I began to feel weak. I hadn't eaten since yesterday afternoon. I was beginning to get really hungry. Was Ken planning to starve me as well? I hoped not. The last thing I needed was for him to add anymore to my torture besides the hell he was already putting me through by then. I couldn't help but wonder then what he was actually planning to do with me, once he got bored with "The Torture Crystal Game". And that's when I remembered something that, I guess, I'd forced myself to forget up until now.

All of the nightmares that I'd had since my escape came flooding back into my mind. All of them. All of the images came streaming back—the ones that made me uncertain whether my own mind had created them in my sleep…or whether they were actually intentionally planted there…by Ken. He did have the ability to do that…didn't he? At least, that's what I'd been told.

'Hmm! Listen to yourself, Crystal! You're starting to sound crazy now—paranoid! You have to calm down and think more rationally than that or Ken will win!' That's what I told myself. It was the only thought I could produce at the moment to try and regain some of my mental and emotional stability.

'Come on, Crystal!' I told myself. 'I mean, you're supposed to be the Child of Willpower for crying out loud! You have to keep fighting! You can't just let Ken win!' I was hoping that, maybe, if I kept telling myself that, I'd believe that I still had enough power to fight him. But it didn't work. I was just too exhausted and too weak to believe that I had even the smallest chance at survival anymore. In my mind, and even in my heart, I knew that I hadn't a prayer.

"Why can't he just kill me now and get it over with?" I found myself asking out loud—a thought that surprised even me. Had I really been so defeated that I was actually wishing for death? What was happening to me! Why was I giving in so easily? Me—Crystal Yael Johnson! I mean, my middle name literally means "Strength of God" in Hebrew! Why was I being so weak now! (Me: Hey! Yael's my cousin's name!)

"Because simply killing you wouldn't even be half as entertaining." His voice immediately sent a shiver up and down my spine, even before I looked at him. I looked up to find him standing there, watching me intently as I subconsciously flinched at being caught in his cold gaze. I hadn't even noticed him enter the room. Damn, I hate it when he does that! …But not as much as I hated what he did to me next.

He was carrying with him a tray. And do you know what was on that tray? If you guessed some of the most delicious-looking and -smelling barbequed ribs I'd ever seen in my life, you're right. And, they weren't for me either! I watched longingly as Ken came near the door of the cell, reaching for it as if to come in and give the food to me. But he then pulled his hand away last second and smiled cruelly as he sat down at the table just outside the cell, putting the tray down in front of him. My heart sank and my hopes got thrown out the window as he did this. 'God, I hate him!'

I turned away as he started to eat the meal, looking out the small window instead of at him. The sun was just now setting below the horizon and it looked beautiful out there. It looked so much better than the dark, uninviting dungeon of Ken's base. I found myself wishing desperately that I were out there instead of in this man-made hell. But I knew that it wasn't to be. I tried to occupy my mind with other thoughts, besides what was going on behind me. But, it was so hard, since I couldn't escape from that smell—it was practically calling to me.

I bit my lip, fighting back the pain in my stomach from the immense hunger, as well as the tears of anguish that were starting to build up inside of me. I hugged myself as a big gust of wind blew into the cell, blowing my hair back and making me very cold all of a sudden. (Ken made me change out of my witch's costume into rags, probably hoping this would happen. My witch's costume was sure of hell of a lot warmer than the tattered dress I was now wearing.)

I heard Ken snicker lowly behind me. Then, I heard his cold voice, sounding very pleased with himself, beckon me. "Oh, Crystal. Here." He flung something onto the ground next to me. I looked down to see in dismay what it was, still not moving from the position I was standing in, although I already knew what it was going to be. And, sure enough, I found a bone lying at my feet, the meat completely gone from it. I looked back and shot Ken a really dirty look, my eyes narrowed at him angrily.

But then, I turned back and walked up to the window, looking out of it longingly. The sun had set and it was an absolutely beautiful night in the Digital World. The stars were shining bright, reminding me of diamonds lying on a soft blanket of royal-blue satin, or of the eyes of angels watching over me from Heaven. I closed my eyes with pleasure, a feeling that I hadn't felt in a long time, as I was bathed in the light of the full moon, listening to the quietness of it all. If there was one thing I loved, it was the night. It was just so quiet; so calm; so comforting; so…absolutely glorious. It was all this, and yet hypnotically mysterious, and even sort of eerie, at the same time.

I was so wrapped up in my reverie that I didn't even here Ken come in. I just stood there, my eyes closed, my head tilted upward, hugging myself, soaking up the moonlight. But the next thing I knew, my serene state was broken as I felt a pair of arms encircle my waist and a face next to mine. I immediately snapped back to reality and turned my face towards the face to see who it was. I found a pair of cold, amethyst eyes staring into mine, only inches away.

I instantly tried to get away from him, grabbing Ken's hands to try and pull him off of me. Surprisingly, it worked and I was able to get out of his grasp and whirl around to face him. Although, I think he might've let me go purposely. I don't think I could've gotten away from him if he didn't want me to. I breathed heavily with panic as I watched him closely, my eyes wide in fear, my body trembling. "Why, Kitten," he said mockingly then, sneering heartlessly at me as I shivered in disgust, as well as fear, of his touch. "Whatever is the matter?"

"You know perfectly well what's the matter!" That sentence came out of my mouth as a yell before I could suppress it and stop my anger from taking over. I quickly gasped and covered my mouth with my hand, backing up slightly, my eyes wide with a sudden rush of fear. 'Oh Dear God, please don't let him be angry!' Much to my surprise, he didn't lash out. He didn't yell at me. He didn't even look as though he were angry. I mean, his eyes narrowed slightly as though he were vaguely irritated by it, but he didn't look pissed of like he tended to when stuff like this happens.

He stared at me hard for a few seconds before growling at me calmly, yet still threateningly, "Alright, here's the deal. I'm feeling generous today, Kitten. I'm willing to simply forgive you for your little outburst—just this once, though! But it better not happen again, or otherwise, I can't guarantee that your back will be out of whipping range. Am I making myself perfectly clear?" I nodded quickly, relieved and frightened at the same time as his amused smirk returned to his face. That was such a close call! I have definitely got to be more careful!

"That's a good little kitten," he said to me mockingly. "Now then, since you were able to let me eat my meal in peace, without getting angry with me, I believe you deserve a little reward." I cocked my head to one side a little bit, confused at what he meant. Ken snapped his fingers then, and in came Elfmon, carrying a tray with him, on which was water and—give ya three guesses. …Yup! Sushi…

Elfmon came in and set the tray down on the cot in the cell. I was slightly disappointed by what it was, although, I can't really say I wasn't expecting something like this. It's just like typical Ken to toy with me like this 24/7. "Hey, it's either this or nothing at all." Ken grabbed me by the arm and made me face him, his voice calm and low, yet still dripping with malevolence. "I say a 'thank you, Master' is in order, Kitten. Remember, I could just let you starve to death." Ugh…I absolutely hate that pet name he's been calling me by lately! But, nevertheless…

"Thank you, Master," I obediently followed his demand, my voice a submissive half-whisper, my head lowered in respect. I felt so degraded, reduced to complying with Ken's every wish and even thanking him for things! I couldn't believe my own meekness. A few days ago, I would've never given in to such a demeaning command. But, what now? Why was I giving in to him so easily? Why was I surrendering without even the slightest hint of a fight?

Ken patted me on the head, sniggered lowly under his breath. "What a good little kitten," he snickered at me mockingly and then turned to leave the cell. As soon as he was outside the cell and had locked the door, he said to me, "Now, eat up, Kitten. You're going to need your strength for the next time I decide to physically torture you." And, with that, he and Elfmon left the dungeon, closing out the last remaining light besides that provided by the moon and the stars in the night sky outside the cell.

I looked at the sushi in front of me. It was a kind I'd never eaten before. Great, give me something I don't know the taste of so I won't know whether or not you poisoned it! …Wait! Poisoned? What if that was the whole point? What if it was poisoned? What if the whole point was to make me sick—too weak to fight off his attacks or even resist him in the slightest way?

"…Well," I sighed to myself then, "That's just a chance I'm going to have to take, isn't it? I need to eat something." With that, I picked up a piece of the sushi and hesitantly put it in my mouth. It tasted awful! It took me forcing myself to before I was able to swallow it, trying hard not to make it come back up. Although, I was starting to feel queasy, no doubt a result of the rush of panic and uneasiness I was feeling, idea of the possibility of a poisoning still fresh on my mind.

'He wouldn't…would he?'

………………………………………………………………………………………………

A/N: (Shivering) Whew! There's chapter 23. A little chilling, isn't it?

Digimon Emperor: No, not really. (Gets drenched with water)

(Looks at midnight breezy holding the water gun she used to spray the crazy, old lady with the last time)

midnight breezy: (Trying to hide the water gun behind her back) Hi!

(Tries to suppress laughter, but fails)

Digimon Emperor: (Throws little, flimsy brochure at Diva'sDream)

(Stops laughing suddenly and glares at the Digimon Emperor after the brochure lightly taps her in the head)

midnight breezy: Uh-oh! (Hides)

Digimon Emperor: 0.0

You wanna be startin' somethin'? …Well, fine then… (Eyes turn red and she turns into Demon Diva'sDream as she pulls out her trusty frying pan and starts chasing him around with it) Come on! (Demon voice) Bring it on, Sparky! (Laughs maniacally, her frying pan waving in the air as she chases him)

Digimon Emperor: (Running for his life) Mommy! Help me!

midnight breezy: -.- …Uhhhh…ok…Diva'sDream will put up Chapter 24 as soon as she can. Probably after she's done killing "Sparky". Until then, see ya! .

(As the Digimon Emperor and herself run across the computer screen suddenly while she's chasing him) Bye everybody!

Digimon Emperor: Somebody, help me. (The huge metallic clang of a metal object slamming into someone's head can be heard all of a sudden)

midnight breezy: (With a painful, yet amused look) Ouch! That's gotta hurt! (Sees reader still there) Bye! (Waves happily as if nothing's happening as huge metallic clangs continue to resound over and over again) .