Chapter 8-A Familiar Laugh

Long moments pass, that I stare into this beings eyes. They seem completely cold. I finally speak.

"Are you, a Digimon?"

He looks at me, then laughs. His laugh sends shivers down my spine. Its...almost familiar. But how? He moves and points to one of the figures on the ground.

Being:"This was the Digimon. A DigiDestetined Spirit evolved. Much like yourself."

His eyes narrow, he knows I am human, not Digimon, inside. But no fear, passes though my heart. If he wants to kill me, for being human, he can. What dose it mater? I move closer to him, to the bodys, I want, need to see there faces. I look down. As I knew I would, I recognize both. The first, the one he points to..one of the SupremeDD's. Veg15. The other, another SupremeDD. Mark. I stand there, shocked, trying not to let it be seen. This.. creature, he destroyed two SupremeDD's? Even the demons failed in that.

"Who are you?"

The figure smirks.

Being:"I should ask the same of you."

"I am Duskmon. Spirit of Corrupted Darkness. I am the hunter, who lurks in the shadows, who's blades, are stained crimson, with blood."

The figure looks at me, a small bit of shock, in his eyes.

Being:"Dark DigiDesteind..? Could this be?"

"I do not consider myself, a DigiDestined no more."

Being:"Then what do you consider yourself? Duskmon, and nothing more?"

"I am a monster. I have slain. I have killed, the guilty, and the innocent alike."

Being:"You say guilty, before innocent. Can it be, you are not the monster, you think you are?"

"How would you know, what I am?"

The being looks around, then walks over to some rubble, pulling a laptop out of the rubble. Amazingly, it turns on. Data starts to flash across the screen, faster then the my eyes can keep up. He frowns, and throws the laptop once again in the rubble, then turns toward me again. A gun-shaped weapon, pops out of his arm, he aims it at me. It looks, strangely familiar. I stand, not moving. Death.. Has it come for me?

Being:"You are not a monster. You are just a human, seeking to be one. But your weak human emotions, drive you only to kill the guilty. You only kill the innocent, when you loose all sense of self. You are mearly a wannabe. And I shall end your life here and now."

I stare at him.

"End it then. My pain never ends. It won't cease in death. You say I only destroy the guilty? That alone, damns me. I .."

I stop for a few moments, do I dare say what I wish to say next. There is something odd about this creature, something almost familiar, but how? I have never seen him before.

The being raises his weapon, to my head.

Being:"Speak your last words!"

"How? How do you kill so many, hurt so many, and feel NOTHING?"

Being:"You want a answer, is that a last request?"

He smirks at me, again.

Being:"Easy. I am not human, so I don't feel your weak emotions. But I do feel. The pain of others, its enjoyable."

I lower my head.

"Kill me then. I am human.. I feel. I wish I did not. I am tormented by my past, by what I have done. Damn it! Why do I feel guilt, sorrow..pain? Why do I still CARE? How many life's must I TAKE?"

The figure looks at me, and laughs again.

Being:"You wish end to them? Foolish human. One can rid themselves, of all humanity. But your killing the wrong kind of people. You must destroy, the innocents."

I look at him.

"I can't. I've tried."

The being looks at me, then slowly, ever so slowly, he lowers his weapon.

Being:"Try harder. Or.. Perhaps you need help. Help I could...perhaps give you."

I look at him, and speak. I should say no, part of me screams for me to. But if I do, the pain will continue. My torment, will never end.

"How? Tell me what I must do."

The being, starts to speak, but then, from the rubble, one of the fallen SupremeDD's, who I thought to be dead, rises his head. Mark.

Mark:"D...damn you..to ..he...ll..Sigma"

His head falls back, his eyes faintly moving. I stare at him in shock, did he say..Sigma? My mind flashes back, back to the demon war. Bai Tzai, screaming how her creation would come one day. Sigma. Was this him? Was this being standing before me, one of my greatest enemy's, creation?

Sigma's eyes narrow, as he stares at me.

Sigma:"Something about you,seems almost familiar."

I look at him.

"You.. Are you Bai Tzai's creation?"

He looks at me, slowly he raises his weapon again.

Sigma:"You, know about her. Mine Creator. Who is apart of me. Zair, and Sigma, are one and the same."

I stare at him, I can't hide the shock in my eyes.

Sigma:"You know. I must know you."

What was I going to do? Run? I could run, he would slay me. Death, dose it mater anymore? But.. Something in me, wanted what he offered. He said he knew, how to end this pain. I would do anything, to not feel. Anything. I slowly sigh, and move closer to him, till I am only a few feet from him. I look into his eyes.

"Kill me if you wish. Kill me for who I am. I no longer care. A end to the pain, is all I ask. But I fear, I can never have it, not even in death. For my sins, I will suffer forever. Life I suffer in. Death I would suffer in. You do me, no favors, by ending my life."

I continue to look at him, as I slowly DeDigivolve. As I slowly, become myself. His eyes widen, in visible shock, and for a few long moments, he mearly studies me. He knows me. I know him. Zair.. We go back a long ways. Demon War. I can't believe, I am standing this close, to a being, who's part my greatest enemy.

Sigma:"Shadow."

He completely lowers his weapon, withdrawing it back into his arm.

"I am. That name. It fi fits me better now."

I stumble over my words, and look down, away from his eyes.

For a few long moments, he dose not speak. Mark's head, rises again, and he stares at me, weakly whispering.

Mark:"..Je..n? y..your..alive?"

Sigma:"She is. Reports of your death, Shadow, are greatly exaggerated."

I jerk my head up. My friends, think I am dead? It makes sense though. Why no one pursued me. Why I was not followed.

Sigma laughs again, and reaches to the ground, picking up a sharp piece of metal, he tosses it right at me. I swing my hand up, catching it, I stare at Sigma.

Sigma:"Shadow. Mine Creator,wishes for revenge, against you. But this, is oh so much better. Look at how you have fallen. Ceased to be a good little DigiDesteind. But you are denied everything. You are a simpering fool, Who seeks what she cannot attain. For human values, you hold onto, unconsciously perhaps. You will never attain the release from your emotions, unless you attain release from your humanity! And only I can help you with that. Once your greatest enemy, now perhaps, your only chance for what your dark heart desires. You truly are like Zair, more then I ever thought."

I shrug slightly, not answering. What did he want? Could he give, what he promised? Should I even, accept it? He was Zair..I felt this. The same darkness, she carried. The same, pure evil.

Sigma:"Take my hand, Shadow. I will teach you, to become what you desire. But first, you must take the first step. Destroy Mark."

I don't move, I can't.. I can't just slay one of my old friends.

"I..I.."

Sigma:"Do not say you can't. You can. But if you don't want to. If you want to be in pain. Don't. Leave here. I'll let you go. Mine revenge, will be sated eater way. You become like me, or you live with your guilt, and pain the rest of your miserable life, and beyond it."

I twitch, ever so slightly. I can't bear this pain, forever! I want it to end, I want to let go.. of all I was, I want to be free, of these emotions. I touch my D-Tector. Can I do it?

Sigma:"Do not. You must take this step, Shadow, as you are. Not Duskmon. Do it! Take the first step, to ending your pain!"

I shut my eyes, tightly, shaking ever so slightly, then my thoughts, turn to the past. All I did, for the Digital World, how I was repayed with pain. I step toward Mark, and kneel by him. He utters words, weakly, I shut them out. I raise the piece of metal, I open my eyes, looking at it. Am I really this way? Can I do this.. But the pain. My D-Tector begins to burn again, my soul seems to burn with it. Vegeta.. my other partners, my own pain.. my sins, the blood on my hands.. Whats one more, if it eases my pain, if it will help, completely end my pain.

Sigma:"Think of him. He's never suffered as you have. And what good has he done? He fell to darkness. He killed Veg15! He's guilty, Shadow. As guilty, if not more so, of the ones you've killed on this world."

I growl softly, moments pass, but soon, the thought of eternal pain, is to much for my heart to bear. I bring the piece of metal down, with a quick slash across Mark's throat..it is done. His blood pours down. Upon my hands. My human hands. The first life, I have ever taken..as Jen. I shake, ever so slightly, then tilt my head to the sky, and howl. A sound of pain, yet release as well.

Sigma laughs, as I rise. I continue to stare at the blood on my hands, and then, to much. I grab my D-Tector, Spirit Evolving to Duskmon. But the blood, is on my blade. Crimson. Now, there is blood everywhere. Crimson Red.. Staining my Blades, my wings, my hands. I close my eyes, the darkness taking me again. The last sound I here, Is Sigmas insane laughter.