Author's note: Sorry it took longer to get the next chapter then I said. I was more busy than I thought I would be.

Kingdom Hearts: Return of the Heartless

Chap. 15 A Dream, a Heartless, and a Queen

In the morning, Sora woke up, finding that no one else was in the room.

"Maybe they are all downstairs," he figured.

As Sora walked down the steps, he heard a scream coming from outside. After he ran down the rest of the flight, nobody was downstairs either.

"This is getting weird. Where'd they go?"

Soon, Sora heard the scream again. This time he recognized the voice.

"Oh, no! Kairi!"

He ran out of the house and saw a huge cliff to his right. Someone was holding Kairi over the edge, then let go. Flames engulfed the forest as she fell.

"No…Kairi, Kairi!" Sora cried.

"Sora!" a voice said, "C'mon, you lazy bum, get up!"

Kairi was shaking Sora, trying to wake him.

"What?" Sora opened his eyes, "Kairi, what happened?"

"What do you mean?"

"Ohhhh…never mind."

"Sure you're ok?"

"Yeah, it was…just a dream."

When everyone came downstairs, all of the dwarfs were still asleep.

"I know what I can do," Snow White had an idea, "I'll surprise them be picking some berries," she grabbed a basket and was on her way.

"So, did everybody get a good night's sleep?" Riku pondered.

Sora sighed but didn't say a word.

"Obviously you didn't."

Kairi wondered, "Tell us about your dream, Sora."

"I'd rather not…"

Just then, Snow White yelled to them, "Come here quick!"

When they got outside, Snow White pointed to an area of the forest where smoke was rising, "It's awful."

"Oh, no…" Sora thought a moment, "Our ship is over there!" He started to run toward the smoke. Riku and Kairi followed.

As they were running, they heard a noise behind them and stopped in their tracks. When they turned around, they found out that they were being chased by a flying red heartless.

"Run!" Riku exclaimed.

All of them sprinted as fast as they could. The figure swooped down and with its claws, picked up Kairi by the shoulders lifting her higher into the air. She screamed.

"Kairi!" Sora ran in her direction.

"Sora!" she cried as she was carried away.

"We have to save her! C'mon, Riku!"

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Soon, Riku and Sora came to a clearing in the forest. Kairi and the heartless were nowhere in sight.

"We lost them!" Riku said in frustration.

Then a peculiar voice spoke, "Are you looking for her?"

A tall, strict woman with a crown on her head stood in front of them. She held Kairi tightly in one arm.

"It must be the queen…" Riku thought.

"Let Kairi go!" commanded Sora.

"I can't do that…" the queen smiled, I know where Snow White is hiding."

Sora and Riku pulled out their weapons.

"How do you?" Riku asked.

"That's my little secret…" the queen chuckled, "…and if you tell Snow White I know where she is…" she held a dagger to Kairi's neck.

"Sora, Riku!" Kairi pleaded.

Sora walked closer.

"Don't come any closer…" the queen tightened her grip, and the blade now touched Kairi's throat.

"Sora…please…" Kairi was crying.

Sora and Riku dropped their weapons.

"Don't tell Snow White, or you'll never see this girl again," and with that, the queen and Kairi vanished.

"Kairi!" Sora cried. He fell to his knees, "Kairi…" he felt he was powerless to do anything, "No….." a tear rolled down his cheek.

Author's note: There's another cliffhanger ending for ya. I'm writing the next chapter now, so it'll be up soon. (yes, I'll have it sooner then last time)