Twenty Years Later

It was the same backdrop every time: an extravagant lobby with a large, crystal chandelier emanating a white glow.

Black and white marble pillars were situated around the vicinity, each equipped with a small white light held in a golden tealight at the top. Two spiral staircases on either side led to the rooms above.

She stood in front of him, her white dress billowing out around her. Her hands were clasped behind her back like always, and her icy stare was just as he remembered. He took a step back, and she took a step forward, her white heels silent against the white marble floor.

This time, she suddenly appeared in front of him, her face only inches from his. He saw her smile mischievously, then leaned in to blow gently on his forehead. The last thing he saw was her bright, blue eyes.

Roxas jolted awake, feeling strangely cold. He looked around the plane; the lights were still off, and most passengers were still in a slumber. The dark blonde tapped on the small screen in front of him. Only two more hours until he was home.

Once the plane landed, and the passengers disembarked, Roxas welcomed the bustle of the airport. He dragged his small, dark blue suitcase behind him and entered the airport's main lobby.

"Roxas! Over here!"

The dark blonde was greeted with a firm pat on his back from Sora, his best friend, and a friendly hug from Kairi, his best friend's girlfriend. They had met in junior high when Sora and Kairi helped Roxas from a group of bullies.

"Good to see you," Sora smiled.

"It's great to be back."

"Hopefully, the trip didn't drain too much out of you," Kairi said. "Everyone's excited about your welcome-home party."

Roxas chuckled. "I guess they're only excited about the party." He thought of Hayner, Olette, and Pence, his three childhood friends who were still inseparable.

"C'mon, you know that's not what I meant."

"When do you start work?" Sora asked, reaching into his pocket for his keys.

A car nearby beeped twice. Before Roxas returned to Radiant Gardens, he told Sora over the phone about his new management position at a high-end hotel located in the heart of the city. Sora was ecstatic to hear that Roxas was finally coming home after years abroad and had suggested staying at his place until he found his own.

"Next Monday," Roxas replied. After placing his luggage in the backseat, he subconsciously rubbed his eyes.

Upon noticing this, Sora asked, "You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm probably just tired," Roxas said reassuringly.

The city had changed from what Roxas remembered. The trains that ran in and out of the town had more routes, according to Kairi. More modern buildings were built (with more in progress), and most of the land near the outskirts of the city were made into residential areas.

Sora's car came to a slow stop at a red light as the rain began to fall. Roxas watched the blur of the pedestrians from the window; gradually, he began to see a woman dressed in white standing still among the rush of people. Roxas shut his eyes for a moment and opened them, only to see that she was holding a white umbrella. He met her icy stare, feeling familiar when he saw her bright, blue eyes. She smiled at him, though it didn't reach her eyes.

Roxas felt a chill. He instantly looked away and rubbed his eyes again. Kairi, who was riding shot-gun, saw Roxas's strange behaviour from the rearview mirror.

"Something wrong, Roxas?" she asked.

"Huh? O-oh yeah, I'm fine," Roxas said. "It's probably–" His eyes suddenly went wide. Crossing the street in front of Sora's car was a young woman wearing sunglasses. And while she looked normal like others around her, Roxas saw that she was drenched from head to toe. And she was wearing a long nightgown. No one spared a glance at her.

Before reaching the sidewalk, she stopped. Roxas's heart nearly stopped when she turned and stared into his eyes. As Sora's car began to move, Roxas quickly slid to the other side, unable to take his eyes off of the woman he just saw.

"Roxas!" Kairi's repeated call tore his attention away from the woman.

"D-did you guys see that?"

"See what?" Sora asked, slightly worried.

Roxas wasn't surprised. He was starting to think if it really was the jet lag that was getting him. "Nothing… I thought I saw something."

"Take a rest," Sora suggested. "We'll be there in about thirty minutes."

Roxas took a breath, his eyes wandering to the rainy view outside. He was unaware of a slender woman dressed in white and a tall man with fiery red hair staring at the car he was in.

"Did you warn him?" the redhead asked calmly.

The woman in white turned to face him. "Should I have?"

"He looked like he had a heart attack."

"He always does," the woman in white said with a small smirk. "Every year in his dreams."

The man chuckled softly. "Every year on his mother's death anniversary."

"It's a simple reminder. Regardless, he's going to be working for me. I'll make sure of that."

"But surely there are other ways to get him to come to the castle. One that doesn't involve seeing the dead with lost memories. I don't think he'll thank you for that once he finds out."

"He'll need it, eventually," the woman in white said. "I'm just ahead of the game."

Back in the car, Roxas drew a shuddering breath.

"Is the AC too cold for you?" Sora asked.

"Oh, no, it's not that," Roxas said.

Kairi chuckled. "Well, we're here anyway. Welcome home, Roxas."

Sora drove to the underground parking space of the apartment complex, one that housed only ten units. As Roxas got out of the car, he didn't see the same drenched woman from before watching him from the other side of the parking lot.

"Surprise!"

As soon as Roxas opened the door, he was greeted with mini confetti canons. He smiled as he saw a decorated cake sitting on the coffee table. "Let me guess, Olette baked the cake?"

"How rude, Roxas," Hayner, a tall male with light blonde hair, rolled his eyes. He was the first out of the trio that Roxas met in high school. While they had their fair share of fights, they ended up being good friends as they grew up. "We helped taste-test. Right, Pence?"

Pence, a chubbier boy with round cheeks and dark brown hair, nodded. He was the last out of the Hayner-Olette-Pence trio Roxas met and was the most diligent and obedient out of them. "Well, according to Hayner, it's a pretty important job."

"I think they wanted to make sure I didn't poison you." A girl with light brown hair and bright green eyes smiled at Roxas. They had always gotten along, having the same perspectives on most things in life. "Oh, by the way, there's mail for you."

Roxas took the small, white envelope from Olette. Only his name was elegantly written in cursive at the front. "Hey, Sora." Roxas turned to his brown-haired friend. "Who's this from?"

Sora walked over and took the envelope from Roxas. "Huh, strange. I never saw this." The brunette glanced at Olette. "Hey, Olette. When did this get here?"

"Huh?" Olette had just about to place a piece of cake into her mouth. "I'm not sure. It was on the table when we got here." She tilted her head toward Pence and Hayner. "I thought you or Kairi brought it in or something."

"Well, I guess I'll just open it," Roxas said. He took the envelope back from Sora and gently ripped it open, noticing the thick golden lines adorned inside the envelope. Despite Sora's curiosity, he decided to give Roxas some space, so he went to join in on the festivities nearby.

You are cordially invited to Castle Oblivion, Roxas read on the white paper that was enclosed in a black, hand-drawn border. There was an elegant, cursive signature at the bottom: Naminé.

Roxas folded the piece of paper but opened it again. Castle Oblivion? Naminé? Sora walked over with a drink in either hand. "Who was it from?"

Roxas exchanged the invitation with the drink in Sora's right hand. "See for yourself."

Sora stared at the sheet of paper, then back at Roxas. "Is this a joke? There's Nothing on it."

"What?" Roxas nearly spat out his drink. He took the piece of paper from Sora and reread the handwritten words: You are cordially invited to Castle Oblivion. "It says right there. There's even a signature at the end."

Sora narrowed his eyes and took another glance at the paper. "Roxas, there's nothing there." Roxas didn't think his friend was messing with him. If it was Hayner, probably. But not Sora. The brunette glanced at Roxas worriedly. "Are you sure you're okay? You've been acting strange since you got off the plane."

Roxas didn't know. Maybe he was losing it. "I… I think I'm going to get some fresh air."

Placing his drink and the invitation on a nearby countertop, Roxas exited Sora's apartment.

Kairi, who had seen the exchange, came to her boyfriend's side. "Did something happen?" she asked.

Sora picked up the invitation and gave it to Kairi. "Do you see anything written on here?"

Kairi took the paper from Sora's hand and stared at it. "No. Why? Did Roxas see something?" The brunette nodded. Kairi held up the paper to the light and glanced at Sora. "Still nothing."

Outside, Roxas took a deep breath and exhaled loudly. The sun had begun to set, and the air had gotten colder. He closed and rubbed his eyes, feeling frustrated as he recalled today's events. What was going on?

First, there was that strange dream he always had on the same day for as long as he could remember. It took him a while to notice, but eventually, Roxas realized that he dreamt of a woman in white on the same day with each passing year. And while dreams tend to be forgotten, this one always lingered Roxas's mind, which was how Roxas came to see the pattern. And now he was seeing her on the streets? He must be going crazy.

Then, there was the drenched woman dressed in a nightgown crossing the street who had stared at him out of everyone on that crowded street. She had stared directly at him. Almost as if she knew he was watching her. Roxas felt a cold chill.

And now there was this mysterious invitation. What was the Castle Oblivion? Who was Naminé? And why was he apparently the only one who could see it? It sounded ridiculous, almost as if he was being targeted.

Roxas opened his eyes. As he did, he stumbled at what he saw and fell backwards. Standing in front of him was the drenched woman on the street. Her long black hair was frizzy and unkempt, her swollen eyes staring at him.

When she took a step toward him, Roxas scrambled back, his eyes wide, "W-who are you?" he asked loudly. She took another step forward; he hurriedly got to his feet and used his hands to tell her to stop. "Don't come any closer! I-I'm warning you!"

"You…" the woman said, her voice hoarse. "You can see me, can't you?"

Roxas swallowed. "W-what do you mean? O-of course, I can see you."

"Then… please… help me…"

Roxas noticed that the woman didn't look frightening. Sure, she looked like your classic black, long-haired ghost. But her sombre expression told a different story.

"Aren't you going to help her?" Roxas spun around and saw a woman dressed in white. Except for this time, she wasn't wearing a white dress but a white suit with a thin gold belt around her stomach. Her blonde hair was held back with two wing-shaped crystal clips on either side. Her blue eyes met his, and his eyes widened. It was her. He was sure of it. She approached him, the sound of her white heels evident against the pavement. The woman now stood in front of him with a small, arrogant smile. "Well?"

"You…" Roxas breathed.

"You should probably pay attention to what's in front of you."

Roxas turned around and stumbled when the drenched woman was now a few feet away. He turned to the woman in white and pointed at the other woman. "Who is she? Why is she dressed like that?" His words sounded all jumbled together.

"She's dead," was the nonchalant reply.

Roxas turned pale. "D-dead? What do you mean she's dead? That's not possible."

The woman in white chuckled loudly. "It's very possible, Roxas. Thanks to me." Roxas was at a loss for words. But then he remembered his dream on the plane. Was that really a dream? "You can see the dead now. Of those who had lost their memories."

"What in the world are you talking about?" Roxas shouted. "W-who the hell are you?"

The woman in white took a step toward him and leaned closer. "I'm the one who sent you that invitation."

"...Naminé," Roxas said quietly.

Naminé smiled and stood upright. She glanced at the other woman who was still staring at Roxas. "This woman died weeks after I took her memory. And now that those memories returned, she can't part with the living." When Roxas continued to stare at her without saying anything, Naminé continued, "Because she wants revenge."

"If… If you already know that, why can't you help her?" Roxas asked, looking to the drenched woman and back at Naminé.

"This is your training," Naminé said. "This is what you'll be doing at Castle Oblivion."

Roxas remembered the invitation. "What is that place?"

"...A place of memories."

"And if I refuse?" Roxas asked.

Naminé laughed. "Good luck trying." She took a step towards him. "You can't escape that place, no matter how hard you try." He felt his hands shake out of fear. "Welcome home, Roxas."

And then Roxas was alone.

Thank you to Queendomoy for reviewing the last chapter. :)