Disclaimer: I have and never will own Digimon.

Drowned Out

Chapter One

"You can't nothin' for granted! You gotta live like today!

"I turn around and I see what's behind me, I turn back around and I can see what's ahead,

"And if you don't believe I've been here all along, just turn around, just turn around,"

"Yeah!" Yutaka cheered on, "One more time, Matt!"

The blonde's voice made the final chorus swell in volume but faded out just in time as the instruments took over and ended the song with the grand finale, echoing throughout the room.

"Phew," Matt said, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Great work, you guys."

"No, you're being too kind," said Takashi. "It's us that should be complimenting you! Our improvement has been skyrocketing with these rehearsals!"

"He's right, man!" added Akira. "And I'm so eager for our next concert next month!"

Matt rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on, what makes this concert any different than the last ones? Aside from the ever-growing number of fan girls."

"Matt, I've heard that a couple of talent scouts will be coming over to see us perform onstage." Akira explained, his tone escalating with excitement, "And if they think we're good, they'll sign us up. Then, The Teenage Wolves will be making headlines! And then, we'd conquer the world!"

There he goes again… Matt thought to himself.

"Well, guys," he said, "How about we call it quits tonight and meet up here in the music hall tomorrow after school?"

Yutaka nodded. "It's fine by me, Matt."

"Yeah," the other two agreed, looking at the mounted clock, "It's getting pretty late."

The three band mates began packing their instruments but their lead singer had already beaten them to it and was heading out the door.

"See you guys around." Matt said with a wave.

The air outside was cool and was growing cooler as Matt left the school grounds and headed towards the still-awake city of Odaiba. Passing by the enormous T.V. station, he pulled out his cell phone to see if his father had left a message while he was practicing.

No new message.

Dad's probably working late again as usual.

Matt sighed heavily and put the phone back into his pocket and kept on going.

The blonde made it to a crossing light close by and started walking the minute it turned green. Trudging forward, digging his hands into his green coat pockets for warmth, the remarks that were made at band practice were now bubbling over in his head.

I should be excited about our next concert and all, but I'm not…Still, like Takashi said, we've improved a lot and there's chance that we can make it big, but-

Matt broke out of his train of thoughts when he heard a low, yet strong sound coming from behind.

Growing uneasy, he continued moving at a normal pace as he tried to ignore the overwhelming sense of dread but the noise rang in his ears, increasing his heart's palpitation.

Get ahold of yourself, Matt! It's just your imagination; he thought angrily to himself, you're getting worked up over nothing!

Once he was across on the other side of the street, it stopped.

Matt held his breath and listened as he slowly turned around.

Nothing but the cars' headlights was seen rushing up and down the road was the only thing that was heard.

Not wanting to wait around to find out for himself, Matt pulled the strap of his bass guitar tighter on his shoulder and quickened his speed.

A feeling of safety and relief poured over him once his apartment complex came into view.

To Matt, it never looked so welcoming.

But just as he was taking his first step towards the complex, the sound came again, only this time; this was not his imagination playing tricks when the noise was even closer and more distinct.

Almost like someone's heavy breathing puffing against the back of Matt's neck.

Fear consumed him right on spot as he looked behind him to see the imposing figure of a man, his dark eyes staring menacingly into his. Panic instead of blood was pumping through his veins granting Matt newfound adrenaline to move.

But before Matt had the chance to flee the man caught him, grabbing the teen by his blonde locks.

Matt screamed in pain, but his voice was smothered out against the man's other hand.

However, Matt began to fight back. He bit hard into one of the man's fingers, causing him to reel in pain, but this only made the assailant clamp Matt's jaw shut in a fit of anger.

The man released his grip on the boy's hair as he attempted to grab Matt's arms, despite Matt's kicking and scratching like an enraged animal.

This kid's feistier than I thought, but I've got to subdue him without killing him!

The stranger felt something hard press up against chest when he tried pulling Matt into his grasp, in the darkness, his eyes caught the outline carrier of the bass guitar strapped against the boy's back.

He grinned sadistically as a sick idea was born.

The man gripped one hand on the neck of the guitar while the other hand let go of Matt's mouth.

Though puzzled by the strange act, Matt wasted no time and used the opportunity to slip right out of the strap, not caring that it meant losing his instrument to a thief.

But unbeknownst to Matt, that was what the man precisely wanted. Just as the boy started to run, the assailant swung the bass guitar like a baseball bat.

And the guitar's form effectively struck its target with a resounding crack to the skull.

With an agonized scream, Matt slumped to the ground in a heap. He could feel the warm blood mingling in with his hair, oozing gently down his temple as the night around him became darker and darker until he lapsed into the abyss of unconsciousness.

…

As he awakened, he could feel that the blood had now dried up on his face but the lingering pain was increasing with each throb beating in tune with his heart.

Wearily ignoring it, Matt's blue eyes slowly opened as he attempted to move.

But he couldn't.

Horrorstricken, he turned around and realized that his wrists tied and restrained behind his back along with his limbs, while his torso was bound to a chair.

He could hear someone was speaking. Listening closely, Matt immediately realized that it was his abductor and wanted nothing more than to shut it out as it exceled in volume as it approached his prison.

To his surprise, it stopped just when the door to Matt's room was opened, as he came nearer, Matt looked away as he felt the man's eyes loom over him.

"So," the kidnapper sneered, "You really though that you could get away, huh?"

Angered by his taunt, Matt looked him directly in the eyes with renewed courage.

"What do you want from m-"

"SHUT UP!" the kidnapper snarled, slapping Matt hard across the face.

"That was for nearly biting my finger off, you little punk!"

Matt smiled smugly at the remark but was slapped again by the kidnapper.

Feeling his left cheek reddening, the blonde asked again, this time more aware of his tone.

"What do you want from me?"

"Money."

"B-but I don't have any-"

"You may not have any," the man said with a gleam in his dark eyes, he then dug into his pocket revealing Matt's cell phone, "but your old man does."

-To be continued…