Chapter 5

Riku knelt beside Sora looking at the unmoving body. Riku sighed softly and put a hand on Sora's shoulder. It was heartbreaking to see a friend die, and it not being his time.

"Sora... I'm sorry... Is there anything I could do?" Riku asked, looking at Sora with pity. For the first time ever, Riku saw Sora cry. Riku was near tears himself, even though he didn't quite know the man.

"Don't be sorry. I don't need your pity. It's not your fault Alcurad is dead." Sora said, standing up and shaking Riku's hand off. He let a tear fall on Alcurad's dead body. "He always wanted to go out with a bang. Didn't think it was the gun shot type bang... but who? Who would kill Alcurad?" Sora asked himself. Riku stood up also, looking at the disintegrating vampire.

"Sora... I'm not trying to pity you. Someone died.. Usually-" Riku went on, but was interrupted by Sora who turned around, his eyes redder than ever before.

"Well.. I'm not one of those usual stereotypes now am I? No, I'm not Riku. Vampires don't have pity on other vampires or humans. We aren't kind creatures Riku.. One day.. I might snap.. Might go crazy. It's better if you just left... I plan to go alone and fight the Howler's and any other creatures I find.." Sora spoke. His voice was a little demanding, but Riku stepped up to the challenge, his voice just as demanding.

"No Sora. You're not like any other vampire! You still have your heart! Do this for me.. .do this for Kairi. You won't go crazy. And no matter what... I'm going with you." Riku replied, glaring at Sora. He didn't want his friend to get hurt, and he would try with all his power to stop him if he ever did lash out.

"Riku.. I have half a heart... a Howler got me.. But a friend helped. I want you to be safe. I could go crazy, you never know... and as for Kairi.. I can't see her again.. I'm afraid I'd hurt her.." he whispered. It was a heartbreaking night for him. Having to say goodbye to an old friend, having another die, and having to face the fact that he'll never be with Kairi.

"I don't care. You wouldn't hurt Kairi. She's your light Sora. I'm taking you somewhere before we can go to any other world. Somewhere where someone can help you. I know it might help.. Maybe it can break your Vampire curse.." Riku suggested. Sora laughed a little, he shook his head solemnly.

"Nothing can help me Riku. I can only help myself. I can't go anywhere. Noone can help me. You have to face that. You lost your old friend Riku. The old Sora is gone. Faded away. All that remains is a dark soul." he said. Riku sighed, he tried everything he could. He finally saw that he couldn't save his friend, unlike Sora who saved him.

Sora started walking out and stopped Riku as he tip toed out. He had a strange feeling that Alcurad's murderer was still inside the house. He made Riku hide behind an armchair as Sora got his Keyblade out. There was a long silence. Sora's eyes darted from direction to direction. Whoever was in the room was a fantastically camouflaged. Sora heard a gun being loaded right behind him. He did a back kick as the gun fell to the side. Sora casted Fira in front of him. He heard a thud as someone fell to the ground. He pierced the person in the heart and told Riku to bring a dim lamp in.

He looked over the stranger, not knowing the person. He saw that whoever it was, was extremely pale. As Sora looked at his face, the person stood up, trying to take the Keyblade out. Sora looked at his eyes as Riku fell backwards, shocked by the thing's sudden movement. The person's eyes were deep red, Sora immediately recognizing another vampire. "So... you think you were going to murder TWO vampires tonight? You thought wrong. You murder one, I murder you." Sora whispered softly. He sneered a bit and grabbed the loaded gun next to him.

He aimed at the vampire's head with the gun, finger on the trigger. "So long and goodnight." Sora whispered as he pulled the trigger. The vampire screeched loudly as it started bleeding. Within minutes, the thing was dead. Riku got out of his shocked state, a little shaken and watch Sora grab his Keyblade. Riku gave a funny look at Sora. "Be careful, your face will get stuck like that." Sora laughed as he walked out of the place of death.

"Hey... that's not funny! You killed someone!" Riku protested pointing at the dead vampire behind him. Sora smirked a bit as he looked at the full moon. A wolf howling broke the silence as Sora instinctively grabbed his weapon. He sighed a bit and shook it off as he seen a regular wolf scamper pass.

"And your point being? That vampire killed Alcurad, and was planning on killing you and me. He deserved to be sent back to Hell." he said, turning to face Riku who was ghostly pale. "You look like you've seen a ghost Riku. What's the matter?" he asked as he turned around to see what he was looking at. "Oh crap... get in the house... get in NOW!" Sora demanded, pushing the shocked Riku into the home. He ran to the window to see Sora and to make sure he was going to be okay. His eyes locked onto the creature that confronted Sora.

The thing resembled a banshee and a ghost. But this was different. It had claws and long dark hair over her face. Sora wasn't scared, he was prepared for anything. But he wasn't prepared for this battle. "My miss, you look awfully horrid. Prepare to eat metal." Sora smirked, realizing how stupid he sounded. He shook it off and got into battle mode.

The banshee screeched a terrible noise which made Sora cover his ears and fall to the ground. The noise was worse than a Howler's call, worse than anything he ever heard in his life. It echoed in the streets as everyone locked themselves into their house, peering in interest at the banshee. She glided slowly over to Sora after her screeching as he got up. He looked up and found himself staring at her face. It was hollow and empty, her eyes glassy and pearl white. She had white and green skin which was wrinkled. Her face was disturbing to Sora's eyes who could see everything. From the maggot coming out her skeleton nose, to the seaweed in her hair.

The thing screeched in his face, making him fall backwards, his ears ringing as he clutched them. He couldn't handle the noise, it was too much. He had a massive head ache, as he tried ramming his Keyblade into the banshee, but it was no use. She was too strong, much stronger than Ansem was, much stronger than the Nobodies and the Unknowns.He thought he met his match. She was even stronger than Alcurad, which was quite strong. He tried ramming her, but she took the Keyblade and tossed it aside. She picked Sora up as he tried escaping her massive claws as the dug into his skin. He kicked her in her jaw as it cracked and made her face even more distorted. "Why won't you DIE already!" Sora screamed in her face.

He had a sudden idea come to him. She could be vulnerable to light like me... but how.. How can I get any light? He thought to himself. He saw a bright lamp post far ahead. He wriggled free and ran as fast as he could to the lamp post, the banshee following. He kicked the post, breaking it in half. He picked it up with all his strength he had. He rammed at the running banshee, as an explosion occurred. It sent the banshee flying, with the light burning her skin. She fell onto the floor, screeching louder than ever, making Sora let go of the end of the lamp post he had and held his ears. The banshee stopped and all the townspeople came out to see that the light in the lamp post dulled out when the banshee stopped crying out.

Sora smiled in triumph as Riku came out of the house looking at the banshee then at Sora. He smiled also, but Sora's smile faded. His hunger for blood was getting the best of him. He needed it now for some unknown reason to himself. The townspeople thanked Sora as they left and went to slumber peacefully.

"Well done Sora! I can't believe you took that demon on yourself!" Riku cried out, pleased and impressed at the same time. He looked at Sora who was staring at a pub, just staring in a vacant look. "Sora... what's wrong?" he asked, a little worried. He never seen Sora look so vacant, so empty before. That's when Sora turned to face him, hunger in his eyes, his fangs bared. "Sora.. Stop it. Don't even think about it! You don't need it Sora! Knock some sense into yourself!" Riku cried as he backed away from Sora.

He glared his eyes at Riku, not hearing one word. He snarled a bit, not like his usual self. He warned me.. Maybe.. Maybe he was right? I should have left.. Riku thought. He backed away, but Sora lunged at him, aiming at his neck...