The Saga: Surrender

By: Linkmaste

Chapter 4: Life Styles of the Rich and Famous

Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon. I own Lindy and the Rose Family.

I woke up, grateful for the dreamless sleep and got into the shower. Hot showers solve anything I blissfully thought cleaning myself up. At least I liked the same smells I joked picking up a bottle of citrus shampoo and cleaning up. I relished in the high pressure of the shower water. It was nothing like the one back home, where the ceiling had a few cracks that I would stare at. Also, I didn't have to worry about anyone barging in.

Washed, dressed in a beige blouse with dark jeans and a black blazer, and makeup done (I only put on some mascara, blush and some foundation to cover my bruises) I done up my hair and took a look around my room. Some photos were familiar and showed my friends in Canada or a picture of me just arriving to Japan. Some were not really familiar such as me with some girls from my supposed school or a soccer photo that I was part of. I traced a finger on myself in the photos. I looked so happy...Why don't I remember any of this?

I saw my laptop in the corner and it peaked my interest. I tried my hardest to recollect some kind of memory but no dice. Reasoning, I had a few explanations.

One, some digimon had a sick idea to put me in coma dream. Two, I made a deal with someone and was free of the curse. Three...shoot I got nada. I wasn't cut out to make these kinds of theories, I can bearly hang on to an explanation of the pathagram theorem.

"I don't know what happened!" I groaned, giving up. Anything could have happened. It was all still confusing and I felt a prang of hurt remembering Rika hitting me...Impmon calling me a bitch...Yamaki screaming at me. Renamon hurting me gave me nausea and I almost wanted to upchuck in a bucket. I resisted and turned away.

I went to my Facebook account and searched. This would be where I could find some relative information. Sure enough, my profile was littered with these "Anti-Digimon" campaign posts.

Lindy Rose says "Stand together everyone! It is not natural for these things to be here! We must get rid of them and make our world better.

What the heck? Why would I write that? Another one.

Support the Anti-Digimon campaign where we will outlaw digimon for good! Help the children brain washed by this propaganda.

I felt sicker to my stomach. This was not me. This can't be me. I clicked further and found some poster with my face on it.

"My life was ruined by Digimon. Support us to help others like me who have been hurt by digimon."

"This is ridiculous." I said shaking my head. I'm a poster child for this 'Anti-Digimon' campaign? What kind of world was this?

Erika seemed to be a huge part of the campaign as well with videos of her on a podium speaking against the whole digimon. People cheered as she talked about the safety of children, and talking about sending them back. For some of the videos I stood by her side, cold and having this expressionless face on camera. I looked good though I thought looking at some kind of silver lining.

I never hated digimon. Even when D-Reaper struck in my home town, I was more afraid than I was of hating them. After, I was placed with the curse, I had so much more understanding of them and I became part of it! I was-(am?) part digimon myself and I would never hurt any child. It just went against my code-blood-whatever I call it these days.

But now...I felt glad I didn't have to change every night. I could go out! I could do a sleep over at a friends house or...I don't know! Anything! I felt free.

I heard a ping from my computer and saw someone messaged me. It was someone named Ayaki and she wanted to know if I was still up for the party tonight. Sure I replied half heartily. Whatever, not like I actually had a social life.

I don't realize what I was saying yes to but this point I was basking in the glow of my new...well I would not call it 'fortune' exactly, but it was certainty a step up from Yuki and Tai's house. The wardrobe was to die for, I looked hot, and best of all I can go downstairs and see my parents who I hadn't seen in months.

"I think I will do just that." I chimed happily and with my trademark smile I skipped down the stairs. Just like that, I see my parents in the kitchen making some coffee.

"Morning sweetie. How did you sleep?" My dad asked, looking up from his newspaper. I replied great and said the bed felt amazing.

"That's good. Want some breakfast?"

"Sure." I replied sitting down having some orange juice. I was being served breakfast! At my other house, I was usually getting the kids to settle down and eat their breakfast while scrapping against Impmon for food. He can eat a lot and if I wasn't careful I would lose my food to him. But I had to do no scrapping as I happily ate half an omelette and a sausage.

"Wow look at you!" exclaimed my mom putting a dish away. "You never eat this much, after all we tried."

"What do you mean?" I swallowed my food and took another bite. This was delicious!

"That stupid calorie counting thing you love to do. I swear it makes me pull my hair out." Dad sighed. "You are skinny enough as it is and the coach wants you to pack on some pounds so you don't fly away during a game."

My parents were concerned for me. Concerned! This was almost a dream come true! I wouldn't mind packing on some pounds, I did feel lighter than air.

"Oh, Lindy. You are being picked up by Auntie Erika soon. You have a photo shoot." My mom reminded me and handed a golden credit card. "Afterwards go treat yourself to some new clothes. You deserve it."

My jaw almost dropped. Telling a teenage girl to shop? How could I not?! This was the life! Woah...how much of a limit did this bad boy have?

The ride to the photo shoot was boring, save for Auntie Erika explaining some contract she made with a business. She seemed more excited for that than what I was doing.

"Auntie Erika, what is this photo shoot about?" I asked taking a sip of sparkling water, walking into the studio where the shoot was taking place. People bowed respectfully at me and my aunt and I felt flattered. I never received this curtsy before!

"Oh, just some more campaign stuff. That other one was so outdated." Erika flipped her blonde hair back and I looked confused.

"It's just a little photo no biggie." an assistant said. "We can Photoshop the bruises from your face if it's too noticeable."

I felt my stomach clench. Maybe that food was not such a good idea. Please don't make me puke it up, stomach.

"Our campaign.." I started looking at my aunt for some kind of answer. "It's not just to kill the digimon is it?"

My aunt perked up from her tablet and looked at me. "No, sweetie of course not. We explained this to you a thousand times. We are just going to put them back where they belong and save the children. You know how many died from those rogue digimon battles."

"Died?" I asked looking around for some kind of clarify. Nothing. I was lead out of a lobby and into makeup and wardrobe.

"Let's get her hair done-I want something polished. Make sure those bruises don't show or else someone is getting fired." Erika warned giving me a wink. I smiled, she sure knew how to get a crew together.

About a hour later, I met the photographer who was so excited to take this photo op with me. To meet the Lady Rose he explained made his heart swoon. I blushed.

"That is what we will be calling you." Erica explained, sending a text. "Lady Rose." Had a nice ring to it, I admitted.

"Why am I..." I trailed off as I was being changed into a sleek red dress. It was beautiful with the cut really short near my thighs but it was longer in the back and it made my legs look amazing. I looked good I thought with some pride taking a few peaks at my body. It has been so long since I dressed myself like this. There were gold embellishments in the middle and it has see through lace arms.

"Bring in the dummy!" The photographer cried and in the other room a rustle came out and I noticed two large men in dark suits bringing a Gotsumon that was knocked cold onto the set. I stared at the digimon. It looked like it was beaten pretty badly. I felt a cold prickle touch the back of my neck.

No...

Lindy, this isn't right. I told myself but I ignored it. It was probably a dummy right? Like an actual dummy.

"Ok, sweetie come here." The photographer extended his hand. "Not to worry about the thing here-he's not awake." The slumped digimon was the size of a child with its body made out of rock. It had some curled ears on top and a large mouth that hung open.

It wasn't a dummy I realized as they instructed me to step on it. Like I was digging my heel into it-into the ground he explained getting passionate about me looking like I beat it to death. My hands went clammy and I trembled. This was not me...

"I..." I stumbled over and the photographer made my black heel connect with the digimon's head. This felt so wrong, I thought. For a second, I imagined Impmon's head was there instead and me crushing my heel into his head.

I can't.

I broke out of my trance and let my instincts take over.

I found myself out of the studio and on the streets walking in a fast pace. I hailed a cab and directed him to take me to Shinjuku Park. He looked me over since I was wearing a deep cut dress, but I didn't care. I threw the gold card at him, he stepped on the pedal and we zoomed off into the city. My heart was still beating so fast and I clutched the seat to try to calm me down. Momentai...momentai...Terriermon, this would be a good time to tell me to Momentai!

The entrance of the park made me feel calm somehow like I could let go of what just occurred at the photo shoot. The more I walked forward the less likely I was going to go back. That wasn't a campaign-that was propaganda. How could I let myself be a part of that? That was utterly disgusting! What had I been thinking!?

I felt a little hot in the cheeks as people stared at my strange ensemble, but I kept walking up a set of stairs and off to the far side was Guilmon's hideout. Sometimes, as a digimon, I would escape over here and just let my thoughts wander. Sometimes, Guilmon would be there and we would talk or play or Impmon would find me out there and hang out with me. It depended on my mood. However, there was no red dinosaur digimon there anymore. There was a memorial in place outside the gate and I felt my stomach lurch as it said the following.

Here lies Takato Matsuki and Gulimon two of the bravest heroes whoever lived.

Oh right...their gone. I felt numb. It was like a fairytale nightmare. I just could not believe they were gone. I knelt at their grave, a little unsteady in my voice,

"I don't know what happened on that rooftop." I began. "But, I just want you to know that I would never hurt you guys. You were some of the first friends I ever had here. You were the ones who accepted me for who I was. I'll figure this out. Don't worry."

I felt confused as I remember that video that Yamaki showed me. In it, I was a human and somehow I pushed Gallantmon off the roof. That was just impossible-even if I was still a hybrid...something was fishy.

I walked out of the park depressed and thought about swinging by home to get some regular clothes on. I hailed another taxi when I heard a voice.

"Lindy!"

It was some girl who had dark hair and many piercings. I suppose I was someone she knew. I let the taxi pass and walked up to her. Please, don't let her be a Tamer.

"Hey girl! You look good!" She hugged me and gave me a kiss on the cheek. "Let's head to the house, we got to start prepping for the party soon."

Party? What party?

"C'mon! I'll lend you my clothes. The boys will be climbing on you like a tree if they saw you in that get up!"

I was lead to another house by this girl who I learned was Ayaki, the girl from the computer. We tried on outfits and chatted briefly about her life and drama. Something about seeing two guys at once...I didn't exactly care.

"Aya..." I said changing into some jeans and a cute t-shirt with a butterfly on it. "Was I ever weird, like at night?"

"Huh?" Ayaki looked up from her phone. "Oh, hey that's a totally cute shirt. Um, no but you are a party animal at night if that's what you mean."

"Party animal?"

"You end up wasted half of the time crawled on some lap of a guy! Don't you remember that time with Yame? Or Sohato? Or Yoshiro?" Ayaki checked her makeup and sighed. "Jeez, life styles of the rich and famous over here. At least try to stay sober tonight. Last thing you should be is knocked up with some guy's kid."

"I don't really remember..." I admitted, looking a little disappointed in myself. Was I that easy to get laid with? I always thought I would've waited...

The night came and the house was starting to fill up with random people I somehow knew. Guys would give me looks up and down my body, girls were telling me how lucky I was being so rich, and I constantly was given drinks...even a little bit of pot as a dealer passed by and said it was on the house. I dropped it off on a table in the kitchen and quietly exited the house. This just wasn't my scene. I was getting annoyed at the loud music, the stupid drunk people, and what I guessed was Sohato who wanted to...well, I think you know what he wanted from me.

I never understood how I ended up back at the park but there I was walking alone. I should play some sad music because I looked pretty pathetic walking alone trying to figure out this whole life that I had laid out that I can't even remember.

"Ai, this way." someone called out and I perked my ears. I know that voice...

I saw a flash of brown hair on another path and I almost gave a gasp of surprise. It was the twins! They were here at the park at night? Why? It was late out...and way past their bedtime. But, within me I felt happy I saw them.

Well, I had nothing else better to do. So, I started to follow them. Maybe out of everyone, those kids had an idea what happened to me I thought hopeful.