Chapter 9

Escape

Point of View: Kairi

Written by: Lyphe

We were all set. Irvine and I had devised a plan overnight so full-proof there was no way it could fail. Freedom seemed so close, I could just taste it. The master didn't care enough about us to feed us, so we lived on my secret supply of food. Whenever our guard stirred, as horrible as it was, Irvine bounded me back to my chains, so to ward off suspicion.

Against the shadows

Against the light

Trapped in darkness

Held in twilight

Finally, the master began to suspect something was amiss. I suppose we behaved too well in his presence. We obeyed every command at will without an argument. He threw Irvine into the empty cell, opposite of mine, directly across from each other, with only the guard standing between. We only spoke later when the master was gone, and the guard was asleep, when it was most likely night, for we couldn't tell apart night and day.

Our plan was ready, but Irvine instructed me to wait. When the time was right, he assured me, we'd act. I'd never felt so alone those few days Irvine was locked up away from me. I could release myself from those thick iron chains, for Irvine had given me a set of his transparent keys. I had tried so many times to communicate with him, but he only responded with a shake of his head and a "Shh..."

Nothing to lose,

And nothing to gain.

But a hopeless wish,

Or a hopeless pain.

The plan had to come into action soon, I was about ready to burst, I almost reported to the guard what we intended to do! And I would have, if it weren't for Irvine making an incredibly loud wailing sound, which later earned him a good few lashings of a spiked whip. It was truly gruesome, the crimson liquid oozed out of his flesh onto the cold cement ground, where there is still an indication today. But he'd gladly trade some of his blood and flesh for the hope and chances of escape, which I had almost shattered.

What you need,

And what you feel.

What is fake,

And what is real.

I don't know how I kept my secrets within me. I don't know how long I waited for Irvine to tell when to go. Days, or what seemed like days, passed by us, going on and on. I had accidentally dropped my set of keys one especially cold and lonesome day. I couldn't tell Irvine, for fears that the guard would hear, and I was still chained up, and it was out of reach. I cried silently, and waited for this torture to end. I remained in that position for many more days to come.

My voice halted, for I had lost the will to go on. My body was numb, and I had lost all hope. There was nothing left for me. I would die here, and the darkness would take over the worlds completely. Even Sora couldn't help me.

Sora...

It is light that captures

A heart so pure

But darkness that sets

Its destiny assured

Sora. You'd think the instant thought of his name would give me light, and help regain my hope and courage. But it didn't. He was but a distant memory. My mind's image of him was blurry, and the aged photograph of him I had packed along with me had been soaked and smudged by the rain. All I could remember was that he was a good person; he had a goofy grin, which I couldn't seem to recall anymore. And his love...

Love.

Was I truly in love with that man? Now that I think of it, I just can't feel it. I know he loves me, but is that really enough? Words mean nothing, and perhaps so were his. If he truly loved me, he would have come a long time ago. He would have come into this hell to free me of my chains, and have taken me away to a faraway paradise to be happy for all eternity.

There is no light

Without a shadow behind

And what remains

Will destroy the mind.

But that is all gone. It's as if none of that could ever be true.

Hope is shattered,

When thrust into flames.

Wishes mean naught,

And dreams have no names.

I'm here to stay for all eternity. Souls wander this place, and mine is about to join. My icy glare continues on to the gray cement. All my strength is gone, even to lift my head. I'm sure I heard Irvine's voice whisper once, but it was so faint, I believed it to only be my own mind tricks again. I hadn't spoken to him for so long, actually, I rather lost the will and the desire to want to speak to him, to anyone.

My memory began slipping away as well. And I'm sure I would have forgotten everything if it weren't for that one fated day.

"I will be off to a...trip you may call it. I won't be gone too long, though I expect you to keep close watch on all my prisoners, especially our little princess here. The others...if they commit, or attempt to commit anything, kill them at once. Their absence won't faze me in the least. But I do want the girl kept alive. I'll deal with her ritual personally. Do not fail me."

"Kairi! Kairi!"

I cracked open my eyelids, using all the energy I had to lift my skull. I glared at Irvine from across the cell. What did this bastard want? Didn't he understand I wanted to be left in peace?

"What?" I growled, my voice a tiny whisper, cold and raspy.

Irvine grinned a faint smile as his hands pressed against the cell's bars.

"He's gone! It's time!"

Time? There is no time. Time has slipped away from my grasp, and it does not stop for those whose fates are inevitable.

Seeing my emotionless face, he tried again, "Our plan! Freedom! Doesn't that mean anything to you?"

Still glaring, I deepened my look at him, "I lost the keys a long time ago. Freedom is nothing. Freedom is false hope."

Irvine looked upon me desperately, "No, Kairi, no it isn't. Don't you remember anything? Sora? Perhaps I've waited too long for this plan to come into action, but please Kairi! We're so close!"

My head dropped, for my energy was gone. I felt tears emerge. Tears...I hadn't felt emotion for so long now, I guess I really had given up. Suddenly, I heard a clash against my cell. Forcing my head to raise, I looked through my blurry eyes.

Keys...

I looked to Irvine; he was still smiling, still hopeful. Perhaps I had given up too soon. I twisted my lips into a faint smile. I reached out, my target the keys. I heard the chains rattle. I looked back. The chains had extended their limit. My hope failed again. An image flickered about in my mind, and this time it was clear.

And so it circles,

And the image reappears.

A message swamped in time,

Buried under present fears.

Sora. He wouldn't give up on me, and I wouldn't give up on him. I reached out again, the chains slowly cutting into my flesh. I winced, willing to stop. But I was so close, and freedom was so near. My hand shakily pulled forth, scarlet wine flowing willingly. I grasped the keys as my arm snapped back.

"Got it..."

I unlocked myself, finally freeing myself of those wretched chains that had bound me for God knows how long. Taking my pack, which still resided beside me, I zipped it open, pulling out a rope Irvine had hidden in there. He didn't dare take it with him into his own cell, for fear the Unknown would spot it and take it away. Making a loop as he had previously taught me, I clumsily swung at the keys to the cell doors which hung on a hook near the doorway.

"Try again!" Irvine encouraged me, "Try to remember what I taught you!"

I closed my eyes and tried to focus. I swung the rope at them again, rattling the keys.

"You've almost got it!" he called out.

I could hear footsteps. By hearing how heavy they were, I concluded our sleepy guard was coming back. I panicked, as I swung another clumsy loop at it.

"Concentrate..." I muttered to myself.

This was the only chance we had. Aiming carefully, I leaned as far out of the cell as I could, and threw the rope. I caught it. Without wasting another moment, I quickly reeled them in. The footsteps were almost here. I fumbled with the keys as I tried them one by one. There were so many! He entered. I looked up, aghast. Game over.

He lunged at me. The key turned, and the cell opened, causing him to stumble into the cell. I ran out the cell, my knees still a bit wobbly. Reacting quickly, I tossed the keys to Irvine's cell. The guard lunged at me again. His long, sharp claws sunk into my skin. Liquid seeped out of my skin. I screamed as I was forcefully pushed down onto the floor. He came after me again, sinking his nails into me once more, only to be thrown harshly off. I shrieked, wide-eyed, as Irvine fought him off.

The guard revealed a sharp knife from under his cloak. He went after Irvine with it. I gasped. He was going to kill Irvine. Irvine fought him off with ease, careful to avoid contact with the knife, but I could see he was rapidly losing energy. The guard struck with the knife again, and this time, it sliced off a bit of skin on his right cheek, for he failed to completely dodge it. It struck again, this time slicing under his left eye. Irvine winced and staggered backwards, blood flowing swiftly down his face. I cried out as the guard knocked him off his feet, and hovered down to Irvine's level, bringing the knife closer and closer to his heart.

Irvine was desperately trying to push away the knife, but it was no use, he had used up all his strength. I stared in horror, when flashbacks emerged into my mind. They were those times when Sora was fighting for my safety. He was hurt because of me, and I couldn't do a single thing about it, for I was just too helpless.

I shook off my frozen state, and dove into the fight. With all the strength I had, I thrust the blade away from Irvine's chest, changing its course, and plunging it into the guard's. He stumbled backwards, and glared at us, before his yellow eyes blinked out, and he fell backwards.

And now I stood horrified, looking at my blood-stained hands which I had used to kill him. I had just murdered someone, was this how Sora felt when he took the many lives he's taken before? I was no longer innocent, but I was a criminal. I had hurt one who had sinned, but at the order of another. I slowly walked backwards, still looking at my bloody hands, when I bumped into Irvine.

I turned to him. Blood stained his clothes as well as his face. I began crying as I buried my face into his chest. He shakily spoke soothing words to me, not at all working to calm me down. Freedom was ours.

So silently drifting,

Far, far away,

I drag a debt

That I never had to pay.

We hurried away, leaving the guard to drown in his blood. We were free...

I looked back at the gruesome sight, as tears continued to trail down.

...but was it really worth such a price?

Author's Notes: Yup, I'm finally updating! I bet you guys thought I'd never get to it! Yeah, I didn't use a song, I used a poem my friend wrote called 'Kokoro o Korosu: To Kill The Heart.' Isn't it a great poem? If you guys haven't noticed, Amanda and I have started to write another story! It's called 'The Perfect Woman,' so if you haven't seen it yet, check it out!

So, Kairi finally escaped! But she's not out yet! Oh no! It'll take much more than that for her to earn her freedom! Tune in this summer to find out what happens!

kk, later!