Author Notes: Writing is a bitch. There are rewrites, editing, scrapping the entire chapter, rewrites again. Checking through previous chapters to double check there is no inconsistencies, and revising your notes and outlines when things don't happen how you initially planned them to.

It's hard, especially when you aren't sure if the people reading it like it or not. Some writers can simply write for themselves, plod on without receiving any feedback. I used to be that writer - after all, I was used to people not being interested in my ideas. My concepts. But upon throwing my ideas to the Internet and receiving a wave of support, I got used to it. I have friends now who say my writing is good, who support me, but somehow it isn't enough anymore. Especially when for some, I'm held on this pedestal, and dragging feedback - constructive criticism - out of them is like pulling teeth simply because they don't feel like they have anything to offer, even when a simple 'this is what I like about x' would do.

So I want to shout out a couple of thanks. One to Little Red Lion97 for giving a review which got me excited to write this chapter simply because I want to continue something they've shown interest in. And another to Crazyeight, who not only has been my beta reader, giving me feedback and pointing out where the mood doesn't fit and what changes did and didn't work, but been one of my biggest cheerleaders up to date, always believing in me and pushing me forward. Another to SacredSturgeon, who reads my writing and gives feedback, and tells me when I imagine to elicit emotions out of her - one of the best compliments a writer can receive. And finally to Rebs, who has been a captivated audience, becoming drawn into the world I have created despite not watching Digimon Tamers.

And even though it's not much, I am truly grateful for each and every person who has shown me support. It's because of people like you I've been able to grow as a writer. I know this chapter isn't long, but hopefully the mood makes up for it.

Chapter 3: Hunted

The eyes pierced through them, freezing them in their spots like unwilling statues.

It was impossible to tell what the darkness hid. The only thing which was for sure though was the cold dread which began to make its way through all of their veins, the warm spring air dropping in temperature as the seconds ticked by at an agonizing slow pace. Time itself ground to a halt as the red eyes slid over each and every one of them.

"Don't panic!"

Despite Ra's quavering growl, chaos erupted with Kenta letting out a scream, clinging to Hirokazu, who was already tugging his best friend down the sidewalk, the two breaking into a run. Juri wished she could say she held her ground in the face of adversary, yet without a second thought her own fight or flight instincts kicked in, and she was following the boys, hearing the footsteps of the others following a second later.

It was about two - maybe three - blocks before they stopped. Catching their breath, bathed in the light of a nearby street lamp and a flickering neon sign, Juri looked around, seeing nothing out of the ordinary in the sea of people. Amber eyes than landed on Ra, who was pacing back and forth like an agitated lion, pushing her red hair back, making it appear like a mane.

"Fuck!" she hissed, turning suddenly and slamming her fist into the light pole. Juri flinched as Ra continued her prowling, going through every swear word she seemed to know, rattling them off some sort of mental list. Glancing at the metal which the girl struck, the brunette had to swallow a lump in her throat upon seeing a slight indent. It didn't escape her attention either the shadows which entangled the girl had consumed her.

"What-what was that?" Hirokazu hissed, his voice cracking as he desperately sucked in the night air. His fingers fumbled for his pack of smokes, nearly dropping them, his hands shaking so hard.

"I mean we all saw it, right?" he asked, attempting to create a spark with his lighter to take a nice long drag to calm his nerves. "Those freaky as fuck red eyes? Like I wasn't just tripping or something?"

"It was probably a cat or something," Jianling whispered. Although he was confident that was the case - they had just scared themselves over some stray - his voice wavered, sounding more unsure than he was willing to admit. At his words, however, both girls snorted derisively.

That's when the nearby flickering neon sign went out, allowing the shadows to creep closer. Kenta let out a cry and latched on to the nearest person - this time being Takato who let out a surprised yelp. Against all logical thought, Jian hurriedly backed into the dim light of the street lamp, trying to ignore the fact his heart was desperately trying to escape his chest.

"Oh gods," Kenta moaned, backing up as well, only stopping when he collided with someone else - a fearful glance backward showed it to be Jianling, whose grey eyes were darting around the darkness which surrounded them. The spectacled boy really hoped it was his nerves and imagination too that the area was becoming much darker, and nothing more insidious.

"We're fine," Juri tried to assure them, though the attempt would have been much more effective if her voice wasn't rattling like a leaf shivering in the wind. "The senshihenge only attacks people when they're alone. As long we're all together, nothing should happen-"

That's when Kenta saw a flash of red eyes and he fell on the pavement hard, letting out a gasp as pain shot through his back. The gasp turned into a blood-curdling scream as something cold grabbed his ankle and yanked.

"KENTA!"

Hirokazu and Takato both grabbed his arms and dragged him back before he could be pulled into the depths of the shadows. Any attempts to look tough or inkling of disbelief flew out the window as Kenta sobbed, desperately trying to catch any breath he could.

"Oh gods! Oh gods! We're going to die!" he repeated between uneven and hiccuped breaths.

"Shut up!" Ra hissed, grabbing the lighter Hirokazu dropped on the ground, causing a flame to appear with a flick of her wrist. Holding the small light up to the darkness, she moved it around like one might a torch. Yet the light failed to illuminate anything, the shadows greedily eating what little light it provided. Even the hums of cars which rolled down the street, their entire frame shaking due to the bass which blasted out of the speakers, were muted.

It was like they had been plucked from their world and thrown into some sort of dark ocean.

They all watched as she took a tentative step forward into the darkness, before the lighter in Ra's hand flickered and went out. For a brief moment all they could see was her outline, the white jacket which sat on her shoulders reflecting the waning light, her hair appearing as embers of a dying flame. Some sparks danced momentarily from her hand, none catching on fire though no matter how many times she struck the flint.

Suddenly, though for the horrified onlookers it appeared to be in agonizing slow motion, the girl crashed to the ground and those piercing red eyes, crimson like the color of blood itself, appeared over her, glowering down. Letting out a piercing scream, the red-head tried swinging at it, only for her hand to swish through the air before the shadows seemed to congregate and pin her to the floor.

And in the reflection of those malicious eyes, it was easy to see the fear frozen on Ra's face, tears welling up in those wide violet irises. In the hour or so since they first met her, it was hard to see her as anything but a prowling wildcat which could turn on them at any moment. Now, for a brief second, she looked like a small mouse - a scared little girl crying for help.

For Jianling, that was the only reason he could explain why he rushed forward against all logic and common sense to help Ra, grabbing her arms and hauling her back with a strength he thought had waned away since he stopped practicing martial arts in favor of school.

"RUN!" he roared, pulling along Ra, not fully trusting her to not to argue. Luckily the others didn't need to be told twice, and as if a spell was broken, they burst from the darkness and sprinted down the street, not looking back.

This time they didn't stop.