Flee From Our Troubles

Alone Again

Disclaimer: Me no ownie. Got it? Good.

Author's Notes:
Sorry this took so long to get out, I had a small case of writer's slump. Hope you enjoy, please read and review!

I was in the hospital for about a week and half. Every day Yuffie and Aerith came to visit me, if only for a few minutes. I had so much time on my hands … I thought about just about everything. My past, my future, my feelings … and more than half the time it didn't make sense.

'Why do all of these horrible things happen to me?' I remember asking myself one night, as I lay awake staring out the window at a black sky. There was a tree outside and I was content watching it sway back and forth. I eventually answered my own question: 'Because the world is cruel. It gives and it takes. It takes away my happiness … but what have I gained in return? A broken heart and a broken body.'

As the days went on, I grew closer and closer to the two women who saved me. I once asked why they were helping someone they hardly knew. Aerith just laughed and replied "Do people need a reason to help one another?"

After only a short time, I was released from the hospital. Like I've said before, I was a very quick healer. Yuffie had managed to find my bag after the incident, and luckily it still had all of my possessions in it. I stayed at the hotel one last night after Aerith insisted, and the next day I was ready to move on.

All hopes of finding Riku had vanished from my battered mind; by now he was probably long gone. 'He's probably with that Kairi girl I heard them talking about,' I thought bitterly as I packed my things in the room into my bag. I walked into the wide hallway and towards the entrance where Yuffie sat flipping through a magazine, bubble gum in her mouth. She looked up and spotted me, then set down her magazine and called for Aerith while blowing a huge pink bubble.

"Well, I guess I'll be taking off now," I said, waiting for the brunette woman to arrive.

"I really wish you would reconsider our offer to stay here with us," Aerith said, coming out of a backroom and popping Yuffies large pink bubble with a finger. Yuffie just glared and continued to chew her treat.

"I would but … there's someone I have to find," I replied. Well, it wasn't a complete lie. I wanted to find my best friend. He at least cared … right?

"Don't tell me that it's Riku," Yuffie huffed.

"No, no he's the furthest thing from my thoughts," I replied, throwing my hands up in front of me in defense.

'You're lying,' a voice in the back of my mind said, 'he's all you think about.' I ignored it.

"All right, fine. But if you ever need help, please call us," Aerith said, handing me a piece of paper with some numbers and letters scrawled on it. I examined it carefully before I realized that an address was written on it.

"What's this address?" I asked, pointing to its location on the paper.

"That is the address of Leon and Cloud's hotel a few towns away from here. I want you to stay there at least one night, please?" Yuffie asked with an anxious look in her eyes. I decided to humor her.

"Okay, I will," I chirped. "Well, I guess I'll be going now," I said quietly as I moved for the door.

"Are you sure you don't want one of us to come with you?" Aerith asked with concern.

"I'll be fine," I replied with a small smile. I knew that it didn't reach my eyes, but they didn't seem to notice.

"Okay well … be careful," they both said together.

"I will." I opened the door and with one last glance behind me I left for what would be the last time. Warily, I walked down the street towards the city gates, every once in awhile looking behind me to make sure that no one was following me. I know I was paranoid, but like they always say, 'just because your paranoid doesn't meant that they're not out to get you'.

I managed to get to the city border without any problems, but I was just as nervous as ever. I had never realized how much Riku truly meant to me until now. But faced with this terror, I gained insight to how much I truly needed the silver haired teen. I continued past the city gates still checking behind myself every once in awhile for signs of danger.

The best I could hope for right now was that the gang had had enough "fun" with me, and was going to leave me alone. But, of course, knowing my luck, that wasn't going to happen any time soon. Things never went my way.

I continued to travel down the cracked pathway, looking around at the scenery. By the way things looked, one could hardly believe that gangs terrorized this place like that … who hurt people like they hurt me. There was a sunny sky, fluffy clouds, and blooming flowers all around me. It was what one would consider a beautiful day. And yet, I couldn't help but feel that there was something fishy about it all.

I looked up and saw a bird flying over head. Riding the subtle air currents … living its life the way that it wanted to … being truly … free … I always wondered, ever since I was a little boy, what it would be like to be free. Everyday I would sit and wonder what it would feel like to live each day doing only what I wanted and that nobody else could have a say in what I did because it would be my life.

Sure, I hadn't always been a slave, but I still hadn't known what it would be like to be free. Those around me always dictated my life, whether they meant harm or not. Those who were more powerful than me controlled my life – it always was. Bullies, adults, it didn't matter. Then, when he came … he was the worst. I had never been told directly what to do, just kind of forced into it. But when he came, I had to do what he said … otherwise bad things would happen to me. Pain … so much pain … I had all but become entirely numb to it.
And in that way, they trained me. Like a dog and its owner, they made me obey. If they told me to jump, I was automatically forced to say how high. It wasn't a battle between my captors and me – it was a massacre.

What was worse was I knew that slavery was illegal. It was a black market sort of trade, and everybody knew that slavery went on, just never did anything about it. And I hated them for it. It's they're fault that I suffered everyday for nearly seven years, day in and day out I was in pain caused by his hands. There was no one there to save me; I had been deserted.

And now I was finally away – away from that place, away from him. But I still wasn't in charge of my own life, not really. My life was being dictated by that gang, by the police, by Ansem, by Riku … everyone stronger than me. I was just this worthless little kid in a big world. But I guess that's just the way of the world. Some are meant to be users, and others are the pawns, like that of a chess game.

I continued to travel along the road lost in my thoughts. Before I knew it, it was already getting close to twilight. I felt a chill in the air – winter was going to be here soon, and I was already starting to feel the effects of the cooler nights, which were starting to come even quicker.

By that time I had realized that I'd need a jacket soon, whether I liked it or not. Well, better sooner than later. I arrived in the next town as night fell, brining with it the harsh bite of the cold. I shivered slightly and started to think. I needed to find warm clothes … but where? I didn't want to spend what little money I had, especially because coats were expensive. So … what do I do?

Shivers overtook my body as the wind picked up and I wrapped my arms around myself in a desperate attempt to keep warm. I didn't understand how things could from so nice to so cold in a matter of days. I gazed around at the buildings around me, and searched for a place to stay for the night. There was no way that I would be able to stay out here all night; I'd freeze to death. But … would that really be such a bad thing? It's not like I deserved to live …

No, I couldn't think about stuff like that. If I kept with this train of thought I'd die for sure. I continued to look around and finally found a cheap hotel to sleep in. Better than nothing, right? I opened the door, the rusting handle rough against my hands and the creak audible against silence of the night. I took a glance around, and it was noticeable that it wasn't a very high-class place. Perfect. A low-class place for low-class people like me.

I entered the dust filled room and coughed as it entered my mouth and overtook my breathing. I leaned against the wall for support as coughs shook my thin framed body. I coughed for about three minutes before I finally had control of my body once again. I slumped against the wall, gasping for whatever air I could. When my breathing finally stabilized, I straightened myself up, and looked around. There didn't seem to be anyone in here, yet I heard the sound of soft … snoring? With a start I searched for the source of the noise, finally ending up at the receptionist desk, where a man with red hair lay sleeping behind the counter.

"Umm … hello?" I asked, staring at the man. How could he have slept through all that noise? He still didn't awake, so, being the logical me, I poked him. That didn't work either. "Uhh … wake up," I tried in a desperate attempt to get him to wake up.

"WAKKA!" screamed a shrill voice from back, successfully waking the man with a start. He fell out of his chair with a thud on the ground, and glared at the backroom as he slowly stood up.

"I'm up, I'm up," he grumbled as he rubbed the back of his head where it had connected with the floor. He finally seemed to notice me standing there, watching him with a fascinated expression. "Oh, hey, ya! Sorry, I haven't been getting a lot of sleep lately. So I take it you want a room, huh?" I nodded dumbly. "Then it's a two dollar fee," he said, reaching under the table and pulling out a key with a laminated number attached to it. I pulled out the money and handed it to him, and he handed over the key. "I better go find out what's wrong with Lulu," he said, walking out of the room with a wink. "Just make yourself at home."

I attempted a small smile and watched as he left, heading towards the back of the room. As soon as he was out of sight, I searched for an old lost and found box. I looked all around the lobby, and still didn't find one. I shrugged and sighed, and decided to go upstairs to find my room. I was really tired, although I didn't know why.

I slowly trudged my way up the creaky old stairs, noticing the dirt and dust on the walls. I silently wondered how old this place was as I stepped on a particularly squeaky step. I finally reached the top steps and walked into the hallway, looking around at the rooms. There seemed to only be a couple of other people here, judging from the signs left on the doors. I looked around and finally found my room, room number 6.

Inserting the key into door, I cautiously opened the door, and warily looked around. You can never be too cautious, I think. I carefully took one step inside, and then another shutting the door behind me with a loud creak. Looking around silently, I finally deemed the room safe. Walking over to the bed, I set down my bag, kicking up dust as I went. After another small couch, I stood up and searched though my bag, looking for the small orange bottle that held my pills. I had to make sure I didn't forget those.

Successfully pulling out the small bottle, I walked over to the bathroom, the floor creaking underneath me with each step that I took. I carefully opened the door and stepped inside looking at the old fashioned décor. Switching on the faucet, I popped open the orange bottle and took out a single little white pill. I placed it on my tongue, and leaned my head underneath the faucet and started to drink the water (for lack of a better means to drink it). I swallowed both the pill and the water, and went back to the bed. I put the bottle back inside, pulled out a pair of sweatpants and a long sleeved shirt, and closed it. After placing it next to the bed, I changed out of my old clothes and folded them neatly next to it. I pulled back the covers and slipped in.

Tiredness had overtaken me in a sudden rush as the stress from the day's travel finally caught up with me. Concluding that I would find a coat tomorrow, I turned to my side and started to drift off into sleep, one word on my lips.

"Riku …"

Author's Note:
Aww, poor Sora! Please review! I'll try and get the next chapter out as soon as possible!