Heartless

Chapter 17

I was running down a dark alley-way, my bare feet smacking against the cement with a loud whfikwhfik whfik. I winced in pain as sharp rocks and pebbles dug into the bottoms of my feet, but I didn't have time to deal with the minor injuries. I had to get to him, fast. I had to get there before they did. They would kill him, I know it.

"AXEL!!! AXEL!? Please, answer me! Are you here?" I yelled, flying down the dark path as fast as I could, cradling his chakrams against my chest. I burst through the darkness and out into a bright path just long enough to hurl myself into another black pathway. He had to be close. He hadto be. He can't be dead, because if he were, I would never be able to move on. "Axel!" I shouted, seeing a tall figure standing in the emptiness of the tunnel. I knew it was him and placed my hand on his shoulder, handing his chakrams to him.

I turned, willing my keyblade to materialize in my grasp, and sliced towards the unseen heartless the Organization used as their guard-dogs. I sliced and beat them, again and again, using the anger and hurt I had built up inside me to focus my adrenaline. I thought of all the things the Organization had put us through. They had sent us to do their work, be their slaves, and then they turned on us to have us killed? Tears welled up in my eyes as I thought of how they had separated Axel and I, trying to kill us.

I fell to my knees on the hard cement, tears spilling out of my eyes, just as Axel and I killed the remaining heartless. I squeezed my eyes shut, knowing how stupid it probably looked to Axel. He sat in front of me, pulling me up onto his lap so our bodies were pressed against each other. "Shhh, we're okay now. What's wrong, Rox?" he whispered in a comforting tone, his arms feeling like home around me. "I-i thought you were going to... die..." I said, finishing in a whisper. I clutched him as close to me as I could, breathing in his scent. He cradled my face in his hand, stroking my cheek with his thumb carefully, holding my face only inches from his.  "Rox, I'm just fine. I was only worried for you're safety. You should have ran like I told you to. I didn't care if they killed me, as long as you were safe. But we're both just fine now." He said softly. I looked up into his enticing green eyes and nodded, letting my worries go.

His hand slipped slowly to the back of my neck, pressing our foreheads together. I looked deeply into his eyes, silently thanking whatever thing out there who had power over life for Axel's safety. "I love you." Axel whispered rubbing the small of my back with his free hand. "I love you too, Axel." I said back, closing my eyes. He pulled my face closer to his, our lips barely touching. Then he pressed his lips down against mine, moving his passionately. I was so, so grateful for him. He meant the world to me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Heartless~

My eyes fluttered open, the dim morning light drifting in through the windows of the hotel room. A quiet "Axel," escaped my lips as I slowly sat up, yesterday's events flooding through my mind. "no, no, no!" I said, jumping up to get ready as fast as I could. I had to get Axel back.

I threw on the first outfit I found as quickly as possible, running out the door and down the stairs, in too much of a rush to wait for the elevator. I ran out of the doors and out onto the sandy road near the beach. If I were Axel, where would I go?

 I walked through the streets, searching for Saxion's house. I hoped with all my heart he hadn't gone there, but I had to check. I walked up her front steps and knocked lightly on the door, half-hoping she hadn't heard them so I could leave. Then, the door opened slowly, Saxion peering around the edge of it.

"Hello?" she said, opening it the rest of the way and stepping out slightly. "Uhm, Hi. I... I was wondering if Axel were here. Is he?" I asked in a shy, downcast voice. "No, he's not here. Why?" she asked, actually keeping her polite persona with me. "Well," I sighed, thinking out how to explain it. "Well, we got into a disagreement and he hasn't come back to our hotel room. I was trying to find him, so-" I said, cutting off my words. "Well, He did come by here, but he didn't even knock. I saw him through my window and I was going to open the door, but when I did he was walking away." she said, looking down as if wondering what was wrong with Axel. "Where did he walk off to?" I asked, hoping he had left some hint or clue. "I don't know. But he was walking in the direction of the wall." she pointed out, gesturing to the road that lead to the wall.

"Thanks." I said, turning to leave. "Don't think I'm doing this for you. I did it purely for Axel's safety." she said, dropping her kind presence. "I don't care. As long as I can get Axel back, it doesn't matter if you like me or not." I said, walking away from her.

I ran through town, trying to get to Axel as fast as I could. I finally reached the wall, sprinting through the crack, into the forest. I ran deeper, coming to the abandoned manchion's wrought iron gates, covered in rust and lichen. I looked up at the windows in desperation, looking for a sign of life. Among the window, one was lit slightly from inside, the white curtains flowing lightly.

I forced open the gate, closing it behind me, and ran through the front doors of the manshion. I raced up the stairs, throwing myself through the doors to the room I hoped Axel was in. I saw him there, leaning his head against the window with his back turned to me.