Riku returned looking rather amused. I just looked at him, feeling very tired and withdrawn. I could feel that terrifying woman at the edge of my mind and feared that if I spoke it would be her words emitting from my mouth again. Riku took Kairi's body from her pod and carried her to the top of the stairs.

I started to follow him up and reached halfway up the stairs when I realized where we were. It was the center of the castle. Dug deep into the ground. The spiraling stairs that led to this raised platform curled up and ended up on opposite sides of the rounded platform. The golden railing sparkled in the unnatural light coming from the heart shaped hole in the wall. The colors trapped in its wonder swirled together, I felt myself dropping into awe as I looked at it once more.

It's incredible isn't it? I looked around for the voice. It had seemed so close. Everything within Kingdom Hearts is wondrous and there are so many things to discover.

I searched the room, looking up and down but the woman's voice had no body. That was when I realized she was in my head. It was that woman. I clutched my ears but could not block out her epiphany of the world waiting beyond that door, if only they could unlock the last Princess's heart.

I watched Riku put the princess down gently, but other than that small gesture he offered no kindness to her. He walked over to the door and stood in the eerie light. I shuddered. His silver hair glowing.

"Riku?" I asked. He turned to face me. "What's going to happen?"

"We're going to open Kingdom Hearts," The voice answered. "And once we do, love, you will have entire control of that body and that girl shall be lost in the darkness."

The woman was pushing to have her voice escape my lips but instead I nodded and walked slowly away. My fate had been decided when I let myself listen to Ansem. I was going to be lost to the darkness. I sat down in front of the fire, not feeling its warmth.

All I could think about was Meg and Nessa. What would they do if I disappeared. Sure they would miss me for a long while but that didn't matter. In time they would get over it and search for a way home. I was giving in. My eyes suddenly widened.

I had to stop Sora from arriving. I had to keep him away from this room.

Is that really a good idea?

I don't care. I thought back.

Don't you want to go home? I promise your friends will be there. Just as you will back in your world, safe and sound.

You're lying! I thought bitterly. I jumped up and started to move for the door, the cuts on my back stung as the dried blood cracked. The burns were tight and it was hard to move my legs, but I walked as quickly as I could to the door.

Ansem! Ansem! The girl yelled in my head. She pushed and pushed to have her voice escape.

Stop talking you'll just make this more difficult.

You can't do that. You can't betray us! You swore. ANSEM, ANSEM!

I swore nothing! I ran to the door in an odd limp. She pushed harder.

"ANSEM!" She screamed from my lips. I immediately shut them, but it was too late she had drawn his attention.

"Where are you going Rachel?" He asked. I looked back and he wasn't there. I turned to the front and there he was in front of me. I crashed into him and his arms wrapped around me. "Ah Amelia. You should learn to control her better." I felt the woman's frustration.

"SHUT UP!" I screamed at them both. He just laughed, she pushed harder. Then something flashed in his eyes. I saw Riku in his eyes. His arms let go of me for a second and I took the chance to cover the rest of the distance to the door.

I looked back and saw the sweat dripping from his forehead. Then suddenly Riku's eyes were gone and just his body leapt at me. I summoned my darkness and slammed the door shut. Two large bodies stood in front of it, Ansem was pointlessly trying to push it open.

I limp/ran the rest of the way down the hall. Ignoring her.