Sure, this is a week late, but hey, at least it's out. I really like this one too.
Disclaimer: you know the whole thing...
"My name is Axel, bitches! Got it memorized?!" Axel was the name of our spiky-haired savior.
The zombies melted and screamed in the hot flames and Namine and I ran for cover.
"HAHAHAHA!!" Axel was laughing like a maniac as he watched the zombies run and burn. By the time the flamethrower stopped breathing fire the zombies in the park either retreated or burned. Charred zombies littered the ground and smoke filled the air. I still couldn't see what Axel looked like; I only knew that he was tall and had spiky hair.
"Axel?" Namine called out shyly. Through the haze he walked towards Namine and I and when he reached us, I could finally see him clearly. He was tall, at least six feet tall, with long red spiky hair. One purple upside-down teardrop was under each eye and he was wearing a black cloak.
"Namine, is that you?" he asked incredulously. His eyes were wide with surprise.
"Oh my God, Axel, I missed you so much!" Namine squealed. I just kept getting more confused.
The blonde girl pulled off her bag as she ran towards Axel and jumped on him when she was there, wrapping her thin arms around his neck. They were both laughing as Axel tumbled backwards; after that they laughed even harder. Something inside me panged…I think it might have been jealousy.
"Nami, you know this guy?" I asked while I was walking to them.
She looked up at me, still lying on the ground with the pyro. "Mhm. He's my big brother!"
"Oh!" the jealousy vanished and what replaced it was kindness. "I'm Roxas." My hand was stretched out towards him.
Axel lifted himself into sitting cross-legged and pulled Namine up with him into the same position. "I'm Axel." He took my hand and yanked me towards the ground.
"Axel, why are you around here? Shouldn't you be in New York, learning to be an engineer in college?" Namine asked him.
He looked down, almost ashamed. "I left after two weeks of that. I couldn't handle it. But I didn't want to disappoint mom and dad, so I moved out west."
"Aww, Axel, mom and dad would've loved you no matter what!" Nami tried assuring him.
He didn't say anything for a while, instead he just stared at the ground, a little sad smile on his face. "You might be right, Nams, but now we'll never know."
They were silent for a few minutes and things definitely seemed awkward, so I decided to change the subject.
"So, uh, Axel, would you like to travel with Namine and I?" but then I thought about it; would Namine just want to be with her brother? "Or do you guys want to go alone or something?" I wasn't looking straight at either of them, I was instead staring at the ground.
"Really, Roxas?" Nami sounded annoyed and I looked up at her. But the mood changed when she smiled. "Of course we'd take you with us! I owe you my life!"
"I guess you do, hahaha"
The blonde girl jumped up suddenly and ran to me, tackling me to the ground in a fit of giggles. Her arms were around my neck and her head was resting on my chest in a way that made me want to just kiss her pretty face.
"Aww, wittle nami has a boyfwiend!!" Axel teased and a bright red blush spread across Namine's cheeks in the most adorable way; I could only imagine what my own blush looked like.
"Shut up Axel…he's not my boyfriend. In case you didn't know, I had to shoot my boyfriend." Her response was quick and angry, and she lifter herself off of my with an annoyed sigh.
"Nami…I didn't know…."
"Well now you do. Come on guys, we have to find somewhere to sleep." She got up and grabbed her bag, leading the way for Axel and I to follow silently.
By the time we reached the abandoned hotel, it was probably around ten at night, judging by the position of the moon. Surprisingly we weren't attacked at all. Inside of the broken building were actual beds and bathrooms. It was almost like heaven…if it weren't for the fact that we knew zombies were in there. Sure, they were spread throughout the whole ten story building, but they were there and because of that we couldn't relax fully. So instead of all having a room to ourselves, we shared a room with two beds on the second floor; we didn't dare go any higher because if we did, there would've been no escape were we to be attacked.
Namine took the first shower and I went next with the toiletries that she had graciously taken for me. I offered to let Axel use my stuff, but he declined. "Why take a shower when we're not going to have one tomorrow?" he tried explaining.
I didn't get it either.
When it came time for us to sleep, we had a problem. There were only two beds.
"Nams, you can sleep next to me." Axel patted the spot on the small bed next to him.
"Sorry Axel, but I'll pass. You're all dirty and I just took a shower."
I was already in bed, but I scooted over when I saw her walk towards me.
"May I?" she asked.
"It would be my pleasure." I chuckled.
Namine giggled as she slipped into the bed and laid on her side, her back towards me. I turned to her and smelled her sweet vanilla scent, smiling from it. "Night Nami. Good night Axel."
"Right back at ya, buddy." Axel responded.
Before answering my good night wishes with her own, Nami yawned. "Good night Roxas."
I turned to my other side and pulled my necklace from its home in under my shirt. "Good night Mom, Dad, Ven. I miss you…."
Quietly, as to not wake up Axel, Namine whispered to me a question. "Who'd you say good night to?"
"My family."
"But aren't they-"
"Yeah, but I've done it every night since…that night. They tie me to this world, Namine. I'm living for them. Without this necklace…I'd have nothing, I'd be nothing. Did you know that my dad actually told me about the refugee camp?"
"I'm sorry for bringing it up." She turned to me. I turned back to look at her. "You shouldn't say such things about yourself though. You're a good person.
"Thanks." And without warning or thought, I kissed her forehead.
With her dainty fingers she touched the same spot where my lips touched. "Roxas….don't…."
"I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me."
"Good night." I could see tears forming in her eyes as she turned away from me. Her body moved slightly with her silent sobs and although I stretched my hand out to her, I didn't touch her. I knew it would be the wrong thing to do, despite what my heart wanted. So I turned again myself and fell asleep.
That night I dreamt of a fire; a burning, unstoppable building of flames. I heard screaming in both the voice of a man and a younger girl. I tried getting in the building to help the people, but each time I neared the doors, flames bloomed in the doorway.
That's when I heard the scream and I knew it could've only been from her.
"ROXAS!!" It was Namine's scream and terror washed over my whole being.
"NAMINE! NAMINE!" I screamed from the top of my lungs.
That's when I woke up. My chest heaved and I was sweating. I could feel how wide my eyes were opened. Standing above me, alive and well in the new day's sunlight was Namine with a concerned look.
"Roxas, are you awake? You were screaming my name in your sleep…."
"You…you're alive? That was only a dream? It seemed so real!"
"Yes, it was only a dream. You're okay now." She placed her hand on my shoulder with a small smile. "Come on, we have to go."
"Y-yeah. I guess we do."
I was still in a daze as we left the hotel. That dream was so…so real. I could feel the heat of the flames, see the vibrant colors of fire, hear the blood curdling scream, smell the burning and taste the smoke. It scared me. Was that a premonition? Had no more time to think as I heard the scream of zombies.
They ran towards us from all directions and I pulled out my blades. This was going to take my mind off of things.
So did you like it? Review please!!
Song for this chapter: "a million ways to be cruel" by Ok Go.
