~Comatose~

The air around the town was cold and thin, as if everyone were holding their breath.

You could only hear the ocasional bark of a homeless dog or the hurried footsteps of the villagers.

Today was a day of greiving, a day of sorrow.

Terra walked along the streets, searching for the market. He had been sent to pick up some things, and he thought it might be closed. The streets were empty; it was as if he were walking along the streets of a ghost town.

But then he heard the chatter of people, and he sighed of relief.

When he returned to the house, he noticed the chapel was more crowded than usual. He even saw Vanitas, leaning against the wall. Terra remained silent; the tears dripping from his face were painfully obvious.

He scurried to find Aqua, the person who helped him the most. She knew everything about the town, and she had promised to answer his questions about that boy. Ventus, was it?

He searched through the rooms, only to find her in a room so obvious he should've slapped himself: Ven's room.

The girls were all surrounding Ven's bed, where the boy layed asleep. Namine was holding Xion, who was crying even when all her tears had dried out. Olette sniffled ocasionally, but that's all. Aqua remained steely serious, pouring out every last extent of her being into a prayer.

Oh, Majesty, who's wrath shakes the earth and heavens, who's kindness showers the world with love and humility. We invoke your name as a request of healing. We beg of you, give your blessing to he who needs it. Sadness atemps to swallow us, but we remain faithful, dear Lord. I beg of you, in the name of the sorrowful and the mournful who cry his name, bring him back. Let him walk among us again as he did before, blessed and healthy. Let your wishes be our command, Amen.

"Amen," the girls repeated. Even Terra found himself finishing the prayer; it seemed so powerful.

"Come on, Nam." Olette said as she got up. They steadily dragged Xion, who was shattered beyond repair.

Terra looked at Aqua, who's eyes had long since become shiny and glassy. "I'll tell you what happened," she looked at him, as if asking for permision. Then, her eyes had a fiery determination. "I'll tell you Ven's story."

Ven was a very cheerful boy; he was loved by everyone. Everyday, he'd bring fresh bread to the cathedral and he'd stay and talk with the girls. Back then, he worked at a wellding factory with Vanitas, who was his best friend. One day, a very special request was made at their job: a x-blade, which was a key made of 7 shards of platinum and 13 shards of onyx. They accepted the offer, it was a hard job, but the pay was worth it. They went to the mines to get the metals, and they had to be careful: the materials had to be pure, or the key would be a bust. As they melted the metals and molded it into a key, one of the scattered pieces stabbed Ventus in the chest. It had fractured the outer skin of his heart, and he was sent to his house to recover. He found his girlfriend, Fuu, on the street and stopped to talk with her. He didn't notice that a car was racing at unholy speeds torwards them, and when he did, he pushed Fuu to the side, taking the full impact. The doctors said he was alive, but his heart needed time to recover, and he fell into a comatose state. He has been that way for 3 months, and Vanitas and Fuu blame it all on themselves.

"..." Terra couldn't find what to say. What do you say at a time like this?

"Every final Saturday of the month we pray for him, but n-nothing happens," she said, her voice cracking, and placed her hand inside Ven's limply open one.

Terra placed his hand on hers. "He'll be back. I know it."

She looked at him. "I hope you're right."

And in that moment, Aqua felt another hand surround hers, like a phantom. And it wasn't Terra's.

Stay strong, my friend. I'll be back soon.

~0~

~OmegaStarShooter14~