The Digital Record: Nightmare Maquerade
By: Atsora Asayoma
Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon. Go figure as I pour out my soul.
Chapter One: Those Who Go Missing
"Missing?"
"Mhm," Hikari said matching her gait with his as they walked to school. "I saw a few missing posters on the way over."
Takeru glanced at her, and then straight ahead a bit perplexed by the news. "I thought I had heard something the other day on the news about it, but I didn't think it was our school," he said.
"I know," Hikari replied. "With our Digimon I feel safe most of the time, but I can't imagine what their friends or family are going through with these disappearances."
"Yeah," Takeru paused glancing at her and looking away.
"Takeru?" she wondered aloud. "Is everything ok?"
He seemed hesitant, his eyes focused as if troubled, but even more annoyed as if he had been found out.
He sighed out, placing a fleeting hand on her shoulder as he walked ahead of her. "I'll see you later Hikarichan."
With a plastered smile Takeru waved back to her and was off, Hikari waving back.
She stood in his shadow as he left, a slight numbness hanging over her much like a lingering cloud.
Even though they were so close, Hikari felt the distance between them. And not only the distance, but the silence between every conversation. They had always walked side by side, Takeru still smiling as he always had with her, but with a bit of a distant forlorn expression she couldn't quite understand.
She did her best to keep up with his cheerfulness even though it felt like she had been drenched in cold water soaking everything about her, even her spirit. She wanted to raise her hand as Takeru walked off noticing in the distance a group of other girls were greeting him, Takeru being courteous back, but abstained, her eyes lingering on his back.
She recognized that right now, even though she often walked together with him to school, she no longer felt at his side. Takeru seemed resigned; a bit hesitant in everything he did. And yet, despite wanting to cheer him up and give him words of encouragement, she held herself back. She didn't know what he was going through. But, she did know, deep down that she only made his 'depression', as she understood it, worse.
She opened her mouth, dying to tell him something, but the giddiness and laughter from afar, condescending and smug glances from other girls catching her eyes closed her lips again like a coffin. Yes, she was no longer at his side. Because as of right now, even though they had walked together, she felt he had already walked ahead leaving her behind in his shadow.
Her head sank in her arms as she glanced down, her professor lecturing them on about safety measures regarding kidnappings and somehow tying it together with algebra. She sighed, her body listless, weighed down heavily by her emotions and the burden of school.
Some students seemed a bit scared, one girl even bursting out crying as others comforted her. Here and there she would feel slight taps against her back, but ignored them, Hikari not wanting to really do anything. Hopefully someone would cheer up the poor girl, but Hikari, as beaming and bright as she was with her crest and all that, really felt anything but comforting.
Back in the computer lab Hikari had to force a small smile on her face. That was all she could do. Whether it was Daisuke being overbearing, or wanting the others to think everything was fine, anymore seemed like a futile effort to try.
Everyone gathered around, each of them usually remarking about something that happened that day, but, with the gossip going around, the conversation seemed to fall on the missing children.
"I got to say," Ken said, himself invested, "I haven't felt this uneasy since Oikawa kidnapped those kids all those years ago," he said. "But these aren't little kids going missing. These are teenagers."
"Yeah, but kids will be kids, right?" Daisuke said in his soccer uniform, Hikari knowing he would have practice after school. "They probably just ditched school or maybe ran away with their boyfriend or girlfriend because their parents wouldn't let them be together."
"Wait, what?" Miyako said unimpressed.
"Think about it!" he said. "They probably ran away to be with the one they care about. That would make a lot of sense," he said, his eyes glancing over at Hikari, who couldn't help herself from being on edge whenever he looked at her like that.
"Doesn't it make you just want to run away Hikari?" he grinned. "We can run away together just you and me. Not even the world or Digital World would stop us!" he said enveloped in his hopium.
She forced a smile on her face. "But Daisuke," she intercepted, "If you did that you wouldn't be able to do soccer anymore."
"Shoot," he clicked his tongue. "I didn't think about that."
"Not to mention," Takeru added smiling with her, Hikari used to his antics, "you probably just want to hide your grades anyway and make an excuse for leaving," he chuckled, Hikari responding the same way.
Iori took his folded bag over his shoulder and slung it across the table. "I know one of those kids who went missing," he said gravely. "I never personally got to know him, but one day, Nomuro started acting strange: Spacey, paranoid, but also a happy nervous wreck. It seemed so out of character for him," he said. "So, I think we all should keep a look out for any kids that are acting odd like that and tell a teacher."
"Yeah," Ken agreed. "Good point Iori. We all need to look out for each other. But until we find out what happened everyone needs to be extra cautious."
"Mhm," Takeru said, everyone glancing at him as if he had to say more, but Takeru having closed himself off. "But" he said, breathing and then closing his mouth as if relieving anxiety, "What if these disappearances were because of a Digimon?"
Everyone stared at each other for a moment, Miyako scratching her head. "Our partners would have alerted us if that was the case," she said. "And that's what makes this all the more creepier. You need to take this seriously," she said.
Takeru stared away, one hand over his face. He then glanced back at her with a curt smile, stood up, his hands clenched. "I've been taking this seriously since the beginning," he said in a jagged tone. "That's why I brought that up.""
Everyone seemed a bit shocked by Takeru's behavior, who, for all purposes never seemed to lash out at Miyako, but then relaxed his face. "See you later," he said lastly glancing down at Hikari with his usual smile and then briskly leaving the room.
"That was strange," Miyako said. "He actually scolded and then unscolded me, huh?"
"That wasn't a compliment Miyakosan," Ken said.
"Yeah, he was probably just blowing off some steam," Daisuke said raising his arms behind his head and leaning back. "I don't think it's going to get serious. I'm sure those kids will turn up after having gone camping or went to a rock concert or something."
"Maybe you're right," Miyako agreed. "Maybe there's just a good logical explanation for this and we'll hear about it in the news soon."
"I'm not so sure," Hikari sighed. "We can only hope so."
The next day Hikari walked with Takeru again, but felt as if his words did not reach her. She said something back to him, not even quite sure what she was saying, the events of the morning blurring into each other. Hikari carried herself through the day, the background noise coming in and out, Hikari feeling distant from everything right now.
In class she noticed the other kids grow even more supporting the girl whose friend had been taken, a lot of the other kids starting to stare at her.
The girl wept in a handkerchief as one of her classmates approached her.
"The least you could do is be supportive Hikari Yagami," a girl said rolling her eyes. "You're brooding is just bringing everyone down," she said.
Hikari stared at her, a panic starting to set in. Normally at these moments she was so kind and compassionate, but with all this going on she barely felt as if she existed in the moment as if she had been watching all of this play out.
"It's all right Yagamisan," her teacher said. "If you're not feeling well, maybe you just need a drink of water."
Hikari nodded her head staring down at herself. "Mhm," she agreed.
She rinsed her face for the fourth time, her breath shallow glancing down in the sink. No matter how many times she did it, relief escaped her. She still felt tension, a listless frustration burrowing deeper and deeper in her heart she had been powerless to remove.
She glanced up in the mirror at the water dripping down her face. Come to think of it, she really didn't look healthy. Her skin was a little more than pale. Her eyes carried bags with them from heavy unrested nights. Even though she kept her appearance within the school standard, a biting hunger gnawed away at her within her stomach, Hikari not sure how to satisfy it. She ate, hungry, she left, hungry. And with all this happening her strength seemed to be fading.
She wondered what her brother would do if he was in her situation, and knew she had to buck up her chin and have courage. Everyone else was reacting to her. She just needed to show everyone that everything was all right and none of them would think twice except her close friends.
"Come on Hikari," she said out loud to herself running and then splashing water over her face one more time. "Get it together."
No sooner had she said this the echo of laughter echoed into the girls restroom as four girls whom she had seen earlier that day with Takeru entered in the bathroom, a bit offput by Hikari's presence.
"I know something seemed weird in here," one of the girls said with orange long hair, locked in brown eyes with bushy brows, and the cleavage of a model. She also had these golden large circular earrings that none of the others had as if they were a sign of asserting dominance.
She placed one hand on her side, as the other girls giggled looking at her.
Hikari placed one hand over her wrist. "I didn't mean to bother you," she said lowering her head. "I'll just be going now- "
-she said as she tried to walk by her, but the girl caught her hand.
Two of the other girls blocked the entrance to the bathroom as well.
"Did I do something wrong to upset you?" she asked.
"No, not at all," the girl said. "By the way," she said holding out her hand, "My name is Kisara Inagura. What's yours?"
"Hikari Yagami," Hikari sighed, glad that she was reaching out to her. What with how things seemed their could have been all kinds of understandings and-
-So, Hikarichan," she said holding her hand firmly. "I meant to introduce myself earlier, but there just didn't seem to be a good time. I'm glad I ran into you actually."
"Is that really how you feel?" Hikari asked knowing the answer. Call it a sixth sense or just understanding people or being an empath. Hikari knew normally this girl would not give her the time of day.
"Oh? You're quite the rude bitch, aren't you?" she said crossing her arms. "I'll be frank with you. I intend to pursue your buddy Takeru."
Hikari blinked a bit, the thought having all but passed her.
"Pursue him?"
"As in romantically," she said. "But there's just one tiny little problem."
"Ah," Hikari wryly smiled. "That's me, isn't it?"
"For being so dull you're sharper than you look," she acknowledged. "That's right. I've known Takeru for a little better than half the year," she said. "And, no matter what I do, or how I charm him he won't bite."
Hikari found herself smiling pleasantly imagining her trying to advance on him and Takeru shooting her down at every turn in a friendly way.
"That's just who he is," she grinned.
Kisara's eyes lit up in a frenzy. "Ah, that's it!" she exclaimed. "You! No matter how I talk to him he won't ever look at me or smile at me like the way he does when he's with you. And your smile reminded me of that!" she said sharply reaching out her hands and jabbing her thumbs under the soft underside of Hikari's chin.
Hikari wondered why she didn't react in pain as normally something like this would cause her a lot, but she beared it to continue her conversation.
"Do you think hurting me will somehow help your friendship with him?" she questioned.
Kisara grit her teeth biting her lip, her body vibrating in what Hikari perceived as frustration.
"No," she said coldly. "I don't like that unpleasant lifeless look in your eyes Yagami," she said, signaling two of her friends to come over. They grabbed her by the arms, Hikari not resisting them. A long time ago she had learned her lesson in the Meridian Years of Middle School. Retaliating only made them angrier.
"The fact you downplay our relationship as 'friendship' pisses me off," she scolded her. "So, you know what I'm going to do?" she sneered. "I'm going to give you a 'warning'," she said noticing the sinks.
She nodded her head as one of her friends ran over to the sink and ran it full of water, stopping the drainage with one of her socks.
Then the other one forced her over to it, Hikari having a moment to look in the mirror, a strange surreal feeling overwhelming her, her own face staring back, but as if it was a different person.
"Do it," Kisara demanded, as Hikari's face plunged into the water forcefully, hitting her head on it. The cold water soaked against her skin, through her nose, and unfortunately, eventually in her mouth. She fought against them trying to kick back at them with her legs, but one of them grabbed her hair painfully forcing her out of the water for a breath until she went back down again, Hikari clawing against the air for relief, her head lifted up afterwards.
She weakly collapsed to the ground coughing up water trying to get it all out of her system, the taste of a salty smelly sock lingering on her tongue and taste buds, her forehead pounding.
Hikari tried to fight against the pain and dizziness for lack of breath and scooted back against the wall panting heavily.
Kisara bent down, a demented cruel smile over her perfectly smooth red lipstick. "I'm only going to say this once," she said. "You better back off from Takeru."
Hikari kept panting, but determinedly gathered herself together. "Takeru is my friend. That is his choice," she uttered painfully, the fingernail cuts hurting her neck from before.
"Well, then I'll just have to tell him how you're suicidal. In fact, I'll tell the teacher that and everyone else too including Takeru."
"Ah," Hikari smiled glancing at the five of them. "I get it now."
"You get what?"
"Just because you have witnesses," she said managing to confidently smile again, "You think you can pry me away from him. But," she added, "You don't know what I've gone through to have such a dear friend like Takeru," she said. "So, if you think this will be enough to keep me away from him or isolate me from those I care about, then, Kisarachan, you are sorely mistaken," she said, her eyes lighting up,
Kisara and the others taken aback staring at her. The other girls looked at her for leadership, Kisara unnerved looking at Hikari as if she had just seen something truly frightening.
"You'll see Yagami!" she barked as she made her retreat, her cronies following after her. "Takeru will be mine!"
As they left, Hikari sat there in the bathroom, her neck stinging in pain, actually drenched this time and not just with a feeling. She winced, putting her fingers to her neck seeing drops of blood.
"That really….hurts."
That evening Hikari went home by herself. She didn't even go to class. She didn't say hi to anyone. Her cell phone blew up with messages from everyone, but the only thing she could do was drop her bag, take off her shoes and collapse into bed exhausted more than anything.
The next morning Hikari woke up, her mom's concerned face staring over at her, as if asking her what happened.
Hikari smiled politely. "Morning mom. I'm going to go get ready."
She managed before she left to convince her that she would tell her about it when she's ready, or mom reluctantly agreeing to let her go. But Hikari was worse for wear than she had thought. Her clothes stunk, her neck felt unpleasant, she still could not escape the fatigue from the other day. She decided then to take the day off getting proper rest this time with a shower and a girl's best friend – her shampoo. She joked with Tailmon in the Digital World that she was a 'close' second. Something she had picked up from Mimi of all people and her beautification journeys.
When the next day rolled around Hikari had her fresh clothes ready and seemed to be in better spirits. She had to say one more time to her mom she would explain things when she felt ready to before she let her leave to go to school, but to her surprise Takeru lingered at her doorstep, a look of concern on his face.
"Morning Hikarichan," he smiled almost threateningly as if masking his anger. "How are you feeling today?"
It took that whole walk this morning with Takeru to escape his playful interrogation. Hikari could not deny his mannerisms were just like when they were kids, and he was just an innocent eight year old crybaby. But he really pressed on her about what happened, Hikari eventually giving in and telling him everything.
To say he was angry was an understatement. Not even Devimon could triumph over his anger for Kisara and her friends. Hikari pleaded with him not to do anything though, and though it took a few extra tries she eventually got him to swear he would not erupt on them.
In a way, it felt like a small victory for Hikari, however the grin on his face was not the end of the story.
When they got to school, she learned quickly Takeru had texted her about what happened, and Miyako spread the wildfire. Miyako was in mama bear mode about ready to ravage her next meal who dared to hurt her cub. Daisuke Ken, Iori, and even her brother were there as well on the scene wanting to have their say in the matter.
Hikari wanted to hide away from them not wanting there to be conflict, but everyone was determined that the girls who attacked her would receive due justice. Takeru's eyes were particularly ready to cast judgment like Angemon unleashing a 'heaven's knuckle' attack.
Kisara's friends eventually made contact with them, but instead of looking afraid of them, they appeared frazzled and dismayed. They were fearful in a frenzy approaching them desperately.
As in slow motion Hikari felt a slight brush against her, a little girl's voice penetrating her entire surroundings.
"You all don't need to look so angry anymore."
As quickly as she heard the voice, it vanished, Hikari having no time to look around as Kisara's friends practically collapsed on her and the Digidestined.
Her compassion for others returned to her despite what they did, having experienced such pain before and being able to forgive those that did her wrong. She was willing to receive them with hopefully an apology. But instead, it was so much more than that. Something so unexpected, the warning in her heart and the cryptic voice echoed through her mind as they wept and stammered their way to the eventual answer.
"Please," they sobbed with rasping voices, "It's Kisarachan! She never came home last night! We tried calling and texting her and even went to her house, but she never returned!" They sniffled, their voices trembling with the realization that there was now another student who never came back.
"Kisarachan!" they lamented, tears streaming down their eyes. "She's missing!"