Kingdom Hearts: Voices of the Heart

Chapter-4

Yay! I have started chapter four! Here is where things really start to heat up!
((Chapter Warning))
Now just to let you all know, I like torture, a lot…So if you have a problem with that, um well I suppose this chapter really isn't for you… But I suggest you at least try to give it a read. I'm not trying to cause projectile vomiting here, so I think you all can handle it. Anyways, enjoy!

The first feeling that Sora had upon waking was that he was cold. He couldn't open his eyes or speak, but he knew he was cold. Hovering between consciousness and unconsciousness Sora's memories began to flood back to him at a painful speed. The dream, the fight with Riku, everything. Finally fighting his way out of the sleep that so threatened to take him once more, Sora slowly opened his eyes but was immediately bombarded with severe pain. His head was throbbing and his stomach and back seemed to pulsate with pain to the rhythm of his heartbeat. He tried to reach a hand to his forehead but found he couldn't budge. His wrists and ankles had been shackled to the wall. He attempted to take a deep breath but halted when his broken ribs began to move with him inhaling. Only shallow breaths would do.
Sora looked around the room he was in. It was dark and dank, dimly lit by a few torches that lined the walls. It smelled of old must and books. The walls and floors were made of brick. He would have thought it to be a dungeon but the bookshelf on the far end of the room and all the magical artifacts that seemed to be lying around threw off any prejudgements.

Just then, the door handle began to move and slowly the heavy bolted door creaked open. Sora tried to focus on who was entering the room, but it was too dark so he held his breath and stayed silent, slightly afraid at who it might be.

"And how are we feeling?" a cold woman's voice asked. Slowly out of the shadows the woman's figure came into full view. It was Maleficent.

"How do you think?" Sora spat back at her fake attempt to sound concerned.

"Oh I do hope the young one didn't hurt you too badly. We haven't even had any fun with you yet." At this, Sora thought to summon his keyblade, but nothing happened.

"Oh are you looking for your weapon, Keybearer? Well I regret to inform you that it is indeed in our grasp for the moment being. Don't worry you wont be needing it." Sora saw a small smile creep onto her bony face.

"Where's Kairi?" he shouted at the woman, trying to sound stronger than he felt.

"She's here, with us. The girl doesn't like to say much though. Perhaps she is just the silent type?" she asked with a chuckle. Sora was not amused. He felt anger building up in him.

"Let her go, she has nothing to do with this." He ordered.

"But you're wrong, child, she has everything to do with this, and who are you to tell me what I am to do. You are in no situation to bestow orders upon anyone."

"I may not be able to now, but the moment I'm free from these stupid chains, I'm going to slice you in two." With that the woman's playful smile disappeared and in one swift movement her hand came slamming into his cheek turning his whole head. He briefly tasted blood in his mouth.

"Do not sass me child, I think its time you learned some manners." With that she stormed out of the room and slammed the door. Sora, whose head now hurt worse than before, lifted his gaze to face the door. Kairi was here, he could sense it, and she wasn't far, but he had no idea where she was or how he would even get to her at this point, let alone if. It was highly apparent that they planned to torture him until he gave in to whatever they wanted which he would never do. He couldn't allow himself to. Even if it meant his death, he had to try his best to save his friends and the people that inhabited the worlds they threatened to destroy. Sora allowed himself to slip deeper and deeper into his thoughts until he became sleepy and dozed off into an uneasy slumber.

"Sora…giggle Sora! Wake up, silly!" Sora slowly opened his eyes to answer the voice, and when he did he found he was back on Destiny Islands lying on the beach, Kairi leaning over him with the same sweet smile she always had. He gasped. Was he dreaming?

"It's about time you woke up! I was getting worried." Sora sat up and turned around to face Kairi. Was this really her?

"Kairi? W-where are we? How did I get here?" Sora asked taking in his surroundings. Kairi giggled and shrugged her shoulders.

"What do you mean?" she asked answering his question with another.

"Don't you remember? The storm, the heartless, being taken? Riku? This isn't our reality anymore…Things are alot different now…I don't even know if this Island exists anymore." Sora, who had been staring at the ground the whole time, now looked up to face Kairi who's smile was now a little more subdued but no less happy. She moved closer to him and grabbed his hand in hers. Holding it close she spoke.

"Sora, silly, this place, this island, our home does still exist." She began. "As do I, right here…" Kairi placed her hand on his chest over his heart. "I have been right here with you all along, I've never left your side, and I never would. Never forget that, and never forget that you will be the one who will open the door..." With that she smiled once more then disappeared in a whirl of white feathers. Sora, frightened, began to call for her.

"Kairi! Kairi! No don't leave yet!" he shouted running back and forth along the empty shore. "Kairi!"

WHAM! Just as fast as Sora had fallen asleep he was torn out from his slumber by a punch to the jaw. Trying to focus his thoughts and now his eyesight once again, he looked up to see who it was that hit him and there stood Maleficent and Jafar. Each one held a gaze mixed with hatred and conquest. Finally, Maleficent broke the silence.

"Have you rested well, keybearer? Good, because you're going to need you're mind fresh and ready to make some life altering decisions. As you probably already know, our plan, our goal is to drive out all the light that exists within this wretched world and release the darkness within every ones hearts. Wonderful plan, isn't it?" she asked mockingly.

"No." Sora replied angrily. This led to him getting hit in the stomach with Jafar's staff, drawing his breath out of him.

"As I was saying; here's where you come in. Now you can be a good boy and be an asset to this plan, seeing as how it would be pointless to rail against us now in your condition, or we can make you suffer until you give in or are at your last breath. It's all up to you, child, which fate seems less unfavorable?" Sora grew quiet, mostly to keep from getting another hit, and thought. He couldn't join them, he never would! If he did that would mean betraying his own heart and dooming Kairi, Riku and everyone else that was relying on his victory. Even if he did die, he would still be winning, for then they wouldn't be able to reach they're goal at all. It seemed that they needed him and so with that little ray of hope he gave them his answer.

"I would rather die here, one-hundred times over, than join you in your evil plans. Do your worst." He spat, looking Maleficent in the eye, and for once without a hint of fear. He could see she was angered by his response, but she did not hit him, she only moved closer to him and when she was so close that her lips touched his ear she spoke.

"You will regret those words, child. This I promise you…"she whispered, her voice had taken on a colder chill and it sent shivers down his spine. Knowing she had made him quiver merely with her words Maleficent smiled triumphantly and turned around, heading for the door. Placing her hand on the knob she paused momentarily.

"Jafar, you will be first. I shall give you an hour to change his mind. If you do not succeed someone else will take your place." She waved her hand and an hourglass filled with red sand appeared on the table that rested on the other end of the room. A strange light illuminated the object bringing the time into full focus.

"You will need no one else for this task I assure you." He responded, giving Sora a threatening grin.

"I do hope your methods of persuasion don't fail you." She muttered as she slipped through the door, slamming it closed. Jafar, now standing only a few feet from Sora, decided to move a few steps closer. Sora felt the instinct to step backwards but being that he was in restraints he could only paste his body to the wall.

"Well, boy, what do you say we get down to business then? How about we start off with a test to see how long it takes for you to let out one of those simply delicious screams I know you possess." Jafar lifted up his staff and held it high in the air. Waving it around in a circular motion, he began to chant an incantation in a deep, almost demonic tone. "Mahou toui vumiqu no sazowa ran!" he repeated rhythmatically. At first Sora thought that he saw long beams of light emanating from the sinisterly shaped wand, but as he allowed himself to concentrate more and more on it, he finally realized that the beams truly were. They were snakes.
Jafar began to laugh at the resistance Sora was expressing. His whole body had tensed up and he was now pressing himself against the wall with all his might. Hoping and praying that a miracle would occur and it would break.
"What's the matter child? Cat got your tongue? Why, just a few moments ago you had plenty to say." Jafar teased while coming closer.

"Stay away from me." Sora ordered darkly, trying to ignore the army of snakes that had gathered around him.
"My boy," Jafar began, his tone now serious, "I would watch what I said if I were you. You see, my serpents won't tolerate your bad mannerisms like I do. A serpent is a creature that in itself demands a great deal of respect. For the moment that you underestimate its strength; it bestows you with its deadly kiss." He warned, now only 1 or 2 inches from Sora's bruised face. "Still doubting my words? Let me show you..." He whispered while snapping his fingers causing Sora to watch in pure horror as the hundreds of snakes that surrounded them lept into the air and clung un-mercifully to his body. Within a few mere seconds the circulation to both of Sora's arms and Legs had been cut off and he was now stuggling to breathe from the 5 snakes that were now hugging his neck.
"Comfy?" Jafar asked, choking back a laugh. Sora tried to reply to Jafar's smart ass remark but found he had no voice to use. The snakes were crushing his larynx. "Oh so now he has the urge to speak? Well you in luck. I'm in the mood to listen." Jafar said wryly while lazily waving his hand. Sora gasped as the snakes around his neck loosened their painful grasp enough for him to speak.

"I'll ask you point blank, child. Give up your hopeless, unattainable dream of defeating us and succumb. Things will be made alot easier on you if you do." Sora glared at Jafar in disgust.
"Jafar, there's nothing and no one in this world that could get me to join you freaks. Riku may have given in to you monsters and your empty promises of happiness and power, but that just proves how weak he really was. I'm alot stronger than that. You can bleed me until I'm dry but it won't change anything." Sora rasped.
"Fine, have it your way..." Jafar resigned, sighing. Slowly he raised one of his creepily thin arms and snapped his bony fingers. With that the snakes around his neck re-tightened their grip and bit down deep into his flesh. Sora howled in pain as the rest followed suit. Before he knew it the hundreds of snakes that were covering his body like a coat had all pierced his pale skin with their sharp fangs. "Don't say I didn't offer you the easy way out, keybearer." He added, shrugging and snapping his fingers once more. Sora opened his eyes and squinted down to see what Jafar was planning this time, but became quickly startled when he noticed all the snakes were now glowing with an eerie red light. "Commence!" Jafar shouted and at that the serpents began to release high volts of electricity into Sora's body.
Sora began to convulse with the current that now surged through his very being. He felt as though everything within him was on the verge of exploding and the pain was unbearable but he wouldn't give in. He couldn't allow them to take his life without a fight. Chances were good that he was probably going to die here, chained to the wall, surrounded by enemies, and completely alone; or was he? Somehow, some way, even though every part of him wanted to give in and just embrace his grim fate, something inside him continued to keep him feeling warm and clinging on to the smallest amount of hope that he would survive. Could it be that there was a deeper meaning to what Kairi was saying in his dream? Could it be that she really was with him? That was the last encouraging thought his mind could muster before he fell once again into the sweet serenity of unconsciousness.

-Traverse Town-

Back on the world known as Traverse Town, Goofy continued to pace back and forth before they're fractrued Gummi ship. It had been over an hour since Donald first left for Cid's shop and he was becoming anxious.
"Gawrsh! Where in tha world could Donald be?" He mumbled to himself, spinning on his heel and heading back in the other direction. Though seemingly simple minded, Goofy was actually more intelligent than people gave him credit for. He knew full well what was going on and why Sora had left them without so much as a good-bye. Sora had feelings for Kairi that no one could ignore; they showed in his impulsiveness and the fact that the mentioning of her name caused him to rise to his feet in excitement. In fact, in Goofy's general opinion, if there was anyone who could be called simple minded it was Sora. When it came to saving the lives of his friends or the innocent bystanders affected by the heartless, he rushed in, keyblade beared, without evening thinking things through first. What was it that made him so rash when other people were in danger? Goofy continued to jumble the misplaced thoughts in his head around, not even noticing that Donald was staring at him quizzically from the doors to the main square.
"You okay over there, Goofy?" Donald asked, one eyebrow cocked. Goofy, startled, nearly tripped.
"Y-yeah! I'm just fine, Donald!" He shouted back, trying to gather his bearings. "What did Cid say?" He asked, trying to get Donald's attention off of him and his klutzyness.

"Well its not all to bad. I brought him a copy of the ships damage assessment and he sold me the replacement parts right away. Surprisingly enough, the damage isn't that severe and these parts don't need expert installation. In other words, I think I can have us outta here by tommorow afternoon!" Donald shouted gleefully. Goofy began to jump up and down in excitement.
"Yay! Then that means we have a good chance of getting ta Sora before anything too bad happends, right?" he asked, trying to subdue his happiness and sound serious.
"We can only hope, Goofy." Donald said matter-of-factly, lowering his gaze to the ground. Goofy, unwilling to give into the sadness that threatened his morale as well, ignored Donald's depressing response.
"Well what're ya waiting for! Let's get started! The sooner we get this thing fixed the sooner we can meet up with Sora!" Goofy exclaimed, grabbing Donald by the wing and dragging him and the bag of parts he was lugging towards the ship. Donald couldn't help but be taken back a few steps by Goofy's cheerful disposition. Was he really an airhead or just good at hiding his emotions? Never the less, Donald had no time to drown himself in his own thoughts. Goofy was right about one thing, they needed to get to Sora and soon because something deep down inside told him that if they didn't hurry, they might never see they're dear friend alive again...

End of Chapter 4. Wow, I am sooo tired... This chapter truly does contain my sweat and blood. I think I am developing a small case of writers block. Usually I can shell out atleast two chapters of a story a day, but wow am I losing my touch... X.x Well anyways, READ AND REVIEWWWWWWW OR NO CHAPTER 5! I mean it! I only posted chapter 4 because the five of you actually cared to tell me what you thought! Especially DieChan who has now become my AIM buddy! I luv ya DieChan! Hope you like this chapter and the next! XP Well, see you all in chapter 5! Maaaaaaaybe...

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