Chapter Two: Escape

Ever since her awakening, all Naminé had seen were the walls of Castle Oblivion. Endless corridors of white. When she first saw the black cloaks of the Organization, some part of her hoped that they might lead her to a way out. That hope was quickly crushed, as soon as they spoke. They had made it clear that any escape was out of the question, and that hope was less than an illusion.

Nobodies. Beings created when the body of a Heartless' victim took on a life of its own. But her "somebody" was still out there, alive. So what did that make her? "Less than nothing. Just a freak." Those were the words Larxene used to describe Naminé. And Marluxia made it clear that whatever she thought she was feeling were just the illusions of memory.

Of course, she didn't just have the vague memories of her old self. She had Sora's memories too, and she saw all the lives he had changed. When she learned this Naminé began looking through them, seeing if there might be a way out of her prison. She had pulled on a memory of a world from Sora, and found herself with a card that transformed the floor she was on into a deep jungle. She tried to use the confusion to run away once more, but the Organization was powerful enough to triumph over Sora's memories of the heartless there.

She had expected Marluxia and Larxene to be furious over what she did. That she might beaten for it. But when they came to see her after her attempted escape, they seemed pleased. For in her tampering with Sora's memory, she had demonstrated the very power they sought. And outlined for her a path to salvation that still left her with a gnawing pit inside.

Sora would come to save her, and would fight to protect her, as he would for the girl so precious to him. But in the process, his mind would be torn to shreds. Memories wrecked to conform to that narrative. And Naminé would be the one to do it. She knew it wouldn't last in the end, she could never truly replace the girl he cherished. But she had no choice, if she refused she knew that the power which tore heartless to shreds would be turned on her.

And so, she sat in the room left to her. Nothing but a chair, a crystal ball to look over the monotonous hallways of Castle Oblivion, and a cage with a doll in her likeness locked inside. "Just so you don't forget what you are." Larxene said. All Namine could do to pass the time was look over Sora's memories, draw them as she watched, and wait for the boy to arrive so she might be someone to somebody, if only for a moment.

But then the doorknob to her room turned, and she started to her feet in surprise. Because she was the only person in the castle who bothered to use the doors. The cloaked members of the Organization used their corridors of Darkness, while the random Heartless lacked the intelligence. She relaxed as she saw the boy that came in, since he didn't wear the cloaks of the Organization. But even though she never saw the boy before, she could have sworn he was familiar.

After wandering the same white halls for who knows how long, Ventus was grateful to finally find something distinct. A set of doors. Lacking any other place to go, he opened room inside was rather small, only a white cage, a crystal ball, and a few drawings scattered about. And in the corner standing in front of a white chair, was a blonde girl in a white dress about his age staring at him in shock holding a notepad. Well, introductions were important. "Err...Hi. My name's Ventus, but you can call me Ven."

The girl slowly nodded. "It's...nice to meet you, Ventus. My name is Naminé." She looked around, then took a few tentative steps forward toward him."How did you get here?"

Ventus shrugged, scratching the back of his neck. "Honestly, I'm not sure where 'here' is. Do you live here?"

Naminé shook her head "No, I'm being...kept here. This is Castle Oblivion."

He narrowed his eyes at her hesitation. "Kept...Who's keeping you here? Are you a prisoner?"

"A group called Organization XIII. They're the ones that keep me here." She began fidgeting, nervous, "I've tried leaving...but there's no way I could fight them. The only person strong enough would be Sora."

Immediately Ventus perked up. Though the memories were vague, he knew the Heart that had helped him all these years "Sora? You know him?"

"I've...heard of him. He's the one with the Keyblade, fighting to save all the worlds from the heartless."

Ventus blinked, and then grinned at the news. "He's got a Keyblade? That's amazing!"

Naminé tilted her head at his response. "A Keyblade? There's more than one?"

"Yep! I've got one too!" And with a flash, Wayward Wind appeared in his hand.

Naminé stared at the sword in his hand, as shocked as when he first appeared. "You…" She began to grip the notepad harder, pages bending in her hand. "Could...you help me escape?"

"Escape the castle? Where to?"

"Anywhere. Outside the castle, outside this world. As far away as we can get."

Ventus' response was immediate. "Of course! What kind of friend would I be if I didn't help you out?"

She blinked, "Friend?"

He nodded, "Yeah! We're friends, aren't we? And friends help each other."

For the first time in a long time, Naminé smiled, "If...If you say so."

The boy nodded, "Is there anything you need to do here? We could leave right now if you don't have any-"

"No. I can go at any time."

"Alright! Oh! You'll need protection if we're going…" Namine seemed a bit nervous at the possible impediment to her escape, but then Ventus snapped his fingers. "I've got it. Hold on to this." He unfastened the clip holding together the two belts on his chest, and gave it to Namine. After she took it, he touched the pauldron on his chest. In a flash of light he was covered in green and black armor. "Alright...and now..." Seemingly in response to his command, a black and gold cape appeared behind him. Then, he reached behind and pulled off his back. "This'll protect you in the lanes between."

She tilted her head. "Don't you need it?"

He waved a hand, "Nah, it's dangerous to use it in a fight. Too much chance of causing trouble. But it can protect others if we need to. If I can just...pull it here." Using his hands, he began stretching the magic fabric, and in response, it began to take the shape of a cloak. When he had finished, he handed it to Naminé, who donned the gift and fastened it using the clip. Though the mantle came up a little short to her knees, it fit her well enough.

Wearing her new cloak, Namine asked, "Um...what exactly are the lanes between?" In response, Ventus held keyblade toward the ceiling, and out shot a beam of light that coalesced into a glowing portal. He tossed out his blade, which transformed into a board similar to its original form.

He hopped aboard and offered his hand. "Ready to leave?"

Naminé overcame her bewilderment, smiled, took his hand and stepped aboard. "Alright."

"Then hold on tight." And with that, the board flew toward the portal with it's two passengers.