Okay here is number three. Sorry if there are a lot of grammar and spelling mistakes. I'm actually done with chapter 6 but I like to write a few more chapters before I put one up. If you have any suggestion please don't hesitate to tell me.
As always I do not own Digimon.
Chapter 3:
Sitting at one of the gambling tables, TK stared down at his cards for what seemed like the hundredth time. Gambling would usually take his mind off his worries. But not this time. All he could think about was what had happened upstairs. First there was AJ--Ajona. He couldn't believe this woman; first she tried to kill him and then she blamed him for killing her. She didn't even say brother thanks for not leaving her sorry butt in the desert.
But did I kill her brother?
That question had been going around in his head all night. Could I be a cold-blooded killer? He shook his head trying to reassure himself. He repeated Liz's words in his head. ...I know you here...You are not a killer. He just had to hope she was right.
Hope?
Why did that remind him of something? That and his Digivise, that was the other question going on in his mind. What was that digivise? When he saw it, it instantly triggered some kind of memory, but the images where too cloudy to get anything from them. Why can't I remember? I know all the information up there. The whole situation was just confusing. All he knew was he wanted to get as far away from that digivise as possible. Throwing it back to Liz, he left to get away from it...them...the whole situation.
"Can you open?" The dealer suddenly asked TK, jolting him back to the present.
Don't think about it anymore; just concentrate on the game.
Ya right.
Turning to the dealer TK spoke his voice a whisper. "By me."
"It's your call." The dealer went to the rest of the players.
TK counted about three hunters, one even sitting at the same table as him. He hoped Liz was smart enough to keep that technology hidden. He was so wrapped up in his game he didn't even realize the person next to him was cheating. Good thing for him the hunter did.
If a hunter catches you, you would pray for a quick death. Good thing for the cheater he got what he prayed for.
He did however see a strange group of people enter the bar. They looked like they were completely out of their element. The tall one looked ready to faint. He also noticed Liz coming down the stairs. Well, I didn't hear any gunshots, so I guess AJ is still alive. Wondering why he felt relieved about that, he sat pondering that very disturbing realization.
He was just getting into the game when he heard Liz gasp in alarm. Surprised, he spun around in his chair. What's going on? His jaw tight, he nodded to the dealer and slowly rose from his chair. "I'm out of the game."
Heading for the bar, he kept his eyes on the blond stranger talking to Liz. What could have upset Liz so much? Liz was one of the strongest women he'd known. What could have upset her so much? His eyes darkened. If this guy hurts her, there's going to be Hell to pay.
******
Liz swallowed hard; she squeezed her hands together to stop them from shaking. Nothing was working to relieve this fear spreading through her. If I didn't know any better I swear I was looking into TK eyes.
She stared into the boy's eyes and swore to herself. If this isn't TK's brother I'll settle down and become a housewife. Calmed down by that grotesque picture in her head, she vaguely heard him ask if she knew the boy in the picture.
Of course I know him, I've just known him for the last two years. He was the only family she ever had. Out of the corner of her eye saw TK approaching the bar. Good thing he's wearing his kufiyah. Not even his own brother would recognize him. She hoped.
Her mind made up she turned her full attention to the stranger. "I'm sorry, the person looks like someone I met a long time ago."
Matt's eyes closed, and his shoulders sank. "Thanks for looking anyway."
A boy his age with wild brown hair came forward, placing a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder. "If it's not a problem, can we ask you one more question?"
"Shoot."
"Have you ever seen anything like this?" he said, pulling out his digivise.
Liz paled quickly, not because she recognized the digivise but because they had just pulled out an illegal object, with hunters in the room. She quickly turned to TK, who was now only a few feet from her then back to the group. She was going to regret this, she knew it deep inside, and she was going to hate this decision. Well I just can't let TK's brother die, can I?
She turned to the group and shouted, "Run!"
Eleven pairs of eyes looked at her in confession. "What's going on...?" asked Tai.
"Run or kiss your butts good-bye."
"What's wrong?" Asked Cody as Liz herded the group out the doors.
Instead of answering his question, Liz pivoted on her foot, while pulling out her gun, and shot at a hunter who was aiming at the group.
TK tackled another hunter who was reaching for his gun. Before he could blink he was up and heading up the stairs. Once on the landing he looked over his shoulder. No one was following him, and with no time to catch his breath he ran towards the second story window. Wiping what seemed to be a year's worth of dust off of the glass he peered out of it and noticed Liz running out of town with the group of kids behind her. Who are those people? Before he could think of an answer he noticed the three hunters mounting their horses and spurring after the group.
There was no way Liz could outrun three people on horseback. Remembering the horse AJ hunted him down on, he descended the stairs, and without stopping headed out the door.
******
Two more shots rang out behind them, as the group quickly left the town behind them. "Why are they shooting at us?" asked Yolei.
"Because of that device." Pointing to Tai digivise, Liz added, "Anything that is considered technology is illegal, and the penalty for carrying it is death."
"You mean they're going to kill us because were carrying technology?" yelled Mimi. "That's the stupidest thing I ever heard."
"What do you mean?" Panted Liz. "How could you live here and not know that law?" All eleven pairs of eyes turned away from her looking everywhere but at her. Liz shook her head and peered over her shoulder. She didn't see anyone following them but that didn't mean anything.
She heard a throat being cleared next to her and turned to see a red headed boy running next to her. "Well you see." He began looking at the ground as if it was the most important thing in the world. "We're not from your world."
"Whatever you say." Why was she helping these kids again? Poor TK. Wait till he finds out that his brother is insane.
They continued to run into the hot desert. Turning around, Davis saw a group of men on horses kicking up dust as they started after them. "Man don't those guys ever give up?"
"Stop complaining and keep running," shouted Ken, passing Davis.
Liz looked behind her the men were starting to catch up. There was no way they could outrun them. She and TK would just have to fight them; she quickly scanned the group. TK wasn't with them. She stopped running and looked around. Where is he?
Joe couldn't stop in time and ran into the back of Liz, causing them both to collide and fall to the ground. The group of ten before them, oblivious of the collision, kept running, never slowing down. "Are you okay?" asked Joe as he helped the strange woman up.
"I have to go back." Taking a few steps towards the oncoming hunters, Liz yelled, "I have to find my son!"
"Are you crazy?" Gripping her wrist he pulled her in the opposite direction "They'll kill you!"
A shot rang out and Liz slumped to the ground. Without thinking Joe pulled her behind a sand dune and lay down, praying not to be seen. I told them this was a bad idea. Why do bad things always happen to me? After what seemed like an eternity he heard the hunters pass over them and continue after the others. Once he was sure the hunters were gone, Joe let out a shaky breath and crawled over to the woman.
******
TK had made his way to the stables. His only thoughts were on getting to Liz as fast as he could. He didn't even hear the girl coming up behind him. The only thing he did here was a bullet flying past his head.
Turning he saw AJ with a gun pointed right at his heart. I don't have time for this! He thought furiously.
"First you kill my brother and now you're stealing my horse!" Ajona's gaze was fierce as she approached TK, never lowering her weapon.
"Listen, I'm not going to get into this argument with you." Ignoring the gun TK turned around and saddled the horse. "Liz is being chased by hunters right now and I have to get to her."
Mounting the horse he stared down at the girl. "Kill me now, or get out of the way."
"Option 'C'." Heading toward the horse she held up her hand. "I'm going with you."
"No you not."
"Either I'm going or no one is." Lifting her chin in the air and crossing her arms she stared right at him. "What will it be?"
******
Joe turned Liz over and immediately saw crimson red blood staining her blue overalls. Out of instinct he went for his duffel bag and took out bandages, trying to stop the bleeding. "Don't worry, I came prepared." Okay, that was a lie.
Before they left they had no idea what kind of world they were entering. They came prepared not knowing if it would be a frozen wasteland or a jungle full of wield animals. He always carried a first aid kit just in case. Of course he never thought he would actually be treating a gun wound. Looking down he saw the lady's face twisted in pain.
Joe continued to work when all of the sudden he heard a click of a gun behind his head. "If you want me to save her life, I suggest putting down the gun."
Joe's voice and hands remained steady as he continued with the job, but inside he was shaking uncontrollably. Again, why does this stuff always happen to me? He was about to faint when all of the sudden he felt the gun lower away from his head and a long sigh behind him.
Joe turned around to see two people behind him. One was a young female with blond hair dressed all in white; the other figure was a man dressed in black. Joe couldn't make out his features but could still sense that he was a friend. Joe quickly turned back to the lady, trying to get the bleeding under control.
"Liz?" Said the boy, taking her hands in his.
"We have to get her to a hospital." Joe said looking around at the vast desert.
"Good luck finding one," said the girl, carefully tucking a lose strand of hair behind Liz's ear. "They're almost as illegal as technology."
Everyone's eyes went to Liz when she groaned and her eyes fluttered open. "Keep still," motioned Joe when she tried to get up.
"Where's...Hunters?" She gasped out as her eyes widened in fear.
"They ran past us," Joe said. "Don't worry."
Liz looked up at TK and Ajona. "You went back for her."
"Don't worry, Liz," TK said patting her hand "your going to be okay."
"Brothers." Liz said weakly.
"Try not to talk." Ajona said as she wiped the sweat from Liz's brow.
"NO..." Coughing, Liz took a raspy breath and dug into her pocket, she pulled out the D3 and handed it to Joe, then staring at TK, she sucked in a breath. "Brothers have the same...eyes."
Joe looked down at the digivise and his gaze flew to the young man next to him. Could it be? Damn that scarf. Another choking cough from Liz snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Liz, hang in there," TK said desperately, trying to decide what to do. Liz looked up at him and smiled. "You've always been like a son to me." Coughing, she continued. "You have to save those kids."
"Who are they, Liz?" TK kept shaking his head. This couldn't be happening. Just a few minutes ago Liz was laughing with him now she was about to...
"They're friends of yours," Liz said, starting to close her eyes.
"Friends? Liz... I don't understand."
"You will." Smiling Liz closed her eyes. "After this...you're on...your...own." she let out one final breath as her hand slid from his grasp.
TK stood there for a few minutes. Ajona placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry," Joe said after a few minutes. He did feel sorry for this woman. She had tried to help them and got herself killed in the process. Turning his gaze away from Liz he focused on the young man beside him. He didn't know how, but somehow deep inside he knew that this person standing next to him was the one and only TK.
Slowly TK stood up and turned his attention to Joe. "Let's go find your friends."
******
"I'm never going to the beach again," huffed Kari as she ran across the desert, as another shot flew over their heads.
"I'm never watching a Wild West movie again," gasped Sora.
"I don't know how much longer I can run," Mimi said, looking over her shoulder, as the men on horses loomed ever closer.
Another shot zipped pass Tai's ear and he stopped short "That's it." He was struggling with what he knew had to be done. Turning to Izzy he shouted, "Izzy, open the portal."
Izzy immediately pulled out his laptop and started typing in the coordinates. "Done." With that a huge vortex appeared before them.
"Okay everyone in." Tai said.
"But what about TK?" asked Kari, as Yolei pulled her to the vortex.
"Joe is missing too!" exclaimed Cody as he looked around the group.
"Along with that woman from the bar." said Ken as he headed closer to the vortex.
"Did anyone see what happened to them," asked Davis, scanning the horizon. Another shot ran out, just missing them.
"In to the vortex now!" shouted Tai.
"But we can't leave them," Mimi said as she was dragged through the vortex by Sora.
"If we don't go now we'll be killed," yelled Ken dragging Kari and Cody as they disappeared into the vortex followed by Yolei.
Just then another shot ran out, hitting the ground right next to Davis. "I think that's our cue," shouted Davis as he dragged Izzy and himself into the portal.
"You're next Matt," Tai said, pointing to the vortex.
"I'm not leaving without TK."
"I'm not leaving you here."
"I'm not going, Tai."
"Yes you are." Tai began to drag his fiend towards the vortex.
"No you're not." Tai and Matt stopped in the tracks. Looking up the saw three men standing above them with guns pointed at their heads.
"Let me kill them." Laughed one of the men. Matt immediately recognized him from the bar. It was the same guy with the scare that had killed the gambler. "You got to kill them last time."
"Knock yourself out." Laughed the other one.
Turning to the two boys the gunman pointed his gun at them "Eenie meanie miney..." Tai flinched when he heard the gun go off. But opened his eyes quickly as he heard one of the men scream in pain. Looking up, Tai noticed one of the men holding his hand in pain.
"What happened?" yelled another man as he swung his gun around.
"Moe." There on the hill stood three people, two with guns raised high, aimed at the three men.
Tai let out a sigh of relief when he noticed one of the people was Joe, even though he did looked like he was about to faint.
"Don't even try it!" shouted the girl, when she noticed the other men going for their guns. They walked forward, never lowering their guns. "Drop them." Smiling she pointed her gun so it pointed towards the men's groins. "Or I get to have target practice." With that the two men dropped their guns.
"Is everyone okay?" asked Joe as he approached his two friends.
"Yeah, were fine," Tai said his voice a little shaky. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Motioning at the two people beside him, he smiled. "I got some backup. I hope you don't mind the help."
"Not on your life."
"Thanks, Joe. Now I can go to find my brother," said Matt turning to go back to town.
"Oh no you're not." With that, Tai wound up his fist and slammed it into Matt's jaw, knocking him out cold.
"Tai!" Joe said looking from a now unconscious Matt to Tai.
"It was for his own good." Lifting Matt off the ground with help from Joe, "We have to get out of here before the portal closes."
"Wait, we can't leave without them." Joe pointed to the two strangers.
Before Tai could ask why, he heard the girl yell "Oh no, more hunters!"
Tai looked at what she was pointing at and could make out more men coming towards them on horses. "We have to get out of here."
"Let me just finish up here." With that the girl turned to the three would-be assassins and shot them one at the time in the head. "Okay done."
Tai and Joe stared, mouths opened in shock. She had just killed those men without even the slightest hesitation.
Tai looked up at the man beside her who was shaking his head. "I wish you didn't do that."
"Why? I just avenged Liz." Her voice was growing loader in anger.
"You just murdered three people." TK said, trying to remain calm.
"Oh, please." Ajona turned away from him. "I did you a favor; you wouldn't have been able to kill them."
"I wouldn't have killed them!"
"Excuse me!" Joe yelled, startling the two.
"What!" They both swung around to address the tall man.
"If you haven't noticed there is a group of men heading this way, with the sole purpose of killing us, and all you two are doing is arguing." Taking a breath to calm himself, Joe continued. "Now are you two coming with us or not?"
"Going with you?" they asked in unison.
"Yes, you can't survive here so you're coming with us to our world," Joe concluded, motioning towards the vortex.
Ajona shook her head. "Some choice. Get sucked into oblivion, or suffer a horrible death at the hand of the hunters." Sighing, she looked at the vortex. "Oh well, you only live once." With that she jumped into the vortex.
TK sighed as he lowered his head and followed Ajona. He was followed an instant later by Tai and Joe carting an unconscious Matt. With that the vortex closed, leaving the vast world far behind.
******
"Get off me!" yelled Ajona as she found herself on a soft rug with TK on top of her.
TK was about to get off her when he found himself under three very large people. "I can't move."
"We have to find better way to do that." said Tai getting up and shaking his head. "Is everyone okay?"
"Where were you guys?" asked Izzy as he helped Joe off the ground.
"We got um...held up." Said Tai excepting a helping hand from Davis.
"He fine." Tai gave a small laugh. "I kinda...knocked him out." He looked up and gave a little innocent smile as the others just shook their heads.
"Hey, who are they?" Everyone tuned to see what Cody was talking about. What they found was two people looking around the place.
"They saved our lives," stated Tai. "More hunters were coming so we couldn't leave them there."
"Are they safe?" Asked Yolei.
I hope so, thought Tai as he remembered with crystal clarity how the girl savagely killed those three men. Who are they? And what was Joe thinking? He turned towards Joe, who had a huge smile on his face. Maybe the stress finally got to him.
"Excuse me," asked Davis as he approached the two strangers. "But who are you?"
"Oh, aren't you mister proper." Ajona said sarcastically. Turning to TK she asked, "So should I kill them?" Smiling while patting her gun.
Davis steeped back quickly, his eyes widening in fear. "WHAT!"
Sighing TK shook his head. "If you kill them will never be able to get home." Looking over the group he continued, "Besides they saved our lives so we owe them one."
"Party popper." Ajona frowned.
"We aren't going to hurt you," said Sora, approaching the two with her hands raised "Could you tell us you names?"
Ajona smiled. "Excuse me for my behavior. I'm just a little nervous." She grasped Sora hands and shook it. "My name is Ajona. I'm pleased to meet you."
TK was about to introduce himself when a moan came from the corner. Looking over he saw that the boy who was knocked unconscious was waking up. As the others went to their friend's side TK looked at the group. They all look so familiar, like I meet them before. Looking at the now conscious boy, TK was shocked by the resemblance he saw in him. Liz, who are they?
They're you're friends...
Friends? Why do I have this strange felling that they ARE my friends?
"Matt, are you okay, buddy?" asked Tai, helping Matt up.
"When my head stops spinning, remind me to kill you, Tai."
"Come on Matt. If I didn't do that you would have been killed."
Matt lowered his head into his hands. Taking a few minutes to compose himself, he sighed. "We were so close." He looked up at Tai. "Now we'll never find him."
Everyone grew quiet as they let what happened sink in. TK looked at the group again. He didn't want to interrupt them but by now the hunters were gone and they could send him and Ajona home. He felt too uncomfortable here. Not from being in a New World but from the strange memories trying to form in his head. He softly coughed to get their attentions. "Excuse me, but can we go home now?"
Everyone turned to him then turned back to Izzy. Izzy was tugging at his all of the sudden to tight collar. "Um... well you see..." Izzy began, trying to think how to put this delicately. "You can't go home." Oh yeah that was real delicate. Quickly he added, "I'm sorry, but I could only open the portal once. Once it closed it was closed forever."
He stared at the two strangers who just stood there quietly, never moving an inch. Ajona started to say something and then stopped. Izzy had no idea what the other one was thinking since his face was still covered with his kufiyah and sunglasses, but he could guess that he was as shocked as Ajona.
Finally Ajona asked, "So were stuck here forever?"
"I'm sorry." Izzy felt horrible; he couldn't imagine what it would be like to know you could never go home. Even in the Digiworld he knew there was a chance he could get home. "Listen, you can stay with us for as long as you need to. It's the least we can do."
"Thank you." Ajona walked over to a chair to sit down.
"This is all my fault. I'm sorry," said Joe, walking over to the tall boy.
"No, its not you fault," Ajona said from her chair. "If we didn't jump we would have been killed."
TK sighed. It wasn't all that bad, with Liz dead there wasn't much left in that world anyway. Emotions started to build up inside him with the thought of Liz. With all that was going on he didn't have time to deal with her death yet. Then again with all the time in the world he doubt he could deal with it. Well the one good thing about this whole situation was that Ajona wasn't trying to kill him. At least not yet anyway. His thoughts were broken up with someone asking him a question.
"I'm sorry what did you say?" he asked the boy next to him.
Tai smiled. "That's okay. I asked you what your name was."
"I'm sorry." TK took off his sunglasses rubbing his eyes. Then he lowered his kufiyah so that it didn't cover his face. He extended his hand and smiled. "My name's TK, pleased to meet you."
To be continued…
Well what do you think? I'm sorry to say this but the next chapter won't be out for a few weeks. I'll try to get it up as soon as I can. That is if you want me to continue it. Please read and review, and thank you for all you comment thus far.
Oh and Aine khakki17 I'm writing a special story just for you. I think your going to love it. It will be ready in a few weeks. Thanks for all you reviews and keep them up.