a/n: I can honestly say that I wasn't expecting this story to get so much positive feedback right from the start. Your encouragement helps diminish the nervousness I had for continuing this story. Thank you! Hopefully, this chapter meets your expectations.

"Drown me out, after all this pain you won't see me. Drown me now, through the fire and smoke you can breathe me." — Drown, Get Scared

Ch 02 || See Me

It had been three days since Takeru had that dream, and he still couldn't get it out his mind. It replayed over and over like a song stuck on repeat. And it wasn't a good song: it was haunting. Frustrating. Distracting. He couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching him, and even though it seemed ridiculous, he had to stop himself from looking over his shoulder to check multiple times.

So when Hikari suggested that they celebrate the beginning of summer break in the digital world, he didn't object. It seemed like a nice idea, escaping for a while to enjoy the sun. He figured it would help him forget about it for a while, would help him loosen up. Maybe a day in the digital world was what he really needed.

So far, his hopes to relax were being crushed.

His eyes explored every part of the lake before him, wondering how something so beautiful and welcoming could make him feel so uneasy. He drew in a deep breath through his nose, studying the way the water swayed against the shore. The way it shimmered under the sun. The longer he stared at it, the harder it was to ward off the shudder crawling up his spine.

"...think that I should have brought more sunscreen. Hey, Takeru. Takeru. Are you even listening to me?"

Takeru started as Miyako's hand came to rest on his shoulder. His eyes snapped up to meet hers, and he felt his face heat up. "What?"

"So you weren't listening to me," she said, making a face.

"He's perfected the art of tuning you out, just like me," Daisuke commented, and Miyako's response was to whack him upside the head. "Ow... hey!"

"That wasn't very nice, Miyako," Hawkmon chided, looking at his partner in dismay. Takeru could hear Hikari and Iori laughing behind them.

"Takeru, did you seriously not hear a word I said to you?" the lavender-haired teen asked, frowning. Her cheeks were pink with anger, and her eyes were glistening with what seemed to be a mix of frustration and annoyance.

Pushing the thoughts about his nightmare toward the back of his mind, all Takeru could do was grin sheepishly, which was enough proof for Miyako. She stuck her lip out in a pout. "Of course not."

"I'm sorry," he said sincerely, rubbing the back of his neck. "I guess I spaced out."

Miyako rolled her eyes but smiled anyway. "It's ok. Are we going to get in the water or not?"

"Well, it's what we came here for," Iori said.

"I'm not going near it," Tailmon declared, pivoting and walking toward her human partner, who had at some point decided the grass would be more comfortable, and was a good ten to fifteen away from the lake, laying out towels to sit on.

"Suit yourself," V-mon said, running toward the lake with such excitement that it would suggest the body of water was something he could consume. And Takeru knew how much their partners loved to eat.

"Hey, wait for me," Daisuke shouted, and Takeru laughed as he jumped in the water, taking a few steps back so he wouldn't get splashed. Ken and Miyako, however, were not so lucky.

Even though she was in a swimsuit, Miyako still shrieked when she got wet, not loud enough to make Takeru wince but loud enough for everyone to hear. "You're paying for that!"

"Come and get me," Daisuke challenged, grinning.

Seemingly accepting his challenge, Miyako ran in after him, which made Daisuke's eyes widen. This time, Takeru didn't have a chance to prepare himself. As Miyako went under the surface, he raised his hands to block his face but it did little to help.

Decidedly soaked, Ken wiped the water off of his face and asked, "Do you think either of them has even thought about if there are other digimon swimming in this lake?"

"I doubt it," Patamon answered from his place atop Takeru's head. The orange digimon looked down at his partner and asked, "Do you want to swim?"

Takeru thought about it, but made a face and shook his head. "I think I'll go join Hikari."

"I'll come with you," Wormmon said, blinking several times as if he hadn't recovered from being splashed by Daisuke and Miyako. "I'm sorry, Ken-chan. I'm not a good swimmer."

"Neither am I," Ken added somewhat sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck.

"I'm sure Hikari won't mind more company," Takeru told them. Iori said something about sticking his feet in the water and Armadimon followed him, deciding to sit about ten or so feet away from Miyako and Daisuke so they wouldn't be splashed. Again.

They trekked toward their brunette friend, who was petting Tailmon affectionately. When she saw them, she raised the camera around her neck to see the screen and grinned. "Smile!"

Ken flushed a light pink and Takeru made a face. As she snapped the picture and studied it, her grin faded. "Those aren't smiles."

Takeru laughed as he sat down next to her. "Why are you so adamant about taking so many pictures?"

"I want to make memories," she replied airily. The camera dangled around her neck as she beamed at him. "Pictures are worth a thousand words, Takeru."

Takeru smiled back at her, although it wasn't as carefree. "We have the whole summer to make memories."

Ken sat down on the other side of Hikari, setting Wormmon on the grass carefully. "There's nothing wrong with starting early," the former Kaiser said.

"See?" the brunette said. Takeru rolled his eyes playfully, but he was grateful to see that his friends were smiling and happy and enjoying themselves. Maybe if he relaxed a little, he could do the same. Maybe if he cut the wires that kept dragging him back to that dream, he could enjoy this mini vacation.

They're all alive and breathing, he told himself, basking in the wave of reassurance that thought brought to his clouded mind.

"Fine. Fine, ok," he decided to say.

"Great! Now actually smile this time." She raised the camera again, capturing his unprepared face once more, and for some reason the unexpected flash of the device made him laugh. It seemed Hikari wanted to capture that moment, too, because she grinned. "That's more like it. I'm going to get some more pictures of the others by the lake, ok? I'll be back."

She stood then, her swimsuit cover up swaying with her movements. Takeru watched her go, the smile slowly slipping from his face, only to be replaced a moment later as the brunette poked Iori in the shoulder to snap a picture of him and Armadimon sitting by the shore. Hikari was strange sometimes.

His gaze shifted from Hikari to their digimon partners. Wormmon was cuddled on Ken's lap. Tailmon was curled up on one of the towels that were sheltered by the shadow of a small tree, paws and tail tucked in, with her eyes closed. Patamon lay in a similar position next to her, sleeping as well.

It hit him that he wasn't the only one who had lost sleep the past couple of days. Guilt climbed on his shoulders and stayed there, seemingly enjoying the feeling of weighing him down. Had Patamon received a wink of sleep since Takeru woke up from that awful nightmare three nights ago?

"It's too early in the summer to have that much on your mind," Ken said suddenly, startling the blond.

Takeru looked at him. "What do you mean?"

"When you spaced out earlier," Ken explained, "you looked a little worried. And the look on your face just now... Is everything ok?"

"Yeah," the blond answered. "Why wouldn't it be?"

"Did you sleep well last night?"

Takeru wasn't sure how Ken did that: ask a question which stemmed from simple curiosity, and end up being one-hundred percent right. He paused, wondering how to reply. It was a mere nightmare, he thought. Even though it was freshly carved into his mind, it would fade at some point, right? All dreams did. There was no use in bringing up something he could deal with on his own.

"I slept fine."

The former Kaiser, however, was not fooled. "You hesitated."

Takeru sighed. "It was just a dream. Nothing too bad." Ken didn't let up, so he said, "I'm ok. Really. Tired? A little. But other than that, I'm fine."

They lapsed into silence as Ken dropped the subject. Takeru leaned back a little, enjoying the warm, playful breeze once again. Should he have told him the truth? Should he speak to Hikari? They both had unforgettable experiences with the Dark Ocean, he knew that. Maybe he should ask for their opinion?

No.

The word appeared in his mind immediately, shutting down that option, throwing it out. There was no use worrying them, right? He could work this out. The Dark Ocean was a dangerous place, yes. But he didn't want to throw away the very hopeful idea that it could have been a coincidence. Takeru bit his lip, thinking.

A giggle. It drifted through the air, childlike and innocent and oddly familiar, reaching his ears without trouble. Takeru went on high-alert, looking around for the source. "Did you hear that?"

Ken glanced at him in confusion. "Hear what?"

He didn't answer right away, studying his surroundings. It was just his friends, their digimon, and himself here. But his heartbeat quickened just a tad as a small wave of panic rushed through him.

You're tired. It's a figment of your imagination.

"Never mind," he murmured, looking back at the lake. His friends' faces were etched with joy and laughter. Why couldn't he relax and do the same? Ken was still staring at him, brows furrowed in worry, and he added, "It was just the wind."

Slowly, Ken nodded. But just as Takeru started to believe that it was his mind trying to trick him, he heard it again.

I'm right here, Takeru. Look closer, look deeper. Don't you see me?

He felt his blood run cold. He went stiff and once again looked around, trying to locate the owner of the voice that sounded horrifyingly similar to the one in his nightmare. The keeper of Hope worked his jaw when his eyes failed him. "I'll be right back, ok?" he told Ken, who eyed him suspiciously.

"Where are you going?"

He didn't answer at first, mainly because he didn't have an answer. The blond stood nonetheless, eyes locked on the trees surrounding the lake. "Nowhere. Just. Don't follow me. I'll be back."

His legs moved before he could give Ken a chance to respond. He had to find out where that laugh was coming from. The trees called to him somehow—spoke to him in faint whispers of the wind. It blocked out the noises his friends were making; became the only thing on which he could place his focus. A playful breeze wafted around him, causing his hair and clothes to sway, and the grass crunched beneath him as he walked.

The laughter increased in volume as he neared the trees, brushing low-hanging branches out of his way. A voice in his head whispered for him to turn around, and he almost did, but as he continued his trek through the grove surrounding him, his curiosity was getting the better of him.

It drowned out the lingering sense of anxiety; controlled his body; willed his feet to carry him across the forest floor.

It was strange, this forest. There were trees surrounding the left side of the lake, sure. But he never expected for the trees to stretch this far; to cover this much land. The further he went, the more trees there were, and part of him wondered if he would get lost. And if he did get lost, who would find him?

Do you see me?

That voice again. His eyes searched the area, looked for signs. He struggled to remember what the little girl in his dream had looked like exactly, but the only thing he could recall was that terrifyingly alluring voice and the fact that she was young.

I'm right here, silly.

The canopy of leaves above him only continued to grow thicker, successfully blocking beams of sunlight that tried to slip through the thin slices between the trees. It made the area noticeably darker: an unsettling realization. He was becoming increasingly aware of the way his heart thundered in his chest.

Open your mind, Hope.

That made Takeru freeze. It felt as though time itself had stopped, and he listened intently to the sounds around him: her childish laughter; the soft, gentle call of the wind; the grass that shimmered and swayed under the caress of the breeze; and that one word that echoed, foreboding, in his mind.

Hope. Hope. As in his crest. The thing that Takeru was supposed to represent. How would she know that? Come to think of it, how did she even know his name?

This was not good.

See? There you go. It wasn't that hard.

Takeru found himself looking down at a small, barefoot, brunette child for the second time in three days. Except this time, he was awake. Right? He had to have been awake. And the little boy that had accompanied her last time was not present. Fear gnawed at his chest, told him that following her voice into this creepy, unnerving grove alone had been a very, very big mistake.

"Follow me, Takeru."

He did. His legs moved in a robotic trance, one step at a time; and he couldn't find his voice to ask where she wanted him to follow her to. He felt like a puppet and she was the one pulling the strings; the one who had found his inner mute button.

Why did I tell Ken not to follow me? his mind screamed at him. Why did I leave in the first place? Damn it. Patamon... Hikari, Ken, Daisuke... someone, help...

No one would, though. He'd practically asked to be left alone. His friends were probably still at the lake, oblivious. Did Ken tell them he had left? If not, had anyone noticed? The little girl pulled him forward with her voice, and he couldn't figure out how to break this spell that captured his senses and rendered him defenseless.

He wasn't sure how much time passed as he walked unwillingly behind the little girl, who began singing softly under her breath at some point. It was an eerie, unfamiliar melody, leaving her lips in odd, twisted fragments; but she was so quiet that he couldn't for the life of him make out the words.

Then she stopped suddenly, and so did he. She turned to face him, and Takeru finally had a chance to look at her. To really look at her.

Brown curls hung limply around her grey, yet smiling face. She looked rather disheveled, he realized, as he noticed her dirty fingernails, sunken eyes, and faded white dress that reached just above her ankles and—

Oh, my god, he thought in horror, feeling a dreadful wave of fear engulf him. Is... is that blood?

Rusty stains covered the front of her dress, almost like small handprints. It crusted over parts of her skin as well, and Takeru didn't know what else it could be. When she smiled up at him, he saw her teeth were crooked and stained yellow.

"Look at this, Takeru."

The blond was snapped out of his trance when she pointed at the house behind her. He'd failed to notice it at first, having been so distracted by her appearance, and looked at it. His mind went blank the moment his eyes landed on it.

The house had two stories and looked unstable, with long vines climbing up its walls and towering over the roof, claiming it as their home. The red paint was chipped and fading. Some of the windows were missing, and those that weren't had a spiderweb of cracks, stretching across the glass like claws. The front door was wide open, but the steps that led up the porch were broken and had collapsed onto the ground in a heap of wood.

"This is my home," the little girl said in a playful, innocent voice. "Mama and Daddy aren't here, though. They never come home. But my brother is inside. C'mon, let's play!"

He fought to stay in place. Even though his legs yearned to turn around and run away from the little girl, he felt compelled to step forward and accept her offer to play. It was a strange, unsettling urge to go inside, to see what was hidden behind those walls, and yet it was horrifying all the same.

But the whole house looked ready to meet its end. It wasn't going to stand for much longer, and if Takeru gave into the voice that tried to drag him inside, it would take him down with it.

"C'mon," she repeated when he didn't move. "My brother is waiting. Don't you see him? He wants you to play, too."

Takeru's head snapped up without his consent and soulless, haunting black eyes returned his gaze.

That was the little boy from his dream.

He started when cold, cold fingers extended to grasp his hand. Wide-eyed, he gazed back at the little girl, who was now frowning, unamused. "He doesn't like to wait, Hope."

She pulled at his arm with an amount of strength that he couldn't believe someone her size could possess, and the distance between him and the abandoned house lessened considerably.

"Takeru..."

Soft. Gentle. Takeru blinked, heart still punching at his ribcage, so loud that it echoed in his ears. Everything around him shifted and flickered, and he felt the girl's icy, painful grip on his hand loosen.

"Takeru...!"

Why was everything blurry? He blinked again, harder this time, to clear his vision. It worked, for a few moments. Long enough for him to see the panic that crossed the little girl's features, as well as the angry, annoyed look that the little boy sent him. He opened his mouth to scream when the little boy made his way toward him, but no sound would come out.

"TAKERU!"

Something in him snapped. He didn't know what it was—perhaps the spell was breaking. Takeru inhaled sharply as a warm, soft hand connected with his shoulder, and he whirled around to face the owner of the hand. Rusty-brown eyes captured his blue ones in an instant.

Hikari. It was Hikari. Behind her was Ken, who was followed by Wormmon, Tailmon, and a very worried Patamon.

"Why... why are you all the way out here, Takeru?" the child of Light whispered, her hand leaving his shoulder to caress his cheek. The difference in temperature between her skin and the little girl's made him wince, and—

Wait. Takeru ignored her question and turned back around to look at the small child that lured him out here. But his horrified gaze only saw endless rows of trees, shivering under the wind's touch. The girl, her brother, and the house had disappeared, leaving behind no traces of their existence. Everything was gone.

Everything was gone.

His legs folded under him, the horror ricocheting in his mind soon replaced with shock. He heard Hikari call out his name again, and was vaguely aware that arms had caught him as he fell, but he could only stare at the space that the house and children had occupied mere seconds ago.

I just... I just imagined that whole thing? he thought, failing to grasp the reality of the situation. But... it was so real... and I... I could feel her hand on mine...

"...wrong? Takeru, answer us, please. You're scaring me."

Takeru looked at Hikari hollowly, realizing she was there but not really seeing her. He blinked several times, unable to understand what had just happened. Unable to process it. Houses didn't just appear and disappear at random. They didn't just vanish. And where had those children gone?

"You have been gone for almost an hour," someone was saying, although he wasn't sure who. It wasn't Hikari this time. Ken, maybe?

"Why did you leave, Takeru?" Patamon asked anxiously, sitting on his folded knees.

"There was... a girl," he murmured without realizing it, and as the words fell from dry lips, he was hit by a new wave of questions from two of his friends and three digimon who had snapped him out of his trance. He wasn't sure how to answer any of them—or if he could answer them—because he didn't even know the answers to the ones bulleting through his head. One, most of all, screamed louder than the rest:

What is wrong with me?