Chapter Four

 

Chapter IV

"If I have no heart.. then why do I feel so compelled to find him...?"

 

      Brushing a few stray strands of my cobalt blue hair out of my face, I frown. "Axel," I murmur, eyes locked on the red-haired green-eyed man. I lift a hand and brush it against his pale face. "Have we.. met before?"

 

     Axel's eyes widen, and light with mock-emotion. Joy? "Yeah," he replies, "we have. When you had a heart." He offers me a lopsided smile. "What did you remember?"

 

    "You told me to relax. Asked why I didn't fight you," I whisper, "Did something happen?" I drop my gentle gaze and suppress a sigh. "I said that fighting you was useless. That you had flames at your fingertips. That... I wanted to find someone."

 

     He blinks away the false emotion and thinks for a moment. "It was nearly a month ago, Xaroval," he says. "We were on our way here. To the World that Never Was. And we said those words. They were some of the last things we ever said to each other before... before you happened." 

 

     "Before I became a Nobody," I sigh. That's why I feel a bond with him. Because he was there, as my friend, before I became this. I narrow my eyes and focus on the rocking motion of Axel walking. I remember this. He's carried me before. 

 

       I look forward, in front of Axel. "Where are we going?" I ask. We're approaching a large white door. It bears the same symbol which was painted on the wall of the room that I woke up in.

 

       "You're going to meet the rest of the Organization," Saix finally says, "Put her down. She needs to walk in on her own." He stops in front of the door and turns to Axel and I.

 

       "Alright, alright," Axel sighs. He sets me on my feet and steadies me, with his hands on my shoulders. "Think you can walk, princess?" 

 

    My vision blurs and I hear another voice. Axel's. Again.

 

     It's not quite that simple, princess. I could just kill you. But the boss wants to see you. Alive. Just give in, and I'll make sure it's quick and painless. Being exposed to them.

 

     It's gone as quickly as it surfaced. I start to fall to the ground, but Axel stops me. "Another memory?" he asks, concerned.

 

     "You. Again." I gasp, feeling something deep in my chest, where my heart should be. Mock-terror? "It's not quite that simple, princess. I could just kill you. But the boss wants to see you," I choke on the words. "Alive. Just... give in.. and I'll make sure it's quick... and painless. Being exposed to them." I repeat his exact words and stare at him. "You threatened to kill me."

 

      Axel stares back at me, appalled. "Out of all things, why did you have to remember that?" He frowns and takes his hands off of my shoulders. "I didn't mean it. It was just to intimidate you," he mumbles. "please don't think I'm a bad guy." 

 

      I shake my head and turn my attention to Saix. "I'm ready."

 

      Saix nods, pulls my hood over my head, and turns, opening the door. He motions for me to walk into the room. 

 

      I enter. The white light is blinding. My eyelids flutter as I make an attempt to adjust. 

 

      I see eleven people. Dressed in cloaks like mine. They're each sitting in thrones that rise high in the air. 

 

      The Organization.