Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon so please refrain from suing me for writing fan fiction. Thanks and enjoy!
(A/N: This is yet another 01 fic, set after the Digiworld. I know, I know that's practically all I write, but I like writing those!)
Within Dreams--Chapter 1
Snow lightly drifted down from the heavens, powdering the ground with an increasing layer of white in Odaiba, Japan. Kari Kamiya watched the snow fluttering past the window in her bedroom happily. She loved the snow. Loved how quietly and gracefully it floated through the air. How it gradually changed the world from sad, dead browns to a glittering display of white sugar. How it made her thankful for the nice home her family lived in. Everything about snow made Kari happy.
Only one thing was making her enjoy the snow a little less than she normally would. That thing was the fact that her parents were not at home. They'd left early in the morning to visit their grandparents--about a forty-five minute drive--and were supposed to return sometime around five. Minutes ago, they had telephoned to tell their children that they would be staying at their grandparent's house for the night, as the snow was too deep to drive through until the roads were plowed.
Kari wasn't especially worried. She herself had spoken with her parents and both had assured her they would be on their way home as soon as the roads were plowed. Plus, she knew Tai wouldn't let anything happen to her.
As she took a sip of hot chocolate, her brother entered the room they shared and said: "geez, it's still coming down!"
"Yeah," Kari answered in a voice that was a half-sigh. She wished it would never stop, but at the same time wished it would end so her parents could get home. It was getting late. Already 10:00 and the snow showed no sign of letting up. There had to be at least one foot of snow outside by now.
The phone suddenly rang, making both children jump in surprise. "That must be mom and dad," Tai muttered. "I'll get it." He ran from the room, toward the phone and Kari followed.
But Tai's besocked feet proved a problem when he skidded past the telephone and fell flat on his back. Kari giggled and said: "guess you won't get it."
She picked up the receiver and held it to her ear as Tai got back to his feet.
"Hello, Kamiya residence." After a brief pause, Kari frowned ever so slightly and stated: "they're out at the moment. Would you like me to take a message?" Another pause, then: "OK, just a sec." She covered the mouthpiece and stated: "Tai, it's for you."
"Who is it?"
Kari shrugged and Tai took the phone from his sister.
"Hello?"
A low, cold voice answered: "is this Taichi Kamiya?"
Tai hesitated before answering. Nobody he knew used his full name. Not unless something serious was going on. "Yes," he finally replied.
"Care for a test of strength?"
Again, Tai hesitated. The voice was definitely unfamiliar to him. "What kind of test of strength? What do you mean?"
"Just answer the question," the voice harshly shot back.
"But--"
"Look, kid, in my business there are no 'buts.' There's yes and there's no. Now which is it? Yes or no?"
"What is 'your business?' Who're you?"
"Just answer the question, kid."
Tai was getting worried now. He considered hanging up, but the voice on the other end shouted: "don't you dare hang up! Don't you DARE!"
He was struck with how forcefully the voice had insisted he didn't hang up. And he had no idea who it was that had called him. Come to think of it, it was way past the time a normal call would be coming. This was definitely something to be worried about.
"No. I don't want to take a test of strength," he stated.
The voice laughed on the other end, a dry raspy laugh that sent chills down his spine. "Wrong answer, kid. Wrong answer."
And then there was a click. Then a dial tone.
"Who was it?" Kari inquired.
"I dunno. Some weirdo," Tai answered. He sat down on the heater.
That was when the flickered. Kari gasped, then sighed in relief when the lights returned. But the lights only remained for a moment before going out again, plunging the room into darkness. Now Kari was a bit frightened. She would never admit it aloud, but she was just a little afraid of the dark.
"Aw, crap," Tai muttered.
"What?"
"The heater's not working, either. It must've quit when the lights went out. Kari, can you get the flashlight?"
Kari nodded, then realized that Tai probably couldn't see her in the dark and said: "yeah. Just a minute." She opened one of the kitchen drawers and felt through it until she found a flashlight before clicking on the light.
No sooner had the light been turned on than a crash of breaking glass cut through the otherwise silent apartment. It had come from their bedroom.
Now Kari was no longer frightened. She was scared. "Tai, what's happening?" she whispered.
"Wait here," Tai whispered back. He took the flashlight and very quietly left the room, heading for their bedroom.
Kari sat down on the kitchen floor and hugged her knees to her chest. She wished Tai would hurry up. She hated sitting alone in the dark.
"It's all right, Kari," she heard her brother shout from their room. "Come on in."
Slowly, Kari got to her feet and felt her way down the hall and to their room. Upon entering the room she felt a sudden chill. That was when she noticed the window was open. No, not open. Broken. Light from the flashlight glinted off shards of glass and the floor near the window was getting increasingly wet from the snow that drifted inside, carried on a slight winter breeze.
"How did it break?" she demanded.
Tai aimed the flashlight beam at a medium-sized rock. "Somebody must've thrown it through our window."
"Taichi," Kari hissed, now truly terrified. "How could anybody throw a rock through our window?"
Tai's mouth opened in surprise. Kari was right…there was no way anybody could possibly through a rock that size through their window! They were on the fourteenth floor!
"Hey, what's that?" Kari inquired, pointing to the rock.
"What? I don't see anything."
"Look," Kari commanded. "Can't you see it?"
Tai squinted and noticed a dirty piece of string tied around the rock. It held a grimy piece of paper to the stone. He untied the knot and the note fell to the floor.
Kari picked up the note and read it aloud, eyes wide with fear. "It starts tonight. Be ready," she read.
The two siblings looked at one another, confused. They got a clear warning. They should have listened….