Ch. 24

Dreaming

(The following chapter is written from different points of view, showing what's happening to Mickey, Sora, Riku, and Hika at the same time.)

Hika

It's cold … and dark. I can't hear anything, I can't feel anything … not even my own heart beat. Am I dead? How? How did I die? Maybe … when Hikari's darkness surrounded me? But I didn't feel any pain, so how could I be dead?

That wicked laugh echoed through my mind. I knew it would lead to Hikari, so I immediately latched on to it. What else could I do? Her laugh resounded, and I followed it again. I had no idea where it would lead, but I still continued. Finally, it gave way to light. The light must lead somewhere better than this, so I impulsively reached out for it. It shined brighter, until it suddenly changed into something resembling a sun. I blinked … wait, I blinked … I can move! I felt around me, only to find that I was lying in soft sand. Where was I exactly? It was clear that I wasn't dead, so I forced myself to sit up.

What I saw stunned me completely. The sea, palm trees, and a Paupu Fruit Tree … I was on Destiny Islands.

Mickey

The Darkness that had surrounded me after Sora disappeared finally receded, revealing my castle's courtyard.

What's happening? I glanced in all directions, but no matter where I looked there was chaos. Disney Castle was being completely destroyed by infected Soul Eaters. What was happening? Where were the others? I shook my head, "No time to worry about that now!" I ran into the castle to search for Minnie. As I turned a corner something caught my eye. I couldn't tell exactly what it was, but the throne room was different somehow … it had a dark, foreboding look to it. Still, something was urging me to go in. I swallowed, my mouth dry and my body shaking, then took a step forward. "I need to be careful," I reminded myself aloud.

Suddenly, Minnie's scream filled the hall, "Mickey!" I gasped and ran full speed into the throne room, only to be greeted by a pair of angry, jet black eyes.

Sora

"Wha-" I looked around frantically before staring at a drawing I'd made as a child, "Why am I here?"

I'd woken up only minutes earlier sprawled out on the floor of my 'secret base', which was the hollow at the bottom of a massive tree back on the islands. I knew immediately where I was, so that wasn't the question. The question was; how did I get here? I thought for a moment, but didn't bother focusing on it for too long. "It doesn't matter how I got here," I decided, "but how do I get back?" I glanced around again, only to find myself coming back to that drawing. Kairi and I had made it a long time ago. It was a drawing of us sharing a Paupu Fruit. Even if it seemed childish, it was what got the two of us together. After seeing that she wanted to share a Paupu with me, I got up enough nerve to finally ask her out.

I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. Something was at the base of a mysterious door that had been at the back of the cave for as long as I can remember. I knelt down and picked it up. My eyes widened … it was the purple wristband that Kairi used to wear when we were kids. The only difference was that it was splashed with blood.

Riku

I took in a deep breath and opened my eyes. Why was I back in my room, lying on my bed? It felt like I was just waking up, like everything with Hika had been a dream. Out of panic, I sat up, letting out a slight gasp, no, no! Please, don't let it be just a dream!

I looked around; if my suspicion was right, then the bay window next to my bed would be completely empty … but it wasn't. Just like every morning, Hika was sitting comfortably in the bay window, sleeping as though she'd been up all night watching over me. I shook my head and smiled before reaching up and touching her cheek tenderly. But, something still nagged at the back of my mind; if I'm back on the island, then what about Hikari? Was that just a dream? At first I was relieved; I would like nothing more that for that to be a dream. At least that would mean that Hika didn't have to suffer like that in reality. But then I froze, my hand still lingering on her cheek, does that mean we aren't really engaged?

Hika stirred, a content smile tugging at the edge of her lips. If that was all just a dream, that means that I never kissed her. Something in my heart clenched, but I managed to ignore it. After all, I'd rather her be safe than be mine, no matter how much love her. Her brow furrowed as though she were reluctant to wake up; she was always like that. "Hika," I tried to wake her gently, "wake up, the others are probably waiting for us on the island." Without opening her eyes she whispered, "Are they?" Before I could say another word, her eyes shot open … revealing pitch black irises.

Hika

I panicked, "Why? Why am I back on the islands? And where are the others?" I didn't have long to worry about that. As if answering my question, Kairi called from the docks, "Hikari! What are you doing? It's time to go back!" Back? Back to where?

I turned to Kiri for help but … she wouldn't say anything. I searched my mind for her. She just wasn't there. Kairi kept waving and I just stared after her. Sora suddenly walked past me, heading toward Kairi, "It's time to go back." "Back where?" I asked, grabbing onto his elbow before he could get too far, "Where are we going?" He gave me an odd look, like that was a stupid question, then slipped out of my grip and continued heading for the boats.

Suddenly, a pair of arms wrapped around my waist. I smiled; it didn't take a genius to figure out who this was. I layed my arms over his, "Riku." He chuckled and put his head on my shoulder, "You've been asleep for a while. Were you dreaming?" I thought for a moment. Was everything that happened just a dream? What parts of it were a dream?

"Hika," he whispered in my ear, sending chills down my spine, "Hika, it's time to go back." Eyes widening, I stepped away from Riku and spun around to face him, "Where?" He smiled and laughed quietly, "Back to the house of course." Something about his tone changed as he walked closer to me, "We're going back … back to where we can be safe." The tone of his voice and the look on his face was seductive, like he was trying to lure me into something. But I couldn't stop myself. When he reached out I took his hand and allowed him to lead me to where Sora and Kairi were standing.

They stepped into their boats and stared up at me. Riku continued to whisper in that same tone, "Come on, Hika. We can go back now. Everything is going to be fine." I wanted so badly to believe him, to take his hand and go back to the way it was. But something was wrong. I took a deep breath, "No." They stared at me, confused expressions on their faces, but I continued, "Something isn't right. What about Hikari? The Soul Eaters?"

Suddenly, they started to laugh. Kairi shook her head, "You must have some wild dreams." "Soul Eaters?" Sora added, "Really? I've never heard of them." I frowned, "It couldn't have all been a dream, right?" Riku gave me that sweet, gentle smile, "Hika, it's alright." I backed away. There's no way that I could have dreamt all of that. Again Riku reached for me, and again I backed away, my hands pulling away from him and clutching to my stomach … my stomach! If it really was all a dream, then there would be no scar from when Hikari had stabbed me in the stomach. I glanced down and barely lifted the hem of my shirt to see if there was a scar. There it was … a big patch of rippled, pale skin just above my belly button.

I looked back up at the others. The seductive look that had been on Riku's face turned dark. My blood ran cold as I gaped at them, my mouth hanging open. Riku stood up and I took yet another step back, but that was one too many steps. I stumbled over the edge of the dock and fell into the water, letting out a small scream. Luckily I fell where the water was still shallow enough that it didn't completely cover me. I looked back up at the dock only to see Riku, Kairi, and Sora glaring down at me.

Kairi jumped down in front of me, landing with a splash. She scowled, "We could have gone back. We could have been safe, but you just don't give up." She played with a strand of my hair, her expression turning to a slight pout, "Now you have no one to blame but yourself." Riku and Sora jumped down next to her, the same infuriated looks plastered across their faces. Each of them blinked, and their eyes turned black. A chill ran down my spine, what's wrong with them? They wouldn't act this way … are they infected?

"That's right." Hikari's voice echoed in my head, "They're infected. They belong to me now."

Mickey

Minnie stared angrily at me, "Mickey Mouse! How dare you take this long to come home?" My head dropped in shame and I looked up at her apologetically, "Aw, Minnie, you know I don't mean to be gone so long." She crossed her arms and gave me a stern look. Something about her seemed different, but I had been away for quite a while, so I disregarded it. Still, something tugged at the back of my mind. I felt uneasy, like something was out of place.

"Oh, Minnie," Daisy's voice came from the door, "don't be so hard on him; he's been very busy." I nodded, "She's right, Minnie; you know that." She thought for a moment, then sighed and smiled, "Alright, but we better get going to the hall of the corner stone." I tilted my head slightly, "Why?" Daisy shook her head, "To get away from those Soul Eaters, of course; they're bound to make it into the throne room at any second." Minnie took my hand and started leading me to the secret passage to the Hall of the Corner Stone, "We'll be safe down here." I stopped and wielded my keyblade, "I can fight them off."

"No!" Minnie and Daisy suddenly shouted. I quirked an eyebrow. "I mean," Minnie paused, "Y-you can't! I just don't want to risk you getting hurt." Daisy nodded, but something just wasn't right. I gripped my blade tighter, "What's going on? Minnie wouldn't worry about something like that; she knows I can handle the Soul Eaters." For a moment, they were quiet. Then their expressions changed. They glared at me, Minnie taking a step forward, "You always were too clever for your own good." "Really, Mickey," Daisy tapped her foot, "If you would have just gone into the hall. You could have lived happily without having to worry about the others." "You could have been safe." Minnie added.

"What's happened to you guys?" I panicked, "Why are you-" A mass of black clouds suddenly emerged behind them, and when it cleared, a tall woman with long, sleek black hair and matching black eyes stood in it's place. She grinned wickedly, "I made a small adjustment to them. Do you like it?" I readied my keyblade, "You! You're the real Hikari, aren't you?"

"You should be honored, my king," she gave a deep, mocking bow, looking up at me through her long dark lashes, "you get to see how deeply my real darkness effects others."

Sora

I clutched the bloodied wristband in my fist, looking around frantically, "Kairi!"

"Sora," her gasping voice came from behind me. I spun around to see her propped against a wall, laboring just to breath, "Sora … we have to go." I ran to her and knelt beside her, "What happened? Who did this to you?" She was bloody from head to toe, but her chest had to be the worst. There was a huge puncture wound in the center. She took in a stuttering breath, "Hika … she lost control. We can't trust her anymore." My brow furrowed, "Why would she … how?"

Kairi moaned and I shook my head, "Never mind, we don't have time for that now!" I picked her up and she pulled my ear close to her mouth, whispering, "We have to go back … back to the islands. We'll be safe there … safe and happy." I gave her a strange look, but I knew she was right, so I followed her instructions and headed back to the boats so that I could row us home.

Riku

I stared into Hika's eyes, dazed and confused. They should have been silver and gold, the colors that I had come to love so much. But instead, they were pitch black. She smiled sweetly at me, "Good morning, Riku." I backed off of the bed and glared at her, "What's going on?" She poked out her bottom lip, donning an innocent expression, "What are you talking about? It's me, Hika."

Was she infected? No, she couldn't … I gnashed my teeth, "You know what I'm talking about. You aren't Hika. Now give her back." Hika frowned and gave me a condescending look, "Alright. I knew a game with you wouldn't last long anyways." Dark clouds condensed on the bay window next to her. When they dispersed, a tall, dark haired woman with black eyes and a matching nightgown sat next to her, playing with her blonde hair, "Hello again. Remember me?"

"Hikari." I mumbled under my breath, knowing who she was immediately. She smiled at me smugly, "I guess you're not one for games … are you, love? Aw, but we had so much fun before." I kept silent, shooting her a dirty look. "Alright," she whined, wearing the same pout that had been on Hika's face just moments ago, "I'll just cut to the chase. I knew I couldn't fool you anyways. Not with Hika's unique eyes and that strange personality of hers. I couldn't have possibly imitated her. But, you know, your friend Sora really isn't very bright. He's the only one that's fallen for my tricks."

The pit of my stomach clenched and my blood boiled, "Sora? What have you done with him?" Hikari giggled, "Shouldn't you be more worried about the woman that you were so eager to call fiancé?" My eyes shifted to Hika for a moment, then back to Hikari, "No. I know she can handle herself." Hikari went from playing with Hika's hair, to stroking her cheek with her nails, leaving thin trails of blood, "But she's right here. She just has some minor adjustments. I've infected her. This is what my darkness can really do."

"I considered that," I admitted grudgingly, "but that's not possible … not anymore. She's too strong for you." Her expression shifted again, this time it was dark and menacing, "You have too much confidence in her." She took the fake Hika by her hair and launched her across the room, causing her to disappear in a cloud of black smoke as she screamed. The next thing I knew, I was on the ground and Hikari was digging her heal into my ribs. Something cracked, making me moan as pain exploded in my chest.

Hikari laughed hysterically, "You're persistent, aren't you? Fine, I'll tell you what I'm doing to the others, just because I know that, no matter how hard you try, you will be stuck in your little dream, just like them!"