Chapter 18: Sacrifice

The air was warm and moist as the dark clouds continued to swallow the entire sky above the city. Roxas raised his head toward the blackening sky. He felt the dry electricity run through his body, sending chills as every hair stood on end. The moist air clung to him, making him feel phantom sweat drip down his electrified skin.

Axel threw open his beaten trunk. "Nature's amazing, huh Roxas?" he commented offhandedly as he pulled out the supplies.

Sora gazed up at the threatening clouds alongside Roxas. His head bobbed back and forth as he noticed quick flashes of light appear and then disappear as it ripped through the clouds. "There's a thunderstorm approaching."

Axel slammed his trunk shut as another bolt ripped sideways through the sky. This time it was accompanied by a loud clap that shook the sky and the earth. "No shit, Sherlock." He pull out his handgun, checking that it was loaded with golden bullets. He then grabbed the gallon of gas and tossed it effortlessly towards the rotted entrance of the long abandoned building. THe stench of gasoline filled the air as the flammable substance spilled out. "Just so they can't escape after us," he explained beforehand. Axel walked over to Roxas, dragging his feet against the dirt ground. He slapped his hand against Roxas' back and leaned over his shoulder. "You ready?" he asked in a low voice.

Roxas tightly gripped the cool metal pipe to stop his shaking, sweaty hands. His eyes twitched as they darted up and down between the dark liquid that reflected like a pure gemstone and the entrance way which its frame struggled to support the weight of the overbearing building. His body swayed with every breath he took as his tongue slid around his dry mouth, trying to re-moisturize it. A heavy lump sat in the base of his throat. All Roxas could manage was a slight nod.

Axel jerked his head towards the entrance, beckoning Roxas and Sora to follow. "C'mon," he ordered. Axel, with his handgun raised up on his side, snaked his way into the building. His long strides against the wall lead them further into the building.

"Sora," Axel's voice quivered slightly in the quiet building. "You take the basement now. Roxas and I will take the rest of the building."

Sora nodded. He snuck his way over the the stairs that led downward into oblivion.

Axel took the moment to watch as Sora made his descend before moving on to the upper floors. "So, what are you going to do after we save Xion," he asked in a low raspy voice.

"Now's not really appropriate to ask these sort of questions, Axel," Roxas replied, avoiding the question for now.

The duo continued on in silence.

They trudged up the rotting stairs as they reached mid way of the building. "I mean, when would this type of conversation be appropriate?," Axel brought up."We're talking about a girl that has been kidnapped by a notorious bloodthirsty gang that will stop at nothing to get what they want. You can't just waltz in there and take her and expect everything to be so fine and dandy."

He froze. "Just- I don't know," Roxas admitted irritatedly. "All I care about is getting Xion back!" He balled up his fist and slammed it against the wall. His rage and aggression cracked the rotting wood, releasing this faint odor. "You'll figure something out. You always do."

Axel suddenly stopped. Floor 7. He grabbed the eroded bar that led inside to the 7th floor, waiting. "Look Roxas," he began. He paused, searching for the right words. "Fuck." He pressed his forehead against the eroded door. Paint chips stuck to his hot forehead. "Roxas, your parents aren't here to tell you what to do. Ven isn't here to tell you what to do. Hell I'm not going to tell you what to do Roxas. I simply can't." He turned his head, glancing at Roxas. "You can't rely on anyone before you can rely on yourself. Now you can either die waiting for someone to do something or you can do it yourself."

Roxas shifted his gaze away from Axel. "What if what I choose isn't the right choice?"

Axel reached out and placed his firm hand on Roxas' shoulder. "I never said anything about right or wrong. There's just do or don't."

Roxas' eyes slowly trailed along the cracked wall, peeling away and meeting Axel's concerned yet unwavering stern stare. "I'll do whatever it takes."

Axel held up his fist as he and Roxas exchanged a silent fist bump. He turned back to the door, forcing it open. "I bet she might be up here," Axel stated with a cocky smirk.

A loud bang echoed in the room as Axel flew back, knocking Roxas over in the process. "Heh heh heh… what a lovely surprise!" Xigbar exclaimed as he reloaded his silver pistol. "I get both Axel and Roxas." He smirked.

"Fuck!" Axel grabbed his left shoulder as blood quickly seeped out of his wound. He struggled to push himself up.

"Axel…" Roxas breathlessly gasped as he grabbed his friend around his waist, pulling him up to his feet.

"Shit Roxas!" Axel screamed as he shoved Roxas out of the way as Xigbar fire again. He ducked down and whispered to Roxas, "I'll fight off Xigbar here. You go and check the remaining floors."

Roxas resisted. "Axel you've been fucking shot! There's no one in Hell I'm letting you do his alone." He trembled at the sight of blood running down Axel's arm. The smell was nauseating.

Axel gave Roxas a half-assed shove. "There's no way in Hell I'm letting us both be killed before we even get to Xion!" He waved his hand to dismiss Roxas. "Besides… you're a big fucking pussy when it comes to blood."

"Come out. come out! Uncle Xiggy isn't done playing," he mocked.

Roxas bit his lower lip, being careful not to draw blood. "If you weren't hurt I would punch the shit out of you. But I'll wait til next time after I save Xion." Roxas began his climb up the old stairs.

Axel let out a small chuckle. "Who says there will be a next time?" He asked to himself under his breath as he watched Roxas leave. He tightly held onto his handgun.

Roxas pressed on as he ran, advancing further up the stairs as the sounds of gunfire echoed in the background. Just a little more. With every step he took his thoughts slowly lingered back to Axel. He recalled vividly the crimson liquid oozing out of his best friend's shoulder a few moments ago. The stench clung deep inside his nostrils making his stomach begin to turn. He gasped out for air as his stomach twisted in disgust. Roxas bent over and dragged himself along the steps as he forced his mind to shift from Axel to Sora. Roxas lurched over, almost collapsing on the steps. Guilt wracked his entire body as he thought about his cousin Sora. Fuck… he quietly thought to himself as the gunfire had suddenly ceased. He smacked his hand against his dried lips, suppressing the urge to vomit from the stench. Roxas grabbed onto the rusted railing and pulled himself along. They both… could be dead and it'll be my fault. He thought about the possibilities that were in store for his two important friends. He thought about them both lying on the cold hard ground, slowly bleeding out as they reach out to nothing and their lives slip away. Then he remembered the picture, the picture of Xion unconscious and tied up. That was the sad reality. He couldn't fathom the sheer possibilities that awaited Axel and Sora, but he understood that what he saw of Xion was true and she was waiting for her liberation.

And he continued to climb with only two stories left.

Xion shifted around, trying to get comfortable in her uncomfortable position. Her arms ached from being tied up to the support beam and her legs felt stiff underneath her. Yet she felt numb, whether it be emotionally or physically. She stared at her bruised legs. "How long have I been here?" she asked out loud to no one. Her voice felt oddly comforting in the empty room. It gave the illusion that she wasn't alone. Xion raised her chin up, looking out the broken window across the room from her. A clap of thunder sounded in the distant. She could have sworn she heard footsteps somewhere.

"Xion!" Roxas slammed through the door as he threw himself into the room.

Xion gasped. "Roxas!" she cried out. She felt overwhelmed with emotions as tears formed in her eyes. "Roxas, I… I can't believe you're here," she laughed happily.

Roxas kneeled down in front of her. He grasped her bruised hands. Then leaving his left hand on her hands, his right hand traveled down her arm and towards her face. He cupped her cheek. "Xion, I…" he stopped himself, pulling his hand away from her wet face and reaching into his back pocket. He pulled out his switchblade, flipping the blade out. "I didn't think I would be able to see you again." He dug the sharp blade into the thin rope, carving away at the braid.

"I didn't think I would be able to see anyone else again." She couldn't help but laugh again.

Roxas worked away at the rope. Only a few strands remain as he cut away, revealing Xion's purple and red wrists. "Do you know where Kairi is?"

"I don't know if she's even in the same building as me." Xion glanced over Roxas' shoulder.

"Where ever she is, I hope she's safe."

"Roxas…"

Roxas paused, noticing the slight panic in Xion's voice. "Huh?"

"Behind you!"

Roxas spun around, instinctively ducking. Saix's large blade cut a few inches above Roxas into the old metal support beam. He looked up in pure terror to see that old all too familiar look that scarred him deeply. Roxas took the moment to crawl out from underneath the blade and to run over to the opposite side of the room.

Saix tugged on his claymore, ripping it out of the metal beam. He focused his golden eyes on Roxas. He raised his free hand up, running his index finger over the x-shaped scar in between his animalistic eyes. "Oh, how I've been waiting for this day," he said stalely. He remained composed, devoid of all emotion as he took a step toward Roxas. "You know what my biggest mistake was Roxas?" He stepped forward again. "Giving you the chance to live." Another step. "I realized how flawed I was. I took joy in torturing my victims, watching them slowly bleed out and suffer as I played with them." He paused, stretching out his arms as he looked at the ceiling. "But I was given another chance. And this time I won't let you live."

Roxas held onto his pipe. He knew he couldn't be careless and attack head on, at least not with Saix wielding that claymore. He had to find a way to disarm him.

As soon as Saix lowered his head, Roxas threw his pipe at his face. He risked disarming himself early on in hopes of also disarming Saix too. The pipe ripped through the air, colliding with Saix's face. The sound of bone cracking was audible and almost sickening. Saix grabbed his face in pain, stilling hold onto his his claymore. His pupils turned to long thin slits in his golden eyes as his long blue hair stood on end. "Look at this Roxas!" Saix barked, mocking Roxas. Blood seeped out of his freshly made scar above his nose that went to his right eye, blinding him on his right side.

Roxas shut his eyes tightly. He was paralyzed from the sight of blood.

"Roxas!" Xion screamed. "Roxas, open your damn eyes! Think of something else. Take your mind off of it and focus on something else!"

Focus! Focus! Roxas screamed internally. He forced himself to pull anything out of his mind. Come on! Roxas looked back up at Saix. He twitched as blood poured down his face. He was like a bull getting ready to charge. Roxas grabbed his head, shutting his eyes again. Don't think… don't think…

Saix leaned forward and took off, charging straight for Roxas with his claymore held above his head.

"Roxas!" Xion cried out as a desperate attempt to get him to snap out of it.

Roxas opened his eyes. Saix was only a half an inch away from his own face. Roxas trembled, trying his hardest not to move to the left or else the claymore that's embedded deep into the wall might slice into him too. He glanced down at his hands. A deep crimson covered his fingers that were tightly wrapped around the handle of his switch blade. In his daze, he had pulled out his blade and plunged it deep into Saix's chest.

Saix stared wide-eyed. He coughed blood up in Roxas' face as he struggled to breathe. Blood had filled up his punctured lung. His hand dropped from the handle of the sword and he slowly backed away. "How could someone like you always manage to defeat me?" He coughed again, choking on his own blood. He grabbed the switchblade and ripped it from his chest in complete shock. In one last desperate attempt, Saix raised the blade at Xion, ready to take someone with him.

A bloodied hand snatched Saix's wrist. "Good to see you again, pal." Axel tightly wrapped his arm around Saix's neck, making him drop the blade.

Roxas reached out towards his best friend. "Axel?" His body was riddled with bullet holes. It was a miraculous that he was still standing.

"Roxas," Axel began, "I want you to take care of her." He started backing up towards the broken window.

Roxas's eyes darted back and forth between Axel and the window, piecing together the next event. "Axel…" he whispered.

He chuckled. He looked over at Xion and smirked. "And you thought the cigarettes were going to kill me… I need you to continue and support Roxas, Xion, but don't take any of his shit either. I need you both to be strong." He continued towards the window. He revealed the lighter he had hidden in his hand that held Saix's wrist. He carefully flipped it opened and ignited the flame. "Take care."

And just like that, they were both gone.

Roxas fell to his knees, fighting back the tears. Xion watched Roxas struggle, fighting back tears of her own. "Roxas," her voice choked. "Roxas, please. We have to go now."

He rubbed his eyes, the dots of blood smeared onto his face. He forced himself up and stumbled over to Xion. "I'm sorry, Xion."

"Let's focus on getting out of here and then when we get home, you can cry all you want. I'll even cry with you." Xion sniffled as she forced a smile onto her lips.

"Home." Roxas ripped what little that held the rope together. "That sounds nice." He wrapped his arms around Xion's waist, hoisting her up to her feet. "Let's go home." He looked deep into her eyes.

"I never expected less from you, Roxas."

Roxas looked over his shoulder to see Xemnas standing at the emergency exit. "We took care of most of your men, Xemnas. There's no one left to stop us so just let us go."

He smirked. "You think that this is over and that you have won," he said coolly, looking down at the two. "Atlas, this is only the beginning. You may taken out my men, but my empire still stands. My domination over this gang still stands firmly as that fool Ansem's grows weaker and weaker. Roxas, I still need you in my conquest. You are the true weapon in this war between Ansem and I. You are my only chance in truly winning."

Roxas took a defensive stance in front of Xion. "I won't let you use me."

"I'll take the boy's place." Ansem stepped out from another room. "I say take the fight directly to the source instead of being a coward."

Xemnas chuckled darkly. "A coward? Is that what you called me. Oh, you foolish old man. I am far from being a coward."

"Then let's settle this like real men." He pulled an old fashion silver pistol. "Just one on one."

Xemnas nodded. "Let's settle this once and for all. And as for consolation, I'll keep you alive long enough to have you witness the age of a new empire."

Roxas held onto Xion around her waist and led her out the door Ansem came in. The building began to shake as the roaring fire outside consumed the building. "Whatever happens Xion, just keep running." He pushed her ahead of him as they ran, trying to find their way back out.

As they continued down further and further, the shaking became more violent and the heat was the flames were intense.

"Roxas, we made it to the third floor." Xion coughed as the smoke grew thicker.

"Just keep running Xion!"

The building shook again. The supports that held up the floor above them gave out, causing the ceiling to collapse above them. Xion leaped out in front of her, avoiding much of floor that caved in. "Roxas, we have to hurry!" She turned behind her to see Roxas lying underneath the debris. "Roxas!" Xion ran back over to him, ignoring any possible danger. "Roxas!"

He shifted underneath the weight. "X-Xion…" He held out his free hand. "I need you.. to get out of here." He struggled to speak.

Xion intertwined her fingers with his as she took his hand. Some of the blood smeared off onto her hand. "Roxas, I can't leave you behind." She didn't want to cry, not now.

"Please, Xion," he begged. He winced in immense pain. "I need you to go. Don't worry about me." He forced a smile.

She bit her lower lip to stop the cries that shook her entire body. She pulled her hand away from Roxas', purposely lingering for a second longer to fully enjoy the comfort of his hand. "I love you, Roxas."

"I love you, too." He watched as she turned away from him and left for the last time. He looked up at the broken ceiling. "Mom, Dad… Ven? Can you guys truly forgive me?"