Warning: This story involves scenes of blood sucking and death of a cute protagonist. If this is not your thing then stop reading now. You have been warned!

Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon. Digimon is the property of Toei Animation.

Data Drained

The digital world; A strange and mysterious place where data manifests itself into physical form. However, such a wondrous development comes with its share of dangers. Arbitrary blocks of data could take on completely different meanings depending on how they were interpreted. This meant that just as the world was capable of creating creatures of innocence and purity, so too was it capable of creating horrors beyond our worst nightmares...

It was a bright and sunny day in the digital world, a perfect day for a dip in the nearby lake. Then again, everyday was a perfect day to swim for him, water was his natural habitat after all; A Gomamon mused as he leisurely floated along the lake's surface. It felt good to just kick back and relax like this, without a care in the world. He could probably spend the whole day lazily skimming the top of the water, and in fact he did.

As the sun began to set, casting an orange glow over the sky, Gomamon finally decided to call it a day. He emerged from the lake, shaking the water from his thick fur. His den was not too far from here; A quick trek through the forest would get him there in no time. As he strolled through the woods, he enjoyed the sights and sounds of nature around him. Water may have been his natural habitat, but he always had a soft spot for the beauty of the forest. Tall trees, majestic Digimon, exotic plants... speaking of which, an unfamiliar fragrance caught his attention. He began to follow the strange aroma, curiosity pulling him off the beaten path and deeper into the woods.

Soon he found himself in a small clearing, and lying at its center was easily the largest flower he had ever seen. It looked oddly out place from the other vegetation in the area, its thick green stock blossoming into beautiful crimson petals. Gomamon cautiously moved forward to get a closer look. As he approached the smell grew stronger, making it clear that this was the source of the strange aroma he had been sensing. He circled around the base, inspecting the specimen from all sides. For all intensive purposes, it appeared to be an ordinary flower, albeit a giant one. He made a mental note to come back here someday, but for now with his curiosity sated, he turned to head home.

However as soon as his back was turned to the seemingly innocent flora, something ensnared his arms, legs, and tail, lifting him helplessly into the air. He peered back with a start to find that several tendril-like appendages had emerged from the flower's center. They continued to wrap around his limbs, strengthening their hold on the surprised seal. The vines on his arms slithered around his chest, restraining his claws behind his back, leaving him completely defenseless and vulnerable. At this point he was certain that the plant had malevolent intentions, but what came next was still an unpleasant shock.

Jolts of pain shot from his limbs where the tips of the vines met his flesh. He cringed at the sudden burst of pain, tears forming in the corners of his eyes. Why did it hurt so much? He managed to peel open his left eye and was met with the bone chilling answer to his question. Another vine had emerged from the flower's core and was slowly approaching him. That was when he got his first good look at the horror that awaited him. At the end of the vine was a leech-like maw, lined with dozens upon dozens of tiny razor sharp teeth.

He cried out as the tendril bit into his arm, drawing fresh blood. Did this thing plan to eat him, bit by bit? Gomamon wondered, unaware that the fate that awaited him was much, much worse. A strange sensation wracked his body as the vines began to suck at the wounds they had made. Gomamon watched in mortified horror as grotesque bulges traveled down the vines towards the flower's core. This thing was draining the life blood directly from his body, sucking the data straight out of him! And unfortunately for him, this was only the beginning of his suffering.

Several more tendrils emerged from the plant, all seeking a nice warm body to sate their thirst. Gomamon trembled in mortal terror and shook his head frantically, begging the botanic horror to stop. But the vines paid no heed to his desperate pleas, wrapping around the defenseless seal and latching onto his soft flesh to feast on the precious crimson fluid within. Gomamon wailed in agony as unspeakable pain wracked his entire body. Tears flowed freely down his face as he writhed and thrashed in his bonds, desperate to escape the hell that was being inflicted upon him. But it was futile; the flower had no intention of giving up its meal. It had the poor seal right where it wanted him, and it would take its sweet time leisurely draining the digimon of his delicious data.

Gomamon could feel his energy fading fast as his power was sapped by the parasitic vines. Soon his frantic struggles were reduced to choking sobs and pitiful wines, his body trembling violently from the shock and pain he continued to endure. Every moment was utter hell for the poor digimon. The tendrils were relentless in their efforts to suck him dry, their constant suckling sending continuous waves of agony through his form. His mind begged and pleaded for it to stop, crying out to any digital gods that may be watching. But all he heard in response was slurping of those accursed vines as they mercilessly leeched his life away.

After what felt like hours of torture, Gomamon teetered on the brink of consciousness, his mind drowning in a sea of agony from which there was no rescue. He felt terribly cold and weak, his appearance a ghastly reflection of this. His features had become gaunt and haggard as his body was robbed of precious fluids. He no longer had the strength to struggle or even whine, he could only hang there, shedding tears of absolute suffering as the last of his life-force was slowly drained away.

Finally getting their fill, some of the vines began to retreat back into the plant, detaching themselves from the dying digimon with sickening slurps, and leaving behind grievous wounds that oozed with what little blood the seal had left. The final vines remained attached, pulling the ravaged body towards the flowers core as they continued to siphon any last drops of data they could muster. The only mercy Gomamon was granted was that he would not live long enough to experience what happened next.

The flowers maw opened wide, stretching around the emaciated shell of the former digimon, pulling it deep withing its body where it would be broken down bit by bit into raw data, continuing to nourish the monstrous plant as it waited patiently for its next unsuspecting victim to pass by.