Part Four

Riku and Kairi hurried to their friend's' aid.

"Sora! Axel! Rox-"

Kairi froze as she saw one of her closest friends lying lifeless in Axel's arms.

"R..Roxas.."

She hurried to them, tears forming in her eyes. Sora looked at her, fresh tears slipping down his cheeks.

"I c-couldn't save him.." he whimpered, turning away. "I.. I b-broke my promise..."

Sora turned to look at his friend's lifeless body, more of his tears slipping down his cheeks.

"It.. I-it's all my fault.." he whimpered. "I s-should've healed him..!"

Sora clenched his eyes shut as his hands balled up into fists.

"Roxas is DEAD because of me!"

"Sora-"

Sora spun and gave Riku a dark look, causing his friend to immediately stop talking. Sora turned back around and forced himself to stand, only to let out a cry of pain.

"Sora!" Kairi cried in horror.

Sora gripped his midsection and as he was overtaken by a massive coughing fit. Blood dribbled out from between his lips as he doubled over in pain.

"Sora..!" Kairi whimpered as she ran to his side.

"I.. C-couldn't.." Sora coughed again, cringing as the pain in his body worsened.

"Easy.." Riku said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You need to calm down."

Sora looked at his friend as tears of anger and despair ran down his cheeks.

"He's DEAD because of ME!"

"Sora!" Riku sternly said.

Sora turned away, his gaze landing on the lifeless body of Roxas on the floor. Sora moved toward him and pulled him into a tight hug, sobbing openly. Kairi moved over to Sora's side and gently rubbed his shoulder as Sora continued to weep over his friend.

"We will find who did this.." Axel stated, a determined look on his face.

Sora looked up, his tears slipping freely down his cheeks. Riku and Kairi helped Sora to his feet while he kept his gaze at the floor. Sora refused to look up, not wanting to look at his friend's lifeless body in Axel's arms. Sora bit his lip as his tears fell from his eyes again.

The four friends made their way through the maze of hallways. For a while, neither of them spoke and the only sounds that could be heard were the sounds of their own footfalls along the tile floors, Axel once again was carrying Roxas, not wanting to leave their friend in this horrible place.

As they made their way through the maze, Riku noticed Sora's pace beginning to slow.

"Sora?"

Sora lifted his head, his vision blurring as he began to feel lightheaded.

"Ri..ku..."

Those were the last words spoken before Sora collapsed to the floor.

"SORA!" Riku cried in horror.

Sora coughed and gripped at his midsection, clenching his eyes shut and gritting his teeth. Riku carefully rolled Sora onto his back. Riku was horrified as he saw the cloak that had been wrapped around Sora's midsection was completely drenched in blood.

"I'm.. S..sorry..." Sora choked out.

"Hey.. C'mon.." Riku said in deep concern. "We're gonna get through this!"

Sora tightly gripped Riku's arm.

"Riku..."

Sora's eyes drifted shut as he began to relax.

"Sora? Sora!?"

Sora didn't respond.

"Sora! C'MON! C'mon, wake UP!"

Axel turned toward them, a look of horror and despair in his emerald eyes. He looked down at Roxas before a look of determination overtook him. Carefully setting Roxas on the floor, Axel summoned his Keyblade, a dizziness overtaking him as he held the Keyblade over Sora's body and cast a healing spell. As the spell dispersed, Sora continued to lie motionless on the floor. Riku looked away as Kairi began to sob into his shoulder.

"I'm.. I'm sorry.." Axel frowned, his voice filled with regret. "I-"

He was cut off and everyone jumped as Sora took in a suddenly deep breath, his eyes snapping open.

"Sora!" Kairi cried out.

She hurried over to his side as Sora began to breathe heavily.

"Sora.. Sora, you're okay.."

Sora looked up in shock as he felt tears forming in his eyes.

"Axel, w-why did you do that?"

"I couldn't just let you die."

"B-but.. I-I.."

Sora turned away as tears filled his eyes.

"I d-don't deserve it.." he muttered.

"Sora.." Kairi frowned.

Sora didn't reply as he clenched his eyes shut. Kairi pulled him into a comforting hug. She continued to hold him comfortingly. Axel and Riku made their way over to their friends, soon joining in with the hug. Eventually, Sora began to calmed down and he looked up, sniffling softly.

"T-thanks.." he muttered softly.

Kairi, Riku, and Axel gave him an assuring smile. Axel placed a hand on Sora's shoulder gently.

"Don't worry," he said, a look of determination crossing his face. "We will find who did this.. And we will make them pay for what they have done."

Sora nodded softly as he slowly got to his feet and their walking began anew, Axel once again was carrying Roxas, not wanting to leave their friend in this horrible place.

As the four friends continued searching for the exit, Axel began to feel queasy and his pace began to slow.

"Axel?" said Riku.

Axel coughed and stumbled a bit, nearly dropping Roxas on the floor. Sora's head snapped up in shock as he saw Axel on the floor.

"Axe?" he said.

Axel clenched his eyes shut. He was getting a severe headache as the queasy feeling from before became stronger.

"N-no.. N-not NOW.."

"Axel, w-what's WRONG?" Sora insisted, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder.

Before Axel had a chance to respond, he began to vomit profusely onto dirty, unkempt floor. Sora jumped back in shock and was overtaken by shock and horror as he took in the sight of blood on the floor.

"A-Axel.." Sora whimpered.

As Axel looked up, everyone's eyes grew wide in shock as Kairi covered her mouth in horror. Axel face was deathly pale, bloody tears slipping down his face.

"T-this.. S-shouldn't be happening..." Axel groaned.

"Axel?" said Sora, concerned.

"T-the room I was in.. I h-had a choice.." Axel choked out. "I chose to save you.."

"But Axel," Kairi whimpered, tears forming in her eyes. "You're hurt.."

Axel let out a chuckle which evolved into a ragged cough.

"I'm not.. L-letting toxins s-stop me.. F-from helping my f-friends."

The last word was cut off as he went into a coughing fit. Kairi made her way over to Axel and gently rubbed his shoulder. After a few moments, Axel regathered his strength and began to stand up, stumbling slightly as he lifted Roxas from the floor again, thankful he had avoided getting blood on him.

"C'mon.." said Axel. "We don't have much time.."

With that said, Axel began to head down the hallway once more with the others following close behind him.

Author's Note: I am extremely sorry for not updating for so long.. I had been having trouble with inspiration for continuing this story.. I am unsure if I will continue this story or discontinuing it.. Please let me know if I should continue or not.. Thanks..