Kevin didn’t arrive home that night. Or the day after.

Simeamon scoured the neighbourhood, and Owen rang him, and everybody he knew about, time and time again. The young man had never made it to the house party. He had disappeared.

That same day, mid-morning and long after Owen had left, Vex had woken up to several messages on the private board. Nile was missing, and had been for three days. Now Mira and Lian had disappeared as well.

Across town, Kai had received a plea for help from Sara’s next-door neighbour. She’d gone round and had found the house empty, left for a couple of days. There was nobody there.

At Southfields college, Jan Fitzgerald had issued yet another warning, as well as a request. Missing students from all across the school year. Tell us if you see them. Every day, another one or two were gone. Lonnie and Grace looked down the board in unison, their hearts sinking as they saw Nicholas Rowe’s name in the eighteenth row.

All across the city, panic rose within a matter of days as the silent attack set in. Every hour, new names were added to those missing. No struggle, no message, no sign. Just a disappearance, sometimes in broad daylight. When nobody was watching. When all eyes were taken off them, just for a second.

“Are we sure it’s a Digimon?” said Jack, resting his elbows on the table as he stared forwards. Perimon stood next to him, looking remarkably subdued. Eloise and Kai’s living room was rather crowded at the moment, as not only Grace and Jack were there, but also Lonnie and Alasdair, who was sat in the corner, his hands clasped in front of him.

“It seems too flawless not to be, Jack. There’s no evidence at all; just people vanishing from out of thin air.”

Grace curled her hand up against the table’s surface, “Are they alright? Please tell me they’re alright...”

She felt a hand on her shoulder, and looked up as Eloise gave her best reassuring smile. It wasn’t the greatest of comforts, as Kai was pacing back and forth behind her, clearly concerned about Sara.

There was a knock at the door, and Lonnie went to answer it, holding it open as Mark and Owen walked in with their Digimon in tow. Alasdair looked up plaintively. “Any luck?”

Owen looked away, a dark shadow over his eyes, as Mark shook his head. “No sign of Kevin anywhere. His friends hadn’t seen him. They’ve lost other people as well.”

Alasdair looked at his phone, carefully scrolling through it. “How many are we looking at? Fifty? Sixty missing? All of them local to this area.”

Grace and Jack looked at one another, concern evident on their faces. Lonnie walked over to the window, glancing out. “There’s our school and college. But also little pockets. The community centre. The art college.”

Alasdair nodded. “Indiscriminate, but still targeted.”

Jack looked up. “Targeted at who?”

“Who else?” said Kai, looking up from his nervous pacing. “Us. The people involved. I’ll bet you Vex’s gang have gotten roped into it as well.”

Lonnie sat down, clasping her hands over her face. “I don’t get it. If they want us, why not just go for us directly?”

Grace leaned on the table beside her. “I’d hazard a guess that we’re not that easy to snatch. With the Digimon and all.”

Eloise nodded. “It would make sense. If they go for the people close to us, we have to pay attention. And if they keep them alive, it also means there’s less risk of us charging in wildly, otherwise we...could end up hurting them...”

She stopped, getting several pointed looks from all around her. Kai stood beside her, holding his chin. “Why do you have to be right so often...?”

“So what do we do?”

Jack held his hands underneath the table, having posed the question. He felt the eyes of the room on him, and he shuffled his feet awkwardly. “They’ve gotta be leading us into a trap, right? But we can’t just let them keep taking people.”

Alasdair placed his head in his hands, before looking up at Lonnie. The girl double-took, and soon found the eyes of the entire room on her. She looked at Grace for support, but the other girl was looking away, her face hidden.

Lonnie cleared her throat, and placed a palm on the table. “What does it matter if it’s a trap or not? People are in danger.”

She lowered her gaze, smiling grimly.

“It’s our job to save them. If we can’t at least try, then what are we here for?”

There was a general feeling of melancholy and tension from the crowds of people walking through the high street; a feeling Inez was becoming increasingly familiar with. Not that she was helping the unease herself, as she simply walked through the street, not paying anybody any heed.

Her mind wandered back to the summons that Kai had sent out, but the more she thought about it the more she wanted to push it away. The events of the past few days had not left her in a good state of mind in the first place. But still, there was the nagging feeling in the back of her head that she had to power through it. The same feeling which grabbed at her most days.

And the feeling...no, the knowledge that even in this crowded place her partner was watching her from afar didn’t do anything to lessen that. She couldn’t see him. But she didn’t need to. The presence was always there.

She slowed to a stop, the crowds flowing around her as she stared forwards. Her head felt clammed up, and she was more breathless than usual. She slapped her cheeks, and that’s when she noticed the sound in the background. It was the unmistakeable song of a violin.

She looked aside, and saw the player standing just around the corner, running her fingers up and down the neck as she drew out a slow, thoughtful piece. It wasn’t too uncommon to see; even in a dicey climate such as this people would busk on the street corner.

That being said, it was slightly odd to see one of your musical icons just playing for free out in the open. Although, thought Inez, she’d always had unconventional tastes.

Her hand went to her scarf, pulling it slightly tighter as she edged forwards, trying not to look intimidating. She stood in front of the musician as she pulled her fingers up, bringing the song to a haunting close. The young Japanese woman opened her eyes, glancing out in surprise at the sudden audience. Inez gave a little round of applause, and Lyra smiled in return, nodding wordlessly. Inez cleared her throat.

“I really like your songs.”

Lyra blushed a little, though Inez could see her fingers curling around her instrument. “Thank you very much.”

The two young woman exchanged awkward glances, before Lyra pulled her instrument up, slowly tuning it once again. Inez’s hand tightened around her own collar.

“I saw you live the other night. I’m glad you got out alright.”

That prompted a reaction; Lyra’s eyes flicked up, mild panic in her gaze. She smiled defensively. “You were there? I am so sorry.”

“...I’m used to it by now.”

Lyra stared down at the girl, her expression flat. She looked left and right, before bending down and placing her instrument back in its case. “I am so sorry...”

Inez closed her eyes, feeling her hand shaking. “This whole thing...isn’t anything to do with you, right? What...you’re doing...”

Lyra was backing away now, edging further and further towards the nearby alleyway as her smile grew strained. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand,” she mumbled, her eyes darting back and forth.

She backed down the alley before Inez could reply, but the girl set off after her, her hand going for her pocket. She felt a chill down her spine, a sign that her partner was in pursuit as well. Lyra turned a corner, but Inez got there quickly, calling down the alley after her.

“Why are you doing this, Lyra?”

The young woman stopped, her hair falling down behind her. She didn’t look back, instead changing her stance.

“Are you...with them...?”

She turned around, expectantly. Slowly, Inez pulled her hand out of her pocket, holding out her D-SEND non-aggressively.

Lyra’s shoulders descended again, but her posture changed, opening out. Her expression firmed up, and she placed her thumbs in her pockets, her violin swinging back and forth over her shoulder. When she spoke, her voice had changed as well; no longer feigning nerves, but clear and direct.

“How much did you see that night? On the rooftop?”

“Nothing. I wasn’t there at the time. But I heard about it.”

Lyra smiled, shaking her head. “Why are you people always so stubborn-“

“Because we have to be!” snapped Inez, her shoulders jumping up. She calmed herself, and held her stance wide. “Because this town is going crazy, and we’re all in danger, and now people are vanishing, and I have to deal with the fact that someone I admire is going around committing crimes. And I’m not gonna stand for it.”

Lyra’s smile froze, and she narrowed her eyes. “What I do has nothing to do with you people.”

“You’re a Digimon tamer. It has everything to do with us.”

Lyra pulled her own digivice out, spinning it nonchalantly in her hand. “Okay then, I want nothing to do with you. I’ve warned you once. You know I am protected, right?”

Inez tensed, holding up her D-SEND. “What makes you think I’m not?”

A wind rushed through the alleyway, whipping through Lyra’s hair and Inez’s scarf. The two stood at an impasse, aware of their surroundings. A piece of paper fluttered in the air, followed by a couple of ribbons. Neither tamer stepped back.

Lyra glanced to one side, as a figure whistled behind her, shimmering on top of a nearby dustbin. “I am stronger than every one of you. Do you really want to do this now? Do you really think you can win?”

Inez pressed a foot forwards, her hand shaking as she heard Syngnamon padding out behind her. “I’m willing to try either way.”

“You are an idiot. You all are.”

“Someone has to be. Otherwise people like you will get away with everything.”

Lyra’s eyes flashed in anger, and she raised her hand. “I’ve had enough of you people. Tsurumon!”

The air seemed to ripple, and within a moment the crane was standing in front of his partner, holding both wings up with venom in his eyes.

“I’ve told you once.”

“Step away from my partner!” yelled Syngnamon as he too materialised in the middle of the alley, his mane swirling as if underwater and his jewels glimmering with a blue light. He glanced behind him, looking up at Inez.

“Stand back; this could be-“

His eyes widened, and without warning he turned, holding both his palms open. “Inez, watch out!”

The Stakes Get Higher and The Consequences Grow Dire.

Inez turned on her heels, looking backwards as she found herself staring into a hollow grimacing mask, which swung a steel gauntlet beneath it. The creature fluctuated, the blue ribbons around its body tingling and vibrating.

Exit Stage Right!

The ribbons flew out at Inez before she had a chance to react, absolutely engulfing her and wrapping around her in an instant. The mask sighed, pulling itself and its gauntlet back into its own mass of ribbons as they flicked back and forth and pulsed with blues and purples and greens, seeming to contort and constrict the girl’s body as it did so. An arm broke free, reaching out towards Syngnamon as he rushed towards her, but it was sucked back into the writhing ribbons in a second. The seahorse bounded forwards, reaching out and tearing into the mass of strings.

But there was nothing there. Inez’s silhouette disintegrated as if it were mere papier-mâché, and in a trice the figure was gone. Ribbon, gauntlets, mask and all. Along with the girl. Her D-SEND dropped to the ground as Syngnamon dived forwards, his eyes wild.

“INEZ!”

He scrabbled on the ground, and threw his head back and forth, looking for any sign of the girl, but there was nothing. Not a scrap of fabric, or a disembodied laugh.

Tsurumon took a step back, his own eyes wide. “That...was unexpected.”

“WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH HER?”

The crane started as Syngnamon turned on his tail, bounding towards him with energy pulsing over his webbed hands. “AQUA DANCE!”

The crane took flight, dodging as Syngnamon swiped wildly, all pretence of an honourable battle out the window. The crane spiralled upwards, but Syngnamon was fast in his anger, turning on his tail and launching a brutal headbutt into the crane’s chest.

Crunch

“Agh-“

Winded and disorientated, Tsurumon hopped back down to earth, only for Syngnamon to leap down upon him and thrust a webbed hand around his neck with a dead man’s grip.

“Give her back right now!”

“I...I didn’t...it wasn’t us...”

Tsurumon kicked repeatedly, but Syngnamon was refusing to relent, taking the blows without even a flinch. The crane tried to twist, staring up at his partner. “Lyra...I need-“

He stopped in his tracks, and let out a screech, one that caused even Syngnamon to turn around. Lyra had her digivice in hand, watching the display with confusion and curiosity. But as the two Digimon turned to face her, she became aware of disembodied laughter behind her, and the sound of ribbons unfurling.

Every Trauma Requires Companionship. That Is The Way. That is How We Survive.

Lyra didn’t even turn to look; she immediately broke out into a run, but the red-ribboned creature behind her simply danced forwards, grinning inanely with its static mask.

Exit Stage Left!

The ribbons shot forwards at an incredible speed, and Lyra turned, swinging backwards with a lightning fast fist. But it was like punching a curtain; the fabric folded over her hand and wrapped itself tightly, crawling up her arm like tendrils. She dug her feet in, but with each pull the ribbons reached out further, grasping her torso, her legs, and even wrapping around her head before she could let out a scream. The red creature twirled with a giggle, sucking itself into a spiral that seemed to pull against nothing. Lyra’s form held for just an instant, completely engulfed yet tense against the singularity.

Then there was a hollow laugh, and the whole assembly spiralled away, disintegrating into nothing just like Inez had done.

Tsurumon and Syngnamon were left alone in the alleyway, locked in their deadly embrace, as both of them tried and failed to comprehend what had just happened.

“...Lyra...no...”

“Inez!”

The two pulled apart, staring back and forth, before turning on one another again. Tsurumon moved first, pulling out a wing and holding the sharp edge against the seahorse’s neck. But Syngnamon didn’t care about the threat to his life; he just reached out a hand and pulled the crane even closer, his fist glowing with energy as he glared into his foe’s eyes.

“You have five seconds to explain this.”

Tsurumon narrowed his eyes. “How do I know this isn’t some elaborate ploy of your own?”

“Don’t you dare assume I would put my own partner in danger for any reason!”

The crane pulled back. “You’d keep her safe no matter what?”

“I swear on my life.”

“Very well,” said Tsurumon, pulling his wing back. “Then we are in agreement at least.”

Syngnamon kept hold of the crane, his grip loosening just a little. “How do I know I can trust you?”

“Because I feel the same way about my partner as you clearly do about yours, and I’m choosing to have faith in your honour in that regard.”

Syngnamon narrowed his eyes. But he released his grip, padding backwards and pressing his palms against the ground. “You seem remarkably calm about this.”

“Don’t test me on that.” Tsurumon brushed himself down, before looking around himself. “It appears we are under watch from a third party.”

The seahorse leaned back, and tapped out on his fingers. “It must be a Digimon; the hunters would not have that kind of technology. And the only Digimon we’ve encountered who hate us to that level are a small gang of thieves and...well...you. And whoever you work for.”

Tsurumon narrowed his eyes. “The people I work with would never be so sloppy.”

“Forgive me if I’m not reassured.”

“The who doesn’t matter at the moment anyway. We need to find the where and the why.” Tsurumon pulled his wings in, and tilted his head sideways. “Your partner; she dropped something.”

Syngnamon bounded back, and tentatively picked up the fallen D-SEND. It felt odd in his fingers; familiar, yet alien to him now. And also vibrating with a deep whine; a call out for its lost tamer.

Syngnamon blinked, with Tsurumon looking over his shoulder. The crane grimaced. “What an ugly design.”

“Possibly, but it works.” The seahorse held it close to his chest. “She dropped this on purpose; I know she did.”

“Can you use it to find...who was it again? Inez?”

The seahorse nodded, then his nod turned into an uncertain sway. “I...did, beforehand. But it’s like...I had a feeling, rather than a clear direction. I might be able to find her eventually but I don’t know how long it would take. She could be in danger long before that.”

Tsurumon tapped the ground with his blade-like feet. “You all have these, right? Can they talk to one another?”

“They vaguely point to each other, but that’s not really any help,” said Syngnamon, his tail swishing back and forth. “I’ve got her D-SEND. It won’t lead me to her.”

“Of course. But your partner wasn’t the only one who was taken. There may be another way.” Tsurumon whistled a little, and leant forwards. “Allow me...”

Syngnamon was hesitant, but he rested the device on the ground as Tsurumon stood over it. The crane swiped sideways with his beak, until the map spread out above the screen, showing vague blinking colours where the other D-SENDs were headed. Syngnamon watched, though he was clearly growing restless.

“If you’re trying to find Lyra, she doesn’t show up on here. We’ve tried, after...you know...you attacked us.”

“I remember that night slightly differently myself,” replied Tsurumon acerbically, but he kept tapping through nonetheless. “But of course you wouldn’t find her. Lyra has a different digivice than yours. A much prettier one if I do say so myself. Yours will be calibrated for its own kind; hers will be hidden. Unless, of course, we just adjust the tuning a fraction...”

The crane reached out, and prodded a few buttons, before gently tilting the wheel. It took a few minutes of trial an error, but eventually the blinking lights began to fade out, growing less and less defined until they didn’t show up at all. Syngnamon waited, as Tsurumon kept turning the wheel, one bit at a time. Then, just for the briefest second, there was a gold blink at the edge of the map. The crane stopped, and waited. The fuzzy glow disappeared. Then reappeared. Ever so faintly shining at the side of the screen.

“And there she is...”

Syngnamon picked the device up, looking incredulously at the crane. “You certainly know the ins and outs of these.”

“I have an acquaintance. He has a curious mind, a technological inclination, and no regard for privacy.” He shrugged. “Why do you think we’ve been able to avoid you for all this time?”

Syngnamon pressed his cheeks out, but said nothing. The crane tapped his feet, clearly on edge himself. “It’s not much, but it gives you something to follow. I am certain that wherever Lyra is, your partner will be very close.”

The seahorse clutched the device tightly to his chest, looking up. “I thank you. But I have to ask; wouldn’t it be more in your interests just to take this and find your own partner? Why give it to me?”

“Because whatever took them is strong and cunning enough to snatch people in an instant. Much though I am loathe to admit it, we need reinforcements for this. I am better suited to find your allies on land than you are, if you’ll pardon my rudeness.”

“The other tamers?” Syngnamon grimaced. “That may not go well for you.”

“Perhaps not, but I can only tell the truth. If you can believe me, I must have faith that they can do the same.” Tsurumon fluttered his wings. “Rest assured; I do not believe your group are bad people. Lyra and I just have our own loyalties.”

“That excuse will not save you forever. Whatever you’re doing, we will stop you.”

“Don’t worry; this need only be a temporary truce. I will give you your duel later, should you still wish.”

Syngnamon sighed. Then he nodded, and stepped back. “You find the others.

I‘ll find where our partners have been taken, and when I do, I will send you a signal. You have my word.”

“Good luck.”

Tsurumon bowed, as Syngnamon ran off in the direction of the river, keeping one eye down on the round screen. The crane watched him go, before spreading his wings and taking to the air.

“Please hurry...”

“Nothing!”

Jack let out a yell of exasperation and kicked a nearby crate, scowling. “How can we have found absolutely nothing?”

“Calm down, Jack.”

“I’m not calmed up!”

It had been a fruitless morning. Jack had been watching from the air, Owen and Grace had been searching deep in the suburbs, and Lonnie and Mark had been running around town looking for any clues. But there was nothing; no sign of where the missing people had disappeared to. And when Inez hadn’t managed to turn up or answer her phone, the situation turned from bad to worse.

The group sat outside Raquel’s cafe, with Knuckmon watching them, rumbling in sympathy. Mark held the bridge of his nose, unsure of what to say.

“We have to keep looking. Whoever it is isn’t going to stop until they find what they’re looking for.”

Grace looked to one side. “Or who.”

Knuckmon looked down at Raquel, and gripped the concrete with her hooked claws, growling slowly. “No bastard takes my friends and gets away with it.”

She sniffed, and frowned, her teeth swimming in her watery muzzle. Then she looked up, and gasped.

“Incoming!”

The group lunged out the way as Tsurumon dove downwards, landing neatly on top of a crate, just out of immediate reach. That didn’t stop the Digimon from reacting though; Perimon and Simeamon were up there in an instant, and the others strafed the front of the crate, readying themselves to fire. Perimon glared into the crane’s face.”What the hell are you doing here now?”

Tsurumon pressed his beak together, and raised both wings. “I haven’t come to fight.”

“Well you picked the wrong day to come then!”

“Your friend Inez has been taken.”

The shock immobilised the group, and Tsurumon spoke quickly, aware that he was on very thin ice. “Lyra as well. They were stolen from right in front of us. Your aquatic friend is searching for Inez as we speak.”

The Digimon didn’t back away, and now Mark and Owen were closing in as well, their faces twisted in fury. But Grace stepped forwards, holding up a hand. “Hold it. Now’s not the time.”

“This bastard’s a crook! He probably did it himself.”

“Owen, snapping at everybody isn’t helping anything.” Grace swallowed, and looked at the ground. “The least we can do is hear him out. I don’t think he’d be here if his own partner wasn’t in trouble.”

Tsurumon looked away, his face as unreadable as ever. Grace clenched a fist. “Did you see it? What took them?”

The crane shook his head. “It was gone in an instant. But it was a strange creature. Masked, and made of ribbons. I think it was a Digimon, but nothing like any I’ve met before.”

“Masked, and ribbons...”

Grace held her breath for a moment, covering her mouth with her hand. Vulpimon looked up at her, her eyes wide. “We’ve seen something like that before...”

Jack hopped down from his crate. “You’ve met it? What was it after?”

“I have no idea; it was speaking in weird rhymes and poems the whole time. But whatever it was talking about it didn’t sound like friendly small talk. More like a warning.”

Vulpimon pawed the ground nervously. “Perhaps...it was warning us that it was making a move.”

Grace swallowed, and looked at the others. “I don’t know what we’re up against but I have a feeling it’s nothing like we’ve faced together.”

Tsurumon pressed his feet against the crate, constantly ducking away with his long beak. “The seahorse promised me he would send a signal. Your partners are right; I...wouldn’t have come to you if I wasn’t certain we needed your help.”

Grace raised a hand, holding it to the centre of her chest. She felt overwhelmed, as if her heart was going to burst out her body at any minute. She glanceded over at Lonnie, the look in her eyes saying more than her words ever could.

Lonnie placed a hand in her pocket, and glanced down at the salamander beside her. Dendromon shuddered, and clasped her hands in front of her. “I can’t promise anything.

“Neither can I.”

Lonnie breathed out, and rubbed her hand across her jawline. “Let’s all be completely honest; things haven’t gone that well for all of us lately.” She sniffed. “But we still have to band together when we need it. No matter how messy things are gonna get.”

Dendromon grinned, and held out a fist, which Lonnie received with an enthusiastic fistbump. The salamander’s gills flicked backwards. “Keep fighting?”

“Always.” Lonnie beamed, before nodding over at Grace. “I’m not stopping for anything.”

Grace lowered her hand, looking around at the assembled tamers. They all showed variable levels of enthusiasm, but there was no doubting the response. All of them were prepared to fight.

Grace breathed out, before looking back up at Tsurumon. “Watch out for any sign of a signal. Perimon and Simeamon, you too. The moment we know, we all move in together. We find this joker, we rescue everybody he’s taken, and we come away victorious. That’s how we do it. Any objections?”

Everybody mumbled their approval, with the exception of Mark, who folded his arms and looked away. Chromon scowled up at him, and gave him a gentle nudge with his tail ball.

“W-w-we all need to play our part, Mark.”

“Oh don’t worry, I’m all for it.” Mark gave a sarcastic grin. “Just don’t expect me to get as ‘happy’ about it as our two fearless leaders.”

Grace blushed, and Lonnie chuckled heartily, choosing to ignore the backhanded compliment. Jack leaned back against the crate, pulling out his phone and dialling a few numbers as Owen sidled up beside him.

“We got another plan as well?”

“You can never have too many plans. Trust me; I’m speaking from experience.” Jack winked, and pulled the phone up to his ear. “And if this guy is as difficult as we think, then perhaps it might be an idea to have a few people as backup.”

Owen raised an eyebrow. “What kind of people?”

“People I’d trust with my life.”

Syngnamon powered through the river as the strong currents batted against him. He held the device close to his chest, beating his tail back and forth and turning with his free arm.

And all the while, he focused. He remembered what it was like to first arrive here; the want – no – the need to find the person he was meant for. The person who was calling to him. And as he pressed the D-SEND against his chest, he felt that same draw. He didn’t know where. He didn’t know how. But he knew that she was waiting.

His head clouded ever so slightly, with the nagging doubts creeping up on him. The looks she gave him; the smiles which were ever so slightly distant.

“It doesn’t matter!”

He burst upwards, spinning on the river’s surface as he stared up at the star-studded sky.

“It doesn’t matter about me! She’s in danger!”

The cold air hit him like a truck, and he descended again, staring at the tiny device in his hands. It seemed warmer than before, and sent waves of calming energy through his veins.

“You’re closer. I can feel it.”

Slowly, Syngnamon rose to the surface once again, holding his head low to the water’s surface as he stared around. He was very near to the mouth of the river itself, and found himself paddling faster just to avoid getting swept out to sea. He could see the old green on one side, with the gate facility blinking in the darkness.

He trod water, and looked down at the device in his hand, noticing the faint golden glow flicker on the opposite side of the screen. He turned around, and gently paddled across the wide river, past the moored boats. He rolled himself onto one of the jetties, and pulled himself up the steps and over the fence. The wind seemed colder over this side; possibly more exposed. There were sand dunes on the beach, and a couple of hills in front of him; possibly the ruins of an old sea fort.

And nestled in between them, an old, flat piece of land, studded with old, dilapidated buildings. It looked derelict, as if nobody had touched it in years.

And yet he was sure he could see lights.

Swallowing, and gently padding his way forwards, he got closer, pulling himself up the hills with determination, as the glow grew stronger. It took several minutes, but eventually he reached the top, peering over the ledge and into the old yard below. He held his breath, his jewels flashing with the shock.

“What on earth...?”

The disorientating spirals. The rushing noise of wind and lightning and music and explosion. The feeling of your body being torn into shreds and twisted together, the very fibres of your being reassembled into a masterpiece that was identical to your original body, and yet a crude mockery, a hollow mosaic, a perfect tapestry tainted by the loss of innocence.

Inez felt all of these sensations at once from the moment she was pulled into the Digimon’s embrace, feeling her head being pulled apart like tagliatelle as she was transported through space and time. She imagined she had thrown up several times through the cosmic journey. It was hard to tell.

Needless to say when she reached her destination, she’d staggered and fallen, retching emptily and passing out in an instant.

So when she woke later, she had no idea where she was, what time it was or what in god’s name she had been through in the intervening time. Her internal body system had thankfully managed to sort itself out, to a point. Though, as she began to push herself upwards and stare around, she could feel the throbbing dizziness pounding throughout her head.

“Wh...whu...Syng...namon...?”

Her glasses lay in front of her, and it took her several attempts to locate them as the blurry colours rushed past her face. Eventually she found them, and just about managed to manoeuvre them onto her face, blinking multiple times. She crumpled her nose, and held a hand to her mouth. There were several other people around her; many unconscious, and several conscious but clustered around in little groups, or rocking back and forwards on their own, or seeming in a general daze. The smell was due to the several people who had taken their apparent trip through time and space with about the level of dignity and self-restraint that she had. It wasn’t pleasant, although thankfully the open air was dissipating the odour somewhat.

Slowly so as not to rupture her insides, Inez stood upwards, and stared around. She was sort of outside, along with at least sixty other people. There were several buildings surrounding all of them; old, dilapidated structures with fallen roof panels and crumbling brickwork. She felt something crunch beneath her feet, and realised she was standing on gravel. In fact, looking around, she was standing in the midst of a huge plaza of gravel and old concrete, with lines of metal interspersed between the little islands and crossing over.

It was difficult to tell from her perspective, but she eventually figured it out. She was standing on a train track. No, not a track. This was a junction. Part of an old railway yard. She was vaguely aware of it from when she’d moved into the area, but it was never something that had crossed her mind. It had been disused for years. There had been demands and arguments over why it was still standing.

And yet, here she was. Held in a neat little prison yard by an unseen assailant.

Her hands instinctively went to her pockets, and she cursed. No D-SEND. Okay, that was fair enough. She’d had enough cognition to leave it with her partner seconds before she was taken, whether it would help or not. No phone either. That was slightly more problematic. Although by the fact that nobody around her was partaking in an emergency 999 call either, she figured that perhaps that was intentional by whoever was behind this.

The girl looked around, and caught sight of the figure sat on the gravel behind her, gasping as she did so. Lyra saw her looking, and turned away.

Inez consulted her own sensibilities. Then she sighed, and wandered over to the other girl. Lyra tutted at her presence, folding her arms defensively as she swivelled to one side.

“Whatever you are thinking, it wasn’t me.”

Inez rubbed her chin. “I kinda guessed that. If you had the ability to teleport people you would have done so earlier.” She looked down at Lyra’s feet. “And you wouldn’t have left your partner behind.”

Lyra pressed her teeth together. “I don’t need any of your English sarcasm.”

“Oh that’s alright. I’m Spanish.” Inez crouched down, resting her arms over her knees as she smiled pointedly. “Now are you going to blow me off for the next three hours or are we going to actually talk and figure out what’s going on?”

Lyra narrowed her eyes. “I hate you people.”

She looked away, holding her arms over her knees. She tried to feign disinterest, but after looking back for the third time and finding Inez still staring at her, she snapped in irritation, “Will you leave me alone?”

“Well?”

“I don’t need your help. Tsurumon will find me.”

“Maybe. Or maybe Syngnamon will find me. And then I can help you. But in the meantime we can help each other.”

Lyra raised an eyebrow. “Your friends tried to beat me up the other day. Why would you help me?”

Inez shrugged. “Because this is an awkward situation. Because I don’t know what’s going on and neither do you.” The girl blushed and looked downwards. “And frankly because I like your songs and I was wondering if I could get your autograph, if nothing else.”

Lyra blinked. “I...um...what?”

“I mean, I could settle for the last one.” Inez waved her palms. “I don’t like what you’re doing and it’s all very confusing, but still. Your videos got me through some tough times. I’ve gotta give that credit.”

Lyra stared at her for a while, each passing second causing Inez to shrink down lower. The musician held her violin close to her, sniffing to herself. “I mean...I can do that for you anyway.”

Inez’s eyes lit up. “Really? You would?”

“Will you leave me alone if I do?”

“Probably not.”

“...then why would I do that?”

“No reason...I just figured it was worth an ask.”

Lyra bit her lower lip, looking decidedly confused by the whole ordeal. “...maybe ask me again on a good day...”

Thankfully the whole situation was saved from being any more awkward as there was an imminent rumble from one side of the arena. Inez and Lyra stood up, along with all the people around them. There was activity coming from one side of the station yard, with an entire platform being lit up like a stage. Lights twinkled above like stars fallen from the heavens, and a rolling mist poured out, glimmering with colours like a glistening rainbow. The whole display was almost hypnotic; so much so that a fair number of the gathered people were trudging forwards, entranced by the effects and oblivious to the world around them. Inez and Lyra both noticed it in time, and looked at each other. They walked forwards as one, staying close to each other. Better to play along for now.

Conscious or not, the gathered throng were moving into one corner of the station yard, forming near horizontal lines as they did so. Inez’s eyes darted left and right, trying to make out some of the others, see if she recognised anybody. She caught Sara’s eyes from a few rows across, but said nothing. And far behind her, she could make out Kevin, who was looking left and right as he moved forwards. H didn’t seem to be in a trance either, but still he hadn’t twigged she was there. Perhaps for the best.

Lyra wasn’t being quite so diligent, at least not outwardly. But she kept her hand in a tight fist, holding on to the golden triangle within. Inwardly she kept calling out, repeatedly and desperately.

Lands of Data, Lands of Flesh.

Through the Void she’ll See.

The voices moved in unison, quiet and almost singsong, and yet they rippled through the crowd like a breeze through grass, silencing any residual chatter. The attention was focused entirely on the platform in front of them, as the lights began to congregate on the beams above.

A figure unfurled from in between two joints; grasping onto the metal above with a large gauntlet as it unfurled into a miasma of ribbons.

True Companion.

An alternate figure unfurled symmetrically to the right, mirroring its companion’s movements exactly.

Hidden Worlds.

The two descended, grasping the front of the platform as they raised their masks on high; one delirious, and one devastated.

Yearning To Be Free.

Lyra and Inez jumped as a series of the people around them began to applaud in earnest, their eyes dancing with coloured lights as the mist rolled all over them. The two tamers joined in themselves, though it was hard to tell whether the two figures in front of them were aware of their consciousness or not, as they simply stood at either side, clutching the edge of the platform like gargoyles.

The two swayed back and forth in unison, before rearing up, silencing the crowd as they moved.

I Am Comediemon.

And I Am Tragediemon.

We Are Here to Tell a Tale

How The Tale will End is Undecided

Love and Laughter

Tears and Trauma

The Future Calls

The Future Demands

The two swung closer together, reaching out across the platform as their ribbons began to intertwine. They sprouted upwards, first looking like a growing plant, then a spiralling tower, then reaching outwards and forming something else entirely.

We Are

Judgement

The masks were swallowed by the ribbons, followed by the gauntlets. They flickered back and forth, pulsing with warm and cold. Red and blue and black and white, and a rainbow inbetween, reaching outwards as they formed a humanoid figure.

“...We Are...”

“...The Final Word...”

Lyra and Inez watched in mesmerized horror as the two creatures became one. The ribbons twisted and formed pointed shoes, and the spiralling arms stretched out, each ending in a gauntlet that gestured towards the air above. The fabric wove up the creature’s chest, and wrapped around his shoulders and trailed out over his back in streamers. The head sprouted upwards, opening on either side as both masks forced their way out. They breathed, the voices finally becoming corporeal as they cried in unison.

“You Are Here to Bear Witness. The Future shall be Decided on This Night. The Fate of Your World and Ours shall be Laid Bare. So Shall be Told by Dramatismon, the New Watcher of the Digital World.”

The figure raised an arm, and gave a deep bow, their voice shuddering with the movement.

“So Pray Fate shall Smile upon Your Wretched Souls, for Your Future is Decided from Amongst Your Own.”

As he spoke, the very air seemed to rumble. The crowd shuffled tightly together as the gravel rose in hills all around them, breaking out into waving mounds of fabric that shone in a vivid spectrum. They swung upwards like theatre curtains, held on four pillars of stone that erupted from each corner of the railyard. And all the while Dramatismon stood at the platform, conducting the world around him with grand gestures.

Inez looked around, biting her lip as she realised the Digimon was building an arena. Or worse, a cage.

Suddenly, she felt a nudge on her shoulder. She looked across at Lyra, who pointed backwards, her face straight. Inez looked over her shoulder, and saw a familiar glow from up above on the roof. Syngnamon saw her as well, and he lunged forwards, gliding through a gap in the wall just before it closed behind him.

Inez shuffled backwards, trying not to draw attention to herself. But it was hard to tell what the showman was thinking, as he looked left and right, his twin faces shining. Inez stopped where she was, and looked up at the stage, feeling the cold glow of Dramatismon’s gaze upon her.

“I don’t get it!”

Dramatismon’s entire body twisted around on itself, and he stared at the humans in front of him. Inez noticed a slight nod from Kevin as he stood up, glaring at the Ultimate level in front of him. She mouthed a thank you under her breath, and kept on shuffling backwards as the young man took a step.

“What did you bring us here for? Why us? What is it you want?”

Dramatismon blinked, and sauntered to one side, unfurling the fingers of his gauntlets one by one.

“The Stage is Set. The Audience is Waiting. The Actors have Yet To Appear. That is the Reason.”

“So then we’re hostages?”

This got the attention of several of the people around him as they began to wake from their trance. They began jostling, some yelling demands and abuse up at Dramatismon themselves. Sara shifted towards the edge of the group, looking around himself for any opening out of the stage walls. Kevin just kept walking forwards, while holding one hand behind his back as he gestured to Inez. Go now. You need to fight back, before something worse happens.

Dramatismon seemed disinterested by the unrest, at least for a few moments. Then he lunged forwards, the ribbons swinging outwards as he glared down at Kevin.

“You Are So Interesting.”

The walls flared up around him with a roar, before simmering back down as he began to walk around the arena himself, staring at each person in turn.

“You Have No Consequence, and yet You Are Necessary. You Provide Hope, and Reason, and Meaning to One Another. Yet It Need not be You. Individual is Unimportant. Only Likeness. Only Relation. You people. Do you Care for one Another? Or do you Care for Yourself? And your Need to Share Yourselves. And If So, why are you Important? Could you be Replaced? By one like yourselves? By one Better? Who Among You Would Notice?”

The murmurs and jeers began to quieten down, as Dramatismon swung his arms out, spinning in a way that was simultaneously overblown and deeply unsettling. He swung towards Kevin, the ribbons on his arms swinging outwards and – only for a moment – reaching out towards the young man. He flinched as the ribbons brushed over his cheek, their edges razor sharp. He stepped back, holding his fingers to his face, feeling something warm welling beneath.

But the ribbons fell back again, and Dramatismon raised a finger to one of his pairs of lips.

“You are Perplexing. But You Have All the Right to Life as us All. And As such it is only Right to Involve you.”

Kevin drew back, silenced by the soliloquy. There was no intervention for a few moments. Then Sara spoke up from a few rows back.

“Then who are you looking for?”

Dramatismon looked up. Then back down. He tiptoed forwards, and adjusted his position.

“Those who Fight to Save this world. So they claim.”

The actor held up a gauntlet, raising a single finger. Then the other gauntlet, doing the same.

“Two Souls. Two Souls for All of Yours. It is the Minimum Price.”

Inez reached the back of the line, glancing back as Syngnamon crept forwards. He reached out, the D-SEND in his hand.

“The Minimum Price. But there may be Casualties. Unforeseen Tragedies. They must come here. They Must Come Here if they wish to Save the People here.”

A disquiet fell over the crowd as Dramatismon straightened up, his ribbons rippling like muscle and flesh. He turned to one side, the tragic face pointing directly at Inez.

“Call Them.”

He stared, glaring at the girl from across the arena despite his expression being static. She froze for a second, feeling her heart constricting as she realised she’d been rumbled.

Then she ran, whispering as she felt the ground beneath her quake.

“Syngnamon...Soul Accelerate!”

“Call Them!”

A torrent of fabric erupted from the ground, lashing outwards with threads that glowed red hot and ice cold. They whipped against the ground, releasing sparks and smoke as the crowd rushed out of their way. The dust flew outwards, billowing out almost cinematically. Then, as it cleared, a much larger figure stepped forwards, whinnying under his breath and spinning his lance around in his tail. Kampoimon pawed the dusty ground, glaring up as the showman raised both arms.

“Was that so Difficult?”

“You are a coward, and a monster. These people are not your battle.”

“We are Aware. But we have Passed that Decision to You. Call Them.”

“Your battle is with me!”

He raised a gauntlet, flicking his fingers as flames burst outwards towards the people around him, stopping just short of reaching them.

“Will They be Witnesses? Or Will They be Corpses?”

“Promise me you will fight only me! Leave the innocents alone!”

“Call Them.”

Syngnamon’s tail tightened around his lance. For the briefest of moments he looked down at Inez, who held her fists up to her chest. She nodded.

Do it. Call them.

Call everyone.

Kampoimon closed his eyes. Then he reared up, crying out as he thrust his lance towards the sky.

“Equus Harpoon!”

The arena was lit up by a blue-green glow as the lance shot skywards, trailing lights behind it and forming a beacon in the clouds. Dramatismon sighed, and cracked his knuckles, one by one, as he looked towards the roof of the station platform.

“We shall fulfil your promise, Herald.”

Without warning, he leapt up, clapping his hands together with a boom and releasing trails of red and blue that flew out to either side of him. He spun, turning into a multicoloured blur as he began to descend upon Kampoimon, who was barely able to raise his spear in time.

“Confront Your Dragon, Herald!”

The pillar shot into the sky, spreading outwards like a firework and piercing the cloud patterns above. It spiralled outwards, lighting up the town with its blue glow. People all around stopped what they were doing and stared upwards, transfixed by the light.

Within moments, Perimon and Tsurumon descended on the others, both in a hurry to speak. “We found them. They’re on the other side of the river.”

Mark gripped his jumper. “How close?”

“Slightly further out. Past the hill fort.”

“The old railway yard...”

Grace took a breath, before turning to her brother. “You take the lead; give Inez the backup she needs.” She looked over at Tsurumon, who was perched on the fence. “You go too. Make sure your partner’s safe.”

Mark bit his lip. “Grace...”

“I don’t care about any schisms between us at the moment. We have a crisis.” She pointed up to the sky. “Go, now.”

With a red flash Perimon became Mistramon, and hopped down as his partner climbed up onto his back. The boy gave one last look at his sister, before pulling his mask up. With a rush of wind the great eagle ascended, with Tsurumon flanking him and easily keeping pace.

Grace checked her phone, before pointing to one side. “There’s the bridge about half a mile up. We’ll head over there.” She sighed, and looked between the others. Owen was showing a rare focus, so much so that it was almost intimidating. Mark was as collected as ever, and Lonnie stood quietly, pacing back and forth as she shivered.

“I don’t know what we’re gonna find over there, but I don’t think it’s anything we’ll have faced as a group yet. Whatever happens, just stay calm. We’re all there for each other.”

She held her hand up, holding her mask as she did so. As she stared into the painted eyes, she caught sight of Vulpimon beside her, tail whipping back and forth. The fox glanced downwards, hiding her expression.

“It feels like it’s been a while...”

Beside them, Lonnie held her D-SEND in her gloved hands, staring at the screen. It was difficult to tell what was happening within, but she felt a knot of tension in her throat as she stared, the device still infuriatingly silent. She felt a nudge from beside her, and looked down at Dendromon, who was clasping her hands nervously.

“I can’t promise anything. But I’ll do my best, alright?”

Lonnie reached out, and gently stroked over the amphibian’s crest. “You always do. And always have.”

She took a deep breath, and looked amongst the other tamers, their faces hidden but their postures strong.

“We all ready?”

Owen pocketed his D-SEND, and shrugged his shoulders. “Enough hanging around. Let’s go and kick this thing’s shins in.”

Trevor Ashbourne sat alone, staring forwards as he turned his helmet around in his hands. He felt sick, but that was nothing new these days. His mind was a haze, which he was trying to free of most things except for the task at hand.

There was a knock at the door of the shed, and he glanced sideways. Dula stood outside, looking away. “We’ve seen the bird. And the signal. They’re heading over the bridge. ”

“Then I guess they’ve found where the missing people are. With any luck our group are with them.”

He stood up, and pulled his helmet over his head, and donning his coat. It felt heavier than usual, despite the fact that he always carried his weaponry beneath it. He knocked himself in the stomach, trying to focus himself with the sharp pain. Then he stepped out, joining his third-in-command. The remainder of the group were there as well. Kade leant against a wall, with Rick, Kley and Jai preparing their own equipment behind him. Zeke was fastening Moda’s backpack. Brom, Raif and Via were connecting the resonator, now repaired with new coils.

They didn’t know each others’ names. Nor each others’ lives. They didn’t need to here. All they needed was to focus.

Vex waited until everybody was ready, and they gathered in front of him, their faces hidden. A few of them were looking amongst each other, almost nervously. Via looked restless, fingering her short blade.

“Do we know what we’re facing?”

Vex shook his head. He pulled his coat around, splaying out the collar as he did so.

“Tonight is just another night. Stay safe, look out for one another, and take this monster down.”

The hunters nodded in unison. Vex walked past them, and they followed from their makeshift headquarters, not even sharing a word. They reached the road, and together broke into a run as they disappeared into the shadows.

Kampoimon rushed to one side as a pyrotechnic display burst outwards from behind him, the flames ripping against his flesh. He ducked and rolled, summoning a thin sheet of water on which to slide and recover. He pushed himself up, and spun around, bringing his lance up horizontally and blocking Dramatismon’s descent.

“Equus Harpoon!”

He spun the lance upwards, firing into the sky again as he pierced Dramatismon in the chest, blowing the ribbons apart. For a moment it seemed like he’d gained the advantage, but then the entertainer gave a hollow laugh, and twisted his body back together. Kampoimon lunged forwards, pushing Dramatismon away from the crowd as Inez and the others tried to keep everybody to the sides, as far as possible from the dangerous tussle. Inez glanced up at the sky, her hand going to her scarf instinctively.

“Come on, come on...”

“Crushing Tide!”

Kampoimon pressed his hands against the ground and pressed upwards, the waters spinning his own body into a spiralling missile. But Dramatismon reached out with both gauntlets, the white metal glowing with a mystic power. He caught Kampoimon’s body, and seemed to fold around the seahorse, constricting inwards within a second as water sprayed out around him. Then he convulsed, and split apart again, tossing Kampoimon’s huge bulk into the platform. The seahorse pushed himself up unsteadily, bleeding from a wound above his eye as he glared at Dramatismon.

“I might have guessed that you were no ordinary Digimon.”

Dramatismon landed lightly, and gave a bow from the top of the platform. “I am But a Performer. I may Move You. I may Heal, or Hurt. But we are all Whims of the Story.” Dramatismon raised his right hand, lights dancing all around it.

“If the Author Decrees Your Demise, then we are of No Power to Fight it.”

“Perhaps not,” spat Kampoimon, shaking his mane out as his tail reached for his lance. “But I have no intention of letting it happen quietly. Especially when there are people who need me!”

He lunged twice either side, but both blows were feints to allow him to roll and swing the blade sideways, striking one of Dramatismon’s legs and sending him off balance. But Dramatismon turned the attack to his advantage, as his leg stabbed into the rock and reappeared as a spiralling spike of ribbon, taking out a gash from Kampoimon’s shoulder. The seahorse gasped, falling downwards as Dramatismon reformed above him, raising both fists.

“You Are Inconsequential. Your life is Worthless. Be Silent, or be Spared. Let the Author Decide Your Fate!”

Kampoimon tried to roll, but he knew he wasn’t quick enough to avoid Dramatismon’s descending fist. But then the bard stopped in mid-attack, and turned sideways, listening as a whistling noise grew ever closer from up above.

“Pressure Wave!”

The wind burst forth, razing the gravel from the railway yard and buffeting Dramatismon’s body away. Mistramon banked sharply, before spreading his wings, stunning all the onlookers below. The eagle winked, and laughed heartily. “Never fear; your saviour has come!”

Inez gave a small ‘yes’ of victory, but Lyra folded her arms beside her, rolling her eyes. “Your Digimon are all so tacky...”

“Lyra!”

The girl glanced up, and walked backwards, looking up at Tsurumon as he stood atop the shifting pillar. He bent his head low, avoiding her gaze. “I am so sorry...”

The young woman smirked, and pulled her digivice out from her pocket. “Well, I suppose you’ll have to make it up to me, then, won’t you...”

“Tsurumon...Tamashi no Oto! Shinka!”

“Orizumon!”

Mistramon felt his head feathers tremble as, nearby, the large crane took to the skies and glided effortlessly above him, staring down at the battlefield. The eagle puffed to one side.

“Show-off.”

Dramatismon straightened up, clasping his gauntlets together as he hummed to himself.

“Unexpected. But Not Unwelcome. And Yet the Main Players are Still to Appear.”

He tilted to one side, looking at the two birds spiralling above. Then down at Kampoimon, who had backed away, recuperating his breath. Then over at the wall of the shifting arena.

“The Curtain is Rising.”

BOOM

Kevin and Sara pushed the crowd back again as they realised what was going on, with one of the pillars shuddering under an immense force. There was another boom. And another, as the great structure began to tilt.

“Piston Punch!”

The tower crumbled, falling outwards as a huge, metallic beast came into view. Ceratomon pulled his fist back, and walked forwards, swinging his tail as he did so and pushing the fabric aside. Mark sat atop his back, with Owen clutching on slightly further down, looking more than a little out of sorts after the rough ride.

With a flash of white, Sapiamon rushed forwards, spinning her rifle in one hand and rolling the fingers of her other one. “Y’all really need to invite us to your parties more often. We get bored easily.”

Alopemon rushed forwards, releasing a trail of ice from her feet as she ran around towards Kampoimon, completing the circle around Dramatismon. Grace and Lonnie held onto her back, with Dendromon clutching onto Lonnie. The girl and the amphibian jumped off together, but before they could move Grace held up a palm.

“This could get really messy. Try and stay out the way of anything bigger than you.”

Lonnie pouted beneath her mask, but gave a quick salute and stepped backwards, gripping her D-SEND as Dendromon’s claws began to glow. Alopemon stepped forwards, breathing out ice crystals as Grace reared up on her back.

“Whoever you are, you’ve got some nerve. Your fight’s with us and us alone. Is that alright with you?”

Dramatismon’s entire body rippled, like so many blades of grass rustling in the wind. He turned his head around, staring up into the shadows of the platform building.

“Witness Me. Let Fate Be Unravelled.”

He laughed, and held his palms outwards, calling out to everybody within the arena.

“Two Souls for All of You. All of Us. The Leading Actors have Appeared.”

He looked at all seven of the tamers in turn, raising a finger for each one. Then he breathed out, and opened up his gauntlets, releasing multicoloured sparks from the fingers.

“For Your World, For My World, For All Worlds. Let the Second Act Begin, and Thus, Let the Performance End Tonight.”

TO BE CONTINUED...