Chapter 6
I rolled over to face Roxas. He was breathing heavily and had a triumphant sneer on his face, but that wasn't the worst. Wyein sat next to Axel, glancing on disinterestedly at the scene. Furious flames surged relentlessly through my veins as I pushed myself up, driven by adrenaline. Something cold touched my hand and I realized that my hand and a half blades were miraculously in my grip. In a spilt second decision, I leapt toward Wyein, ready to slice off his face. He wasn't the person I'd know all my life, the one who had been almost an extension of myself. It was as if Mei had taken over his body and left no traces of my beloved twin brother behind. In some ways, that was what happened.
Axel managed to divert my attack, but not quickly enough. My right blade cut Wyein's face from his hairline through his eyelid down to his jaw. As I flew backwards through the air toward my greatest enemy, I felt a sense of satisfaction as if I had defeated Mei. I slammed against the far wall and relied on the last of my adrenaline to attack Roxas one last time.
I scrambled to my feet quickly and crouched into my attack position, eyes narrowed. As Roxas angled in to strike, I punched him hard in the cheek, setting him off balance and giving myself time to dodge his blow. He glared at me with unforgiving eyes and spat blood on the ground. As he leaped at me, I prepared to engage in a deadly dance. Whoever made the first mistake would pay dearly for it. Metal rang as it struck metal with surprising force. Constantly losing blood was doing nothing for my chances, but I struggled on anyway. At one time, I glanced into the corner where Axel was tending to Wyein. It was then I knew that time wasn't on my side. Once Axel finished with my brother's wound, he'd be on me like sharks to blood. So, I fought harder, losing ground and attempting to steer myself toward the exit. I wasn't sure what how to disengage and finally decided on a risky plan to fall and throw dirt into his eyes. It was low and dirty, but it was my life on the line. I'd have to risk it all to have a chance to continue to live.
But I didn't need to. A huge explosion set off near the entrance, sending debris and dust flying. I couldn't see Roxas and I was sure he couldn't see me. I ran toward the explosion, anything to get away from the masochistic men in that room. Arms wrapped around me and I fought desperately against them, but they were unyielding.
"Geez, Wynie, don't kill yourself. You've lost a lot of blood," a familiar voice chastised.
"Tam? Thank God, it's you." He dragged me out into the fresh air of the square where a crowd was already beginning to gather.
"I'll hold onto her, Tam," Drix said, coming out of nowhere. "You have some Nobodies to kill." Tam smiled knowingly and leapt back into the flaming hole.
"I don't think he's going to find anything," I said softly, feeling very light-headed. I was glad for Drix's arms, otherwise I might've fallen over.
He nodded in agreement. "What happened?"
"I followed Wyein because I needed to talk to Roxas-"
"Talk to a Nobody? Are you insane?"
I ignored his questions. "I wanted to know about an old friend of mine from Myno that he mentioned to Wyein. I thought Wyein would protect me if Roxas went psycho and tried to kill me again, but instead he just watched as that son of a bitch tore me apart. He's not my brother anymore, Drix. Something's changed him."
Drix didn't respond. "What is your problem?" I shouted, exerting myself to the point of unconsciousness.
"Ummm, Wynie? We have company."
I looked around his shoulder to see the yellow eyes of Shadow Heartless in a nearby alleyway. "Of all things to go wrong!" I exclaimed. "And it's even daytime! I suggest you run."
"I agree." Drix picked me up and began to jog through the crowd of people toward the smoky hole.
"What are you doing? Do you want to be killed by a bunch of crazy Nobodies?"
"Tam's in there and I doubt there are any insane Nobodies still there."
"But there's darkness in there!"
"Shut your trap, Wynie. If you have any better ideas, tell me; but if not, be quiet and let us both think." Drix climbed over the rubble toward the room in which moments ago, I had tried to avoid my impending demise. "I really don't think we should be in here," I babbled. "The structure's probably ready to collapse and one brush with death in enough for one day." I heard a snapping sound as Drix leaped away and part of roof fell where we had been standing. "See? I told you so."
"Wynie? Drix?" Tam's voice resonated from somewhere farther into the building. He appeared in a sky lit area of the ruins. "Why'd you come in here?"
"There were Heartless in a nearby alley. It wasn't safe for Wynie."
"She'll be worse off if we don't get her medical attention."
The roof groaned forebodingly. "Medical attention won't help if I'm crushed by this unstable structure, you numbskulls!" I growled. They both opened their mouths to say something, but the ceiling began falling in. When the entire building collapsed, people began frantically digging thinking we were trapped under the rubble. Unfortunately, this is only a guess; because at the last minute Drix summoned a portal and pushed us into it as the build fell on top of us.
