To Live and Love Again
Chapter 2
"What do you want from me?", Vincent asked in his sleep, "who are you?" He was dreaming about that strange girl again. He didn't even know her, but for some reason he just wanted to reach out and touch her. She vanished everytime he got close enough to her. Who was she? And why did she torture him like this? Lucrecia was trying to tell him something about this girl, that much he could understand. But what was it? How was this girl connected to his long lost love?
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It was two days since Sarah had met Cid. Now she found herself in Nibelheim, staring up at a very old mansion. Cid was staying at his friend, Clouds house. Sarah had met him and his girlfriend, Tifa earlier. They both seemed so nice. Cloud had offered to go with her to the mansion. He said it was too dangerous for her to go alone, but Tifa told him it was something Sarah had to do on her own. "I sure hope he's in there.", Sarah whispered as she pushed open the rusty gate. It squeeked on its hinges and left rust stains on her hands. She brushed them off on her blue shorts, and headed into the house. "The secret passage is on the 2nd floor.", Cloud had told her, "It'll take you to the basement. Thats where you'll find him." Sarah glanced around the dust covered old house until her eyes came to rest on a rickety stair case.
Her heart beat faster with every step she took up the stairs. Was she really about to find out her past? It didn't take her long to find the room with the passage. Once again it seemd like her heart was leading her. "Well mom.", Sarah stared down into the long narrow passage, "I guess there's no turning back now. I just hope whoever he is, he can help me." She gripped the cold, mold coverd wall and began to make her way down. The passage seemd to go on forever. The air was growing heavier, causing Sarah to feel light headed. She stopped for a moment and leaned against the wall. She wasn't going to turn back, so she kept going. Her hand brushed against something on the wall, causing her to jump back. It was only a candle. She quickly pulled some matches from her pocket. Now that she had a little light, she felt better.
As the bottom of the passage came into view, she felt sick. What was she doing? Whats was she going to say to him? And would he even talk to her? "When you get to the bottome, go to the room straight ahead.", Clouds words echoed through her mind, "Vincent will be sleeping in the coffin in the middle of the room. Be careful." Sarah took a deep breath to steady herself as she pushed the door open. The room she entered was a crypt of some sort. Old coffins and bones were scattered along the walls. In the center of the room sat a black coffin, it looked new. Sarah felt her heart skip a beat as she neared the coffin. 'I suppose I should open it.', she thought, 'Or maybe I should knock first. After all, I'd hate it if someone came barging in while I was sleeping.' She gently tapped on the lid. "Um...Mr. Valentine?", she asked softly, "If you're in there, I really need to speak with you." Vincent opend his eyes. Who was disturbing him now? He didn't move though, he just laid there, listening to whoever it was talk to themselves. " I need to ask you a few questions about my mother.", Sarah went on, "Please, you've got to help me. I came all this way just to find you." Vincent shook his head. How sad it was that someone would want to find him. But, there was something awfully familiar about the girls voice.
"Please.", Sarah begged again, "You're the only one who can help me. I was told you knew my mother very well. Her name was, Lucrecia, Lucrecia Hart." At the mention of Lucrecia's name, the coffin lid slid off and Vincent sat up. "What did you say?", he asked her. Sarah was slightly startled by his aprupt appearance. "Uh....I said my mother was Lucrecia Hart.", she stammered, "I was hoping you could tell me some things about her." Vincent stared at her for a moment. 'No.', he thought, 'It couldn't be...the girl from his dreams.' He slowly pulled himself out of the coffin and leand against it, arms crossed over his chest. "And you would be?", he asked. "My name's Sarah Hart.", the girl replied, "Can you help me? Please." Vincent lowered his eyes for a moment. "I did know your mother.", he said, "If you are who you say you are." He lifted his eyes and stared at her. Sarah felt herself start to blush and she didn't know why. Perhaps it was because she felt bad for disturbing him, or maybe is was because of his eyes. Those strange crimson eyes that seemed to burn into her very soul.
"I....I'm sorry I disturbed you.", she whispered, "I just wanted to know who my mother was. I never met her....she....died when I was a baby." Her voice cracked and she choked back the tears that were brimming in her green eyes, "I found some of her diary pages in my attic and got enough information to come here. You're the only one who knew her well enought to help me." She searched his eyes for some type of compassion......nothing. "I'm sorry.", Vincent whispered softly, "I wish I knew what to tell you." A sudden feeling of hopelessness swept over Sarah. "Please.", she cried as a tear rolled down her angelic face, "You've got to help me. I don't know where else to go. All my life I've wanted to know who my mother was....who I was. Now that I have a chance to find out........please, help me." Vincent stared at her, she looked exactly like Lucrecia, with a few slight exceptions. Her nosed was more slender and slightly pointed and her hair was a darker shade of red. But there was no mistaking it, she was definately Lucrecias daughter. "I'm not sure what to tell you.", Vincent said at last, "I don't want to give you false information." Sarah smiled slightly. "False information is better than no information.", she told him, "Just tell me as much as you can."
Vincent nodded slowly. "Maybe later.", he said, "I need some time to think." "Alright.", Sarah sighed, "I'll be in town for a few days, staying at Cloud Strife's house. Come let me know when you're ready to talk." She nodded to him, then left the room. Vincent stared after her for a minute, before sinking back into his coffin. If this girl was Lucreicias daughter...........how could he not have known about her? He closed his eyes as Lucrecias sweet voice echoed through his mind....."Don't turn her away, she is my everything. She needs you more than I do."
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Sarah made her way back to Cloud's place. Was she making progress? It sure didn't feel like it. What if he changed his mind and didn't talk to her. Then what would she do? She'd probably bug the shit out of him until he did. She always was a little too persistant. "Well?, Tifa asked once Sarah had made it back, "Did you find out anything?" Sarah shook her head. "He said he need some time to think.", she replied. Cid laughed. "Ya mean you actually got him to come outta that damn box?", he asked. Sarah nodded. "Hmph!", Cid snorted, "Ya got guts kid, I'll give ya that. Although ya can't be too bright." "Oh shut up, Cid!", Tifa gave him am evil glare, then turned to Sarah. "Why don't you get some rest.", she said, "It's getting late, and you haven't slept since you got here." Sarah nodded. "Alright.", she smiled, "Maybe sleep would do me some good." Tifa nodded and led Sarah too a room in the back. "If you need anything", she said, "Just let one of us know." "Thank you.", Sarah whispered. She crawled under the covers and Tifa turned the light out.
'There's no way I can sleep now.', Sarah thought as she yawned, 'Not now that I'm this close.' She closed her eyes and sighed. It had been a really long day. But somehow it all seemed worth it. After all, she had gotten him to come out of that box, which was something no one else seemed to think she could do. Perhaps he would talk to her.....she'd just have to wait. It wasn't long before sleep found her and she began to dream. The dreams were so real and vived, like they were actually happenig to her. Sarah opened her eyes. She was sitting in the middle of a large field of flowers. As she stood up and looked around her, her eyes fell on a woman in a white lab coat. Although she had only seen pictures, Sarah immediatly recognized the woman. "M..mom?", she whispered. The woman smiled and nodded. "Hello, Sarah.", she said, her voice soft, "My how you've grown." Sarah felt her self starting to cry. "I have so many things I want to ask you.", she sobed, "Why didn't anyone....." "Shhhh...", her mother cut her off, "All your answers lie with Vincent." "But....", Sarah protested, "What if he doesn't talk to me?"
"He will."
Sarah stared at her mother for a moment before rushing forward to hug her. "I wish I had known you better.", she sniffed, "I want so badly just to spend time with you......to do, mother daughter things with you." "I know.", her mother replied as she hugged her, "Someday we'll be together again. But in the mean time, someone else needs you more than I do." Sarah wiped the tears from her eyes and looked up at her. "You mean?", she started to ask. "Yes.", her mother nodded, "He's a tortured soul. Perhaps you can give him the love I was never able to." Sarah took a step back. "Is he my father?", she asked. "No.", her mother repleid, "Vincent is not your father. Your father was........" Her voice began to fade. "WHO?!!", Sarah cried, "Who was he??" There was no reply...........
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Sarah opened her eyes as tears fell from them. It was only a dream. She tossed the covers aside and slid out of bed. "I can't just sit in here not knowing anything.", she said to herself as she pulled her boots on. She crept quietly through the house and out the front door. 'I must be completely insane.', she thought as she made her way to the mansion, 'What the hell am I thinking?' She lowered her eyes and slowed her walk. She wasn't watching where she was going and didn't notice the man standing a few feet in front of her until she bumped into him. Sarah stumbled backwards, nearly losing her balance. The man caught her arm and kept her from falling. "I'm so sorry.", Sarah quickly apologized. She glanced up at him and gasped as her green eyes met his crimson ones. "It's you!", she cried, "Gee I'm really sorry. I should've watched where I was going." "It's alright.", Vincent replied, "It's as much my fault as yours." Sarah smiled. "Um...so what are you doing out this late anyway?", she asked. "I suppose the same thing you're doing.", he said. Sarah sighed. "I was on my way to see you.", she told him, "I had a dream about my mom." Vincent seemed to be lost in thought. After a few minutes, he spoke. "Lets walk.", he said, turning and heading towards Mt. Nibel. Sarah followed after him.
"I'm not quite ready to talk just yet.", he told her. "Thats okay.", Sarah replied, "I can do the talking. You just listen." Vincent nodded and Sarah continued. "As I said earlier, I never knew my mother. She died when I was about 2 years old, and I grew up in a foster home. Somehow, my new family had managed to get a hold of my mothers things. They locked them away in the attic so I wouldn't find them." She paused and took a breath, "My foster parents died when I was 18 and I've lived by myself ever since. Then, a few years ago, I found some of moms things. Mostly diary pages and stuff. But they weren't all there. There were so many pieces missing. It was like a huge jigsaw puzzle that I couldn't find the pieces for."
She paused again just to make sure he was listening. "Go on.", he said. "Anyway", Sarah continued, "From reading the few pages I had found, I gathered enough information to come here. Then I met Mr. Highwind and thats how I ended up here in Nibelheim." "And your dream?", he asked her. "Oh, that.", Sarah felt herself start to blush, "It was just a silly dream. But It seemed so real. I saw my mom, I even touched her. She told me that all my answers were with you....and that you needed me more than she did. Like I said, it was just a silly dream." "Dreams often hold the truth.", he told her. Sarah stopped and lowered her eyes. Vincent turned around and lifted her chin with his claw. "You really are Lucrecia's daughter.", he whispered, "She used to get that exact same look when something upset her." Much to his surprise, Sarah didn't flinch or pull away when he touched her. "Tell me about her.", she said, "What was she like?" Vincent turned away and stared up at the night sky. "She was beautiful.", he replied, "I loved.....love her very much."
Sarah sighed. "It must be nice to have someone to love.", she said. "Not all the time.", Vincent replied, "Sometimes it can be a much a curse as a blessing." He walked over to a large rock and sat down, then motioned for Sarah to do the same. She sat down in front of him and listen intenly as he began his story. He told her of the TURKS, how he'd met her mother, Shinra, and the experiment Hojo had done on him. When he was finished, Sarah was crying. "But why?", she asked between sobs, "Why would anyone do that? How could he experiment on people like that? It's not right!!" "Some people truely are monsters.", Vincent told her, "You need not weep over me. I'm not deserving of your tears." Sarah stared at him in disbelief. "How can you say that?", she asked, "I haven't even known you for 24 hours and you've already told me your life story. You're one of the nicest people I've ever met." "If that's the case", Vincent said as he looked away, "Then I truely am sorry." "Don't be.', Sarah gently touched his arm. He pulled away and she sighed. "Maybe I shouldn't have come here.", she said as she stood up, "I just thought maybe I would find my purpose. I actually thought my mom was right, that you needed me more than she did." She stared to walk away, but he called her back. "Sarah.......not all answers can be achieved in such a short time."
"I know. ", Sarah turned back around and forced a smile, "But I can't help thinking that way. I'm not sure what I thought I'd find when I got here. Or even what I wanted to find for that matter. But I did find something. I found you. I've been waiting for this for 4 years. Wanting nothing more than to find out who I really am. I knew nothing about you, except what I could find in the diary pages. But I knew I had to find you. Something in my heart wouldn't let me stop until I had." Vincent stood up and walked over to her. Sarah felt a stange twinge in her heart as he stood before her. She wanted to reach out and touch him, to hug him and never let him go. She felt herself starting to cry again and she buried her face in her hands. "I'm so sorry.", she whispered, "I never ment to bother you with all this." "It's alright.", Vincent said. He pulled her hands away from her face, "I....I'm glad you did." Sarah sniffed and looked up at him. He was still holding on to her hands, but she didn't pull away. She just stared up at him, not knowing what to say. For Vincent, the emotions that hit him all of a sudden where more than he could stand. He clenched his jaw and closed his eyes, trying to block them out. But it only made it worse. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw her. It used to be Lucrecia that he saw in his dreams and when he closed his eyes. Now it was Sarah. It had been for several years, but he'd never tell her that.
"Vincent, whats worng?", Sarah's voice broke into his thoughts causing him to open his eyes. He realized he was still holding her hands, and quickly released them. "Nothing.", he said, "I'm sorry." Sarah tilted her head to one side. "Sorry for what?", she asked, "You haven't done anything wrong." He glanced up at her as anger flashed across his face. "How can you say that I've done nothing wrong?!?!", he asked through clenched teeth, "You have no idea the sins I've comitted!!" "I....I'm sorry.", Sarah stuttered, "I just though...", "You thought nothing!", he yelled, "Go home Sarah, before you find yourself in someting you can't get out of." And with that he leaped into the air and was gone. Sarah fell to her knees and began to cry. "Damnit!!", she screamed, loud enough that the whole town probably heard her, "It's not fair!! Why did I have to come here? WHY?!?!" She sat there for several hours, rocking back and forth, tears falling like rain. The sun was starting to come up when she finally headed back into town. If she had looked up, she would've seen a dark figure watching her from the roof of the mansion.