Situated on the outskirts of the city was an extravagant castle made from white stone. However, its numerous pointed rooftops were a dark shade of gray, and a stone gargoyle guarded each. Small windows were scattered here and there, but arched, stained glass windows dominated the tallest roof. Two smaller parts of the castle were joined to the main structure by chains.

Despite its lavish appeal, many drove by without a glance.

When one walked through the wrought iron gates and into the castle, one would get a greeting from a tall, mischievous blonde behind a white and black reception counter. Behind him was a shining logo: one arrow at the top and two pointed opposite each other on either side as it curves outwards to two low points and then into an upside-down heart.

Except, this time, the area was empty.

There were many people scattered throughout the castle. But, look closer, and one would notice that some wore ragged clothes, some had dark bags underneath their eyes, and some looked like they needed a haircut. Yet, they all had grayish skin colour, except for those wearing a lavish black and white uniform.

"Hey, I heard we're getting a recruit. Is it true, Axel?"

A tall man with dark red hair and light green eyes turned to his mischievous blonde-haired friend and co-worker. Both of them wore similar attire: a white undershirt with a black blazer that was shorter on the front and longer at the back. Both of their blazers had three gold buttons on both sides. While Axel's cuffs and tie were neatly done-up, the blonde hadn't bothered to button his cuffs and straighten his tie. Their outfit was complete with a pair of nicely fitted black pants and shoes.

"If we are, you'll see him around soon enough."

The blonde frowned. "But, I thought you went with Miss Naminé to scout him out."

"You should stop concerning yourself with other people's affairs, Demyx," Axel chided. "Here's a piece of advice: Get back to work."

The redhead caught the flash of annoyance on Demyx's face. "Fine," the blonde said childishly. Just as Demyx spun around, he came face to face with Naminé. His eyes widened, and he stumbled backwards. Naminé approached him, and with each step she took, Demyx stepped back. "W-welcome back, Miss Naminé."

Naminé leaned close to him. "If you're here, who's handling the front desk?"

Unable to meet her intimidating stare, Demyx nervously glanced at Axel. The redhead deliberately avoided his colleague's eyes. Demyx finally looked at her and anxiously smiled. "I'll get back to work now."

As Demyx hurried away, Naminé turned to Axel and said, "I want you to keep an eye on Roxas."

"Are you worried about him?"

"He has a weak heart. I wasn't expecting him to agree to her request so easily."

Axel chuckled. "But doesn't that work in your favour?"

Naminé smiled at him.

Roxas blinked once, twice, and the woman in front of him was gone. He saw a flash of light, and he closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them, he was standing in a compartment full of people. Roxas looked around, searching for the woman, but she was gone. The train slowly came to a halt at the next station. As Roxas waited for the compartment doors to open, he saw the station's old, circular clock struck noon.

Once the doors opened, people began to shuffle out of the train. This station was just as he remembered. It was spacious with its roof held up by 'V' shaped pillars. But despite the crowds, there was someone that caught Roxas's eye. Standing not far from him was a tall man with dark red hair dressed in formal attire that Roxas thought would make him stand out. However, no one paid him any attention.

Roxas was confused. When his gaze landed on the man again, he met the man's light green eyes. Roxas heard the start of the train, and as it gradually picked up speed, the conversations of those around him began to die.

And soon, Roxas was alone with the redhaired man.

"You don't seem too surprised," Axel said. His voice echoed throughout the station.

"Who are you?" Roxas asked skeptically.

"Isn't it common etiquette to introduce yourself first?"

Roxas frowned. "I have a feeling you already know who I am."

The redhead shrugged. "What makes you think that?"

"Just a hunch," Roxas mumbled.

"His name is Axel." Roxas spun around to the familiar female voice behind him. Naminé was dressed in a ruffled white blouse and black flare pants. Her hair was tied in a high ponytail, thus revealing her large silver-hooped earrings. "Think of him as your mentor."

"I'm only doing this once," Roxas said.

Naminé approached him, and Roxas swallowed. Her stride was one thing, but her empty-looking eyes were what put Roxas on edge. When she was in arms reach, she smiled at him. But it didn't reach her eyes.

Roxas sensed a presence. He slowly looked to his left and saw a man with sunken eyes. His skin was gray, and Roxas could see the veins inside. Roxas turned to his right and saw a woman in a similar condition. Except, her face was covered in dry blood. Suddenly, Roxas heard a noise behind him. He turned around and screamed. A woman was reaching out to him, except her eyes were replaced with black sockets surrounded by dry blood.

Roxas spun around and came face-to-face with Naminé. She didn't need to see his trembling hands to sense his fear; she could see it clearly in his eyes.

"Wh-wh-what is that?" Roxas shouted.

Naminé gently placed a hand over his mouth. She put her index finger to her lips, then nodded toward the dead woman behind him. Roxas glanced over his shoulder and saw that the woman stopped. She tilted her head as if confused, and then began to wander in a different direction. Roxas slowly turned to Naminé, who glanced from the wandering woman to him.

She snapped her fingers, and the wandering woman and the two ghosts beside Roxas were gone.

"Just like people, there are all kinds of ghosts out there," Naminé said.

Roxas swatted her hand away from his face and replied angrily, "Why are you doing this to me?"

Naminé was silent for a moment. From afar, Axel watched her closely. "Your mother made a deal with me," she said.

Roxas's eyes widened. "How do you know my mother?"

"Tell me, Roxas, what do you remember about your mother's death?"

"She died… of an illness," Roxas said cautiously. "When I was very young."

Naminé smiled. "And that's how it should be."

Just as Naminé turned around, Roxas grabbed her wrist. "You said she made a deal with you. What was it?" He saw her eyes flash toward his hand on her wrist, and then it met his eyes. Roxas swallowed. "Please, I would like to know."

"She sold you to me," Naminé said nonchalantly. "In exchange for you to forget about her death."

"But I remember," Roxas demanded. "Everyone told me she died of an illness."

Naminé took a step towards him, and for the first time, Roxas saw a flicker of warmth in her eyes. "Then, maybe, it should stay that way."

Roxas blinked once, and she was gone.

Confused and frustrated, Roxas turned to Axel. "Does she always do this?"

Axel chuckled as he approached him. "I would be careful if I were you." The redhead stopped in front of Roxas. "It's not the ghosts you should be afraid of."

Demyx stopped in front of a large arched doorway. He cleared his throat and was just about to knock, but the doors miraculously opened. Demyx turned to the young woman. "I guess she was expecting us," he said. He courteously gestured for her to head inside.

Wearing thin, round glasses, Naminé sat in an elegant chair and focused on the document. "What brings you here?" she asked, not looking at the young woman.

"I want to know," the woman began, "Why did you decide to show him what happened to me?"

Naminé stopped writing. She looked at the woman whose hair looked like it had begun to dry for the first time. "I didn't do it," Naminé said. "Perhaps, you did."

"What do you mean?" the young woman asked. "How could I possibly have done that?"

"Magic works in mysterious ways. Maybe Roxas was meant to be the person to help you. Or, maybe you had to let someone know what happened to you. Anyway, is that all you came to see me for?"

"He told me… that I would get the best of both worlds," the young woman said quietly. "I want to know… is that possible?"

Naminé placed her quill beside her document and leaned back in her chair. "I don't know what he's planning. But the Gods do not have mercy on the dead who harm the living. It disrupts the balance of the two worlds, and it'll never be forgiven."

"What would have happened if I didn't enter the Chamber?"

Naminé sighed and took off her glasses. "It's too late for questions, you know."

"I want to know if there was another path. If I chose not to enter the Chamber, would I still be in this world?"

"You had no options," Naminé said. "That's the reality of those who decide to run away from their past. It'll always come back." The young woman glanced down sadly. Naminé stood and walked past her, "Come with me."

With the young woman hurrying after her, Naminé swiftly walked out of her office and into the empty black and white corridor adorned with famous paintings in golden frames. Naminé stopped at the door and glanced at the young woman standing curiously behind her and said, "Let me show you that you're one of the lucky ones."

Naminé turned back to the double doors, and it magically opened.

"How dare you show up in front of me! I wanted to forget you, you fuc–"

"Sir, please calm down!"

The young woman hurried to the railing and looked below. In the Castle lobby was a man struggling to free himself from a man whose attire was strikingly similar to Axel's. A woman in her mid-thirties stood just out of arms' reach from the struggling man. She had her arms folded across her chest, looking extremely frightened. And it would've fooled everybody in the room—all except one.

As soon as Naminé began walking down the spiral staircase, the room went silent. In her left hand was a small machete, and in her right was a small pickaxe. By now, the man had stopped struggling. She held out the knife to him and the pickaxe to the woman. "We're all dead anyway. Maybe this will ease your anger."

"Miss Naminé, you can't be suggesting–"

"Maybe he will win, Luxord," Naminé said. "Since you're on his side, maybe he'll get lucky."

The man slowly took the machete from Naminé and glimpsed at his ex-wife. "You took everything from me," he growled.

"It's not my fault you decided to kill yourself," the woman said, shying away from the man she swindled thousands from. "How would I know you would end up here?"

"That means you suffered a similar fate," the man growled. "Or else you wouldn't be here. What? Did that younger guy had enough of you?"

The woman bit her bottom lip. "He loved me like you never did."

"I gave you everything!" the man screamed. "Yet you never once helped our children or me. You ran away like a coward. I should've killed you before I killed myself!"

"You never even loved me!" the woman yelled.

Naminé rolled her eyes. She held the pickaxe, twirled it around once, and stopped the woman from walking away. The pickaxe came dangerously close to the woman's chest. "You wished away the memories of your children just so you can live a different life. You didn't want to bear the responsibility for your actions." The woman's cheeks turned red from Naminé's words. "There's a special place in the afterlife for people like you." Naminé smiled. "I do hope you are prepared for the journey ahead." She turned to the young woman whose hands were still on the railing. "There's a place in the afterlife for everyone." Naminé turned to the stiff woman. "It just differs from person to person."

A loud chime echoed throughout the Castle lobby. As the elevator doors opened, Axel and Demyx stepped out, followed by a nervous and overwhelmed-looking Roxas. Naminé's eyes met his, and she smiled and said, "Well, you're finally here. Welcome to Castle Oblivion, Roxas."