Chapter Five

Descent into Insanity, Chapter Five

By noontime, Jack was nearing a small digimon town, sweating profusely, and dead tired, he went inside an air conditioned interiror decorating store and rested. he overheard a conversation with the store manager, and a stranger in a red cloak.

You're saying there is nothing you have that is yellow? The stranger said.

Thts right, we usually don't carry yellow items, if we did you'd know about it. The manager told him.

That's just wonderful, now i won't have anything to balance out my decor, I have too much red and grey as it is, and I thought yellow would be a nice addition. I guess I'll have some lunch and go home. The stranger said and walked out the door.

Jack walked up to the front desk and asked: Can you direct me to a soup kitchen? Or anywhere else I can get some food?

I'm sorry, ther aren't any places for that in this town, the next town does, but it's more than a day's walk from here. I take it your partner's gone? The manager said.

Jack asked.

Well, ever human that's walked into this place has had a digimon partner with them, but I guess there's always exceptions. The manger said shruggin his shoulders.

Jack asked again.

Wow you must be new here, a digimon is what I am and pretty much what every non human being is here in the Digital World. The manger explained.

I take it that this Digital World is what this whole place is? Jack said.

That's right, well, I'd like to chat, but I have work to do, goodbye. Tha manager said and walked off.

Well, looks like I have a long walk ahead of me. Jack said to himself.

He walked out into the hot sun and headed out of the town, a few minuts after he walked out, he fell and slid down a hill. When he regained his balance, he noticed something off in the distance. Something caught the light off the sun and sparkled, when he got there he dugg a little bit in the sand and uncovered a yellow digicore, another one of Baal's. Fear filled him, as he knew he had to get rid of it, then he remembered the stranger, as he wanted something yellow for his home. If he had the digicore, he would have to deal with Diablo, a smile went across his face at the concept. He ran back to the town and found the red cloaked stranger at a cafe'. he walked over to him and asked:

I heard you wanted something yellow? Well here's something, I think you'll like it. Jack said as he showed him the digicore.

Now that is a very nice decoration, young lad. Only I had found a few things at an auction house I really liked, I you would enter that, I could buy it off you for lots of money, the auction is in one hour, there's still time. You can get a form at the front desk, and by judging by your appearence you could use the money. The stranger said and pointed in the direction of the auction house.

Jack ran in and proceeded to grab a form and enter the digicore, when the actionerr came to take a look at it, he was shocked to discover what it was.

My goodness, this is a digicore! You can make a fourtune! Now, here's a rental tux, put it on and meet me on stage in two hours. The auctioneer said and ran off with the digicore.

Jack followed him backstage and took a seat with the others who entered. he saw the other items that were going to be auctioned, he went into a nearby restroom and changed into the tuxedo he recieved. he walked out and waited for the auction to begin. The sound of a hammer woke him up from a nap, he had unexpectedly nodded off while waiting. the first item that was sold was a red statuette, since he missed the beginning part of the selling, he did not know what it was. The next item was a yellow birdbath, obviously the stranger he met wanted this and he heard his voice state the amount of money he was willing to pay. He lost that and every other yellow item that was put up, some bad luck huh? Weel,the digicore was the last item put up, and as sson as the audience heard what it was, they went estatic, everyone wanted it, especially the stranger, it didn't matter to Jack who got the digicore, depending on who got it that person would either last a few seconds or a few minutes against Diablo. the frantic yelling out of how much money was being spent fill Jack up with greed, he would have enough money to fix himself up, get food and supplies for his journey to get out of this god forsaken place. The people also noticed his smile on stage, but thaey didn't care, they wanted the digicore and they would get it by any means necessary. Since the bid increment was small, only five digidollars, it took nearly an hour but the stranger finally one with the price he yelled:

Twenty one thousand digidollars!

Sold to the digimon in the red cloak! The auctionaer yeeled while slamming the hammer on the podium. The stranger went nearly mad with satisfaction.

Yeah! YEAH!! Who's the man! WHO'S THE MAN! I'M THE MAN! The stranger screamed while grabbing the digcore and running out with the whole angry audience after him.

Here you go lad, twenty one thousand digidollars, right here on this debit card. Now return the tux and leave. The auctioneer said while handing Jack the card.

Thank you so much man, I'm gone. Jack said.

Jack changed back into his regular clothes, ran out of the auction house and checked into the nearest hotel. He took a shower and had his clothes washed. After a few hours of lying in bed, having the best nap of his life. You could sympathize with him, considering that he's been out with a demon for the last few months, starved and scared. he then woke up, got dressed and went out for some grub, he nearly ordered out the whole resturant.

Any desert sir? The egg shaped waiter asked.

Well, this, and this, a little bit of this and here's another tip for you. Jack said happily.

Yes sir! Said the waiter and he ran off.

After he got done he again tipped the waiter and strutted out of the resturant. he then walked into the local store and started shopping for supplies. He knew he could not stay for long, so he bought himself a duffel bag, food supplies, a first aid kit, a sleeping bag, a small calendar, and a watch. This all fit neatly into the duffel bag and jack went back into the hotel. He would leave at dawn, he set his alarm clock and went to sleep. The alarm sounded and he got up, after washing up and taking another shower, he checked out of the hotel and started off into the sunrise.

Later that day, the digidestined were walking in a windswept grassy plain, they stopped to rest on a few rocks when Yolei found something. What she found was a ruby red digicore, the last belonging to Diablo. At this time, Diablo was searching through a rock pile belonging to a settlement of Gotsumon, the digimon did not dare approach him, for they knew he was extremely powerful. One of the Gotsumon ran out of the pile with a blue gem, a digicore. Diablo caught sight of this and ran after him, after demanding the gem, the Gotsumon dropped it and ran off screaming. Diablo picked it up and placed it in the small pouch. he then walked off in the digidestined's direction, so was Jack. neither of them knew that they would meet up with the digidestined, or each other.

Jack stopped by an outcropping of rocks and sat down laying his head back, closing his eyes and enjoying the breeze. When he opened his his eyes he felt something terrible closing in, like the combined energy of three digicores, he knew that Diablo was coming. He felt like it would be an hour befre he arrived, he felt the direction that he was coming at, north. He would continue east, and hopefully he would never see him again. he got up and walked east, at a faster pace than before. fifty eight minutes later he was stopped by a voice, the voice of a girl.

Hey, wait a minute, who are you? She said.

He turned around towards her and looked at his watch, only two minutes left to go, he had no time for this. I, really have to go. And if you have any good sense you'll be going to. Jack sad as he was backing away.

Why, you'll be safe with us, what's going on? She said a little confused as to why he was so tense.

I don't think you understand, if I don't get out of here I'll be dead, along with the rest of you. Now, if you mind, I'm gone. Jack said turning around.

Just as he turned around, he knew he was too late, he spotted Diablo heading thier way from the north, as he noticed them. He turned in their direction, Yolei, still not noticing, asked,

Why don't you want to come with us?

That's why. Jack said pointing towards Diablo. He should be here in a few minutes, short time to live, long time to wait.