It was dark, damp and cold. He'd no idea how long he'd been down here now, how many floors he'd gone down, how far he'd gone. No idea where he was, and was still going on, his determination keeping him going in the face of weariness, danger, a growing hunger, and a dry throat. He knew Seifer had been right, but refused to show it. He was still determined to find an exit, and now one of the springs along the way for a drink. Food though... he'd yet to meet any non-humans down here as yet, and he'd no wish to become a cannibal.
He kept going. Keeping on going, pushing on, not giving up hope, that was what gave him strength. He drew on that, and continued down this corridor.
Another junction. Left turn. There was no logic behind it. It was just the first choice he came to.
Seifer stood leaning against a wall, examining one hand. It was the first time he'd seen him since the original meeting in this place.
"Still going, I see. Sure you won't reconsider?"
"Never happening," he replied, his dry throat turning it into a rasp.
"Here," he said, handing some bottled water to him. "You'll want this."
He regarded the proffered bottle for a few moments, then snatched it, taking drinking deeply from it.
"Easy there. Save some for another time. I'm not planning on helping you out all that much. You've no idea how much trouble I could get in for this."
"Why are you doing it then?"
"Call it fair competition. Not many of us can even get this far down. Merle - that's the woman you met way back when you decided to come down here - is one of the few who can manage it, but she's not willing to come after you alone. She's having to offer all kinds of things to get people to sign up with her, and every time one of her candidates finds out one of the others has been offered more, they up their demands. You've got an edge there. Down here, you'll encounter a lot less."
"She said there were monsters down here."
"They're illusions, and hard to maintain. That's why they're only saved for emergencies."
"Just how far down am I?"
"Forty seven floors so far."
"How many are there?"
"I've no idea. I should warn you though, if you're counting on me to show up with refreshments again, I can't get down too much further. Another three floors, then you're entirely on your own."
"Why are you helping me?"
"I already told you, fair competition. That, and I offer a way out. My offer still stands. Get caught, and you know what will happen. Turn in to anyone other than me, and you'll start at the lowest level, and be forced to work your way up. Take my offer and you can cut out the boring stuff and get straight in at the good positions. That, and I've got the privilege of being permitted my own small group of us under me, that only take orders from me."
"I'm still not interested."
"I didn't think so, but I thought you should know it's still open. I'm looking for a new second, actually... my last one got too cocky and got himself fried. By his own power, no less. Nasty business."
"I might think about it if I get desperate enough. Are you going to help any more?"
"Nope. I'm outta here before they find me. Good luck Sora. If you reconsider just call me."
"Wait. What if I reconsider after I go down another three floors?"
"Oh, your calling my name will let me come directly to you, regardless of where I am or you are. Useful little thing that. See ya. Wouldn't want to be ya!"
The last echoes of his voice faded, making him realise just how alone he was down here.
He sighed, stowing the rest of the water out the way, then continued on again. He had a friend, even if it was one who was going to keep showing up to wave his offer at him again. He helped, at least.
With renewed effort, he kept on going. He'd get out of this one way or the other.
Footsteps. Lots of footsteps. Coming closer? Definitely.
"Dear Sora... so you've finally fallen to the labyrinth. You've come a long way. I commend you that. You're certainly an impressive person. A lot of endurance in you, that's for sure."
He got to his feet unsteadily, using a wall for support. Merle was stood before him, several others stood behind her, and a glance behind him revealed even more.
"I'm not finished yet."
"Look at yourself, Sora. You're exhausted. You can barely stand upright without assistance. You're beaten."
"I'm not beaten. I can still go on."
"Give up already. Make it easy on yourself."
"Never."
"Then fight me. Beat me, and I'll let you go free."
He took one unsteady swing, which missed entirely, then collapsed back to the floor, beaten.
"Take him back upstairs," she ordered. "Restrain his arms and legs. We don't want him to be able to use his keyblade on us."
"Should we take it mistress?" One of the others asked.
"No, pet. I understand he can summon it back to him. Better to leave it for now."
Sora woke up, groggily trying to look around. He was famished, and still felt tired, but slightly better than before.
He was held down on some kind of tilted table. It was cold, hard and metallic. His keyblade lay on a nearby table. Also on the table were a variety of surgical tools. At their sight, he looked himself over, but it became apparent they hadn't been used on him. At least not yet.
What else was in the room... nothing. That was it. Just him, this... contraption he was stuck in, and the table.
Time to try something.
"Seifer? Seifer, are you there?"
"No, but I will be in a moment, keep talking so I can home in on you," his voice replied.
"I suppose asking for a bit of help would be out of the question without having to take up your offer, right?"
"Depends on the help. Hold on a moment." He faded into view, his back to him. "Sora?"
"Doesn't your oh so mighty power tell you where to look?"
"Oh, very good," he answered drily. "You're a regular laugh." He paused to take things in, then grinned. "I hope I haven't caught you while you're tied up in anything."
"Not at all, I'm just restraining myself."
"Sure you're not wrapped up in things?"
"No way. Get me out of this thing."
"What's in it for me?"
"I'll finally consider your offer."
"That's not much."
"Do you see anything else I can do?"
"Point. You realise if Merle catches me-"
"You're in trouble, yeah, I remember."
Seifer considered it.
"Sorry Sora. I'm not helping you out this time. There's too much at stake, for too little gain. That's unless you can guarantee you'll take up the offer."
"Does it still stand?"
"Until the moment I leave this room. From then on, I can do nothing unless you find your way to me. And that'll take a lot of hard work."
"Better to forget it then. Thanks for what help you gave."
"Consider it an investment in the hopes that we'll meet again. Don't be too stubborn, Sora. The more stubborn you are, the lower your position."
Seifer faded out again, leaving him alone once more.
So much for pulling a bit of help out of him.
"Sora? Sora, do wake up."
"Huh? Who're you?"
There was a young boy stood nearby. He wore the same kind of attire as Merle, except it had black trimmings and he had a collar on.
"I'm glad you're awake master Sora. My name is Dog."
"Dog?"
"Just Dog, master. Mistress Merle has sent me to attend to you. You are hungry?"
"Yeah..."
"Then you must eat. I am afraid all I have is soup. You can understand that I cannot allow you to feed yourself?"
Sora grimaced, "I guess in your place I'd have no choice. Lets get this over with already."
Throughout the meal, he tried to learn more about Dog and Merle.
"Why do you call everyone master or mistress, Dog?"
"I am the lowest of the low, master Sora. All at this rank are but slaves. I work hard in the hopes that mistress Merle, who is the one I am assigned to, will see fit to put me in for promotion. Until then it is proper that I treat all with deserved respect."
"And I deserve that?"
"Mistress Merle has ordered that it be so, master Sora. I am to treat you with the same respect as I do her."
"So what's it like, working for her?"
"Master?"
"What do you do for here?"
"Anything she wishes, whether it be to cook her meals, or answer those who call on her. If she wants anything, she has only to ask it of me, and I will do it."
"You don't mind?"
"Why would I? She treats me well. Compared to others of my station, I am well clothed, have a small but well furnished room to myself, and I am even given days off for good work."
"And the collar?"
"A... sign of my station, master Sora, and the only thing I wish I did not have. It reminds me every day that I am at the bottom of society. If I am ordered to fetch or buy something, then no one will speak to me while I am about, not even others of the same station. If there is a wait, then unless the mistress has called them in advance, I am the very last to be seen to."
"So if there's a queue at a store..."
"Then others will cut in front of me without regard for me, because they are above me."
"That's harsh."
"I have little choice without a promotion. If I may be so bold as to say so... it is the position you will be forced to take if you are stubborn, and I would not like to see you stuck in it. You could do better without having to go through the sometimes degrading life that I have."
"What would I get right now?"
"That is up to the mistress. I am instructed to summon her if you are ready to accept her offer."
"I don't want to give up."
"It is understandable. I did not either when I was brought here."
"What happened to you?"
"I had a dream. Or I thought it was a dream. The great towering structure of this place, the Dark Arcology, summoned me, and I let it take me. I chose the same path you did, but did not get far." Dog looked away for a moment, then returned. "I held out for two weeks before I gave up, which is what left me at this low station. I was not good at this at first. I was frequently punished. Eventually I learned, and as I learned, I did better, and was rewarded."
"I don't suppose you know why it's called the Dark Arcology?"
"I am... not permitted to talk about it. Please do not ask me any more of this, master Sora."
"But why not?"
Dog stood up sharply, shamefaced and refusing to look at him.
"Forgive me master Sora... I have duties to attend to," he said coldly, leaving. Sora felt a pang of regret. Maybe he shouldn't have pressed the matter. He hoped he hadn't offended Dog. He felt sorry for him.
Dog had returned the next day, and had pretended it had never happened however.
Two days after he'd first woken up here, and called for Seifer, then had Dog 'attend' to him, he realised that he was going to be treated well as long as he responded in kind, he took a long hard look at the situation.
He had no contact with anyone except Dog.
Dog was polite, so long as he avoided topics he was asked to. He made sure that he was fed had drinks, and was... cleaned up, to put it politely.
But the fact remained that he was a prisoner, and had no choice.
Dog had been right. He didn't want to go through that.
He hated to admit it, but it looked like Merle was right too. People really weren't given a choice when it came to leaving. They were just given a choice of when to give in. Right away, after a chase or after being completely defeated, broken, and turned into... what seemed to be a slave. Dog had objected to that word quite vehemently.
What else did he have?
Not much, he reasoned.
So he made up his mind, and waited for Dog to come again. He didn't have to wait long.
"Good morning, master Sora. Are you well?"
"I ache from having to keep still, but I'm fine." He decided to show a sign of friendliness he hadn't before, and continued, "What about you, Dog?"
Dog was taken aback, surprised, but managed to stammer out, "I-I'm quite well, thank you... you are most kind to take an interest in my well-being."
"You're the only person I get to see, I figure the least I can do is be nice. Could I ask you a question about me?"
"About you? But surely you know what you wish to know about you?"
"I don't know this one. You know about my friends, right?"
"Your friends before the Dark Arcology? I have heard of them, master Sora."
"Do you know if they've come here, looking for me?"
"That would be quite impossible. No one comes to the Dark Arcology unless someone here wants them."
"What about me? What if I want them?"
"Not without the same power all of us here are granted, and the correct authority. Authority and power are linked when it comes to all the people of the Dark Arcology."
"So I can't bring them here?"
"No. You would need to have the same position as mistress Merle or her second to do that."
"So... I'm all alone here."
"You are forgetting me, master Sora, but I understand your meaning. You miss your friends."
"Didn't you?"
"For a time. Now the people here are my friends."
"Dog... summon Merle."
"Master Sora?"
"I think it's time I gave up. I'll only lose more if I keep on sticking it out. I don't have any choice, Dog. Not that I have anything against you, or your position, but..."
"I understand. You would not be able to do it easily."
"It'd be hard for me."
"If it helps you at all, I believe you've made a good choice. I will summon her for you."
"There's no need," her voice announced. "I heard the whole thing."
She faded into the room nearby, this time wearing a snowy white dress.
"Mistress," Dog murmured ducking his head.
"Stand up straight, pet," she chided him gently. "You know it's bad for your neck." She then turned to Sora. "What do you think? I had this dress made just today."
"You look good in it," he told her, not knowing what else he could say.
"Thank you. So, you're ready to join us, are you?"
"I've come to terms with it. There's no alternative, is there?"
"No, dear. Just acceptance."
"Can I make a request on who I work for?"
"I'm afraid not. You don't make that choice. It's made for you."
"By who?"
"That would be me. I could keep you, or choose to give you to someone else."
"So I'm property."
"Only on a technicality, Sora, don't take it the wrong way. You work for me, unless I give you to another of the same station as me, then you work for them, and they're the ones who decide whether to give or trade you to another."
"So what do I have to do for you?"
"Whatever I decide. Though, as you've chosen to join us willingly, you're allowed some privileges. Dog will explain them to you after the procedure."
"Procedure? What's involved in that?"
"Relax. Nothing painful. I simply leave my mark, decide your position, and the power will begin to grow within you. Ready?"
"I guess there's no better time."
Merle released one hand, holding it in her own, firmly at first until he showed no obvious signs of tricks, then lighter. Her finger traced a curious pattern over his wrist. When she removed it, what looked like a tattoo was on it. It looked like the Dark Arcology as he'd seen it from the outside. Above it, his name was written in ornate Gothic lettering, and below, a skull and crossbones.
"Release him, Dog. It's done. He's ours.
Sora felt bad somehow. In his heart, he knew he wasn't doing the right thing, but he had no choice.
In his heart he felt the choice being made. One heart became two again.
"Oh, Sora! What have you done this time..."