Chapter One

Chapter I

"So this is how it ends. Trapped. Like prey. Figures."

      "Valora!"  I heard the agonized scream come from the Marketplace. "Help me!"

      Eyes widening from recognition of the screamer's voice, I furrow my brow and turn towards the Marketplace. "Could it be?" I breathe, frowning, "Garrick?" Instantaneously I dart forward, picking my way through a crowd of panicking people. "Garrick!" I cry, my heartbeat quickening. Thump, thump, thump.. I can hear it, roaring in my ears. Thump, thump, thump... It becomes more urgent, more intense. "Garrick, where are you?!" I howl, eyes scanning the area.

      And that's when I see them. Too many to count. Nobodies. And my best friend. Garrick. On the ground, pinned down by a man in a black hood. "You know what I want, kid." I hear the man say, silken voice hushed. He must've heard me approaching, because he turns to me, and makes a satisfiedhmph. "Well, well, well. Valora, is it?"

      I nod, making a hasty stop. I cautiously slink forward, squinting, trying to make out the man's shadowy face under his hood. I pause. "Who are you? Let Garrick go. Now." I blink, and swallow the dry lump in my throat. "Now!"  I repeat.

     "It's not polite to dodge questions, Valora," the man croons. He releases Garrick and says, "You know why I'm here, don't you?"  He pulls back his hood and it falls to his shoulders. I gasp.

      "I've seen you before," I moan, "You're the flurry of dancing flames. You started those fires that killed her," I fall to my knees, forgetting about Garrick. I whisper her name, almost inaudible."Vivienne." My hands tremble. My formerly strong and assuring voice quakes with terror. "Your name," I murmur, "is Axel. Number eight. You're here to take me. Like you took her."

      His fiery hair tousles in the chilling breeze. His brilliant green eyes narrow, giving away that he's pleased. He surges forward and crouches directly in front of me. He takes my chin in a gloved hand and whispers eerily, "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."

      Them. Who? A spray of crystalline tears gushes from my eyes, and I stare at him, helpless. "I'm not a bearer of the Keyblade. What do you want from me?" I wheeze. But I already know.

      "Dear girl, we picked you to be our next member. Or, in reality, who you will be." This is enough to drive me over the edge.

      I let out a mortified wail and force myself to my feet, slapping Axel's hand away.  "Get away!" I shriek, heartbeat speeding up again. This time it's rapid. Like it's about to burst out of my chest.Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump... I rest my frantic gaze on Garrick, who lay unconscious on the ground, still surrounded by Nobodies. I can't do this, I think, I can't fight them. I can't save him.. not unless.. I don't save myself. It's useless. I give up.

      "Goodbye," I barely manage to croak. I turn my attention towards Axel, who is rubbing the hand that I slapped. "I can't fight you. I know that. I'll go with you," I moan, "take me to them. The heartless. Let them get me. I'll become who you want me to be. Just leave Garrick be." I step towards Axel, who signals to the Nobodies. They have me surrounded almost instantly.

      He's smiling smugly. "Clever girl," he says. And then I'm knocked out cold, and darkness is all that I can see.