Chapter 7 – A Fake Promise is A Lie
Roxas was running through the sewer, trying to look for a way out. He was running out of breath too after running for so long. He stopped for a minute to catch his breath. Images of Axel ran through his mind and so did his words. I'll come back for you… I promise.
"Axel… you promised." Roxas looked back to see if his friend was coming. He didn't hear anything so he started running again with tears in his eyes, wondering if he would ever see him again…
"I'll take mine and Xemnas's property back now."
"Unfortunately for you, that's not for me to decide. Roxas wanted to run of his own free will."
"May be true, but you were the one who helped him to escape."
"It was all Roxas's decision. I have some questions to ask you. If you hate Roxas so much, then why did you take him in the first place?"
"That info is considered top secret in the government but if you want to know that badly, I will tell you. Roxas was dumped off at the orphanage in the city when he was only 2 years old. The contract has always said that as long as Roxas had a home, whoever has custody of him may do anything they want."
"That does not give you the right to make Roxas a prisoner!"
"A prisoner… Roxas has never been a prisoner. Merely a young guest for us."
"If he's a guest, then treat him like one. Not as a mere play thing for you and your partner."
"I see Roxas told you a lot about his life in the city. He was never a play thing…"
"You're lying. He said a while ago that he doesn't like people who lie to him."
"Is that so? I will ask one more time… give back what belongs to us and the government."
"For the last time, that's not my decision! What will you do once you grab hold of him?"
"Are you admitting defeat? If so… I will do with him what I decide."
Axel got really mad and took out his gun and pointed it straight at Saix, ready to fire. He would not let poor Roxas be a play thing for the city any longer. Saix just turned away.
"I have no interest to fight or in you. I just want our property back."
"There's no way in hell."
Saix got angry and impatient with him and took out a knife from his belt. He turned around quick and threw it at Axel, cutting his shoulder. The pain was more intense because his shoulders were still recovering from the gunshots he received from his fight with Luxord. He dropped to his knees in pain, not in surrender. He fired a couple rounds from his pistol at Saix, but he dodged them easily. Axel looked up at him in pain and exhaustion.
"I suppose I'll go find him myself."
"No… I'm not letting you."
Saix became extremely impatient with him and shot him again in the back. Axel was too weak to follow him to the staircase that Roxas ran through to escape. But he had to keep his promise. The blue haired man walked back to him and held him up.
"I'm taking you with me." Axel looked into his eyes and became unconscious. Saix took him outside and threw him in the trunk of the car he came in. Of course he stole it but that didn't matter.
"Now then… where is our property?"
Roxas waited inside the storage facility in the back of the building. He kept looking out the window for his dear friend but still no sign. When he looked out again and saw Saix coming. He was shocked to see that Axel lost again and he sunk to the floor in disappointment. The door was starting to open and Roxas covered his face and cowered in fear.
"Roxas… so nice to see you again."
"Leave me alone! I'm not going back!"
"Apparently, you do… because if you don't, your friend won't be saved from kidnapping charges or even death. If you want to spare Axel's life, you better come back." Roxas's eyes widened in surprise. He thought over this for a minute and looked at Saix with eyes saddened by pain.
"… I'll go back. But you have to promise that Axel will be safe and that I won't be punished."
"You have my word." Saix seemed to tell the truth, but he was always patient with Roxas and was known for being deceitful. Roxas got up and stood in front of him. Saix took him by the arm and walked him back to the car. They both got in and started to drive south back to the dreadful city.
They arrived in the city two hours later, back to Roxas's old life. Saix and Roxas got out of the car to the lounge room in their condo. The young blonde was thrown on to the couch and Xemnas walked in through the door, looking extremely angry and Roxas became frightened. Xemnas picked him up by the arm and slapped him across the face, enough to leave a red mark on his face. Roxas cried and fell to the floor, as their punishments were always painful.
"What are you doing? Saix, you promised me!"
"You should know that I don't keep promises of someone as young and disgraceful as you! I also didn't keep my other promise as well."
"What do you mean?"
Saix dragged Roxas by the arm outside in the courtyard and popped open the trunk. Roxas was shocked to find Axel, unconscious and beaten badly.
"No! You have to give him back! You can't hurt him!"
"It's too late Roxas! He will be charged with kidnapping and the punishment for that is death! There's nothing you can do!"
"He didn't do anything! Axel, wake up!"
"Xemnas, hold on to our piece of property. I'll turn in this piece of garbage to the federal prison, where he can await his sentence."
The other man took hold of Roxas's arm and dragged him back inside. He threw the young abused blonde on the sofa and slapped him again. Roxas held his slapped side of his face and stared at the man in shock.
"You will be ours now and forever. It's what the contract says. As long as you're in our home, we can do whatever we want with you."
"That doesn't mean you can treat me like this!"
"Just shut up! You make me sick… just looking at you is enough to make me angry. We went out of our way to take care of you since you were 2 years old and this is how you repay us?! How dare you!"
"Please stop! Slapping me hurts!"
"Just get out of here! You're a disgrace!"
Roxas ran into his old room and locked the door. He cried for a long time, screaming at the top of his lungs. He was so afraid of the two older men that had once a tiny bit of care for him when he was younger. But now that he was older, they could do whatever they wanted with him. He continued to cry with force and held on to his pillow and he still didn't stop. But he noticed that he was wearing Axel's jacket from before when they rode the train. There was something in there… a lucky charm of sort. It was a silver chain with silver crosses… a bracelet. Roxas's tears continued again as he held it in his hands.
"Axel… promise to come back for me."
Saix arrived with Axel in handcuffs at the federal prison. He showed him to the head officer and told him that he was the one who supposedly kidnapped Roxas. Axel had the handcuffs taken off him and was pushed into his cell. He sat down on the bottom bunk, in disappointment, sadness and pain. He wasn't able to keep his promise to Roxas and he was blaming himself once again for the actions they took.
"Roxas… I'm so sorry. I let you down once again…"
He sat there in disappointment for a long time and was distraught with himself. How could he ever take care of Roxas, a young boy at the age of 15. Someone opened the door of the corridor and the officer walked by and stood in front Axel's cell.
"There's an overnight visitor for you." Axel looked at the visitor and was shocked with surprise. It was Demyx, his cousin.
"Hey there, Axel."
"What do you want?"
"Excuse me officer, may I be let in?" The officer opened the door and Demyx walked in and stood at the wall across from his guilt ridden relative.
"So Roxas was…?" Axel nodded. "You know… he still needs you."
"I couldn't do anything."
"The problem was that you focused so much on Roxas that you didn't have any resolve for yourself. You poured out your promises and your heart to him so much that you didn't leave any for yourself."
"Why would you say that?"
"Think about it Axel. You grew up pretty much alone, and therefore, no one believed in you so you didn't believe in yourself. Don't make promises you can't keep either. It won't be worth getting hurt over."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Roxas is probably lying at home, hurt that you couldn't keep your promise to him to come for him. I know that you will, but in order to do that, you need to believe that you, yourself can do it."
"I don't know."
"I'll stay here tonight and won't say anything until you know what to do. The choice is yours… and it's simple."
Throughout that entire day, Axel sat on the bottom bunk, thinking what he should do. Images of the young blonde ran through his mind, as did his words. He was so confused on what to do. Was Demyx right? Has he not believed in himself, moreover being foolish as well? He didn't know. Demyx was on the top bunk asleep… and soon Axel fell asleep as well…
The next morning, Axel woke up to a TV being turned on. It was Demyx, watching the TV in shock. He walked over to his cousin.
"Demyx what is it?"
"Axel… this isn't good."
He looked at the news reports and apparently, Roxas was walking into an underground entrance with Xemnas with his eyes covered and tears still on his face. Saix was talking to the reporters about what was going on.
Roxas will be part of a new club we are opening only to official members of the government, including the Prime Minister and some of his other board members.
Axel became extremely mad and punched the wall. He was mad at himself because of pouring out fake promises to Roxas, this is what was happening. Axel knew this was ordinary club. It would be a club open at night for Roxas to be an adult's play thing. This was the real mind of his two older caretakers and Axel could not let this happen. Demyx stood up and looked at him in the eyes.
"So… what will we do?"
"I'm not gonna be the old me now. I'm a new person, full of belief in myself now. Now that I do believe in myself… it's time to go get him back once more. And I'll make sure that he stays with me… for good."
END OF CHAPTER 7
A/U: I had writers block for a while but I finally have this chapter finished! It was kind of a tough one too. Don't forget to review and favorite. Thanks!
