Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. Simple enough.
Notes: This story was inspired by the wonderful book Midnight by Dean Koontz.
Chiaki loved running through the local park at night, even when her mother protested. The night made the world softer, more alive than in the harsh daylight. The Yoyogi Park was her most favorite place to run, it was large and spacious. Her soothing rhythmic footsteps across a footbridge that spanned one of the ponds seemed to the only noise in the park. It calmed Chiaki greatly, being a nervous person normally. It was just her, the trees, and the occasional jogger in the park at this time of night; just the way Chiaki loved it.
Just ahead there was a sudden flash of movement. Chiaki stopped her running, moving her head side to side quickly. Her brown hair, tied loosely in two braids, whipped back and forth across her neck. She only had seen it's shadow and guessed it was a large dog. "Just a stray," she said to herself, trying to take comfort in the words. "I shouldn't be so jumpy."
Licking her lips and noticing her hands were trembling slightly, Chiaki chuckled wryly at herself. How foolish she was being, her friends at school were right to call her a coward, it seemed. A thin voice, out of nowhere, was groaning. Once again, Chiaki was spooked.
"Now... now. She.. .coming... faster... faster... eat... soon... soon..." It was mostly growling and she only could grasp the occasional word. It's voice had a feminine feel to it and Chiaki thought she recognized it but she doubted that. Chiaki felt a chill go through her spine and started running again, faster now.
A pair of barely luminescent eyes glowed from behind a trunk of a nearby tree, they twinkled with a light of their own. There was barely enough light to see the more defined features of their owner and Chiaki would be perfectly content to spend the rest of her days not knowing who that owner was.
It crept closer as Chiaki ran past the tree, it's body now visible. Chiaki took a chance and looked backwards. The creature was indeed built like a large shaggy gray dog, though it's back was arched more that it should have been. As it drew closer, Chiaki saw more than it's eyes and felt sick with fear. Indeed female, it's jaws hung open and saliva dripped in large strings, it was catching up.
Chiaki knew she shouldn't scream, to save her breath for her dash for life, however she couldn't help herself. She opened her mouth to yell for help, for anyone, when she noticed it had stopped chasing her. Turning around and running slowly backwards, Chiaki watched the creature worriedly. It was walking now, in a proud and regal way, slowly towards her with it's mouth open. Unlike her, the creature wasn't panting for breath even if it's sides were heaving. It seemed to be laughing at her.
She mouthed the words 'shut up' at it. "What a stupid dog," she mumbled. It only kept on grinning at her and laughing in that weird growling manner. Maybe she had just heard the wind and thought it spoke. It was very probable, if her nature was accounted for.
The running sounds of what seemed like two more of the strange dogs were coming from behind her. She took a chance and looked backwards. Indeed there was two more, one that was much larger than the other two and one that looked to be the runt of the group, and her panic was renewed. The larger one charged, it's great furry bulk making it seem more like a train than a beast.
The creature in front was much closer by now, it's laughing face mocking Chiaki. She kicked at it as it jumped at her. The kick landed on it squarely on the nose. Blood dripped down it's gray muzzle like a waterfall. It snarled at her and Chiaki backed up instinctively. Right into the large charging creature behind her.
Chiaki fell forward, the creature on her back gnawing at her shoulders and neck. Perhaps her mother had been right about the running after all... Funny, the biting didn't seem to hurt anymore, it even tickled a little bit. Chiaki only faintly noticed when the first creature, still snarling about it's wounded snout, regally stalked up to her and put it's jaws around her throat. She was already dead when it closed it's jaws with a crunching sound.
Chiaki really should have listened to her mother.
-
"Damn... Not another killing. He should at least try to stop those damn beasts under control," he muttered half to himself, half to the cellphone held limply in his hand.
"I try," was the simple reply. "They are simply engineered to release their grip on your world, you know."
The man ran his fingers through the mop of unruly yellow hair on his head. "I know," he said. "Too well. They were only children, too."
"Not any more," the other answered. "They were already part Digimon when my helpers caught them. Two of the three probably even enjoyed it. I wouldn't know."
"Damn you... We should kill that 'pack' at least," the man growled in his throat. "It's the least we can do."
"Why? It's going along fine," the other said. "According to plan."
"They're savages, the three of them," he insisted. "They should be slaughtered."
"Aren't you the bloodthirsty one?" the other one mocked, his voice choked with hidden laughter.
"Shut up," he snapped.
There was a momentary silence. "Alright, alright," the other one muttered. "Don't kill them right now if you mean to."
"Wasn't planning on it, HiAndromon."
"Good."