Chapter 20
Finn's vision was blurry as he was able to open his eyes. How long had he been out? Where was Nikki? Where was he? Those question ran into his head, though it was hurting from the pain after he was hit on the head. Despite this, he moved slightly to look around at his surroundings. Only to find that he was bound on his arms and ankles. He pulled at the ropes, but they wouldn't budge. The only sounds came out was grunts that echoed in the room.
"Finn?" Nikki's voice softly called out, making Finn froze.
"Nikki?" Finn called out, desperate to find her. Looking around the room till he caught sight of her sitting across from him. He signed in relief. She was alright. "Are you alright?"
Nikki sadly nodded. "I'm alright. How about you?" She asked him in concern. She couldn't let go of the guilt of getting Finn into this mess. It was her fault. She couldn't blame anyone by her own self.
"I'm fine. Just a bump on the head." He joked around. Wanting to scoot over to her, but found that the same ropes that bounded him was attached to the chain hoop on the wall. "You have got to be kidding me." He disappointedly said, then turned to Nikki. He could see the tears in her eyes. But what really caught his attention was her wrists. They were covered in bruises and cuts. It showed that she had been struggling and the ropes caused harm to her. His frown deepened by this.
Before he could even let out a word, the door opened up. Again, the coldness entered along with the same dark fairy from before. A smirk appeared on Maleficent's face as she stared down at her prized captives that she was proud to collect.
"I did try to warn you both. But you children hardly listen to the adults like us." She said as she turned, kneeling in from of Nikki. Placing her icy hands onto her chain. Nikki released a frighten winced. "You couldn't just stay away, wouldn't you?"
"GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF HER!" Finn roared out in anger. If the ropes weren't holding him back, he would of tackled the witch onto the ground and show her no mercy. He was still anger at the Overtakers for all they had done to them. Kidnapping them, and going too far by killing his best friend, Dillard.
Maleficent turned her eyes to Finn, just keeping her cool. She knew this would anger him. Sher wanted this. To break him down. "I wonder what would happen if I killed her. Like your friend."
Finn shouted in rage. Only making the witch laugh, turning to Nikki once more. "Such a shame. You would of made a wonderful minion for me. But now, I must destroy both of you."
"Maleficent! Just let her go!" Even though Finn was angry, there was desperation in his voice. He didn't want to lose another friend. He couldn't pull another one down with him. It was his fault Dillard died. And if he had to surrender himself to save his team, he would. Despite his own fears.
"But you need to be punished, Finn Whitman." Maleficent singed out in glee. Her hands quickly wrapped around Nikki' neck. Tightening it to cause her to slightly choke. "And the perfect way to do that is to make you watch your friend suffer."
"NO!" Finn cried out in fear, struggling harder. Fear gripped his heart. Nikki's glance at him made his face go white. She give him a frighten look. "STOP! Please! I beg of you! Let her go!"
Maleficent continued her torment on the girl for a short while before she finally let her go. Nikki gasped for air, coughing out. Her entire body shook.
"Luckily, I have bigger plans for both of you." Maleficent turned to Finn. "But I can promise you, it won't be as pleasant as for this one. Afterwards, you're going to wish you never became a Kingdom Keeper." Those words felt like taggers that dug into Finn's chest as he heard them. He watched as the fairy turned around slowly to head for the door. Her raven flew and sat on her shoulders as she exited the storage room. Leaving them completely alone in the darkness.
At first, Finn glared at Maleficent before she left. Then turned to Nikki. The poor kid was shaking on the ground. Tears were streaming down her face. It felt like all of the spirits were gone inside of her. Leaving only her shell. He couldn't just sit there watching this. He had to get both of them out of here. Then something hit Finn's mind. How could he be so stupid? He finally realized what Maleficent was really doing. Causing fear and pain to them so they couldn't think clearly. To escape in their hologram forms. And it worked. But Finn wasn't going to allow the fear to control him. Not anymore. He was the leader. He had to get himself out. And get to his team members. He had to show Nikki that she can get out of her fears too.
First, he tried to relax himself. He took a few slow deep breathes before closing his eyes. There, the dark tunnel stood in his mind. Then came the light of the train, heading towards him. When it hit, suddenly the ropes fell from his wrists and ankles. Now they laid on the ground around him.
He opened his eyes, scooting over quickly to Nikki. He could of quickly untied her and rushed them both out of this before Maleficent found them. But he couldn't just leave Nikki in the state she was in. He knew she was stronger than this. He had to bring her back into reality.
"Nikki." Finn called out her her, gently lifting her off the floor to a sitting position. Trying to get her attention. "Nikki. Look at me." He calmly ordered her before their eyes met.
"Finn…it's my fault. I should of listened…" Nikki began to sob.
"Don't say that. None of this is your fault. You can't allow Maleficent to overpower you. Don't let the fears control you. Listen to me, you can get out of these ropes by your DHI. You need to clear your thoughts."
"I can't, Finn. I-I'm too scared." She stuttered, turning away from him.
"I'm scared too, but only you can face your fears. Just think of something to calm yourself." He tried to encourage her. A sad smile was now replaced with a frown as he pleaded. "Please, Nikki. Don't give up. We all believe in you. We all care for you. I know you're stronger than this. You just need to see it for yourself." His hands rested on Nikki's arms, hoping his words can finally reach to her.
Nikki sat there as she listened to his words. Realizing that he was right. She was stronger than this. She was her father's daughter. He fought his own fears to protect his family. Now, she had to do it. She couldn't let him down. She couldn't let her team down. Mostly, she couldn't let herself down.
Her eyes turned back to Finn's eyes. She gives him a smile. This made Finn smile. "Alright. Remember, clear your mind. Find something to distract you and focus on that."
Nikki nodded before she closed her eyes. Taking a few deep breaths to relax her entire body. Her focus was on a bright light in the center. It was so calming and peaceful. She turned all of her attention to that. A glitch formed as her DHI form appeared. Releasing her from the bonds that secured her. She signed as she opened her eyes, looking down at her hands.
Finn smiled proudly. It made him like his old self again. Back when he was younger as a Kingdom Keeper. The leader that he should be. "Come on. Let's get out of here." He helped Nikki up from the ground onto her feet.
"Finn." Nikki took hold of his hand. "Thank you. For helping me." She softly said with a small smile.
"Don't thank me yet." He said before he led her towards the other side of the room. There was no way he was using the door to get out. Knowing there was hundreds of Ots out there. They only way to escape was going through the way. He didn't know where it would lead, but he had to try something to get away from where they were.
"Hold tight to my hand. And don't let go. Also try the same mention with the ropes to go through the wall. Trust me, it'll work." He instructed her in a whisper, giving her hand a firm grip.
Nikki didn't question him. She did as she was told as she held onto his hand. Again clearing her mind and returned to the light. Both of them then allowed themselves to transform into their DHIs before their entire hologram bodies stepped through the wall.
Nikki could feel the cooler night air. Opening her eyes to see that they made it outside behind a building. She looked around to try to figure out where they were. And if there were Overtakers patrolling out here. Finn turned to her and put a finger over his lips to tell her to keep silent before pointing across the street. There was a fence on the other side.
With their luck, they were invisible due to being away from the cameras. They managed to reach the fence and climbed over it to get outside of the park. Both of them realized that the OTs had brought them to one of the buildings at Animal Kingdom. Making them so far away from the fob. Finn remembered that it was back at the Magic Kingdom.
"So, now what?" Nikki whispered to Finn with a worried look that he couldn't see. She already could see that the sun was rising up.
Finn realized also that he wasn't going to able to return to his own body. Philby would of already hacked into the system and teleported both of them out. But now the controls were in the hands of the Overtakers. They were completely trapped.
The group gathered around the fob in front of Cinderella's castle. They had to hurry and get back to their own selves in bed before the security would find them. But there was no sign of Finn. Philby ordered from the walkie-talkie to send them back and they would have to search for Finn and Nikki when the park was clear. Amanda fought with tears in her eyes that she wanted to stay and find them. But Jess told her that she had to be back or Mrs Nash would send the entire swat team to go find them. David was silent for a moment before he spoke up.
"You guys go back. I'm going to stay and find them." He finally responded with a serious tone.
"But David. It's not safe being here. Especially in your DHI." Charlene said with a concerned look.
"Look, I don't have to worry about a home to go to. I have no one out there. Wayne already understands our cause. I must stay here. If I can locate where they are, I can call Philby to give him the location so we all can meet up."
It was a dangerous plan. They all knew that. But they also saw that they weren't going to change his mind.
"Alright, but be careful, man." Maybeck said with a frown, giving him a pat on the back. "Don't get caught, and keep out of sight. The last thing we need is another person captured."
"Don't worry. I know what to do." David give him a nod to show that he can handle himself. He had been on his own for so long. This time didn't make a difference. Except that there was something worth fighting for.
The small group gives David a frown in worry before each of them disappeared right in front of him. He quickly forced himself to hide as a security was passing by him. It was so close to the park's opening. The search would be a challenge since he couldn't be seen by the crowd.