(Okay, here we go. This will explain why Tai and the others were acting so weird about Myotismon trying to kidnap Matt in the last fic She's mine now. I'm not saying you have read that story, but I do suggest it so you know what just happened. This starts right after they got back from the Digital world, so please read and review.)
Myotismon's heir
It was dark. That was the first thing I noticed. I started to head for the light I saw far across the room, but suddenly, I find that I couldn't move my wrists. A little startled I looked to see that my wrists had been heavily shackled, and that I was unable to stand as well. Looking around, I soon came to the conclusion that I had no idea where I was. The walls around me were stone and I couldn't see beyond the light that was several feet away from my position.
' Where am I? And what's going on? The last thing I remember was talking to Tai outside my apartment building but where am I now? ', I thought as my eyes finally adjusted to the darkness surrounding me. I once again tried to pull free, but it seemed to be useless. Wherever I was, I was not going anywhere fast.
" Ah, awake I see. Frankly I'm surprised you have lasted this long in my dungeon, but that doesn't matter for soon we will see how truly strong you are. ", a low rasping voice commented as a shadow made it's way towards the light. I squinted hard, trying to make out who it was, but they were too far away and it was too dark. The figure let out a low chuckle as they moved closer. " Are you ready? "
I grit my teeth, unsure of what was to come. A shiver went down my spine, even when the temperature began to rise faster than bread in the oven! It abruptly became unbearably hot all around me, almost as if I was on fire. I tried not to scream but the pain became to great and then flames burst out from the heat that consumed me. I was literally burning. My heart was beating painfully in my chest and I couldn't breathe because of the suffocating smoke that forced itself into my lungs! I thrashed wildly, and even when I screamed I could still hear that shadow laughing across the room. It was a cruel, and familiar, sound.
* * *
" Ahhhhhhh! ", I screamed as I sat up in my bed. Luckily my throat was so dry you couldn't hear me very well. I fell back onto my pillow holding my head, staring at the ceiling, and trying to catch my breath.
' God, Matt what was that? Your dreams have never been that bad before! ', I scolded myself as I ran my hands over my sweaty forehead. ' I've never had a nightmare like that before, and I sure haven't been tortured in any dungeons. And I thought fighting the Digimon Emperor was bad, whoever that was there with me, they were pure evil, that's for sure. Man, those flames hurt. I wonder why… '
" Matt, was that you I heard? It's the middle of the night. ", my dad remarked groggily as he entered my room, rubbing his forehead. He then met my gaze, and shook his head. " What are you doing up? It's a school night. "
" It's nothing, Dad, I just woke up and couldn't get back to sleep. I'm fine, you can go back to bed. ", I lied. Yeah, I felt bad about it, but I didn't need my dad worrying about me right now. " You need your sleep too. "
" All right. If you're sure you'll be okay, Matt. ", he remarked as he closed the door behind him with a yawn. " Good night, son. Sweet dreams. "
" Good night, Dad. ", I replied softly, staring down at my floor. ' Sweet dreams, who is he kidding? I haven't had a nightmare like that since Myotismon was trying to take over Tokyo four years ago. I thought I'd grown out of them. '
I spent the rest of the night trying to get back to sleep, but it was useless. Every time I started to drift off, I kept feeling as if I was on fire again. There was nothing that I could do but lay there and wish that it was morning, or that maybe I could pass out and get some rest. Unfortunately I was wide-wake until my alarm went off, and I had to get up. Luckily, I did feel as tired as I normally would be.
Like every morning, I put on my school uniform and did my hair the way I liked it. I was glad to see that most of the marks from Ken's whip lashing on my face had begun to heal and were going away. Taking a deep breath, I grabbed my things and headed out the door. No way some dream was going to stop me from having fun today. Cass met me half way to school with a kiss good-morning.
" Hey, how'd ya sleep? ", I asked her as I wrapped my arm around her slender waist and we started walking. She rested her head on my shoulder.
" Actually, I was surprised I could sleep at all, considering what Ken tried to do to me. ", my girlfriend retorted after a moment, looking up at me with those beautiful green eyes of hers. " How about you, Matt? "
" Truthfully, I had this really weird dream. ", I started, but someone came up behind me and slapped my back like I deserved some kind of praise.
" That sounds just like you, Matt. Always having to be weird! ", Tai cracked as he winked over at Cass. I could feel my cheeks start growing hot, but I got it under control before anyone could notice. I tried not to get defensive.
" Look, Tai, it was really weird. I was chained up in some dungeon and this guy that I couldn't see in the dark lit me on fire! ", I implied, my tone a little harsh. I hated when Tai made fun of me in front of Cass. I didn't do that to him in front of Sora, did I? " Besides, I'm not the one who used to dream about battling evil digimon, am I, Tai? And besides, after that I couldn't sleep. "
I swear, as soon as I told Tai about the fire thing, his face went a pale white. But then he seemed to be his regular perky self. " Okay, okay, ya got me there, but do you really wanna fight me in front of your new girlfriend, Matt? You know I'd smear ya all over the sidewalk, and that would just be humiliating. "
" Tai, you know I could take you anytime and any place. ", I glared at him evilly and it made Cass giggle at the both of us.
" Will you two stop it? I know you two used to fight all the time, but I don't need actual proof. ", she said playfully. " And if we don't hurry we're gonna be late for school and the others will kill us. Mimi told us to be there early. "
" Aw, come on, Mimi won't mind us being a few minutes late. ", Tai laughed. Boy was he wrong. She was so mad at us for wasting her time when she could've been talking to Joe that I think she could've killed us. When we finally calmed her down she told us that they were having another dance at our school soon, and she would still be in Japan when it finally came. I looked over at Cass, memories of our first and last school dance together fresh in my mind.
(See THAT FATEFUL NIGHT!) She gave me a fake shiver just to see me laugh." Well, now that your wonderful news is out, I have something I'd like to ask you guys. ", I spoke up, still holding my girlfriend around the waist just in case Jun were to come around the corner. " Are we all go to the Digiworld after school? "
Izzy, Sora, Mimi, and Tai all met gazes for a moment. It gave me the creeps, it was like they knew something I didn't, but I knew that was silly. They were my best friends, and they had been since we'd returned from the digital world, and I knew they wouldn't keep something from me. It took a moment before any of them said something, and just before Izzy spoke up, Cass shot me a concerned look.
" Uh, sorry, Matt, but we already made plans for just us to go with the new Digidestined. We figured you'd have a rehearsal with your band or something. ", the computer whiz said staring down at the floor.
I was a little hurt. " But with Myotismon back I figured that we'd need all the firepower we had to defeat him again. I mean, it took a miracle the last time! "
" Sorry, Matt, but we only got passes from the computer lab teacher for the four of us and the younger kids. ", Tai told me, his brown eyes never meeting my gaze. " Maybe next time, okay? Besides, you were up all night, right? "
" That shouldn't have to do with anything, Tai Kamiya. I know something's up, so you can stop covering it up already. ", I shouted as I started to storm off down the hall. " When you plan on telling me I may talk to you again. "
" Matt, wait! ", Cass yelled after me as she ran down the hall.
To be continued:
( Well, I know people want to know why everyone is acting so strange around Matt, but if you really wanna know just wait for the next part, okay? Please review! )