Orrin skeptically eyed the red-robed man who stood a foot or so taller than his father. He was unsure by now if he had been led into a trap. An amber gaze seemed to look through him. The creature called Mickey smiled up to the two.
"Master Orrin, meet Ansem the Wise!" he exclaimed. His voice echoed grandly off of the white walls of the hallway. All around him was nothing but the blinding hue. Much to his discomfort, there was nothing but the architecture itself.
"Please, Master Orrin, call me DiZ. His majesty informed me that he had located you. It's such a relief to know that you are now safe," DiZ nodded.
"If you don't mind me asking," he began, "where exactly are we?"
"Now that's the mystery, isn't it?" Mickey chuckled.
Orrin sighed. "You said… you could explain to me about an incident I am involved in."
"Ah, yes! Of course, let's get right to it!" he jumped.
"Wait. Before you explain, you should know that I never intended to harm anyone," he defended.
Mickey cocked his head to the side and DiZ crossed his arms. "We know that," DiZ reassured. "But it doesn't mean that you're not a threat. Many people have died throughout generations trying to prevent the evil you so easily summon. Understand that we are not condemning you. We are merely securing you and your abilities to prevent anymore trouble."
"So… it is about the Heartless…" he said, closing his eyes in guilt.
"Huh? Oh, no, that's not the incident we're talking about!" Mickey laughed nervously.
"It's not? Well then, what is the problem?"
DiZ interjected before Mickey could begin. "Perhaps it is best if he doesn't know. Too much knowledge can easily corrupt the mind."
"Hey! Wait a minute! Telling me what's going on was the term for which I agreed to accompany you! You can't back out now! That is totally unfair!" he protested.
"Life is full of unfair situations. You'll realize that it is better this way once you the darkness has been unstitched from your being," he reasoned.
"Unstitched? Darkness? What are you talking about? I don't care if it's better for me not to know, I want to!" Orrin argued, clenching his fists. He started when DiZ approached. Loud, intimidating footsteps silenced his courage.
A whir sounded behind him and DiZ stopped. Out of the corner of his eye, Orrin caught sight of the Heartless standing behind him. He redirected his glare toward DiZ who eyed Orrin with distaste. "Bending to darkness will only reap pain in the end."
Orrin chuckled glumly. "And what would you know about pain? When your parents hate you enough to want to kill you, then you can talk to me about pain."
Several more whirs sounded behind Orrin. DiZ closed his eye. "Now I understand the source, at least," he scoffed.
DiZ raised a hand toward Orrin's face. "Stay away from me!" he protested, raising his arm to defend. Before he could even register what happened, he was knocked out cold against the solid, white floor.
A sigh escaped DiZ's lips. "The situation is worse than we thought, Your Majesty. Far worse…"
"Is there any way we can save him?" Mickey plead.
"There are several. Two of which are most undesirable. But the third… might be ineffective by now. Our primary goal was to separate the darkness that consumes his heart from the purity of his being. I never imagined that her DNA could pose such a complicated problem."
"Oh…" Mickey said with disappointment.
DiZ reached down and scooped up the boy in his arms. "For now we can make sure he's comfortable." He gazed down sorrowfully to the limp child. His features seemed innocent. There was no way the boy could be dangerous. But the Heartless stood dutifully nearby. "Your Majesty, if you would…" he motioned to the Heartless.
King Mickey summoned his keyblade. Instantaneously, the heartless were gone and Mickey was dusting himself off. DiZ was already walking down the hallway toward one of their empty quarters. "I'll deal with Master Orrin, Your Majesty. I thank you for taking the time to pick him up for me."
"You're welcome, DiZ!" Mickey waved joyfully as a beam of light stole him away.
The room was painted pale blue like the sky. Windowless walls surrounded the essentials of a bedroom. White sheets fell over a full-sized bed. A simple bedside table crafted from wood held a white lamp. There was a book beside the lamp as well as a pen. Inside were blank pages meant for recording. Drawers were crafted into the room's walls for storage. All of them were empty for now.
Light emanated around the ceiling from an unknown source along the wall's edging. It was a serene place with a welcoming touch. Gently, DiZ placed Orrin on the bed and then stoically walked away, sealing the door behind him. Everything Orrin would need for a few hours was in the room so he would only need to check on him once in a while. As for now, DiZ had a lot more planning and scheming to take care of.
~Starless Marionette~
A heavy feeling lapsed over him as he cracked his eyes open. The glow from the ceiling mesmerized his attention. Silence breathed through his senses. Peace. He never felt so at ease.
It was like waking up into a dream he had so longed to be real. There was no yelling, screaming or breaking of valuables. There wasn't even the sound of the daily clambering of breakfast being prepared downstairs. Just the stillness.
Orrin stretched out on the cot, fully lengthening his arms over his head and popping the vertebrae of his spine back into place. Sleepily, he rolled onto his side, pressing his cheek into the soft, cushy pillow.
It was only when he saw the unfamiliar bedside table that he realized he was not home. He gasped as he sat up, but clutched his head as he moved. Pain throbbed into his temples and he lay back down. This wasn't his room on the island. He was in a place he had never seen before.
Exploring the room, he searched for an exit. All around him were just the blue walls. Slowly, the memories came back. With an angered growl, he slammed his fist against the wall.
A woman chuckled behind him. He turned on his heel into an attack stance. She dropped her hand from over her mouth and grinned lustfully at him. "Hello, my child," she said in a thick, seductive voice. Black horns grew from her olive-colored scalp. Yellow eyes watched him with amusement. A robe as black as midnight wrapped about her in flowing obsidian and slender fingers held a rod as tall as her stature.
He regarded her with interest. A warm, captivating aura drew him in. "Hello," he echoed, returning her acknowledgement.
Her demonic smile widened. "I have come to rescue you," she coaxed. Internally, the woman tried not to laugh. Rescue him? Hah! He was a tool for her use. And he would make her more powerful by removing the opposition in his way.
"Rescue me?" he inquired, stepping closer. The room was frightening in the calmest sense. He knew nothing. And even after being promised he would be told things, no one agreed to inform him of what he longed to know.
"You have many questions, don't you?" she inquired, verbalizing his thoughts. "Come with me and I shall make everything clear."
"Th-this is a trick, isn't it?" he accused, stepping back. "Just like DiZ and King Mickey. You're going to trick me into going with you and not explain anything to me."
She pretended to look hurt. "Why, of course not!" she groveled. "What kind of friend does that to you?"
Friend? Yes, no friend would do this. But he wasn't about to be tricked twice. "Prove to me that you wish to help me!" he demanded.
She smiled widely, showing her sharp teeth. "Why, of course, my child." She waved her arms and conjured five Heartless before him. His jaw dropped in astonishment.
"They… serve you as well?" he asked, taking a step back. "You are… my ally," he decided, nodding and closing his eyes. "You're not going to harm me, right?"
"If I were to harm you, then I would have commanded them to do so now." In all honesty, he was too valuable to hurt.
There was the sound of footsteps from somewhere outside the room. Orrin turned toward the noise and the witch vanished. A door transfigured before him as DiZ walked in.
"You're awake," he noted drowsily. His eyes narrowed at the shadows twitching behind Orrin. He cast a spell and the creatures vanished into wisps of dark matter. The air reeked of darkness, but he supposed that was normal. Probably just Orrin's rage manifesting as the shadows.
"Why did you lock me in here?" Orrin accused, standing tall before the red-robed giant. "I demand to go home!"
DiZ sighed. "Your home… is no longer."
"What?" he exclaimed. "You're lying! Take me back now!"
"I cannot," he answered simply, stepping into the room. A servant walked in behind him, carrying a tray of food which she dutifully placed on the cot. With a bow, she exited, leaving the two alone.
He threw his arms in the air, furious with this man. "You whisk me away from my home and lock me up in here with the assumption that I am dangerous when I haven't purposefully done anything!" he shouted. "And you refuse to give answers to my questions! Why do you need me here at all? What am I to you? And what is up with your constant aloofness?" He folded his arms, looking cross. If he wanted answers, he would have to force them out of this man.
DiZ let out a small chuckle. "Stubbornness should have been expected. Your predecessor was just the same. And now you are besmirching their name because of the darkness that palpates in your heart."
It took everything in Orrin to keep from striking at the man. He was treating him like some kind of unspeakable abomination. "You're not even listening to me!" he snarled, turning towards the door. As he reached for the handle, the door vanished. "Let me out of here!" he demanded again.
DiZ turned to him, appearing calm. "I am listening, Master Orrin. But your reasoning is clouded with darkness. You're the one who refuses to listen. Darkness is a dangerous element. Its power is the omega of life and the seed of destruction. With untrained hands, it will consume you. I'm doing all in my power to keep you safe." He placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "I just hope that someday you will look back on this and understand why it is I am so unforgiving." He let the words sink in before leaving. The walls remained solid like the man's resolve.
It was then that Orrin wondered how potentially dangerous he actually was. The man's words struck something powerful in him. He had no words to return, even. But the words only strengthened his desire to press against the man's wishes.
Rebellion was instinctive and it was comfortable. As long as he had that mental reassurance of comfort, he would continue to kick against the wall. He was a prisoner now. Perhaps this was the way they intended for him to pay for his crimes of murder which he never desired.
He sank down onto the cot, looking to the tray with bitterness. He wanted to be anywhere but here. Why had he even listened to King Mickey in the first place? Nothing had been accomplished and he had been so foolish. Drawn in like a kid to a candy store. He was gullible. And now he realized just how much trouble it had landed him.
A/N: I know I have some major revisions to do later. I need to cut back the overwriting of Orrin's thoughts quite a bit. I apologize for this, but I've always favored description. I'll do my best to improve against old habits.
R&R if desired!
-Mayris