Kairi waved her arms. "Ready... set... GO!" Riku took off. I followed, just one step behind him. Sora was right behind me. To the giant paopu and heading back. I caught up to Riku. We were running across the bridge. A loose board fell, taking Riku and Sora along with it. I jumped onto the sand.

"Yes!" I shouted. "I'm captain!"

Sora and Riku ran up to Kairi and I. They exchanged glances and laughed, looking at their drooping wet clothes. We laughed, too. After that, we all finished gathering supplies and headed out for the night.

I was laying on the beach. A real journey, I thought. I went to sleep.

I woke up to a crack of lightning. I shot up and looked around. All I saw was Riku by the paopu tree. I ran over to him.

"Riku! What are you doing out here? There's lightning!" I yelled.

"Mikaila, come with me," he said.

"What? What are you talking about?" I screamed.

"You may not understand now," he responded," but you will. Soon. The door is open. I'm going. I may never see my parents again. There's no turning back. Come with me, Mikaila." I didn't know what to do. Should I declare him crazy or trust that he knows what he's talking about? I trusted Riku. More than anyone.

He held out his hand to me. A black pit of darkness started to swallow him, starting at his feet. I grabbed it. It engulfed us both, and next thing I know, we are surrounded by water and gigantic bubbles.

"What is this place?" I wondered aloud. I heard a chilling voice behind me.

"Hollow Bastion, my dear," the voice said. I turned around to see someone I knew from watching videos when I was four, from before Destiny Islands. Memories flooded back to me.

"Maleficent," I said, not believing what I was saying. Riku turned to me. I just nodded.

"Correct, child. Who might you be?" I didn't know whether to answer or not. Too late.

"She's Mikaila. I'm Riku." Riku answered.

"Please join me in walking to the castle," Maleficent said. Riku looked suspicious.

"Why should I?" He sneered.

"What else might you have to do?" She questioned.

"Riku," I started to say. I didn't have the courage to say any more.

We ended up following Maleficent to an amazing castle. I really regretted it, but as long as Riku was there with me, I knew whatever she could throw at us, we could deal with together. Small, black creatures jumped onto me. Maleficent held up a hand. It jumped back off me.

"Now, now. They are here to help us," Maleficent informed the creature. It seemed to understand her. She led us to a large room full of countless books.

"You will stay here for the time being," she ordered.

"Why are you helping us? There has to be a reason!" Riku demanded an answer. I couldn't help but silently agree.

"You may help me someday," she said backing away and slowly fading until nothing was left.

"Riku, I feel a bad feeling when I'm around her," I whispered. He nodded in agreement.

"I know, but if we stick together, we can handle anything she can do to us!" He whispered back encouragingly. I smiled.

"My thoughts exactly," I whispered to him.

The rest of the day, we sat reading books to each other. The books answered a lot of my questions. The "heartless" as they were called, were controlled by Maleficent. Someone is darkness could control them. Somehow, that didn't sound very good to me. Darkness. Just the essence of the word left me shivering. Riku reassured me I was safe, but I was scared.