Chapter 14
He had a shard of glass in his palm, trying to scrape his skin and dropped it as Serena let out a cry. He glared at Serena, as her cry made him drop his only weapon available. Serena glanced at the broken mirror she saw on the floor to Sora's angry eyes, fiery red, burning into her own eyes with their menacing glare.
"Go away Serena! I don't want you stopping me! I can't live like this anymore Serena! Why? Why let me live when I don't want this anymore! Why couldn't you let me die on that floor!" he screamed as he walked forward to Serena, his eyes glistening. Serena thought for a second that she saw the deep, sapphire blue eyes he once had, his regular skin color, all the normality of a human he used to possess. She only saw the change for only a second, glancing back as she saw his dark and demonic self.
"Sora, quit talking like this! Can't you see that nobody wants you dead? Can't you even consider it?" she asked as she looked at the younger boy. She cried before he could even answer as she gave him a tight squeeze and cried into his shoulder. "Sora, I've grown to know you. I understand you, like a little brother. Nobody this young should think the things you do. You have so much to live for. Don't give it up. You still owe me a promise remember?" she asked as she held on, not letting go.
"Serena, I can't... I.. I don't want to embrace this darkness anymore. I never hungered for a death, ever. I always had a wonderful life, but now that's all gone. Serena.. Can't you see the sadness in me?" he asked as he pushed her off slightly, looking at her with his sad red eyes. She swore she saw those sapphire eyes, replacing the red ones. She nodded as she dried her eyes.
"But I can't lose you Sora. I don't want to. Live for me, please Sora." she said as she held onto him again, holding on for his own life, afraid he'd kill himself if she left.
"I will Serena. If it means so much to you... I will, since you understand and since you want me to live. I promise. As long as you live, I'll try my hardest to live as well." He said as he clung onto her as well. He was afraid of letting go, afraid that without her, he'd lose to the Darkness residing inside him.
"And if I die?" she asked, staring at the wall as she saw the etchings Sora made into the wall. It read I'm sorry I let go... on the wall and as she stared at the words, she found herself crying again, holding onto Sora for as long as she could.
"If you die... I'll die too. I don't care what anyone says. I don't want to live for anything. I don't even want to live now, but you understand, you never underestimated me. I could just as easily kill myself and you, but I won't let my insanity do this to me Serena. Noone but you understands me, nobody. I'm just all alone in this world. Incased by my Darkness, the one that drove me to insanity... the one that confines me to either my failed attempts at death... I will try to live..." he said repeatedly as Serena tried hiding her sadness more.
"Sora, you never knew about my past... about my life. But.. I think it's best you know. So you can see why I live." Serena whispered as she finally let go and looked at him. Sora nodded as he looked vacantly at Serena, no trace of tears, nothing in his eyes but Darkness. "Well, years ago... I was of the age of eleven, going on twelve. It was summer, the joyful times. I was just becoming a witch, I just met a so called "friend". Ansem it turned out. Well, I saw my mom starting drugs, I went into depression. I went to my closet and tried hanging myself. She barged in though, screamed at me and stopped me. My first failed attempt. Well, a year later, I was almost thirteen after all the bad things stopped. Suicidal thoughts cascaded into my mind. Well... I tried killing myself, but to my dismay I stopped, seeing all the things I'd miss. Sora, you have no clue how hard I had it. I was lost in Darkness for a long time Sora. But trust me, you WANT to live deep down." she said, finally finishing as she sighed and looked at the ground. She glimpsed at Sora's hands, covered in blood.
"I know Serena. I know you had it bad, but... I can't be King. I won't. I'd rather be dead. I appreciate the fact you saved me, I do." he said, hiding his hands after he saw her glimpse at them. He sighed a bit as he saw the glass on the ground. He was tempted to reach out and grab it, but he forced himself not to, not wanting to lose what was left of his sanity.
"Sora, your hands... they're bleeding. But how? How Sora? How could that be?" she asked, ignoring what he said and looking at him with concern. He sighed as he showed her his hands once more, showing the deep gashes he made.
"I'm not fully vampire yet, I will be soon after I kill, or.. At least drink. I'm not drinking my own blood, because I don't want to be a vampire. I won't let myself become that horrible creature, ever again." he said as he showed her his dripping blood as he looked her square in the eyes. It could explain the sudden eye color change, but she dismissed the thought and shook her head.
"It's for survival Sora, if you don't, you could die. You're mortal of course, meaning anything, even massive blood drainage. Please Sora, close the wounds up, or I'll do it the painful way." she warned, taking her wand out. He smirked a bit, making Serena feel uncomfortable.
"Don't worry, Serena. Nothing is painful. I'm too used to it now. I feel nothing anymore. Only emptiness. But... something is telling me, a little voice whispering to drink, but I'm forcing myself not to." he said, eyeing the blood as it made a puddle and subconsciously licking his lips.
"Then drink it. Don't deny your fate. You have to drink it Sora, it's for the best as you say." Serena said as she eyed him, making sure he would. She hated the sight of blood, especially from a friend, but she dismissed her nauseous feelings. The ship finally jerked forward as she heard footsteps, showing the had a place to land finally.
"Serena! What's wrong!" came Riku's voice firstly, as he was the first one inside the very small cabin.
"Took you long enough. Not like you really care anyway. It's all fine, we had a little talk... nothing more. Now, where are we might I ask?" she questioned, standing up and leaving Sora on the ground.
"Don't get smarty with me, I'm warning you... anyway. Traverse Town, which I know Sora knows all too well of. Now come on, we need to get to a Hotel before any Heartless come. That's the only safe world as there are guards and ships circling the area at all times. They recognized our ship thankfully." Riku said as he glanced at Sora, wondering what was going on. "What happened to him?"
"No! I'm not going in that place! They wanted me dead... I... I didn't want that from "friends". Not until a while ago. But, I won't go. I won't move." Sora said, leaving a that is that phrase lingering after his statement. He squinted at the blood one last time and decided to finally drink it. Riku turned away in disgust at the sight of his friend.
"Sora, I won't make you go. But Riku might. You have to learn to get over your fears sooner or later. Now come on, I'll walk you through town. Noone can harm you there." Serena offered as she waited until Sora was done as he licked his lips in happiness.
"You will? Okay... I guess..." he said, shrugging. Serena smiled and looked at the young boy. He reminded her so much of herself at his age. So sad, but trying to be happy to hide it.
"That sounds like the old Sora I used to know!" Riku laughed as he messed his friends hair, smiling at him and walking out with the Soul Eater in hand. Sora smiled back until they were all gone, his smile disappearing as he looked up at Serena.
"I wish I was the old Sora they all know. They won't ever understand the fact, that I won't be that way anymore. They don't know that I'm dead inside, even though I don't want to be." he said sadly as Serena's own smile faded. She placed a hand on his shoulder softly and sighed.
"I know Sora, but just pretend for them. Now come on, we have to go. They'll wonder what the hell we're doing in here." she said half jokingly as she walked Sora out the cabin, not noticing him glance back at the wall and hanging his head low, depressed that his suicide failed.
They walked through town, a few people eyeing him strangely. He noticed Aerith and turned around, afraid of her reaction as he knew she hasn't seen him this way, to his knowledge at least.
"Sora! What a pleasant surprise!" came her happy giggle as she ran at him, giving him a warm hug. "I've missed ya! Where have you been, not even coming to town?" she asked, turning him around and screaming.
"Aerith! Wait! I can explain!" he shouted as she ran away from him. Sora shed a tear as he turned around. "This is why I don't want the world to see me! They don't understand!" he yelled as he walked off. Serena ran in front of him, blocking his path.
"Just talk to your friend. Wait a bit. She'll understand and be happy and try making you happy, just as we do." she said quietly while Riku held a confused look and shook his head, leading the other two to a restaurant. "Come on Sora, let's.. let's go to the Hotel, okay?" she asked.
"Okay... but, what if she doesn't understand? She'll go to Cloud and all hell will break loose. Cloud knows what I am now. He knows I'm of Darkness and not of Light." he whispered, trudging along as he glanced at other people as the eyed him and looked away in fright as he looked at the ground, hearing Serena's reassuring voice.
"It'll be all okay soon Sora. Remember that." she said as Sora kept walking and getting the same expression from passerby. It felt like days until they reached the Hotel. Sora was more than pleased to be inside, until he saw Leon at the check in.
"Sora... get out of here! Miss, leave that boy alone, you don't know what he is!" Leon yelled, accusing Sora as he whipped out his Gunblade. Serena stepped in front of Sora, taking her wand out.
"I know perfectly well, he's a vampire, lost to the Darkness. I saved him once, Squall. I know everything, because of Ansem. I know who you are. I lived in Hollow Bastion. Remember? Serena Everwood?" she asked as she looked at Leon. "Times have change. Now, leave Sora alone. He's been through so much, not even you could understand." she said as she walked away, leading Sora to the check in, getting a room. Sora glanced at Leon with his red eyes, his eyes showing sadness as he looked at the dumbfounded Leon.
"Serena? I do remember you... childhood friend..." he said, whipping out a picture. It clearly showed Cloud, Aerith, Leon and Serena in view standing at the old Castle Gates. They all were happy, Sora could see. They were young, reminding him how happy he was with Riku and Kairi when he was young. He let a smile creep in as he was escorted past Leon who was starting to cry at the memories. They found a room with 2 bedrooms. Sora claimed the one farthest away, the darker room while Serena claimed the other. Riku and the gang showed up, muttering about having to sleep on either the floor or couch.
At midnight, everyone else was fast asleep, but Sora just eyed the ceiling. He couldn't sleep until morning, so his chance of ever getting sleep was slim. He heard a noise outside as he examined the window. He saw nothing at first, but as he crept out the balcony, he was grabbed by someone, or something...