Alex strode in, slinging his keys onto the brass hook anointed with his name by the door. Tugging off the snow-covered coat Gimi had lent him, he tossed it onto the tall black coatrack on his left and called out, "Mum, dad, I'm home!". Nothing but silence greeted him. He kicked off his converse, leaving them by the door, and walked into the kitchen. "Hello, anyone there?" He glanced around the small, basic kitchen but there was no sight or sign of anyone. He sighed as he saw a piece of white A4 stuck to the fridge using the magnet he made in Year 3. Tugging the note free from the shoddy artwork depicting cartoonish versions of his family, he read it aloud, "Ally, we've gone free-diving in Florida, love mum and dad."
Scrunching the note, almost involuntarily, he felt his blood boil. "Again?" Throwing the note onto the floor he switched on a small red countertop radio and cranked up the volume, feeling the loud music both quell and intensify his rage. "I feel like I'm the only adult sometimes," he grumbled. Slumping back against the counters, facing the fridge, he spotted a yellow post-it. Narrowing his eyes, he walked over slowly and tugged it free, scanning it.
P.S Ellie is going to stay and keep you company.
He couldn't decide if he was happy or not. After all, Ellie was basically his mum's spy. Crumpling up the sticky note, he tossed it over his shoulder and swung open the fridge door. Pulling out the salad crisper full of greens and vegetables, he grabbed a can of fizzy pop hidden at the back, popping the cap, he took a large gulp and sighed. At least he could enjoy some little perks with them away.
"Ellie is keeping you company!"
Nearly dropping his can, Alex felt his heart race as he spun around. He fell backwards as he saw someone directly behind him, barely keeping his footing and then sighed with relief as he realised it was Ellie.
The beautiful blonde frowned. "I was late saying it in time to you reading the note, right. Damn, I was sure I had timed it right." Her blonde locks were loosely curled and hung just past her shoulders. She had charm and allure that was simply extraordinary. Then again, she was a famous popstar and one of his mum's top clients. "Are you okay?" she asked, helping him up.
Alex stammered, at a loss for words. She was like family, that was for certain, but this was still really something.
"It's been far too long, give me a hug, you idiot!" She held out her toned yet slender arms, wrapping them around him and pulling him in. "And I'll just take this." She plucked the can from his hand with her manicured nails and put it on the side. "You know you're not meant to drink that stuff."
Ellie's ample bosom almost suffocated him, stifling any riposte he might have been able to offer.
She let go and looked around, her pink lips forming a pout. "Where's Felix?" That was the name she had for Felismon, being unaware that she was a Digimon, and identified as feminine.
"She's…" Alex spotted Felismon on top of the corner cupboard that housed the crockery, slinking behind a gold surfing trophy that belonged to his dad. "Around."
"Your mum said she's sorry she can't be here, but we can have fun without her!" Ellie chimed, folding her arms across her white crop top, her chiselled mid-riff on show. "Oh, I have something for you!" Ellie fumbled through the pockets of her dark green cargo pants and then frowned. "Wait right here, I must have left it in my bag." She rushed over to the sofa, still visible through the serving hatch that faced into the living area.
"Felismon, come down here and distract her, I have to get ready for my date," Alex hissed.
"A date is it?" Felismon teased, her black tail swishing back and forth, brushing upon his mother's award for speed climbing a mountain in Italy.
"Shut up, you know what I mean!" Alex scowled at the cat, who licked her paw and closed her eyes nonchalantly. He was getting no help from her.
Ellie came sauntering in, her hand deep in the ivory designer handbag. She slammed it down on the off-white quartz worktop and began to pull out various items, dropping them onto the wooden chopping board to her left. Her lipstick rolled into the white porcelain sink but as it smacked against the surface, she withdrew two pieces of card attached to lanyards. "Time for you to perk up, silly bum. I'm doing a concert tonight and these are two backstage passes for you and a friend." She waved them in his face and then held them out.
"I don't need two tickets," Alex protested, taking one.
"I'm sure there's a special girl you would like to take," Ellie insisted, forcing him to take the other pass as Felismon smirked in the corner. "Now, come on, I'm making truffles and you can help." She grabbed a pink apron from the drawer in front of her and tied it around herself.
Alex shot a glare at Felismon who ignored his panicked looks. He could tell time was running down to meet Corinne. "I'll just go into my bedroom a minute, I've got something to do."
"Something to do, eh?" Ellie winked. "You teenage boys, you go do your something, I'll turn the music up."
Alex frowned and asked, "What do you—? Never mind."
Ellie's phone pinged and she pulled it out. "Go on, be quick."
Alex rushed over to his bedroom, closing the door behind him and flicking the lock as he saw a black ball of fur bounce onto his shoe rack.
"Home alone again? Only so much of your 'me time' I can stay out of your room for." Felismon swished her tail, knocking one of his Sky Max One trainers off the rack. "And the smell afterwards." Gagging, Felismon leapt onto his double bed.
"Shut up," Alex retorted, walking over and picking up the red shoe to inspect it for any scuffs before he placed it back on the rack.
"So, who will you take?" Felismon rolled around on the Hawaiian themed sheets and then snapped up to look at him.
"I have to go see Corinne anyway so maybe I could ask her." Alex shook his head. It was a stupid idea. "She'll probably say no," he grumbled sullenly as he slouched down into his red and black computer gaming chair.
"You don't know if you don't ask…" Felismon teased, lazily lowering her head down and closing her eyes.
"Yeah, maybe—"
"She'll still say no, but at least you'll know," Felismon interrupted, opening a single eye. Even though she couldn't smirk he could tell she was in that moment.
"Stupid cat," Alex grumbled, standing up and walking over to his closet.
"Not a cat." Felismon turned and pounced onto the windowsill, knocking his junior surfing participation award onto the bed to make room so she could stretch fully along the small window ledge.
Alex shook his head and began to pull off his clothes. He changed into a white shirt, red cashmere jumper and some brown chinos. His fingers traced over the numerous bottles of aftershave, each a different colour and shape. The woody smell as he sprayed it on himself almost distracted from his appearance in the mirror of the wardrobe door. He hated his own reflection. Pulling at his hair he grimaced. Why didn't he just look better? Like the people in the magazines?
Sniffing, he was delighted by the aroma of baking drifting into the room. Toying with a lock of hair, he moved it from one side and then the other. "I can't decide," he groaned.
"Big date," Felismon commented dryly. "Since you're not going to let me actually sleep with all this racket, I'll keep the bimbo entertained while you finish up." The cat Digimon pounced from her perch, her little paws not making a sound on the wooden flooring. Padding over, she leapt abruptly, whacking the brass handle down and then she slinked out of the room.
Checking the time on his phone while he glanced back at the mirror he saw it was five already. The others were probably barely no home. No wonder they hadn't messaged yet. Still, even Corinne hadn't messaged. Shaking away the thoughts, he slipped the phone back into his pocket and reached up onto the top shelf of the wardrobe, grabbing the little plastic tub that sat there. Digging his fingers into the putty, he rubbed the wax through his hair as he adjusted the style. Vibrations against his hip alerted him to a new text message. Pulling a dirty white towel from the blue fabric linen basket in his room, he wiped his hands cleaned and checked his phone. The message was from his mother.
Be good at Ellie's show. It's an important one. You showed her up last time when you stormed out and I had to come back from Switzerland to sort it out. Love you, mum.
First of all, he hated how she always ended her texts with mum. It was like she had no idea about caller ID. Secondly, why did she always have to treat him like a little kid? He quickly typed back 'Don't drown' and put his phone away. Their stupid dangerous hobbies were a pet peeve of his, but they didn't care. It was only their lives they were putting in danger. He glanced in the mirror. "It'll have to do." Pushing the cool wooden doors closed he walked out of his room and into the brightly lit kitchen. Clean, and also empty, he frowned and then headed out to the dining room.
Ellie sat on a chair tapping away on her phone but as she heard him come in, she put the sleek silver device down, her bright eyes reflecting his startled appearance back at him. "Very smart," she teased, smiling. "Although you were in there a long time. Should I go check your browsing history?" She winked and then laughed.
"Shut up." Alex rolled his eyes and sighed exasperatedly. Why did she insist on trying to embarrass him at every turn? It was the reason he had left the last concert early and got in trouble from his mum.
"Go on, take one." Ellie slid the plate of truffles across the glass dining table and they came to a halt just in front of Alex, with a single truffle falling off the plate.
Alex slowly picked it up, swallowing it completely. DELICIOUS! He grinned a chocolate-covered smile and mumbled, "So good."
"Right, come on, you're going to be late for your date." Ellie stood up abruptly and plucked some keys out of her handbag before slinging the gold-accented bag over her forearm.
Alex gulped, wiping his mouth with his hand. "You'll drive me?" Alex breathed a sigh of relief, walking back in this cold would have been miserable.
"I guess," she said, rolling her eyes and then laughing. She walked over and licked her thumb and then rubbed it against his cheek. The soft wet, rubbing sensation was coupled with a flaring up of his cheeks immediately.
"I'm not a little kid!" he protested.
"You sure eat like one." Ellie walked out of the room. "Now come on, you'll be late!"
"Fine!" Alex called after her. He felt for the bulge of his phone and Digivice in his right pocket and then rushed after her, catching the keys she tossed at him as he rounded the corner.
~.~.~
The firm wooden planks of the bench began to dig into her thighs. Glancing around at the numerous people in the park, Corinne looked for Alex nervously. It had only been a few minutes, but she was already questioning if he was even going to turn up at all. The snow fell slowly downwards, cascading in all directions, landing all around her. She shook out her hair, freeing the flakes in there. Behind her, she heard loud padding of crunchy footsteps and saw Alex running through the park, waving his arms.
"I'm here, I'm on time!" he yelled.
Corinne smiled and then realised how stupid she must look. "Yeah, on time," she replied sarcastically.
Alex stopped in front of her, keeling over the bench and panting. "I made it," he exclaimed triumphantly.
Corinne murmured in agreement. "You did, but you're actually late."
Alex walked around the bench, collapsing onto it in a heap next to her, deflated like a sad balloon. "But I tried so hard."
Corinne reached over and zipped up his blue hooded jacket. "You idiot. Where's your coat?"
Alex pulled the zip down, narrowing his eyes at her. "You aren't my mum."
"Whatever, when you get a cold don't come crying to me." She relaxed back into the bench, looking out at the people.
She had been people watching before Alex arrived and imagining the lives of those going about their business was of a particular interest to her. From the man who was chasing after a particularly rambunctious child who seemed to be perpetually on the verge of falling onto the cold hard ground; to the lady who was sipping her coffee while she swiped away at her phone.
"So, I was thinking, we could go to the pizza shop and—"
"Stop," Corinne interrupted. "Take a breath."
Alex obliged, rolling his eyes. "Now what?"
"Just sit here and enjoy it. We can talk and enjoy each other's company. We don't need to do anything." In truth, she had things she needed to express, and Alex was normally the master of distraction. Allowing him to lead would definitely mean they didn't get chance to talk.
Alex looked around nervously. "Well, let's walk and talk."
"Alex, did you ever get over our breakup?" Corinne watched a pigeon land in front of them, pecking at the scraps of chips that a young girl had dropped a few minutes ago.
"What?" he blurted. He glanced around and then back at her. "Of course— Of course I did!" he stammered, almost convincingly.
Corinne bit her lip. This wasn't going to plan. She wasn't sure what the plan was, but she was sure this wasn't it. "I'm not sure I have fully…"
"So, does this mean you want my hot body?" He slid closer to her, grinning.
"That's not what I was saying," she swiftly riposted. Sliding a little away from him, so she was hanging at the edge of the bench, she furrowed her brow as she tried to work out how to articulate herself. They had so much history and she didn't want to erase that, but some things from it still caused her pain. "I…"
"What are you going on about?" Alex groaned, gesticulating with both hands. "I don't get you sometimes." He slouched back and away a little.
Corinne laughed. "You look so silly when you're confused."
"Don't stray off topic!"
Corinne sighed. "Fine, fine." She bit her lip. How could she say this without damaging their friendship? "I mean… Well, sometimes…"
"Out with it!" Alex yelled, laughing. "You're being so weird right now."
"I just feel like maybe there's some animosity between us. Because of what happened. You know?"
"Whats—?"
"It means unresolved tension."
"Right… And—?"
"I think there's a problem between us!" She sighed. Sometimes it felt like talking to him was the most impossible task in the world.
The silence consumed them quickly. All encompassing, painfully awkward and with no end in sight. Corinne looked at him as he seemed to be thinking. His perfectly white teeth showed through a slightly open mouth as it seemed like he wanted to say something but couldn't. What was it? Why wouldn't he just speak!
"I don't think there is." Alex smiled. "We're just good friends."
Corinne smiled back but she knew there was more. All that for such a weak response. Why wouldn't he talk to her properly? What was so wrong with sharing your feelings for once! "Al, you remember how I exploded at you at Gimi's house."
"You were just upset, 'sall." Alex twiddled his thumbs. "We all were," he continued, half-smiling as he looked down at his feet.
"I wasn't." Corinne looked up at the sky, not able to look at him and admit this. "At one point, I realised I was just disagreeing with you because you were you." It wasn't that she hated him; the feelings they shared were more complex than simple love or hate.
"Alex looked up, frowning. "Why?"
It was Corinne's turn to be silent now. There were a thousand things she wanted to get off her chest. A million thoughts that had ran through her head as she thought about this moment. However, right now, it felt like wading through quicksand as she tried to find just one phrase to explain herself; explaining away the nights she hadn't been able to sleep because she was thinking of him. "Because I can't forgive what you did to me." She exhaled, feeling a crushing weight lift from her chest. And then she wanted him to shout, to scream, to say anything but he just looked back at her. "How am I ever meant to forget it? It hurt Alex. You hurt me and you never even said why." The words were pouring out now, as if a dam had burst. "You just up and left. I didn't get an apology. I didn't get a reason. I didn't get anything!" She felt the tears filling up her eyes.
"Why all of this now?" Alex asked, his face still the picture of confusion.
"When I got injured—" Corinne felt a frog form in a throat, trapping the words inside until she felt fit to bursting. "When I got injured… Alex, it scared me." Corinne remembered back to her fight with King. It had brought back many uncomfortable memories that she usually chose to forget. Her grandad's palm across her cheek when she had incorrect form during training. The eyes of that boy when she hit him. It was burned into her brain with a branding iron; it only ever dipped slightly beneath the surface.
He was still looking at her, but this time more deeply. She could see how his eyes had screwed up slightly and his eyebrows softened. The look of pity she knew all too well. "Alex, I've never stopped thinking about this. And if not now, then when?"
"I get that but—"
"There is no but!" Corinne exclaimed, losing her temper. She felt her cheeks flare and realised she had clenched her fists firm in anger.
Alex almost jumped from the surprise. "I didn't mean…"
"I know." Corinne sighed. "If anything happens to us, I want to know that we ended with it all on the table. Now The Resistance is done with I want to know that we are on the same page."
Alex looked at her. His eyes didn't give away much normally but right now she could see into him. Behind those brown eyes she could see pain that he didn't normally share. "I'm sorry," he stammered weakly. "Corinne… I." Alex faltered, his face screwing up slightly, as if he was in pain.
Corinne took a deep breath in. Even just saying those words had helped immensely. Upsetting Alex wouldn't help either of them. "It's fine. I'm sure with time I can work through it. Hearing you say those words helps." She tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear and smiled.
"Corinne, I know you said you don't want to do anything later—and feel free to say no—but I have these tickets to Ellie's concert thing, and I think it would be really fun, so… I don't know. What do you think?" Alex blurted out the words as if he was at gun point, almost getting out of breath.
"Alex…"
"I know, I know!" Alex sighed. "I promise this will be so fun and then maybe we can get a bit better together and things will be you know… like they were or maybe not like that." Alex exhaled. "Do you know what I'm trying to say?"
Corinne smirked. "Yes, Alex. I do."
Abruptly, a firm hand gripped her shoulder tightly. Reflexively, she tried to tug herself free but felt something hard prod into her back through the gaps in the bars of the bench. Turning slowly, she saw a man looking at them both. He had his other hand firmly planted on Alex.
"Who are you?" Corinne tried to breathe. She had to keep calm. Surely this was just a misunderstanding.
Alex opened his mouth wide, about to scream.
Corinne clamped her hand over his mouth, being reminded of the object pressing into her by a firm twist.
"You understand I'm serious. That will save us some time. Both of you keep quiet or you'll walk away from here with a few extra holes."
Alex looked at both of them terrified.
The man's lanky black hair was tied up in a bun, with two long strands framing his pale skinned face as if he were a ghost in the night. "I've got a gun to her back and with a tap of my finger she'll never walk again, are we clear?" His voice was cool like ice, filled with malice.
Struggling to find any courage, she forced out the only word she could think of. "Why?"
"You kids are special. We saw you port back." Leaning closer, he whispered, "And we plan on finding the rest of your little friends too." He stroked her face, smirking. "So young, such a shame."
Corinne saw Alex tense up but placed a hand on his knee as subtly as he could, trying to keep him calm.
He looked at her, his eyes shaking with fear but his body ready to explode with movement at any second.
Corinne looked back at their would-be attacker. "What do you plan to do with us?"
"I've got orders to bring you in. After we're done…" He pushed his bottom lip out and cocked his head slightly to the side. "We'll probably dispose of you." He smirked. "Come quietly and make this one easy for me, that's good kiddies."
Corinne held up both arms. "Okay, we'll come."
Alex shook his head angrily but Corinne shot him a glance.
"Listen to your girlfriend and maybe you can kiss her goodbye," the man said, lifting Corinne to her feet firmly.
As Corinne stood up, she swiftly grabbed his arm and bent forwards, throwing him over herself and crashing him onto the ground. Simultaneously, she twisted his arm and stamped on his other arm, the one holding his gun. "Alex, run!" Corinne barked as he struggled, knocking her backwards into the bench.
"Not without you!" Alex protested.
Corinne kicked sharply, striking their attacker in the bridge of his nose, breaking it and covering him in his own blood. "Come on!" she exclaimed, grabbing Alex's hand and sprinting away as people in the park began to notice what had just happened.
Flashes came back as she relived the last few seconds. The blood tore her back to then. The hospital.
"What was that?" Alex asked, half-laughing, half awestruck. "That was badass!"
Corinne ignored him. "If there were others, they would have came out by now so let's make as much distance between him and us as we can."
"Alright B-movie cop," Alex joked, smirking at his own joke as they waited at the traffic lights.
"Take this seriously!" Corinne yelled, frustrated. The traffic lights began to beep as the green man appeared and she dragged him across.
"You've been watching too many crime movies," Alex said, becoming less of a reluctant tagalong and running of his own accord. "Look, let's call the police and they'll deal with him and keep us safe."
Corinne tugged him into the train station. "I just need some time to think." In her heart she wished Tyler was here; he would know exactly what to do.
"My wrist hurts," Alex groaned, pulling himself free.
Corinne resisted slapping him as they reached a ticket counter. Looking at the multitude of destinations she panicked. Where to? What could they do? They just had to get out of here and somewhere safe. "Where's the concert?" Corinne asked, unable to think clearly as the words blurred overhead.
"Ermm, Geneva District." Alex looked down, narrowing his eyes. "Sector Two, I think. I'm getting sweaty." He unzipped his jacket, puffing out a breath of air.
"Two for Geneva," Corinne said as she tugged Alex to the counter. She paid quickly with her card and glanced around as their tickets printed.
Corinne felt the panic build in her chest, making her head spin with worry as she looked at everyone around them. Any of them could be an attacker. Right now, they just had to get somewhere else. Gripping Alex's hand firmly, she walked as fast as she could without drawing attention to herself, slipping through the crowd as best as she could at this busy time.
"Your hand is so sweaty," Alex said and then he snorted, bursting into laughter.
"Shut up." Corinne shot him a glance and rolled her eyes. "Just." She saw the train pulling in ahead as they descended the steps. "Let's get on board and get out of here." As they stepped on, she felt a hand grab her arm and looked back to see someone reaching through the crowds. Tugging hard, she pulled free as the doors closed, her heart beating fast as the man stood on the platform, watching them go.
"Corinne?" Alex called, he was already sat on one of the red metal seats, a vacant one next to him. He patted the space. "Come on."
Corinne shook herself free of the panic as best she could. They were still in danger. Walking over she sat next to Alex as he lolled his head back in exhaustion. "You're so unfit," she said, smirking.
"Whatever." Alex exhaled through pants. "I think you're over-exaggerating," Alex said, glancing around them. "No one cares about us."
A chime and overhead, the intercom sounded, "Next stop: Lippenden Station, Geneva District. Thank you for riding with Evan's Trains today."
As they were pulling in Corinne saw a man sat on the platform reading a newspaper. For some reason it just didn't feel right. He was at the cabin they were and looked up as the train came in. All of this was normal, but her gut told her he wasn't. "Alex get off at the cabin to the left and I'll get off to the right. Meet outside, okay?"
"Corinne."
"Alex." Corinne looked at him. She tried to display how serious she was with that look and eventually Alex relented.
Sighing, he got up and began to slip through the people near them and someone sat in his seat quickly.
Getting up, Corinne began to make her way along the train in the opposite direction as the train hissed its way into the station. As soon as the doors opened, she broke into a sprint. She was partly hoping that seeing them leave separately would cause confusion and partly hoping that just being quick would work. Either way, she was sure they could manage this. As she reached the exit barriers she tapped her card furiously but it continued to flash red. Gripping the edge of the turnstile, she moved to leap over but felt a hand grab her and pull her back.
Turning, she saw a ticket inspector smiling broadly. "Would you like to come with me, miss? It appears your ticket isn't working."
"I'm okay thank you. I'll just try again," Corinne replied, looking around in the hopes Alex would come save her but he was nowhere to be seen.
"No, I think you'll come down with me and we'll have a chat." He tugged at her arm firmly, leading her back away from the exit. Her vision of the dimming light of the outside was snatched away as she was led down the steps towards the basement. "Don't worry, it's just us now," the man said, his voice saccharinely sweet.
"That's what I'm afraid of," Corinne whispered, wishing someone, anyone, would come save her.
Will Corinne be saved? Where did Alex go? What type of performer is Ellie?
Okay so I failed to release anything but in my defence with the pandemic (which should have given me more time but alas not how my job works) I have had a lot on my plate. Also, this chapter has been a huge slog. It's been entirely rewritten. I have written an additional 5000 words for this chapter and removed probably double that in the editing process. Not to mention adding and removing full scenes like it's nobody's business. I'm thinking that even though flow-wise it might not work I might move to shorter chapters as I find motivating myself to sit down and work on such large chapters that need signficant editing for me to feel comfortable publishing them is real tough going. I'm going to be aiming to keep them below the 4000 mark for the next few if possible, preferably below 3000, whereas before I would just find a good stopping point and stop there, which led to chapters that in the initial write were often 7000 words. I do still have a backlog of ~30 chapters written that need editing so with this kind of schedule and increased motivation hopefully I can finish this project before I turn gray.
Thanks as always to those who provide continued support for this story, I really appreciate and love all of those of you who read and favourite even if you have no specific thoughts to share chapter-by-chapter.
I don't own Digimon.