Chapter 3 – The Runaways

Roxas woke up to a moving atmosphere, and he was right. The train still hadn't stopped and all he knew was that he and Axel would get off at the last stop. Axel was asleep on the seat next to him. Roxas gave a small smile at him and looked out the window. They were now on the run from police officers everywhere. But Roxas thought this was for the best because he needed a better life… and he would spend it with Axel.

Meanwhile back in the city, things were chaotic within the government. Xemnas and Saix were really angry when they saw that Roxas was gone and they would do anything to have him theirs again. They were to make sure that nothing would get in their way either.

"If I ever find where Roxas is hiding, he will hear it from us."

"We will find him, we just have to be creative."

Just then, Saix's cellphone rang. He answered and it was from the police force. They have every inch of the border and road leading out of the city blocked off but they still didn't see Roxas and Axel. But the men over the phone said they just got a report from a witness that two men who looked just like them boarded the subway train. Saix flipped his phone close.

"The subway… dammit! Now we have to search the track."

"The subway?! He escaped there…"

Meanwhile, Roxas and Axel reached their stop on the train and got off. They arrived in a small countryside town with not many buildings but according to Axel, he said that there was an inn they could stay at for a while.

"Wow. I'm surprised because I've never seen the countryside before or the ocean either."

"Wait a sec… you're only 15 and you never saw this kind of land before?"

"No… but I always did want to see it."

"Well… here it is."

Roxas was so excited as he felt like he could start a new life here. The air was so clean, the sky was blue and the fields were green and healthy.

"Come on Roxas, let's go."

"OK."

They walked to the inn together and admired the landscape that Roxas was experiencing for the first time. But Axel felt… somewhat strange around the young blonde. He had the urge to hold his hand and couldn't fight it off any longer. He reached for Roxas's hand and held it tight. Roxas looked up at Axel with a smile and blushed slightly.

"Roxas… are you OK?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"You're turning red. Do you have a fever?"

"Uhhh… I don't think so. Maybe I'm a little embarrassed because… I don't think I fit in to a little town like this. I've always been in the city and… I'm not sure if I belong."

"I'm not sure either… but you do belong… with me."

Roxas blushed even more. He knew Axel was right. He couldn't go back to his old life he wanted to start a new one, here in the country. They arrived at the inn they would stay at and checked in. Later that night, Roxas lied on his bed, tired from trying to get out of the city. He was hungry too.

"Roxas."

"What is it Axel?"

"Are you hungry? Here, I grabbed this last night before we left. You can have it."

"Why did you just hand me turkey meat?"

"You gotta eat something right?"

"Yeah… I guess."

Roxas took a few pieces of the meat and ate. Axel lied on his own bed, thinking of what to do next. They would be safe here for a while, but if the city found them, they would have to keep running until they found somewhere to be safe.

"Axel?"

"Yeah?"
"What do we do now?"

"We stay here for a while. Try to rebuild our strength before we leave somewhere again. Or until the city finds us again."

"OK… I'm scared."

Axel's eyes widened with shock. He knew why he was frightened. He was afraid the city would take him back and he would be severely punished. Roxas didn't want another brutal punishment or to keep living in the city. He wanted to stay… in the country… with Axel. He came up to Roxas and held him close to his heart and they both closed their eyes.

"Don't worry Roxas. You will never go back. I'll make sure of it."

Roxas felt comforted and warm at the same time. He liked Axel as a friend and he couldn't ask for a better one. But Roxas soon fell asleep in his arms and Axel smiled at him with a warm feeling. He kissed Roxas's forehead and laid him down, then he walked over to the window and sat down by it.

Roxas… I'll make sure you never leave my side… ever… Then he got tired himself. So he lied on the separate bed next to Roxas and fell asleep.

Later that night, Axel was woken up by a noise outside. He got up and went to see who it was. Roxas turned in his bed as if he might have heard Axel get up. He stood at the window and saw police cars from the city. How could they have caught them so quickly? It might have been considered impossible but they were the police.

"Roxas, get up."

"What is it Axel?"

"The police found us."

Roxas widened his eyes with shock. The police found them and in such a short time as well?

"We have to go."

"Axel wait!"

"Come on."

Roxas got on his back and they both ran out of the room. They ran out of the building and the police saw them. This wasn't good and they now were on the run again. It seems that no matter where they went, Roxas and Axel would never be safe… or free.