"Kari…"

I wanted to run to her. He one who spoke my name. Her voice sounded so soothing. It was so beautiful. It made my soul want to weep and rejoice at the same time. I didn't know whether I should run away or seek comfort with in it.

"Sweet bearer of light…"

I could feel my body tremble with love and compassion. My heart set a rhythm of a fast pace. I started to feel warm and safe. It was almost like I was being wrapped up in a cocoon of light. The feeling was simply and complexly kind.

"Come to me, my princess… You are my only hope."

Suddenly the warmth disappeared. It was starting to become harder to breath. A feeling of complete terror snuck into my soul. Now my heart barely had a beat, but with every thud it mustered was unbearable pain.

The darkness around me started to swirl. It continued like this until it finally took form. I was scared o glance around. The thought of being dropped into the Dark Ocean once again was too much. However, as I chanced a gaze I noticed that it was very different then the Dark Ocean. The darkness took shape of a small village at the end of a large meadow. Behind the village was a castle. It's architecture told me this style was leaning towards the gothic style.

The sight was breath taking. My anxiety died quickly upon setting my eyes on the land. It was flourished with vegetation and animals. Miles and miles of life was here in front of me. Into the village I saw small stirrings of people.

"My land needs you…"

This time the voice only brought me confusion. This land seemed perfectly fine. Everything looked beautiful. Nothing looked out of place or wrong at all.

"Nothing is what it seems… Illusions are her weapon… Don't fall for her trickery…"

Then, lightening flashed directly onto the village. I gasped as I saw one of the home burst in flames. Screams carried themselves to me by the wind. One by one, houses caught on fire. As people started to run a dark cloud huddled around the edges.

Moments later a woman stood in the middle of the meadow. She was adorned in a tight black dress that fell to the ground. I watched, terrified, as a sheep came to her to catch her scent. Only a couple feet away it started to panic. Then, with a wave of her hand, it feel limply in grass.

Tears burned in my eyes as I let a loud sob rip at my throat.

Her piercing green eyes sought mine. They held an evil pride within them. Almost echoing her wicked laughter bleeding through her ruby lips. Turning fully in my direction, she smiled nastily at me.

A small part of me was brave and stood my ground, the rest of me was merely frozen in place from fear. Either way, I couldn't move. I wanted to rip my eyes away from hers. I wanted to run to the village and help as many people I could, but she had some sort of power over me.

With another wave of her hand, I closed my eyes. I was too scared to see what she was going to do to me. Instead of feeling any kind of impact. I heard a voice along with a rattle of what sounded like chains. However, this voice was much more familiar then the woman. This voice was younger and boyish, and often help courage and humor. Now I could only hear a sickening whisper of exhaustion mixed with pain.

"Kari, run."

My eyes snapped open to meet the ones of my brother. His hair fell to the sides of his face. Some parts held by sweat… and blood. A gash was dripping slightly over his right eyebrow. His bottom lip was busted and his cheek appeared to be bruised. His clothing was ripped in various places. To the ground, his feet were chained, but his hands were chained to another pair who belonged to someone just as familiar.

His best friend, Matt.

More tears ran down my face as my eyes met each and every pair of my friends whom were chained together. Each of their states were no better than the others. As my eyes ran across them I noticed something that made my stomach lurch. Someone was missing.

"Looking for you hope? Don't waste your time. I've already killed it." I felt her breath waft against my ear with every syllable. I felt as if I were to vomit at any second as her words registered in my mind. "I've killed him, just like I'm going to kill the others. Then after I do so, your heart will have no more light and you'll belong to me."

"NO!" I screamed, only now finding my voice. I swung my arms, hoping to hit her. She vanished like mist before I could land a hit. She regained her form only inches away from me. She grabbed my face harshly and brought it close to hers. The paleness of her skin, her bright green eyes, her cherry lips, and her platinum blonde hair created what would seem a pretty face, but only morphed itself into a monster.

"Sorry, Sweetie, but that wasn't a question. "

And just like that… everything vanished.

"Tai!" I screamed as I jolted from my sleep. I could feel the icky stickiness of my sweat on my body, but at the moment I didn't care. I only wanted my brother. I wanted to see if he was okay. I wanted him to comfort me. But mostly, I wanted him just to be there beside me. I needed to feel his strength.

Beside me, Gatomon stared at me with deep concern. Her paws were upon my leg trying to stop my shaking. I scooped her up, calming slightly at the warmness of her fur. Her tail wrapped around my waist and her arms snaked around my neck. She placed her head in the crook of my neck, knowing that it would make me feel more secure.

The sound of fast heavy footsteps were my only warning before my door was pushed open. My brother's anxious eyes met mine as he rushed to my aid. Agumon not far behind found himself by my bed. Just as I scooped up Gatomon, Tai scooped me up in his arms.

I whimpered in his embrace. I laid my head on his chest, trying to lose myself to the beat of his heart. His hands rubbed my back, and I felt his kisses in my hair. He wrapped a blanket over my body. Gatomon purred from her spot in between us.

"I have you now. Nothing's going to harm you while I'm here." He murmured softly. I nuzzled my face closer to him. I could feel myself falling asleep again. I was calm now that I was in his care. Now, I was with him, Gatomon, and Agumon. I knew nothing was going to hurt me.

"I know." Were the only words I could muster. I felt him lay back against my pillow, but not once making a move to let me go. Below me I could feel the bed shift and I knew it was Agumon making himself comfy.

My last memories of the night was hearing Tai's sweet words and the sound of Gatomon's purring.

Breakfast was quiet the next morning. Mom had made eggs, bacon and toast. She had rushed out the door, though because she had an interview early. Dad left for work before the sun even appeared in the sky. Tai and I sat across from each other at the table, our Digimon to our sides munching joyfully on the food.

Wearing his uniform with the exception of his tie, Tai stared me down. I knew he expected me to tell him about my nightmare, but last night's was just too painful. I couldn't get it out of my head. Not even in imaginations could I see my brother look so defeated. I didn't like it. It made me sick to think about.

"Sora talked about going to the DigiWorld today for a picnic after school, did you want to go?" It was a stupid question to ask, but I was just trying to divert the situation at hand. He sighed heavily, knowing my trick but complied anyway.

"Yeah. Mom's making sandwiches for us later. I think Matt said he and TK were bringing the drinks." The mention of TK's name made me almost choke. However I covered it quickly. Feeling my throat tighten at the memory of the nightmare, I placed down my fork.

"That's good. I was afraid they would forget that it was their turn." I said playing off the sickness in my stomach. At the comment, Tai cracked a smile.

"I knew they wouldn't. At least, I knew TK wouldn't. I told him you didn't get a soda when Davis packed so he seemed determined to bring more than enough for you." There it was. The teasing and mockery I was so used to hearing in my brother's voice.

Ever since TK moved back to Odaiba a year ago, he and Matt have been trying to play match maker. It only got worse when they recruited the newly moved back Mimi. The girl was determined and honestly her comments made me blush.

I rolled my eyes and reached for my camera that laid to the side. I put it around my neck and then stood from the table. Tai and our Digimon stood as well pushing in the chairs. I grabbed their plates and placed them neatly in the sink before heading to the door.

It seemed that the nightmare I had last night was pushed to the furthest place in our minds.

The walk to school was normally peaceful. Both, Gatomon and Agumon, ran ahead of us jumping gleefully in the golden and red leaves. I smiled at them, and just relaxed knowing they and my brother were near and safe.

Soon we were joined my Ken, Davis, Izzy, Sora, and their Digimon. They chatted about our plans for this afternoon. Tai and Davis' voice carried around the group bringing out laughter from the other three. Veemon and found a beautiful leaf the shade of the sun that was shaped like a star. He had offered it to Biyomon, who happily accepted it with a thank you.

It was nice. My nightmare was starting to become nothing more than that. Still, though, I couldn't get the twisted voice of the dark woman's out of my head. Her laughter racked in my brain. Her twisted smile appeared when I blinked. Her words brought a chill to my spine.

"Hey Kari!" I heard TK's voice greet me. I shook my feeling away and smiled to my best friend. He and his brother stood at the gates of the school, smiling to our group as we walked up. In his hands, TK held a steaming cup. "I got this for you when we stopped by the store. I know you love hot chocolate in the fall." He smiled. These were the moments I just wanted to hug the life out of him, but I knew my brother would never let me live it down.

Taking it, I smiled sweetly at him.

"Thank you, TK. You're sweet." He grinned, holding out his own cup to tap mine in a cheers. I giggled from his antics.

"Hey, TB! Where's my hot chocolate? I thought we were best buds?" Davis whined seeing the two steaming cups.

"Face it Davis." Matt chuckled. "You're just not pretty enough." The small group minus Davis laughed.

"That's no fair. I'm totally pretty enough. In fact I'm the master of pretty so take that." His stuck out his tongue at his blonde senior. The group laughed harder. Davis, realizing what he said, blushed brightly. "Wait. That's not what I meant."

"Sure Davis, Sure." TK teased his friend. I smiled at my friends loving the atmosphere we all created. It helped me control my dark thoughts. Looking at Ken, I knew he felt the same. He had made me so proud to call him my friend within the last year. The crest of Kindness truly suited him now.

"Nothing is what it seems…"

My head whipped around to see where it had come from, but no one except us was there. That's when I thought back to the kinder voice. She said she needed me, but for what? For the woman? I don't know if I could after seeing what she did to my loved ones.

Little did I know, that I had no choice.

Thank you for giving me the time from your lives to read my story. I hope you are intrigued. I will see you soon in the next chapter.