Chapter 4 of And After That.

Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon

Henry and Alice sat on a pair of swings at the playground, talking. Alice was still in shock that he'd agreed to hang out. With everything he's been going through he should of said no, but he didn't. Henry had said yes. She was starting to think that he was just being nice The streetlights flickered out. Alice normally wouldn't of minded, but Henry jumped up as if knowing something was wrong. Alice stood up too.

"Henry? What's wrong?" Alice asked. She couldn't see anything at all. For the few times she stayed here with Ryo, she knew pitch black was very unusual.

"He's been following me." Henry whispered. Alice grabbed hold of his arm. "Dammit!"

"Who?" Henry didn't respond, but his arm yanked out of hers. "Henry, what's wrong?" Still a silent response. She heard rustling somewhere behind her. "Henry, this isn't funny!" Alice felt something stick her in the back of her neck. She went completely numb all over and fell to the ground.

Alice awoke to a pounding headache. She lay on a cold surface. Her eyes flew open to reveal Henry next to her. She couldn't focus on anything else, but his bloody features. Alice pulled herself across the damp floor to him. Once she reached him, she moved her fingers against the tiny cuts on his cheek and forehead. Although she couldn't figure where all the blood was coming from. She's seen Ryo get the crap beat of him and she's nursed him back to health. Seeing Ryo like that pulled at her heartstrings, but seeing Henry like this broke her heart. She held back the tears as she shook his shoulder.

"Henry?" She shook his shoulder again. "Wake up, Henry. Please!" Henry's eyes fluttered open. He groaned.

"Alice? You're awake. I was afraid he hit you hard enough to-" Henry never finished his sentence. His eyebrows furrowed as he stared at her.

"Henry?" Alice whispered. She pulled her fingers through his hair. Henry put his hand over his eyes and rolled on to his back.

"Oh God, I'm seeing doubles!" He muttered.

"Oh, Henry. What can I do for you?"

"There's nothing you can do, Alice. Thank you though." He sat up suddenly. "Are you okay?" She smiled and nodded.

"Don't worry about me. I'm fine." Henry looked at her. Alice looked him over this time and now she knew where all the blood had come from. His white T-shirt was cut down the middle, a deep bloody gash following the spit ends. "Henry?" He smiled and looked down at the gash going down his chest and stomach.

"I was waiting for you to notice."

"Did that happen when-"

"No, I woke up before you did. He came in here and-" He closed his eyes. "I'm glad you're okay." He whispered, looking back at her. Alice was about to say something when they heard a slam. She finally took in their surroundings as a man started walking towards them. The room was small and looked very much like a dungeon. It basically was a dungeon. There were chains attached to the walls and to top it off there were actual skeletons hanging from some of the chains. Alice even noticed that pushed back in corner was torture devices. Some had long sharp blades and others that had chains or ropes. She could only imagine what they do.

"ALICE!" The man that had walked in slammed her against the wall and chained her up.

"HENRY!" She screamed as the man slammed Henry down to the floor. "NO! LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Alice watch as the man beat Henry repeatedly.

"You're seriously going to leave me here by myself while your father is creeping around?" Ryo stared at her from the kitchen. Rika was laying on the couch, trying to convince Ryo stay put...it wasn't working.

"Rika you have nothing to worry about. He abandoned this house forever ago."

"Yeah, I have nothing to worry about...EXCEPT that you lost track of him." Ryo sighed.

"Yes I lost track of him, but I know where his hideout is. He'll return there eventually!"

"How do you know?"

"Rika, just stop! I'm going." He knelt down in front of the couch. "...I have to." Rika put her hand on his cheek.

"Why?" Ryo took hold of her hand.

"I can't afford to keep losing him. I have to make sure he's in sight at all times. I'll find him back at his little devil castle. I'll end it there." Rika took hold of him and pulled him closer to her, knowing what he was going to say next. "Then, I really can rest in peace! Don't you want that for me?"

"Yes. I just-" Ryo raised his eyebrows.

"Just what?"

"Just you." She rested her other hand on top of his head and kissed his forehead. He smiled.

"For the first time...I feel...wanted." Rika smiled at him and kissed him.

"I'm glad."

The second the man released her from the chains she was at Henry side. Stroking his bruised face, crying and praying that he'd be okay. Once the man left she pulled Henry into her lap. Henry opened his eyes.

"Alice...are y-you okay?" Alice smiled and pulled her fingers through his hair.

"You just got the living shit beat out of you and you're asking me if I'm okay?" Henry grabbed the hand that was going through his hair and pressed it against his chest. Alice bit her lip.

"Yeah. I gue-I guess I am."

"You are an amazing person." Henry looked up at her and squeezed her hand.

"I'm not so amazing for getting you into this mess." Alice shook her head.

"Oh don't say that. You didn't know." Henry sighed. Alice hugged him. "It'll be okay, Henry. We'll find away out of here and get you some help. Everything will be okay."

"If you say so."

"I do, we'll be fine."

"Well I hope we get out of here before he comes back. I don't think I can't take another beating like that."

"Henry!" He let go of her hand and pulled away from her. He laid back down on the ground and pulled his cell phone out of his pocket.

"Low battery..." He whispered. He dialed a number that Alice didn't recognize and put it on speaker.

Ryo heard his cell phone vibrating on the coffee table. Ryo shifted slightly and reached for his cell.

"If you answer that, I will kill you." Rika whispered in his ear. He smiled, but grabbed it anyway. He looked at the collar ID. Rika glanced at it. "Ugh! What does he want?" Rika closed her eyes and snuggled into his chest trying to ignore the fact that her brother felt the need to interrupt them. Ryo kissed her shoulder before answering the phone.

"Hey, Henry. What's going on?"

"Listen Ryo, I don't have much time. I don't know when he'll be back or when my phone will die so listen carefully. After I left your house Alice and I went to the park and he followed us there. He kidnapped us and now we're stuck in this room."

"Oh shit! Are you guys okay?" Rika's eyes shot open.

"Ryo, what's going on?" She whispered.

"I'm fine." He heard Alice say. "I'm a little beat up, but I'll be okay." Henry added.

"I'll come get you guys, just hang in there!"

"Hurry Ryo! Henry's not going to be able to handle another be-" Alice exclaimed just as the line went dead.

"You're leaving aren't you?" Ryo looked over at Rika.

"Yeah."

"And you're not coming back this time, are you?" Ryo kissed her neck and then her lips.

"No...now let me up."

"No."

"Rika, I got to save Henry and Alice. I may not be coming back, but I can give you your brother back. Think of it as a birthday present." Rika looked out the window. "Happy birthday, Pumpkin." Ryo whispered as they watched the sun start to rise. She felt Ryo get up. She sat there and watched the sunrise until she felt Ryo's lips at her ear. "I love you, Rika." The front door closed and silence appeared.

R&R please and thanky.
I think this story is rolling along
quite smoothly.

Bee lya