Hi all! Sorry I was late again :( a family matter had to be attended to for a few day and that threw off my whole schedule for the week. I was also having a hard time finding the motivation for writing this chapter, but fear not for I will finish this series if it is the last thing I do! In my time of not writing this chapter I have been painfully writing an outline for the full story and if my calculations are correct this will end with Chapter 20. Sadly I don't think I'll be able to get the chapters out as fast as I would like, but nonetheless the chapters will come out (slower than I anticipated) and I will try to end it within the next two months. Hopefully this chapter will satisfy you and a WARNING: this chapter is where the story starts to get really sadistic so not for the faint of heart. Thank you :)

Chapter 13

Demons

Fanbeemon was fading fast. His body ached, drenched in sweat with a gem in hand and Leormon on his back. His vision turned nearly black an hour ago, his body was only moving from his willpower and determination to get his friend the help he needed. His body was so overheated that his mind was blank, like pudding. Like a robot he was just going with no one upstairs. For all Fanbeemon knew Leormon was already dead and he was wasting his breath, but he continued on.

The wind picked up and sand was blocking his vision. Fanbeemon was now walking, his wings fading a mile back, his body on the brink of collapsing. The sand piled on his feet, slowly burying him while he walked. The strain on his tiny body was enormous, his little heart pounding inside, screaming to explode with each muscle strain. Then, with a sigh, Fanbeemon collapsed, his body failing him, the sand quickly covering his body and Leormon's. The only sound in the desert was the howling rage of the wind claiming its next victim.

Fanbeemon wiggled, feeling the weight of something covering his entire body. It was warm, he didn't want to get up, but he knew that he had a task to complete. Leormon was fading fast, or dead already. He got up, and was surprised by the weight sliding off his body and the cool air hitting his furry body. Cool air, thought Fanbeemon. He looked around, taking in his surroundings.

Below him was a cot with a blue blanket falling on it. Around him was a hut made of wood and leaves for the ceiling. An incense was smoking in the middle of the room, and again a cool breeze flew in from the open doorway making Fanbeemon shiver in delight.

Cautiously, he got out of the bed and walked to the doorway. He stuck his head out of it and immediately closed his eyes as the sun blinded him for an instant. Peeking through the bright light Fanbeemon was stunned to find himself in a village, similar huts like his own were gathered around, and strange cacti with legs and boxing gloves walked around doing their daily chores, playing games, and going about things as if the digital world wasn't ending.

"Ah! Everybody he's awake!" one of them shouted. Fanbeemon was startled when all the prickly hollow eyes fell on him and instinctively he drew back into his own hut. "Hey there, don't worry we don't bite. We are a friendly species," said the cactus again with a smile.

Fanbeemon wasn't sure if he could trust them. He was hesitant. The cactus digimon could see his indecision, his foot barely moving out of the hut while he debated in his mind if it was safe. But, like a patient parent, the cactus digimon waited and when Fanbeemon finally decided to come outside of the hut he whispered "yeah, that's it," with open arms.

The cactus digimon gently took Fanbeemon and navigated him throughout the village, leading him to a special hut that was different from the others. It had giant foliage sprouting out of the top and had colored signs painted on its side. Fanbeemon entered, not knowing why he was brought there. When he stepped into the hut he saw another cactus digimon, this time it looked older and grayer, his needles not as sharp as the others. Beside him, Fanbeemon saw Leormon sleeping on the ground, his body sweaty and looking awful, as if he were in intense pain. The old cactus motioned for him to sit down, and he did. The cactus digimon that brought him entered and sat between him and the elder cactus, the fire in the middle of all of them smoked up the room and escaped through the roof.

"Hello," stated the old cactus, "As the chief of this Togamon village I welcome you. You gave our scouts a scare when they went on their daily perimeter check, thought you were dead until they brought you two to me. Now don't give me that look, we are a peaceful people just trying to make a living, and survive these dark times. You were badly injured, I patched you up, and then you took a nice long nap." He smiled as he let Fanbeemon process the information he was just given.

"How long was I out?" asked Fanbeemon.

"Hm, now how long was that….three hours?" asked the elder cactus to the one who brought Fanbeemon to the hut, "No no, that doesn't sound right. Thirty days maybe? Oh, quite possibly—"

"Five days," said the younger Togamon.

"Ah, now that feels right if there ever was an answer!" said the elder gleefully.

"And what about my friend?" asked Fanbeemon, looking down at Leormon and seeing watching his face contort with pain as he slept. The elder Togamon sighed a long sigh before answering.

"I'm afraid he is in worse condition than you were. I am not sure how long you fellas were out there in that storm, but with all the sand getting into his wounds I'm afraid we couldn't get it all out."

"A-and what does that m-mean?"

"It means that there is still sand in his body. At some point they will clout together, passing through his veins, plug up his heart and he will die."

Fanbeemon was speechless. He wasn't sure what he should do. Was there anything that could be done?

"Isn't there anyway to save him?"

"Hm," pondered the old cactus, "Now that you mention it this was more common back in the day, you know before we Togamon settled here."

"What about the Akwandan story you used to tell us?" spoke up the younger cactus.

"Hm, that may work," chuckled the old one, "that may work."

"Wha-what's the Akwandan story?"

"Years ago," began the gray Togamon, "back when this village was still young, I would tell everyone the tale of the traveling digimon that encountered the fierce storm as you did. Most were alright, but if they ever crossed with an open wound," he said shaking his head, "they nearly all died. No one knew how to help them, all they could do was watch their bodies writhe in pain as their last moments were upon them. But then, one fella was determined to save his friend, so much so that he blindly brought them to a forest. He tried everything he could, and in the heart of that forest he found the most beautiful flower. He grounded it up until it turned into a bright liquid, and once his friend drank that liquid the sand in his body dissipated. The flower was acid to it, and based on his tale many lives were saved of wounded travelers. So, when the time to build this village came I decided to have it on the edge of the desert, we would always welcome and help those who bared the desert. But it has been many years since anyone crossed it, and even more since someone needed the help of that flower."

"So you're saying that there is a chance, and we can find this flower?" asked Fanbeemon.

"Hm, just maybe, but I can't take you. I'm too old for that journey now and I should stay with your friend here if he worsens."

"I can go. I have memorized the route from your stories," said the young cactus.

"Oh Tuli, it is a hard trek, and you have not been there physically before."

"If your memory is accurate then I know the way. I've loved that story ever since I was little, I know it by heart and every detail."

"Well….alright my dear, but promise me you won't go alone."

"Oh I won't." Tuli got up and held out a red glove for Fanbeemon, "Come on let's go."

An hour later Tuli, Fanbeemon, and three other Togamon's were trekking through the forest a bit away from the village. Tuli was navigating the maze of trees easily, acting like she has been doing this all her life, and like she said it looked as if she knew where she was going like the back of her glove. Creatures scurried around them, hiding in the foliage. Fanbeemon was scared, he didn't know what would happen. Questions like "Would Leormon still be alive when I get back?" rang through his head.

After traveling deep into the forest they came upon a clearing where the strangest plant resided. The forest surrounded it with the sky open above to let in the waning sunlight. The plant looked regal, twisting and curving five feet up the ground, with giant thorns on its base and beautiful indigo petals holding onto the dew as it curled in the heat. Tuli and the other Togamon gazed upon it as if it were God, a mystical and powerful artifact. One of its kind. No one knew when it would sprout again, they had to assume that it was a onetime shot. Should they fail, Leormon would most certainly die.

The Togamon slowly inched their way into the clearing, wondering if there was any dangerous animal that acted as a protector to the mystical flower. Fanbeemon stood where he was, taking it all in, it did exist, we can heal Leormon. Flying passed the Togamon, Fanbeemon landed in front of the flower and soaked in its glory. The flower was really beautiful up close, almost as if it glowed in the light making it ethereal. Very carefully, Fanbeemon stretched out one of his arms, intending on grabbing it, but Tuli stopped him.

"Wait," she said, "You may damage it. Let me extract it."

Fanbeemon didn't want to chance the smallest possibility that she was right. Stepping aside, he allowed Tuli through and watched as she, very nimbly for a cactus, plucked the flower from its resting place all intact. With a smile, she handed it to Fanbeemon to hold on the way back. But, one of the Togamon happened to glance up toward the sky, and his holes (eyes) widened at what he saw. Dark insidious clouds loomed close overhead, if he squinted he would have seen the electric blue veins glowing inside it. Too scared to talk he ran. He ran passed the twigs and leaves, the trees and animals, leaving his comrades baffled in their place.

Tuli looked up to see what had spooked her comrade, and she too felt weak in her knees. Everyone in the digital world know what a dark cloud meant. It has been nothing but destruction and death to all who falls under its shadow, and right now it was inches closer and closer to the group.

"RUUUUUN!" Tuli shouted as the cacti made a run for it.

Fanbeemon hesitated as he saw the giant cacti run faster than he had ever assumed they could. He wasn't exactly sure what was going on, but from the dimming of the sun, and a quick glance behind him he knew his life was once again in danger. The dark cloud was gaining speed and he had a late start. His wings hurt as he flew as fast as he could, crashing into branches and dense leaves, practically flying blind. He could just barely make out the rest of his party as he was flying for his life, and still the cloud was right on his heels. As a last resort he closed his eyes and strained every vain in his body to fly faster and faster. There wasn't much progress, but little by little he was getting farther away from the cloud, if only a bit. Sadly, with his eyes closed he did not see the weakest Togamon in front of him and in a matter of deadly seconds he tumbled and crashed into him with a loud scream of deafeat. Tuli turned around trying to see what happened, and to her horror she saw Fanbeemon, with a Togamon, and the flower sprawled on the bed of the forest just seconds away from the cloud. She turned her body and was about to rush back until Fanbeemon screamed at her.

"NO!" he screamed knowing full well it would be fruitless for her to come back. With a pained expression he tossed the flower like a Frisbee to Tuli, who caught it with ease, and he uttered "save him, save him," before he and Togamon were engulfed by the death cloud.

Having no time to mourn, Tuli ran with the last two Togamon as fast as they could. The cloud was gaining and gaining, she wasn't sure they would be able to make it. Their digital muscles were burning their bodies as the strain was reaching its tipping point, and then the wind came. A gust bombarded them, putting more resistance on their bodies as they fought the foul wind and pushed on with all their might. Tuli shielded the flower in fear it would blow away, their eyes closed as they trekked and prayed that the cloud wasn't gaining on them from this predicament. Tuli opened her eyes again to see the world one last time, the thought that they were going too slowly grew in the mind as she was accepting a quick death. But nothing happened. She turned around and saw that the wind had put the dark cloud onto another course, away from them.

She stopped to catch her breath, thanking the digital gods. The other Togamon with her rested too.

"Where's Corlo?" asked Tuli, wondering about the first Togamon that ran.

"Didn't make it, I saw him trip and fall down a hill. No way he would have gotten up it in time."

"I see," said Tuli, a bit in disbelief as she realized that only she and this one other Togamon were the only ones left, even Fanbeemon fell. It was truly as dark time as they made their way back to their village. It took less time, thanks to the running, and once they got there they ignored the other Togamon who were concerned about them. Tuli went straight for the old one's hut.

The old gray cactus opened his eyes as Tuli entered. He had been washing Leormon, making sure his body temperature didn't get too high.

"Where is Fanbeemon?" he asked in a quiet voice, already knowing the answer.

"He and most of the Togamon with us were devoured by the black cloud that has plagued our world. Thankfully it was shifted off course, but I fear we will have to move as soon as possible." The old cactus grunted in agreement. "But his death will not be in vain," she continued, placing the flower in front of her chief, "He sacrificed himself to save his friend."

"Then let me get started."

Back in the real world, beyond the eyes of everyday people, and under the surface of the Earth a man was walking down a poorly lit hallway. The lights were either cracked or dying sending an eerie horror themed glow down the hall. But this man had no fear, in fact he lived in it, he enjoyed it, it gave him pleasure, and he was walking to his favorite patient.

Around the corner, he came to a door. The door was old and cracked, paint peeling off it as if it were crying. When he opened it it creaked loudly and sent shivers down your spine.

Inside was a room, a room that was dank and dark. The only light was the faint blue emitted from the giant monitor on the wall. Chained in front of it was Simon. He was naked and bloody, his wound barely covered up and bleeding out. His skin, while covered by dirt and grime and sweat, was pale. The man clicked his tongue in disapproval.

"Now Simon, what have we talked about with your bandage. It won't heal if you keep fidgeting and knocking off the tape. You know I don't come down here often, and it would sadden me to find you dead." Simon whimpered, he didn't have the strength to talk. He barely had the strength to move. His stomach rumbled as he hadn't been fed in a few days. "Now," continued the man as he tilted Simon's head to the ceiling and slowly poured his bottled water down Simon's throat, "I would really hate to be the one to brake it to Lindsay that her cute little brother had died," Simon spat out the water in his mouth at the sound of his sister's name and began to panic. He was shouting incoherently and violently thrashing his shackles and chains about, his bandage coming more undone. The man slapped Simon across the face to shut him up and quickly thrust his hand around his small neck. He gripped Simon's neck until he was chocking and pleading for air. The man let Simon go, watching as the boy lay sprawled on the floor gulping down air as fast as he could.

"Do something stupid like that again and I'll be more violent than when I stabbed you."

Simon quieted down.

"That's a good boy. Now let's get you cleaned up and fitted."

Simon didn't protest, he knew that this man wouldn't hesitate to kill him. For some reason he was being kept alive, and for the time being he was grateful for just that. So he allowed the man to use his bucket of water and sponge his body clean. He was blindfolded since he blacked out on the day he was stabbed. He hasn't seen the sun in days, or weeks. He wasn't sure how long he had been there. Time didn't exist in hell.

The man ran the sponge over Simon's naked body, scrubbing carefully and every inch. He peeled off the remaining tape to the bandage and soaked the oozing wound. Simon's face briefly contorted in pain as he felt the cold sting of his wound hitting dirty air. The man bent down and stared at the wound, the sponge he used was mostly damp at that point but there was still enough water over it that he should dry it before putting the new one on. So, he blew onto Simon's wound. His breath battling the water for dominance on the bloody scar. Simon shivered. The man never touched him, he always figured that was the reason he was captured, but now he was questioning whether the man was actually going to go through with it now. His face looked like he wasn't comfortable with the thought, and he braced himself for what was to come. To his surprise the man only put on another bandage and taped it back onto his skin. Simon's worrying was starting to ease as he was thinking while this man did a lot to him, maybe he wasn't as evil as Simon initially thought.

"Simon," the man whispered in his ear. His lips just barely brushing against it. "Brace yourself and bite on this as hard as you can."

Simon wasn't sure what he was talking about, but he figured that the man had a good reason so he opened his mouth and felt the man place something soft in it. It felt weird against his teeth and he identified it as cloth. Simon could only think of one reason to put cloth in ones mouth, and that was to muffle their noises. Something told Simon that he was about to bear intense pain so taking a deep breath and listening to his captors advice he bit down as hard as he could. He could be brave, he won't show how weak he was to his enemy.

The man looked upon Simon with knowing eyes, a smile creeping onto his face. The time had come and he was ready to hear Simon's beautiful screams of agony. He slowly took out the bag that was tied to his belt. Inside he took out ten rods of very thin bamboo, each of their ends were carved into a sharp point. Breathing in Simon's initial fear the man shivered, his body shaking out of the sheer joy he was about to inflict onto the boy. The man took Simon's hand and held it up. He stared at it, as if it were a piece of art he was about to set on fire, before slamming it to the ground, picking up one of the bamboo rods, and carefully and precisely he inserted it underneath Simon's fingernail. The boy let out a muffled scream. He was not prepared to face the pain the man was putting him through. A smile shown on the man's face. He grabbed another bamboo rod and shoved it under another nail, and another, and another until Simon's face was coated with hot tears of agony and his fingernails were all bloody raped by bamboo. The cloth in Simon's mouth helped a bit, but the kid was in too much pain and it only slightly muffled his now soul crushing pain. His throat hurt as the last bamboo rod was insert. By the time the man would finish Simon wouldn't be surprised if he couldn't speak again.

The man was having a blast. With each horrifying scream he was getting more aroused. His heartbeat was fast and his shorts were tightening. He never thought he'd get this hard when only half the deed was done. He envied Simon as he was about to experience something he'd never experience in the "real" world.

"Don't worry Simon," he said soothing him by caressing Simon's cheek, "I'm only half way done."

Simon's body shook and a puddle of yellow liquid started to form under them. This did not deter the man. He proceeded as he took everything in. He grabbed one of Simon's fingers and slide the bamboo out. Simon was glad, but the wound hurt and stung like hell times a hundred. Air was forcing it's way under his nail, he felt uncomfortable as the air it his insides for the first time. The man kept repeating 'Don't worry' to Simon in whispers as he kissed the freshly made wound. The man then grabbed a wire from his bag and carefully inserted it into the wound. Simon wasn't sure what was happening, he wasn't sure what the man was putting into him, but it felt so unnatural and made him shake out of uncomfortableness. The man repeated this with each finger, Simon was reaching his limit as his head began to feel light. Once he was done the man connected the wired to the monitor behind Simon, which was connected to a generator that was off in the corner of the room. The man gathered the bloody bamboo and his other stuff as he got up and went to the door.

"Until next time," he said as he locked the door behind him and went back the way he came. This time he had a smile on his face, and an even bigger one in his pants.

Simon whimpered and cried himself to sleep as he lay in his own urine. The lights in the hallway finally flickered its last as the lights died and Simon was truly living in darkness.