Chapter 7

"…" - dialogue

***….*** - flashback

~~~~~~~ - new scene

"Sora. It's okay. We're right here." The voice was close, but distant.

"No! Leave me alone!"

Sora opened his eyes. He was all alone in a room.

"Where am I?" he asked.

"Your home sweetheart."

Sora looked around the room. He was at home in his room. His mom was standing in the doorway.

"Kairi?" Sora asked.

"Where've you been? Kairi's been missin. Don't you remember?" his mom said.

"But I thought you all disappeared. Mom are you sure Kairi isn't here?" Sora said.

"Who are you calling mom? I'm not that old," his mom said.

There were snickers coming from around the room. Sora looked around. No one was there. Then Heartless appeared.

"Get away from me!" he yelled.

"Sora. It's okay. It's just us. Your friends."

His mom rushed to his side.

"The Heartless. They're everywhere. Two of them are right behind you."

Sora started to shake uncontrollably. His mom nodded to one of the Heartless. The one lifted up a staff. The room was filled with a bright light. When the light vanished, Sora saw Yuffie in his mom's place. All of his friends were in the room. All except Riku and Kairi.

"Are you feeling better?" King Mickey asked.

"Yeah. But why was I seeing the Heartless? And I saw my mom. She knew Kairi was missing," Sora said.

"Um. I think you were hallucinating. There were no Heartless. And I never knew you had a mom," Yuffie said.

"Yuf. I think when Riku hit him that made him think of darkness. And he had a mission. To find the one," Leon said.

There was a knock at the door. Aerith walked in.

"Cloud!" she exclaimed, "Sora. Can you come with me?"

"No. He can't Aerith. He's not feeling well," Leon said.

"But it's Hollow Bastion. She's back. And only he can destroy her. Or the other one. But she's dead," Aerith said.

"Kairi's … dead?" Sora asked.

"No. Not now. But she mind as well be."

"We'll all go. Tomorrow. Right now I have a few questions for Sora," Cloud said.

"Ask away," Sora said.

"How was the wall to all the worlds destroyed?"

"Well Kairi and I were in our Secret Place. I was showing her how to attack with it. We both had our hands on it." Sora choked up at that part.

"Are you okay?" Aerith asked.

"I've gotta go. Go to where this whole mess started," Sora said.

He got up and ran out the door. He ran all the way to the Secret Place. He walked up to the door.

"You can't destroy the door from this side."

Sora turned to the shadows. A hooded figure walked out.

"Who are you? Are you-"

"I am not he. I am ruler of all darkness. And only I would know how to destroy the door," the figure said.

"But why are you telling me?" Sora asked.

"Because I'm only protecting you."

The hooded figure took off its hood.

"Riku!" Sora gasped.

"In the flesh. I'm glad you decided to come meet me. But it won't work. You can't destroy the door. At least not from this side. And not alone," Riku said.

"Riku. I don't understand."

"Those who know nothing, understand nothing."

"You are him!" exclaimed Sora.

"Duh! Do you always believe something someone says to you?" Riku asked.

"Only if I trust the person," Sora said.

"I'm telling you this because I am Riku. Your friend. I need help destroying the door. Do you trust me?" Riku said.

He held out his hand. Sora hesitated. Then he grabbed Riku's hand.

"How do we start?"

"Find this person."

Riku gave Sora the name of the person. Then Riku started to shake violently. Sora saw Riku out of his own body.

"Run Sora! Don't trust me! He's taking over!"

Sora let go of his hand. Then he ran. As he got to the end of the cave, he stopped and looked back. He saw Riku fighting. But Sora didn't know who. Riku looked at him.

"Find her! Tell her I'll always be there!"

Riku was taken over by darkness. Complete. Never to be seen again. He was sent to the Dark Abyss.

"Riku."

Sora ran. When he was outside he turned for one final look at the Secret Place. Then it collapsed. Sora heard screams and yells.

"Sora!"

He turned to see people running towards him. People that were his friends. People that would always be there for him.

"I'm okay. I think I'm ready to talk."