~* Darkness Rising, Silence Falls *~
A Digimon 02 Fanfic by Bandit, ©2000
Chapter 6- Dark Butterflies; Dying Love and Sunspot Visions
~*~*~*~
"This is going to be so cool!" Sora jubilated, hanging up the phone from a talk with Satsuma. "I can't believe it, but at least a third of the student body is going to be there! And it's only two days away...I can't wait!" She paused, and then a wicked grin appeared on her face. "You know, I heard Mai telling Yuki that she was going to bring a bottle..."
"Lucky girl. Is Tai coming?"
"He said he was..." Sora leaned over to nudge Mimi, who was stretched out full-length across the sofa on her stomach with her face buried in a pillow. "Are you okay? You don't sound so good. I thought you said you were feeling better."
"I was," Mimi muttered into the pillow. "So I was wrong; I'll be fine by Friday. Don't worry."
Sora blinked, worried about her friend. "Mimi, you haven't been yourself lately. Normally you'd be acting absolutely hyperactive over the idea of a game of spin-the-bottle. You've had this 'flu' for days; do you think it might be something worse?"
Mimi looked up, saw the concern on her friend's face and rolled over onto her back to talk like a civilized person. "I told you, Sora, I'll be fine. I was just tired, and I'm feeling better already, see?" She tried a smile, then rolled back over. "I need to rest up for Friday," she said into the pillow, and shooed her away with one hand.
Sora sighed. She didn't like this whole 'sickness' deal. She fully believed that Mimi had told her the truth when she'd said she didn't have an eating disorder; she trusted her friend. But still, there was definitely something wrong with her. Sora didn't know what, but that wasn't stopping her from being downright nervous about it. Something was niggling at the back of her mind, and she wasn't sure what.
Leaving the room, she crossed to the window in the kitchen to look out at the sunset. It was Wednesday, and she was looking very much forward to the school lock-in. The problem of Mimi, however, was weighing uncomfortably on her shoulders. What if she passed out in the middle of the gym? She'd already fainted once, on Monday. Luckily, they had been at home, and her mother had brought her around with a wet cloth and a few gentle shakes, but it had been a nasty scare for all parties involved, just the same.
She'd spent the day in bed and declared herself 'much better' the next day, but had spent more and more time lying on the sofa in obvious discomfort. They'd tried several headache medicines, but none had helped, and she'd refused to see a doctor, insisting that there was nothing wrong with her that bed rest and time wouldn't fix.
If she keeps insisting that there's nothing wrong, she's going to get seriously sick, and I don't know what to do to make her admit she needs help. I feel helpless...
With a sigh, she did what she usually did when something was bothering her; she reached for the phone to call Tai. It rang several times, but was picked up on the fourth ring and answered in a jaunty male voice.
"Talk to me."
Sora suppressed a giggle. It was Tai, all right.
"Hi, Tai."
"Sora?"
"In the flesh, and worried stiff," she said. "Have you seen Mimi lately?"
"Not since the Dairy Duchess. Why? Is she okay?"
"I don't know." Sora sighed. "I don't think so. Remember how she was a little under the weather?"
"Yeah? Did she get worse?"
"In spades, but she won't admit it. She keeps saying she's fine. Tai, I'm getting scared. She blacked out in the middle of dinner for a few minutes, the day before yesterday."
A pause. "You're kidding."
"Would I kid about something like that?"
"Is she all right? I mean...you know what I mean."
"Yeah, I know. She says she is. I'm not so sure. She spends hours just lying on the couch, but she doesn't fall asleep."
"Watching television?"
"If it was that, I would understand better. She just stares at the ceiling. That's when she doesn't have a pillow over her face."
"Weird."
"Weird doesn't cover it. I don't know if she should come to the lock-in. What if she has complications, or passes it on to somebody?"
"Well, have you or your mom caught it yet?"
"No..."
"I'm not Joe or anything, but I think that probably means it isn't contagious. And as for fainting, the teachers are there for that sort of thing. It's not like she'll be cut off from medical help. Actually, the school is closer to a hospital than your house, if that makes you feel any better."
"Well...I don't know..."
"Look, Sora, Mimi says she's been looking forward to this for a while."
A sigh. "Mimi says a lot of things."
"Just let her decide, okay? Maybe all she needs is to get out of the house for a while."
"Hmm...good point. For that matter, she hasn't been outside all day. We could go for a walk or something."
"Aren't you afraid she'll collapse in an alley?"
"Ta-ai..."
"Okay, okay. I was kidding. Hey, see you at the lock-in, if not sooner, okay?"
"Sounds good. I think I'll ask her if she feels up to that walk, then."
"Have fun. See you."
"Bye."
Sora hung up with a pleased look on her face, and then headed into the living room.
"Mimi?"
Mimi didn't answer. Sora walked over to check on her; she was lying on her back again, staring at the ceiling. Crossing her arms, Sora gave a little stomp of one foot.
"Mimi!"
"Huh? Wha...oh, it's you, Sora." Mimi jerked 'awake', turning to look at her friend. She sounded vague, and tired. "What is it?"
"I was wondering if you'd like to go for a walk," Sora said with a firmness in her voice that made it clear she wasn't settling for a 'no'. Mimi looked at her as though she had suddenly turned into a chicken.
"A walk?" she said in disbelief. Sora nodded.
"You need to get out of the house. Lying here obviously isn't helping you at all. Maybe what you need is some fresh air."
Mimi sat up far enough to look out the window. "But it's dark outside."
"It's called streetlights," Sora said dryly. "And my mom won't be home for hours. We've already eaten, now let's go walk it off." She chose not to mention that there wasn't really anything for Mimi to walk off; Mimi had, as usual, barely touched her dinner. That wasn't enough to dissuade Sora, though.
Mimi groaned and put a pillow over her face. "I'm too tired."
"We're not going on a cross-country run, Mimi," Sora said impatiently, reaching over to pull the pillow away. It was immediately replaced by another pillow.
"We're not going at all," Mimi insisted from behind the second pillow. Sora grabbed that one, too.
"I'm talking about a nice, quiet stroll around the block. Now get up." Making short work of Mimi's third and last pillow, she grinned and threw it across the room along with the other two. "You're out of pillows. Now what?"
In answer, Mimi rolled over onto her face again. Sora glared at her friend's back.
"I swear, you're turning into a sloth. Get up." When Mimi didn't answer, Sora planted herself on the edge of the couch and leaned over to whisper into Mimi's ear. "Get...UP!" She yelled the second word, and Mimi started in surprise, then rolled over to glare right back at her.
"You're on another crusade, aren't you."
"Yup."
"And you're not going to leave me alone until I go for a walk with you."
"Nope."
"Fine, then I might as well give in gracefully," Mimi said, getting to her feet with a groan. Sora snorted as she stood up, too.
"I'd say it's a little late for that."
As they left the apartment, Sora glanced at Mimi's sulking face.
You know, this had better work, or this walk is going to be pretty miserable for us both...
This was not in my plans! This night's prey was dearly needed! How dare she fool with my arrangements?! Pausing, he let reason take control again. Cold judgment was better than hot rage in the long run. Hmm...but, who is to say this night must be a waste? This meddling brat will not get away with trifling with my carefully laid plans; she will augment them! She will pay, and dearly. You wish your friend to be cheerful, Sora? So be it.
Mimi stumbled suddenly, leaning against a tree for support. Sora turned, concerned.
"Are you okay?"
Mimi shook her head, frowning. "Huh...sorry about that. I must have tripped. I'll be fine, thanks." Straightening, she smiled radiantly, and Sora nodded, continuing to walk. As the girls reached the first corner, Sora snuck a peek sidewise at Mimi; she was smiling slightly, as if at some private joke, and walking surefooted, unlike her tired walk she'd been using lately.
Good...it's about time she cheered up. I'm glad I thought of this.
They turned the corner and went on. Halfway around the block, Mimi's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Ooh! Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?" Sora said, in confusion. Mimi grinned.
"I heard a meow! I think there's a kitten in there!" She pointed at an alley they were passing. Sora's face crumpled, and Mimi looked suddenly mortified. "Oh, Sora, I'm sorry! I forgot...but...oh, please?"
"I don't know..." Sora said. She wasn't sure that wandering into a strange alley was a good idea... But what if I'm just being a prig because my kitten is hurt? I shouldn't burst Mimi's bubble just because I miss Kichi... "Oh, all right," she allowed. Mimi looked delighted.
"All right! C'mon!" Grabbing Sora's hand, she ran down the alley.
The alley proved a lot longer than Sora had expected, and turned a corner into another alleyway that ran between the backs of several apartment buildings. The first few floors of each building were windowless, and Sora found herself becoming nervous. What if something bad happens to us? No one will be here to see... Mimi seemed to be looking around for something, probably the kitten. As they reached the end of the alley, Mimi stopped, her back to Sora.
Sora shrugged. "Sorry, Mimi. I guess there's no kitten after all. Let's go, okay? This place makes me nervous."
Mimi didn't turn around. Sora scowled. "Don't sulk, Mimi. Let's get out of here."
"No," Mimi said. Sora stared at her.
"What? Mimi, don't be stupid! This place is dark, and deserted! It's not safe. I should never have let you drag me into it. I'm leaving."
"You're not going anywhere," Mimi said darkly. She turned suddenly and moved between Sora and the rest of the alley, blocking her escape.
"Cut it out! This isn't funny!" Sora cried. Has she gone nuts? What does she think she's doing?!
"You're right, you know," Mimi said, grinning in a way that was not her own. "You shouldn't have let me take you here. A pity you trust your friends so much."
"Mimi, stop it!" Sora said, beginning to panic. Mimi stepped forward and grabbed her wrists, pulling Sora's face close to her own.
"I'm not Mimi," she whispered, and her eyes suddenly flared red.
He was standing on the steps to the school courtyard, but the place before him was not the school. It was like a concrete box, with flickers of red playing across the walls. It milled with people, but they were all strangely pale...no, not pale. They were gray, and almost transparent. They all had mournful expressions, and a few were crying.
Where am I?
Something brushed his ankles, and he looked down. It was a kitten, and it mewed plaintively up at him as he looked at it.
That's Sora's cat...what's it doing here?
Suddenly, he realized that not all of the people here were gray. One of them still retained color, however faded. She vanished behind a group of people as he looked, and he ran forward, pushing between and through the people around him. They felt like clouds, damp and barely there. One of the crying girls tried to grab his shirt, as if hoping to escape with him, but her hand passed through him. He recognized her face as he passed; she was Aika Shoujo.
He passed through a cluster of people, and there she was, suddenly before him...
Mimi. As he stared at her, she turned and looked him straight in the eyes, pleading in her face. He reached out to her, and suddenly a shape burst from her, as she let out a scream...no, two screams, two voices wailing in unison. His ears ached, and his hand passed through the figure that had appeared, looking at him with hopeless eyes, her voiceless mouth echoing the sound issuing from Mimi's lips.
Sora? Sora!
"NO!" Tai yelled, sitting up suddenly in bed, drenched in cold sweat. Gasping for breath, he ran the dream through his head. What he could remember was strange and gray and... "Sora." he whispered. "Something bad happened to Sora...."
Suddenly, a horrible feeling of premonition hit him like a sledgehammer. Jumping out of bed, he grabbed his jacket and shoes and ran out the door in the direction of Sora's apartment, not bothering to wake anyone up and tell them where he was going.
Reaching the apartment building where Sora lived, he burst in, ignoring the startled, sleepy doorman, and ran up the stairs. He banged desperately on the door, and was answered by Mrs. Takenouchi.
"Where's Sora?" he demanded as she looked out at him.
"She left a note on the table saying she and Mimi were going on a walk," Sora's mother said, confused. Tai went white, and turned to go. "What is it?" she pleaded, and he turned back to her.
"I think something terrible's happened to her," he said, and began to leave again.
"What?" she exclaimed, and grabbed her jacket. Her shoes were still on; she'd just gotten home. "Wait for me!"
The two of them ran out into the street, Tai leading the way. As they reached the alley, a faint sound came from inside it.
It sounded like a moan. Tai stopped short, listening, and ran into the alley without further hesitation, Sora's mother following some distance behind him.
"No!" Hearing Tai's cry, she ran faster. As she reached the end of the alley, she spotted him kneeling next to an inert form. Her heart rose into her throat, and she ran faster, hoping against hope that she wouldn't see what she was suddenly expecting...
Ice congealed in her stomach as she recognized the bodies of Sora and Mimi lying unconscious on the ground. Falling to her knees next to Tai, she touched her daughter's face.
"Sora...please wake up! Sora!"
Tai was shaking her, but she wasn't waking up. Tears blurring his vision, he turned away and tried to wake Mimi, unable to look any more at his best friend's cold face. Mimi groaned and murmured something faintly, and hope leaped in his throat.
A few people had straggled into the alley after them: the doorman, a secretary from the front desk, a man who had been out on a late-night jog. The doorman was calling 911 on his cell phone. The jogger shook his head.
"That's the sixth and seventh this week to be attacked in a back alley," he commented to the secretary, who looked stricken.
Mimi's eyes blinked open, and she suddenly let out a scream.
"What? What is it?" Tai said urgently, grabbing her hands. "What happened?"
"Keep him away!" she screamed wildly, her eyes squeezed shut. "Don't let him do this anymore! Make him let me go! The bats...the bats! Help me!!" Her voice broke, and she whispered, "Help me," again, as tears ran down her face. The secretary was crying, too, and Sora's mother looked numb. As an ambulance skidded up at the mouth of the alley, siren wailing, Tai let his face fall into his hands.
Sora...Mimi...why?
Foolish children, all of them...it is almost entertaining to watch them cogitate uselessly over each other. My strength is nearly returned, and yours is failing. It is only a matter of time now, sweet Mimi...only a matter of time...
Deep within the necklace, someone began to laugh...
~*~*~*~
A Digimon 02 Fanfic by Bandit, ©2000
Chapter 6- Dark Butterflies; Dying Love and Sunspot Visions
~*~*~*~
"This is going to be so cool!" Sora jubilated, hanging up the phone from a talk with Satsuma. "I can't believe it, but at least a third of the student body is going to be there! And it's only two days away...I can't wait!" She paused, and then a wicked grin appeared on her face. "You know, I heard Mai telling Yuki that she was going to bring a bottle..."
"Lucky girl. Is Tai coming?"
"He said he was..." Sora leaned over to nudge Mimi, who was stretched out full-length across the sofa on her stomach with her face buried in a pillow. "Are you okay? You don't sound so good. I thought you said you were feeling better."
"I was," Mimi muttered into the pillow. "So I was wrong; I'll be fine by Friday. Don't worry."
Sora blinked, worried about her friend. "Mimi, you haven't been yourself lately. Normally you'd be acting absolutely hyperactive over the idea of a game of spin-the-bottle. You've had this 'flu' for days; do you think it might be something worse?"
Mimi looked up, saw the concern on her friend's face and rolled over onto her back to talk like a civilized person. "I told you, Sora, I'll be fine. I was just tired, and I'm feeling better already, see?" She tried a smile, then rolled back over. "I need to rest up for Friday," she said into the pillow, and shooed her away with one hand.
Sora sighed. She didn't like this whole 'sickness' deal. She fully believed that Mimi had told her the truth when she'd said she didn't have an eating disorder; she trusted her friend. But still, there was definitely something wrong with her. Sora didn't know what, but that wasn't stopping her from being downright nervous about it. Something was niggling at the back of her mind, and she wasn't sure what.
Leaving the room, she crossed to the window in the kitchen to look out at the sunset. It was Wednesday, and she was looking very much forward to the school lock-in. The problem of Mimi, however, was weighing uncomfortably on her shoulders. What if she passed out in the middle of the gym? She'd already fainted once, on Monday. Luckily, they had been at home, and her mother had brought her around with a wet cloth and a few gentle shakes, but it had been a nasty scare for all parties involved, just the same.
She'd spent the day in bed and declared herself 'much better' the next day, but had spent more and more time lying on the sofa in obvious discomfort. They'd tried several headache medicines, but none had helped, and she'd refused to see a doctor, insisting that there was nothing wrong with her that bed rest and time wouldn't fix.
If she keeps insisting that there's nothing wrong, she's going to get seriously sick, and I don't know what to do to make her admit she needs help. I feel helpless...
With a sigh, she did what she usually did when something was bothering her; she reached for the phone to call Tai. It rang several times, but was picked up on the fourth ring and answered in a jaunty male voice.
"Talk to me."
Sora suppressed a giggle. It was Tai, all right.
"Hi, Tai."
"Sora?"
"In the flesh, and worried stiff," she said. "Have you seen Mimi lately?"
"Not since the Dairy Duchess. Why? Is she okay?"
"I don't know." Sora sighed. "I don't think so. Remember how she was a little under the weather?"
"Yeah? Did she get worse?"
"In spades, but she won't admit it. She keeps saying she's fine. Tai, I'm getting scared. She blacked out in the middle of dinner for a few minutes, the day before yesterday."
A pause. "You're kidding."
"Would I kid about something like that?"
"Is she all right? I mean...you know what I mean."
"Yeah, I know. She says she is. I'm not so sure. She spends hours just lying on the couch, but she doesn't fall asleep."
"Watching television?"
"If it was that, I would understand better. She just stares at the ceiling. That's when she doesn't have a pillow over her face."
"Weird."
"Weird doesn't cover it. I don't know if she should come to the lock-in. What if she has complications, or passes it on to somebody?"
"Well, have you or your mom caught it yet?"
"No..."
"I'm not Joe or anything, but I think that probably means it isn't contagious. And as for fainting, the teachers are there for that sort of thing. It's not like she'll be cut off from medical help. Actually, the school is closer to a hospital than your house, if that makes you feel any better."
"Well...I don't know..."
"Look, Sora, Mimi says she's been looking forward to this for a while."
A sigh. "Mimi says a lot of things."
"Just let her decide, okay? Maybe all she needs is to get out of the house for a while."
"Hmm...good point. For that matter, she hasn't been outside all day. We could go for a walk or something."
"Aren't you afraid she'll collapse in an alley?"
"Ta-ai..."
"Okay, okay. I was kidding. Hey, see you at the lock-in, if not sooner, okay?"
"Sounds good. I think I'll ask her if she feels up to that walk, then."
"Have fun. See you."
"Bye."
Sora hung up with a pleased look on her face, and then headed into the living room.
"Mimi?"
Mimi didn't answer. Sora walked over to check on her; she was lying on her back again, staring at the ceiling. Crossing her arms, Sora gave a little stomp of one foot.
"Mimi!"
"Huh? Wha...oh, it's you, Sora." Mimi jerked 'awake', turning to look at her friend. She sounded vague, and tired. "What is it?"
"I was wondering if you'd like to go for a walk," Sora said with a firmness in her voice that made it clear she wasn't settling for a 'no'. Mimi looked at her as though she had suddenly turned into a chicken.
"A walk?" she said in disbelief. Sora nodded.
"You need to get out of the house. Lying here obviously isn't helping you at all. Maybe what you need is some fresh air."
Mimi sat up far enough to look out the window. "But it's dark outside."
"It's called streetlights," Sora said dryly. "And my mom won't be home for hours. We've already eaten, now let's go walk it off." She chose not to mention that there wasn't really anything for Mimi to walk off; Mimi had, as usual, barely touched her dinner. That wasn't enough to dissuade Sora, though.
Mimi groaned and put a pillow over her face. "I'm too tired."
"We're not going on a cross-country run, Mimi," Sora said impatiently, reaching over to pull the pillow away. It was immediately replaced by another pillow.
"We're not going at all," Mimi insisted from behind the second pillow. Sora grabbed that one, too.
"I'm talking about a nice, quiet stroll around the block. Now get up." Making short work of Mimi's third and last pillow, she grinned and threw it across the room along with the other two. "You're out of pillows. Now what?"
In answer, Mimi rolled over onto her face again. Sora glared at her friend's back.
"I swear, you're turning into a sloth. Get up." When Mimi didn't answer, Sora planted herself on the edge of the couch and leaned over to whisper into Mimi's ear. "Get...UP!" She yelled the second word, and Mimi started in surprise, then rolled over to glare right back at her.
"You're on another crusade, aren't you."
"Yup."
"And you're not going to leave me alone until I go for a walk with you."
"Nope."
"Fine, then I might as well give in gracefully," Mimi said, getting to her feet with a groan. Sora snorted as she stood up, too.
"I'd say it's a little late for that."
As they left the apartment, Sora glanced at Mimi's sulking face.
You know, this had better work, or this walk is going to be pretty miserable for us both...
This was not in my plans! This night's prey was dearly needed! How dare she fool with my arrangements?! Pausing, he let reason take control again. Cold judgment was better than hot rage in the long run. Hmm...but, who is to say this night must be a waste? This meddling brat will not get away with trifling with my carefully laid plans; she will augment them! She will pay, and dearly. You wish your friend to be cheerful, Sora? So be it.
Mimi stumbled suddenly, leaning against a tree for support. Sora turned, concerned.
"Are you okay?"
Mimi shook her head, frowning. "Huh...sorry about that. I must have tripped. I'll be fine, thanks." Straightening, she smiled radiantly, and Sora nodded, continuing to walk. As the girls reached the first corner, Sora snuck a peek sidewise at Mimi; she was smiling slightly, as if at some private joke, and walking surefooted, unlike her tired walk she'd been using lately.
Good...it's about time she cheered up. I'm glad I thought of this.
They turned the corner and went on. Halfway around the block, Mimi's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Ooh! Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?" Sora said, in confusion. Mimi grinned.
"I heard a meow! I think there's a kitten in there!" She pointed at an alley they were passing. Sora's face crumpled, and Mimi looked suddenly mortified. "Oh, Sora, I'm sorry! I forgot...but...oh, please?"
"I don't know..." Sora said. She wasn't sure that wandering into a strange alley was a good idea... But what if I'm just being a prig because my kitten is hurt? I shouldn't burst Mimi's bubble just because I miss Kichi... "Oh, all right," she allowed. Mimi looked delighted.
"All right! C'mon!" Grabbing Sora's hand, she ran down the alley.
The alley proved a lot longer than Sora had expected, and turned a corner into another alleyway that ran between the backs of several apartment buildings. The first few floors of each building were windowless, and Sora found herself becoming nervous. What if something bad happens to us? No one will be here to see... Mimi seemed to be looking around for something, probably the kitten. As they reached the end of the alley, Mimi stopped, her back to Sora.
Sora shrugged. "Sorry, Mimi. I guess there's no kitten after all. Let's go, okay? This place makes me nervous."
Mimi didn't turn around. Sora scowled. "Don't sulk, Mimi. Let's get out of here."
"No," Mimi said. Sora stared at her.
"What? Mimi, don't be stupid! This place is dark, and deserted! It's not safe. I should never have let you drag me into it. I'm leaving."
"You're not going anywhere," Mimi said darkly. She turned suddenly and moved between Sora and the rest of the alley, blocking her escape.
"Cut it out! This isn't funny!" Sora cried. Has she gone nuts? What does she think she's doing?!
"You're right, you know," Mimi said, grinning in a way that was not her own. "You shouldn't have let me take you here. A pity you trust your friends so much."
"Mimi, stop it!" Sora said, beginning to panic. Mimi stepped forward and grabbed her wrists, pulling Sora's face close to her own.
"I'm not Mimi," she whispered, and her eyes suddenly flared red.
He was standing on the steps to the school courtyard, but the place before him was not the school. It was like a concrete box, with flickers of red playing across the walls. It milled with people, but they were all strangely pale...no, not pale. They were gray, and almost transparent. They all had mournful expressions, and a few were crying.
Where am I?
Something brushed his ankles, and he looked down. It was a kitten, and it mewed plaintively up at him as he looked at it.
That's Sora's cat...what's it doing here?
Suddenly, he realized that not all of the people here were gray. One of them still retained color, however faded. She vanished behind a group of people as he looked, and he ran forward, pushing between and through the people around him. They felt like clouds, damp and barely there. One of the crying girls tried to grab his shirt, as if hoping to escape with him, but her hand passed through him. He recognized her face as he passed; she was Aika Shoujo.
He passed through a cluster of people, and there she was, suddenly before him...
Mimi. As he stared at her, she turned and looked him straight in the eyes, pleading in her face. He reached out to her, and suddenly a shape burst from her, as she let out a scream...no, two screams, two voices wailing in unison. His ears ached, and his hand passed through the figure that had appeared, looking at him with hopeless eyes, her voiceless mouth echoing the sound issuing from Mimi's lips.
Sora? Sora!
"NO!" Tai yelled, sitting up suddenly in bed, drenched in cold sweat. Gasping for breath, he ran the dream through his head. What he could remember was strange and gray and... "Sora." he whispered. "Something bad happened to Sora...."
Suddenly, a horrible feeling of premonition hit him like a sledgehammer. Jumping out of bed, he grabbed his jacket and shoes and ran out the door in the direction of Sora's apartment, not bothering to wake anyone up and tell them where he was going.
Reaching the apartment building where Sora lived, he burst in, ignoring the startled, sleepy doorman, and ran up the stairs. He banged desperately on the door, and was answered by Mrs. Takenouchi.
"Where's Sora?" he demanded as she looked out at him.
"She left a note on the table saying she and Mimi were going on a walk," Sora's mother said, confused. Tai went white, and turned to go. "What is it?" she pleaded, and he turned back to her.
"I think something terrible's happened to her," he said, and began to leave again.
"What?" she exclaimed, and grabbed her jacket. Her shoes were still on; she'd just gotten home. "Wait for me!"
The two of them ran out into the street, Tai leading the way. As they reached the alley, a faint sound came from inside it.
It sounded like a moan. Tai stopped short, listening, and ran into the alley without further hesitation, Sora's mother following some distance behind him.
"No!" Hearing Tai's cry, she ran faster. As she reached the end of the alley, she spotted him kneeling next to an inert form. Her heart rose into her throat, and she ran faster, hoping against hope that she wouldn't see what she was suddenly expecting...
Ice congealed in her stomach as she recognized the bodies of Sora and Mimi lying unconscious on the ground. Falling to her knees next to Tai, she touched her daughter's face.
"Sora...please wake up! Sora!"
Tai was shaking her, but she wasn't waking up. Tears blurring his vision, he turned away and tried to wake Mimi, unable to look any more at his best friend's cold face. Mimi groaned and murmured something faintly, and hope leaped in his throat.
A few people had straggled into the alley after them: the doorman, a secretary from the front desk, a man who had been out on a late-night jog. The doorman was calling 911 on his cell phone. The jogger shook his head.
"That's the sixth and seventh this week to be attacked in a back alley," he commented to the secretary, who looked stricken.
Mimi's eyes blinked open, and she suddenly let out a scream.
"What? What is it?" Tai said urgently, grabbing her hands. "What happened?"
"Keep him away!" she screamed wildly, her eyes squeezed shut. "Don't let him do this anymore! Make him let me go! The bats...the bats! Help me!!" Her voice broke, and she whispered, "Help me," again, as tears ran down her face. The secretary was crying, too, and Sora's mother looked numb. As an ambulance skidded up at the mouth of the alley, siren wailing, Tai let his face fall into his hands.
Sora...Mimi...why?
Foolish children, all of them...it is almost entertaining to watch them cogitate uselessly over each other. My strength is nearly returned, and yours is failing. It is only a matter of time now, sweet Mimi...only a matter of time...
Deep within the necklace, someone began to laugh...
~*~*~*~