A/N: I'd just like to take this opportunity to thank my best friend Arielle for co-writing Chapter 21 with me! I couldn't have made it so awesomely sadistic without you! …Ok now, on with the story! Here's chapter 22. Enjoy!
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I began to hyperventilate as I beheld the sight. I was completely healed, but my own blood lie everywhere. "How!" was what my mind was screaming, although, I found myself unable to come up with the answer. And it was then that another question arose in my mind. "Who?" I asked out loud.
Before I had time to do anything else, I heard the door crash open and jumped at the sudden noise. I looked at the door, praying it wasn't gonna be Ken. But, unfortunately, it seemed as though my prayers were no longer being answered these days as Ken walked into the room, a cruel smirk playing on his face. Right behind him, a creature walked in that I'd never seen before, Wormmon following close behind them both.
"What's going on now?" I found myself thinking as I watched them enter the dungeon. Although, as Ken began unlocking the cell door to come in, my thoughts quickly turned to one thing—keeping as far away from Ken as I possibly could for as long as I possibly could. I found myself backing into a corner as Ken glared at me.
"Well, whatever is the matter, Dear?" he asked me in mock-sympathy, hissing out that last word in scorn. He walked towards me, stopping when he was only about six inches away. He was trying to make me feel threatened again, trapped. I knew he was. I tried to shrink back, away from his reach as he moved to touch my cheek, but he succeeded in doing so anyway.
"And how is my Little Kitten this morning?" he asked, still in a mocking tone. I was confused by something he'd said just then. This morning? I looked over towards the barred window. Sunlight shone through the small window. Wait…But, it was nighttime and stormy out when he'd beaten me… Had I really fallen into unconsciousness the entire night? It must be so…
As if reading my thoughts, Ken chuckled a bit in amusement and then said, "Yes, Kitten, you did sleep through the night." I looked back to him, my head and stomach, without warning, reeling with a sudden fit of nausea as I began to tremble with fear. My state only seemed to please Ken even more. He smiled at me sadistically and went to wrap his other arm around my waist once again.
I tried to fight him off, but found it of no use. He was too strong and simply gripped me tighter around the waist and placed the hand that was on my cheek on the back of my neck. I quickly became exhausted from the struggle and slumped down slightlywith fatigue, whimpering softly in fear, my head lowered in defeat. He played with my hair using the hand on the back of my neck as he continued. "There's someone I want you to meet, Kitten."
Ken looked behind him at the strange creature that had entered with him and Wormmon. The creature walked up to us until he was almost right beside Ken, probably about a step behind him. He stared down at me, although, unlike Ken's, his face showed absolutely no emotion whatsoever—no pity, no anger, no malice, nothing—nothing at all. "This is Elfmon," Ken told me.
"He's agreed to help me teach you some respect for your new master, since it's clear that you still don't know how to be completely submissive towards me." I looked back and forth from Ken to this new creature called "Elfmon" in shock. How anyone would actually want to help someone as evil as Ken harm another is beyond me, but as I looked again at Elfmon's face, his expression changed. He went from showing no emotion to showing an odd expression on his face.
It looked like a slight hint of remorse for the decision he was making. He'd been trying to avoid my eyes, but then he looked at me, pain visible in his eyes. He didn't wanna hurt me, I could sense it. But it seemed as though he had no choice anymore, since he already agreed with Ken to do this. What did Ken mean by "help him teach me some respect" anyway? Was he gonna have this complete stranger beat me as well? I shudder to think.
In a soft voice, I venture to ask, "A mercenary?"
Ken slapped me really hard across the face and I fell to the floor, caressing my now bruised cheek with on hand. "Did I give you permission to speak!" Ken yelled at me, kicking me sharply in the side. I cried out in pain as I heard a sickening crack—one of my ribs was broken. I curled up into a ball to protect myself, crying softly by then, praying to God that Ken wasn't about to whip me again. Surprisingly, he didn't.
As I look up at him fearfully, he simply took a deep breath to calm himself down, still glaring down at me angrily, and spoke, Elfmon, sort of human-like in appearance, still having a look on his face as though he wanted nothing more than to stop Ken's abuse towards me. "In case you must know," he told me, "yes, I guess you could call him a mercenary. …Now, stop with your tears! They don't accomplish anything, except for another beating, that is. So, if you don't want me to beat you again like I did last night, I suggest you stop crying right now!"
His voice was an ice-cold growl, sickeningly calm considering the situation, yet angry at the same time; I knew he was deadly serious, so I forced myself to calm down. It didn't work completely, but at least it was enough to satisfy him as he and Elfmon left then without another word, slamming the cell door closed behind them. Only Wormmon remained in the dungeon with me, staring at me in silence sympathetically.
Ken told me not to cry while he was around, but he didn't say anything about after he had left. So, I curled up then, right where I was, in the corner of my cell, trying desperately to ignore the searing pain in my side, and cried, my sobs echoing throughout the dungeon. A few seconds later, I felt a gentle touch caress my shoulder. I looked up then to see Wormmon's big, crystal-blue eyes staring into mine.
I reached a hand up weakly for him. He took the hint and hugged me close, trying to comfort me as best he could. He stayed there with me for about an hour or so, just comforting me by stroking my hair gently and whispering to me things like, "Shhhh, everything's alright now" and "I'm here for you. You're not alone". Pretty soon, I'd fallen asleep to the sound of my friend's comforting voice, finally able to escape the immense pain—at least, for the time being.
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(Me: Hmm…Should I end it there or not? Decisions, decisions…
Everyone-Reading-This-Story: Keep going!
Me: Ok, ok! Gees! Ahem…)
As I awoke, I lifted my head up slightly, expecting to see Wormmon still comforting me. He wasn't there. I noticed then that my pain was all gone and that I wasn't in the corner of the cell anymore. Again, I was lying on the cot, my wounds gone. As I sat up, I looked around me, confused.
"Who keeps doing this?" I asked myself. "Wormmon? …Hmm… Perhaps… It couldn't possibly be Ken, could it? And even if it was, why? Why would he be doing this? To torture me, or to help me? …Probably to torture me, knowing Ken's cruel sense of humor. …And that new digimon, Elfmon… It could be him… But, what're his motives for it? …Could he really be just like Ken, interested only in causing me pain? …And what of the expression on his face while Ken was yelling at me? Could it all simply be a façade, trying to hide his true intentions—torture?"
These questions burned inside of me as my stomach growled. It was then that I remembered that I hadn't had anything to eat since yesterday afternoon. I hoped that Ken didn't have "Starve Crystal" on his to-do-list. And so, I sat there, waiting for whatever Ken was planning to do next, praying desperately for salvation. Whether it be by rescue by the others…or by death, I just wanted to escape from the pain, to awaken from this horrid waking nightmare, to have the torment end—one way or another.
I simply wanted salvation…
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A/N: Chapter 22 is complete!
Digimon Emperor: You just had to do that to us, didn't you? Leave us wondering who's really healing her and why. …You're evil!
Yep! This is true!
midnight breezy: (Shrugs) Well, can't really say I didn't expect her to leave it there.
Digimon Emperor: (Stares at midnight breezy)
midnight breezy: What?
Digimon Emperor: I…hate…you.
midnight breezy: Then my mission has been accomplished!
Hahaha!
Digimon Emperor: You shut up, you little— (Give ya three guesses, people! …Yep! Gets hit in the head with a phone book)
(Looks at midnight breezy)
midnight breezy: 'Wasn't me.
Then who—? (midnight breezy and her both look at an old lady who suddenly appeared out of nowhere)
Old-Lady-Who-Suddenly-Appeared-Out-Of-Nowhere: Hey, you little hooligans! Get off of my lawn!
(midnight breezy and Diva'sdream at the same time) 0.o…
…Uhhhh…Bye…