Chapter Eight

Chapter VIII

"I guess that it's true that friendship is a gift not to be taken for granted."

               I stare at the ceiling. "Axel," I mutter, "I don't want Roxas to think of me this way. I don't want to be the enemy. After all, we are allies. It's outrageous that he'd think of me like this. Who would shoot their own comerade at war?" I glance at him questioningly. "It's just wrong on so many levels."

               Axel sniffs. "He's a complex guy," he replies.

               "Don't you agree with me?" I ask. Frowning, I painfully scoot forward a bit, slinging my legs over the edge of the bed. "I'm not a bad person."

               "You know you're not a person," Axel sighs, "You left that life behind a long time ago."  he gets up and moves to stand directly in front of me. Blinking thoughtfully, he adds, "but I know you aren't bad. You're still exactly the same as I remember you." 

                I narrow my eyes and frown frustratedly. "Who was I before I became a Nobody?" I look up at him imploringly.

                Axel makes a somewhat pained expression and lowers his handsome gaze. "I can't tell you. You have to figure it out on your own. It's somewhat of a tradition for members of the Organization to figure out who they truly are on their own."

                I sigh and close my eyes. Honestly, how am I going to learn anything about myself? It's absolutely--

                "Xaroval," he interrupts, "I can tell you one thing, though. Something that I know for sure that will help you remember."

                "What is it, Axel?"

                "Once you're healed, I'll take you back to your hometown," he continues, "We can see the sights together, maybe sit on the clock tower and......."

               I stop listening.  

              "Surely you know why you're here, dear girl. You've got a lot to learn if you're going to join us."

              "Join who?"

               I hear a deep, rumbling laugh. "You're special, girl. Very special indeed. One-of-a-kind."

              "What are you talking about? Hey, wh-what are you doing?! Stop! Stop! Don't touch me!" 

              A piercing, bloodcurdling scream is all I can now hear. 

              I lurch forward and gasp, feeling an intense pain deep in my temples. I cry out in agony and tightly grip my skull in my hands; the force that this memory has hit me with is utterly horrifying. "No! Stop it!" I wail. I slip off of my bed, hitting the floor with a thud. I tear at my hair, bawling feebly. "Help me!"

            The scream subsides and I can hear Axel again.

            "Xaroval! Xaroval, are...."

            And then the darkness returns.