old Nanaki wants to see you again. I've been looking for months now. Please come back with me…I-I mean…us.” Samara's face turned an alarming shade of crimson. Vincent's cold gaze met her tear-stained eyes. A shadow of a smile touched his lips.

 

“All right. I will go with you.”

 

Now that I know what I'm without, you can't just leave me. Breathe into me and make me real. Bring me to life.

 

It was now one week since Samara had found Vincent's coffin buried beneath the ruins of the Shin-ra mansion. They had stopped for the night and the two now sat together in her tent. The young girl sat cross-legged across from Vincent who studied her every move. She ate in silence while he merely sat quietly. Samara fidgeted and Vincent allowed himself a small smile as her face turned another alarming shade of red.

 

Vincent was also the first to speak. “Why did Nanaki send you to look for me?” Samara took a drink from her canteen.

 

“He just wanted to see you again. I don't know all the details. Besides, I'm just a lackey. Not quite at the top with the elders and stuff, ya know?”

 

“Hmm. Why did it take so long to find me?” The woman faltered slightly as she reached for a piece of fruit.

 

“It was hard to find the right spot to dig. The Shin-ra Mansion had caved about fifty years ago and then the elements just kind of took over. The basement of the place remained intact though. That was the lucky part.” Vincent looked at his golden arm in disgust.

 

“Yes…lucky.” Samara was about to answer when a loud scream interrupted her.

 

“SAMARA! WE GOT A FEW PRO--” An animalistic growl drowned out the voice and was soon followed by screams of agony. The dig leader was up and out of the tent in a second. She was rewarded by a swipe from an ugly looking beast that come into the camp with a few friends. She jumped back in time and kicked the beast in the mouth.

 

Vincent came out from behind her to observe the scene. He drew his gun from its holster and fired at one of the creatures.

 

“Don't you have any weapons?” He shouted as he watched the girl kick box a creature.

 

“Yes! But I don't normally carry one!” She yelled back, trying to get to a body that had a pistol resting by its outstretched hand. She was almost to her goal when a claw caught her across the stomach.

 

Hot, searing pain rushed through her body as she fell to the ground clutching the wound in an effort to keep it shut. She knew that the wound was bad and that she might not survive. When she looked up to find Vincent, she saw a horrible sight. He was doubled over, eyes wild and fangs bared. He was mutating.

Chaos pushed his way to the surface of Vincent's conscious, the wings bursting from the poor man's back in a shower of blood. The tailbone extending into a whip-like tail, thrashing about in his anger. “Vincent!” Samara whispered as she lost her hold on consciousness.

 

As his skin blackened and claws replaced the hand and golden arm, Vincent stood up straight to see the beasts feasting on several of Samara's company. The blood rose behind his eyes and he stalked over to them.

 

The creatures heard his labored breathing and turned to face their new enemy. Their squeals of fright were turned to cries of pain as Chaos began to dismember each one slowly and painfully. When all the beasts were silenced, he tossed them into a pile for burning and looked around the camp.

 

Vincent returned to consciousness with a thud as his gaze fell upon Samara's torn body. As he rushed over to her, the Chaos features disappeared and he tore the remains of his tattered shirt from his body. Unbidden tears sprang to his eyes as he lifted Samara into his arms. She looked up at him and smiled weakly. “Guess…we won…huh?”

 

“Yes. We won.” She sighed and her head fell against Vincent's bare chest.

 

Wake me up! Wake me up inside! I can't wake up! Wake me up inside! Save me! Call my name and save me from the dark. Wake me up! Bid my blood to run. I can't wake up! Before I come undone. Save me! Save me from the nothing I've become!

 

Vincent had not felt this way in so long, he had almost forgotten how painful it was. His new-found friend was close to death and her chances of survival were slim. They had brought her back to Cosmo Canyon, but no one could give a straight answer on whether she would live or not. Nanaki was just as worried. He sat switching his tail as he spoke with Vincent.

 

“It's been many a long year since I last saw you, my friend. Why did you return to your coffin?”

 

“Nowhere for me to go. After Cloud died, I knew that I wouldn't have a home. But, being unable to die myself, I decided to sleep.” Nanaki nodded.

 

“I understand, my friend. But now everyone is dead and gone save for you and me.”

 

“Soon to be only me.” Nanaki laughed.

 

“Not as soon as you think. I may be over 100 years old, but I am still as alive as the day we met.” Vincent decided to change the subject. The thought of losing his most trusted friend dying and leaving him alone made him shudder.

 

“May I ask how you came to know Samara?”

 

“She is an orphan, brought here by some travelers from Kalm Town. A very gifted child, she is. She can wield a sword better than any man and her spells can bring down a mountain. There is also something hiding deep within her. Much like your Chaos.”

 

“Her eyes shine with Mako light, though SOLDIER was destroyed years ago.”

 

“Yes. It is almost as if another person is in there, waiting for a chance to come out.”

 

Bring me to life. I've been livin' a lie. Bring me to life. There's nothing inside. Bring me to life.

 

Someone was trying to take control of Samara's mind. She didn't know who it was or what they wanted. All she knew was that she did not want them in her mind.

 

Stop resisting woman. I can save you if you will stop holding me back.

 

“No. Go away.” Her hand moved without her orders and she hurriedly tried to pull it back under control again.

 

Fool! I can heal you if you just cooperate. Do you really want to die?

 

Samara remained silent as Tears flowed down her cheeks.

 

Just as I thought. You are waiting for that man, Vincent, to save you. You are more like me than I thought. Stubborn, powerful, to bad you are a woman.

 

Hot anger boiled inside Samara. “What is that supposed to mean?” The presence only laughed as a fresh wave of pain flooded her senses. She tried to sit up but fell back, whimpering in pain.

 

Stay still or you will make it worse, child.

 

“Don't…call…me…child!” She whispered through gritted teeth.

 

Meanwhile, a nurse ran through the stone hallways to get to the waiting room. She bowed to Nanaki and Vincent. “She's awake!” The two friends were on their feet and down the hall in an instant.

Frozen inside without your touch, without your touch without your love darling. Only you are the life among the dead. All this time, I can't believe I couldn't see. Kept in the dark, but you were there in front of me. I've been sleeping a thousand years it seems. Got to open my eyes to everything! Without a thought, without a voice, without a soul. Don't let me die here. There must be something more! Bring me to life!

 

Samara lay on her back clutching the bandages that covered her belly. Blood was beginning to seep through the cloth once again and she was muttering something under her breath. Her left hand was shaking as if something were trying to move it against her will. Nanaki reared up and placed his front paws on the bed.

 

“Samara.” He called to her as he nudged her cheek with his nose. She opened her eyes and looked at Nanaki with a pained smile.

 

“Is…Vincent here?” Nanaki nodded.

 

“Yes.” Vincent was still near the door. A strangled cry brought him over to the bed.

 

“I'm here Samara.” He said as he placed his good hand over hers. She slowly released her hold on the bandages as he did. The vampire was giving into his feelings again, but he couldn't help it. Just looking at Samara made Vincent hurt.

 

Samara's breath was coming in labored gasps, her eyes were shut tightly and every so often, a small whimper would escape. Her two friends kept a nervous watch, waiting to see if she would pull through.

 

Suddenly, her entire body went limp. A nurse rushed up to check her vital signs. Vincent held Samara's hand tightly in his.

 

“It's no good.” The nurse said, shaking her head. “She lost too much blood and we don't have that much on hand. If someone doesn't donate soon, we'll lose her.” Nanaki looked on in disbelief.

 

“No one can give that much and survive. And we don't have enough equipment to take that many donors at once.”

 

“I can do it.” Came the reply. Nanaki looked over at his long time friend.

 

“But, Vincent…. Not even you-“

 

“It is possible!” He said fiercely. “Hojo gave me immortality. You know this Nanaki!” The wizened beast hung his head.

 

“I do.”

 

“Then it is settled. I will give her the blood she needs.” But secretly, Vincent was doing this for himself. He knew that his blood would make Samara and immortal like himself. If this worked…he would no longer be alone.

 

Wake me up! Wake me up inside! I can't wake up! Wake me up inside! Save me! Call my name and save me from the dark. Wake me up! Bid my blood to run. I can't wake up! Before I come undone. Save me! Save me from the nothing I've become!

 

Vincent was ready. Even though he was deathly afraid of needles, he was going to go through with it. Snatches of memory kept surfacing of a white lab with puddles of his own blood staining the floor. He fought it down and looked at Samara. A needle, connected to a small tube, was attached to her upper arm.

 

The nurse came over with another needle and tube. “You don't have to go through with this Mr. Valentine. We can find someone else.”

 

“No. I will give the blood,” He said as he rolled up his shirt sleeve. He watched, teeth clenched, as the nurse inserted the needle into his skin and then connect it to the machine. This machine would pump the blood from his body, filter it, and then pump it into Samara.

 

The nurse connected the tube from Samara's arm to the machine and turned it on. Vincent winced as the needle began to pull the blood from his veins. The nurse kept a sharp eye on Samara's vital signs. After about twenty minutes, Vincent began to feel woozy and the poor girl's vitals began to drop again.

 

“It's not working!” The nurse shouted, frantically checking the machine.

 

“The blood isn't moving fast enough.” Despite his light-headedness, Vincent stood up. “Give me a Hyper.” Nanaki looked at his friend in horror.

 

“That will move it from your body to fast!”

 

“Just do it!”

 

Bring me to life. I've been livin' a lie. Bring me to life. There's nothing inside. Bring me to life

 

Nanaki nodded to the nurse, she gave Vincent the Hyper and he stuck the needle into his arm. As the potion entered his system, he began to feel far more alert, but at a price. The jump caused his heart to beat harder which, in turn, caused his blood to pump faster.

 

Soon, Samara's vital signs were back up and she was awake and alert. The nurse turned the machine off and Vincent swayed backwards onto the bed behind him. `So this is what it feels like to die.' He thought as he closed his eyes to rest.

 

The nurse removed the needles from both patients' arms and cleaned up the small wounds. Samara sat up to get her bearings.

 

“What happened?” She asked as she looked around. “Is Vincent okay?”

 

“Stay down girl.” The nurse said, gently pushing her back down into the pillows. “You need to rest. The rush of blood opened the wound and it needs to heal.”

 

Vincent slowly got back up as his body replenished its blood supply. Samara reached out a weary hand to him and he took it. Nanaki watched his old friend as the bandages were changed. He had never seen this behavior before and it intrigued him.

 

The nurse finished with the bandages and was about to shoo everyone out when Nanaki stopped her.

 

“We will go. You may stay with her, Vincent.” He nodded to his friend.

 

“Thank you, Nanaki.” The old one left and the nurse shut the door behind them.

 

“Vincent.” He turned back to Samara. “You saved me, didn't you?” He nodded as he sat down and pulled Samara into his lap.

 

“Yes. No one could give that much blood in time for you to survive.”

 

“There is something,” Samara said as she leaned her head on Vincent's chest, “That you are not telling.” She ran her fingers over the spot where the needle had pierced his skin as he kissed the top of her head.

 

“You have…joined me…in immortality.” He was very reluctant to say it for fear that she would disapprove. Samara laughed, surprising Vincent.

 

“It's all right. I don't mind. I was hoping that someday, maybe, I would be able to.” A genuine smile crossed Vincent's face for the first time in many long years.

 

“I'm glad you approve.” Samara sighed and curled closer as Vincent leaned back against the headboard. He, in turn, wrapped his arms around her shoulders. They both fell into a deep healing slumber, never to be alone again.

 

Bring me to life!

 

-fin-