AXEL"S PoV
Hands grip my arms, keeping me in place. I see Demyx a little bit away. He's hanging in Xaldin's grip, his mouth bleeding, his eye swollen shut. I feel Lexaeus' fist make contact with my stomach again. My breath leaves me and I fall to my knees, the two sets of hands on my arms the only thing keeping me from just falling into the dirt. With effort, I look up. Xemnas is standing a few feet away, his back to us.
"Why?" I scream at him. "Why are you doing this?" Larxene skips up to me, cackling.
"Silly Axel," she says. "No one leaves the Organization."
"But this is mad!" I say. "It's one thing to steal for profit, but to murder an innocent family? What are we doing?"
"We're showing people what happens when they try to pry into the Organization." Larxene says.
"Why do you need us? Why do we need to be a part of this?" I plead. "Just let us go…that's all we wanted." I hear Xemnas laugh. He turns, grinning at me. He moves to stand in front of me.
"You're not just going to be a part of it." He says. "You get to play Executioner." My eyes go wide at his words.
"I'd die first." I spit at him. He laughs, walking away.
"Oh. I wouldn't kill you." he goes on. He moves next to Xaldin, grabbing Demyx's hair and pulling his head back, exposing his neck. "I couldn't say the same for Demyx here…" He traces a line across Demyx's neck.
"You wouldn't." I glare up at him.
"And why not?" He asks. He nods at whoever is behind me; the grip on my arms loosens and hands push me forward. I fall to the ground.
"Get up." Xemnas orders. I do, coughing. I straighten up to face him.
"You're going to set fire to this house." He explains. "Oh, and do try to make it look natural." He strokes Demyx's hair, looking down at him. "Or your friend here will have his final night of life." He motions toward the house and I turn to face it. Slowly, I start the walk across the field toward my target.
After taking a few steps, though, I abruptly turn to attack the closest Organization member. I throw fire almost blindly. I think I manage to injure three before I'm face to face with Larxene in a matter of just a few seconds. We spin around each other, neither able to achieve the upper hand.
I hear Demyx cry out in pain and swiftly stop to face him. Just as swiftly, Larxene is behind me, her arm reaching up to lay her blade against my neck.
Demyx's arm is being twisted behind his back by Xaldin. Xaldin flicks his wrist and Demyx screams.
"Axel!" He falls to his knees.
"Perhaps my intent was not clear, Axel." Xemnas is in front of me again. I glare at him from behind Larxene's knife. "No more games. Unless you wish Demyx, here, to suffer." As if on cue, Demyx cries out again. Larxene presses her blade harder into my skin.
"Do it." She whispers into my ear. The knife disappears and I'm pushed forward again. I stand looking at the house, knowing one way or another it won't be there by the time dawn arrives. Even in the dark, moonless night I can see the things that will perish; the small porch, the huge front door, even the toys I can see near the side of the house. They'll all be gone. I hear a whimper come from behind me and I know it's Demyx trying not to scream again. I step forward. I stare at the house before me, but I don't see it.
Instead, images flash before my eyes. First, it's people I hate; Larxene, Xemnas, Xaldin. Then it's things they've done; to me, to other people. Then it's things I've done. The images get faster and worse. I'm getting more and more angry, but they won't stop. Demyx's scream breaks through my thoughts.
"RAAAAAAAAGH!" Fire bursts from my hands and refuses to stop. The once dark night is set ablaze. I don't know how long it is before I slow down.
I'm kneeling before the flaming house. I realize tears are streaming down my face. I wonder when that started. I hear cheering behind me.
I notice two small figures running away from the burning building. Children… I sincerely hope no one behind me saw them.
I'm kick in the back and pushed forward to my hands and knees. Another foot meets my stomach and I land hard on my side. I roll onto my back, coughing.
"Farewell, brother." Larxene says before twirling away.
I stare at Axel, his outline barely visible in the darkness. I go over the story in my head. I match up the house, the fire, the children. The moon. I realize what he's telling me. I back away, slowly shaking my head. My eyes are still wide.
"No." I say. "No…" If I keep saying it, it won't be true.
"Roxas." He steps toward me. I throw my hand out to stop him. He freezes.
"You…" I don't know what to say.
"Please understand." He pleads. I look at him incredulously.
"You killed my parents!" I scream. He flinches. "You put me and Sora out on the streets for four years!" Even in the darkness, I can see the look on Axel's face; it's full of hurt, loneliness, and regret. Still, I can't stop myself from continuing. "You're the reason I haven't seen my brother in two years!"
"Roxas." He steps forward again. "I'm sorr—"
"No." I cut him off. "…no." I turn and sprint back around the house. Without realizing it, I unconsciously climb up the tree and over the wall; the same way I escaped when I was just a simple thief.