Sorrow's Promise

Chapter 43

Springlock2:  Glad you're hyped!  We're getting closer and closer!

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Kairi and I conversed less and less as time wore on. She still talked to me a good bit, continuing to tell me stories, even if it was sometimes the same ones over again. I greatly appreciated her effort, but I rarely had the energy anymore to reciprocate. I was so, so tired. I spent most of my time just lying on the floor, close to the bars so that I wouldn't have far to crawl to be able to toss Kairi my food when it came.

One day I was lying there, taking tiny little bites of some stale bread, when a corridor began to appear underneath me once again. "No," I groaned, pushing myself up to a sitting position. I had already been out with Saix the day before, so I was hoping that today would be a day off. "Why can't you just leave me alone?"

"It'll be alright," Kairi assured me. I had almost forgotten about her for a moment in my frustration. "Just keep hanging in there. Sora will be here soon, I know it."

Part of me wanted to shout at her that he was never coming, that we were going to be trapped here forever, but I clamped my mouth shut and just shook my head as the cell faded away and was replaced by the bright white walls of the laboratory. Saix was glaring down at me, as usual. I wondered if he was going to be in another teaching-me-my-place mood, like he had been the day before. It was always impossible to tell just based on his stoic facade.

"Stand up," Saix ordered. That wasn't a good sign. Usually he would just toss the mirror down to the floor and let me open the portal from where I was sitting. Grimacing, I pulled my legs up underneath me, then pushed myself slowly and painstakingly to my feet. I wobbled unsteadily for a moment, but managed to remain standing.

"There are intruders approaching the castle."

I caught my breath in surprise. Could it possibly be Sora? Had he actually found us, after all this time?

Saix's eyes narrowed. "Don't get any ideas. There will be no heroic rescues happening today. There are more of us here than there are of them. The only excitement that will be taking place today will be the demise of the Keyblade bearer and his friends."

I swallowed, torn between excitement and worry. It was really true, Sora was coming. I had all but given up hope that he would ever find us. But I really had no idea how many Organization members were still around, and what their powers might be. Sora, Donald, and Goofy could be in grave danger coming here. Especially since the Organization was obviously aware of their movements ahead of time, which mean they could be walking right into a trap. But this was Sora, and he always found a way...right?

"Also, if you recall, you are still mine to control," Saix reminded me with a cruel smirk. "Which means that you will be our first defense against the intruders."

My eyebrows flew up in shock. He wanted me to fight against my friends? I choked out a laugh. "You must be joking. Look at me! If you haven't noticed, I can barely stand up straight. You expect me to fight...and win? Against Sora?" I shook my head. "Even if you could convince me to do such a thing, you haven't treated me well enough to make that be a remote possibility."

"Perhaps if you had kept more of your food for yourself, you would feel a bit stronger," Saix answered irritably.

Of course they had been watching us. "Oh, sure, it's all my fault for being nice," I retorted. "It has nothing to do with my inability to eat because of what you've been doing to me." I stopped to catch my breath, even that small outburst exhausting me.

"Well then, here, allow me to help," Saix replied. I flinched as he reached out his hand, expecting some kind of pain to be inflicted, but he merely placed his fingertips on my sternum. Some kind of cool energy surged through my body, making me feel lightheaded to start with but leaving me with somewhat more strength afterwards.