Chapter 3: A Trip Not Forgotten
They knew they were drawing near as the vast, dull plains slowly turned to luscious fields of green and also trees of all types with the richest of green coloring started to take over the land. The bright sunlight gleamed on the surfaces of the deep blue lakes and ponds that randomly covered the plains on both sides of the track. Soon they were covered in the shadows of the trees, towering over the train. Their branches reached out in every direction and seemed to even make their way towards the sky, like long thin fingers reaching for space. Each branch was full of the biggest and most beautiful leaves. And suddenly the train stopped, revealing the dirt trails that led through the forest to more trails and wonders. The park was on the other side of the first part of the forest, within a decent sized clearing. They couldn't wait to get there and climb the tall towers and roam the vast corridors and swing on the giant swings. It was like a fortress, mostly deserted for not many traveled into the forest. It was very large and rather easy to get lost in…
The train whistle blew as the train came to a screeching halt at the forest path's platform. Riley and Jack left the train, bickering as they usually did. It was amazing that they could be fine with each other one moment, and at each other's throats the next.
Noah remained oblivious in his seat, gazing out the window while completely consumed by his thoughts. Kaycee bounced over to him. "Noah! What are you doing? Come on!" She urged him, tugging on the sleeve of his zip-up shirt. He jumped in his seat, startled by her. "If we don't get off the train now, there's no telling where we'll end up!" She informed him as she quickly stepped off the train onto to metal platform.
Noah stood up and turned to exit the train doors when he caught a glimpse of a dark hooded figure out of the corner of his eye on the next car over. He gasped in surprise and jerked his head in the direction of the figure, but there was no one there. "Noah! Come on already!" Jack shouted at him from the platform just as the train whistle blew again.
Noah grunted and dashed toward the doors. Just as he stepped out from the train, his foot caught the edge of the platform, tripping him. "Whoa!" He cried as he fell face-first towards the metal. As an instant reaction, Noah crossed his arms in front of his face in an attempt to shield it from harm. He never hit the platform though. His body fell right through it as if it didn't exist. It crumbled away to dust and disappeared in the air. The entire surrounding area shattered like a broken mirror, shards fell into the black abyss below that Noah was falling into. Everything turned to black.
Then suddenly, Noah plummeted head-first into water. He freaked out, thinking he was going to drown. He soon discovered that the water was breathable, like air. He kept sinking deeper and deeper in the water, wondering what was going on and when it would end.
Finally, his feet touched bottom. He frantically looked all around him. It was as if he were at the bottom of the ocean. "Could this be real?" He asked himself, taking a step forward. A blinding light shone from beneath his foot. He held an arm over his eyes and the rest of the sand below him crumbled away, turning into doves that flew off toward the surface, leaving white feathers falling all around him. He watched the doves go, realizing he had seen this before, in one of his dreams. Both Sora and Roxas experienced nearly the same situation with the water, doves, and platform.
As he looked down, he saw the platform that had been revealed. It was of two girls this time, standing with their backs to one another, separated by the same keyhole and feathers around them that he had seen on the other platform. One of the girls had dark pink hair. He'd seen her before with Sora. The other was a blonde haired girl that looked very much like Kaycee, but he'd seen her before with Roxas as well. They were Kairi and Naminé. When Noah looked around once again, the water gone, replaced by the same darkness that surrounded the other platform. The only light came from the platform itself, which was plenty to see clearly with, aside from within the blackness around the platform.
Before him, four podium stands appeared, each with a single sheet of paper upon it. Noah approached the stand farthest to the left. He picked up the paper and read it aloud. "What's most important to you? Being number one, friendship, or my prize possessions? That's easy, friendship, of course!" With that, the paper went up in flames, disappearing instantly, and with it the stand vanished as well. Noah went to the next stand and read the next question aloud. "What do you want out of life? To see rare sights, to broaden my horizons, or to be strong? I want to broaden my horizons, I think." The paper went up in flame and the stand disappeared along with it. Noah approached the next stand and grabbed the paper off of it to read. "What are you afraid of? Getting old, being different, or being indecisive? I guess I'm afraid of getting old and losing everyone." The process repeated again, the paper went up into flame and the stand was gone. Noah then went to the last stand, furthest to the right. The paper read, "You value the friendships that you make with others. You wish to broaden your horizons beyond what they are now. You're afraid of getting old and losing all that you know. This is where the new chapter of your story begins. You hold the true power in your beliefs. But don't be afraid. You are the one that will open the door to the light." The paper fell apart in his hands once he was done reading it.
A huge crack swiftly made its way through the middle of the platform, splitting it into two halves. Noah was left with one foot on each half as they started to drift apart. He tried to move himself to one of the halves, but his feet wouldn't budge. They were caught in a darkness that was creeping up from between the platforms. It grabbed a hold of his legs and pulled him in, engulfing him like quicksand. He fought to wriggle free, reaching above with a hand, but it was useless. It swallowed him. He screamed silently and struggled to free himself from the black abyss. When he opened his eyes, it was gone. He was on his back upon another platform. This one was plain; it only had a black and white design on it.
A large ray of light came down from somewhere within the abyss above the platform. Noah held his hand out into the bright beam; fingers extended, and palm facing upward. He felt nothing from the light; no warmth or comfort. He let his hand fall back at his side with a disappointed sigh. The light faded out; much like Noah's hope dwindling.
Suddenly, black bug-like creatures on two legs with empty yellow eyes appeared from shadows on the floor. They danced around from one leg to the other, swaying and twitching sporadically. There were five of them, enclosed around Noah in a circle within the center of the platform. "What are these things!?" Noah cried just as they each leapt at him from all sides. Noah used defensive maneuvers to avoid each attack. He kept dodging strategically, one after another until he stepped wrong, leaving himself open and vulnerable to attack.
One of the creatures took advantage of the opportunity and dove straight for him. Noah thought he was a goner. He quickly lifted the back of his hand up to block his face from the oncoming attack. Then, out of the palm of his hand came a bright flash of light and in it appeared a giant sword-like key. The creatures leapt back and held their ground, dancing around him at a slight distance. Noah observed the strange key in awe then noticed the change in behavior of the black creatures. He took an offensive stance, key gripped tightly in both hands, ready to strike. He braced himself.
The first creature jumped at him and he lunged forward, charging it and swinging the key combatively. He made a direct hit and the creature burst into darkness. The rest of the creatures vanished into their own shadows within the floor of the platform.
A spiral staircase appeared before Noah's eyes. It went up as far as he could see into the darkness. He took a hesitant step onto the bottom step. An image of the boy Sora and his friends running up a white spiral staircase after another friend, flashed before his eyes. "No…ah…" The voice of Kaycee echoed. Noah gasped and took off, running up and around the staircase. As he progressed up the spiral, the stairs behind him began to disappear.
The staircase seemed to go on forever. Just when Noah was beginning to doubt himself and his ambitions, he reached another platform. He panted for a bit, leaned over with his hands upon his knees. As his breathing regulated, he finally took the time to glance around the platform. He immediately drew his attention to a person, a girl, standing with her back toward him at the opposite side of the platform. She seemed to be staring out into the darkness. Noah furrowed his eyebrows and took a few cautious steps toward her. "So…ra…" She spoke at almost a whisper, though it echoed.
"I'm not Sora." Noah assured her just as she turned to face him. Her face was pale and her eyes were dull and empty. "You look like…Kairi? No, something isn't right about you. There's something wrong with this whole thing. What's going on?" He blinked and she was slowly fazing out of existence. "Uhn!" He grunted as he took a step forward, though she changed. "Kaycee!?" He ran towards her but she was shaking her head at him, and she too had dull eyes. It was as if she'd lost her will, her glimmer, her soul. Still, Noah proceeded, ignoring all the warning signs. "Kaycee!" He shouted again.
Just as he was about to reach her, a giant black creature, more human-like than the others, formed behind her from the shadows. He towered over her and Noah stopped in his tracks, staring up at the creature in sheer horror. "No…ah…" She spoke again, reaching her hand out to him. The platform shattered from beneath Noah's feet.
"Aaaahhh!" Noah screamed as he fell backwards into the black abyss.
"…But don't be afraid… You are the one who will open the door…" A low voice spoke in his mind.
"Noah!" A voice called to him but it was unclear. "Noah!" The voice repeated. It was Kaycee.
Noah's eyes shot open and he was looking at Kaycee, Riley, and Jack as they stood over him. They were at the train stations back in town. Noah looked up at them in confusions. "Thank goodness you're alright!" Kaycee cried, hugging him as he lay on his back upon the cold cement floor.
"You gave us quite a scare. You okay Noah?" Riley questioned, carefully taking hold of one of his arms.
"Yeah, we thought you were a goner for sure!" Jack joked as he took a hold of Noah's other arm and Riley punched him. "Owe! Hey!"
Noah just looked at them all, unknowing of anything that had happened really, allowing Riley and Jack to lift him to his feet. They brought him over to the bench and sat him down easily. He rubbed the back of his head and winced as pain surged through it. It ached and pounded. "W-What happened?" He asked, completely baffled.
"We're not too sure. You just fell and hit your head as far as we know. You've been out for hours. It's nearly sun-set." Riley replied calmly.
"But, the park—" Noah began then trailed off as his mind wandered and the pain in his head intensified.
Kaycee shook her head. "We never got on the train. Don't worry though, we'll go another day. 'Kay?" She smiled warmly, worried about his condition. "You just rest for now."
"We'll take you home now, bud." Jack said, giving him a light yet caring pat on the shoulder.
"Oh…okay…" Noah sighed, as if he wasn't entirely there. His mind was definitely elsewhere. That much was apparent. They took him home.