"Patamon be careful." Kari instructed. The little digimon flew into the house while Kari quickly made sure there was no one following. Kari then ran around the back of the house to find another entrance. There was a back door and Kari quickly turned the knob. The door opened and she stuck her head in to see if anyone was on the other side.
"I don't think anyone's here." Patamon flew in front of her and Kari screamed
"AH!" She fell back and landed with a thud on her back side.
"Oh oops did I do that?" Patamon asked and Kari put a hand to her chest.
"It's okay." She said once she caught her breath. Kari stood and slowly entered the home.
"So you haven't seen anyone?" She asked as the two made their way inside.
"Nope. There's no one here. I did find a ton of toys and costumes though." Patamon flew to the stairs and Kari bit her lip.
"This doesn't feel right. Why wouldn't puppetmon be here?" She whispered, still not trusting to raise her voice any louder. The stairs creaked under her weight as she stepped up the stairs.
"Come on it was over here." Patamon said louder than Kari was comfortable with. She hushed the small digimon and moved faster to stay close to Patamon.
"Hush Patamon." Patamon turned and looked at her.
"Kari I already explored this place. There is no one here." Kari nodded though she didn't trust it.
"I know. I just think we should be cautious." She said sheepishly. Patamon flew into a room and called to Kari.
"Come look at this stuff." Kari looked back down the stairs making sure they were empty. She then jogged into the room Patamon was in. She stopped once inside surprised at the room. It was brightly coloured and had a ton of toys.
"Erm, I don't understand." She said confused. She frowned and picked up a stuffed animal.
"Does Puppetmon collect this stuff?" She asked. Patamon shrugged and then dove towards a pile of clothes.
"Look here." He said as he popped up with a hat on his head. Kari giggled and gently plucked the hat off.
"Well have to give this one to TK. Add it to his collection." She mused. Patamon looked at the hat,
"TK really cares about me doesn't he." Patamon stated. Kari smiled,
"yeah he does. We all do." She thought about Gatomon and felt her smile slip. She was hoping her partner was okay, wherever she was.
"Hey I wonder what's in here." Patamon snapped Kari out of her thoughts. She watched the flying digimon make his way over to a large chest. Kari was curious as well and followed him. Patamon landed on top and looked at Kari.
"What is it Kari?" He asked and Kari shook her head.
"I'm not sure." She ran a finger across the top. She felt drawn to the chest. It was like she was meant to find it. The chest moved slightly and Kari pulled her hand back and yelled
"ah!" Patamon was in the air and the two stared at the chest. It was silent. But then it moved again. Kari jumped but then licked her lips.
"H-hello?" She spoke and Patamon looked at her.
"Are you crazy?" He exclaimed and Kari shushed him.
"Are you hurt?" She asked the chest again. She heard a mumble and lowered herself to the chest.
"Hello?" She asked again and listened with an ear right to the wood. "We're in here!" Her eyes bugged out, she knew that voice.
"Agumon?!" She called and she heard movement inside the chest,
"Kari?!" Kari beamed,
"Gatomon!"
"We're in here! Some crazy digimon locked us in here!" Gatomon explained. Kari smiled relief of finding her digimon flooding through her.
"We'll get you out!" Kari said and then she stood and turned to Patamon.
"Patamon can you give them a hand?" Kari asked and Patamon nodded
"you got it." Patamon then inhaled
"BOOM BUBBLE!" Patamon shot at the lock and the chest flew open. Gatomon then flew out and Kari was quick to catch her.
"Gatomon! You're okay!" She held her partner close and smiled. Kari looked over Gatomons shoulder at the rest of the digimon who were all out of the chest.
"Is everyone okay?" She asked and Agumon looked out the window of the room they were in.
"Where's Tai?" He asked and Kari set Gatomon down to peer out the window as well.
"Where did you see them last?" She asked the group. Tentomon walked towards her.
"I think we were in the woods." Kari nodded and then noticed something moving from the trees towards the house. A wooden figure with a large hammer.
"Puppetmon! We have to hide!" She exclaimed and she turned to scoop up Gatomon.
"This way!" Patamon flew to the hallway and Kari and the digimon ran after him.
"We have to seperate." Kari instructed though she didn't like the idea of it. The digimon nodded and Kari, Patamon, Gatomon and Agumon went one way, while Tentomom, Biyomon, Gomamon, Palmon and Gabumon went another. Kari quickly opened a closet door and gestured the three she was with inside. She then followed and struggled a moment to ease the door closed. She felt her breathing get louder and then she heard a door open downstairs.
"This digidestined think their so tough!" Puppetmon yelled to no one.
"I'll show them." Kari could here the click clacking of Puppetmons wooden steps moving up the stairs. She held her breath hoping non of them were caught.
"HEY! Where did everyone go?!" Puppetmon yelled and Kari looked down and the digimon.
"Those Brats! How'd they get in here! Cherrymon and Gennai were supposed to keep them busy!" Kari gulped and then held her breath as Puppetmon moved closer to her hiding spot.
"I'll show them! Let's see where did I put it." Puppetmon passed the closet and Kari let out a small breath.
"Kari we should get out of here." Gatomon whispered. Kari agreed but had no idea how to leave without being caught. She peered through a small crack on the side of the door and her eyes went wide.
"What's Gabumon doing?!" She whispered. She could see Gabumon moving in plain sight. She was torn between keeping her hiding place a secret and calling out to the digimon to hide. She put her hand on the closet door knob when she heard a familiar voice.
"PUPPETMON!" Her brother was yelling and Kari couldn't believe he was near.
"What does he want." Puppetmon grumbled and Kari heard a window open.
"Hello there digidestined!" He yelled out and Kari could hear Tai reply but couldn't distinguish what her brother was saying. She realised she should use this opportunity to move.
"Let's go." She slowly eased the door open and the digimon followed her out.
"You think the nine of you are so tough?! Without your partners you're useless!" Puppetmon yelled and Kari could see his back was to her and the digimon. She then pointed and mouthed
"go." To the digimon and they all slowly stepped towards the stairs.
"Hey wait a minute! There are only eight! One of you is missing!" Just as he said it Kari watched Puppetmon turn and lock eyes with her. Kari was frozen but managed to yell
"RUN!" Just as Puppetmon lunged towards her.