Chapter 10: Short on Scares

Shadows eclipsed their surroundings. The ground beneath Sora's hands and feet felt, stiff, smooth, and, above all else, cold. Creeping across the floor, his eyes scanned their new surroundings. Up ahead, he made out what looked like a wall, at least ten feet tall and attached to a long, rectangular stage suspended above the floor. Cords and wires tangled around each other, stretching past the stage and across the room. Peeking around the corner, Sora followed the wires until they stopped abruptly at the base of some kind of device coated in buttons, switches, and knobs. Was it some kind of control panel? And for what?

…On second thought, maybe that was a dumb question. It only took a second for the dim glow of some TV screens to grab Sora's attention. Squinting, he looked towards the wall of monitors. Each displayed footage of some kind of room. One screen showed a small bed from above, with white blankets concealing all but a head of short hair. Another focused on the floor, strewn with loose throwing jacks. Crayon drawings decorated the wall, each one showcasing grotesque forms with jagged teeth, tentacles, faces covered in eyeballs. Either this kid really loved monsters, or it was closer to Halloween than Sora thought. Maybe both!

"But wait a sec," said Ven. "Why would they be spying on a kid's room? And where are we, anyway?"

"Are you sure they're spying on him?" Aqua peered over Sora's shoulder and squinted. "Take a closer look at that stage."

Huh? Sora scratched his head, eyes returning to the stage itself. One look, and his eyes popped wide open, and he tumbled backwards. He had to take a second look just to make sure he hadn't imagined it, but when he did, the scene remained unchanged. The bed at the back of the wall, the minefield of jacks, the drawings, everything matched the TV screens perfectly!

So, were they filming some kind of play? That couldn't be. Where were all the seats? Looking around the room, Sora saw no place for spectators. Just wide, open space, some doors propped up against the wall, and an Exit sign that shone with blood red letters. Equally red were the two, metal doors that stood beneath it. Definitely not what he'd expect at a theater. So, either this was some kind of studio, or—

Before he could finish his thought, he felt someone grasp his arm. The next thing he knew, Aqua yanked him back behind the stage. The second he heard the exit doors screech, he knew why. Someone was coming, and if they were gonna learn anything, they needed to stay out of sight.

The doors slammed shut. Hurried footsteps followed, eight at a time. It sounded like the scuttling of a crab along a shoreline, if somebody had stuck a microphone down on the sand. Those weren't the only sounds, either. Soon, heavier footsteps joined in. Unlike the first figure, these steps carried the sound of boots striking the floor. They sounded human, just like the voices that followed.

"Now, while I appreciate your offer, I find those Heartless of yours a bit…" The crab-like shuffling stopped. "Well, they lack the integrity of proper scarers. Sure, they're scary—even I'm a bit spooked, but they seem so… lifeless is the word I'm looking for."

Heartless… Sora clenched his teeth, feeling his claws digging into his palms. Drawing in a mouthful of air, he dragged himself to the corner of the stage, once again looking over the edge. He had to hold his mouth shut to avoid gasping and gawking at the figure out in front of him.

Eight segmented legs reached out from his rounded body, just like a giant crustacean. His hands bore seven equally segmented fingers, and five beady eyeballs coated his round, pudgy face. A long-sleeved black suit hung over his shoulders, covering his red, button-up top. A little black bow-tie completed his getup, and despite looking like something that crawled straight outta Halloween Town, the guy carried an almost classy appearance.

He looked to the second figure with a frown forming on his heavily wrinkled face. Following the monster's gaze, Sora almost jumped when he saw the tail end of a black coat. Clenching his fists even tighter than before, he resisted the urge to maul that hooded creep. Though his coat concealed his face, the broad shoulders, towering height, and stiff posture provided more than enough hints to the Nobody's identity. Facing the monster, he pulled his arms over his chest and tipped his head back. His voice cut through the silence like shards of ice.

"Mr. Waternoose," said Saïx, and there was no doubt about it. "If I recall, you are in the midst of an energy crisis." He trudged towards the monitors, shaking his head. "I have seen the way you struggle to obtain new recruits, fumbling monsters who cannot even frighten a simulation, much less a real child…"

Waternoose opened his mouth to speak, but it snapped shut in less than a second, and all five of his eyes slid shut. His fingers curled inward, and he swiveled towards the stage. "It's true. Every time they bring in new recruits, I find myself wondering how they graduated scare school. Don't they realize how difficult it is to frighten kids these days?"

"It's a pity, isn't it? And every time a monster returns with even a trace of human belongings…"

"The CDA comes barging in." Waternoose grimaced. "One sock is enough to shut down an entire scare floor."

"Then do you not see the benefits?" Saïx lowered his arms, striding closer to the monster. He stopped just two feet away, casting a shadow over his entire form. "Desperate times call for desperate measures. Given the incompetence of your monsters, I highly advise you to consider the Heartless. After all, they do not know fear, and there is no doubt they will succeed in delivering screams…"

"Oh, I don't doubt this at all. The question is, can you control them?" He threw his shoulders back, craning his stubby neck up at Saïx. "I can't risk any accidents. If they were to start feeding on my scarers, I'd lose this business, with or without screams." He looked down, brow wrinkling. "And don't start telling me to use darkness. I'm already aware of the risks, and I'd rather not become their next meal."

Whoa, someone actually did their homework? The Organization was gonna have a tough time with this one. Pulling his lips back into a grin, Sora slid just a little bit closer and watched as Saïx turned his back on Waternoose, crossing his arms yet again. His fingers gripped at his sleeves, and Sora could just imagine him biting his lip, trying not to snap.

He didn't. No, after a few moments in silence, Saïx shifted to face Waternoose again, speaking with a smooth, steady tone.

"Then allow us to ensure that no harm befalls you or your employees. After all, your reservations about darkness are understandable." He chuckled coldly, gesturing towards a stack of doors leaning against the wall. "Think of this as a mutual partnership. Our Heartless can and will gather screams at an accelerated rate, while your doors will grant us accessibility to the worlds within them."

"And just what do you plan to do in those worlds?" Waternoose scowled, puffing up his chest. "And why should I facilitate it? It certainly doesn't sound like it will benefit my company."

"Then here's some incentive." Saïx leaned over him, extending one of his arms. His fingers snapped, and Waternoose scuttled backwards, all five of his eyes widening.

"No, not here!"

Saïx said nothing. The howl of the air and the twist of dark corridors communicated for him, dropping a dozen shadowy forms onto the ground, each one thudding as they landed around Waternoose's feet. Dragging their claws across the floor, the Neoshadows rose to their feet, twitching wildly. Their glowing eyes stared straight into Waternoose's, but they made no other moves. Saïx strode towards the old monster, with his chin raised. Though his hood masked his expression, Sora figured he wore a smug smirk as he approached.

"It would be unwise to make enemies of the Organization, Waternoose. We're the only reason your world hasn't faded into darkness, and if this venture proves unsuccessful, you may lose more than your precious company."

Waternoose cringed, shuffling just a few inches away from the Heartless. His eyes darted from one to the next, and one of his hands slid to his chin. "I'll be frank, Saïx. I would do anything to keep this company alive, but before I make up my mind, I need you to prove that those beasts won't just strike at the children's hearts before they scream."

"Your consideration will suffice."

With another snap of Saïx's fingers, the Heartless lowered their claws, crouched low to the floor, and flipped backwards, darkness snapping around their bodies. The moment they disappeared, Waternoose heaved a heavy sigh and adjusted the collar of his coat.

"Now, shall I take you to the scare floors?"

"Please do."

The two wandered past the control panel and up two short, broad steps until they reached the Exit doors. With another screech, the doors swung open, then slammed shut, leaving Sora and Aqua all alone. After waiting a few seconds, Sora pushed away from the stage and crawled out to the center of the room, waving a hand for Aqua to follow. The clanking of her metal boots on the hard floor informed him that she was on her way. In just a matter of moments, she stopped by his side, kneeling to his level. Cracking a sheepish smile, Sora rubbed at the back of his neck. He could've just as easily stood up.

Ah well. Now that they'd gotten a vague idea of this new world, they needed a plan. So, after ripping his notepad out of his pocket, Sora scribbled away.

'So, what do we do now?'

"Hmm…" Aqua gazed at the exit. "Well, we can't jump to any conclusions yet, but would the Organization really use the Heartless against children?"

"Wouldn't surprise me," said Ven. "Those guys'll do anything to achieve their goals, and I bet they're just waiting for the right moment to turn that Waternoose guy to the darkness."

But at the same time, Waternoose hesitated to use darkness or the Heartless. How often did the Organization ever hit that kinda roadblock? In all his time spying on them, Sora couldn't remember anything like that. Shaking his head, Sora pressed his pen back into the page. They needed to stay on track.

'I dunno what they're planning here, but if the Organization's sent Saïx, then it's gotta be a big deal!' He slammed one fist against his knee for emphasis. 'He's like their second in command. Whatever he's up to, we're gonna have to be careful.'

"I understand." Aqua smiled, patting his shoulder. "And I think I might know why he's here. Didn't you hear what he said about other worlds?"

Sora's eyes widened. The doors! Of course… But wait, what'd they even mean by doors? Squinting, Sora leaned forward and scratched his head. The word 'doors' brought Keyholes to the forefront of his mind, but if Saïx meant multiple doors—and to other worlds—then there had to be more to it. What kind of doors did they really mean, and where did scaring kids fit into all this?

It was too early to try piecing things together, and after a second or two, Sora slumped, head hanging. He twirled his pen between his thumb and index finger, sighed, and started writing once more.

'I guess they could be using those doors to spread the Heartless, but that doesn't explain what those doors are or how they even work. If we're gonna learn anything, we're gonna have to dig around.' He tipped his head back, looking Aqua up and down. He'd probably be able to sneak by without trouble, but if Waternoose was any indication, Aqua'd stick out like bright, flashing lights at night. How were they gonna pull this off?

While Sora racked his brain, Aqua strode further into the room, sweeping her arm out and creating a flash so bright Sora promptly dropped his pen and shielded his eyes. When he looked to her again, she held her Keyblade up above her head. Streaks of pale blue light coiled around the blade, past the handle, and down her arms, wrapping further down her body. Was she casting a spell on herself? Rubbing his eyes, Sora scuttled closer to her just as the light reached the tips of her boots. The glow lingered, pulsed, and for an instant their once dark surroundings became clear as day.

Then, in a snap, the light flickered out, and she sent her Keyblade away with a wave of her hand. The moment she turned around, though, Sora jerked backwards, bit his tongue. Now he understood what that lightshow was about! Though her overall shape remained unchanged, webbing protruded from where her ears once appeared. Blue scales shimmered despite the surrounding darkness, and a short, curved horn sat where her nose used to be.

Needless to say, Sora's jaw dropped at the sight. Sure, Maleficent and Ursula's magic had changed him in the past, but if Aqua had the power to change herself, who knew what else she could do?

Laughter fluttered from Aqua's mouth, and she covered her lips with one hand. "I hope I didn't scare you, Sora!"

Shaking his head, Sora snapped up his notepad and wrote, 'That was AWESOME! I had no idea you could use spells like that!'

"Well, she's had years of training!" said Ven. "I don't wanna brag or anything, but Aqua's gotta be the best magic user I know."

"I don't know about the best…" She smiled sheepishly. "But our Master always insisted that we take care when visiting other worlds. Sometimes even appearances reveal too much."

Sora nodded. 'I get that! Trust me, when I worked with Maleficent, she'd set me up with fins or creepy costumes just to fit in.' Despite his nostalgia, Sora fought back a grin—after all, what once was a cool magic trick now carried reminders of her manipulation.

"Well, I can't say I'm surprised." Aqua stroked her chin, eyeballing the exit again. "Anyway, why don't we start searching for those 'scare floors'?"

'Good thinking!' Sora beamed, climbing back on his feet. He started trudging towards the exit when he felt Aqua's hand clasp his shoulder, stopping him in his tracks. But why?

She looked down at him with a deep frown and a crease in her brow. "Sora, wait. Don't you think we should stay close?"

Sora froze, mouth hanging open. His eyes drifted from her hand, to her face, and back to the door. It didn't add up. Did she… want to stay with him?

Blowing out a puff of air, Sora held up another note. 'But I thought we'd split up...'

"Are you sure?" She didn't budge and instead locked eyes with him. "I suppose it'd help us cover more ground, but what if you run into trouble?"

"You're kinda too late for that, Aqua." Ven chuckled, though his words carried an apologetic tone. "Sora's got this bad habit of trying to do everything himself, even if it means diving head-first into danger."

Hey! Sora huffed, bunching his hands into fists. Doesn't that prove I can handle this?

"That doesn't mean you have to do it alone, though." Ven sighed. "Trust me, if we stick together, it'll be a million times easier to fight through the Heartless and Saïx."

And draw way too much attention to ourselves! He scowled, jabbing his thumb at his chest. What're they gonna think if they see Aqua wandering around with a Heartless? Sure, I could hide, but we don't even know how big this place is, Ven. And I'm not just doing this outta stubbornness, either—I just wanna make sure we can help this world.

Ven said nothing. All the while, Aqua watched Sora with wide eyes. It took a moment for Sora to remember why; after all, she couldn't hear him, which meant she probably only picked up half the conversation.

Still, she removed her hand from his shoulder and took a small step back. "If you'd really prefer to split up, I won't make you stay with me. I guess I shouldn't impose when I'm still adjusting; you're the one who's dealt with the Organization before." Yet despite her words, her tone and expression still carried heaps of uncertainty, and her frown lingered.

'It's not that," he finally wrote. 'I just think it'll be quicker if we spread out. Then you'll have a better chance at blending in. Plus, if I find anything, I can get back to you in a flash!'

"True…" She breathed a soft laugh. "Just promise me you'll be careful, all right?"

Sora scratched his cheek and looked to the side. Was she really that worried about him? Was it because Ven was with him, too? Whatever the reason, he returned his gaze to Aqua, puffed out his chest, and cracked a broad, closed-mouth smile. He'd be okay!

With a promise made and a plan set to go, both Sora and Aqua wandered from the cluttered room into a long, broad hallway. A carpeted floor spread out in both directions, with a column of rectangular lights buzzing over their heads. Crouching low, Sora prepared to sink down when he heard the rapid pattering of footsteps to his far left. Just past the end of the hallway, he spotted something long and purple scurrying by, trailed by a round, reddish creature with skinny legs and a clipboard in hand.

After shooting Aqua one final look, Sora flattened himself against the floor and shot after the monsters. He zipped out from one hall into the next, sliding past slimy blobs with stubby arms, tentacled creatures with multiple eye stalks, a big, bulky reptile with blue scales and teeth poking up from lower lip. If he wasn't in such a rush, Sora would've gladly stopped and soaked in the sights. Instead, he rocketed straight across the floor and kept his eyes on that purple guy until he vanished behind a set of doors that read: 'men's locker room'.

Sora didn't know what to expect when he slithered through the cracks. A locker room for monsters? Part of him expected something dark, eerie, with piles of bones, a suffocating stench… Instead, he emerged under hanging lights and spotted ordinary sinks against the walls, clean and white with ordinary mirrors reflecting the rest of the room without a single crack or scratch. Ordinary lockers sat in organized rows with metal plates marking the numbers. A row of doors hung slightly ajar, and benches sat between parallel sets of lockers, upon which that purple guy sat.

His beady eyes squinted, and his lips pulled back into a snarl, revealing every last one of his pointy teeth. Three skinny flaps of skin sat between his eyes, and all four of his arms folded over his chest, while his long, curled tail swished back and forth. The red monster to his left shivered as he stood, his three eyes darting across the room. A blue hard hat sat lopsidedly on his head, marked with a funny M with an eyeball at its center. A company logo?

Whoever they were, they had to know something, so Sora pulled himself closer, stopping at the edge of one of the lockers, and poked his head out and around the corner just in time to spot the purple monster flopping down on all four of his feet with a growl.

"I'm telling you, Fungus, I'm just about sick of this!" He slammed his fist against one of the lockers, breathing heavily. "Here we are, about to revolutionize the scaring industry, and what does Waternoose do?"

"He… well…" Fungus winced, adjusting his helmet. "Honestly, Randall, I think it's fine for Waternoose to explore every opportunity he—"

"You call this an opportunity?!" Randall lurched right in his face, his lips curling into a smile. His fingers drummed against one of the lockers. "Oh, sure, let's trust a complete stranger over trusted employees. And, hey, while we're at it, why not let a bunch of shadowy freak shows in to steal their thunder?"

Fungus gulped, pulling his clipboard over his chest. "Believe me, I don't like it either. Those Heartless give me the…"

"Oh, can it! They're not that scary. Can't even roar!" He closed his eyes and stepped back. "And yet somehow, they're supposed to save the company. And that's funny, because I'm pretty sure we've got the solution all taken care of…"

Huh, so these guys didn't trust the Heartless either. But what'd they mean about a solution? Pressing his palms against the floor, Sora dragged himself just a little bit closer. Waternoose and Saïx mentioned an energy crisis before, so maybe this Randall guy had his own ideas?

"But we still have to wait for Waternoose's approval," said Fungus, confirming Sora's suspicions. "Right now, we've only got blueprints. And of course, we'll have to run tests. Do you really think he'll just let us kidnap children?" His teeth started chattering, and his back hit one of the lockers. "You know how toxic they are!"

"Toxic, right…" Randall rolled his eyes, leaning closer and closer to his partner. "Allow me to make one thing very clear, Fungus. I don't care how 'toxic' these kids are. It's their screams that matter, and if Waternoose has any sense in him, he'll realize that we need to cut a few corners to save this company. If that means ripping the kids right out of their rooms, well…" He stopped just inches above Fungus' face, grinning. "That's the risk you gotta take for big business."

THUNK! Sora's fist smashed into one of the lockers, and the sound echoed throughout the room. The fact that he'd just blown his cover didn't hit him until Fungus' clipboard smacked against the floor while Randall's head jerked in Sora's direction. Holding his breath, Sora flattened himself into a shadow, but Randall's beady eyes remained fixed in his direction. He stepped aside, away from his trembling partner, bunched his three-fingered hands into fists, and stomped towards him with a sneer.

"Did you hear that, Fungus? I think somebody's been spying on us!"

"But I don't see anyone here." Fungus gulped, adjusting his glasses. After scooping up his clipboard, he inched up to Randall. "And it's not like any other employees can just disappear!"

"You idiot!" He smacked the top of Fungus' helmet, knocking it over his eyes. "Just because you don't see anyone doesn't mean they aren't here. All they would've had to do is take a step around the corner, hop into an empty stall. Do you even realize what could happen if word gets out about this?!"

"Then what will we do? It's not like we can—mmph!" Randall's hand muffled his mouth.

"Shut up, and let me take care of this…"

With Fungus at his tail, Randall marched around the corner. A few seconds passed before Sora lifted himself out of the floor, running a hand across his forehead with a silent sigh. Then he felt a light tap on the shoulder, and his whole body froze before…

"I knew it!" The voice made Sora jump, and his face crashed into another locker. When he turned around, he saw none other than Randall standing on top of the benches with his back hunched forward and all four of his hands on his hips.

"A Heartless. A pesky, obnoxious little Heartless… It figures that creep would send you. Can't have any competition, now, can we?"

Sora backed into the lockers, holding up both of his hands with his claws extended. Why did he have to go and blow his cover? Now that he'd been seen, what stopped Randall from blabbing to all the other monsters? What if Saïx found out? As Sora stood petrified by Randall's glare, the monster slammed one of his fists into the palm of his hand and leaped down and landed just a hair away from him. Was he really gonna have to fight in such a tight space?

His eyes scanned Randall from head to tail, and pressure bubbled in his chest. Those stubby limbs weren't doing him any favors, even if he could disappear. And those teeth—they looked just like a piranha's! If that was the case… well, maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.

Pulling his lips into a crooked smile, Sora moved his arm back, rolled his claws against his palm, and bashed Randall square in the snout! The blow flung him over the benches, and his head struck the floor.

In the time it took Randall to climb back onto the bench, Sora pulled out his notepad and wrote a short message:

'I'm not with Saïx.'

"Oh, so you can write?" Randall's eyes widened for a split second before he sneered and slammed two of his hands against the lockers, pinning Sora in place. "Well, I don't care who you're working with. You've crossed the line, and if you think you can get away with—"

WHOOSH!

A flash of green whizzed over Randall's shoulder, blackening his scales. Hissing, he scrambled backwards, bumping into the bench. Cracking a broad, toothy grin, Sora flipped backwards, landing on top of the lockers and holding up both of his clawed hands. Green embers flickered at the tips of his claws. Randall's eyes danced from on hand to the other, and he slid backwards with a grimace. Was the big, bad monster scared of him?

Snarling, Randall pushed himself back on his feet and rubbed at his scorched shoulder. "Well, what do you know? The little Heartless has some fight in him." He stretched out his neck and locked eyes with Sora. "But why should I care? You're just as useless as the rest. Just an amateur trying to compete with the big leagues." He turned away, tail swishing, and disappeared around the corner.

Even then, the hushed voices of Randall and Fungus flooded Sora's ears.

"Did something happen back there, Randall? Your shoulder's—"

"Shut up! Do you want it to hear us?"

"It? You don't mean—"

"Yes, Fungus, I do. Turns out our spy was some freakish Heartless that can throw flames." His voice cracked, and he paused for a few seconds. "We're gonna have to think of some other way to snub it out. Until then, act natural and tell no one. The less Sullivan hears about this, the better."

Their footsteps faded before long. Soon the only sounds Sora heard were the hums and buzzes of the lights up above. With the coast clear, he slid down to the floor. Gazing down at his feet, he hunched his shoulders and crossed his arms. What was he supposed to do about this? Some jerk of a monster wanted to kidnap kids! Sure, it sounded like he had to wait for approval first, but could he really wait until that happened? Currents of heat shot through his body just thinking of that creep's smug smile. Who did he think he was, anyway, calling Sora useless? He wasn't—

"You know, for what it's worth, I don't think you're an amateur."

But you still probably think I'm too reckless. Sora slid down onto the bench, leaning back on his palms. And maybe I am, but that doesn't mean I can't handle myself.

"Hey, relax. You know I didn't mean it that way."

Really? But how come–

"Aw, I was just teasing a little. After all the good you've done, I'd have to be nuts to really scold you." He chuckled sheepishly. "Besides, I'm not much better. Back when I first started my journey, I chased after Terra without thinking things through. Aqua even tried chasing me down just to get my butt back home."

Sora blinked, then snorted. That sounded exactly like something he'd do. So how'd that work out?

"It didn't work at all! I just kept going from world to world, trying to save Terra, trying to stop all the Unversed, facing danger at every turn... I feel like you kinda have to be crazy to be a Keyblade wielder. Just look at what we put up with every day!"

Then no wonder Riku got a Keyblade! He's gotta be the craziest guy I know.

One of Sora's hands slid to his neck, and he uttered a silent laugh. Sure, he wasn't a Keybearer, but he still knew where Ven was coming from. How else would he have pushed through all the conflict if he didn't have a stubborn drive fueling him all the way? Most people would've lost hope, called it quits, and let all the evil unfold, and that'd never accomplish a thing!

Besides, compared to facing Zexion and nearly dying at Xemnas' hand, getting spotted by one creepy monster felt like a slap on the wrist at worst. Randall couldn't control Sora's mind, pummel him with lasers, or flatten him with a claymore. Instead, he went and blabbed about secret info in a public space and ran off over one tiny burn. Meanwhile, Sora came out with new information, something Aqua definitely needed to hear.

So, throwing himself down on his feet, Sora brushed off the front of his coat and clapped his hands. A column of darkness washed over him, filtering out the pale walls of the locker room until only blackness remained. With Randall's motives at the forefront of his mind, he ventured back into the crowded halls in search of Aqua.

After all, they couldn't just ignore a crazy kidnapper.

TO BE CONTINUED

END NOTE: And here we have our first foray into the world of Monsters Inc. This visit takes place prior to the film, as I plan to save the later events for Act 3. Special thanks go to Nai who once again served as a spring board for this chapter.

Regiss - Thank you for the kind words! I thoroughly enjoyed writing Riku with the Twilight Town gang and I can't wait to do more. :D The reason why DiZ didn't bother tampering with Riku's memories is because it'd be counterproductive. Even with Jiminy's journal as a reference, it's not like he'd be able to recreate them perfectly or untangle the mess Naminé left. Putting in new memories would only further the chaotic state of his heart, so DiZ figured it'd be best to leave him as is and simply block him from escaping by cutting off the mansion.

Also, the coded references are all intentional- the virus Neoshadows also have bug blox patterns, in fact.