Flee From Our Troubles

Broken Doll

Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts! But I soon shall own my very own copy of Kingdom Hearts 2 ! X3

Author's Note:
Konnichiwa! Hajimemashite? So, here's the next chapter! I tried to make it longer, but I don't know if it actually came out that way. Gomen nasai about that. It's strange, no matter what I do, the ending feels rushed to me. Tell me what you think, please? REVIEW!

The week floated by. I knew no passage of time except for daily beatings. Soon, the black haired kid from the cell had all but been wiped from my mind as I sat in solitude; the only break from the deafening silence was when I was taken to be "trained" by my master. I was no longer disobedient. I thought I could keep a strong will. I tried. Desperately, I tried, but it was for naught. He still won, in the end. He had won, and now I lay a broken slave propped against the wall in my dirty, moldy prison.

The things he did to me were … unimaginable. Even painful, to say the least. It wasn't always whippings and choking. Sometimes it was beatings or even cutting. He never tried to rape me, but when he was sexually frustrated he would make me … touch him … in ways I didn't even want to do to myself. Just thinking about it made my stomach sick, and I felt bile rise from my stomach at the gross thoughts.

There was nothing in my stomach. I hadn't eaten anything since I came here besides maybe a bite of the bread. I felt so weak already that I didn't know how long I could hold out. Maybe this was meant to be. Maybe I was meant to die here. Who would care anyways, right?

It wasn't long before I felt the urge to cut. I lazily searched for something, anything I could use. It didn't have to be knife, exactly, just something sharp. My hand soon grasped a chunk of rock that I had cut myself unintentionally on earlier and brought it up to my wrist. This is how I used to do it anyways. I considered briefly what would happen if I just ended it all now. Just like that boy had done. Instead of enduring this painful and torturous lifestyle, why not just slit the large vein and be over it? I moved to place the sharp edge at the vein with my trembling hands and prepared to slice. But instead I just held it there, unmoving except for the shaking of my hands. And suddenly, the rock dropped into my lap as I collapsed in sobs.

Why was I so afraid? Why was I so afraid to end it? It's not like I have anything to live for. You see, being in this desolate place brought back some of my memories. Some that I hadn't been able to think of before. And finally, I remembered. I remembered that on that night … something … happened. Something horrible. Not only did my parents die … I remembered passing a boy in my half conscious state as I was dragged out of the house. He was bloody … dying … and for all I knew, dead. Without him, my life had no meaning. He was my reason for life … and he was dead?

With a cry I snatched up the rock and slashed gently at the skin. It sent bolts of light pain through my body, but I bit my lip and refused to cry out. It was too dark to see the blood, but just the feeling of it running down my skin was enough to relax me. I got to thinking. Riku … he fought for me. He tried to save me. Did I want his pain to go in vain? But … for all I knew, he was dead too. I finally came to the conclusion that it was bad luck to be around me. Everyone I was around died … and it wasn't fair. I should just stay away from people all together. That way, no one would get hurt. I could stay in the darkness and the silence and never come out again.

But soon my solitude was shattered as the sound of people entering the dungeon halls reached my ears. And it wasn't the fact that someone had appeared, for that was a daily occurrence as slaves were transported from place to place; it was the fact that there were so many voices – so many people who had come to purchase slaves.

I was blinded by the light as the door was opened, and I felt myself being grabbed and dragged out of the cell. I no longer felt the will to fight back, and for a second I wondered what was wrong with me. I was being taken to the slave auction – shouldn't I be angry? Shouldn't I be fighting back? For all I knew, I would be sold to someone worse than my master!

Yet realization struck me, instantly quelling the fires of rebellion as I remembered why. I was nothing. I wasn't worth the bread and water that kept me alive. No one should ever care about what happens to me. He was sure to drill that into my head as he trained me to be like an obedient dog. And that's all I was. An animal. Un-human. Just something to take out anger and frustration on.

I was taken to an open room and chained to a wall among many other slaves. The chains restricted most major movement, the metal shackles around my neck, wrists, and ankles cutting the soft flesh of my body. There were many others like me here, but none of them had eyes such as mine. None of them had been broken like I had.

The only upside to my situation was the fact that we were alone. But the victory was short-lived as the doors were thrown open and rich patrons came shuffling through. Right away I could tell that these people didn't care. They were all rich snobs who made a living off of other people's pain and suffering, and didn't give a damn about other people. I sat there, staring blankly at the ground in front of my feet as people walked around "shopping" as they put it.

The way that these auctions worked, as far as I knew, was that the "buyers" spent time examining the slaves in a room like this, then later there was an "auction". There, the buyers bid for the slaves that they wanted. What I hadn't known, however, was that buying and selling slaves was now illegal. But it didn't stop them.

"Sora …" someone faintly whispered, so soft that I wasn't even sure that I heard it. Was I going crazy? I looked up and noticed someone whose face was shrouded in darkness by a large cloak with the hood pulled up. Who knew what secrets that the darkness hid underneath? I looked underneath the hood, searching for a familiar face. I could tell he was stunned by the look in my now distant eyes, and grew rigid when I started trying to look underneath the hood. He quickly turned away, hiding from my probing eyes and stalked off, becoming lost in the crowds.

Yet I didn't have too much time to think about it as much as I would have liked to, because I soon saw wisps of silver hair in front of my face. I looked up with hope in my heart rising like a bubble, which was immediately popped as I realized that it wasn't Riku I was looking at, but someone else. He seemed to be one of the richest ones here, and he was what someone might consider handsome, had you not known what he was doing here. He gazed down at me with interest, something I didn't want to see in the eyes of anyone looking down at me.

He reached a hand out towards me and started to lift up my shirt. What was he doing? I let out a small scream and shirked away from the offending hand, but he wouldn't leave me alone. Did he think me some sort of animal that he could pet? He grabbed a flailing arm and pulled me towards him – well, as close as the chains would allow, which was surprisingly close compared to how much they kept you from moving. He started pushing up my shirt more, exposing my scarred skin. I don't think anyone could see me besides him, but I silently pleaded that someone, anyone would help me. I started crying out for help, and it wasn't long before the guards were on us.

"You damn slave!" one of the yelled and I felt a shoe connect with my side. "He's allowed to do whatever he wants with you! You're nothing!" he yelled, and kicked me again. All the fight left my body and I went limp. After all, they were right… When the guards were satisfied, they left, and the man continued exploring my body. When he was satisfied, he left, and I lay slumped over on the ground. But the thing that disturbed me the most was the cloaked figure staring at me from across the room …

"Viewing time is over! Please make your way to the auction stadium," a voice echoed across the room, and slowly the people started shuffling out. I noticed that the cloaked stranger was the one of the last ones to leave, and it piqued my curiosity. But he soon left, and it wasn't long before the rest of the slaves and I were alone again. "Please fill in all the seats, the auction will begin shortly!" a voice echoed from somewhere beyond this room. Not long after, the guards came into the room and started leading the first slaves out to the auction room. I listened in silence as the slaves were sold, one by one, like property on display.

And finally, it was my turn. I heard my number being called out from across the stadium, and finally a guard came and gathered me from my place on the wall. I was dragged through the room and into the hallway and into the large stadium. I was pulled up on stage and forced down to the ground by the guard next to the auctioneer, who seemed to be calling out the numbers of a fierce debate.

"50," the silver haired man called out, looking sure that he would win.

"50 from Lord Sephiroth!" the auctioneer repeated.

"100," the cloaked man called, and all eyes turned on him. You see, no one dared try to take what was Lord Sephiroth's.

"100 from the stranger!"

"200."

"200 from Lord Sephroth!"

"300."

"300 from the stranger!"

"400."

"400 from Lord Sephiroth!"

"1000!" the cloaked stranger called, and I wondered why he would be willing to pay so much as for a nothing like me. Sephiroth's eyes narrowed and waved his hand dismissively, as if to say that he wasn't going to pay that much for a slave.

"1000 from the stranger! Going once … twice … sold! Please make your way to the payment house to collect your property," the auctioneer yelled. The guard collected me and started to take me to the large tent down the way as the number of another slave was called out. As I was half dragged/carried to the tent (for the shackles were still on my ankles) I wondered why the cloaked stranger wanted me so badly. Was he a kind master? Or cruel? But nothing could have prepared me for what was going to happen next.

"In here, brat," the guard muttered, and I was pushed into a room. The shackles around my ankles were removed and I was pushed out into the open space. I saw the man at one of the payment tables, and watched as he threw a bag onto the table. He hurried over to where we were, and grabbed my rope harshly. I let out a soft cry, and he loosened the pull. Nonetheless, he dragged me outside, and once we were a few feet away, I heard one of the guards yelling, "Hey, he tricked us! There's nothing in here but fake money!"

I could have sworn I heard the stranger quietly laugh, and then lean down next to my ear and in a husky yet familiar voice say a single word. Simply, "Run." I don't know what compelled me to do it, but I did. Normally, I would have fought back. Normally, I would have questioned why. Normally, I wouldn't just obey. Yet I found myself running, the stranger just ahead of me. He led me away from the stadium, away from the crowds of people and angry guards chasing us. I stumbled, but he grabbed my hand and pulled me onward before I could fall. His hand was so familiar, and his touch so gentle despite the fact that we were being followed. Who is he?

He pulled me towards a black car that was already running, the exhaust fumes pluming up into the air. I wondered for a brief moment why it was here, but soon I knew. It was our escape car. With swift movements he opened the door and before I knew it, we were both in the backseat of the car. I couldn't see who the driver was; all I could see was the back of their head, which had black hair cut short. The car started moving, and I was pressed into the back of the seat as it did. I glanced at the cloaked person next to me, and briefly wondered what he was going to do with me.

"Wh-who are you?" I cried, backing into the corner with some fear.

"Geeze, Sora. Forgotten about me already? You're going to hurt my feelings," the stranger said, pulling down the hood and finally revealing his face. My sapphire depths met calm aqua, and instantly, I knew. (A/N: I almost just left it there, but I decided to go on more. Be grateful!)

"R-Riku?" I asked, stupidly stunned as my eyes opened wide. "You're – you're my new master?" After all, I was still just a slave.

"Wait, what?" he replied, slightly surprised that I would say such a thing. "I'm – I'm not your master! You're free!"

"Riku … you bought me … my life now belongs to you. You're my master now…"

"Sora, I don't own you. Nobody owns you. You're free."

"But I'm not free … you own me because you paid for me."

"No! Nobody can own you!" he said, looking at me intensely. "You need to be free … you're the type that can't be tamed!"

"I can be tamed. I have been tamed. I'm not disobedient anymore … I'm a good slave … only a slave … nothing more," I chanted to myself, biting my cracked lips. I felt coppery liquid in my mouth as I thought this through. After all, property can't be free.

I saw a hand reach up and come close to my face. Thinking he was going to hit me, I snapped my eyes closed and flinched when his hand came in contact with my face. But he didn't hit me. My eyes snapped open. His hand was gently caressing my cheek. In surprise I looked in his eyes for an answer. What I saw in those eyes was sorrow and pain.

"What did they do to you?" he asked in a soft whisper, so soft that I wasn't even sure I heard it. I didn't answer. He pulled me towards him and into a soft hug, as my body stiffened, and I heard him mutter something about me being too skinny. "Hey, Yuffie, hand me my bag," he said while releasing me, and the driver in the front seat reached into the drivers seat and grabbed a familiar, worn bag. She handed it to him then turned her attention back to the road.

"Y-Yuffie?" I questioned uncertainly.

"Hey, little cutie!" she squeaked, turning the car down another road. "I heard that you needed to be saved, so it's Yuffie to the rescue!

"Here, Sora, eat this," Riku said, handing me an apple and a bottle of water. I tried to refuse it at first, hungry as I was. Something like me didn't deserve such charity. But he insisted, so I took the offered food and started eating. I finished the apple in almost no time flat, and started to chug the water. The hunger in my stomach was finally sated, and now I felt exhausted, both physically and emotionally. I had gone a week without my medication, and now my brain felt like it was going to explode.

After some silence, I finally got the nerve to ask. "Why did you save me?" I inquired in a quiet voice, and I watched as his aqua eyes darkened.

"Because Ansem is a bastard and you deserve better than that," he answered me.

"Riku … thanks. A lot," I said tiredly. I yawned soon afterwards, and he gave me a sad smile.

"Sora, why don't you get some rest?" he asked, pulling me towards him. I resisted at first, his touch something that I wasn't worthy of, yet I lacked the energy to fight. He lifted me gently into his lap like a frail toy and pushed me into his chest. "Sleep. We'll be at the hotel soon," he said, wrapping his arms around me for reassurance and squeezing me tight.

"Okay … just … promise me that you'll be with me when I wake up?" I requested, searching his face for any signs of betrayal.

"Promise," he says with a sad smile, and not finding anything wrong, I let my eyes fall shut and my head lean into his chest for a sleep that I desperately needed. As I was drifting into the sea of dreams, I could have sworn I heard him say, "Why … do I feel like this? … I'll protect you, Sora, no matter what."

But it could have just been my imagination. I surrendered myself to the darkness.

Author's Note:
So, yesh, Riku is back! And he's not dead! XD So, everyone seems to want a Riku's version. I just want to know whether you want it during or after this story. Keep in mind I will update either story first if I happen to end on a cliff hanger. So, what do you think?