Chapter 11
A couple of days have passed and still there was no sign of Namine. Sora didn't give up. He would often walk on his own in school grounds, looking for anything that could suggest a hidden room. Oblivion was a massive place. It was easy to be lost in it. He wouldn't be surprised if he found Namine wandering the halls because she got lost herself. That would have been a funny situation.
Also, as the days were passing, Sora was having different nightmares all around. Same scenarios, and different stories. It took a while, but he was able to dream a few new faces. Bugs Bunny was in a nightmare, playing basketball with his friends. Only this basketball game was intense. Their lives were at stake.
In another nightmare, he saw a young wolf named Balto, fighting against a fierce dog named Steele, who was refusing to give him the medicine to save the sick children of Nome Alaska. He dreamed of a kitten named Oliver and his friend Dodger, two creatures Sora never met in person. Then he had a nightmare where he was lost in a castle. Strangely enough, this castle was called Castle Oblivion. Sora realized that was why Oblivion's name was so familiar to him.
Sora didn't allow the nightmares take his mind off things. He continued on and eventually, one day, he stumbled upon a door that led him downstairs. Not where the janitors were, but much lower than where Mickey and his friends worked. Sora went in and walked down a long stairway leading to much lower levels. It was much deeper than he's ever been to.
As he walked he eventually found himself in a hallway. Sora looked around. The hallway was dimly lit and judging by the place, it seemed no one has walked in those halls in ages! That is until he heard foot steps. Sora quickly hid behind some barrels that were in a corner with other materials. School supplies that were in boxes, yet to be opened. He hunched down and heard squeaky feet.
Sure enough, Sora recognized the sound. It was those cursed Tweedles, walking in the hallway.
"Did you hear something?" asked one of the twins.
"No. There can't be anyone else here. The door leading to this place is supposed to be a broom closet in disguise. Only an idiot would open the door out of curiosity." said one of them.
Sora clenched his teeth angrily. "I'm not an idiot. I just opened the door because… forget it." thought Sora to himself.
"Besides, the door is locked. Or I think it's supposed to be locked." said one of the tweedles. They both shrugged and they simply walked away. Sora got out of his hiding spot and followed them.
Eventually, he found a hallway full of different doors. Each of them was multicolored with very dark colors. Dark green, dark blue and dark red for example. Sora thought this was perfect! He found not only a secret hallway, but perhaps he'll find something here that can help him and the cause!
Sora however had to be cautious. He couldn't simply open one door. He had to gently overhear to make sure there was nobody. He walked up to a dark green door and slowly opened it. He saw something that made him shiver. Inside was Maleficent, asleep in a bed! It was said that she was a powerful witch who lived in town and was the leader of the so called Overtakers Xehanort founded.
She was sleeping peacefully, but something caught Sora's attention. She didn't look menacing. She did have green skin and red lips, but she looked comfortable where she was. All the more reason to be ultra quiet. Sora gently closed the door and continued walking, until he heard more footsteps. He opened another door without a second thought and walked in. But the damn door made creaking noises and Sora cursed under his breath. He entered and shut the door.
He quickly realized his mistake. He entered a room, with somebody inside! Sitting on a chair, painting on a canvas was a girl. She looked like she was ten. She looked at Sora and her eyes went wide in surprise. She was about to speak, she too heard the noise coming into the hallway.
"Did you hear that!" cried one of the tweedles.
"Yes! I heard one of the doors open!" cried another.
"I'll check it out." said another voice. A voice that didn't belong to the tweedles. The girl looked at Sora and pointed at her wardrobe.
"Hide in there!" she whispered fiercely.
Sora quickly ran to the wardrobe and hid himself. He stood there, waiting until the door opened. He saw a boy walk in. He had brown shaggy hair and he looked at the girl.
"Was that you?" asked the boy.
"It was. I wanted to see you." said the girl.
"Why?" asked the boy.
"Because… just because." said the girl.
"If you wanted to see me, you could have just called me from the hallway, or at least told one of the tweedles." said the boy.
"They wouldn't understand. They would have teased me." said the girl.
"Okay. Well, I'm going back to work. Stay out of trouble." said the boy.
The girl stood up from her chair and opened her arms.
"Aren't you going to hug me goodbye?" she asked sweetly.
"You know I can't." replied the boy.
"Please." said the girl.
"No." said the boy sadly and walked out.
The girl let out a sigh and opened her wardrobe.
"It's safe to step out." she said.
"Thank you. I'm sorry to startle you. Is this a class?" asked Sora.
"No. It's not. It's a prison. Did Xehanort put you in here?" she asked.
"Prison? This is a prison?!" asked Sora.
"Yes. A stupidly hidden one at that. They think just by labeling a door the broom closet, no one would notice. You're proof that trick doesn't work anymore." said the girl.
"Then you must get out! You don't look like you're in chains! You can hide in Oblivion! In fact, you could have easily just stepped outside and escaped!" cried Sora.
"I can't. Xehanort isn't the reason why I'm here. This prison has a barrier that blocks the powers of the One Winged Angel." said the girl.
"The what?" asked Sora.
"The one winged angel. He's a powerful man with a long katana. He's evil and he's after me." said the girl.
"What? That's awful!" said Sora.
"Yeah." replied the girl.
"Is he an agent of Xehanort?" asked Sora. He then realized he said something he shouldn't have and shut his mouth, but it was too late.
"I don't know. But Xehanort is close with him. That's why I'm here with my friend. We are both hiding from him and Xehanort. In fact, Xehanort doesn't know we're here." said the girl.
"What is your name?" asked Sora.
"I'm Marlene Wallace. The boy you saw was Denzel Strife."
"Marlene." said Sora. Her name sounded familiar. He then remembered her. She was in one of Sora's nightmares not too long ago.
"Does the name Cloud ring a bell?" asked Sora.
"You know Cloud?" asked Marlene.
"Yeah. I know who he is, but I never met him in person." said Sora.
"Is he still alive?" asked Marlene.
"What? Oh, I don't know. I haven't met him. You see, I'm here because I'm looking for a friend. It's a long story, but I see Cloud in my dreams. The friend I'm looking for knows why I'm having nightmares. They are like visions." said Sora.
"Like dreamfasting?" asked Marlene.
"Excuse me?" asked Sora.
"I knew a girl named Kira up in Oblivion. She was a Gelfling, and she had the power to see dreams in people." said Marlene.
"Okay…" Sora was saying. He honestly didn't know what Marlene was talking about.
"Anyway, how does your friend look like?" asked Marlene.
"She's blonde and she wears a white dress." said Sora.
"Namine! You're looking for Namine!" cried Marlene.
"You know her?" asked Sora, with hope rising up.
"Yes! I know her! She's in a room not too far from here! I can take you there!" said Marlene.
"Great!" cried Sora cheerfully. He hugged Marlene and he quickly let go.
"I'm so sorry! That was so awkward!" he cried.
"No, I'm glad Namine had a friend looking for her." said Marlene.
"But why didn't she leave this place if she was in a room with no chains?" asked Sora.
"That's because she is chained." said Marlene sadly.
"What?" Sora said.
They both quietly opened the door and no one was around.
"We have to be quiet. There's a scary lady with horns sleeping in the other room." said Marlene.
"Now you tell me." said Sora.
"Follow me." said Marlene. She pulled Sora's hand and they both ran in the dimly lit hallway. They walked down some more stairs, leading to catacomb-like hallways, wet with humidity and a stream nearby with a waterfall.
They at last arrived at a white door with a rose decorated on it and Marlene opened it. They both walked in and Sora gasped aloud.
Namine was in the room. In chains. Her arms were open wide, chained in midair and her feet were also chained. Her once white dress was soiled and filthy with blood, sweat and dirt, and so was her once golden hair. She was also blindfolded, with blood where her eyes should be.
"Poor Namine!" cried Sora in horror.
"Yes. Xehanort kept her here like this. Denzel and I have been feeding her, doing our best to make sure she doesn't die." said Marlene.
"M-Ma-Mar-Marlene?" said Namine weakly, hardly speaking.
"Namine, it's me. And I brought a friend! One who will get you out of here!" cried Marlene cheerfully.
"W-ho?" asked Namine.
"Namine! I'm Sora! I'm a friend! I'll get you out of this horrible place!" cried Sora. He looked at the chains and tried to figure something out.
"Is there anything that can release her chains?" asked Sora.
"The idiot Tweedles have the keys. And the only way to get them is to…" Marlene was saying.
"Here." said a boy's voice. Denzel stood in the doorway and gave Sora the key.
"I heard who you were. Get Namine out of here." said Denzel.
"Denzel! You rockstar you!" cried Namine.
"Then come with me! We can all leave together!" cried Sora.
"But what if Sephiroth is outside?" asked Marlene.
"If he learns we are alive…" said Denzel.
Sora shook his head. "Listen guys. I don't know what is going on, and I don't know who wants to hurt you. But this Sephiroth person you guys are scared of works with Xehanort. I'm actually against him, and much more now seeing Namine like this! You both can hide in my room with my brother! We can keep you guys safe! It's much better than here! You guys want to stick around and deal with Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum? And what about Maleficent? She's here too and for all I know, she could be worse than Xehanort. Then come with me!" said Sora.
"Woah. You have a way with words." said Denzel.
"Listen to him! He's telling the truth!" cried Namine aloud, with much more strength.
"Let's help her out! Quickly!" cried Sora. As Marlene and Denzel helped Namine down, they heard a voice coming from the hallway.
"Fear and death. Fear and death."
"Oh no! What a time for him to show up!" cried Denzel in a whisper.
"Who is it?" asked Sora.
"It's Kefka Pallazo. He's in charge of this place." said Marlene.
"Pallazo? Really? That's Spanish for clown." said Sora, chuckling.
"That's because he is." said Denzel.
"Marlene, Denzel, you must hide. Kefka will hurt you!" said Namine.
"We can't leave you. He'll chain you up again!" cried Marlene.
"I'll deal with him." said Sora.
"What?" asked Denzel.
"I don't know who that guy is, and why he's there, but I'll deal with him." said Sora. He walks outside and sees Kefka himself, walking up to the door. He jumps upon seeing Sora suddenly. He then puts his ghastly white hands together and sticks out his tongue in disgust.
"Who be you, stranger?!" he asked.
"I'm Sora. And you will leave!"