Chapter 5

Kairi's eyes fluttered open as she awoke from her nap in the backroom of the hideaway grocery store. She cringed as awoke on her side on the hard carpeted floor beside the desk, but stopped when she opened her eyes. She was surprised to see her vision adjust to a familiar sleeping face right in front of hers, and she took a few moments to accept the rush of huge relief that took over her as she stared at Sora's restful expression.

In that moment all the thoughts of her dreams and the memories of recent events cleared from her mind, she was too happy to see Sora safe. She felt his soft breath against her face, and felt another slight feel of relief knowing he was alive.

She brought her hand up from her waist and carefully stroked Sora's cheek, smiling at her friend. She couldn't imagine what she'd do without him. He was always there to help her, stick up for her, make her laugh, cheer her up… She knew she had Riku for all those things as well, but something about Sora's personality made her feel so much more relaxed. She'd never dream of choosing over her two favourite people, it would be a decision she could never possibly make. Riku was there to protect her and to make sure nothing made her upset. Sora was there to reassure her and make her as happy as possible. Without one the other couldn't work.

She closed her eyes, tears slightly glazing over her ocean blues. She was so happy Sora was okay, but she knew she'd have to go through the fear of losing him over and over again from now on. She was terrified that one day the pattern would eventually stop, and she'd loose either Sora or Riku completely.

In a state of fear she shuffled closer to Sora's body, huddling herself close. She held his motionless hand that numbly rested in front of him. She never wanted to loose him, never. That fact he was asleep didn't help the matter, she felt so distant from him. He was in his dreams, she was here in reality; two entirely different places. A gentle sob escaped her lips, wishing Sora was truly there with her. Riku wasn't there either, she was alone again. She looked into Sora's un-responding face and a lone tear ran down her face. Don't leave me alone again, Sora, please. Talk to me. Tell me everything will be okay. We'll all be fine won't we? Talk to me Sora, talk to me.

She felt a small grip in their entwined fingers and she gasped lightly, looking down toward their hands. Sora gripped a little harder, holding Kairi's hand tightly. She smiled, looking back into his face. He was still asleep, still far away from her, but at the same time he was right there with her. She knew now. "Thank you Sora."

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Riku paced around the lonely streets, noticing it was getting dark now. He had a gut feeling things would get a lot worse at night, so he tried to be quick to head back.

He'd walked out pretty far, trying to find anyone or any answers. He'd come into contact with another dark creature, but somehow surpassed it. With his strength now back from the food, he felt one hundred times better than before. He managed to kill the creature by hitting it hard on the head with the metal pole Sora had with him, it vanished into black smoke surprisingly. Well, nothing seemed to surprise Riku that much anymore.

Riku felt very lucky to find Sora right before he collapsed. He couldn't bare the thought of his best friend lying there in the road as a free dinner to the deathly creatures. Riku knew he shouldn't have left Sora alone, but he thought it the only way to protect Kairi. She could barely stick into consciousness, let alone run for her self. Riku began to even question the amount of luck the three of them were getting lately.

He carried on walking through the street, finding his way back by trying to remember things he'd passed on the way. The red car that had been flipped upside down, the smashed up telephone box, the music shop covered in graffiti, the patch of dried blood smack bang in the middle of the road, the bulletin board… wait. Riku hadn't seen that yet. Curiously he walked over to it, examining all the papers of notes, advertisements and announcements. One huge poster that covered most of the rest caught his eye immediately, and he quickly ripped it off of the board. His eyes scanned the huge bold letters spelling out the word 'EVACUATION' then read the rest of the article.

An immediate order of evacuation has been declared by the mayor of Destiny Islands. The infection has vastly spread, killing many and increasing the infection far too quickly. All inhabitants must report to the Gummi Station on the 15th May at 6.30pm. REPEAT: Complete evacuation of Destiny Islands!

Riku's eyes widened and looked at the other notes on the board, noticing the smaller notes that read '7 DAYS' and another just next to it reading '6 DAYS' then all the others '5 DAYS' '4 DAYS' '3 DAYS' '2 DAYS' '1 DAY' 'TODAY!' His expression fell into a look of horror. He checked the date of the automated clock above the board and read it as the 19th May. He dropped the poster in his hand and his expression had gone from horror to panic. They'd missed the evacuation whilst they were in hospital, and everyone had simply left them there. He couldn't believe it. Where were his parents? They would never just leave him to rot on a hospital bed. He couldn't believe what was happening.

Riku trailed his eyes toward the board again and noticed a note to the side, looking like it was freshly posted on there. He grabbed the paper and read the title as 'SALVATION IS HERE!'. Suddenly interested in the word 'salvation', Riku read on.

Don't fear! Survivors of this infection still have hope! We are a group that can protect you at our base. We too are just like you, not knowing which path to take now our lives have been snatched away. We can help you. Our base is in Radiant Garden in the great castle, you can't miss it!

Riku frowned at the desperate words but still clutched the paper in his hand. This place could surely help them. He knew that castle, the castle was secure and big, a safe place for all of them. It was their only hope anyway. He shoved the paper into his pocket and looked up at the empty sky. It was getting too dark now, he had to hurry back.

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Back at the abandoned grocery store, after a few hours, Sora had awoken and eaten. Kairi had been more than happy to finally be with Sora again, and even more happier as she watched the colour on his face slowly reappear after ever mouthful of peaches.

"Considering these are tinned, these are pretty damn good!" Sora's voice was muffled with his mouth full of juicy peaches, and some of the contents spat onto Kairi's face.

Kairi cringed and wiped it off with the back of her sleeve from the hospital gown. "Damn it Sora don't speak with your mouth full."

Sora looked at the green hospital clothes they were both wearing, then noticed how dirty both their hair was. He realised that none of them had properly washed in four weeks which made him frown. "When it's light I seriously think we should go to Riku's and have a shower."

"I dunno… I tried to use the hot water from that tap," she pointed towards the small tap in the corner of the room that sat next to a counter, "and I tried a lot of times, but the hot water lasted for about 5 minutes then never came back."

Sora frowned and shoved another peach in his mouth.

"Something tells me the Island's hot water has been cut down, so there's only a little left in each house."

Sora shrugged. "Maybe the tap's just broken."

"Hmm… Maybe," Kairi said quietly, though she wasn't convinced.

"Well if worst comes to the worst, we can share a shower." Sora nudged her with a wink. Kairi blushed and looked away with a small smile.

"Sora…" she giggled.

The door to the small room opened and Riku walked in with a face like thunder.

"Hey Riku, you find anything?" Sora asked from the floor next to Kairi.

Riku looked at him seriously, standing still in front of the two. He sighed. "See for yourself," he said then threw the evacuation notice toward them.

Sora and Kairi scanned the paper for a couple of minutes and Riku could see the colour drain from both their faces, looking as if all their hope, all their confidence had now been squashed like a tiny fly. Riku decided to let the news sink properly into their minds before he presented them with some half-good news.

Kairi looked at Sora, hoping some reassuring words would come out of him, but he was silent. She closed the small gape in her mouth and looked at the floor, feeling like there was no hope for any of them.

Sora then looked at Riku, his eyes darting at his with silenced questions. Riku smiled a little then threw the other notice toward them. "This is our only solution, it's a tough one, but it's the only one."

Again both Sora and Kairi read through the notice, this time their faces confused and not convinced.

"Radiant Garden?! Do you know how far that is?!" Sora cried.

"We'll go the station, get a gummi ship, fly over there, if the place isn't actually there… well Radiant Garden is a lot safer than this place anyway."

"Safe because it's huge? Or safe because you're dumb enough to think these creatures aren't gonna be there too?"

Riku frowned at Sora's remark. "If you have any other suggestions Sora go right ahead!"

"How do you know all the gummi ships haven't all been taken during the evacuation?"

Kairi looked at Sora in disbelief. This wasn't like him at all. Usually he'd be up and ready for this one and only spring of hope for the three of them. But he was shutting it out like it was the worst idea ever.

Riku had noticed this too, and began to grow angry at Sora's attitude. "It's worth a try," he replied strongly.

Sora sighed and folded his arms, suddenly uninterested in the peaches besides him.

Riku looked at his friend who was sulking like a baby, and instead Riku's anger turned to concern. These past events were really getting to Sora, and Riku didn't like the effect they were having upon him. Even Sora, of all people, his hopes were getting crushed.