Alrighty, then. I know this one is shorten than most of the rest, but I wanted to get it up because something very important happens in it. THIS IS NOT THE LAST CHAPTER. I know that at the end of every chapter I say, "The next one is the last," but this time, I am telling you know that niether this chapter or the next is the last. But the next one might also be very short.
Without further ado, the chapter.
"Now then," said Xemnas, who was standing across from Roxas. The other members of the Organization and the Twilight Town residents had all gone off to either prepare themselves mentally for what would be the biggest exorcism they were likely to face or getting the news of the Mandatory Movie Night out around the school. "This is the most difficult form of Shared Trance known. In fact, some say that it belongs under a completely different name. It has become known as Shared Consciousness."
"Shared Consciousness?" Roxas asked, looking dubious.
"Yes. It occurs when the group is joined, not by a memory, but just by the energy. Their minds connect and all thoughts and feelings become one. In that instant, you would love Axel, Zexion, Marluxia, and Larxene, feel Saix's frustration over the students, Marluxia's anger at his parents, and anything else that the exorcists had felt, ever."
"And they would feel all that I had felt?"
"Yes, that's right. Once you begin this Shared Consciousness, your mind is no longer your own. Shall we begin?" Roxas nodded distractedly.
Xemnas had Roxas practice reaching out to the other minds of the exorcists, seeing how many he could control at once. Also, he had to determine whether or not Roxas could keep control of them, once he had them. It was proving difficult.
"I'm trying as hard as I can!" Roxas panted, eyes slipping shut as he fought off another wave of exhaustion.
"Xemnas," Zexion said, "if we don't stop this, he won't have enough energy for tonight. If he needs more spiritual energy, we'll give him all we can give. All we can spare." Xemnas nodded. He'd have to be content with that.
"Get some sleep Roxas," Xemnas said softly as Axel picked the boy up. "All of our hopes are resting on you."
At 9:00, Roxas was awakened by a seeping cold that sunk deep into his bones and chilled his heart. He didn't need the nod from Axel to know that it was time. He felt full of energy, a sort of staticky chill flowing throughout his body. He just hoped it was enough to get through the ritual.
Nodding silently to the red haired man by the door, Roxas stood up and pulled on his cloak, zipping it all the way up to his chin. The sound of the metal was all that broke the silence. Roxas moved to pull on his boots, only to have his elbow seized by a black-gloved hand.
"You don't have to do this," Axel hissed desperately. "Please. We'll just get them one by one." Roxas looked at him sadly. "You have a choice, damnit!"
"No," Roxas sighed. It was a quiet breath, barely a word, but it hung between them like a concrete wall. "I have no choice. I have to do this."
The hand let go.
--
When Roxas entered the exorcist headquarters, eleven tense faces stared back at him from under shadowed hoods. Axel walked stiffly in behind him, anger and fear radiating off him in waves. Roxas wanted to be mad at him. He wanted to shout at Axel for being stupid and protective and for putting them all at risk, but he couldn't. If their roles had been reversed, Roxas knew he would be acting exactly the same way.
Without a word, the exorcists formed a circle. Though the lights were working, they were shut off and all of the candles were lit. Mandatory Movie Night had started an hour ago, so the crew from Twilight Town was not around, but Roxas could feel their presence humming through the school, just as he could feel the spirits waking. When all hands were joined, Xemnas spoke.
"In half an hour, we will be one. Everything you have thought, said, or done will be known by the other 12 members. But sometimes, it is better to tell then to let it be discovered. Before we begin, is there anything anyone would like to say?"
For a moment, no one spoke. Then, Demyx let go of Zexion's and Roxas's hands and stepped into the middle. Roxas and Zexion joined their hands without a glance at each other.
"When I was young, my father abused me. He told me that it happened to everyone, that it was nothing out of the ordinary. I believed him. When my mother found out that he was mistreating us, she took Naminé and ran. She didn't take me because I had told her earlier that I was gay." He turned and walked back to the circle, effortlessly slipping back into the anonymity that the black cloak circle provided.
Zexion was next.
"I am afraid of cats." He turned and quietly rejoined the circle. Demyx chuckled and squeezed Zexion's hand.
Marluxia spoke next, but he did not leave his place in the circle.
"Ich liebe1..." he took a shallow breath and didn't continue. No one pushed him.
Axel stepped out next. "I am quite ready to propose to someone." And he stepped back into the circle.
Saix took one step forward. "I hate children. I despise them." Xemnas raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anything.
Larxene gave a reassuring squeeze to Marluxia's hand and spoke. "When I was thirteen, I was raped."
No one judged; everything was forgiven and accepted.
Xigbar closed his eyes. "When I was six, I watched someone get murdered. I did nothing."
Xaldin stared fearlessly out from under his hood. "I robbed a convenience store in middle school. That's why I'm here."
Roxas went last.
"I'm terrified. I don't know if I can do it. I'm afraid it won't work." Axel broke out of his spot across the circle and wrapped his arms around the boy.
"It'll be fine, kid. You'll be fine." He sounded choked up, like he was fighting back tears. "You'll be fine. You'll be fine." He sounded scared. Roxas hugged him back with all his strength.
"You're right. I'll be perfectly fine."
--
At 9:30, all points on the star were filled. Roxas held his hand toward the center. All around them, the spirits began to form, twirling around in patterns of age-old dance. He didn't stop to look at or listen to them as they slowly stopped dancing.
"Jonathan?"
"How could you Jonathan?"
He took a deep breath and slid his eyes closed, reaching out to everyone's minds.
"Aus unter vielen, einer."
Thirteen pairs of eyes flashed bright blue. Roxas was a bit disconcerted as he saw the world from all of the exorcists' eyes. He watched himself watch Zexion. He watched Marluxia and Xaldin and Xemnas all at once, from different eyes. He heard all of the thoughts as they raced through each exorcist's head.
I feel dizzy.
We need to go.
Is that really how I look? Jeez!
We need to go.
I'm cold.
I'm hungry.
We need to go.
We need to go.
We need to go.
In a motion of complete symmetry, all of the exorcists pulled their hands from the center of the star, turned, and strode towards their destinations. When one exorcist ran into a door or a wall, all of the rest paused until that exorcist moved again, always making sure to stay an even distance away from the center. They reached their points at the same time.
Roxas saw the head distractedly, seeing but not. He could feel his energy running out and knew, how, he didn't know, that he would not survive the exorcism. The practice had weakened him and he knew that the chant would take everything he had left. But he found that he didn't care. He wanted to make the school safe for Zexion and Demyx and Axel…Axel. He would miss Axel.
But now wasn't the time for these thoughts.
H pressed his rosary to his heart and breathed in. He wasn't afraid of dying.
Closing his eyes, he whispered "Oblivion is Eternal," and heard it echoed all around throughout the forest.
De vergetelheid is Eeuwig. Zexion.
Oblivion is eternal. Xemnas.
L'oubli est éternel. Larxene.
El olvido es eterno. Demyx.
Oblivion is eternal. Saix.
Eien no Boukyaku. Axel.
Забвение вечно. Luxord.
Oblivion is eternal. Vexen.
Vergessen est ewig. Marluxia.
Oblivion is eternal. Lexaeus.
L'oubli est éternel. Xigbar.
Oblivion is eternal. Xaldin.
The cold swept around him like it was trying to break him apart. The guests screamed, screamed louder than any spirit ever before. Roxas listened as if from a distance. He felt…disconnected from the rest of the world. His eyes opened. The cold felt more pressing to him. He was tired. The world was blurring.
He knew what was happening. If he didn't end the ritual now, he would die. If he stopped now, everything would have been in vain.
He didn't stop.
The screams continued as his vision dimmed. Finally, they began to fade and disappear. Roxas was unsure whether it was because they were ending or because he was too far gone to hear them anymore. One by one, the screams fell to silence. All but one.
All that was keeping him alive was his connection to the other twelve exorcists. If he ended the connection, he would die. The funny thing was, the connection was what was killing him. He couldn't force himself to be selfish and keep the others locked to his mind forever. Demyx had Zexion. Marluxia had Larxene. Saix had Xemnas. He had Axel.
Axel.
Desperately, Roxas pushed all of his energy into one last thought.
I love you, Axel.
Roxas closed his eyes and let go.
1 "I love…"
Well now, how emo was that? Now what's going to happen? Who knows? (: Anyway, once again, thanks for all the support from all you lovely readers!
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