This world has been connected.
Tied to the darkness.
What did it mean? Tied to the darkness? These dreams were only getting weirder and weirder. She could feel it in her heart for quite some time: something was off. Were the dreams some kind warning?
A cheery voice rang over the station's intercom. "The train will be arriving shortly! As a reminder from the Dusklight City Transit Authority, food and drink is prohibited on all vehicles. Thank you!" Destati Street Station was eerily quiet this afternoon. Normally the brightly lit platform would be milling with activity, noise echoing all the way to the colorful mosaics on the arched ceiling. Trains would clank and groan as they sped past, their headlights flashing against the white tiled pillars lining the platform. Crowds of commuters, each with their noses tucked firmly in their own business, would stream down the main stairs from the city streets above. But there were no people, no milling throngs. No echos. No clangs or groans. Too still. She had to tell the others."Take the subway often?" A voice from the bench next to her broke her concentration. It was a girl, no older than seventeen, in a flowery pink sundress. The only other soul in the station. The girl nervously swept her long dark hair from her face. "Sorry to disturb you. I just moved here. I'm not really familiar with the trains yet." She gave a sheepish smile. "I'm June by the way, what's your name?"
"Nyx." the figure replied. June couldn't see her face, but the stern voice sounded like it came from a girl about her age. Nyx wore a silver hoodie with the hood drawn and faded black jeans. On her lap was a worn canvas messenger bag dotted with various enamel pins. Small white feathers poked out of one of the bag's weathered corners. "Nyx. It's nice to meet you. Do you happen to know which line goes to the library? I was hoping to finish my independent study before the end of break."
Nyx said nothing, but straightened her posture. After another beat of silence, the hooded girl answered. "This line goes to the library."
"Oh, that's good to know. Thank you." June looked up at the illuminated train schedule hanging from the ceiling. "Shouldn't it be here by now?"
"Exactly." Nyx was standing now.
"June, what do you hear?"
June slowly looked around."Now that you mention it...it is pretty quiet." She had noticed the odd lack of people earlier, but thought nothing of it. Maybe it was just a sleepy afternoon, she thought. But now the stillness was oppressive. Threatening even. She could hear her own breathing. She could hear Nyx's breathing, which had gotten strangely heavy. She could hear the tunnels. Something...in the tunnels? Scuttling across the tracks? That couldn't be right.
The lights began to shutter.
The noise was growing louder. Scuttling. Scratching. It wasn't just in the train tunnels.
It was everywhere. From every direction.
Moving.
In their direction.
"We need to go." Nyx hissed under her breath. "Now."
June nodded. "The main stairs are our closest bet."
She could make out the sound of claws against tile, as well as a dark haze that began to seep in.
Scuttle. Scratch. Pawing. Clawing.
Nyx slid her hand into her bag, which was now slung across her shoulders. "June. Listen carefully. On the count of three: run. Run to the stairs and don't look back. Understand?"
A low rumble began to shake the platform.
"I...I understand."
"One."
The noise was on top of them now.
"Two."
The low rumble became the roar of footsteps.
"Three!"
A flood of creatures burst through every open space. As June flung herself towards the exit she saw hundreds of them coming through the tunnels, the vents, from under the benches, everywhere. Dark globs with antenna and sharp claws. And bright beady yellow eyes.
So many eyes.
Her heart was on fire as she sprinted. Everything was a blur until her cheek met the cold concrete of the platform. The creatures descended upon her. Darkness began to close in.
Don't be afraid.
Awaken your keyblade.
A flash of light. Creatures scattering. June was still on the concrete floor but with a strange new object in her hand. It was a large...key? The voice called it a "keyblade"?
She didn't have time to wonder as another wave of creatures pounced on her. She slashed. They evaporated into dark clouds. She slashed again. Again. Through the flickering lights she could see the main stairs. Escape. Her weapon arm was beginning to shake. Just a little could see the bulk of the abysmal hoard. The hoard saw her too. They descended in a spiraling rage of dark claws.
Slash.
A silver figure in a feathery white owl mask blinked into existence and cut a hole in the stream of dark creatures. Nyx blinked from one side to another, brandishing her keyblade in crescent shaped flashes.
Step, slice,step, spin,slash, step. She leapt to June's side.
"Get up. We still need to get out of here." Nyx commanded.
"There's too many of them!"
The creatures formed a giant whirling vortex. A writhing tower.
"Hold up your keyblade."
June weakly held out her blade. Nyx held up hers. A warm glow enveloped them as a beam of light shot from their weapons, lancing the demonic tower in it's dark heart.
The creatures disappeared in a cloud of darkness.
The lights stopped flickering.
A different rumble shook the station. June could hear metallic noises churning their way. The train.
"None of this makes sense." Nyx whispered to herself. "I wonder if Yen Sid would…" She turned to June. "I have to go. But here, take this." She snaked a hand into her bag and pulled out a small card. She handed it to June."I'll join you and the others later."
"Join me where?" Instead of answering Nyx waves her hand. A dark portal appears behind her. She hastily stepped through and was gone.
"The train has arrived! Please watch your step!" People shuffled hurriedly from the train cars.
June inspected the card. It was plain white with a phone number and a singular phrase: "May your heart be your guiding key."
"The others?" June slipped her cell phone from her pocket and began to dial.