I don't own digimon.

Story 14.5

Shining a light on this

Bakemon was used to late nights like this. When he was back in the digital world, clients would come in at all times of the day for his services. Now back in the real world, the only real difference was needing to have a set of hours. The last thing he wanted to do was wake up either his partner and/or her child. He made an effort to keep to that schedule. Under the cover of nightly rainfall, something told the ghost digimon he was going to make an exception here. But that was judging by the woman staring through the glass of the front door. Dressed in a purple suit with black accents, black and gold nails bouncing against her side. She didn't look that soaked, something told him that there was a really good reason for that.

"What can I do for you, Miss?" he announced, taking care to open the front door and face down his guest. But all that got him was a duffel bag placed on the porch. Opening it up, Bakemon couldn't believe his eyes. That amount of money would be more than enough for Lisa and her child to have a nice life. But at the same time, a large 'gift' was exactly opposite of what his partner would want. Already cut off from her family, she didn't need any more trouble. Especially not created by him. "Before I make a decision on the money, could you at least tell me why you need my help at this ungodly hour?"

Lilithmon let out a sigh. Taking a seat on the porch, she took a moment to compose herself. The mega had hoped in what remained in her blackened heart that this would be a smooth process, but it was going to be anything but that. Figures. Perfectly understandable for someone in a legal position to wish to know.

"All I ask is that you listen all the way through." she whispered and watched Bakemon take a seat beside her.

.

A BlackGatomon runs about it's tiny prison. Why the hell did this woman think she could just go about with careless abandonment for both them and their partner? They followed her instructions to the best of their abilities. What little had been so wrong that it threw everything out of focus? Try as it might

"Kitty, what did I do wrong?" their partner called out and BlackGatomon shifted over to them. Shivering in the bed, she was fairly certain that frost could form any moment now. What muscle that should be on his body had wallowed away within these four walls and was threatening to leave. Much like everything to come into this place - except that fucking woman. No, she could make even the kindest of gestures.

"I don't know." BlackGatomon announced and rubbed her paws together. Perhaps something would happen and their fortunes would change. Hopefully for the better. The last either human or digimon needed was one more case of bad luck to occur and tear them apart. Perhaps that was why they had initially welcomed the heat. A refreshing change after all their hardships they were forced to experience. "Sooner or later, life will turn around."

Her partner's expression shifted slightly. Tears rolling down, her only wish was to reach through the bars of this stupid enclosure and wipe the droplets away. Even if they needed to cry for the rest of time.

"Are you sure? It feels as if this rough patch refuses to end." her partner answered, looking towards the window. Barred off, any chance of escape was a far-of dream out of reach for both of them. Shifting his gaze over to BlackGatomon, a reluctant smile formed on his face.

"Yes. Sooner or later, something will happen to change our fortunes. I'm sure of it." BlackGatomon answered and turned about the cage. Getting comfortable, she laid down. "But for now, we need to rest."

Her partner nodded, taking care to make himself comfortable on the plank of wood that was somehow considered a bed. Giving their partner a wave, their eyes slid shut. BlackGatomon followed suit, letting the wonderful world of dreams take her in. This should've been a happy time for the pair. But the only thing that awaited her there was that stupid woman. Standing in the middle of a hallway, a large knife flashed within the dark.

"You know, I was hoping that you wouldn't lead my child astray." the woman announced, BlackGatomon not even looking her way. No, she was more focused on looking for a way out. Or at least, a place to hide so her chaser got bored and gave up the chase. Bolting off, BlackGatomon did her best to stay away from this chaser. But the woman refused to let up. No, she picked up the pace in the hopes of catching her. What purpose could she have that required killing her? It didn't make sense. It would be far easier to silence her partner and be done with the whole mess. Especially once the digivice had been taken out of the equation. Or perhaps she had some kind of ulterior motives. Had something been said that she wasn't supposed to have heard. Entirely likely. All sorts of business people and other influential figures passed through these halls for a so-called 'quick fix'. Whatever the hell that even meant. Could she and the kid be pawns within all of that?

Before BlackGatomon really had a chance to dwell any further on that question, the end of the hallway came into view. She had hoped for an exit, but instead was treated to a dead end. Because of course it was with luck this bad.

"This is the end of the line for you." the woman announced and raised the knife up, BlackGatomon bracing for the worst-case scenario. But as the knife came down, the black cat digimon's eyes shot open. Fire danced around the room, threatening to consume just about everything here. But there was no sign of the child. Where exactly could they have gone in a place without any exits?

"That devil…" BlackGatomon muttered, smashing her claws into the cage. Any other time, she probably wouldn't have tried this. The noise alone was enough to alert anyone outside this room she was trying to escape. Even if she had managed to get out, where exactly would she go? The window had been barred off and the door most definitely had some kind of locking mechanism to prevent access. Probably on top of a buttload of other security 'features'. None of which designed to protect against fire and/or flames. Because of course there wasn't. "Just a little bit more."

Smashing her claw into the cage, a large enough hole had finally formed for the black cat digimon to exit. Passing through, she wasted little time in getting to her next objective - the barred window. Theowing everything she had against these bars, it wasn't enough. The raging inferno had already consumed most of the room by this point, leaving what little remained just a tap away from coming down and collapsing in on itself and what she could only assume to be the charred body of her partner. Just more of her awful luck at work here. When did things ever work out in her favor? Never, that's what. Every attempt just led to her ending up right back at square one. All while that bitch laughed her way up and got whatever she wanted. What she would give to take her down a peg, once and for all.

As she thought that, dark energy engulfed her. Comforting her, a sense of calm washed over. While revenge would not come tonight, one day.

.

Back in present times, Lilithmon let out a sigh. The rain continued to fall down, somehow even louder than it was before she began speaking.

"So a negligence suit, gotcha." Bakemon announced and focused on the duffel bag of money at his client's feet. Then it's right back to Lilithmon. "I'll take it, but you can't pay me that much upfront."

The businesswoman digimon nodded, only for the door to open up and Lisa walk out. Dressed in a nightgown, she didn't look particularly happy about any of this. Not that Bakemon blamed her for feeling that way.

"Balemon, please tell me your friend didn't just rob a bank." Lisa announced, getting treated to a chuckle from Lilithmon.

"Contrary to the reputation certain members of my species and by extension the other demon lord digimons, everything here is clean and legit." she announced and reached down into the bag. Pulling out a massive armful of cash, care is taken to hand it over to Lisa. "That should be a fair payment. Don't spend it all in one place, deary."

Picking up the duffel bag, off she went.

Notes:

Yes, I'm aware this is considered a half part even though it's the length of a full one.