Chapter 3: Saix

I read somewhere that humans dream every time they're asleep. The text said that "one may not always recall the dream that they dreamed, but that is no proof that there was no dream at all. A dream is merely the continuation of one's thought in one's sleep. One will only no longer dream when one's mind has ceased to function i.e. they are deceased." I would imagine that person never met a nobody; because I'm positive I haven't dreamed one night since that day. The day I became meaningless.

I laid flat on my back in an uncomfortable bed. Whoever made this either had no inclination of the workings of the human spine, or had never met anyone with a curvy ass. Either way, my lower back was sore from lying like this for so long. I turned to lean on my side, but something stopped me. My eyes opened slowly, and I took an observation of the room.

Everything was grey. There was no hint of color anywhere, other than some flashy lights from afar. My vision was still blurry, so I couldn't make it out. I blinked furiously, shaking my head to try and clean up my vision. And then I heard a voice.

"You've finally awaken."

A silhouette of a person spun around from the flashy lights. My eyes finally adjusted, and I saw that it was a computer screen. And the man that I'd seen was none other than the arrogant prick that met the fury of my vice grip upon our last acquaintance. I noticed that I left my mark. He moved to examine my body, and his sleeve pulled back. His wrist was red and swollen.

He took a light and flashed it directly into my eye. I flinched, naturally, but I adjusted to that as well. He did the same to the other. Then he walked back over to the computer screen. I tried to sit up, but the damned wires wouldn't let me move! I'd had enough. My hand moved to my other arm, and I yanked out each wire one by one.

"What are you doing?! You imbecile!" I stopped, to see that the angry blonde was disturbed. "I wasn't done examining you yet!" He stomped back over, but I put a hand up. "Oh, so you're a tough guy now are you? Sit back you mongrel!"

"Where…..is……Lea…?" I struggled, but the words came out.

"Oh, it talks? Let me break this down in simple terms." I looked him directly in his eyes. I understood him full well, I just couldn't talk back. But now that I think about it, this early in the game, it was probably best that I couldn't. "I-am-Vexen. I-am-your-senior-so-I-am-the-boss-of-you! Lay-down!" He exaggerated his lip movements and spoke slowly to me like I was a foreigner.

"Where…..is…..Lea….!" I tried again. It was all I could say, but then again, it was all I needed at the moment.

"Lay down! " He yelled, and grabbed my shoulders. I took my palm and shoved it right into his sternum. He hit the wall, breathless. I yanked the rest of the wires out of my body, and flipped out of the bed. I looked around frantically for an exit, and made my way to the nearest exit, but then I stopped. A tall man, with silver hair stood in the doorway. Whatever form of intuition I had left told me not to take this man on…yet.

"Ah, you've finally awaken number VII. And I see you've left quite the impression on Vexen. "He walked toward me. I backed up instinctively, until I hit the end of the bed post that I'd just flipped over. He came closer, and I looked into his eyes. They were soulless just like every other pair I'd seen so far. "You need not be afraid of me number VII. I will not harm you."

"Where is Lea?!" I was able to say it much quicker now.

"Number VIII has already awoken. He is with his mentor, Lexaeus. "Finally, someone answered my question. He walked away from me toward the computer screen.

"Lord Xemnas…I didn't get to finish the test. He showed resistance," said Vexen, finally getting off of the floor.

"Ah but Vexen, this appears to be more than enough information. In fact, I will name him right here." Have you recovered his former name yet?" I realized that the silver haired man outranked the blonde in the hierarchy. There was something about his presence that let me know he wasn't to be crossed.

"But Lord Xemnas, there's so much that I didn't get-"Vexen began, but he stopped abruptly. It was in this moment that I witnessed first hand, just how terrifiying Xemnas could be. He turned his head, slowly and shot a glare at Vexen that looked as if he crushed him with his eyes alone.

"Did you not hear me, Vexen?" Xemnas asked.

"H-his real name was S-Sai! Number VIII confirmed it sir!" Vexen said, now both afraid for his life, and embarrassed at the way he was put in his place. He looked away as quick as he could, to break the scrutiny of Xemnas' gaze. Xemnas looked back to the computer screen. As horrifying as it was, I had to admit, that level of control was unusually attractive…

"Sai…" Xemnas said, slowly turning away from the computer screen. He came back to me. I watched his every move.

"This is informal, but from this day forward, you will be known as number VII, Saix. I will formally induct you into the organization upon a later date, as I am rather busy. But, take this as a personal welcome into the organization VIII. I expect great things from you, Saix." He gave me a confident smirk, and walked toward the door, with an air of grace and dignity surrounding his aura. When he moved, he appeared to glide. It contrasted greatly with my animalistic movements. He vanished from the room, and I stared blankly at his last position.

And then I remembered I really didn't give a damn! I walked out of the room and emerged into a broad hallway. Everything was still grey, and I felt completely lost in this room. There was no sign of the man, Xemnas, from a few moments ago. But it didn't matter. I was on a mission. "Lea…"

I took off into a swift stride in my white "patient's" gown. I looked down every hall, every corridor, and inside every room. I went up and down the numerous stairs, into what appeared to be a main kitchen and anywhere else in reach. But try as I may, there was no sign of Lea anywhere. I returned to what appeared to be a common room, and looked out of the windows. This place was so obscure. It had to be hell! There was nothing but nothing for miles. Everything was so hollow, and grey, even the fake grass beneath this place! But then I heard that all too familiar sound, and suddenly turned around. The black smoke appeared, and out of it stepped two figures. One enormous man stepped out, with prickly reddish-brown hair, almost akin to someone I used to know. But then I saw the other one.

"You did well today Axel. Your usage of the limit break approached a level of professionalism. You may even make a great assassin one day," said the large man, but the other one stood still, with a hood concealing his face. "You are dismissed until tomorrow."

I stood there, and watched as the larger one walked away. The hooded figure remained still. But then he turned to look at me, his black coat following suit. He took the hood off of his head, and I stared in wonder.

"…………Sai…….?"

It was Lea.