Live Bait
#7 of DigiDead part 2
Tails sat on a folding chair blankly starring ahead as a walker started to come at him. The walker headed right into the fire and tripped over the wood. The walker still came at him and he did nothing but sit there. Espio came out and shot it. Tails dragged himself back into his tent. The next day he awoke and both Espio and Manic were gone.
Months passed...Tails' fur was almost brown now and messy. He heaved two bags along as he wondered the streets. He saw a walker and simply side stepped it. Tails kept going finding a truck. He burnt Woodberry as some walkers just seemed to carry on about. Was there nothing to hold on to now? Tails kept on his travels on the road. He even fell over once. The thoughts of his own actions still carried with him. He was all alone now. He passed by a little farm hut that had several messages on it. He pressed his hand against his patch. He kept on sliding his feet along the pavement. He came upon a little town. He checked house by house. He came to a dark house and entered with his flash light. He carefully moved around an expert of the apocalyptic world. He got to the door and it opened he held his gun up as two creatures answered the door. The one holding a gun right back had pink skin, she had on a blue mini skirt and a matching blue top. Her hair was in dreads. Tails took off his belt lowering his gun first. They let him in. The young pink creature warned, "Just know that I have enough here to kill you over the next five years. So don't do anything stupid." Tails just put his hands up and then she asked, "Who are you anyway." Tails said, "The name is Jason." She extended her hand even though he didn't she still introduced, "I'm Tikal and this is Julie Su. Over there is a small Digimon Cutemon. Over there on the respirator is Locke. She hasn't talked much since the shit hit the fan." Julie said, "Language..." Tikal apologized, "Sorry since the crap hit the fan. Anyway we've been held here for some time. You're welcome to stay the night. Just remember not to try anything funny." Tails was then escorted to a room they hadn't used as much. Tails just slept. Having other creatures around again was odd. Especially Cutemon it was like looking at Penny all over again but Cutemon was even smaller.
When Tails woke up Tikal knocked at the door. She opened it with a spaghetti lunch. Tikal said, "The least you can do is eat before you head out." She placed it in his hand and left. Tails went over to the window and cleaned the plated out the window. He took out his own can and ate from there instead. When he came over Locke called him over. Tails went into his room. Locke said, "I know you're heading out but could you do me a favor." There were creaks upstairs Locke said, "Hear that." Tails nodded as Locke continued, "Tikal tried to handle it once shot it several times. She just ended up wasting bullets. Cutemon wanted the game up there and it would probably put a smile back on her face. She isn't mine but I've treated her as if she was. I know you know this world, before you go do to think you could help me out and get up there and handle it. Once you have a child or take them in is when you finally learn what it means to be a man. You learn to protect them no matter what. Please do this favor for Cutemon." Tails was looking down. He just started walking up to the second floor. There was no pause in his motion as if he needed to do something just to keep him occupied. Tails kept his light shining it in a new directions slowly taking as normal caution he could. He came into the rest room to see a walker. He was almost just a skull in a tub. He looked at if for a moment before taking out a screw driver he found up their and stabbing the walker in the head. He searched to find a revolver with bullets inside. He found the game and picked it up as well. He came back down and went back into the room. Tikal and Julie saw him come back. He brought the game to Cutemon. Cutemon managed to let out, "Thank you..." She proceeded to head back to Locke. That night he took out a picture of him and Penny he folded the side he was on. He left the picture on the counter. He left it there as he slept. Before he woke up the next morning Tikal saw the picture. He got up and quickly took it and placed it back in his jacket.
Tikal stood up from the bed and headed toward the exit. Tikal rushed over and yelled, "Wait..." Tails stopped in his tracks. Tikal said, "I know you've done a lot but were we wondering if you'd do us one last favor." She handed him his gun he replied, "Keep it...I have this." He pulled out a magnum. Tikal said, "I knew I should have frisked you." Tails said, "I found it up there." Tikal pleaded, "Look, can you please just help us." Tails sighed and Tikal went on, "We need more oxygen tanks. Locke is running out." Tails said, "No...I can't." Tikal pleaded, "Please..." Tails sighed again and left. He ended up going to the hospital. He held his flashlight carefully as he entered in. He came down a corridor and saw a walker inside a room. He walked right passed the room ignoring it. He saw a walker on a wheel chair on the left side. He carefully slid against the right wall sliding along also ignoring that walker as well. He went down the rest of the hall and saw a third walker in a room. He closed the door and went into another room. There were several oxygen tanks on a metal cart. He pushed the cart into another area seeing more walkers. He quickly slammed the tanks on them taking one after accidently shooting another walker. He rushed out to the exit and went back to the house.
Tikal was with Cutemon as they saw Tails as he was a bit injured. Tikal said, "I'll be right back to heal you up." Tikal then looked at Cutemon, "Can you watch him for a bit." Cutemon nodded. Tikal left as Cutemon waddled her waist then asked, "What happened to your eye?" Cutemon quickly asked after, "Was asking bad?" Tails said, "No." He placed his hand over it and asked back, "The truth?" Cutemon nodded then Tails said, "Ok...Then you have to promise me you'll keep it a secret." Cutemon extended her pinkie, "Ok." Tails asked, "What's that?" Cutemon explained, "A pinkie swear." Tails extended his pinkie as she interlocker hers with his then said, "I cross my heart and hope to die." Tails lied, "Ok...I'm a pirate." Cutemon chuckled, "Na-huh." Tails actually smiled which was something he hadn't done in a long time. Tails smirked, "Ok you got me. The truth is I did it to protect somebody." Cutemon asked, "Did you protect that somebody?" Tails looked down, "No." Cutemon asked, "Did that someone get hurt." Tails answered, "Yeah." Cutemon asked, "Did you get hurt..." Tails nodded, "Yeah." Tikal came back in with the health supplies. Tikal said, "Go along now to Locke." Cutemon ran out the room as Tikal warned, "This might hurt a bit." She pressed the swap against a cut above his patch. He seethed back a bit as she pressed along. Tikal said, "The good news is it won't need stitches." Tails waited for her to finish. He then went down stairs with Tikal. Once Tails reached the exit Tikal rushed again, "Wait..." Tails stopped again. Tikal tried to play off a laugh, "You're not going out like that are you. You're a mess. You ought to clean up." Tails finally spoke to her, "You got to shot the biters in the head." Tikal asked, "What...Why?" Tails shrugged as he almost tried to leave again. Tikal blocked the door with her hand, "Please you've done so much already. The least we can do is get you cleaned up first."
Tikal grabbed some cutting material. And gave it to Tails, he first burned the picture he had of him and Penny then went to the shower to trim his fur then take a long needed shower. His fur was back to its crisp yellow color. He went downstairs and joined Cutemon as he took out another game as Julie set up the new tank. Tails set up the chess board in the next room over. Cutemon asked, "What's this?" Tails asked, "It's chess...ever play?" Cutemon shook a no. Tails said, "It's easy." Cutemon picked up a pawn and asked, "What's this?" Tails explained, "It's a pawn, there part of you're army." Cutemon asked, "So do I loose if loose a pawn." Tails said, "Not really. You can loose them and keep going." Cutemon pulled up the king next, "What's this?" Tails answered, "That's the one you want to protect." Cutemon hopped off the table and Tails asked, "What are you doing?" Cutemon grabbed the marker, "You'll see." She drew on the king then handed it over. It had an eye patch the Cutemon explained, "See, it's like you." Tails smirked, "So it is."
A few moments passed. Tails was actually surprised that Cutemon and him were still playing both had taken pieces. Julie came out, "It's not working." Tikal grabbed Cutemon and pulled her into the room. Tails headed into the room too. Tails looked over as Julie said, "He's been gone for a while now." Tails pulled Tikal, "You should all go." Julie cried a bit, "We can't..." Locke yellow like eyes pierced open as he let out a growl. He leaned to his left grabbing for Julie. Julie screamed as Tails rushed picking up the oxygen tank and bashed Locke head with it. Julie still screamed, "NO!" Cutemon closed her eyes and hid behind Tikal. They left the room and all sat in the living room. A few moments passed and Julie managed to get out, "Thank you...I know Locke wasn't himself anymore...he would have wanted you to save him from him if you know what I mean." She expanded her hand and said, "Pound it." Tails meet her with it and Tails got up. He grabbed his back sure to leave this time. He got to the exit then Tikal rushed once more, "Wait...Were coming with you." Tails tried to play off the same game, "I can't." Tikal placed her foot firmly on the ground, "Look, we are with you now weather you like it or not. I saw you're family and I know were not them but we need you're help. We need you to take us some place safe." Tikal grabbed Cutemon and Julie came as well as Tails led them outside to his truck. They went on the road and traveled. They made a pit stop after they heard the strange noises from the car. Tails checked the back as Julie and Tikal came out with Cutemon. Tails said, "Its dead." Julie said, "It's getting late. We should rest before heading out on foot." The four of them slept in the back.
Tails woke up to see Tikal in his arms. He slid over to his side. She woke up too and turned facing him. He stroked her face and they shared a kissing session way before the other two got up. When they did they got out of the jeep and headed onward on foot. Cutemon was the last one carrying a single bag on wheels. He continued down the road, Tails led them and then he saw a group of walkers. Tails rushed, "This way." Tails ran with Tikal and Julie to the side of the street getting ready to head into the forest. They looked back to see Cutemon was frozen in place. Tails went up seeing the line of walkers head closer and closer as he yelled out, "Cutemon...come on!" She held the bag tightly in her arms looking at him. Tails promised, "I will protect I promise." She dropped the back and ran into his arms. They ran into the forest. Tails ran faster with Cutemon in head. He reached the other side first and fell into a pit. He held Cutemon for dear life but stumbled and let her go. There were three other walkers down there. Cutemon screamed herself digging back into a corner. Tails grabbed the closest walker and slammed its head first against the dirt wall then on the floor. The second walker reached for Cutemon. Tails quickly punched into the stomach taking out the organs of the walker then planting it on the ground. He picked up a bone that was from long decayed and made his way to the third walker and went behind it and wrapped the bone in its mouth and pulled back all the way. Tails rushed over and picked up Cutemon as he muttered, "I promised I'd protect you..." Tails looked up to see Manic walk above the trench looking down at him. Tails looked up at Manic. Manic said, "Holy shit..."
Meanwhile at the factory Patamon was on the roof again. He faced another corner seeing it being the one with the least walkers on it. He went and grabbed a rope and pulled it around a vent. Dracmon placed T.K and Tommy in a new room cuffing them naked. Tails climbed down to the bottom. He ran avoiding the walkers. He hit the road and went down it. Patamon traveled for some time. He came upon the prison. He stopped at a distance. He took out a telescope and looked ahead. He saw Gatomon on the other side of the fence. Patamon said, "There you are. I'm finally free from my prison. And soon enough I'll help you escape yours." Dracmon went back up to the roof and looked around and called out, "Patamon!" He went over to the side that had the rope hanging down. Dracmon said, "This changes everything." Dracmon raced back down to the room and unlocked the kids from the wall. He clothed them and they quickly held hands and kissed each other being apart so long. He grabbed them and pulled them up to the roof. Dracmon carefully shimmed on the rope still holding T.K and Tommy and his lap practically as he climbed down. He moved with them as they to avoided the walkers. Ada was the last one to get out and get to the roof. She grabbed her binoculars seeing Dracmon run with the kids. Ada went into Dracmon's room with all the dead creatures. She pulled out Agumon and Shoutmon. She brought the two of them too the roof. Ada smirked, "So now the real game begins." She held up a button and pressed it. The two both had a purple crystal parasite on their neck. The crystal glowed and they both woke up. Ada ordered, "Go out and get your bodies ready boys." The two of them jumped from the roof of the factory all the way to the ground. They knelt as they land and when they arose there eyes had the umbrella symbol glimmer for a few moments.