ML C10, P8- "Lost In The Shadows"

"Lost In The Shadows" is the eighth Part of "Miracula Luxia" 's final Chapter. It was released on 08.06.2020.
== Plot ==
Having decided to trust the voice and follow its lead, Jared steps forward, hoping that he will find the way home with the help of this unexpected ally.
However, things will not be as easy as he thinks that he will be. In order to return back in his hometown, the city of Paris, he has to face his biggest enemy- the darkness. And survive.
== Story ==
As Jared walks forward, he thinks about all the things that he had to go through to protect his friends. And he is sure about one thing- if he had to do them all again, he will gladly do so. If it means that innocent lives will be saved in the process.
However, all this adventuring and heroism is taking a toll both on his body and his mind. As he walks, he feels tired and yawns every now and then. Internally, he feels as if a strange force is trying to weaken his mind. To make him unable to proceed forward and fight his enemies.
And, considering whom he was forced to face not long ago, it is more than just a sense of mere paranoia. Worse than that, it is a quite real problem that he has to handle at all costs.
Fortunately, he does not give in to the fatigue that is trying to bring him down. However, if he doesn't get away from this place soon, the fatigue will exaust both his body and his mind and it will make him susceptible to something much more dangerous.
"Are you coming?"- The voice asks him.
Jared nods.
"I-I'm coming. Lead the way."
Jared continues to walk forward, guided by the voice of the mysterious woman. It takes them a few minutes to get out of that horrible area. 
For Jared, those minutes feel like entire hours, filled with painful thoughts and worries about what is going to happen next.
A few hours later, Jared reaches a white portal. 
He looks through it and sees Paris, in all of its glory, still untouched by the hostile forces of Xehanort.
"This is it. You have reached your destination."- The voice says- "Now there's only one thing left for you to do."
"Enter the portal and warn my friends about the potential threat that is going to happen if I do not act fast."- He says- "I know that very well."
"Then go. The fate of this troubled city lies on our shoulders."
As he begins to enter, he feels a malevolent force coming from nearby.
"N-no!"- The voice says- "S-stay away!"
Jared looks around.
"What is going on?"- He says, concerned about the voice- "Are you... are you okay?"
"AGH!"- The voice screams.
Suddenly, Jared feels its friendly presence fade away. Now, he feels a new presence. A malevolent one.
He stares at the portal and sees that it is slowly closing. He tries to enter it, but is too late as it pushes him away with a strong magical force.
As he stands up, he hears a laughter coming from nearby.
"Another voice?"- He says to himself as he looks around, in a desperate attempt to find its source.
"Who are you?!"- He says.
He hears laughter. Again.
"You thought that you could get away this easily? How foolish of you!"
"Xehanort!"- Jared yells- "You are not going to stop me?"
The voice laughs.
"Xehanort? I think that you're mistaken. I'm not this kind of evil. I'm much more different."
Jared sees that a lone figure is approaching him. He draws his blade.
When the figure gets closer, he gasps.
He sees himself, exactly how he looks like right now. However, his eyes seem to be a bit... off. Somehow.
What he sees inside them are two small red dots, staring right into his soul.
"What do you want from me?"- He asks calmly.
The figure grins.
"I just wanted to see you suffer. It brings me such joy. Such... excitement."
Jared shakes his head.
"Only a madman can say that. Who are you really?"
The figure's disguise fades as a new figure appears in front of our hero.
Jared recognizes him immediately. It is Vanitas- one of Jared's biggest enemies who stole his precious Keyblade two years ago.
"I knew that you would arrive."- He says, as if expecting his arrival- "I knew that you would eventually get out of your rabbit hole, sooner or later."
Vanitas grins.
"And here I am. Aren't you happy to see me, Jared? Aren't you happy to see and old pal?"
Jared stares at him coldly.
"My friend? I reckon that you are quite the opposite, Mr. Vanitas!"
Vanitas sighs.
"Oh, you never cease to amaze me."- He says- "It's been two years and you still haven't forgotten about what I did to you back then."
Jared nods.
"Now, let's get to the point."- He stops him- "Where is my Keyblade?"
He points his blade at him.
"And you better answer this question fast or I will be forced to take immediate action."
Vanitas sighs.
"Oh, you mean this thing?"- He says and a Keyblade forms in the palm of his left hand.
As he holds it up for Jared to see it, the boy immediately recognizes it as the lost Keyblade.
"Take it. It's all yours now."- Vanitas says and throws the weapon in Jared's feet.
As the boy is about to pick it up, he surprises him by getting closer and grinning.
"Not!"
The Keyblade disappears before Jared can grab it. 
He looks up at Vanitas and sees that he is laughing. Not a clear, friendly laugh. A shrill and maniacal one that could easily wake up a even a dead person.
"Oh, you're such a trusting young individual."- He says- "Always believing in what people promise you. Well, let me tell you this- not all people can be fully trusted, not even your friends and family. Anybody can let you down in this world."
"But... until you can finally realize it, I will leave you to rot here, for all eternity! Farewell, weakling!"
Jared draws his blade and charges towards him, swings his blade, but misses as Vanitas suddenly disappears in the sky in a cloud of pitch black mist.
Jared hears that the magical timer for the destruction of this alternate universe is no longer ticking. He gets calmer for a moment.
However, he soon realizes that he is stuck here, all alone and unable to do anything. No friends. No food or drinks.
And the voice is no longer there to gude him.
He sighs.
"So, he thinks that he can break my spirit by leaving me here for all eternity so he and Xehanort can wreck havoc in my hometown?"- He says to himself- "Well, he is in for quite a surprise. Just because the voice from earlier is not here anymore does not mean that everything is over. I just have to find another exit, an alternative one. And then, everything will be alright!"
He sighs.
"Or, so I hope."
However, he decides not to give in to the darkness of the this universe. Just because he is stuck here for an eternity does not mean that he won't try to find a way out, to be brave and determined, just like everyone wants him to be.
Jared walks forward bravely, not caring about who or what he has to fight to save everyone from the fiends who are planning to destroy his city and all of its residents.
Nothing is over yet. Not until the last breath is taken and the last drop of blood leaves the body for good. Until then, the fight for freedom continues.
The exit that leads out of this dark universe is not very far from here. All that remains for Jared is to simply find it... and escape.
That is, if he can survive against the horrors that inhabit this universe.
== Trivia ==
* The sentence "What do you want from me?"- is a reference to a popular song by Adam Lambert- "Whataya Want From Me".