Author's note: I do not own Pokemon or any related trademarks.
Why yes, the Saffron Justice series is back. However, I might also work on a couple of other fanfics, both of Neon Genesis Evangelion. Whether I actually DO try writing these at the same time is unsure. I'm a bit worried about hitting writer's block doing that. (And if you've read it yet, "Paradise" is something that came to me more or less as a result of writer's block. Took me only a few nights to write it all down, too. Guess Ash and I have something in common, haha. Unfortunately, it's not sex with Sabrina….)
Language warning:
The doors automatically slid open as the woman approached the Celadon City Mall.
What she wanted was nothing much, just regular items to keep her Pokemon healthy.
Around her, however, were so many other stores offering various things to both trainers and non-trainers alike. It was going to take all of her willpower to avoid going on a spending binge again.
She avoided looking at herself in the windows and mirrors as she walked. It was not that she was unattractive, God knows she wasn't that even in her mid-thirties. She just didn't want anyone recognizing her, and she certainly didn't like recognizing herself.
Which was why she had gone with a baseball cap to conceal her dark brown pixie-cut hair (the stress of her past triggering the occasional strand of gray), unassuming sunglasses, a loose hooded sweatshirt, and baggy slacks.
Mandy Tanahashi did not want to be recognized. Simple as that.
Neither did someone else.
The figure kept himself inconspicuous, despite constant and violent twitches. He was wearing a trench coat and a broad-brimmed hat, keeping himself concealed from the crowds. Why this did not attract the attention of the security guards roaming the premises was unknown. Normally, someone dressed that strangely would attract far too much attention.
Unnoticed, he walked up the stairs, looking for a prime spot on the second floor.
Mandy was fortunate to avoid being recognized as she made her purchases and moved along.
By now, she was hungry, and she wanted to get to the food court as quickly as possible. Head lowered, she walked briskly onward.
The figure took his place in the shadows, observing her. She didn't stop until she had reached a taco outlet. There, she stood at the counter for some time, looking up at the board with all the menu items on it. There was some acne-afflicted kid taking her order, and he looked either tired, disinterested, stoned, or all three.
Not here, the figure thought. Not here not here not here not here not here not here….
It took everything he could to keep from saying it aloud, his twitching bordering on a seizure. He tried to steady himself, knowing that he risked dropping what he brought.
Three soft shell tacos were consumed quickly by Mandy as she contemplated her next move.
I need to finish my shopping as quickly as possible and go home, she resolved. The sooner I'm out of the public eye the better-
"Hey, Donna!" yelled a voice.
She could feel herself turning several shades of pale. Turning, she saw the man standing several feet away, his medium brown hair hanging in a ponytail behind him, the stubble on his chin betraying the fact that he hadn't shaved for a couple of days. What scared her, however, was the giant R on his t-shirt, a shirt which he seemed to be wearing as some sort of bad novelty fashion statement.
"It's me, Stevie Ray! Long time, no see!" he continued as he walked towards her, arms open for a hug.
"I-I don't know who you're talking to," she stammered as she quickly got out of her chair and began to walk away.
"Aw, c'mon, Donna! What are you worried about? It's not like anybody's looking for us or something!"
She started to walk faster, afraid to look behind her.
He watched her frightened reaction as the man confronted her.
She's one of them. I just know it.
He slipped out of his hiding place and began to follow them again.
"Come on, Donna!" he was saying. "Can't we just talk! There's nothing for us to worry about!"
"I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU'RE TALKING TO!" she wailed as she raced for the elevator.
"Donna, it's me. You can trust me, OK?"
As soon as the elevator door opened, she was in, pushing the third floor button frantically.
He wasn't able to make it to the door in time before it closed. Sighing, he decided to take the steps.
The figure was dismayed to see that she had left the floor.
He was not as dismayed to see the other man take the stairs to the next one.
As soon as he could tell that the coast was clear, he moved, still unnoticed, towards the steps and made the climb, holding onto the rail to steady himself, fearful that his spasms would cause him to tumble all the way back down.
She shot out of the elevator like she was on fire, looking around her in fright to make sure he was nowhere around-
"Donna, wait!"
She thought she was going to cry.
He noticed a pillar near one of the stores. It didn't seem to be of any purpose whatsoever. At least to anyone else.
He walked over and slipped behind it.
There, he went through his pockets.
He pulled out a thin tube, then a tiny thing, a dart, no bigger than a pea really.
He put the dart in the tube, being extremely careful not to prick himself, which he almost did several times because of the twitching.
Then he raised the tube and aimed at the woman.
"I don't know who this 'Donna' is that you're talking about, but I'm not her!" she screamed.
"Look, there's nothing to worry about. Do you see anyone following me? Nobody is looking for us, Donna. We're safe now-"
"Aack!"
She felt something sting her in the side of her neck.
He watched as her eyes grew wide in shock.
And then she collapsed, a violent seizure ripping through her body, the sounds of suffocation coming from her throat.
"DONNA?!"
He dropped to his knees beside her and began to look around in fear. "I NEED A DOCTOR OVER HERE! SOMEBODY, HELP HER! SHE'S DYING! SOMEBODY HELP US, PLEASE!"
