Sorry for the delay everyone. I just got a new job and have had some other things going on in my life that have distracted me from finishing this chapter and also continuing the story. But it will go on, no matter what!
The youngest Riley, along with several other fourth graders, was playing tag on the playground of her public school. While most of them hid in obvious places like under the yellow slide or in the nearby tan colored crawling tube, Hailey decided to be a little less conspicuous with a hiding place and ran out the nearby gate, which was strictly against the rules, to hide behind a large bush where no one would think to or dare look.
She giggled while watching from afar as everyone else got found one by one, while a shadow loomed menacingly over her.
Meanwhile, at Fox Hollow High School, students and faculty alike continued cheering for Renomon who was still standing in the center of the football field following a quick, painless battle with multiple shadow slayers.
This is what it feels like to be a hero. Never before had he experienced admiration on this level. Seeing and hearing so many react that positively to his acts of heroism made him feel, for the first time, like he'd made a real difference in the world, one that very few individuals, aside from superheroes in comic books, movies or on TV, get to experience. As much as I'm enjoying this, I'd better get out of here and turn back to normal before someone notices I'm missing.
The crowd watched in awe as Renomon turned, leapt on top of a goal post, flipped over the fence and disappeared into a wooded area across from the school yard. And once he had gone the teachers moved all students into the gymnasium for fear of another attack where Zack looked around a seemingly endless crowd of teenagers, all talking about what they had just witnessed, for one person in particular and was relieved to see him appear, pretending as if he had run away from the danger. "Jeez, you had me worried. I thought I was going to have some explaining to do if you weren't here."
"Come on, you really think I'd leave you in the lurch like that?" Zack smirked and nodded to which Ryan rolled his eyes then glanced around to be sure nobody would hear their conversation. "Think anyone noticed I was missing when I went digital?"
"I don't think so." Although it seemed that way, neither of them could be entirely sure. Any time Ryan became Renomon carried with it the risk of compromising his digital identity and putting those closest to him in more danger than they already were. "What should I say if someone does ask me where you were during the attack?"
"How should I know? You're smart. Make something up and stick with it. Like…" Racking his brain, trying to come up with a response that others would think was true. "…I was hiding in the woods across the street until it was safe."
"Aw, what's the matter? The big, bad monsters scare you?" An all too familiar voice came from behind them, re-igniting long forgotten feelings of disdain in Ryan. "Let me guess…you saw those things coming, tucked your tail between your legs and ran like a chicken." They turned to find Scott Gerardi, along with Mike Reese and Pete Grady, standing only a few feet away. "Isn't that right, Riley?"
Ryan could feel the hatred he had for their childhood nemesis surface in the form of a clenched fist but just barely managed to control the anger, taking a deep breath then smiling. "Still up to your old tricks, huh? It's been a long time. Only took you three years to grow another set after I laid the smack down on your candy ass."
Mike and Pete stifled their laughter, seeing how mad Scott was becoming. "You were lucky that day. I know it and you know it. Now that I've been hitting the gym I'd wipe the floor with you." Flexing his muscles for all to see, believing that he was the stronger individual. "Besides, you're still the same scrawny little punk I used to beat up on. Plus, you still hang out with this loser. Nothing's changed."
"Actually, a lot has changed." Cleverly hinting to him the truth through an ambiguous reply that only Zack got, reveling in that knowledge. "We've grown up while you're still resorting to the same childish antics that have been your M.O. since the first grade." The bully opened his mouth looking as if he was about to say something but could not. Ryan moved in closer till he was face to face with his former tormentor. "What's the matter? Cat got your tongue? Or has the fact that you're nothing but a useless waste of skin finally sunk in? See I may not have muscle and we might be a couple of losers, in the high school sense, but we'll never become what you already are and always will be…pathetic." Scott was dumbfounded and embarrassed. He looked at both his "friends" who said nothing but were enlightened enough by Ryan's words to turn and walk away. "Now, if you'll excuse us, like those two we've wasted enough time around you. Come on, bro."
"I'm right behind you, Ry." Zack followed, leaving the dejected teenager all alone in a world of his own inner torment with nobody to take it out on anymore. "Dude, I've never seen you act like that before. Don't get me wrong, he had it coming, but don't you think that was just a little cold?"
Zack's right. Normally I would've just walked away but instead…I just basically destroyed that guy's entire existence. What's happening to me?
"Ryan Riley please report to the principal's office." They looked over their shoulders at the intercom on the wall. It's netting moving like a heartbeat with each spoken word. "Repeat: Ryan Riley to the principal's office. Thank you."
"What was that you were saying about no one noticing I was gone?"
After changing out of the gym uniform and back into normal attire, Ryan, all alone, walked through the halls of Fox Hollow High School towards the principal's office. Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. A side effect of how nervous he was, believing that his identity had somehow been discovered. I'm sure no one saw my transformation. There was too much chaos going on. How then? Maybe a security camera recorded me? Man…however it happened, I guess I'll have to face the music.
The secretary let him go in the moment that he arrived and took a seat at the principal's behest. "Mr. Riley, I'm going to get right to the point. I just received a phone call from both of your parents. There's no easy way to break this to you but…your sister is missing."
"What do you mean missing!? With all due respect, sir, I want to know what's going on!"
"From what I was told, shortly before the incident we had here today, Hailey was playing with her friends during recess in the schoolyard and didn't return to class afterwards. Security did a sweep of both the building and grounds but couldn't locate her. Your parents are there now with the police." Ryan knew without a shadow of a doubt that Myotismon was responsible for his little sister's disappearance but could not acknowledge that fact to anyone without outing himself as Renomon. "Now, out of safety concerns, I've decided to cancel all classes for the rest of the day. There's an officer waiting outside to escort you home. Your mother has asked me to tell you to stay there until she's able to return."
On his way "out of the building" he stopped in the stairwell to text Zack, letting him know what was going on before ducking into an empty classroom. I know I'm going to get grounded for this but I'm the only one who can save my sister. He calibrated the DTD to teleport him directly into DATA's control room. Sorry you're going to freak out because of this, Mom, but you'll thank me later. A simple push of a button and he was gone in the blink of an eye.
Hailey, caged in the main hall of Myotismon's fortress like a wild animal, tried valiantly but effortlessly to free herself from captivity. "Let me out of here! Let me out!" Devimon rolled his eyes, having to play the babysitter. "When my brother finds out where I am, you're in trouble. He's going to…"
"Listen, you little whelp!" He yelled at the top of his lungs, finally losing patience after listening to her for several hours almost non-stop. "My master has said I am forbidden to harm you, for the time being. But if you do not bite your tongue this instant I just might be willing to tempt his wrath and shut you up myself…permanently. Now, unless you want me to follow through with what I just said, sit there and do not move or speak! Understand!?"
"Devimon…!" Myotismon appeared on the upper floors balcony, floating over the stone rail and to the bottom level. "Go on! Destroy her…if you dare." It was a bold challenge that Devimon would never have taken, knowing that her end would also be his. "We need her alive if we're to get Renomon to come! She is essential to my plan and you will not do anything to alter those plans!" The fallen angel digimon was once again put in his place. "Besides…I believe what he might do to you, should she be harmed by your hand, shall be far worse than anything I would. And, if I were you…I'd keep that in mind."
"What do you mean the D-Gate isn't functioning!?" Ryan exclaimed, arguing with Yamaki about the status of a device once used to rescue him that he needed to do the same for Hailey. "Maybe you didn't hear me before but they've got my sister! Please, I've got to get to the digital world now!" Almost pleading, desperate to get the help he needed. "That machine is the only thing capable of doing it! Whatever's wrong, just fix and turn it back on!"
Dolphin, also present, commented on the situation. "I'm afraid it's not that simple. The last time we used the D-Gate it proved to be very unstable. If we were to start it up now without proper testing we could potentially create a cross dimensional rip that would swallow up all life on Earth world and the universe similar to that of a black hole."
Yamaki, although having been verbally berated, was more than understanding towards Ryan's plight. "Believe me…we're going to do everything in our power to bring your sister back safe and sound. I promise."
"Sir…!" Riley's voice yelled through the desk intercom. "We have a situation up here!" The three of them, joined by Shibumi and Janyu along the way, hurried up to the control room. "We're receiving a transmission from the digital world."
The computer screen was filled with static which cleared to reveal Myotismon's scarred face staring back at everyone in the room. "Hello, Ryan Riley. Or would you prefer Renomon now?" Ryan stared right back with a vicious scowl. "By this point you've realized that I do indeed have your sibling here at my humble abode. I assure you that no harm has befallen her. And I would be more than willing to release the girl…if you would be willing to make a little trade." He knew exactly where this was headed and disliked it just as much. "You for her…it is but that simple. Devimon will be waiting in that wretched park should you decide to accept…any questions?"
"No, but I do have something to say…" Ryan approached the screen, mid walk before coming to a stop. "…should anything happen to Hailey…you won't be able to run far enough to get away from me!"
Myotismon snickered as the feed suddenly came to an end, returning static to the monitor. With a frustrated growl, Renomon turned and, without a word, proceeded towards the exit. Henry's father stepped in front of him. "You can't seriously be considering giving yourself up to that monster? It's obviously a trap. He has no intention of letting your sister go even if you do surrender to him. You'll be all on your own against them."
"I know. But what if you were in my place and it was one of your children? What would you do?" Janyu looked off to the side, having no further argument to dissuade him and moved aside though the fox digimon answered his own question anyway. "You wouldn't have any other choice…neither do I. And I guess I am on my own."
"Guess again." Takato appeared with Guilmon, Rika, Renamon, Henry and Terriermon at the top of the stairs he was about to go down. "We're a team. Team's always stick together. More importantly we're friends. And friends are always there for one another." The tamers words deeply touched the fox digimon. "You've stuck your neck out of us more times than we could ask you to. Now it's our turn to do the same. What do you say? Will you let us help?"
Renomon looked at Renamon who nodded, providing that extra assurance he needed. "What are we waiting for? Let's go and get my little sister back."