Tainted Eyes

Kingdom Hearts is owned by Square Enix, not myself.
WARNING: Extreme violence, sexual situations, not for the easily upset!!

Tainted Eyes: part VII: Abyss

His fists were clenched so tightly that his fingernails drew blood as they dug into his palms. His heart was pounding so fast he thought it would leave his chest and shatter his whole body in the process. Shallow, desperate breathes erupted from him, as if he were a caged animal.

"Twice..." the sable-haired teen said to himself through clenched teeth.

He was burning with anger and sorrow. His whole body felt so heavy with grief that he feared he wouldn't move again. His hands, now dripping with his own blood, opened again closed again.

"Twice...."

One of his fists cut through the air and pounded against the red wall of his room... his prisonain ain and again his fists hit the wall, until his knuckles were as bloody as his palms. His body slowly slumped to the floor, and he ran his bloody hands through his spiky brown hair, feeling as though he could rip it all out.

"You went for me twice...."

His hands went over his face as he tried to hold back the tears. Bloody handprints now stained his flushed skin.

"I didn't even know what you were doing the first time... or what they were doing to you. And you never planned on telling me!"

The tears found their way and rushed from his eyes, mixing with the bloody handprints he made on his face.

"Why...?" he whispered harshly. "Why didn't you tell me, Riku? You went in my place... and I didn't know. Why didn't I fight harder to stop you?"

Sora curled up on the floor and cried harder. It didn't matter anyway. For whatever reason the other five teens were gone. He feared for all of them, but for Riku it was guilt that he felt. And the feeling cut through him like a jagged knife.

"Damn you, Riku. I said I wouldn't forgive you if you left. But I was lying. I hate myself for letting them take you. You're always playing the damn hero. Damn you.... DAMN YOU...! You didn't have to take my fucking place!!!!"

Sora jumped up in a fit of rage and threw himself at the door that led to the hallway... to freedom. He ran at it again and again, bruising himself all over.

"LET ME OUT!" he cried. He landed a fury of kicks and punches against the door. But it was made of metal. He fell to the floor, soar and tired and losing all hope.

"Run Riku..." he whispered, wishing that Riku would somehow hear him. "Escape. Run as far as you can.... I deserve to be left here after letting you go like that."

~~~~~~~~

Wakka, Selphie, and Tidus found themselves dragged out to a large courtyard. They had asked to go outside, but they weren't expecting a group of large men to rush into the room and use so much force on them. Bags were thrown over their heads so they couldn't see where they were going, but now those bags were lifted, and they found themselves in the cold, stony courtyard, surrounded by creepy vines and trees.

"Well... we're outside," said Tidus, looking around.

"This place is creepy!" Selphie said, looking around cautiously.

"No time for all that," snapped Wakka. "Look around and take the view in so we can figure out how to escape."

"Escape?" came a deep voice.

The three turned to see the tall, lean, leather-clad man. He seemed to appear out of nowhere, as if the shadows carried him here from the castle. His dark eyes pierced through them. They were so empty....

"Y...You're that Livion guy!" cried Selphie.

"Why bother guessing? I can tell you how to escape," Livion smirked darkly.

The teens only stared, not knowing what to expect from him.

"Do you think I jest?" Livion asked, staring into them with his black hole eyes. "The exit is there," he said, pointing to a circular group of trees in the center of the courtyard. "In the center of those trees there is a garden. And in that garden is a crystal door that looks as if it goes no where. It is just a door in the middle of the black rose patch."

Again the three only stared, mainly out of fear. Seeing this, Livion took Selphie by the hand and started to walk her to the garden, like a big brother walking his kid sister. The two boys followed close behind, and Selphie didn't dare pull her hand away for fear that she would be left without an arm if she tried. Livion's hands were like pure ice, freezing her to the bone, but she figured this was nothing compared to the other things he could do. Riku and Sora had told them things here and there about Livion having powers and inhuman strength.

When they reached the garden they heard a muffled sound.

"Don't mind the prisoner," Livion said calmly as he led Selphie and the boys through the trees.

When they entered the black rose garden the teens gasped in shock. The thorny rose vines coiled cruelly around a prisoner, who had a cloth bag over his head so he couldn't see. He was naked from the waist up, tied to one of the smaller trees in a standing position while the vines constricted as if they were alive. Or was Livion controlling them? Blood trickled down the bound boy's torso and seeped into his white kahkis. There was something strangely familiar about the well built body, the height, and even that muffled voice.

"Is... is that... Riku?" Wakka asked, afraid to know the answer.

Livion smirked and released Selphie's hand. He walked over to the prisoner and lifted the cloth bag from his head. Silver hair fell around the pale features and over the sea-green eyes.

"RIKU!" screamed Selphie. "Let him go, Livion! Please!"

Tidus ran over and pulled the gag from Riku's mouth. "Hang in there man!" he whispered.

"Get away from me," Riku demanded, despite the calm look in his eyes when he looked at the blonde. "The vines will get you."

"I don't care!" snapped Tidus.

"As I was saying," Livion said, his deep voice interrupting them all. "Here is the door."

And yes, there was a door in the center of the black rose patch. It was iridescent crystal, and there was nothing connected to it. It was pretty, but it looked like a normal door… only very large.

"Go on through it if you want to escape," Livion said calmly. And before they could look at him as if he were crazy, he pointed to the door, somehow commanding it to open. It flew open, and inside was... nothing. It wasn't dark... there was just nothing.

"But... how is this possible?" Selphie asked, walking around the large door. She found that it was invisible from one side, and she could see the others clearly. But on the other side, it opened to darkness... nothingness.

"This is how I came to your island. Some people, such as myself, have the power to move from world to world with doors like these," Livion said, his smooth, deep voice making them uneasy. "And others, if somehow given the opportunity to enter, would find themselves falling through the endless abyss of darkness forever."

"You mean...." Wakka began.

"That means," Livion said with an eerie smile, "You can't leave. Not ever. Unless you prefer the abyss in which your heart is at risk to be stolen by those created by darkness itself."

"Like you?" Tidus muttered as he still stood next to Riku, shooting a defiant glare at Livion. Riku would have kicked him if his legs were free.

"Why...?" Selphie asked, tears welling up in her eyes. "I want to go home!"

"Then go," came a familiar voice from the shadows.

"Kairi?" Selphie asked, turning to the voice.

"Livion, they aren't much fun to have around," Kairi remarked, not moving from her shady spot beneath one of the trees.

"I see," smirked Livion. "And I must say that I agree with you. I would leave them to rot in their rooms, but that leaves such a smell."

Selphie walked over to Kairi slowly. "Are you okay, Kairi?" she asked soothingly.

"Shut up."

"Huh?"

"I said, SHUT UP! I'm tired of you always asking about me like I'm some child."

"But... Kairi. I'm just worried about y--"

Kairi stood up and punched Selphie square on the cheek. The doll-like Selphie cried out and fell to the ground. Wakka helped her up and backed her away from Kairi, knowing somehow that he didn't have the words to bring their old Kairi back.

"You bitch!" yelled Tidus. But he wasn't moving. Riku realized that Tidus was protecting him by standing between him and Livion.

"Kairi, listen to me," Riku said.

Kairi glared at him and twisted something in her hands. Suddenly the rose vines tightened around Riku again, scratching and shredding his skin. The thorns were hard and sharp, like razorblades. The silver-haired teen groaned in pain, clenching his teeth. Selphie looked up to see the rose vine in Kairi's hands.

"What are you doing?!" yelled Wakka. "You'll kill him!"

"Kai...ri..." gasped Riku. "Whatever... we... we did, we're sorry. But... don't join Livion. He'll... only... hurt you more."

"Oh, poor heroic Riku. Always the strong one. Would you like to see where else n con coil these vines?" she smiled suggestively.

Tidus suddenly grabbed the vines near Riku and tried to break them with his hands.

"No Tidus!!" yelled Riku. "Don't worry about me! Take the others and leave this place!"

Blood from Tidus' hands fell to the ground. "Do you want to have these thorns coiled around your dick?!" Tidus yelled back. "You've always been there for me Riku, and I'm not going to let you suffer!" Tears formed in the blonde boy's eyes as his blood covered his own hands and the vines he was trying to destroy. "You'll be okay, man! You have to be!"

Selphie went to join him, but she felt a strong pair of hands grab her by the waist and throw her. She screamed as Livion threw her to hit the crystal door frame. Wakka grabbed her hand just before she fell through the dark abyss inside the door. But soon they both found themselves in Livion's grasp, being held off the ground by their throats.

"Boring little pests. No sport at all," Livion smirked.

Now Tidus was fully distracted. "I'll be right back Riku!" he said before running at Livion. But before he could reach him he saw a flash of red-hair, and angry blue eyes. He saw the fragile-looking figure come between him and Livion. He saw the two graceful hands and felt their new unnatural strength. And then he saw darkness... and endless abyss of darkness. And as he fell back his eyes met Riku's for an instant, pleading for forgiveness for failing his friends.

"TIDUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Riku yelled as he watched Kairi shove him through the door and into the nothingness inside.

Livioin looked into the pleading eyes of the other two teens in his grasp. "See the fear in their eyes," he whispered. With his inhuman strength he threw Wakka across the garden to hit a mass a thorny vines not far from Riku. Kairi used her new power to wrap a strong vine around Wakka's throat. The teen gasped, and tried to pull the vine away as it punctured and scraped his throat. But all he could manage to do was injure his hands as well.

"You always considered yourself so wise, Wakka," Kairi said, approaching him slowly. "You were always the most spiritual among us. So tell me, where is the God Yevon when you need him most?!"

Wakka attemped to scream as the vine coiled tighter. Riku watched in horror as his Wakka's face started to turn from red to a sickly bluish color.

"Stop this Kairi!!!! Leave Wakka outit! it! He's never done anything to hurt you!" Riku yelled.

Kairi only continued to glare at Wakka, but the vine did loosen a little. The two tortured boys saw that Kairi was distracted by Livion and his current prey.

"Such a pretty little girl you are," Livion said as he smirked at Selphie.

His hand was still around her throat, and she couldn't stop the tears. Tremors of fear ran through her entire body.

"Kairi, why not show Selphie was else you can ith ith the vines?" Livion said before laughing cruelly. He threw Selphie at Kairi's feet so that he boys could get a good view.

"Kairi!" Selphie managed to cry out. "Why? What have I done to ever hurt your feelings? I'm so sorry, Kairi."

"SHUT UP!" Kairi screamed. She rose her hand in the air slowly, commanding a mass of vines to wrap around Selphie's thin wrists and ankles. The thorns cut the girl deeply, and she tried to hold in her cries.

"Kairi, listen!" Riku yelled. "I will take whatever pain or punishment you want for these two. All of it! Just leave them alone."

"So noisy," Livion's deep voice sounded in Riku's ear. He had appeared next to him so quickly that no one saw him move. He roughly grabbed Riku's silver hair and pulled his head back, causing the vines to leave deep gashes around Riku's neck. Livion plunged his tongue deep into the teens mouth.

Kairi continued her assault on Selphie, tightening the grip of the vines. Two new vines, thicker but smoother than the rest, burst from the black rose blushes at Kairi's command. Selphie tried to bare the pain and wriggle free as one of the vines snaked curiously up her leg.

Wakka suddenly pushed Kairi out of the way, nearly strangling himself and adding more holes to his neck as he threw his body over Selphie's, grabbing the snaking vine with his hand. Kairi whirled around and stared at the two with pure rage in her eyes.

"So be it," smirked the redhead as she commanded the two vines again. One shot up Wakka's pant leg, and Selphie burst into tears again as he started to wince in pain. Wakka buried his head against Selphie's shoulder, holding in his cries as the vine probed him and then thrust into him. But he made no attempt to move and expose Selphie to Kairi’s hatred.

Riku watched from the corner of his eye as his friend was raped by the vine, only thankful that it wouldn't be as rough as the men had been on him. Livion was busy running his tongue over the bloody cuts on Riku's throat as he still held the teen's mass of silver hair.

Selphie tried to move from underneath Wakka, and her eyes were focused on Kairi.

"You want to attack me?" teased Kairi. "Me? Your treasured friend?"

"Kairi..." whispered Selphie. "I hate you!!"

Kairi only smiled, and the second smooth vine shot down the fragile brunette's throat. Selphie's eyes widened as her air was cut off.

"Please..." Riku said lowly, directing his voice at Livion who was now licking the blood that had gushed from the cuts on the teen's chest. "I will do anything to see them freed."

Livion's head rose slowly, and he looked at Riku with pure lust in his eyes. He leaned over and whispered into Riku's ear.

"I will free them," his whispered, his cold breathe hitting Riku's skin. "But only so I can take you to the castle and focus all of my attention on fucking you senseless."

Livion stood up straight and walked over to the two teens. Kairi immediately ceased her assult with the vines, and Livion grabbed both of the frightened teens by the arms and forced them to stand. He pulled them to the openr ofr of nothingness.

"No!" Riku yelled.

Livion turned them around to look at Riku. "See the fear!" he yelled at Riku.

Riku looked at Wakka, his eyes pleading for him to run somewhere, somehow. But his heart nearly broke when he saw the look of defeat in Wakka's eyes. Even his fire-colored hair looked diminished as he shook his head slowly, his body broken, and his spirit shattered. And it was the last sensation he would feel, because Livion gave him no time to say goodbye before pushing him through the door.

"Wakka!" Selphie cried. "Wakka!"

"Now listen to me, dear little Selphie," Livion said to the crying girl. "I will spare Riku, if you follow your two fallen friends."

"It's a lie!" Riku yelled immediately, struggling against the vinn van vain. "Don't listen Selphie!"

"If you do not go, I'll hurt him in the worst way possible," Livion continued, his words slowing and flowing smoothly into Selphie's ears. "He is a beautiful boy, isn't he? So beautiful that I want to fuck him until he is limp and lifeless."

Selphie put her face in her hands, not knowing what to do. It was too much for the innocent girl. Her friends were dying and her body was bleeding all over. She sobbed loudly as she backed towards the door.

"NO SELPHIE!" Riku yelled in horror. He didn't know what other options she had, but he wouldn't let her go this way. "I won't be any better off if you do this!"

"Oh, but he will! If you jump, I'll spare him!" Livion laughed.

"IT'S A LIE! STOP SELPHIE!"

"Jump!" Kairi screamed at Selphie.

"Jump to save him Selphie! No time to think! Do you want him to suffer because of you?" Livion continued.

Selphie backed up so her heels were at the edge of the door.

"NO! Selphie, look into my eyes, you have to trust me! I wouldn't lie to you, Selphie! Your mind is clouded because of all that's happened. Don't make any bad decisions! That's just what he wants!"

Selphie stared into Riku's pleading eyes. "Tears..." she whispered, her voice distant. "Riku... you're... crying. I've never... never seen you... never seen...."

"We all have tears, Selphie," Riku said, trying to soothe her. "You’re my friend. I don't want to see you hurt."

"Riku... they made... you cry...." Selphie said softly. "I don't want you to cry anymore!!!!"

Terror fell over Riku's face as Selphie blew him a gentle, innocent kiss before taking her last step through the door.

"SELPHIE!!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Dark laughter erupted from Livion's throat, littered with Kairi's girlish giggling.

Riku shut his eyes, remembering the screams of his friends as they grew distant. So much bravery... and so much fear.

"That was most enjoyable, my dear," he said to Kairi. "It will be a slow, lonely, painful death as their hearts are eaten away."

"NOOOO!!!!!" yelled Riku as he struggled under the thorns.

Suddenly his body erupted with light. Kairi and Livion shielded their eyes to block the pure golden light that streamed from his body. It looked as though some of the light was forming streams and ribbons of golden incantations and forgotten languages. Some of those streams flashed with many different, brilliant colors. Riku's sea-green eyes occasionally splashed over with a golden light, and his head was tilted to the sky just slightly. He hardly seemed conscious of what was happening to him. Streams of silver light burst from him again and like dragons they entered the doorway. Then suddenly the door closed on its own. Riku fell limp, his body behind held up by the vines alone.

"What... What was that?" asked Kairi.

“No… it’s not possible,“ Livion said, as he narrowed his eyes on the unconscious teen. "Now I know where the light in his eyes is from. Now I know what power to corrupt. It has been so long since this power has awoken."

"What do you mean?"

"There is something sleeping in his heart, and I will not stop until I make it my Bu But first, I will take him to the castle and make his body mine."

~~~~~~~~~~

Sora walked through the empty rooms. He began in the black room where he found Kairi betraying them all. The room where she gave herself fully to darkness. He then walked through Kairi's passion-red room, where Kairi's hidden passions began to stir within her. Next was Selphie's gold room, which could never be as golden or cheerful as Selphie's heart. Tidus's room was turquoise, like the sea on a clear day when Tidus would swim out and try to hold his breath to break the record. Wakka's deep blue room was like the sea at night, when Wakka would practice playing ball by a crackling fire. Then there was Sora's own blood red room. He liked red, and he had fire in him. But red was one color he didn't want to see now. He didn't want to be reminded of the color of blood. He didn't want to see Riku bleeding again. He opened the door to Riku's room slowly and looked inside. Everything was simple and clean, like Riku's heart. It was the color that symbolized the purity that Riku didn't know he had.

"Stay strong, Riku," Sora whispered.

A banging noise in the other room brought him back to reality. He looked through the row of open doors and saw a group of large men as they started to shut and lock the doors one by one. They started with the black room and moved through the others, soon reaching the door that connected Wakka's room with Sora's.

"What's going on?!" Sora yelled. "What did you do with everyone?!"

"Dead," one of the men muttered before shutting the door to Wakka's room.

Sora stared at the door in disbelief. He was now alone again, and this time it seemed for good.

~*~*~To be continued~*~*~

(Thank you to those of you whviewviewed. You’re all so sweet! I’ll wait for a few more before I write the next chapter. Remember, I'm new at this. I need the feedback. I don't mind negative feedback if it's respectful.)