Chapter 6 - Loneliness

He couldn't help but be at Roxas's side for every single minute. It just seemed too painful to leave him alone. Loneliness turned Axel into the person he is today but Roxas's happiness has somehow brought him warmth to his heart. He never felt this way before about anyone, especially not about a young boy like Roxas.

"How's Roxas doing?"

"He's fine. He's just sleeping right now."

"I see."

"What's gonna happen now?"

"If the police ever find us again, we have to keep running."

"By the way, I forgot something. I ran a search online about the government and there was some connection to a hospital near here about 15 years ago, when Roxas was born. I thought you might want to check it out with him."

"We will, but for now, let him rest."

"So you gonna keep him at your side?"

"Yeah. I thought he would just be another troublemaker for me and I thought I really didn't need anybody, but I didn't realize it… until he was gone."

Demyx walked out of the room to leave Axel and Roxas alone. Axel lifted Roxas's limp body up, sat down and held him in his arms. He closed his eyes and just before he fell asleep, he kissed Roxas's soft lips once again and held his head close to where his heart was.

"I can't let you go… I just can't… I don't want to relive the pain of loneliness."

A couple hours later, Roxas woke up to find himself in Axel's arms. He got surprised and blushed slightly. It was now close to noon and Demyx walked into the room again to find the young blonde awake.

"Oh… I see you're awake. Axel didn't leave the house once and he was watching over you all morning."

"Oh… I didn't even notice."

"He is really a good person to have at anyone's side. You and Axel need to check a place in the mountains nearby. It's a hospital that had connections with the government about 15 years ago, around the time you were born."

"We'll check it out."

"I wish you guys luck."

Axel woke up that same minute. He got up and Roxas followed him as well. Demyx opened the door for them to walk outside. There was no car, so they would have to walk there.

"Here Axel, the map of the mountain area. There's the hospital and there's no car or bus to take you there, so you two will have to walk."

"This will be fine. Thanks, Demyx."

"Sure. You guys be careful."

"We will."

Axel took Roxas's hand and held it tight. Roxas followed behind as they walked toward the mountain path. Several others in the small town saw them walk there and wondered why.

Meanwhile, a hooded man stepped off the train station at the town Axel and Roxas were staying at. He looked menacing and ready to kill someone. He walked to a person and asked if they saw Axel and Roxas walk by here. They said they were walking toward the mountains to check out an abandoned hospital. He smiled evil and walked up the path leading to the mountains. He took off his hood to reveal long blue hair and yellow eyes.

"Roxas… no more playing games. Your fun ends here…" Saix said to himself.

It had been a half hour since Roxas and Axel entered the mountains and Roxas had been stumbling for quite a way. Axel noticed this and caught him before he fell.

"Roxas, are you OK?"

"I can't walk very well right now."

"Come here. I'll carry you."

Roxas got up on Axel's back and held on while they continued to walk. Axel couldn't blame Roxas for being a little weak right now. They hadn't eaten since yesterday and they were always going from place to place.

"Axel?"

"What is it?"

"Why do people lie?"

"What? What made you bring that up?"

"When I was younger, my caretakers Xemnas and Saix worked for the government. They always told me they would love me forever, but since I turned 13, they have always beaten me or punished me even for the smallest things or thing that didn't even make sense. Why did they lie to me?"

"Roxas… I really don't know myself but I do know one thing. People who lie, I think, should not even deserve to live at all. But I will never lie to you… make sure of that."

"OK…"

Axel knew he told the truth. He would never lie to Roxas because it would make the young 15 year old so deeply sad if his only friend had lied to him. Nothing would ever be the same if Axel ever did and he wanted to avoid that at all costs. His relationship with Roxas could not be broken. They were too close…

"Roxas, we're here."

"This place isn't that big…"

The abandoned hospital was smaller than they expected but it was abandoned nonetheless. Moss and ivy was growing on the wall, windows were cracked but the door had been securely locked. Axel put Roxas down and pulled out his gun.

"Roxas, stand back."

"OK."

Axel, with a few shots of his gun, broke the locks on the door and they stepped inside. Roxas looked at the diagram of the building.

"Axel, look at this. For a hospital, it sure goes far underground."

"This would have been the kind of building who disposed of the dead bodies underground. Then the doctors and nurses underground could dissect the bodies for scientific research."

"Oh I see now. What would they try to look for in dissecting the bodies?"

"Any form of bacteria or virus I'm guessing."

They looked around the building's top floors for anything they could find. They were searching an old office that was full of computers. Axel sat down at one of them and checked the power supply. Surprisingly, when he pressed the power button, the computer turned on.

"It still works."

"Axel, I don't get it. Why couldn't they turn off the power before they abandoned it?"

"I don't know. Let's look anyway. Hey… there are records of people who still work for the government on here."

They started to look through the records when they heard something outside in the lobby. The door had opened and someone walked in. The two friends peaked around the corner and saw Saix, who had tracked them down. Roxas's eyes widened in surprise and he became terrified.

"Saix… why is he here?"

"No doubt here to take you back."

"But… how did he find us?"
"We have no time to talk Roxas. You go and escape while I hold him off."

"But… I-''

"Go now. You see the stairs at the end of the hall there? They will lead to the sewer which will take you outside to the storage facility. I'll meet you there."

"I don't-''

"Go!"

Roxas grasped Axel around the waist and started to shake and tremble and also started to have tears. He didn't want Axel to leave him alone. He didn't want to be alone anymore.

"I don't want to… be alone."

"You won't be… I'll come to get you when I'm done here. Don't worry."

"You promised me! From the beginning, you promised you wouldn't leave me. You can't break it! If you tell me to escape, then you have to come with me!"

Roxas was crying so hard and holding on to him. He was pouring out his concern for Axel instead of for himself. Axel understood how Roxas felt. He took his hands, put them on both sides of Roxas's face and they were looking at each other from really close.

"Roxas… listen to me. You will never be alone. But your safety is what's important to me. I need to be positive that you will be safe from harm and you're not going back to that city. You have to do this… Remember when I left you in Demyx's hands yesterday? I said quietly that I'll come back for you. I promise…"

"… OK."

Roxas understood him and took off for the stairs. He ran with tears still in his eyes, but now knowing that Axel would keep his promise. He had to trust his friend, no matter how upset or sad he was over it. Axel turned around from Roxas running to walking down to the lobby to meet with Saix.

"So, Axel… we finally meet. I'll be taking mine and Xemnas's property back now…"

END OF CHAPTER 6

A/U: This chapter was so much fun to write. Since I'm done with school for now, I'll have more time to focus. Stay tuned for more and don't forget to review, favorite or even rate this story!