Fabricated Affections {RepliRikuXVanitas/KH FanFiction}

Chapter 12: The Nightmare

Vanitas was laying with back against the bed and eyes staring at the ceiling. The bedroom was small, enough room to fit two twin sized beds with a nightstand in-between, a trunk at the foot of each bed for storage. Vanitas could hear the rhythmic breathing of Riku from the bed nearby as he slept without a care in the world. Vanitas wanted to be able to sleep as well, but couldn't find himself doing so. He attempted to keep steady breaths, but that deafening silence that lingered in the room caused him to only hear the ringing in his ears. He couldn't move, he couldn't focus, all he could do was lay there and stare at the opposite end of the room towards the shadows.

The shadows whisped and danced in his eyes as if it was smoke. Vanitas knew he must have been delirious from his anxiety and seeing things that weren't there. He could never admit it to Riku, but he was nervous; scared even. Xehanort could find them at any moment, and if he did it was likely a death sentence... And if he didn't kill them, then they'd be suffering instead. Xehanort needed his vessels after all and would ensure the traitors anguish as he continued his plot. Vanitas wanted to desperately move, even if it was just to turn over but he felt like he was frozen in place. He wanted to tear his gaze from the shadows but his eyes were so fixated he couldn't look away.

They danced, they twirled and they moved about as if strands of shadow were creating a performance. Vanitas ogled idly without being able to move an inch of himself and he felt sweat form on his brow. Vanitas finally came to the realization of his situation, and it wasn't as simple as not being able to sleep.

He was asleep before, but was just waking up. His inability to move and seeing the darkness dance was enough proof for his understanding; he was experiencing sleep paralysis. This was simply one of many experiences he's faced, but he recalled every time it occured the moment was terrifying all the same. Hallucinations, terrifying images, and movement created in his head. He was so self aware and yet he still couldn't stop it. His breathing became heavy and ragged as he did everything he could to try and move even if it was a twitch.

But no, nothing he could do would prevent those shadows from forming a familiar shape; a familiar and unwanted shape. Vanitas stifled a gasp as the darkness swirled into a shadow version of the worst nightmare being Xehanort. This sleep paralysis version of the terror gained no features except for those eyes... Those piercing blazing yellow eyes that stared into Vanitas' heart. As the shadow took a single step towards him, Vanitas felt his breath being taken away. He choked a gasp, only a gurgle like sound coming from his throat.

He was well aware it was just a dream, it was just a hallucination. It couldn't hurt him, it wasn't real.

But Xehanort...

The shadow continued to step forward, each step pounding in Vanitas' ear like a drum. He felt sheer panic rise as he was too weak to fight against it and too weak to look away. Vanitas was sweating profusely, the liquid dripping from his face.

"Mmmm... Vanitas?"

A familiar voice gathered Vanitas' attention and his eyes darted towards the voice. Riku was stirring awake, completely oblivious to what Vanitas was experiencing. However he couldn't communicate to him and instead his wretched breathing filled the silence of the room.

When Vanitas turned his attention back to the shadow he noticed it had vanished. Gulping down a lump he looked upwards towards the ceiling and to his dismay Xehanorts Shadow was right above him. It was latching onto the ceiling just until Vanitas stared, and suddenly it loosened its grip and plummeted down to him.

Vanitas screamed and was finally able to move. He thrashed and kicked and sat up in a rush, feeling the choking of the shadow still grabbing him and touching him. Another shadow appeared, but this time a warmth engulfed him from the side as a pair of arms embraced him harshly. Vanitas fought violently as his screaming continued, unsure of what was grasping him and why it was warm.