The first thing I felt while gaining consciousness was something being shoved in my mouth. I could see that it was an inhaler.
I had an asthma attack, I thought. I hadn't had one in years. I guess the trauma from the drowning caused it, but why would it come back now?
"Good, he's recovering," Kari announced, talking to the others who were outside in the hall.
"Great," came a voice from outside of the room. "Maybe he's ready to go tomorrow after all."
Kairi turned towards the door. "Sora!" Kairi cried out. "What are you doing out of bed?"
"I came to see him," he answered, walking into the room on a crutch.
"So, this is who Donald and Goofy could find?" Riku, the kid Kairi was arguing with earlier, asked. "He's so small. I mean, how could he possibly fight off the Heartless?"
Just then, Donald walked into the room. "Don't underestimate him, Riku," he warned. "I saw him defeat them a pack of six or seven of them myself. He's a hell of a fighter."
Riku looked at me, then looked back at Donald. "Damn, he's good."
"He's not just good," Sora corrected. "He's like… invincible."
"Which makes him all the better to join us, but he needs to get some exercise in before he can go anywhere."
"Good idea, Riku," Kairi agreed. "Why don't you join us outside after you eat that food I gave you?"
I nodded, and everyone left the room but Sora. He took a seat in the chair Ally was sitting in and laid his crutches next to the table.
"I'm glad I got you out of there when I did," Sora said, relieved. "If I got you any later, you might not have made it." He noticed that I wasn't reaching for the food Kairi had given me. "Why aren't you eating?"
"I'm not hungry," I answered truthfully.
Sora held out his hand. "Come with me. You look like you need to get some air."
I took Sora's hand, allowing him to pull me up into a standing position. "Thanks, that might be just what I need."
Sora walked with me to a small part of the island enveloped in a cave. He took me over to a small chalk-made picture on one of the wall.
"I made this when Riku and I made our own little club when we were kids," he informed. "I look at it when I want to remember the good ol' days." He paused for a moment, smiling. "Anyways, I needed to tell you something. I have to leave tomorrow with the rest of the gang. Just stay here and try to stop the Heartless if they come here."
"I'll do what I can," I promised.
All of a sudden, the entire cave went dark. I couldn't see a thing. When the light returned, I was still on the island – and Sora was gone. I tried to rush to the exit of the cave, but the light in the cave was getting dimmer by the second. There was a boulder blocking the entire exit, and I realized that it must have been the work of the Heartless. Before the cave went pitch-black, I grabbed a few pieces of chipped wood and was able to set a fire.
One thing remained clear: if I couldn't find a way out, everyone I knew, including the family I (once) had, would be doomed.