A plume of darkness blooms in the shade of an alley. A fleshy ichor body crawls around like a fly searching for food. Its bright yellow eyes flash with every blink. The antennae above them sniff the air.
It stands up on its back legs so the antennae can lick the top of a trash can. Clawed hands scrape the metal for steadiness before sinking back down to all fours. The body presses to the ground and flattens into a shadow.
"Wake up Sora! You let him run right past you."
Sora snaps to attention. The brown locks of his hair twirl as he sprints after a boy dribbling a ball with his hand. He looks over his shoulder at the alley again, but the creature is gone.
The boy ahead of him approaches a painted line curving outward from a rectangular goal. As the ball comes up from another dribble, his hand slides underneath to push it up away from him. He takes flight after it. Before he crosses the painted line, his hand swings over his head to slap the ball from behind. It fires across the remaining distance to the goal. A pudgy goalkeeper dives to stop it. The ball slips by and tangles in the netting.
Sora kicks at the ground as the scoring boy runs off to celebrate with his team.
"I'm sorry I let them score Sora," says the goalkeeper.
He huffs for air as sweat drips from his soaked headband.
"It's okay Pence. It was my fault."
"You let them tie the game!"
Sora pouts his bottom lip at the silver haired boy yelling at him.
"I'm sorry, Riku. I got … distracted."
"Don't give me that 'seeing spirits' crap again. That excuse is so lame. Summer just started, and I refuse to begin with a losing record against these dweebs. So focus!"
Sora lowers his blue eyes from the glaring green ones.
"I said I was sorry."
"Give him a break, Riku," says a girl.
Sora looks up to find a pair of lilac eyes smiling at him.
Riku waves them off and meets up with the remainder of their team near the center circle of the court.
"Thanks Kairi. I owe you one. I'm sorry I let them score."
"It was the spirits again, wasn't it?"
Sora diverts his sheepish expression to his shoes.
"It's okay. I believe you about them, even if I can't see them."
"Thanks Kairi."
His eyebrows arch with confidence as the corners of his mouth rise after them. Kairi winks and jogs over to her position between the arced line and the center line dividing the court in two as the right defender. He watches her auburn hair bounce around her ears before taking his position parallel to her as the left defender. They wait for Riku to begin the point from his position as the team's center player.
Riku huddles near a large circle in the middle of the court with the two forwards of the team, a blonde boy and brunette girl.
"We need to score quick," he says. "We don't want this going into overtime. I'm going in hard, so Hayner, I need you to cover me."
"Got it," he says.
"Olette, be ready to manage the opening I make."
"Right," she says.
Riku steps up just outside the circle facing the center player of the other team. The two forwards from both teams stand face to face on either side of the center line running straight through that circle.
Riku makes two quick motions with his hand. Hayner on his left and Olette on his right nod and square up to their opponents for the next play.
A referee blows a whistle. Riku drives at the player in front of him, reaching him in a single dribble. His arm moves the ball behind his back where his left hand picks up the dribble allowing him to break past his guard.
The opponent stumbles to catch Riku, but Hayner cuts off the pursuit. Sora and Kairi advance their positions as their team moves further into enemy territory.
The rear defenders waiting by the curved goal line pincer Riku from both sides. He picks up his dribble and passes the ball back to Kairi. Olette's guard slides over and taps the ball off course. The three front line players of the opposing team swarm it as it bounces helplessly in the middle of the court.
Sora's hands grab it first. He pushes it to an open Kairi. The ball barely touches her fingers before she redirects it to an unguarded Olette.
Olette catches and dribbles fast to the arced line she cannot cross. Her shoulder length pigtails trail behind her. One of the rear defenders gets in her way. She leaps and acts as if to spike the ball for a shot at the goal. She holds the motion for a split second and sees the opposing goalie come to her side of the net.
She twists and throws the ball to Riku in the middle of the court as his original guard gets on him. As soon as Riku grabs it, he passes the ball to Hayner who stands alone near the sideline beside the arc.
Out of the corner of his eye, Hayner can see his opposing player coming in fast and the goalkeeper pivoting to turn around. Instead of trying to catch the ball and then shoot, his slender leg kicks it midair with the inside of his foot.
The path of the ball curves as it spins sideways. The goalkeeper bends her knees and springs toward it. The tips of her fingers graze the surface of the ball as it drives through them to swish the net.
Another whistle blows signalling the end of the game.
Riku runs over to Hayner. They jump for a chest bump. Kairi and Olette grab hands and hop up and down. Sora turns to Pence and smiles. They share a thumps up.
They move over to the sidelines and grab towels and water bottles.
"Who's up for ice cream to celebrate?" says Sora.
"I'd love to but I have a piano recital to get to," says Olette.
"I would but I've got a family thing," says Pence.
"And he's my ride home so I guess me neither," says Hayner. "Next time for sure though."
They grab their stuff as the parents come down from the stands adorning the court. Sora, Kairi, and Riku see their friends off to the cars in the parking lot of their junior high school building.
Olette's mom tells her to clean up quickly while Pence's dad gives him and Hayner tips on technique. After they drive off, the remaining three begin their walk home.
"So, ice cream?" says Sora.
"Absolutely yes," says Kairi.
"Sure," says Riku, shrugging his shoulders.
They pass a sign encased in brick. The words 'Traverse Town Junior High School' are emblazoned across the top in stone. Below that, changeable letters read, 'Enjoy your summer vacation.'
As they enter the ice cream shop, Sora digs around in the pockets of his poofy shorts. He counts dollar bills and change while approaching the counter. Frowning, he sifts through the pockets of his favorite jacket.
"Sea salt ice cream is your favorite, right?" says Sora, keeping his eyes on his pockets. "Because it reminds you of your old home, by the ocean?"
Sora allows his eyes to slip to their corners to catch a glimpse of Kairi. A smile bursts across her face.
"Oh yeah. It's the best! But it's so expensive here."
"That's okay. I was going to buy you some as a treat today."
"Oh no. I can't ask you to do that."
"You don't have to. That's why it's a treat."
Sora returns his attention to his various pockets as the search continues.
Still not enough for two, he thinks.
Riku glances over his shoulder at them before he steps up to the register.
"Three sea salt ice creams please," he says.
The cashier pulls three crystal blue popsicles from a freezer and hands them to him while he puts money on the counter. He hands one to Kairi.
"Here you go."
"Wow, thank you Riku. You really didn't have to."
"Hey, my treat. And one for you."
He holds one out to Sora who glowers before reluctantly taking it.
Kairi is already licking hers while Sora continues to grimace at his. Riku heads off with Kairi. Sora falls in behind them.
"Where did you get all the money for this?" says Sora.
"A job."
"A job!" says Kairi. "When did you get that?"
"About a week after summer vacation started."
He looks over his shoulder and winks.
"That's so cool. I wish I could get one. It's not fair you're almost a year older than us."
"Well, maybe I can work something out for you."
"Really? That'd be awesome."
Sora's sulk deepens as they chat away. He tries to burn holes in Riku's back with his eyes. He listens for a talking point he can infiltrate the conversation on but no opportunities present themselves.
Eventually they reach the street Riku's house is on.
"Well Riku," Sora says, "good game today. Kairi and I will catch up with you for practice. See you later."
Sora gives a smug smile and moves up next to Kairi. Riku pushes his bottom lip over his top teeth.
"Yeah, I guess so since I'll be working now. You kids have fun."
He waves over his shoulder as he leaves. Kairi waves and continues heading up the street with Sora in tow. He opens his mouth to say something about wanting to visit the ocean someday, but Kairi speaks first.
"It's sad we won't get to see Riku as often."
Sora's jaw hangs open as he regroups for how to respond.
"I guess so. But he's the one who decided to get a job. Plus … that gives … you and me more time to hang out."
Kairi turns her head to him. The strands of her short hair move in slow motion. Anxiety wells in Sora's stomach. Her face reveals a smile.
"That will be nice."
She grins.
Sora suppresses the urge to fist pump as the anxiety washes away.
She continues.
"I just want to make as many good memories as we can this summer before we all go off to different high schools in the fall. Things are going to be so different then."
"They don't have to be too different. We can all still get together and play strikeball."
"Yeah. But we'll have more homework, extracurriculars, and jobs. I mean I missed all of you guys just from cramming for the entrance exams."
"Boy, were those tough. I never want to study that much again."
"Yeah. It's too bad none of us got into the same schools. It'll be weird being the new kid at a new school again. Even though it's been a year now, I feel like I just got started. Now I'll have to make new friends in a couple months."
Sora swishes his mouth side to side.
What if there are guys cooler than Riku at her school? he thinks.
"We'll still be friends no matter what happens," he says. "No matter who we meet."
"You really think so, all of us?"
"Of course!"
He flexes his arm.
"Thanks Sora. You're the best."
Sora's cheeks burn as they rise in a smile.
"Well this is my street," she says. "I'll see you soon, right?"
Sora looks down the street as the anxiety rushes back.
"Uh yeah, of course."
Kairi nods and follows the sidewalk. Sora watches her as she goes. He jogs after her.
"Hey Kairi!"
"Yeah!"
She spins around.
Sora stops next to her. Their eyes meet for a second before his dart away. He rushes through some thoughts.
"How about I walk you home? You know, for more memories and stuff."
"That would be nice."
They walk in silence along the cobbled streets next to the stone walls separating the front yards of houses from the sidewalks. Old trees hang branches over their heads. Orange light bends over the rooftops.
Sora glances at Kairi, and she does the same. He dodges her gaze before their eyes can lock. They continue to walk with just the sound of footsteps and rustling leaves. Out of the corner of his vision, he sees Kairi's head turn to him. He twists his a quarter inch towards her, but she breaks away. He smiles and does the same.
They arrive at her house. Sora stops at the front gate as Kairi opens it.
"Thank you for walking me home," she says.
She shuts the gate between them. Sora stuffs his hands deep into his jacket pockets. He examines his shoes. He grinds his anxiety into the concrete through the ball of his foot. Kairi pats her hands on the gate.
I just need to say it, he thinks.
"I guess I'll see you around," she says.
Nausea grips his stomach.
"Yeah, see you next time," he says.
He points the corners of his jacket outward while squishing his eyebrows and lips together. His head nods as he steps away.
"Okay, bye."
"Bye."
Kairi turns to walk up the path. Sora watches her go.
Butterflies take flight in his stomach.
Times running out!
"Hey Kairi."
"Yes."
She flips around. Her face peaks.
Just go for it!
"Good game today. You were awesome."
Her expression sinks.
"Oh, thanks. You too. Well, goodnight."
She climbs the steps to her door and lets herself in without turning around.
Sora kicks at the ground and skulks off for home. He meanders down streets in the fading light until he reaches his home. The house is as dark as the evening when he enters.
He finds a new video game on the kitchen table alongside a note and some money.
Sorry we missed your game today. We're sure you did great. We wanted to reward you for working so hard in both sports and school so here is that video game you talked about. And some money for food. Get anything you want. You deserve it.
Love Mom and Dad
Sora calls for a pizza delivery and slips the new game into his console. The big television lights up with the title screen. A soothing yet melancholy piano piece plays from the speakers. He starts a new save file and hopes the game will distract him from certain thoughts.
When the pizza arrives, knots in his stomach prevent him from eating much food. Despite wanting to enjoy the game, he finds himself looking back to the phone in the kitchen several times. He hits pause and sets the controller down.
He approaches the home phone in a slow manner as if to avoid scaring it off. His palm gently grabs the thin, oblong shape. He allows a full second between each beep the buttons make as he presses them.
Each one brings him closer to panic. After the last input, he holds it to the side of his head. A ringback tone sounds in his ear. The urge to hang up grows with each monotonous drone. He rubs the cord hanging from the handset between his fingers. It rings once, twice, three times.
He twists the phone from his ear to slam it back on the receiver.
"Hello."
The distant voice stops him cold.
"Hello? Who is calling?"
Sora rattles the phone back to the side of his head.
"Hey Kairi, it's Sora."
"Oh hey Sora. Did you forget something?"
His voice locks up.
Just say it man!
"Uh, kinda. I wanted to tell you something … but I wanted to do it in person. I'm going to come over right now."
"Is everything okay Sora? You sound nervous. Are you sure you want to come over now? It's dark out. Maybe you should wait until morning."
"No! I mean, I'll be fine. Just wait up for me. Okay?"
"Okay, Sora. Be safe."
"I will. See you soon."
He slams the phone down. His chest burns for air. He inhales deeply. Had he even been breathing for the last minute?
Sora races out the front door and jogs into the night. Every step sloshes his anxious stomach.
Too late to back out now. You have to do it this time.
His jog slows to a walk after passing just two houses. His breaths increase in pace. His head swims with lightness.
I'm really going to do this.
As he reaches the end of his block, a shadow without a body slithers beneath the light of the street lamp ahead of him. It merges with the darkness at the edge of the illuminated circle.
Fear seizes his heart as he scans the gloom for the creature. He walks backwards and flicks his head around to check his surroundings. Another bodiless shadow passes beneath the light behind him cutting off his escape route. His head spins as inky shapes within the darkness flank him.
Six shadows rise up from the murky pavement all around him. Their yellow eyes settle on him as their antennae twitch. The pudgy waist-height creatures step in and out as Sora fends off their advances with wild swings of his arms. Each movement of their dance tightens the noose around him a little further.
A stinging pain screams from his right calf. He swivels to find one of the gremlins clawing his leg. His strikeball skills take over as he spins on his injured leg and kicks with the other.
The monster bounces off his shoe. The others leap at the opening. Sora raises his arms to defend knowing their teeth and claws will rip hip apart.
A larger shadow streaks in to join the group. It raises a weapon. Sora yells.
Six swishes of the weapon slice through the vermin as the new arrival maneuvers around him to cut them down.
Sora stands frozen. He stares ahead as the creatures around him evaporate in puffs of black smoke. Crystals in the shape of a heart and glowing with a fiery light levitate free of the dark clouds. They are small enough to fit in the palm of his hand and float away on the wind, disappearing as they go.
His arms creep to his sides as his breathing slows. He jerks to face the newcomer.
A long, black coat surveys the area without paying him any mind at all. With the hood up and accompanying black gloves and boots, he cannot identify anything about the person. The weapon seems to have disappeared.
The person strides along the street, never looking back.
"Hey, wait a minute," says Sora.
The person makes no indication of hearing or stopping. Sora runs up beside the person.
"Could you hold on for a second?"
This time the coat does stop and spares him a glance. He cannot see a face in the darkness cast by the hood. A pale neckline and trails of blonde hair on either side of it is all he sees.
The person looks around as Sora's eyes trace the big silver zipper running the length of the coat up to the drawstrings of the same color hanging from the hood.
The figure points at itself.
"Yeah you," says Sora. "Who else would I be talking to?"
The figure sprints off. Sora shakes his head and then gives chase.
"I just wanted to thank you for saving me."
The person rounds a corner. A quick check reveals Sora still in pursuit, so the coat picks up the pace. Sora pumps his arms and runs harder.
"So what were those things? I just started seeing them a while ago, and there's been more and more of them lately."
"Stop following me."
The girl's voice catches him off guard. He smiles.
"So you do speak. How about answering a few questions?"
The girl stops and light flashes from her right hand. Sora stumbles to a halt an inch from impalement by the weapon from before. The thin black blade of a sword threatens his chest. Just below the tip protrudes four lilac spikes in the shape of an X. Sora finds it odd that two of the legs on one side are bigger than the other two.
Two much larger lilac spikes curve outward from the base of the blade to form a guard over the white handled grip. Two more smaller white spikes rise up from the bottom of the hilt to meet the points above. A flanged emblem dangles from a chain attached to the bottom of the hilt.
"Stop following me now. You're putting yourself in grave danger."
"Uh, is that a giant key?"
"This is no time for games. Another Heartless is in the area, and it's much worse than the shadows from before."
"Heart-less?"
"I said leave—"
Something massive crashes against a nearby tree. Giant yellow eyes peer out of the darkness in the tree's shade. The head of the behemoth rubs up and down against the trunk. A sharp horn in the middle of its forehead shaves away the bark.
The hulking mass finishes the maintenance and points the horn directly at Sora and the girl. Her hand shoves Sora hard in the chest. His forearms and butt scrape on the concrete as his back smacks a stone wall.
A thunderous crash bounces him free of the ground as the beast lands where he just stood a moment ago. The quadrupedal behemoth stands in four shallow craters on clawed hooves. Thick tusks curve up behind either side of its head from the back of its lower jaw. The ivory pikes give the creature a wicked smile.
The giant pivots so Sora can see the back of its broad shoulders. The royal purple body tapers down to a more slender pelvis and hind legs. The muscular forelimbs kick and slash with two-pronged hooves at the girl in the black coat. She dodges around and lashes across the mammoth's violet underbelly with the key shaped sword she wields.
When the leg attacks prove ineffective, the monster lowers its head and sweeps it from shoulder to shoulder. The tusks and horn tangle up the girl. With a flick of the neck, it launches her skyward. It adjusts itself to position the mighty spear beneath where she will fall. Sora watches in horror for the inevitable impalement.
The girl twists herself to face the brutal end as gravity pulls her down. Her weapon comes around the side of her body and crashes against the horn. By parrying it to the side, she cheats a gruesome death and lands on her feet.
She thrusts her weapon into the crease where the shoulder meets the torso of the beast. One of her hands pushes from the base of the hilt while the other guides from the handle.
An inky liquid spills out of the wound as the monster drops to that knee. The girl jumps back to avoid getting crushed by the collapsing head.
Sora clambers to his feet.
"Nice one!" he says, giving a fist pump.
The girl readies her weapon.
The horn of the creature glows with menacing energy. A tingling sensation crawls over Sora's skin as the behemoth rises from the ground. The tusks light up as yellow energy runs through them. The energy streams from their tips to feed an orb forming above the horn. Warning lights blink as amber and scarlet swirl together in the sphere. A haze of purple surrounds it.
The orb grows to the size of the monster's head. It bucks its neck which bounces the malicious ball high above the street. Sora stares at the spectacle until it bursts apart in a blinding display. The full dilatation of his eyes in the night soaks up every ounce of light. He raises both hands to shield them from the stabbing brilliance.
"Run! Move! Get out of the way!"
Sora sprints in a random direction to follow the commands but cannot see what he needs to avoid. He blinks in rapid succession until his vision clears.
A meteor of energy crashes in front of him. It explodes and pushes him back a couple steps. Before he can steady his feet, a shove to his lower back sends him belly flopping to the cement.
He slaps hard and whips his head over his shoulder. The cloaked girl leans over him, arms spread wide. Two shards of the original orb bombard her back. They pop with concussive heat. She screams and drops her weapon. It blinks out of existence.
Sora flips onto his back. The girl's arms and legs shake before giving out. He sits up to catch her. She collapses against his chest. Her chin hooks over his shoulder. His hands grab her upper arms.
Sora stares at the horrible burns covering her back. A booming step diverts his attention to the beast. It repositions to face them.
Sora slides his legs under himself while getting his forearms beneath the girl's armpits. He struggles to lift them both to a kneeling position. A weak voice whispers in his ear.
"Run. Leave me."
"I'm not going to leave you. You saved me. Now it's my turn to protect you."
"Why? I'm a nobody."
"Well you're somebody to me."
Sora plants one foot and swings an arm behind her knees. He sets the other across her shoulders blades, careful to avoid the worst of the burns. His leg pushes from a deep squat. He grunts as he scoops her up. He staggers off as the creature stomps after them. Her hands clasp behind his neck to help lift herself with fleeting strength.
She bounces in Sora's arms. Each one pulls more of her hood from her head. Her blue eyes fixate on his face while his remain dead set ahead.
The extra weight tires him after a short jog. His harsh breathing chafes his lungs. His biceps and legs cry for respite from the burden.
Her quivering voice reaches his ears.
"You're not going to make it."
Sora spares a glance at the girl's face.
She doesn't look any older than me, he thinks. But she fights these monsters?
He responds with labored words between breaths.
"I'm not … leaving you behind."
"I'm not worth it."
"What can we do?"
"Put me down."
"Besides that."
"No, I mean put me down so I can help you. I can see you're not going to do the smart thing and running isn't going to work. So you'll have to fight."
Sora stumbles to a lamppost and sits her against it. Loud footfalls close in behind him.
"How can I fight this thing?"
Their bodies jostle with the crashing steps.
She holds out her hand and summons her weapon in a flicker of light.
"This is a Keyblade. It has the power to open and close the essence of all Hearts. We use them to seal the darkness of corrupted Hearts which turns people into the monsters you've seen today."
"Uh, huh."
She points the tip of the weapon at his chest.
"The fact that you can see me and the Heartless tells me you have a stronger Heart than most. I'm going to release that power so you can fight."
"Okay. What do I need to do?"
"All you have to do … is die."
She smiles and thrusts the sword into Sora's chest.
Author's Note 10/29/21: Thank you for reading. If you made it this far and want to see more, be sure to favorite and follow both myself and the story. Feel free to leave comments about what you liked or didn't like. I'm always open to feedback. Have a good day!