So with this chapter we make the final preparations to enter into the Digital World – Where the fun will really begin! Leaving your home and everything you have ever known for a place of uncertainly, change and adventure can be daunting...but when life gives you lemons...

The dream sequence at the beginning is likely to make little sense at first, but as the story progresses and more context is given to it, the meanings will become clearer and the messages too shall reveal themselves.

I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 3

"The circle must be broken..."

I was stood in a strange landscape. The land around me morphed into strange shapes, and structures. The ground under my feet felt as if it was moving, but solid at the same time. Around me were towers of earth, crooked, damaged, bent and discoloured. This was a world of strange senses, unknown sounds and impossible geometry.

"The circle must be broken..."

The voice spoke to me once more, whispered through the landscape. The voice seemed to morph and change pitch, its direction altering as it echoed off the walls of the rock formations surrounding me in all directions. It sounded familiar though, as if it was someone I once knew, or should know. I just couldn't put my finger on it...

"Who are you? What do you mean?" I shouted back to the darkness around me, rooted to the spot. The air around me moved in strange ways, the wisps of cloud moved as if mixed with oil, and the dark purple colour of the sky changed hue to crimsons to dark blues, fading like a bulb was being turned on and off behind them.

"Fate, Choose your fate..."

Again the voice replied but this time differently...just what was this? Why was I being told to choose my fate? With Agunimon? I don't understand!

I was about to shout back once more, however before I got the opportunity I felt the ground beginning to shake underneath me, as the cracks in the arid landscape opening up below me, getting wider and wider. I tried to move but I was rooted to the spot, I couldn't escape! The darkness around me became more potent, as it surrounded me. I felt trapped, I couldn't escape! I closed my eyes but felt the thrashing winds against my skin! Covering my ears I tried to block it out, panic set in, my breathing became heavier...

"STOP IT!"

Then, a sudden silence. My eyes bolted open as I returned to the waking world. Cold sweat running down my forehead as I bolted upright, breathing heavily and clutching at my chest with one hand, the sheets with the other as I attempted to slowly calm myself down. All the while I sat there trying to process what had just happened. Looking over at the clock on the bedside table I noticed the time as sunlight began to highlight around the edge of the blinds...nigh on half seven...I only just felt as if I had gone to bed.

I shuffled out of bed and into the bathroom, running the cold water and splashing my face a few times to wake me up. As I stood there flashbacks of the dream I just had came back to me...the details of it already fading from my mind but one line in particular sticking with me, as well as the hauntingly familiar voice that spoke it...

"The circle must be broken?" as the water ran I began to think about it for a moment wondering what could it mean? Nightmares were not frequent things I had, quite the opposite actually most of the dreams I had were pretty neutral, nothing really to write home about, or remember. This one however felt different, as if it was more than just a simple illusion of my mind, as if it was almost real. Whatever it was its meaning escaped me. All I could think it could even remotely relate to in my half-awake stare was that piece of terrible art I had bought last summer by a friend, an art deco glass circle halo...thing. I chuckled at the thought of that for a moment, but as I prepared myself with a shower and got dressed I couldn't help but shake the thought I was missing something, something really important...

Then there was the voice that spoke it. Thinking of people I knew I was certain it couldn't be any of them. The voice still stuck with me too, and the niggling thought at the back of my head was this had to be someone I had met, and not just knew casually, but knew well enough to pick up on the owner of the voice.

All these thoughts were short lived though as the discussions of last night returned to me and the gravity of what I was about to do once again returned. Travelling to a whole new world, the Digital World. It was still all so very surreal to me, and to be honest a part of me was still sceptical that it wasn't some kind of really elaborate hoax. Then again, Agunimon didn't seem like the kind to pull practical jokes, having spent time with him last night and getting to know him I felt that he was an honest, good-hearted, but fearsome individual, kind and open to his allies, but a force of nature in battle, quite literally with the fire!

Having dressed myself in some sturdy clothing, jeans with a shirt and my hoodie, with a solid pair of shoes too, with one addition more for sentimental value than anything else – a stone pendant of a dragon wrapped around a crystal. It was only small but I had owned it for as long as I could remember, it was a symbol of hope for me, and if this world was really as different as Agunimon had described I was going to need all the hope I could get!

Stepping out into the living room, I had a look around to see if Agunimon was awake and about, though from the looks of it he may well still be asleep. Ah well, I suppose I could let him lie in a little bit, after all he did kind of save my life yesterday! I went around the motions of making some breakfast; a little extra too for when he did wake up, and a nice, warm cup of tea...Definitely was going to pack some for the journey, cant wake up in the morning without tea!

After about half an hour or so, having sat around finishing off the last of the bacon on my plate and looking at the headlines in the news, I was beginning to wonder what time he was going to sleep till? Feeling a little anxious, and not wanting to waste the additional food I made I walked over to the door and pressed my ear gently against the wood – silence. Perhaps he was a silent sleeper? I knocked gently on the door with the back of my hand "Hey, Agunimon – You awake?" – silence again. Beginning to get concerned I took a deep breath and moved my hand to the handle "I'm coming in, ok?" I waited a moment in case he wasn't decent...could, a digimon not be decent? I shook the thought from my mind with a chuckle and opened up the door slightly.

It creaked as I peered inside, expecting to see him dead asleep on the mattress...silence, and in this case nothing at all – it hadn't even looked as if it had been used, the sheets straight and proper on bed. I opened the door fully and walked into the room as I looked behind the door, and under the bed...he wasn't here?

Scratching my head for a moment, I sighed and walked back out into the main room, thinking perhaps he had gotten confused with the study I looked inside and as I had expected, nothing.

"Where did he get to?" I walked over to the sofa and sat down, looking over my shoulder once more...he had been here last night, I was certain of it! He was in the alley...wasn't he? I looked down at my leg once more, and pulled up the leg – wound was still there, albeit it the pain had now passed and my walking much improved – it was real, it must have been?

Without anything else to go on and having mentally prepared myself for leaving I didn't really know what to do with myself. For a moment the thought that he might have left in the night, and found his real partner did occur to me, but I remembered the look in his eye when I questioned it before, no that couldn't be it. I racked my brain for a few more minutes before hearing the door to the balcony open, and looking over my shoulder once more, seeing Agunimon stood there, a sigh of relief betrayed my calm appearance

"Worried about me?" He smiled as he walked over, and sat on the arm of the chair,

"Me? Nah" I lied, if he knew otherwise he didn't let on "So, where did you go?" I asked, standing and walking to the windows, looking outside

"I was looking for the portal back to the digital world, and, I found it" I looked to him, a smile on his face "It's in a park not far from here, be about 30 minutes' walk from here for you?" I knew the park was talking about, Avalon Park; it was the biggest green space in the inner city, and was popular with people during the holidays – usually got some kind of concert or event going on.

"It isn't somewhere too public is it?" I asked, concerned I didn't want people seeing us just slipping through some form of...hole floating there, 'That wouldn't cause any kind of panic' I thought to myself sarcastically...

"Thankfully no, it's in a pavilion in the middle of a lake"

"Oh! I know that place – yeah that's pretty quiet, couples end up in there sometimes, as well as a few homeless folk...usually at night mind you, sounds perfect!" I looked around my apartment once more, with a sombre stare "I'm going to miss this place...how long, do you think we will be gone for?"

"It's hard to say really...days, weeks, months? However long it takes for us to complete out task" the answer was one I had expected it to be fair really, but actually hearing it out loud gave it gravity in my mind...

"How long is a piece of string, huh?" he looked to me, slightly confused and about to try an answer, but I shook my head "Sorry, human figure of speech, heh" rubbing the back of my neck slightly in embarrassment "You'll get used to them...or go crazy, whichever comes first!"

There was a silence for a moment, before I finally asked what was the burning question on my mind "...When do we leave?" I spoke softly, casting my gaze downwards

"As soon as you're ready" I again already knew the answer, but hearing it made it feel all the more real to me. Digging into my pocket, I pulled out my phone,

"I just have one, small thing I have to do then, ok?"

"Take your time"

"Thanks, Agunimon" I smiled, and dialled up the number which was at the top of my list, hearing it ring I waited for a response...voicemail. I sighed in frustration and called once more...voicemail again. As usual they were out, guess voicemail it was. "Hey, Mum...Listen, I.." I paused, how do you tell your parents you are going to another world, and that you might be gone, or not even come back...and not to worry? "...I'm going away for a while, a vacation, you know, you are always telling me to get out and about? Well, I am doing that..." I paused once more, feeling my eyes well up slightly "Mum...I don't know when I will be back and..." I could feel myself breaking up as the reality set in on me. I clutched the phone harder and felt a pressure on my shoulder – Agunimon was stood beside me, his hand giving a gentle squeeze, nodding his head. Smiling to him, and taking a deep breath I composed myself "I'm not alone though, I have a friend with me, a really good friend – We are going to do great things together Mum, great things...so, don't worry ok? I promise when I get back, I will call you! Tell dad not to worry too – ill make sure the apartment is all secure before I leave!" I chuckled a little through the tear that ran down my cheek "Well, take care, see you soon!" 'I hoped...' I thought in my head as I brought the phone down and finally hung up.

For a moment I just looked at it as I held it in my hand – this was real, it was actually happening. I hoped my parents wouldn't freak out too much, they didn't always show it but I knew they cared.

"Don't worry, you will see them again" I nodded my head, and smiled, rubbing my eyes

"Yeah, yeah you're right!" I looked up to him, and put my phone back into my pocket "Ok Partner, let's do this then!" he nodded in agreement and got to work!

I packed a small satchel bag with the supplies I thought I would need – remembering the advice Agunimon had given I put only a small amount of stuff away really, a couple of bits and bats I thought might be useful. It only really took about 20 minutes, and I was stood at the door, looking out over the room once more as I flicked the switches off, perhaps for a long, long time. Agunimon had already head on out and was waiting for me outside, in his usual manner from on high, watching over me. Smiling to myself, I closed the door, and locked it up. I paused for a moment and placed my hand on the door "I'll be back, I promise" with that, I made my way down the hall, into the lift and out into the city proper...

It was a weekend, so all the shoppers were out doing the usual trips into the city – event goers seemed to be gathering too for a concert occurring in the very park I was making my way towards. It meant I needed to squeeze on by a few more places than normal. I could have taken the train to the park station, however give it was this busy on the street I could only imagine how busy it would be on the commuter lines right now! Inner city routes always felt to be in a perpetual state of motion.

Taking a little longer than expected, due to me wanting to pop in and pick up a drink from a shop and waiting in queue a little longer than I would have liked...I eventually arrived at the East Gate to Avalon Park. As expected it was really busy and this was only by the entrance, granted this part of the park had the children's play area, and picnic tables set up but...wow, I don't think I had ever seen it this crowded before – in the distance the structure which was the stage to be used by the bands playing later today. I started to wonder how we were going to pull it off, the lake was in a quieter part of the park, sure, but still with this many people just wondering around and it being a relatively warm day no doubt it would have its own selection of people just lazing around on the grass, or potentially in the pavilion itself...

Thankfully when I arrived I found it was in fact as quiet as I had expected it to be. The pavilion itself was connected by a small wooden bridge which leads into the centre. This old structure was the only thing on this island, and other than a whole bunch of trees it was pretty much cut off from the rest of the park – perfect when you are going through a portal to another world. Talking of portals however I looked inside the pavilion and cautiously walking inside and stepping around the edge, if a portal did exist here, I couldn't see it.

Whilst I circled around the pavilion Agunimon made his appearance, jumping through the trees to the side and landing at the staircase leading up "This is your last chance to turn round Snow" he moved towards me, stopping just a few feet away "Once we go through, I have no idea when the opportunity to come back here will be…I understand your hesitation and your fear, anxiety – I am not blind to what I'm asking you" he then did something I did not expect, he kneeled down in front of me "I am asking as your partner, and your friend – not as a Digimon, or as a legendary warrior – Is this what you want? I want what is best for you, you are my priority" he looked up to me, as I stood there…stunned momentarily. Taking a moment to gather my thoughts, I smile warmly to Agunimon.

"I had thought last night, maybe it was all just one big mistake, and what was really going on around me was…just, dreams. I can see now though, I have a purpose, and although I am not certain how to fulfil that purpose, or what to do with it exactly" I smiled and offered my hand "I know I want to see what happens, to turn the page and see the next chapter – I want that to be with you, I believe together that I, and we can do this…As I say, I don't know how – however I am sure we can fumble through, one way, or another" he took my hand and stood, a confident smile across his face

"Well then, let's do this partner!" in front of us the air began to blow harder, and more turbulent, feeling as if the air within the pavilion was being sucked out – and in its place sparks of electricity arched forward and around me, and Agunimon. He stood fast against what was happening, and though I wanted to step back, and to see what would happen, I held my ground with him.

The energy crackled more violently, and after a few seconds a large, white blinding light emanated outwards and left in its place was, the portal. I couldn't believe it, it really existed! It was like looking through water where oil had fallen into it – it was clear but moved in strange ways and colours. I could see the outline of buildings and a skyline not too dissimilar my own world.

"There it is, the Digital World" he stepped towards it, and put his arm out "I will follow you in, don't worry – it won't hurt"

"o-Ok" Taking it all in for a moment, I swallowed hard and put my hand out slowly, doing everything I could to keep it from shaking, and moved it into the portal. Feeling it pass through the invisible barriers and then disappearing on the other side with little pressure, as if walking through the air itself

At this point I couldn't help but remember Alice, and falling down the rabbit hole. "In another moment, down went Alice after it, never once considering how in the world she was to get out again" I spoke softly under my breath, moving my hand around inside the portal, feeling a slight tingle run up and to my shoulder…

With the quote in the forefront of my mind, I stole what courage I had and grinned"Well, as one great explorer once said…GERRONIMO!" with little else left to lose, and committed to the action now I jumped on through and braced myself as my whole body chilled from entering, the tingling sensation now running through all my body as my vision was filled with bright lights, and flashing images of places, and people…

Next stop, the Digital World!