Ansem's Second Report
Chapter IV
Riku awoke in the darkness of the hotel room with the disturbing dream still in his mind. He had been having the same dream since he and the King escaped from their dark prison in Kingdom Hearts. To this day, Riku had not been able to shed the dream. Every morning since he had woken up feeling cold, lost, alone, and confused. This morning was no different.
Riku sat up in his bed and looked out the window next to him. Even in the middle of night this city was a sad site. The people, who never seemed to sleep at all, wasted themselves away down here in what seemed to be the slums of this metropolis. The buildings were kept in poor condition and the streets were lined with trash and other waste from the higher parts of the city. Riku stared upward through the window at what seemed to be a large disc separating the city into two layers. Obviously, those with enough financial resources could live comfortably, away from the pollution of the lower world, but those without the backing of money were faced with a much sadder fate. Just several days ago, Riku heard a drunk call the city Midgar, the city of freedom and opportunity, but Riku saw no freedom or opportunity here. Only sadness and depression. He'd never been to the Upper World.
Riku, turning his attention back toward himself, looked about the room he was in to make sure all his belongings were still with him. He saw his cloak and his shoes next to a chair in the small room. He extended his right and left hands, but immediately retracted his left, remembering that his other Keyblade was lost to that mysterious character. He called to his Keyblade, all the while trying to keep the energies of his heart low so as not to attract the Heartless. A soft white glow accumulated in his hand. The shadows in the room seemed to recede from its brilliance. The glow grew to fill his palm, and suddenly he was holding the Keyblade. He quickly dismissed it for fear of discovery. He couldn't risk a fight in here.
Riku wondered what his next move would be. It was getting late for this world. Already he could see the changes: the violent rainstorms, large groupings of Heartless, and the ever-ominous ringing of his Keyblade.
Riku climbed out of bed and stood up. He stretched his arms and was greeted by a dull pain. His arms were sore from the battle earlier that night. He rotated his arms a few times to ease the pain. He began to walk across the room to don his cloak, but caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror and stopped. His body was badly scarred and showed obvious signs of fatigue. Riku looked away and forced the image from his mind.
Riku dressed himself and walked out the door of his room. Outside the hotel, he looked around at the many people walking through town and tried to discern what to do next. He was told to look for a man named Barret Wallace and that this man could steer him in the right direction to what he searched for. According to Riku's source, Wallace knew Midgar better than anyone on the planet. Unfortunately, his source only gave him one clue as to find Wallace, "Two less than nine past the place the Devil cannot reach." Riku frowned as he remembered the clue, trying to decipher its meaning. He felt lost. The city itself was huge. And with the destruction of this world not being so far off, Riku couldn't help but feel a sense of entrapment. He began to walk to his right, while he thought of a way to find this Barret Wallace.
Riku came to a small building that stole his attention. He immediately knew he would find the person he'd been searching for in this small building. He quickly ran inside with a growing feeling of excitement as he swallowed the name of the establishment: '7th Heaven."
Upon entering Riku found the place empty. His hopes sank like a stone. It seemed as if the place hadn't been used in years. The chairs were upside-down on the tables and cobwebs filled the corners and ceiling boards. Riku let out a frustrated sigh.
A sudden movement behind him drew his attention to the ceiling. There was someone in here with him. Riku quickly summoned the Keyblade and swung it behind him in defense. He was surprised to be met with the clang of metal on metal. Riku leaped back to see a man standing before him. He was tall with dark skin and thick facial hair. Riku noticed a weapon and nearly gasped in shock. It seemed as if the weapon was embedded into this man's skin!
The man produced a small glowing crystal orb, which he placed in a small slot in his weapon. "Gravity," he muttered. He leaped at Riku just as Riku rolled forward to evade his attack. Riku quickly stood and looked back behind himself to see the man coming at him with his fist cocked back. He hit Riku square in his chest, a blow that sent him shooting through the wall and slammed him hard into the ground. Riku bounced several times before he slammed into the wall of another building and fell to the floor. Within seconds the man was on him, holding him high up in the air. Riku, barely conscious, was hardly able to mutter, "N-no…wait…"
The man laughed and said, "Who are you? What do you want? You better not be another one o' them damn Shinra, 'cause if you are, I'll show you the taste of my gun powder." He put Riku down and leveled the gun at Riku's face.
Riku looked at the gun, then up at the stranger. "M-my name…is Riku," he said. "I…I'm looking for Barret W-w-w-allace…"
The man's eyes widened. "Holy shit!" he said, "I apologize. I'm Barret. I didn't mean at…shit, I'm sorry…I'll have ya fixed up in no time." Barret lowered his gun and helped Riku to stand. Riku dismissed the Keyblade and clasped his hands to his chest. "Cure…" he muttered. A green light appeared in his palm and it sent a warming sensation through his body. When the light dissipated, Riku stood up on his own, regarding the man, Barret, and the look of shock on his face.
