Here's Chapter 10! Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 10 - Conflicted

I opened my eyes. I had woken up in my castle room again. Should I even bother to get up? I thought. With the events of the previous day, I wasn't sure that Saïx would trust me to leave the castle on a mission ever again… I stared at the ceiling for a moment, contemplating. He was REALLY mad after what happened.

"Morning, sleepy head" came Axel's voice. I sat up in bed, and spotted him leaning against the wall in the far corner by the dresser. Did everyone just enter my room without permission? He stood up and walked a few paces forward away from the wall. "We're together on a mission again today". I must've looked surprised, as he gave me an encouraging smile.

After a moment, I got up from the bed and walked over to join him.

"Ready?" he said. I nodded. He opened a portal, and we walked through. We arrived at a world I never expected to see. It was Hollow Bastion. Did the Organization ever even go there in Kingdom Hearts 2? Then I remembered what DiZ had told me; events here may not follow the events of the game exactly.

We were on the outskirts of the castle; the main entrance was down the path ahead of us. I looked around in awe. The sky was a shade of purple, reflecting off the dull walls.

"Same deal as usual" said Axel. "Take out any Heartless and Nobodies we come across, got it memorized?". I smiled at his tagline, and then nodded. Taking out a few groups of Heartless on the path, we opened the main doors, and went inside. Axel kept a close watch on me as we walked in. The grand foyer was a bit dusty, but looked absolutely amazing in real life. The staircases running up the sides, and the fountain in the middle were more beautiful than any game could portray.

There wasn't any time to admire though. A group of Heartless had appeared in the center of the room, and were making their way towards us. I summoned my Keyblade, running at them. Slicing left, and then right a few times, I took out all but a few. I turned around to double back, but instead aimed my Keyblade and yelled "Fire!". The flaming ball engulfed the three remaining Heartless; their released hearts floating up into the sky. I didn't even break a sweat; it had become second nature now.

Axel walked through the area where the Heartless had just disappeared from, giving me a thumbs up. We continued on to the inner areas of the castle. There were Heartless around every corner. I felt like I didn't get a break; every room had a group of Heartless, some more than others. The place was teeming with them!

Finally, we reached the inner most chamber. I recognized it immediately. There was a huge cut-out in the wall in the shape of the Heartless symbol, with stairs leading up either side. This was where Sora had found Riku, and had released Kairi's heart. Sora… where are you now? I thought. I could've really used his help. I had been with the Organization for a month now, and while I had made friends there, I was really their prisoner. I was being forced to do whatever they told me to.

Axel walked behind the staircase, and placed something in his pocket.

"Mission accomplished!" he said walking back toward me. I half-smiled, but was distracted. The conversation I had had with DiZ was replaying in my mind. How could I stop them from using my powers? I shuttered to think of what Saïx would do to me if I refused to take out Heartless. I had to think of something.

"Hello? Megan? Something wrong?" Axel said. I jumped.

"N-No, nothing!" I stuttered. I had been lost in my thoughts. I looked at him and put on my usual smile. I had to make it look like nothing had changed. Axel gave me a suspicious look for a second, but then changed back to his usual façade.

"Alright… you ready for some sea-salt ice cream?" he asked. I nodded happily at him. He smiled back, opened a portal, and we walked through. We arrived in Twilight Town, and ascended the clock tower. Roxas was already on the ledge waiting.

"Took you guys long enough!" he said sarcastically. Axel handed me a stick of ice cream, and I sat on Roxas' right.

"Sorry about that" said Axel. "There were A LOT of Heartless to take care of on our mission today".

"Yeah, and you made me take them all out on my own!" I yelled at him sarcastically, pulling a pout. Axel raised his hands in surrender.

"Hey, hey, don't blame me! Boss's orders!" Axel defended. Roxas broke out into laughter, and Axel and I followed shortly thereafter. When I was with Axel and Roxas, I could forget everything that had happened. Forget what the Organization had planned. I took another bite of my ice cream.

"So, Megan," Roxas began. "I heard you had a run-in the other day". I looked at him. His innocent blue eyes looked at me, waiting for an answer. No matter what, I couldn't tell them what had happened. We had become friends, but they were still members of the Organization. This was a secret I had to keep.

"Yeah, I don't know what happened" I began. "One moment I was fighting a whole hoard of dusks, and the next I got pushed into a portal and woke up somewhere else! I didn't even see who had done it; they pushed me from behind". I hated lying to them, but it was for the best.

"Zexion said he saw a man in one of our coats with the hood up" Axel said. "He said he saw him push you through, and then follow right after". Axel's eyes were piercing mine. Not in a threatening way, but unyielding.

"I don't know what to tell you guys" I said. "All I remember after falling into the portal is waking up in that room that you and the others found me in Axel. There was no one there". Axel broke off eye contact, and instead stared out at the setting sun.

"Well, I'm just glad you're okay" Roxas said looking at me. He was so kind. It was weird knowing that Sora was out there at the same time that Roxas was around. I didn't want to have to choose between them.

When it came down to it, I wasn't sure what I should do. I knew that Xemnas was using my powers for his own ends, but somehow the gravity of the situation didn't seem to sink in. When I was with my friends, it was like nothing was wrong. Even when I had been on missions with Zexion or Demyx, it didn't feel like I was being forced to do anything. Everyone had been so kind to me, and I had grown so much since coming here. It was strange.

Some of the Organization members had gathered in the circle room, and were having a meeting on their thrones.

"Axel," Saïx began. "What did you find out?".

"If something did happen, she's not saying" Axel replied. "She sticking to her story".

"Perhaps what she's saying is the truth" Zexion chimed in. "It wouldn't be the first time she's lost consciousness going through a portal".

Demyx was sitting on his throne, listening to the conversation, but not saying anything. He'd rather be anywhere but here, but his presence had been requested at the meeting, as he was part of the group that went after her.

"Demyx, have you anything to add?" Saïx said, looking at Demyx. Demyx looked in Saïx' direction, but then quickly darted his eyesight elsewhere before responding.

"No, sir" he said. "Nothing to report".

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