Author's Notes: Remember my story' Once Upon A December Night'? Well this is a spin off of it. That means you might not understand this story unless you've read the other story.
Important
Note: story is set right after KH2.
Disclaimer: I don't own KH2.
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"If you wanna get out alive, ohhohh, run for your life."- Run For Your Life, Three Days Grace.
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If You Want To Get Out Alive
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Chapter 1
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Zexion's POV
Slim cold fingers caressed my face, serpent-like eyes scanned my appearance. "Please…" I pleaded, "You're the only one I could turn to."
His thin lips curled up into a smirk. "It's your fault this happened Ienzo, if only you hadn't left." He traced my lips, "I told you Xehanort would use you. But you refused to listen." His hand fell to his side, his expression unreadable.
"Please Ryan... I don't want to die."
He continued staring at me. I couldn't tell what he was thinking, he could mask his emotions better than even me. Then he spoke. "If I took you in…," he grew silent for a moment. "You're one of them now; he changed you, didn't he?"
"Yes," I stated.
His expression did not change. "So, what they're calling you now… Zexion," he tested the name," that's who you are now?"
"Yes," I answered again.
He grabbed my collar, and pulled my neck to his mouth. "Your new name fits," he murmured before sinking his teeth into the hollow of my neck.
I whimpered, but didn't protest. This was test, to see what I was willing to do in exchange for his help. If I angered him, he would get the police. If the police came… well, that would be the end of me. Ironic that I'd look to the past I sought to escape for protection.
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Demyx's POV
Slash, Parry, Slash, Dodge. The first group turned to black dust, the way was clear. I ran through the gorge, towards the safety of the city. I halted at the castle gates, stunned by fear. The place I had--- I choked back a whimper.
I could've stood there forever, gazing at the spot I had faded. But I couldn't. I heard more shadows materialize behind me. I ran, not stopping, even after I had exerted all my energy. I couldn't stop, if the shadows didn't get me, someone else would.
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I reached a place with urban surroundings. No heartless, no committee, no keybearer; here I was safe. There were countless shops and bars on either side of me, and a concert hall down the street. I vaguely remembered coming here before. Back when I was Myde.
My band had held our most successful concert here… our last concert. I winced at the memories that flooded back. The day after the concert the sky turned black, and so much blood was shed that the streets were stained crimson. I was one of the first of many victims. I never found out what happened to the rest of my band, and now I'm not sure if I even deserve to know. Someone who's destroyed as many lives and worlds as I have doesn't deserve answers.
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Zexion's POV
Ryan decided to spare me. Agreeing to let me stay with him until the police stopped searching for nobodies. "Stay here until I get back, other people aren't as generous as I am," he had said, leaving me at his apartment. Him generous… more like possessive--- Just like everyone else.
I walked over to his futon and laid down, stretching muscles still sore from running. I'd spent the entire morning traveling from the crossroads near Castle Oblivion to here, the whole time being tailed by a very skilled hunter. From what I could tell, whatever had been stalking me had been made of darkness, containing no light. And it was probably helping out Hollow Bastion authorities. Wondering why the authorities want me? Simple, I helped unleash the darkness that started it all, and I was part of the organization that destroyed in order to collect hearts.
But it was never my fault… it wasn't my fault I trusted Xehanort. It wasn't my fault the darkness possessing Xehonart used my trust to his advantage. It wasn't my fault the worlds were in chaos.
But it was someone's fault.And no matter how much I would like to believe otherwise, it was Xehanorts'. And as long as I remained loyal to him, I would remain guilty.
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Demyx's POV
The café' was small, but it was warm and the smells were inviting. Just because I was marked as a wanted man didn't erase the fact I couldn't turn down comfort. Especially when the comfort was only feet away.
If Axel was still alive, or Roxas was still Roxas, we might've gone in together, laughing about something that had happened earlier that day. But instead, I walked in alone, my expression sullen.
The café' was nicer than it looked. It smelled like cream and ginger, had soft-looking chairs around small glass tables, and very few people inside. The smaller the amount of people, the smaller chance of being caught.
I was tempted to sit down, but I knew I couldn't relax just yet. I was still wearing Organization getup, I had to change.
I walked into the café's restroom and locked the door behind me. Then I unzipped the bag I'd been carrying and took out the clothes I had placed inside. The first thing I discarded was my coat. I threw that aside and instead put on a long black-jean jacket with short sleeves over my shirt. Next I got rid of the leather pants and replaced them with grey jeans. Lastly I took off my leather gloves and put on fingerless black and white ones instead. The gloves were unnecessary, but I felt weird without something covering my palms.
I looked in the mirror. The change of clothes had definitely made a difference. But my hair was still completely recognizable. I turned the faucet on and cupped my hands, and then I poured some water onto my hair. I continued to do that until my mullet was no longer a mullet. I looked back into the mirror. Instead of standing straight up, the different sections went this way and that. I was still recognizable, but people who only had my picture to go on would at least assume me as someone else. I supposed that would be good enough for now.
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Sora's POV
'What's going on? Where are we going?" I heard a voice echo in my head. About a month after I had returned to Destiny Islands I started hearing it. It was Roxas… he only talked to me when something was happening, or he was lonely. I found out recently that ever since he had joined me he had been reduced to walking around a white room and hearing my thoughts and voice.
"King Mickey wants Riku, Kairi and me to go to Hollow Bastion," I muttered under my breath.
'oh.'
"What did you say Sora?" asked Kairi as she climbed into the gummi ship after me.
"Nothing!" I squeaked.
'Why do you keep lying to them? Why not just tell them about me? Scared they'll think you're crazy?" The voice mocked.
I walked over to the window of the gummi ship, watching as we flew off the world, determined to ignore him.
'You know you can't pretend forever. I do exist, and I'm not going anywhere anytime soon.'
"I know," I muttered," It's just-"
'Its just you wish I didn't exist. I get it.'
"Roxas, its not that! I-"
"Sora, come over here, I need you to take over the controls," called Riku, cutting me off. I walked over and took the controls from him, steering the ship towards recently renamed Radiant Gardens.
Out of the corner of my eye I could see Kairi looking at me with a worried expression, she must've heard me arguing with myself. I was going to have to watch my voice around her.
Then again, maybe Namine was giving her as much trouble as Roxas was giving me. "Uh Kairi?" I turned to her. She immediately hid all signs of worry.
"Yeah."
"Um, has Namine ever spoke to you? I mean, in your mind?" The concerned look on her face immediately returned.
"No, Why? Do you hear Roxas? Is that why you keep mumbling things?" Kairi questioned, the way a worried mother would. Good thing Riku was in the other room.
'So, your friends do think you're going insane.' I hear the echoes of cruel amusement. 'Now you know how I felt when I was living in twilight town… I thought I was going crazy. Seeing Axel and Ansem everywhere.'
"Will you shut up!" I hissed at Roxas, unfortunately Kairi thought I had said it to her. Kairi looked like she had just gotten slapped.
"I-I'm just concerned, y-you didn't-t h-have to yell at me." She stuttered.
"No, no! I wasn't telling you to shut up… I'm sorry Kairi." I said apologetically.
'No, but he meant for you to. He doesn't want you to know about me.' Roxas said, highly annoyed and not at all happy. I bet it made him even angrier to know she couldn't hear him.
She slowly took in what I said. Then her expression returned from hurt back to concern. It was strange how girls' could change their emotions so suddenly. "I forgive you… but, if you weren't telling me to be quiet, were you telling… Roxas?"
"Yes."
Her expression was carefully calm, but I had the suspicion she was thinking something not-so-calm.
'She's probably figuring the possibility of me actually talking to you. I bet she says you're just imagining things,' He said the last part with a tinge of sadness. I could tell that tonight was going to be another one of those listen-to-your-nobody-as-he-sulks-and-tries-to-destroy-something nights. I never get any sleep those nights though because Roxas can't hurt himself of anything else while he's inside of me. So instead of destroying things he just cries for hours.
Kairi snapped me back to reality when I heard her say to Riku (whom I had just noticed), "Sora is having a bit of a problem with his nobody. He might just be imagining things, but I still think we should see Yen Sid, just to make sure."
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