To That Which is Lost
3:57 a.m.
Silence.
Nothing was making a sound. Nothing was moving.
Except for the clock on the bedside table. The second hand ticked away, hardly uttering a noise.
It moved so damn slow.
I was laying on my bed, staring at the hand as it ticked its way in a circle. The moonlight that streamed through the crack in the curtains lit up the face of it. My eyes remain wide open... waiting...
The guys had mentioned that it would take around two or three hours to reach Castle Oblivion.
They planned to leave at seven.
I planned to leave at five.
3:58 a.m.
I'm already set to leave. Before going to bed, I snuck into Sora and Roxas' room and stole a couple of potions and elixirs. I put them into my backpack, which is sitting in the lone chair against the wall by the balcony door. My bow is leaning up against it. I was ready to go. I just need to grab one more thing...
3:59 a.m.
The object will take a few minutes to get. Especially if I want to remain undetected. Then I will have to be extremely alert while I leave. Cloud, Leon, Yuffie, and Aeirth are on patrol at the moment. I've got to sneak around them. It shouldn't be that hard, but I have to expect the worst.
4:00 a.m.
I threw off the sheets covering me and slid off the bed to stand on my feet. I went to my bag and bow and slipped both on over my head. I was already dressed. Vest, boots, everything. I made sure the front door was locked before I unlocked the balcony door. I closed the door quietly behind me as I slipped into the chilly, windless night. It was so quiet tonight.
Silent as a mouse, I crept to the railing that led to Roxas and Sora's balcony and jumped from it to their railing. I tip-toed across the stone to the other side of their balcony. I climbed up on to the stone rail and swiftly jumped onto Riku's balcony railing. I slipped down to the stone floor and moved to stand in front of his door.
I stood there, lightly grasping the charm that hung around my neck. They'll know that I left the moment they start getting ready to leave. But... I feel like I should leave something behind. Something that will tell them that I'll be coming back.
I pulled the silver chain over my head, holding the charm in my hand. The blue gem glittered in the moonlight, turning it into a silvery hue. I took a deep breath, praying that his door was unlocked and turned the knob.
It was unlocked! I slipped inside the dark room, leaving the door open slightly for some light to see by. The moonlight outlined everything in the room in a pale silver glow. I moved warily around the objects in my way and made my way to Riku's bedside. I kept one eye on the steady rise and fall of the sleeping Riku's chest. When I reached his bedside, I averted my eyes from Riku to look at his bedside table. It has to be here somewhere...
A-ha!, I thought while opening the top drawer of the table. I reached in and grabbed the keys to the Gummi ship. I slipped them into a pocket in my shorts, careful not to make any noise with them. Holding my other hand up to the light, I looked one last time at my necklace before gently lying it in the place where the key had been. I shut the drawer and glanced at the clock on the table.
4: 18 a.m.
Quietly, I snuck back out of the room and closed the door behind me. I patted the pocket with the keys, to be sure that I had gotten them. I let out a heavy breath through my nose. That wasn't so hard. Now I just have to get to the Gummi ship. Fun, fun, fun.
I went to the edge of Riku's balcony and vaulted over it like I had the other day. My landing wasn't very loud, thank God. I moved quickly to the nearest shadow. I have no clue where the others are or who is patrolling this region tonight. But I have to get moving. Sticking only to the shadows, I navigated my way through the maze of buildings to the Marketplace.
So far, so good. No one had caught me yet. Yuffie had appeared at one point, but she didn't see me hiding the shadow of crates. She had been talking to someone on her headset. She had already moved onto the Bailey, so no one else should be getting in my way.
I entered the Marketplace and ran straight through to the outskirts of town. The Gummi ship loomed up as I got closer. I pulled out the keys and unlocked the hatch. When I reached the control pit, I sat in the pilot chair and started the ship up. I double checked all the controls and statuses. The warp drive still wasn't working. Well, darn. I was hoping it was so that I could get there quicker, but Cid is way to slow a mechanic.
I buckled up and put in the coordinates for Castle Oblivion. I guess it was a good thing I watched the guys fly this thing. Or else I'd be screwed. The ship started to lift from off the ground and into the sky. My fear of flying was overruled by my determination to find Kaity. At least I could focus. I took a deep breath as I broke through the atmosphere and sped on into the space that stretched before me.
"Alright, Kaity," I muttered, "I'm coming. Just hold on a bit longer."
"What is taking him so long?" Roxas asked the air. "If he wants to leave before Sam wakes up, he needs to hurry the hell up." He said, leaning against the wall in the hallway of the hotel. He glance up at the clock. It was 6:45 a.m.
"Riku never takes this long..." Sora muttered. "He's usually the one getting us up." He stepped over to Riku's door. "Hey, Riku, hurry up! Sam will be up any minute!" He whispered loudly through the door.
A thundering crash answered him. Sora jumped back in surprise.
"Damn her!" A voice said from behind the door. Another crash followed.
"Uh, Riku?" Sora said startled. "What's going on?"
"She stole the damn keys!" Riku shouted angrily from the other side of the door.
The door flew open and banged into the wall inside the room. Sora jumped back into the wall behind him. Riku angrily stormed out into the hallway, his eyes promising murder. A silver chain necklace with a moon charm was clutched tightly in his right hand. Riku shoved it into Roxas and Sora's face's.
"If she doesn't get killed by them, I'm going to kill her when she gets back." He bit out through clenched teeth. Then he turned and stormed down the hall to the stairs.
Sora and Roxas glanced at one another. "What?"
Sighing, I switched the ship onto autopilot and unbuckled. The heartless and nobodies finally stopped attacking the ship. I was starting to get really motion sick. I got out of the chair and stretched my legs. I was almost there. Just another few minutes. I guess it would be a good idea to start thinking of a plan. I laughed nervously to myself and took my sketch pad and a pencil out of my bag and started writing down some ideas of what to do.
The door to Merlin's house flew open with a bang, causing everyone to jump.
"Whoa!" Cid shouted, turning around in his chair. "What in the name of Minerva is going on?"
Riku was already storming in, making his way across the room. Sora and Roxas followed, both with mirrored expressions of worry and disbelief.
"Riku," Leon said from where he stood by the computer. "I thought you all would have left by now." Riku ignored him and stomped straight up to Cid.
"Cid, open up a video link to the Gummi ship." Riku said through clenched teeth.
"Yeah, sure." Cid muttered turning back to the computer. "No need for manners. Just go ahead and tell me what to do."
"Sorry." Sora apologized. "Riku's a little temperamental right now."
"Sam's taken off after Kaity all by herself," Roxas added, "She's put herself and Kaity in danger. He has a reason to be angry." He looked at Sora.
"Well, yeah," Sora said. "That's not what I meant-"
"We're connected." Cid interrupted. "Just push this button when you're ready to talk." He moved his chair out of the way for Riku.
Riku stood in front of the computer, anger still present in his eyes. He slammed his hand onto the button.
So, I think I have a plan. Well, most of one at least. Hopefully they aren't holding her in the lower levels of the castle. I'm basing this plan on what I know about Marluxia from Chain of Memories. All I really had to worry about was losing my memories, the castle screwing with my head, and being caught. If none of that happens, I'll have a home run!
"SAM!"
I jumped and screamed, causing my notebook to crash onto the ground. As fast as I could, I rolled out of my seat and scampered behind the chair, out of sight. I'm about to charge in and face the worst danger I've ever had to deal with, and I'm hiding from an angry Riku. If you were in my position, You'd be hiding too.
Maybe he'll just go away...
"I know your there." Riku growled. Oh my... he's really angry.
I completely forgot about the video chat thing that Cid installed. Why hadn't I remembered that? I could have disabled it! And then he wouldn't be able to yell at me. I whimpered from behind the chair. An angry Riku is something I never wanted to encounter.
"Sam!"
Closing my eyes shut briefly, I opened them and turned around. I put my hands on the top of the chair and rose just enough that I was able to peek over the edge. Boiling aqua eyes glared down at me from the monitor. I could practically feel them murdering me on the spot.
...Crap.
I pushed myself up a bit more so that my head was visible. "Hey, Riku," I said with a small smile and wave. "What's up?"
"You're sitting in the Gummi ship, that you stole, on your way to Castle Oblivion and your asking me 'What's up'?" Riku hissed through his teeth.
"Alright," I said while standing up behind the chair. "Number one, I barrowed the Gummi Ship. I didn't steal it. Number two, I'm almost at Castle Oblivion. Where as you are still in Radiant Garden and probably still would be if I hadn't gone on ahead."
"You left by yourself!"
"You were going to leave me behind!"
"Because it's too dangerous for you!" He countered, frustrated. "You just learned how to fight and you're not even very good at it!"
He was starting to get me worked up. Frustration was boiling through my veins now. "You don't know everything about me, Riku." I hissed at him. "You may think that you do, but you don't. You've underestimated me. Since you have, that means Marluxia will too."
"Sam, you-"
"Goodbye, Riku." I said firmly, walking over to the control panel. "I'll be back to
Radiant Garden before the day is gone." I looked him dead in the eyes. "With Kaity." Then I pushed the button to end the transmission. In a spout of annoyance, I gripped the stupid knob button thing and pulled it out. The wires sizzled and the screen flashed blue before disappearing. Let's see them try and contact me know.
I sat in the pilot's chair as the anger left me. I already know that I'm in way over my head. I don't need him telling me that. I pulled my knees to my chest and buried my head in them. I groaned and gently massaged my temples. Every time I get mad or upset now, my head starts to throb and my eyes ache. It's so weird. This never happened to me before I came to this universe. I calmed myself down, breathing slowly in and out of my nose.
A beeping sound drew me out of my thoughts. I stood back up and looked at the monitor before looking up through the glass dome. A strange, but familiar white castle was looming up in the distance. It was Castle Oblivion. I made it.
Now what do I do?
"Why can't you reestablish the connection?" Riku asked annoyed.
"She's messed with the connection on her end." Cid snapped at him. "If she sabotaged it, I'm gonna kill her."
"Hmph, you and me both." Riku muttered.
"I'm sorry to rain on your parade," Sora said from across the room. "But neither of you will get the chance."
"Yeah," Roxas spoke up from his spot on the ground by the door. "Marluxia's going to get there first."
"Whoever this guy is, he sounds dangerous and way out of Sam's league." Sora added. "If he ends up killing her, what are we going to do about our quest? I'm not going to go up to the king to tell him that we lost a part of the key to saving the universe. Sorry, no way."
"Then I guess this will be a test then." Riku sighed, leaning against a wall. "If she is truly the one the king thinks she is, then Kingdom Hearts will make sure she prevails."