Sorrow's Promise

Chapter 45

I woke up lying on a cold metal table, staring up at the stark white ceiling of the laboratory. The entire inside of my body felt like it had been set on fire and was still smoldering. That last shock...I cringed now just thinking about it. Either I had forgotten how bad a Level Four really was, or he had finally taken it up to the oft-threatened Level Five. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Saix with his back turned to me, and wondered how long I could get away with pretending to still be unconscious.

"You failed at your task."

Apparently, the answer was not very long. I flicked my eyes upwards in exasperation. "I told you I couldn't do it," I muttered tersely. "Whatever that darkness was that you gave me may have helped, but not enough that I could beat Riku in a fight." I tried to move my body slightly and let out a quiet involuntary groan.

Saix turned his head to glance at me and noticed that I was examining what looked like a fresh set of cuts running down my left forearm. "Your screams attracted a few Dusks in the In Between," he explained dryly. "You're lucky I got to you when I did."

Dropping the arm back to the table, I coughed out a painful laugh. The scratches barely even hurt compared to the rest of me. "Yeah, I feel really lucky. Why didn't you just let them finish me off?"

Walking over to the table, Saix stared down at me with his usual emotionless expression. His closeness was unnerving, especially as helpless as I felt at the moment, and I turned my head away with a catch in my throat. "You still have work to do," he remarked. "Not only are there still intruders in the castle, but the Superior would never hear of me letting his portal-maker be harmed."

I clenched my teeth, hating how he spoke as if I belonged to Xemnas. Like I was some kind of slave, or inanimate object. I chose to focus on the first part of his statement, instead. "Are you seriously implying that you're going to send me back out there? You saw how that went last time, right?"

"I did, indeed. But I have faith that you'll find a way to make it work." He placed his fingertips on my chest again, and I gasped as the darkness shot through me. It did nothing for the pain, but it did at least leave me feeling tentatively stronger as Saix grasped my arm and pulled me upright.

"And what if I don't?" I pressed, shaking off his loathsome touch. "What if I can't beat them? Then what?"

Quirking one eyebrow up, Saix pressed his lips together with some sort of amusement. "Ironically, I never actually said that you had to beat them. I only said that you were the first line of defense. We all have our roles to play today, and yours is to keep the intruders occupied and begin to wear them down. However..." His eyes narrowed to make him look even more frightening than usual. "Let's put it this way. If you do not beat them this time, then I will be forced to step in and take care of them myself. And you, my dear Meli, will be by my side, and will watch them fall, one by one."

My heart dropped into my stomach. I couldn't let my friends die. I had great confidence in their skills, in their ability to defend themselves, but this man was pure evil. If anyone could harm them, it would be him.

Saix waved his hand and I felt myself fading away, the walls of the laboratory being replaced by those of an unfamiliar hallway. From beyond the doorway to my left, I could hear quiet voices talking among themselves. Pressing myself against the wall, I took in deep gulps of air to try to steady my emotions, then crept closer and peered around the corner, keeping to the shadows so I wouldn't be seen.

Nearby, Donald and Goofy were standing side by side with their backs to me. On the other side of the room were Riku, Sora, and Kairi, clustered together, the trio reunited at last. I leaned in slightly, one arm wrapped around my stomach as if that could somehow ease the burning, trying to hear what Riku was saying to them.