ML C10, P7- "The Dark Alley"

"The Dark Alley" is the seventh Part of "Miracula Luxia" 's final Chapter. It was released on 07.06.2020.
== Plot ==
Seeing that his friend is now trapped is now trapped in a new, dangerous realm, John enters the portal in a desperate attempt to save him, not caring about his own life.
Meanwhile, Jared wakes up and finds himself in a dark alley. He walks forward with the help of a mysterious, yet strangely very familiar voice which comes from the shadows around him.
== Story ==
John continues staring intently at the portal, unsure about what he is going to do next.
"God, why? Why did I let this happen?"- He says to himself- "Why was I so foolish?"
He sighs.
"I can't let him stay in that... dangerous place for any longer than he already has! I have to save him!"
He is about to jump into the portal. However, he hears a voice behind him and turns around.
He sees Annie and Akari. They are staring at him suspiciously.
Something tells him that he is not going to get in without endangering their lives as well.
However, he has to try to send them away, at the very least. It's worth a try.
"Girls. I... "
Akari raises her eyebrow.
"What are you doing, John? Why are you staring at that... thing?"
John sighs.
"There's no time to explain. I have to go in."
Annie shakes her head.
"Without us? Are you crazy? It's dangerous to go in such portals alone, you know?"
John nods.
"I know. But... it's very important. Plus, I don't want to risk your lives as well. You need to stay here and protect the city while I'm gone. Okay?"
Annie shakes her head.
"And let you go in there alone? No. We're coming with you, whether you want it or not."
John sighs. It seems like his expectations are correct- they don't want to leave without him.
However, Jared is still in the dangerous place that is past the portal. And he doesn't have much time left to save him, let alone argue with two girls who are slightly stubborn and don't understand how serious the situation really is. At all.
"Listen. It's... it's about Jared."- He says.
Both girls raise their eyebrows in surprise.
"Jared?!"- Akari says- "What happened to him?"
John sighs and looks down.
"He's in the portal. He jumped in there, thinking that he's going to find the source of our problems but, well... that did not quite work out."
"However, the portal only allows one person to go in before closing. So... it has to be me."
He looks up and stares at his friends, expecting them to lash out at him or mutter about how one of them should be the one to save Jared.
The two girls stare at each other for a few seconds. Then, they mutter something to each other, too incomprehensible for John to hear.
Meanwhile, he just stands there nervously, unsure what they're about to tell him.
Finally, they stop whispering to each other. They turn around and look down.
"We understand."- Annie speaks- "If you want to be the one who goes in there and saves Jared, so be it. We'll go back to the city hall and tell the mayor that Jared will be gone for a while. We will also protect the city in your absence, as you said earlier."
Akari gets closer to John and points her finger at his chest.
"But you better bring Jared alive and well, or I will be very angry! Got it, John?"
John nods.
"You got it, Akari. I promise to bring Jared back, even if it costs my own life. You can count on me."
Akari shakes her head.
"Oh no, no, no! I want both of you to survive that journey, understand? I can't bear the thought of another friend dying. So, don't you dare die in there, got it?
John nods and shrugs.
"If you say so."
Annie nods and takes Akari's hand.
"Come on, Akari. Let's go to the city hall."
Akari nods. Then she turns around and looks at John. She smiles.
"Good luck, my friend. Stay safe."
John nods and smiles as well.
"You too, girls."- He says and stares at the portal as they leave.
He sighs.
"Well then. Here goes nothing."- He says- "Jared, here I come. Wait for me... my dear friend!"
Having said that, he enters the portal, the swirling energy ball of purple of light teleporting him to another dimension.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile, in another dimension very, very far away, Jared wakes up from his sleep and looks around.
For a moment, he feels dizzy. He falls to the ground and sits there for a few minutes.
Then, he finally recovers and stands up. He looks around, surprised to see that he is no longer in Paris.
Or so it seems.
"Where... where am I?"- He says- "Where... did I end up?"
He looks around, but does not see his friends anywhere around him.
He panicks for a second.
"Oh god, no!"- He says- "John! Akari! Annie! Where are you?!"
No response.
"This... this is a joke, right?"- He says, as if he is expecting them to come out from a corner at any minute- "Come on guys, this is not funny. At all!"
There is still no response. And it doesn't look like he is going to get one anytime soon.
Jared sighs.
"I guess that I'm alone now."- He mutters.
"Pull yourself together, Jared. You have heen in such a situation before. You can do it again! Just don't give up!"
With those words in mind, he walks forward, confused.
In the distance, he sees a burning building. Fortunately, it doesn't sound like there are people inside. They have probably been evacuated long before Jared arrived.
"Dear god... "- Jared says.
Then, just for a moment, he feels a presence standing right behind him. He turns around, but doesn't see anything. Or anyone.
He turns around again and sees that the building has been completely burned down.
"What in the world?!"- He says, staring in disbelief at the remains of the building.
Someone behind him chuckles.
"Are you enjoying the view?"
Jared tries to turn around to see who is talking behind him, but fails to do so as a mysterious, malevolent force forces him back forward.
"Not so fast, my friend!"- The voice says- "You can't just turn around and see me! That is just not fair."
Jared realizes that whoever is standing behind him is a powerful force that is able to manipulate his moves. He sighs.
"Who are you and what do you want from me?"- He says- "And you better say it fast before I use my abilities to make you talk!"
The voice laughs.
"Oh, how cute! The little hero is making demands. How adorable!"
"Maybe a little bit of pain will make you change your mind."
Jared's arms are twisted to the point where a normal person would scream in pain.
However, Jared is no normal person. Instead of screaming in fear and fueling the madness of whoever is behind him.
"Not going to scream, huh?"- The voice says- "Well, I expected that. Heroes like you do not give in to pain easily.
Jared is forced forward.
"Now, stand up!'
Our hero decides to listen to what the voice says. He stands up.
"See? It is much better if you listen to what I tell you to do."- The voice says- "Now, turn to the left."
Jared does so. He sees a building burning in the distance.
A very familiar building.
"No!"- He yells- "What... what have you done?"
The voice laughs.
"Oh, I haven't really done anything. Not yet, anyway. This is merely a vision of the future. What will happen if you don't stop my forces. And me."
Jared finally realizes who is standing behind him. He turns around, this time with no resistance from whoever is controlling him.
He sees one of his biggest enemies- Master Xehanort. The mastermind behind the incoming invasion of evil forces.
"Xehanort! I knew it!"- Jared says- "I knew that you were trying to alter my memories! To make me forget about my friends! Make me weaker and defeat me with ease."
"But I assure you of this- I will not go down! Even if I fall down, I will stand back up and fight with full force! You and your forces are never going to defeat us!"
Xehanort laughs.
"Maybe you're right. Maybe I won't defeat you if I let you live right now. Maybe my invasion will fail to finish its task, maybe they are going to die. But I will not let you!"
Suddenly, Jared's neck is twisted to the left. He falls on the ground.
Xehanort grins.
"Farewell, Jared."- He says and begins to leave.
However, he stops as a bright light envelops him.
"I don't think so, Xehanort!"- A voice is heard in the distance- "I won't let you end the life of this innocent child!"
"Begone, you insolent worm! Go back to the dark realm from whence you came!"
"Noooooo!"- Xehanort screams as he is teleported away.
Suddenly, Jared's pain goes away, miraculously cured by another mysterious force.
He stands up and looks around.
"Where... where are you?"- He asks- "I want to thank you!"
"Please! Don't leave me here!"
"I will never leave you alone, Jared! I'm here."- The voice says.
Jared recognizes someone very familiar in the voice that is talking to him in the distance.
"Could it be... ?"- He says to himself.
"I know what you're thinking. You want to see who I really am. But there is something that's much more important right now- you must get out of this place! And soon, before-- "
Jared hears an alarm ringing in the distance.
"It has already begun. There isn't much time left before this place starts to fall apart."- The voice says- "So, I want you to do as I say. Everything will be alright, I promise!"
Jared stands still for a second, not completely sure if he wants to trust this voice or not.
"So. Will you trust me enough to let me become your guardian angel and help you get out of here alive?"
Jared thinks about this for a minute, but realizes that there is indeed not a lot of time left.
"I must take my chances and hope that whoever this is, he, she or it will lead me out of here."- He says to himself- "So, here goes nothing."
"Alright. I shall trust you."- He says- "But you better lead me out of here, okay? I have friends that I need to protect!"
"And I won't let you abandon those poor souls."- The voice says- "Now come, step forward. Don't fear the darkness. Because, at the end of every dark road... lies a mote of light that will be your guiding key!"
Jared nods.
"Listen to my voice and go in the direction from where you currently hear it."- The voice tells him- "Come on, Jared! Time is running out!"
Jared looks at the burning building one last time. He sees his home- the Kaos residence, now engulfed in flames.
Is this what is going to happen to his entire hometown? Is there a way to prevent it?
Nothing is settled just yet. And the fate of Paris now lies in Jared's arms, who knows what is going to happen if he does not act fast.
Without a moment of hesitation, the boy turns around and carefully steps forward, guided by the kind, mysterious voice of what sounds like a young woman.
"Yes! That's right!"- The voice says calmly- "Don't fear the darkness! Face it and show it that you're not afraid."
"You can do it! I know it!"