001 - [AUDIO]

[stormhelm]

[static]... cctk... anyone... [static] computer only... intranet...[static]

[abruptly, the noise cuts out and the line clears] ...we go. Can anyone hear me?

Well... [a sigh, and at a gruff mumble] if this isn’t a dream... This is Cloud, trooper in the 7th division for Shin-Ra Company, personnel number...[the sound of fiddling, a faint jingle of

Comments

[Video]

[hiddensnake]

[Have a good look at one emerald, snake slitted eye]

There should be some red tape around. Keep it close to you.

If the walls are bleeding...it's not the first time.

Welcome to the apartments. As for ShinRa? Never heard of it before. You're far from home though.

[Audio]

[stormhelm]

[You hear a sharp intake of breath, and a sound like the boy might've jerked backwards in his seat.]

Y-You! Y....

[And then he thinks it over. The voice was completely unfamiliar. Relax.]

...th, thanks. [He sounds rather dazed, now.] That tape? Wonka said it's good for... keeping ghosts out. But ghosts aren't real.

[Audio]

[hiddensnake]

Think again. In this place the ghosts are real. I nearly lost an eye to one of them.

I'm Medusa Preston. I'm sorry if I startled you.

[The image changes, you can see her entire face. She flicks a forked tongue out for a moment]

You'll find a lot of interesting people here.

Re: [Audio]

[stormhelm]

[He sounds even more relieved to see her entire face, oddly enough]

... I'm sorry. For a moment... I thought you were someone else. Nice to meet you too.

[Audio]

[hiddensnake]

There are others you know of with Snake Eyes? I'm the only one in the apartments with eyes like these.

Comes with being the result of a science project.

I guess it's nice meeting you, Cloud.

Re: [Audio]

[stormhelm]

One other person. It's... good to know he's not here- [He cuts himself off abruptly at the 'experiment' part]

... that happened to him, too. As far as I know.

[Audio]

[hiddensnake]

Looks like things are common in other worlds as well.

If you see a girl with wolf ears, her name is Mika and she's my roommate. She's harmless, despite her looks.

[Audio]

[stormhelm]

Other worlds...?

[He sounds strained, at that, like it's the extent of his beliefs.]

So this is a place with ghosts, blood on the walls, and people from other worlds.

[Audio]

[hiddensnake]

Many worlds. You get used to it after a while, but it's not something I like. No one's been able to figure out how to go back to their homes.

Re: [Audio]

[stormhelm]

.... it's weird...

I thought this was a dream. But it feels too real... I can even smell the mold in this room.

Maybe... maybe what happened before, was the dream. [he sounds far off. Like he's talking more to himself than to her.]

[Audio]

[hiddensnake]

You're not dreaming. What happened before you woke up here wasn't a dream either. It's all real.

Re: [Audio]

[stormhelm]

... it can't have been real. There's no wound...

[the sound of hand brushing material]

Unless... I'm dead.

[Audio]

[hiddensnake]

Wound?

Re: [Audio]

[stormhelm]

... yeah... But there's not even a mark. So either... this isn't real, or that wasn't.

[Audio]

[hiddensnake]

What happened before you arrived?

Re: [Audio]

[stormhelm]

[there's a pause. You can practically hear the inner struggle]

... I'm not sure it even happened anymore.