Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Shadow of the Lifestream: Shadow Blood ❯ Chapter 3: The Dark City ( Chapter 3 )

The air swirled around him, the light engulfing him. Denzel opened his eyes. He was lying in a white room. Or a place full of light. As he stood up, he noticed a dazzling city below. He wanted to be there, but something held him back.

`Denzel?' A voice echoed from above him. The stars twinkled bright above. It was Cloud. `Denzel, wake up, please!'

`Cloud!' He yelled at the stars. Nothing! Denzel slumped to the ground. Footsteps came up behind him. `Cloud?' He said as he jumped up and faced the person. It wasn't Cloud, it was a girl, a woman, and he knew her from somewhere. `Flower girl?'

`Hello Denzel,' Aeris smiled. She hadn't aged at all. Her skin was pure; her lips still rosy red, her hair still shone in the light. Her eyes were deep, beautifully deep. `How are you?' Denzel squinted; she seemed to think that being in place far from the living was a great place to start a normal conversation.

`I'm good,' He smiled at her, `Umm… and you?'

`Oh, I am also good.' She walked past him. `My, you've grown!' Denzel blushed, and smiled. `What are you doing here?' She demanded at him, her tone changing. The light of the place seemed to flicker.

`I woke up here!' He faced her, she seemed to have changed. Her eyes. They hid a rage deep inside.

`You are not meant to be here!' The sky turned to darkness, the stars disappeared. Denzel backed away. Aeris' skin had turned pale, her eyes empty.

`What's happening?' He grabbed the hilt of his sword, ready. The buildings had changed into pillars of darkness, issuing up from the ground. Turning he managed to dodge a swipe from Aeris, or what used to be. She had turned into a figure of darkness, a woman in black. She ran at him, thrusting the staff forward like a javelin. He backed away, but stopped at the edge. The fall was far. She still ran at him. He only had one choice. He turned, pulled out his sword and threw himself as far as he could at the nearest dark tower. He forgot all his fear as he flew towards the dark spike. He unsheathed his sword and thrust it into side. The sword smashes through like glass, and he dragged down the building, sword still pulling him down. Looking up he could see the woman flying at him, staff spinning in front of her. As he touched the ground, he ripped his sword out and ran as she smashed into the ground.

`Denzel! It is over!' She threw the staff at him; he turned stunned as it ripped through him. He fell to his knees. `Fall to the darkness!' Her dark eyes were drawing him, she was getting closer. His heart was beating faster, he couldn't move. He was scared, he wanted to scream, he wanted to be free, but she was getting closer. She was swamping over him. He could hear the screams of the Planet inside his head, calling out to him. It was in pain.

`Denzel!' It was Marlene. Suddenly all thoughts left him, he grabbed the staff and pulled it out. The Shadow screamed and floated above Denzel. `Please, please wake up!' He started to lose focus and floated up and up. He closed his eyes.

 

----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------

 

He opened his eyes. He was lying on his bed in Seventh Heaven. Cloud, Marlene and Tifa looked down on him.

`That was close!' Cloud sighed.

`You stupid idiot!' Marlene started hitting him, before falling into him and hugging him tight. `Don't scare me like that again!'

`Denzel…you saved Edge, you defeated Ramuh. You almost died!' Cloud looked at him, sternly like a father. Proud like a friend.

`Stay here Denzel,' Tifa walked to the door, `I'll get you food.' She walked down the stairs. Cloud smiled, following. Denzel stroked Marlene's hair. She looked up at him.

`I was so scared,' she said, her eyes filled with tears, `I thought I was going to lose you!' She threw himself at his neck and hugged him.

`Marlene…I'm sorry.' She looked at him. He drew himself forward and kissed her.

`Denzel....' They lay hugging for a while, till they heard footsteps coming up the stairs, and she slipped off and sat beside him. The footsteps stopped outside the door. Darkness could be seen under the doorway. The door flung open and there stood a figure of Shadow. It looked at Denzel, then at Marlene. `What is it Denzel?' She was looking at his wide eyes.

`Can't you see it?' He looked back at the door. It was gone.

`You need rest!' She went over to him and covered him up. As she closed the door she took one last peek at Denzel. `Sleep tight, my prince.'