Chapter 10: Captivity

I held my necklace, as I stared back at my clothes that were scattered at the foot of my bed. It didn't seem real. In a few minutes, I would wake up. I could tell Sora about the awful nightmare I had. He would embrace me. And tell me everything is alright.

But as I looked back from my pink dress to my reflection, I realized that this was reality.

There was no hope of waking up.

I stared back at the girl that wore black robes. The mirror was showing me. Kairi. The girl from Destiny Islands.

I had to leave that identity behind.

I shut my eyes, whimpering and squeezing out a tear. I had to be strong, and hold my emotions at bay.

I couldn't show I was vulnerable.

I continued to stare at myself, holding up my arms and turning around. I never thought I would wear the uniform of the enemy.

Was this really what I had become?!

It began to scare me when I saw my shadowed face. I stopped, and ripped the hood off my head to let the light illuminate my face and send the shadows to scurry away.

I began to breathe slowly, trying to relax, and try to accept that I would have to face admission into the Organization.

Kingdom Hearts! Why? Why me?!

I sat at the foot of my bed, solemnly looking at my gloved hands. I held out my right one and summoned my keyblade. The weapon flashed into my grip, the floral theme blooming in my hands. This weapon was to help defend light, to battle the shadows. To open the door. To help the Organization achieve their goal.

I swiped it in the air, thankful for the protection I had.

The life in the flowers seemed to offer some hope, decorating the blade with radiance that could outshine the chills and long nights of winter with the warmth and light of spring.

I put it away as I raised my thumb and forefinger to my necklace, turning it in my fingers. It was one of the things that reminded me of Sora, and gave me comfort. Over the course of these few days, I felt lost and alone. I had gotten into a deeply scary situation.

The only thing I could honestly hope for, was the safety of all my friends. Sora and Namine to be safe in Twilight Town, Riku…wherever he was…. Oh Kingdom Hearts, let him be safe.

And to hopefully find the well and alive Roxas and Xion.

I would soon fall into the same fate of them.

Become an official member of this dark cult from the shadows.

It scared me, how small I felt in this situation.

But my fate was honestly up to the Organization at this point. I had lost control as soon as I engaged into battle with Axel.

To think otherwise would be foolish.

I sighed, and looked around, twiddling my thumbs as I gazed at the walls of my room. It was a simplistic room. Four walls, a bed, a dresser, a mirror, a small closet, and a window.

A window.

I immediately got up, feeling the creak of the mattress as I rose from my bed. I hadn't expected that to be there. The window was a treasure in this prison of a place. This was the closest thing to freedom- a view to the outside world.

I gazed out at the dark sky, thunderclouds everywhere, with a castle balcony below. Past the balcony, a dark, abandoned city. It was raining, with rumbles of thunder that could be heard. Neon signs flickered along with sidewalks in the distance, with a lonely road that stretched on into nothing.

It wasn't like I hadn't been to The World That Never Was before…

It's just that I had never expected to live here.

I folded my arms onto the window sill, leaning out to look at the city. I was certainly glad to have this window, a view to keep my sanity, and maybe to even give me hope, that somehow, I would escape.

I looked at the sidewalks, storm drains and alleyways that reminded me of all the heartless that had appeared to aggressively attack. Pluto, King Mickey's dog, had led me here, if I recalled correctly. As I thought about that, it would have been nice to have a companion like Pluto in times like these.

A 'woosh' came from behind me, which served as a knock on the door- although it never really gave me room to have a say in whether or not they could enter.

I whipped my head around from the window, to see Zexion step out of the portal.

"Are you ready to go, Princess?" he asked politely, holding out his hand.

Princess.

The way it was used, seemed so condescending, making me feel like I was weak, and protected, and vulnerable. I knew I was the Princess of Hearts, as flattering of a title it was. I had a responsibility, and I had a purpose to be served. But was I merely a possession, a tool, an heir to a greater task? Was I to be stuck here, watching the world go by through a window?

Princess was supposed to be a term for a beautiful, inspirational, well-destined young woman, someone who was a strong heroine. But in this situation, I had wished that Zexion had spared such an insulting euphemism and just called me what I was;

A prisoner.

Blunt as that.

I nodded, stepping forward and taking his hand. He bent down to kiss the back of my hand, now leathered like his.

At least being a princess, summoned chivalry, even from the darkness.

Zexion's blue eyes found mine as he stood straight up, leading me to the portal.

"The Superior has granted permission for you to see Roxas and Xion before the meeting."

I halted.

Wait.

Did that mean they were okay? ALIVE?!

"You mean…Roxas and Xion are-"

"Yes. Alive."

I smiled, now eager for Zexion to take me through the portal, past the darkness, if it meant that I could see my friends.

"That…that's wonderful news! I… please! Please take me to see them!" I excitedly requested.

He didn't even seem to crack a smile, or show happiness. He still gave me that dead expression, waiting for me to get ready to leave. He seemed apathetic about the whole situation. But maybe he didn't understand.

Zexion nodded.

"I will. But please remember that you still need to attend the meeting. It's your induction meeting, into the Organization. It's a very important ceremony."

My smile deflated immediately. Oh yes. That was right. There was a catch. If I were to see my friends, I had to join the Organization in return. But there really wasn't a compromise on my part.

I nodded.

"I understand."

Zexion took my hand, and led me through the portal. I turned around to watch the window become closed off by darkness as the both of us went through the portal.

I should start getting used to that by now.