Part Three

Sora continued walking, still holding Roxas piggyback style as he made his way through the winding hallway. As he walked, Sora could feel the pain of his injuries becoming worse

"Roxas, how're you.. Holding up?"

Roxas didn't answer him and Sora stopped.

"Roxas?"

When Roxas didn't respond, Sora began to panic and he quickly yet carefully let Roxas off his back. It was at that moment, Sora realized in horror that his entire back was completely soaked with blood. He stared down at his friend and could see the entirety of Roxas' clothes had become a deep crimson red.

"Roxas? Roxas!"

Sora shook him, trying everything he could to wake his friend.

"Roxas! Roxas Please!" Sora begged, tears slipping down his cheeks. "Roxas!"

Sora summoned his Keyblade intending to heal Roxas' wounds but as the Keyblade appeared, Sora began to get a sick feeling in his gut. The Keyblade was clear but had become stained a faint red from the blood. Sora held the Keyblade over Roxas and tried to cast a healing spell. Though the spell had stopped the bleeding, it had not completely healed the wounds. Sora tried again, but found the Keyblade wouldn't comply.

"C'mon! HEAL!" Sora cried, trying to cast the spell again.

The Keyblade still would not comply. With frustration, Sora flung the Keyblade across the hall, where it clattered loudly against the floor. Sora turned back to Roxas on the floor and tried his best to try and help Roxas. Roxas still lay completely still, his skin having become sickly pale.

"Roxas.." Sora whimpered. "Roxas I'm so sorry.."

He pulled Roxas close into a tight hug as he began to openly sob.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Axel had been walking for what had to have been hours through the maze-like hallway. Every step he took felt as though he was trying to climb a mountain. Axel coughed as he took one more step before falling to his knees on the floor.

"I'm.. Not breathing.. Those toxins.. Anymore.." Axel choked out.

He continued to try and stand but was suddenly hit by a wave of nausea as he became overwhelmed by a severe headache. Axel doubled over and began to vomit onto the floor. Axel coughed and cringed at the burning in his throat. As he looked up however, he stared on in horror. The contents of what he had vomited was nothing but pure blood. Axel began to hyperventilate as he stared at the large pool of blood on the floor.

"Oh.. G..God.." he choked out.

He threw up again and again, resulting in the same as before. Axel clenched his eyes shut as tears of blood slipped down his face.

"I.. Can't.. Give up.." Axel croaked.

He forced himself to stand again.

"They're.. C..counting on me.."

Axel forced himself to continue. As he was continuing onward, he was suddenly taken by surprise at a loud noise from somewhere down the hallway. He fought back his returning nausea and quickened his pace. As he reached the source of the sound, he was shocked to find..

"Sora! Roxas!"

Sora's head snapped up as he saw the familiar red-head hurrying toward them.

"Axel.." Sora whimpered.

His tears slipped freely down his cheeks.

"Sora! What's-?"

Axel immediately stopped as he saw Roxas lying limp in his friends arms.

"Roxas.." he whispered in horror.

Sora choked back a sob as he carefully handed Roxas over to Axel.

"I.. I c-couldn't h-heal him.." Sora whimpered. "H-he.."

Sora broke down again as he started to sob. Axel took in the sight of his friend's almost peaceful expression as he gently held onto him.

"Roxas.." Axel whispered.

He soon pulled his very first friend close and began to sob, ignoring his pain and nausea as he cried into Roxas' shoulder. Roxas.. Was gone. The two continued to mourn over the loss of their friend as the reality of what happened sunk in. After about twenty minutes, Axel stood up. He held Roxas' body in his arms as he began to head down the hallway.

"I'll find who did this.." Axel growled. "I'll make 'em pay for what they've done.."

Sora looked up, his tears still slipping down his cheeks. He painfully stood up and winced as the pain in his body. Sora began to feel dizzy but fought through the agony as he began to follow Axel down the hallway.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Riku stumbled through the hallway, keeping his hand pressed against the gaping wound in his chest. He coughed and cringed as he tried to fight back the dizziness that was beginning to overwhelm him.

"I have.. T-to keep going.."

As he continued walking, he rounded the corner and was knocked to the ground as someone collided into him. Riku grunted in pain and looked up. Just in front of him, lying on the floor was..

"Kairi?"

Kairi quickly stood up and hurried over.

"Riku!"

She hugged him tight, but jolted back as Riku cried out in pain. As she saw the wounds, her eyes immediately began to fill with tears.

"Riku, w-what HAPPENED?" Kairi whimpered. "Y-you're-"

"I k-know.." Riku coughed. "W-we'll talk about this l-later.."

Riku slowly stood up, keeping his hand pressed to his chest. Thinking quickly, Kairi summoned her Keyblade and cast a curing spell. Though the spell had stopped the bleeding, it had not completely healed the wounds. Riku nonetheless smiled and pulled her into a hug.

"I was really worried about you.." he muttered.

Kairi smiled and nodded.

"C'mon, we've gotta find the others!"

Riku nodded and soon began to head down the hallway again.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Though his body was in agony, Axel continued walking, trying his best to fight back another wave of nausea. Sora had managed to catch up to him, though his intensity of his wounds were now beginning to take their toll on him. Sora collapsed to the floor with a loud thump, causing Axel to spin around in horror.

"Sora!"

Sora coughed and held his midsection in agony. Axel made his way toward him and was horrified to see his wounds were nearly identical to Roxas. It was then he realized they had been in the same trap and while Sora had been trying to remain calm, it was clear he was fading fast.

"Sora.! Sora, listen to me!" Axel started. "You gotta fight this..!"

Sora coughed in response, blood having already begun to dribble from his lips.

"Sora.."

Axel began to remove his cloak, revealing a white tank top and black pants underneath. He then proceeded to wrap it around Sora's midsection to try and stop the bleeding. Sora whimpered and coughed painfully.

"C'mon, stay WITH me, Sora!"

Sora's eyes began to slip shut but he was immediately snapped awake as Sora felt a hand strike him hard across the face.

"I said stay WITH me, d*mn it!" Axel snarled, tears now beginning to slip down his face.

"Axel.." Sora croaked out.

Axel was about to say something when he heard shouting from behind him. He spun around and was shocked to see Riku and Kairi racing toward him from down the hall.

Author's Note: It would seem their fates may be sealed..