Life Of A Digimon

Self-Evaluation

"A full month, huh" I sigh.
"Yep. I thought I was going have to watch you rot. Surprised you didn't." Alis says with honesty.
"So next step ahead of me is going east. I'm guessing I can follow trails of destruction."
"Right."
I let out a chuckle.
"I didn't mean it, but when you agree, I guess I'm right."
Alis laughs.
"What went on while I was gone? How're you holding up?"
"OH MY GOD IT WAS TERRIBLE." Alis cries, breaking down, "I was so bored, I literally went over a bunch of maps over and over and over again! Don't you die again!"
I hold up hands in defense.
"Not like I have the choice." I smile.
"Everyone has a choice." Alis says with a serious tone.
I make a look of surprise, and let the conversation die. It's obvious she was really hurt by my passing.
"Okay. Let's focus. We just gotta head to the east coast, and we'll navigate from there."
"Alright, we'll just have to digivolve into VictoryGreymon." Alis tips happily.
I whip out my digivice and commence the evolving sequence. The jets extend from my back, my size grows ten times my Agumon form. My left arm morphs into the revolver shape. I smile and clench my right hand.
"It feels good to be back." I grumble in my deep voice.
I prepare to lift off, crouching down.
"Any report on the east coast?" I ask curiously.
"Checking... oh! Kaden! I have good news!" Alis exclaims with excitement.
"What did you just call me?" I ask in confusion.
"Uh, your name silly." Alis chuckles.
"What. No it's not." I say in a suspicious tone.
"Yeah, it is."
"No, it isn't." I repeat.
"Yes it is!" She says playfully.
"No. It's not."
"Oh my god Kaden. First thing you do when you're back is tease me. Typical." She says with a chuckle.
"It really isn't my name! Stop calling me that!"
"You're Kaden. You're Kaden. You're Kaden!" She laughs, yelling it with a playful tone.
"Stop!" I shout angrily.
Alis draws back, confused with a hint of offense.
"But-"
"Don't even say it again! I don't know why you keep saying that name, but it's pissing me off. Stop.
"Your name is Kaden! Kaden Long? That ring a bell?"
A needle flashes in my vision. A friend is turned to dust as he dies. Tears running down my face.
"Kaden, please, listen." Alis pleads.
I'm gripping a woman by the throat. Blood, blood everywhere. Pain surges through me.
"Please! Stop!" I beg, dropping to my knees, holding my head as if it would stop the horrid visions.
"Kaden!"
Blood pours from a man's neck, taste of flesh in my mouth.
"STOP IT YOU WHORE!"
I feel her pull back, and I can feel the hurt in her voice.
"What happened to you?" She asks.
Flames appear, consuming my body. A sword rips through my chest. Betrayed by a close friend.
"SHUT YOUR MOUTH!"
The yellow, translucent image of a ShineGreymon appears in front of me.
"You realize I don't have to be here. I've stayed with you this long because... I... love you. I care about you as if you were my own family. As if you are ME... and the treatment you're giving me isn't what I deserve."
"Listen, I know what you're trying to do-" I start.
"You don't know shit. All that I've done for you. All the fights, the wars. The times I've SAVED YOUR LIFE!" She begins tearing up in anger.
"SHUT UP!" I yell, swinging at her image.
My fist passes through her, and she gets in my face.
"I'M THE REASON YOU'VE SURVIVED!"
I pause to think. Then a smile crosses my face. A wicked smile.
"Well, based on how you're not physically here, I'd say that you can't keep someone alive. Hell, you couldn't do the same for me." I chuckle sarcastically.
"What are you trying to say?!" She shouts.
"Obviously, you're inability to live on your own doesn't show any evidence of ability to "keep someone alive", and last I remember, you've only ever told me what to do." I say with anger, "I died recently too."
I watch as her bottom lip trembles. She raises her sword to my face.
"I warn you now. I don't know why you're acting like this ...." She starts with a crack in her voice.
"What are you going to do to me? You can't hurt me! You're dead. All you can do is nag me about what I do right or wrong."
Her mouth drops, and her sword lowers.
"Have I upset you? What's wrong?" I ask condescendingly.
She says nothing as she lets out sobbed gasps, shaking her head in disbelief.
"How about you do something about it. Strike me, make me regret my decisions."
Tears form in her eyes, and I can see how upset she is. I poke at her emotions harder.
"C'mon! Do it!" I yell, "Wait, you're a damn ghost! What can you do against someone like me?!"
She brings up her left hand, and forcefully smacks me across the face. I drop to a knee, shocked. With wide eyes, I look up to her.
"I hope you realize what you had once it's gone." She says sternly, "Goodbye."
Not another word was said as I watch her turn, and walk away.
'She won't make it out here. Not without me. Maybe she'll realize what she had before it was gone.' I laugh insecurely.
She disappears into the distance, not once looking back.
I let out a grunt as I stand to my feet.
"Now that I can move on."
Placing a hand on my still throbbing cheek, I let out a sigh. Without any other things to concern myself with, I flare my rockets. In an instant, I launch east with a loud crack, splitting the silence. Wind tears at my face.
'What was I seeing earlier... I don't understand what that was.' I wonder as the sound of wind whips my ears, 'I can't worry about it right now. Focus on the objective.'
I spot a small town district ablaze, and decide it's a nice spot to visit first. I circle around after zooming past, and lower myself to the ground just on the outskirts.
"What the hell happened here?" I ask myself quietly.
The sound of a gunshot cracks nearby. I run to the sound, which lies within a broken down restaurant. I shrink down and walk up the the door. Ever so gently, I open it. The inside of the looks as if a tornado spun through the restaurant. Plates lie shattered on the floor, chips of wood broken from the shattered bar counter.
"Oh my goodness."
A clatter comes from a back room.
"Please god! Help me!" The voice of a man cries out.
I sneak over to the noise, to checkout what's going on. A metal table reverberates the sound of a man being slammed on a metal table. Unintelligible screeches and clicking of vocals comes from the other room. I peek through the crack in between two push doors. There, on a table, lies a man in a casual Sunday outfit. Two black masses hold him down.
"Woah. What are those things Alis?" I ask her.
No response.
"Alis?... oh, right." I sigh.
I focus on the two shadowy figures. The fog creatures take a human form, but are pitch black. Almost so black you can't make out any details. Fog falls from them, and their mouths gap as if someone took a razor to their mouths and did a pretty shagged job. A third creature walks up to the man, and stands directly over his head.
"Someone! Help! Please!" The man yells.
Without any hesitation, I kick open the door. The creatures screech and open their balled hands to reveal long needle-like claws. I felt true fear as they leapt for me. I tuck and roll under the attackers. I spin to my feet, and launch a plasma barrage. One attacker is struck, and collapses, dead. The remaining two let out an enraged screech, leaping towards me, claws extended. I quickly deliver a roundhouse kick to the two creatures, flinging them into the dining room of the restaurant. The man in the blue shirt cowers behind the metal table, wielding a revolver.
"You gonna help or not?" I ask with sass.
He lets out a grunted "uh-huh", and jumps to his feet.
A loud clutter happens in the dining room, a sound that's a flurry of running and movement. I lock eyes with the man.
"Be ready for anything." I order him.
We approach the door cautiously. I hear the clicking of the hammer of the man's gun. With a dramatic sigh, I place a hand on his.
"You'll be fine. Fear won't get you anywhere. Breathe, make you shots count, and use your words." I say to calm him.
"S-sure." He stutters.
Little does he know I just released an aura that enhances clarity and focus. I watch as his hand almost instantaneously slows, becoming totally still.
"Ready?" I ask.
"Yes." He says confidently.
I turn, and kick open the door to the dining room. It's empty.
'Wait. Gotta focus.' I tell myself.
I hone in my hearing. There's the breathing of blue shirt.
'Where are they?' I wonder.
A scratch comes from the floorboard of the attic. Coming from the corners of the diner, directly towards us. Without a second thought, I push the man away from the area I'm at, and launch plasma through the roof at the source of the noise. The barrage punches holes through the roof. The ceiling begins to crack as weight rests on the weakened section. The ceiling crashes down in a splintered mess.
"Open fire!" I shout.
Two fast bangs ring through the diner, striking one monster in the chest, and another in the head. A screech cries out, signaling the death of another monster. Without hesitation, I pin the last creature to the ground with my feet, and wrap my hands around it's throat, pulling up. The creature screams its last screech as I tore its head off with a snap and rip. The bodies of the humanoid monsters bubble as the ground absorbs their forms. I let out the breath I seemed to have held the whole time, relieved. I bend over, hands on knees, breathing heavily.
"I don't know what the hell those were, but I hope I never see them again." I laugh heartily.
The man in the blue shirt sighs.
"Sadly, there's more than we just killed." He groans.
I give him a disappointed look.
"I really hope your lying."
"Nope. Either way, thanks for the help."
He puts out a hand. I smack my hand into his, hard gripped and stern.
"Never caught your name." I smile.
"Name's John." He says kindly, "You really saved my skin."
"Its a pleasure." I laugh conversely.
We stood idle for nearly a minute.
"So. We got a plan? We shouldn't move alone... Well, I shouldn't." John sighs.
He's not wrong. We have an entire small town of people here. Which means that there's a small town of monsters.
"Gosh. This is overwhelming." I chuckle nervously.
"Tell me about it. I really hope there's more living here."
"Yeah. No way of knowing until we explore though."
"Right. Let's go."
We walk out of the diner, taking a look at the surrounding area. A pain surges through my mind. It feels as if my brain is filled with a plethora of information. All of them being memories. My eyes were truly open, if you catch my drift.
'Looks a lot like home...'
An image of the town I grew up in as a human flashes before my eyes. This illusion of grandeur, giving me a sense of homeliness... it's pathetic. An attempt to make me forget all that's happened and the task at hand. I now remember who I am, and how I became this creature. But most of all, I remember my home. The people I love. I pity them. So many names pile up in my thoughts. Parents of my closest friends, those I loved... a girl I truly loved. I can't guarantee they still live. I need to keep my thoughts in control. I feel tears welling as all the memories flood in.
'No. Stay in control.' I command myself.
"So, what are you're plans after we get through this?" John asks, firearm raised.
Almost as if he read my thoughts.
"Well... if I have to be honest with you. I'm going to leave a girl I've been with for awhile."
"Why?"
"It's not real. I have been living some sort of 'story' if you catch my drift. Following each employ of life, as if it will take me to my destiny. I stayed with her because I'd feel terrible if I denied her. She was so..." I pause as I kick a rock, "Hopeful, y'know?"
"You realize that will break her, right?"
I let out a long sigh and inhale with drama.
"Yeah, I do."
"Who is this girl you're with now? Some digi- whatever you call em?"
"Nope. A human."
"Why would you go after that?"
"It was a difficult time, I have to admit."
"Sounds like it. What about the girl you love truly?"
"Well, she sure can dance. She helped me out quite a bit. If there's a girl that someone like me would go after, it's her. It feels like she was made for me."
"What is she?"
"Y'know, it's complicated, let's just leave it at that."
"You going after new species 'cause you liked boys of your own species or something?"
A spurt of laughter gets caught in my throat and I choke for air.
"No no no." I cough with laughter, "It's just complicated. Let's stop here."
We pause out front of a house.
"All I've ever wanted is to feel like I belong."
John shrugs and says, "I guess banging other species can do that."
I start dying of laughter again.
A loud screech emits from the house. Fear crosses John's face instantaneously.
"Keep it down." He quickly shushes.
"What? Let's just go kill them."
"Wait, what's the street name?" He asks quickly.
"Bland Drive. Sorta fitting."
John looks enlightened of some astonishingly horrifying detail.
"What is it?" I prod, concerned.
"This is my parents house. We have to see if they're okay."
I nod with sympathy.
'Alis, scan the house.' I command.
I wait patiently. No answer.
"Woman, dont make me wake you up myself." I laugh warmly.
Suddenly, the guilt sinks in. I forgot again. My best friend. She didn't need to stay with me. She chose to stay, regardless of the fact I had died. She stayed by my side as I laid there for a month. I treated her with so much disrespect. I slandered her. I mocked and heckled her. Now she's gone. A true friend.
'I miss you. I'm young and reckless, and I made a mistake. Right by my side, you stood. I watched you walk away, and said such hateful things to myself.' I cry to myself, making a statement as a hopeful plea for her to come back.
A warmth is near. John is watching me with confusion.
'Please Alis. I love you. You mean the world to me. Everything we loved together isn't the same without you here. Save me please! I'm drowning in this pool of sorrow as I sit in woe of your absence!'
A tear rolls down my cheek, and a prideful burst rises in my chest. My heart pounding, makes one final effort.
'Heh... I don't know if you hear me, yet I trust you cared enough to come back. I feel as if you are here with me now. Why would you come back to me. I was cruel. I hurt you,' I smile, 'Not as much as your backhand hurt me though.'
I chuckle a little.
'I never thought I'd catch myself talking to myself over a girl. If there's ever a time I've been broken by a girl... this is it.'
I wait in silence for nearly a minute, John's confuses gaze still cast over me.
'What's the point... she's gone.'
I rise from my knees.
"If I ever see anything more compassionate and dedicated, I'll probably become blind with the light of its beauty." A woman's voice says warmly.
I gasp with happiness. John looks at me like I'm insane.
"I love you too dear." Alis sighs lovingly, "Glad you had the guts to admit it now."
She appears to me, just as an Agumon. Without any words, she approaches me and wraps her arms around me.
"You steal the air right out of my lungs my love." I smile warmly.
John is really crazed.
"What the hell are you talking about?" He asks tilting his head with concern.
The energy from Alis revitalizes me. I shone gold for no longer than a second as we reunited.
"What the-" John falls from his feet, bewildered.
"What is it?" I ask, concerned.
"Who is that?!" He shouts pointing beside me, exactly where Alis stands.
"What do you see?"
"A-a you! Another you!"
I'm shocked.
'What? How can he see you?'
"I'm not sure." Alis says, just as confused as me.
"Wait. I'm curious." I say aloud.
I align myself with her, and raised a hand. She did the same with slight nervousness. Hope was covering my face. Could it be true? My mind raced and jolted, my heart pounding. We reach out our hands. I hold my hand palm up. She glances to my eyes, her eyes filled with nervousness. I feel the suspense killing me. Her hand falls on mine, and has physical touch. A tear rolls down my eye. Without any second thoughts, I pull her close to me, and kiss her lips.

***

Note from the Author: Hey guys. I'm finished with my recovery. I'm so sorry for my absence, and I'm excited to be starting the series back up. I love you all, and appreciate the support! Stay in touch for the next chapter!