Sorry for the wait, but this was kind of a long chapter...And I also was perparing for my trip to Canada and an anime convetion! Woo hoo! I went as Sora, though I wanted to go as Axel :\ Well, right now I'm in Canada on a laptop :O AMAZING! So yeah, I wanted to get this chapter up as soon as possible, but that's kind of hard when people like to hover...
Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts
By the time I reached Olette's I was running-running from my house, from my guilt. I emerged from the cover of my shadows and crossed the street. Olette was waiting for me in her driveway, a huge smile plastered on her face.
"Roxas! I'm so happy you were able to make it!" She beamed.
"Ahaha, yeah…" I laughed nervously.
"Say, how did you get out?"
"Uhhh, let's just say, it wasn't pretty." Olette giggled and I couldn't help but smile. Even though I was far from it, I could make her believe I was happy.
"Oh!" Olette dug around in her pockets for a second before pulling out two tickets. She placed one of the tickets in my outstretched palm. "Happy early birthday, Rox!" I blinked.
"Huh?"
"Think of this as an early birthday present from me. I know your real birthday isn't for another week, but, eh…" I blinked again.
"Oh, wow. Thanks, I almost forgot about my birthday." Olette raised an eyebrow.
"You forgot your nineteenth birthday?" Her voice was scolding. I let out a low whistle.
"Noooooo, totally not." She playfully hit my arm and stepped past me.
"You ready to go?"
"Yeah…but uh, isn't the center of town this way?" I pointed my thumb behind me, the opposite direction Olette was going. She froze, one foot ready to take another step. Not. Good. "Olette?"
"Well, you see, Roxas. I knew the only way you would even consider going was if I said Firaga was coming to town…"
"Olette, where are they actually playing?" I asked, my temper rising.
"Um…Radiant Garden?"
"Radiant Garden!!" I shouted. "That's an hour away! That's totally different than a concert in the center of town!"
"I know, I know! But what else was I supposed to say! I had free tickets and I wasn't going to waste them!"
"Whoa, whoa, back up. Did you say free tickets?" She gave a tiny nod. "How the hell did you get free tickets?"
"Heh, my uncle's best-friend's sister's cousin's brother's girlfriend works with the band, and she scored some tickets for her friends and had two extra…" I rolled my eyes-nothing was ever simple with Olette.
"You know, you don't have to come if you don't want too," she whispered, looking down. I let out a hefty breath and looked to the heavens. I could handle a quick trip to the center of town, but Radiant Garden was an entirely different story. An hour up there, an hour back…two hours, plus the total time of the concert. By then, either Cloud or Sora would realize I wasn't in my room. Olette started walking away, her feet shuffling for a dramatic effect. Ugh, girls are so annoying!
"Fine, fine…but only because you're making me feel guilty…-er." She turned around and had me crushed in a bear hug before I could even blink.
"Oh thank you, thank you! You're the best EVER!!! I WILL make this up to you!" Olette gushed. I grinned evilly, yes, yes you will.
"Well, are we just gonna stand here, or go see Firaga!?" I brought Olette out of her little world.
"Of course, come on!" She grabbed my hand pulled me with her as she ran-she had a surprisingly strong grip. Before we had even reached the end of the street I was out of breath.
"Olette, slow down!" I gasped, but she made no motion of hearing me-even when I stumbled over my own feet.
"We have to hurry! You took so long getting here that the train scheduled for Radiant Garden has probably already left!"
"You didn't tell me about a train! I don't have any money for a ticket," I fretted.
"Don't worry, silly. You know the 20 munny you left over my house a few weeks ago? Well, I'm using that."
"Thanks, I think."
"No, I should be thank you. I'm paying for mine with it, too!"
"Hey!" She threw her head back and let out a joyous laugh. I couldn't help it, I smiled, too…what was with this girl and the ability to make me smile!?!?!
*~~~
The moon was starting to cast a warm glow as we shot up streets and past corners. We crossed the empty, haunting space of the Sandlot, and my mind was instantly brought back to why I had to sneak out
("You could never beat me, chicken wuss. Your parents would be ashamed!" A tidal wave of anger…drowning in it).
I gasped and opened my eyes (when had I closed them, when had I started shaking, when had we stopped moving??) Olette's gentle green eyes were filled with worry as she looked me up and down.
"You ok, Rox?"
I let out an exasperated sigh. "Why does everyone keep asking me that!?" Olette jumped at the raw anger in my voice. "I, no, Olette I'm sorry." I lowered my head.
Olette squeezed my hand reassuringly and smiled. "Everyone's just worried. You've shut most people out-people who love and care for you."
"I know…I don't mean to, I just…I don't know."
Olette wrapped me in a comforting embrace. "You're just scared. Everything will turn out okay, you'll come out of this a stronger person."
I leaned into her hug, feeling so lucky to have such an amazing friend. My worries were starting to fade a little-she eventually unwound her arms from my waist (butterflies sprang back into my stomach full force). And that was that. I was still a nervous wreck, and we were running again.
~*~
We arrived at the station just as the train was pulling in.
"That was close." Olette murmured while boarding. I made no move to answer and found us a seat in the crowded machine. Why were so many people out this late anyways? Unless they were all going to the concert…great.
Olette started blabbering about something or other that I had no intention on actually listening to.
"And then she said-hey, are you even listening to me!?"
"Mhmmm," I yawned and threw her a bored look. She rolled her eyes and turned the other direction. The train jolted forward, this was it: the point of no return. I held my breath and tried to pump myself up. No doubt Olette saw through my happy façade. Oh wait…was I still supposed to be happy? Well damn.
It wasn't that I wasn't excited about the concert, I was thrilled, but I couldn't shake the tumult of emotions raging in my stomach. The guilt I felt was tossing and turning, masking every other emotion I should've been feeling. I was trying for Olette, I really was, but this guilt (or was it dread) was killing me.
Wait, wait, wait. Dread? Where did that come from? Possibly from what I was going to have to face when I got home?
("Hey, could you open the door? I just got back from a concert I wasn't supposed to go to." Cue the maelstrom of rage).
A shudder rippled through me and Olette glanced at me from the corner of her eye. I shook my head at her and turned my attention elsewhere. Anything was better than the stuffed train. I settled on the dark shapes that rushed past outside. Trees and rocks all blended together creating a macabre look. I didn't focus very long on the bleary world outside as a headache was slowly creeping in on me. So for the rest of the ride I stared at my feet…tons of fun, I know.
~*~
"Next stop, Radiant Garden," a monotone voice spoke over an intercom.
"That's us!" Olette gushed quietly. I sent a silent prayer to whoever was controlling my life, thanking them for letting me off this train. A minute longer and I probably would be spouting tongues. The train made the telltale 'whoosh' sound and began slowing down. Olette was bouncing in her seat and letting out tiny squeals. I rolled my eyes, girls and their 'squees'. The train jerked to a halt and the automatic doors slid open.
We were the first ones off, courtesy of Olette's pushing and shoving followed by "Excuse me, oh my, gosh so sorry!" Or "Sorry, in a rush!" Always polite, that's Olette.
Several minutes later of pushing and squeezing through people we were standing in front of a huge crowd.
"Are they all in line to watch Firaga?" I asked hesitantly. Olette pursed her lips then nodded her head sadly. I sighed and used the wait time to check out my surroundings. The train had dropped Olette and I off directly in front of a huge stage-an outdoor stage. (Another little fact Olette had failed to mention. Thankfully I brought my hoodie with me).
The stage over looked a monstrous field where several thousand people were already gathering. Concession stands dotted the outskirts of the field, and I saw a few people sporting giant bags of food moving through the crowd. I stored the location of each stand for future reference (no dinner, remember?). Branching off from the train station in two directions were heavily populated sidewalks. I figured they ran into town, but wasn't sure.
Unbeknownst to me, the line moved fairly quickly, and Olette was pulling me through the entrance by the time I realized we were in.
"What happened? You spaced out and I had to drag your sorry ass in." Olette's exasperated face appeared before me.
"Sorry, I was just taking everything in."
'Well, take everything in over there." She pointed to an open space amongst the fans. Well, not an open space, per se-but there was enough room for Olette and I to squeeze in. I nodded my head in agreement and began to fight my way through. We had almost reached our destination when I collided with something solid and much bigger than me.
"Owww…" I fell to the hard ground with enough force to bruise my tailbone. I was instantly aware of all the stomping feet just inches from my head.
I glared up "Hey, watch where you're-" and was starting straight into the greenest eyes I had ever, and would ever, seen. I noticed just below is magnificent eyes two identical teardrop shaped tattoos, and framing his head was a crown of spiky red locks.
"I'm sorry, didn't see you there," he extended me a hand clad in black gloves. Once I regained my senses, and realized I was looking ridiculous on the ground, I grabbed his outstretched hand. He hoisted me to my feet with minimal effort.
"T-thanks," I managed to stutter like the idiot I am. He cracked a tiny smirk.
"Name's Axel, by the way," then he was lost amidst the sea of people.
I choked back a response of "I'M ROXAS!" and glanced at Olette. She had a smug look on her face.
"What!?" I snapped and stalked forward. She shrugged and followed me to our 'spot'.
"So, that's Axel."
"Hm?" She looked into my startled eyes.
"Oh nothing. That was just the new exchange student is all," she smiled coyly. "Ain't he a looker?"
I rolled my eyes. "Sure, whatever. It was kind of hard to notice while I was on the ground!"
"Oh, sorry! Are you ok, Roxas?" She suddenly went from 'hot guy alert' Olette, to 'friendly, caring, best-friend' Olette.
"Yeah, yeah, fine," I waved a hand at her. "Though I'm pretty sure my tail bone is bruised," and I'm starving…"but besides that I'm fine." As we got comfortable in our 'spot' the noise escalated to a point where Olette and I had to yell to hear each other.
"How much longer until the concert starts?"
"I don't know, let me check," she glanced at her bare wrist. She threw me a pointed look.
"Sooorrryyy," I threw my hands up in mock innocence. She lightly punched my shoulder.
"You should be."
"What was that?"
"You should be!"
"Oh!" We lapsed into silence, each impatiently anticipating Firaga. All of a sudden, two huge spotlights focused on the stage, causing a buzz of excitement to roll through the crowd. A cloud of smoke drifted from behind the curtains and four dark figures began to emerge. A chorus of scrams and whoops filled the air. A helicopter zoomed over head carrying what looked like a video camera.
"Wow, I didn't think they were this popular," I whispered to myself. Have you noticed I tend to talk to myself a lot? I have…I need to stop that.
"Are you ready to rock?" A voice screamed into a microphone. The crowd roared a loud yes. The lead singer howled and launched into an ear shattering guitar solo. The whole band followed suit and started playing their hearts out.
Olette and I jumped and screamed like crazy people. At one point, Olette started head banging, causing me to laugh to the verge of tears. Several times some drunken idiot would push into me or step on my toes, but I refrained from attacking them on the account that I was probably stepping and bumping into people as well.
As the third song wound down my throat was already raw, and my head was going crazy. My stomach made itself known with a strangled gurgle I felt but didn't hear. I patted it sympathetically. I searched for the nearest vendor and felt my mouth water. There were only two more songs before intermission, I could wait that long. My stomach rumbled again. I hoped.
~*~
What seemed an eternity later, intermission began…thank God! The noise quieted down as the band left the stage, but not by much.
"Olette…Olette…Olette!" I had to call her name three times before I finally had her attention. "Can I borrow the rest of my munny for a hotdog?" She scrutinized me for a second before her face lit up with recognition.
She held up a finger as she searched through her pockets. I tapped my foot anxiously and my stomach started complaining again. She stuck her tongue at me and held out the 10 munny. I stuffed it into my pockets and smiled.
"I'll be right back!"
"Ok, just be careful!" I gave her a little salute, and then began my descent to the hotdog stand!
I tried to keep my head above the crowd, but several times a freak of nature blocked my view. Actually, quite a few freaks of nature blocked my view…maybe I was just short.
Eventually I found myself a good path and had almost reached the hotdog stand when a group of rambunctious kids ran past me: jostling me around.
I was pushed out of my path and into an older man with huge earrings. He sneered at me and shoved me into someone else. There were no kind souls among the crowd, as each person kept pushing me farther and farther away from my destination.
I felt my world drop from beneath my feet and I found myself falling. I covered my head as feet pounded against the grassy walk-way…déjà vu anyone? I tried to stand up, but got pushed right back down. As carefully as I could possibly manage, I crawled through the oncoming legs, avoiding shoes and heels alike.
Once the onslaught of appendages were no longer coming at me from all angles, I hopped up.
"Ok, not cool." I was nowhere recognizable. Each way I looked was a sidewalk that branched off into some unknown land. In front of me was a mess of people, but the actual stadium was a mile or two away. I could try to find my way back to Olette, but that would be dangerous and stupid. Instead I settled on calling her cell phone to let her know that I would watch the concert from here…wherever here is.
I felt around my front pockets…ok, not there, so must be in my back ones. When all I felt was my old army knife and the 10 munny Olette gave me, I started to freak.
"Where is it? Where is it!?" I panicked. "It must have fallen out of my pockets while I tried to avoid certain death…" I calmed myself down some. This was not that time to get all worked up! If I didn't have my cell phone, so what? There were other ways to contact people…like payphones for instance. I still had my munny, so all I had to do was find…said, payphone…right.
I checked my surrounds and found no payphones. Seriously, what kind of city doesn't have payphones?
"Damn it, looks like I'll have to follow one of these sidewalks," I muttered. Hopefully one of them would lead to the city.
I decided on following the path to my right…it seemed promising. I stalked onto the sidewalk, keeping an eye out for any way of communicating with Olette. I was so intent on finding a payphone that I never noticed the path getting darker a few minutes later.
"I guess this path wasn't so promising after all," I sighed. "Better turn around and- -huh?" I noticed a small, run down looking building in the corner of my eye. Eh? Might as well check it out…I mean, it's better than wondering around some big city…oh how wrong I was.
~*~
I cautiously crept down the alley in the direction of the dilapidated building. I was all too aware that I was, in fact, in an alley in a huge city. My heart was beyond crazy as I edged closer to the store. It was dark, and it was quiet, two very creepy factors. I placed my shaking hands lightly on the doorknob; it swung open with a click.
I peeked my head, chewing my lip thoughtfully; no one seemed home. I slipped in and took soft steps to the front counter.
"Hello?" I whispered. When no one responded I through a glance behind the counter. Seriously…what kind of store doesn't have a phone? I shook my head and prepared to leave when a creak echoed behind me.
I spun around, ready to launch into an apology, but no one was there. I chuckled-I was way too paranoid. Wait, what was that?
"-ord. We're ser-" Ohmygodsomeoneshear! I swiftly spun in a circle, searching for the speaker. The whispering stopped, than began a second later. The words sounded muffled, and I found a door not too far from where I was standing.
I should've listened to my gut and bolted out of there, but in this instance I was too curious…but you know what they say, curiosity killed the cat.
I pressed my ear to the old wooden door in a vain attempt to hear. I could make out every other word, but enough to drown my curiosity. Of what I could hear, it sounded like two males were having a heated conversation.
"What do you mean, you don't know?" angrily came the first voice.
"Look, I've told you all I know," the second voice was heavily accented and sounded a little strained.
"Don't give me that bull shit! I know you talked to Fuu this morning!" There was the sound of scuffling furniture and a gasp. My eyes widened, I needed to get out- oh crap. During the conversation I had placed my hands on the door, and now I found myself falling into the room-door wide open…oh, crap.
~*~
If you've ever been caught eavesdropping you normally get a scolding finger in your face, but let me tell you, it's a hell lot scarier when there's a gun pointed between your eyes.
"How much did you hear?" The man holding the gun commanded. I shuffled backwards, eyes crossed at the barrel of the gun.
"N-nothing," and as an afterthought, "sir."
"I bet." There was a click, and my blood ran cold. The gun inched closer. "But my little friend here says you did hear something."
I was shaking uncontrollably, but I would give this man the satisfaction of my tears. I gulped.
"W-well, maybe your little f-friend l-lied." Stupid, stupid, STUPID!
"What was that punk?" He grabbed the front of my shirt, hoisting me up so he could look me in the eye.
Once up I noticed two things about the guy; one, he had vibrant red hair pulled into a ponytail; two, he had identical purple tattoos framing the outside of his eyes. He shook me a few times, thoroughly rattling my teeth.
"I-I s-said-"
"Aw, leave the kid alone." The second heavily accented voice came to my rescue. The voice, in question, belonged to a man with short blond hair and a blond goatee.
The red haired man stopped shaking me, and I was set down. A hollow chuckle ghosted from his lips. It was silent, then he lifted his gun. The loudest sound I had ever heard echoed through my ears, following that was a blood curdling gurgle-a sound that will forever haunt my nightmares. Last came the sound of a lifeless body hitting the hard wooden floor, its life seeping out in crimson red. I stood, shaking, nauseous, eyes wide, at the gruesome scene playing out before my eyes.
"Y-you killed him," I squeaked when I found my voice at last. I stared at the monster in front of me. He rolled his eyes and muttered something darkly.
I took a step back, then another. I had to get out of there, I had to tell the police, I had to survive! Panic kicked in overdrive as I turned around, ready to make a mad dash for the exit. That's when a sharp pain erupted through my skull. Darkness filled my vision, beckoning me into eternal bliss.
You like ze cliffhanger? Muwahahahah!!!!
