I don't own anything associated with Kingdom Hearts or Silent Hill. They belong to Square Enix/Disney respectively

Chapter 22

Using his keyblade as a crutch, Terra gasped for breath. Across from him, his former Master did the same. The shadow of the stone dragon fell upon them, hiding their weary and rueful expressions from each other. Terra moved first, standing up straight with an almost inhuman strength. He had long ago burned through his stores of energy and was relying mainly on adrenaline now. The only bright spot was that it seemed Eraqus was in the same state.

"Terra, stop this madness. You don't have to do this."

Terra swallowed and hardened his emotions. "Actually, I think I do."

No matter the truthfulness of his words, he couldn't let go of the past he and Eraqus shared. "Stand down," Terra pleaded. "I don't want to hurt you anymore."

Eraqus looked up, despair written all over his face. "Terra, I cannot."

There was something else there, some hidden meaning that Terra couldn't understand. He silently begged Eraqus to explain, or drop another hint, but he did not. Instead, Eraqus stood up himself, holding Master Keeper steady.

Terra closed his eyes and nodded. "No matter how you think of me," he murmured, "it doesn't change the fact that you were my Master. I will always treasure that, but my friends come first."

He met Eraqus' stare. "I'm ready."

Once more, they clashed, blade against blade. The world shook with the sounds of their battle, and burned white with the heat of Eraqus' magic. Grunting, Terra twisted to block another one of Eraqus' spells, slicing through it and reducing it to shards. The resulting light reflected off the sweat on his face, and seemed to make his blue eyes flare. He charged straight through the next one, wincing as it broke over his back.

He could see that Eraqus was surprised by such a rash offense, but that emotion was only betrayed by the lifting of an eyebrow. There was no hesitation as the old Master brought his keyblade up and defended against Terra's overhand swing. Their bodies trembled, and Eraqus disengaged, sliding underneath Earthshaker and around Terra's back like a snake. Raising his keyblade, Eraqus voiced the harsh syllables of a spell, and blasted his former apprentice in the back of the head.

Terra fell. Earthshaker clattered to the ground beside him. Though his eyes were closed, his vision swam with odd colours he didn't recognize. Through the pads of his fingers, he felt Eraqus' steps, and was vaguely aware of a shadow crossing over him.

He opened his eyes and weakly lifted his head. Eraqus' last spell had been insanely powerful, much stronger than anything he had endured at the hands of Aqua. Whatever it was, it had drained Eraqus too and now, his former Master knelt on one knee, body glistening with sweat. Upon seeing Terra still conscious, Eraqus sucked in a deep breath, and forced himself to stand.

"I am sorry, Terra, but this is the end." Master Keeper shone a brilliant white. "I cannot allow a monster such as yourself to plague the worlds."

On his stomach, Terra could only beg. "Please, Master! I haven't done anything wrong with the darkness. I won't, I promise; I just need it to protect my friends."

He crawled up to his hands and knees, leaving Earthshaker where it laid. Above Eraqus, the stone dragon watched, its eyes seeming to follow him wherever he moved.

"What about that man you killed, Terra? Do you deny that crime?"

"No, I don't!" he shouted. "But it didn't happen like that; it wasn't because of the darkness. It was an accident!"

Terra dropped his head, his lip trembling as a few tears squeezed out of his eyes. "I didn't know. . ."

He curled up underneath the dumpster, the cool metal sapping of all his heat. Huddled up, he shut his eyes and prayed, his lips shaping words that he didn't dare utter. He could hear the young cop running down the alley, the sound growing louder and louder before the steps stopped completely.

"You got him, Fair?"

"Yeah, he's holed up under here. Hey, just relax, kid. We don't want to hurt you; we're the good guys!"

In the thin slit of light between the dumpster and the ground, the young cop's head appeared. His smile was deceptively kind, like that of a maniac before he pulled the trigger. He extended a welcoming hand to Terra, smiling. "We just want to talk to you."

Terra was still, not trusting himself to speak. The cop seemed to understand and backed off, waiting. Terra didn't want to come out; he couldn't go to jail! But the cop seemed so friendly . . . maybe he was telling the truth. Maybe they just wanted to talk.

Slowly, Terra inched his way toward the open.

"Come on, just a little further."

The light fell across Terra's face as he peeked out of his hiding place. He eyed the young cop, then the other, bigger one. There was no sympathy in those eyes, just cold judgement, and Terra froze. The young cop had lied; they were here to take him in.

He knew what would happen. No one gave a hoot about a ragged, street kid like him. The trial would just be a farce, and he would be locked away forever. He knew that.

His heart clenched. He wouldn't let them take him.

With no other options, he hurriedly made to retreat underneath the dumpster.

"Whoa, don't do that!"

Terra turned his head a fraction of an inch, and saw a hand swooping down towards him. Panic welled inside him, and he reacted, trying to push the cop away. His heart tightened and then, as the cop's fingers grazed his arm, there was a flash of hot pain in his chest and the sense of something breaking free . . .

He thrust out with his hand, his fingers curling automatically and suddenly, grasping something solid.

The giant key appeared in a flash of light, heavy and too big for him. By the time he realized he was even holding something, the keyblade was arcing towards the cop's chest, and with a terrified scream, he tried to stop it –

Officer Fair lay dead on the ground.

"I didn't even know I had the keyblade," Terra said hoarsely. "By the time I did, I couldn't do anything."

"Nothing more than an unfortunate accident," Eraqus whispered. Master Keeper dropped, and its wielder backed away, his chin pointed at an upwards angle. "Now, Terra, do you see?"

"See what?"

"The truth," Eraqus said. "Do you understand now?"

Terra shook his head. "What are you talking about?"

Eraqus continued as if he hadn't heard him. "If you understand, then you have no further use for me."

"Just tell me what you're talking about!"

Eraqus smiled. "Goodbye, Terra."

Eraqus stepped back into the shadows, and they swallowed him up. Terra cried out, reaching for his retreating figure, but Eraqus left with no more words. There was only the flutter of Terra's heartbeat.

He groaned, sitting; he hurt everywhere and had sprained muscles he didn't know he had. The dragon statue towered above him, and he envied its cool and unyielding being. What he wouldn't give to have skin that tough, so that he walk through this town with ease! He wanted very much to stay here and rest, but there was still Aqua and Ven to rescue. He had to keep moving.

Although at this rate, a snail would beat him to them.

He hobbled across the room, focusing on the faces of his friends. He could hear their laughter, feel that warmth in his chest that came when he was with them. His friends were everything to him; he just wished he had taken the time to tell them that.

He took out his Wayfinder, and held it to his chest. "Wherever we are," he whispered, "our hearts are always connected. I'll find you guys; I promise." He smiled as he felt a tug in his chest.

"Terra?"

The tug grew stronger, but pulled away from the voice. He frowned, rubbing his chest. The voice called him again, and like a man hearing a siren's song, he was ensnared. He knew that voice, and knew it well.

He stepped forwards, turning in a circle as he looked for the voice's source. "Aqua, is that you? Where are you?"

"I'm here."

He whipped around. She stood in the doorway through which he and Eraqus had entered. How she got behind them, he didn't know, but all sorts of crazy stuff happened in this place.

"Aqua. . ." He forced his battered body forwards, not able to wait for her to reach him.

She fell into his arms and he grabbed on tight, content just to hold her, to feel her and know that she was there. Her head was nestled underneath his chin; her hands clenched fistfuls of his shirt. He choked, nearly sobbing, bringing her in closer. She smelt of the ocean.

"I was so worried," he said, "I didn't know if you and Ven were okay."

"Shh," she was rubbing his back, "I'm here; it's okay."

"I'm so glad you're okay," Terra said. "I don't know what I'd do if I lost you."

In this almost sacred moment, all his defenses, his walls so carefully built and maintained, began to unravel. The need for strength had passed, and he was allowed to be vulnerable. Burying his face in her hair, he inhaled her scent and allowed himself to think those thoughts that he had long ago placed off-limits. It was okay if she didn't share them, or if the Master would disapprove, because nothing mattered except that she was here and she was safe. Even Ven had started to fade to the back of his mind.

A twinge in his heart brought him back to reality. The Wayfinder's magic started up again, pulling away from Aqua. He frowned, mentally shushing it. Aqua was right here; where could it possibly want him to go?

"You're wounded," she said softly, tracing a line of blood on his chin. It was an intimate gesture, and Terra wondered if she realized what she was doing.

He moved her hand away from his face. "I got into a fight," he admitted. He healed it quickly, failing to notice that Aqua made no move to do the same.

"With the Master."

He blinked. "You know?" How long had she been watching them?

"Maybe," she whispered, "it was for the best."

For the best? He wanted to ask how she could possibly think that, but then her hand stoked his face and that thought was forgotten in an instant. Surely, this proved that Aqua knew exactly what she was doing. Even if it took place here, it was like a wonderful dream, and he didn't want to do anything to ruin it.

"You're tired, Terra," she said. "You need to rest."

"I will once we find Ven," he promised.

They were holding hands at waist-height, and Aqua kept running her thumb along his. He shuddered; just the thought of her touch sent shudders up his spine. She stood on her tiptoes, whispering into his ear, "Don't worry about him. Sleep, Terra, I'll wake you when everything is ready."

Drunk on her voice, Terra nodded without thinking. At once, a heaviness weighed down his eyelids, threatening to close them. He kept them open, needing to be able to see her, lest she was ripped away from him again. He knew that last time it was his own fault, that he was the one to run off. He would never do that again; no matter what happened, he would stay with her.

"I can't sleep," he rasped, "not until you two are safe."

"I am safe," she said firmly. In a lower, huskier voice, she said, "Stay with me, Terra. Stay here with me."

"Of course," he said.

She smiled, and gently pushed him down. He blinked, as lost as a child, when he found himself on his back, head in her lap. She stroked the side of his face, and he closed his eyes in bliss.

"Sleep, Terra," she ordered.

He gave into her, and was already half-asleep when the question spilled out.

"What about Ven?"

She said, "He's not important. Just sleep."

His eyes shot open just in time to see a flicker of . . . of something in her eyes. Feeling his stiffness, she frowned. Quickly, he shut his eyes and forced himself to relax; however, sleep was the last thing on his mind. He kept himself quietly alert, while allowing his words to slur.

"You're right," he mumbled, "who needs Ven? He just causes trouble."

"Exactly," Aqua said, and he could hear a note of satisfaction in her voice.

A part of him curled up and died. So, this was why she was acting so strange, because all this time . . . The Wayfinder pulled at his heart again, and this time, he understood exactly what it was trying to tell him. He bit back a sob. It would not do good to show weakness here; he had the advantage, he didn't dare lose it.

"Aqua . . ."

As she leaned over to hear what he had to say, his eyes opened and he struck.

Earthshaker went straight through her chest.

There was silence as they looked at each other. For one, horrible moment, Terra thought he had it all wrong. Then, a black liquid began to stream out of her eyes, even though there was no wound there. Satisfied, he pulled Earthshaker back and watched.

Colour drained from her face, leaving it a ghastly white. The clothes tore in strange places as she stumbled about like a zombie. Despite it all, her scent stayed the same, only now it made him gag.

When it was over, Aqua no longer stood in front of him, but a nurse did. The monster moaned, clutching feebly at her chest, giving Terra what seemed to be an offended glare. He said nothing, shaking. How . . . how dare she? She had imitated his best friend and then, and then what? Tried to seduce him? He remembered with disgust how his face had been in her stringy hair. He dismissed Earthshaker; he wanted to kill this thing, but he wanted to do it personally.

This nurse had no knife and so, was helpless when he advanced. Locking his hands around her neck, he wrestled her to the floor and held her there. Nails scratched at his hand, drawing blood in their efforts. He gritted his teeth and ignored the string, instead indulging his seemingly bottomless desire for vengeance. It wasn't enough for these things to stab him with knives and stalk him through the prison, they had to grant him a moment of hope and then crush that, too! He squeezed harder; no death, no matter how painful and horrific, would ever do justice.

"Die," he hissed, eyes flashing yellow.

The nurse struggled until death. Breathing heavily, he stood up and stared at it, still seeing Aqua's reflection on its face. With an enraged howl, he stomped on its chest, grinning as he heard bone crack underneath. He was going to make sure that it never got up again.

He looked up, and saw Master Eraqus looking at him. There was something off about him, something that he only noticed now. As if acknowledging Terra's brand-new awareness, Eraqus bowed his head. Flakes of his body dropped off, similar to how the dark world appeared when the sirens wailed. Master Keeper thickened, spouting rust along its blade; Slowly, Eraqus broke apart, and then it was no longer him, just a cloud of black flakes that faded into the air.

Terra laughed wildly. He broke out of his fit to snarl, "You're missing someone! Come on!" He paced in a circle, screaming into the air. "Don't you want the whole set?"

By one of the dragon's claws, the shadows deepened. Then something that looked like Ven stepped out. Terra scoffed; now, it wasn't even trying. This imposter had darkness around the edges, and its eyes weren't completely blue. Sneering, Terra advanced on the thing that was not Ven, itching to vent.

It took off.

"Get back here!" Terra bellowed. Without a thought, he chased the imposter.

It didn't matter to him where the imposter went, only that it would be destroyed at his hands. So, he chased it, forcing his tired legs to keep going. The imposter dove around corners and winded through hallways, but he didn't lose it. In those moments, Terra wouldn't have recognized himself. His mouth seemed to be permanently curled in a snarl, and the lines on his face made him look older and gaunt. His blue eyes were as dark as the ocean depths, occasionally giving way to an orange-yellow. Earthshaker had changed to match him, with its shaft dimming into a dark grey. He didn't even bother to try to control the darkness trailing him.

He burst through a pair of doors, and a snow-filled gust smacked him square in the face. There wasn't even time to celebrate that he was finally out of the prison, for the imposter flashed into his vision again, and rage was the only emotion he felt. He stomped towards it, lashing out at another fake Aqua along the way and painting the snow with a spray of blood. The Ven-imposter cocked its head, observing him curiously, only turning tail when Terra rushed at it.

Snow clung to his shoes, building up as if it was trying to hold him back. It irritated him how it slowed him down and in a stroke of genius that Aqua – the real Aqua – would have been proud of, he melted the snow in front of him with a spell. Ha, and people said you couldn't think when you were angry!

He cornered the imposter in an alleyway. Like a real person, the imposter glanced all around, even upwards in an effort to find an escape route. Terra smirked as the thing realized it was trapped, and it backed up against the wall, shivering in faked fear.

"If you were really Ven," Terra said softly, stroking Earthshaker's shaft, "then you would have outran me a long time ago."

The imposter's chin snapped up. The shivering stopped. The imposter's expression seemed to harden, as if it had realized just how badly it had messed up and was trying to reclaim some dignity. Terra wouldn't have it; this thing didn't deserve dignity. It didn't deserve to exist.

The imposter didn't budge as Terra got closer. Another man might have been impressed at its bravery, but Terra wasn't; this thing wasn't real, it couldn't feel fear. That was all. There was no other great secret. Holding his keyblade steady, he aimed it right at the imposter's neck, planning to kill it in one strike.

Earthshaker slammed into the wall, passing right through the imposter.

The imposter stared at him, not at all injured. Like a ghost, the keyblade had passed straight through, leaving Terra with nothing but the bitter taste of disappointment. The imposter watched Terra as he stepped back, then, with a shrug, it faded into thin air.

Well, at least he was out of the jail. He ran a hand through his hair and down his neck, pausing when he noticed that another bloody trail was following him. Terra stared at it for a second, and then sighed. Rolling his eyes, he hoisted Earthshaker up to his shoulder and –

Blood dripped onto his clothes.

His heart stopped. With trembling hands, he lowered his keyblade so that he could see it, and his eyes widened in terror.

His keyblade was covered in fresh blood.

Monsters didn't bleed. He knew that.

Frantically, he rewinded recent events. He'd fought nurses whose clothes were stained in blood, but didn't bleed themselves. He didn't think a few bloody garments would translate to the amount on his keyblade. He'd fought Master Eraqus, but that turned out to be a fraud; so had the Aqua in the prison. He hadn't been able to even hurt the Ven imposter, so . . .

A fuzzy memory revealed itself, one that happened so fast, he barely even registered it.

He stomped towards the imposter, lashing out at another fake Aqua along the way and painting the snow with a spray of blood.

Kingdom Hearts, that had been no fake.

It had been the real thing.

What had he done?

"Aqua!" he screamed. "Aqua!"

He ran back towards the prison, heart beating so fast that it hurt. But as the fog began to close in, he knew he wouldn't find her.

Silent Hill wouldn't let him.

So, to clarify a bit of what was going on last chapter, Aqua's hearing a weird voice, but she's not crazy. As it was previously stated, her heart's very weak, and that's allowed . . . other forces to gain a foothold there.

Let's just say she isn't alone in her mind right now.