Prologue
I've always wanted to see him face to face, that boy who's always under those trees…
A girl of about fifteen stared on at the figure of a silver-haired boy she had always laid her eyes on, ever since the day she first arrived in Destiny Island. Many a time was she given a chance to approach him but it all ended up without any success. He was always with his other two friends and the three of them seem very close.
I wonder what his name…is
She smiled and headed for the shore, dropping off her gaze from the boy. The day was as sunny as always, painting the cloudless sky in the bluest of azure. In the distance, chirping of seagulls can be heard; a few can be seen swooping above the sea line. Often as always, gazing out to the vast open sea, it gives the girl a feeling that the world she is living in is just a small place, part of one that is larger…
Wonder if the others here on this island feel the same way too…That there are bigger worlds out there. I'm sure of it…
'Careful there' Breaking her string of thoughts, she carefully evaded a ball accidentally shot at her by one the boys playing on the beach.
Tidus and Wakka… And there's Selphie too! …
She had taken the initiative to get acquainted to the other residents in her new place, the children that are always playing around in this island. It would seem that nothing ever worried the residents of Destiny Island; all of them are cheerful and happy.
'Ouch!' Didn't see that ball coming…Alert as she was, she couldn't steer herself away from another ball that was coming from another direction. She can hear footsteps approaching and the ball taken by Wakka.
'Hey, give it back!' A voice, followed by the scurrying of feet, indicated that the owner of the voice is now heading in a different direction from where he was originally heading to, probably in pursuit of the ball that had hit her earlier and was taken away by Wakka. He is the boy who is always with the silver-haired one.
'I'm sorry' another voice said, a much deeper one. 'Sora… doesn't really think much when it comes to games… Are you okay?'
She turned and smiled even though the sight of the person gave a slight lurch in the heart. It was him, the silver-haired boy. 'It's okay' finally, a chance to talk.
'Hey Riku!! Over here!' The boy by the name of Sora was now at the other end of the beach along with the red-haired girl, who was always with them, ball in hand, it seems that he won over Wakka in the brawl for the ball.
'See ya' With that, Riku ran along the shoreline towards his two friends.
Riku… Sora… She smiled.
Night
'It is so much better to feel the sea breeze at night, isn't it?' The girl exclaimed, breathing in the air in huge breaths, as if attempting to fill her every existence with the night air. Then, opening her eyes at the same time, holding her head up to the sky, she greeted the stars that are shining in the sky with the sincerest smile of pleasure. As fast as the afternoon has passed, so comes night. Oddly, something seems to be amiss. The view seems to be the same as all other nights but…
'Something's not right here… The stars are not there. I can feel an unwelcome presence.'
She took a glance around her surroundings, taking in the details, nothing seems to be suspicious. But at the same time, unbeknownst to her, a layer of darkness has already begun enshrouding the area. Everything looks normal enough, until she begins to notice the shadows on the ground, and from it appeared creepy, crawly creatures.
'Oh no…' she dashed, struggling to get herself into hiding. She just realized the whole truth of what is going on, the sudden presence of shadows, the stars invisble in darkness… Someone must've let them in, the Door to the Darkness, someone must have opened it!...'
As she ran across the beach, trying to make herself unobtrusive, she spotted apparitions of dark clouds above her. Dark clouds appearing at the very heart of the place she used to look at, the secluded area beneath the coconut trees, the place where she could always see the figure that she has been so longingly observing. She stared to her dismay upon recognizing the figure of the same person standing there.
'Riku!' True enough, Riku was standing close to the edge of the shallow cliff, enveloped by darkness. The girl's heart sank. No…
It can't be… He mustn't open it!
'Riku!!! No! Don't open the door!!' She screamed out loud, running closer to the edge of the cliff, in hopes that she could be heard. Please don't!...
A darker cloud swirled about and thickens, giving the girl a sign that all hope is about to be lost. It seems to her that, the darkness will only advance and not be held back.
'Rikuuuuuu!!!!!! Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo!'
It was too late.
Her world went white, her final memories being the overwhelming growth of the darkness; the moment the darkness gushes forth, blinding all into endless night, she disappears.
No… The door…
Riku…