Part Two
Isa lay on the medical bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. No one had spoken since they had found Isa lying on the floor, frantically dragging the shard of glass along his arms. Isa couldn't understand. What was going on? Why was this happening? It had all happened after finding that hidden grove with that Godforsaken tree. Wait.. That tree. Isa instantly sat up as everything clicked into place.
"Isa?" said Roxas, making his way toward him.
Isa only sat on the medical bed, staring wide-eyed as his breathing became shaky and ragged. It was all because of that stupid tree that-.
Isa was snapped from his thoughts as he felt pain jolting through him. It started from the still healing injury in his side but slowly began to spread throughout his body and up into his head, lighting every nerve ending ablaze. Isa clenched his eyes shut as the burning pain snaked throughout his body.
"Isa! Isa what's wrong!?" said Axel, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Almost as instantly as it started, the burning pain faded to nothing and Isa opened his eyes to see everyone staring at him, mouths agape in expressions of shock. He shakily reached a hand to his face and felt his cheek which had become wet with tears. Isa cursed at himself inwardly as he scrubbed at his face. Xion came closer to him and gently placed a hand on Isa's shoulder.
"It's okay.." she said, gently rubbing his shoulder. "We're here to help you."
Isa was surprised by this but soon turned away, gritting his teeth as another pain shot through him. Xion continued rubbing his shoulder as Ienzo soon made his way over to them.
"I have run a few tests on the sample I had taken of Isa's blood." he said.
"And?" asked Sora.
"It's.. Inconclusive.." answered Ienzo.
"What the hey does THAT mean!?" Roxas demanded, wanting to know.
"According to the readings I received on the sample.. It says there is a mixture of his blood and another unusual substance.. It's organic in nature.. But the closest I can compare it to is.. Tree Sap."
Isa's eyes grew wide as he lost all color in his cheeks.
"Tree sap? Are you SURE?" said Sora. "That doesn't make any- ISA!"
Isa had toppled off the bed as all the blood drained from his head. He was on his feet before the pain even registered and he spun around, glancing all around with an uncharacteristic sense of fear.
"I..I-I have to go," he stammered. "I can't.. I.. I-I have to go.!"
He spun on his heels and sprinted out of the lab.
"Hey! WAIT!" Sora shouted.
He took off after him with the others soon following behind him.
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Isa left the mansion behind as he continued to run. He wasn't sure of where he was going as he continued sprinting, wanting to put as much distance from him and the forest as humanly possible. It was only when he slowed his pace and glanced around that he realized he had reached the middle of the forest. Not just any section of the forest though; it was the same section of the forest he had stumbled upon one day prior. Isa stared on in horror as he found himself standing only a few feet from the oak's massive trunk.
His breathing slowly quickened its pace as he gazed at the large and gnarled branches, emptied of any leaves. There was a low creaking as the leafless branches seemed to bend slightly toward him. With a shout full of guttural rage, Isa thrust his summoned Claymore into the base of the tree, sinking the razor-like edge deep into the trunk. Isa gagged and felt bile well in the back of his throat as he was hit by an overwhelmingly pungent smell. As he pulled the weapon free, he recoiled as the air was filled with a loud screech as trunk of the tree seemed to throb in response.
Isa fought not to be sick as he saw the gaping wound in the trunk seeping a thick liquid so dark it appeared black in the harsh gleam of the setting sun.
"Isa!"
Isa was snapped from his thoughts at the suddenly loud shout and he spun around to see Sora and the others hurrying over to him. Isa's shock soon became that of distress.
"What are you DOING here!?" he nearly shouted.
"We've been looking EVERYWHERE for you-"
"Y-you don't UNDERSTAND!" Isa interrupted. "You need to get OUT of here!"
"Isa, we're here to HELP you!"
Sora took a few steps toward him. Isa continued to stare at him as he caught sight of movement out of the corner of his eye.
"Get DOWN!" he shouted.
Sora was caught off guard as Isa suddenly tackled him to the ground. Moments later, there was a loud *Thwump* as one of the tree's large and gnarled limbs had struck the spot where they had just been standing! Sora and others watched in morbid fascination as the branch pulled itself out of the ground. There was a loud screech as another branch swooped down to strike them. Acting quickly, Axel threw a flame-licked Chakarm spun through the clearing and struck the branch, slicing clean through it. Axel caught the weapon again, the weapon soon transforming into his Flame Liberator Keyblade within his hand as he put himself between his friends and the large sentient tree. Axel jumped back as vines covered in thorns shot from the severed branch to wrap around his wrist, the thorns digging deep into his skin as it began to drag him closer toward the now bulging trunk. Axel let out an angry yell as he took the Keyblade and sliced through the vines. The tree screeched even louder as the tree seemed to writhe in agony.
Axel readied his weapon while Roxas, Kairi, Riku, and Xion, summoned their Keyblades. Recovering quickly, Sora and Isa rose to their feet as they also readied their weapons.
Author's Note: I apologize for not updating these stories very much.. But I had been extremely busy with work as well as other things.. If anyone had any ideas please let me know.. I will do what I can do to continue writing..
