Chapter Three

Chapter III

"An old story is about to be told by a new point of view."

      "Who's that?"

      "Our newest member. Number XIV."

      "I thought we weren't going to make another member. After what happened to Xion."

       Silence.

       "It wasn't up to us, Roxas. She's taking Xion's place. Just face it."

       "Axel, I--"

       "Stay here. I'm going to go find Saix. I need to know a few things."

      Then I hear footsteps. They're rapid. They remind me of something. They grow fainter and fainter, whispering away like a ghost in the night. Like a heartbeat. A weak one. Like someone who's dying.

       My eyelids flutter open and I see a boy, possibly my age. Spikey blond hair. Baby blue eyes. Clothed in a black coat. He scowls at me and lets out a frustrated huff. "I didn't think I'd be the one you'd wake to," he spits, looking displeased. 

       Groaning, I sit up. I'm in a room. Everything is a pale shade of gray. It looks quite simple. I notice a strange symbol painted on the wall. My soft gaze then wanders over to the boy's face. "You," I murmur quietly, "I know you."

      His eyes widen, meeting my gaze. He kneels beside the bed that I'm sitting on. "How," he asks wildly, "could you possibly know me? You're a Nobody. You have no one. You've never even met me!" His voice injects a venom that only hatred could harness. 

      Lowering my gaze, I whisper, "I don't know." I rest my head in my gloved hands and let out a moan. "Who am I? What am I doing here?" I frown and look back up at the boy. "Your name," I say, "tell me."

      "Roxas. Number XIII."  He drops his gaze and his voice softens. "You're.. I can't tell you. You'll have to figure that out on your own." He stands up and turns away. "See you around, XIV." He walks out of the room quietly, into the hallway. He's gone for now.

      Xaroval. 

       It hits me with the force of lightning. My name. Xaroval. But it feels so wrong. I squint my eyes and pull my knees to my chest, and wrap my arms around them. I rest my head on my kneecaps. "Xaroval," I murmur, testing how it feels on my tongue. "Xaroval. Number XIV." I close my eyes and release a heavy sigh.

      Why does my name feel so... incorrect? I know it's mine. I know it. But why doesn't it feel right? It sounds so.. empty. Like it means nothing. How does someone have a name that serves no purpose? Speaking of purpose.. what is mine, in this world? It feels as if I were just born from the womb. I feel like an infant. New. Why do I have no memory of what has happened before now?

     I sit there, motionless, for what seems like several hours. Then I hear the footsteps again. There are two pairs. Steady. Growing louder and louder. Closer..closer.....closer. 

     Then they are in my presence. 

     "You're awake," says a familiar silken voice. It's the one from before. The one who was with Roxas. I think Roxas called him Axel.

      I raise my head and open my eyes. They are two men. One has long, spikey, fiery red hair. Gentle bright green eyes. Wearing a black coat like Roxas's. The other.. he's got long blue hair. Piercing golden eyes. An X-shaped scar marks the center of his face. He's also wearing a black coat, identical to Roxas's. 

      I frown. "Names and numbers," I breathe. My eyes widen as I stare at the newcomers, who look at me with high interest. 

      "Saix. Number VII," the scarred man answers with a strong, masculine voice. 

      "You don't remember me, huh," Axel mumbles. His gaze seems to melt a bit. "Axel. Number VIII." 

      "Xaroval. Number XIV." I murmur. I look Axel in the eye coldly. "How am I supposed to remember you, when I have no memories?"

      They seem to ignore my question. Instead of answering, Saix just says, "You know your name. Good. Come," he turns and motions for me to follow.

      I slide off of the bed and try to stand. But I just wobble, and then fall. Great first impression,Xaroval. It will definitely get you nowhere. I land hard on the floor with a thud. Sighing, I force myself to my feet once more. Again, I wobble and fall. But instead of landing painfully on the floor, I land in someone's arms. Axel's.

      "Careful," he says softly. "You've been out cold for a week. It's no wonder you can't walk. Just let me carry you." He raises himself and walks to Saix. "This okay with you?"

       Saix nods. "Perfectly fine." He proceeds to walk out of the room. Axel follows.

       I close my eyes again and hear something. Voices. In my head. How peculiar.

      We'll be home soon. Just relax. Why didn't you fight me? I've seen what you can do.... Why just give up?  I trust you enough not to run away like an idiot. Walk beside me.

       It was useless to fight you. You have flames at your fingertips. I wanted to save Garrick.

      I know whose voices those are.

      Axel's. And mine.