Author's Note

Phew, ok, so I don't usually update THIS often! But this story is still only just beginning! :) So the chapters are coming real quick, but sadly they will slow down when I start getting into the depths of it all. Do enjoy :)

Chapter 3

Sora let out a whimper when the man withdrew his hand. It felt like that had gone on for hours and his body shivered. He squeezed his eyes shut as a wave of pain passed through his body, but at least the constant agony had stopped. Sora breathed hard and felt a drop of sweat slide down the front of his forehead to the back. He was sweating, yet he felt so cold. He felt so numb yet the pain lingered, fading...but not fast enough.

"What the hell did you do to him?" He heard Roxas demand. That's right, Roxas was out of his body now, tied to the wall in the same room. Sora had almost forgotten.

Roxas growled as the man passed by him, but he stopped to study him for a moment. Roxas could swear that there appeared to be more blue in his eyes then before.

"I took a piece of his heart." The man said, emotionless. A piece of his heart?! The man studied Roxas for a moment then tilted his head ever so slightly to the side. "Does that bother you?" Roxas growled, tugging at the leather straps that held him down.

"Of course it does! Let us go!"

"No, it is not time yet. But do not worry, your time will come soon enough..." The man reached out, touching the side of Roxas's face. Roxas pulled his head to the side, away from his touch. "...but it will be so much shorter for you...." He said, almost sadly but it was hard to tell with his constant lack of emotions. He turned away then and left the room.

Roxas swallowed, looking back at Sora. If it wasn't for the labour breathing, Roxas would have thought the kid dead.

"Sora...Sora, you ok?" Roxas said, leaning forward to try and get a better view of his face. Sora tilted his head towards Roxas, opening his eyes to squint up at him.

"...y-yea..." He said, mustering up the best smile he could through the pain. "C-c'mon...we have to get out...of here." He drew his face upwards gain, closing his eye and grimacing in pain. Roxas swallowed, looking around for something that might help.

"Your majesty." One of the butlers came into the throne room and bowed deeply to King Mickey and his Queen.

"Good evening, Richard!" King Mickey said with his usual up beat excited tone. "What can I do for you?"

"This letter has come for you." The butler hands the envelope to the King before excusing himself from their royal presence.

"What is it, Dear?" Queen Minnie asked, coming closer as the King opened the letter.

"Oh! It's from Kairi and Riku." The King said, smiling, then frowning a little. "I hope everything is ok..." He unfolded the letter slowly.

"Well, go ahead, Dear, read it outloud so I can hear as well."

"Right," The King cleared is throat. "Your Majesty, and Donald and Goofy...We have been blessed with half a year of peace, but we fear that trouble has found us again. On the night of Sora's 16th birthday, he mysteriously disappeared from his bed. We have searched everywhere for our friend but have had no luck in finding him. We fear that Sora may be in trouble. Please help! Sincerely, Riku and Kairi."

"Oh dear!" The Queen covered her mouth. King Mickey folded the letter back up slowly and turned to one of the broom servents in the room. "Please fetch Donald and Goofy! Immediately!"

The broom servents left the room without a sound to carry out the King's request.

A long time had passed, but neither boys could really tell how much. It could have been just a few hours, or days. Sora had gained back his strength as the pain was gone, though both were pretty weary.

"Hey, Sora..." Roxas said after a long stretch of silence.

"Yea?"

"...what do you think he meant that it would be my time soon?"

"...he's...going to do the same thing to you?" Sora said after a hesitation.

"Yea...but he said he was taking your heart...I don't...have a heart."

Sora was silent for sometime, contemplating over that idea. What would that man want with a Nobody if he was going after hearts?

"...I'm not sure..." He said after awhile. It fell silent between them, quiet enough to hear the approaching footsteps.

"...he's coming back." Sora whispered and he began to pull desperately at the binds. Roxas, at this point, had given up on that. The leather strap were so tight that they were almost cutting off his circulation.

The door opened and the man came back in.

"Are you well rested?" He asked Sora. Sora only glared at him. "...Very well. We shall begin again."

"No! Don't touch me!" Sora growled at him dangerously, wiggling to get free. Roxas bit his lip, watching this, unsure of what to do; what he could do. The man placed his hand on Sora's chest again.

"Just relax."

"Go away!"

The man pressed down. The red glow returned and so did Sora's screams of pain. Roxas closed his eyes, clenching his teeth. He had to get out, had to get help from the others. Sora had to be saved! Sora needs to be saved! I have to get away! Get help. Get help! Get help!

Riku was leaned up against that hammock like tree, facing the ocean. It was a place where he and his friends always hung out at, and a place he'd go to to think. It was also...the place where the whole adventure began.

He sighed, holding up Sora's necklace, watching it turn slowly, the sun glittering off the smooth metal. Where are you, Sora?

"Riku!" Came a familiar shout. He turned, seeing Kairi just on the otherside of the bridge. She waved. "Donald and Goofy are here!"

Finally!

"Donald! Goofy!" Riku said as they approached the two on the beach. They turned and gave Riku a big smile.

"Riku!" Riku would have returned the smile if they weren't in such a situation.

"What happened to Sora!" Donald demanded.

"Donald..." Goofy said quietly. "They don't know..."

"They must know something..."

"Unfortunately...we don't..." Kairi said slowly.

"He's just...gone?" Goofy asked. "Disappeared?"

"Yea." Riku answered. "We've looked everywhere. He wouldn't have gone somewhere without telling us...and without this." He holds up Sora's necklace.

"Where did you find that?" Donald asked.

"In his room. He never takes it off."

They all fell quiet, contemplating the problem. One thing was for sure, Sora was in trouble.

"...guys..." Kairi said slowly, breaking the silence. Everyone looked at her to see her looking across the ocean. "Look!" She pointed. They turned and saw something in the far distance, flying in the sky towards them.

"What is it?" Donald quaked, but no one was able to answer his question. The thing got closer, it was coming towards them at such a high speed.

"It's coming really fast!" Goofy said. Suddenly, it dropped, heading straight for the water. It was obvious then that it was a person.

"Roxas!" Riku suddenly exclaimed, as he hit the water with a splash, a ways away from the beach.

"Roxas?!" The others said, surprised, as Riku ran for the water.

The water sprayed as Riku ran in and eventually dived into the deeper water, tredding the waves as fast as he could to reach the kid. He could see Roxas, unconcious, slowing slipping down into the dark depths. Riku quickly swam down after him and grabbed his hand, yanking him upwards to his level and wrapped his arm around his waist. He kicked his feet and quickly brought them both to the surface.

He gasped when he reached the surface and Roxas's head flopped back against his shoulder. He could hear the others shouting to him and he quickly headed for shore, pulling Roxas along. Upon reaching the shore, Riku dropped Roxas onto the dry sand as carefully as he could.

"Roxas! Roxas, come on! wake up!" The others ran over to help. Riku placed his hands on Roxas's chest and began to pump, trying to force the water out of his lungs. After a couple seconds, Roxas suddenly coughed. Riku pushed him onto is side to make sure none of the water went back down.

"Roxas!" Came a female's voice. Namine left Kairi's body, on her knees at Roxas's side as he slowly came back onto his back. Roxas blinked, looking up at them, then at Namine.

"Namine..." Roxas said, confused. "Riku?" Roxas frowned. "What...happened?"

"We were about to ask you the same thing!" Donald said.

"Roxas, are you alright?" Namine asked, worried.

"Yea...I'm fine."

"Where's Sora?" Kairi asked. Roxas gasped, his eyes widening. It all came back to him now.

"Sora!! We need to help him! He's in trouble!"

"What?! Where is he?" Riku demanded. Roxas frowned and shook his head.

"I don't know...we were in a lab of some sort...and this man forced me out of Sora's body and he was taking Sora's heart."

"Taking his heart?!" Donald exclaimed.

"Is he a Nobody?" Goofy asked, leaning closer.

"N-no...he was....." Roxas frowned. "...I don't know.." He said quietly. Riku and Kairi shared a look.

"What do we do? We don't know who he is, where they are..."

"Oh!" Roxas said, bringing everyones' attention back to him. "He called himself a...a Phantom."

"A Phantom?" Donald said then frowned, thinking.

"What are you thinking, Donald?" Goofy asked, studying his feathered friend.

Donald was quiet for a moment before answering. "...I'm thinking we need to go to the King with this...he may know something about this...Phantom."