Blackthorn City, 5 years previous
The rain pelted hard that day as if knowing of my sadness. It was time for me to say goodbye to the home I had lived in for the past 10 years of my life. My father had decided that my health had recovered enough and was coming to pick me up. I moved around my room slowly packing up what little belongings I had.
"Erika," came the withered old voice behind me, "You should pick up the pace. Your father will be here any moment and you know he's not a patient man."
"I know Grandmother, it's just, I don't want to leave." I turned slowly toward the old woman my short chestnut hair swinging with the movement of my body. Sorrow was written across my face as I stared at the woman who had raised me for these past 10 years.
"I know Erika, I know. I don't want you to go either, but I can't reject your father his own daughter. Besides you're what little hope that family has after your mother's death. You'll be fine child, rest assured. Now come on let's finish packing before your father throws a fit," As soon as it started the conversation was over. Grandmother helped me pack up the rest of my things as I sobbed silently. I was going to miss my Grandmother dearly. She had tried her best to care for me after I lost my mother to the same disease in which had infected me. It was too late to save her but I still had hope and so I was sent to Blackthorn where I would slowly recover.
We finished packing and no sooner a knock was heard at the door. Grandmother got up to answer it as I sat on my bed looking at the room I had slept in all these years. I picked up my Pikachu doll and cradled it to my chest gazing at the sole picture of my mother, father, and me the only picture where my father was actually smiling. My gaze was still concentrated on the picture when a pair of brown shoes stepped into view.
"Let's go, Erika," My father's voice rang through the room commanding authority as usual. I sighed heavily before complying with his wishes and hopped off the bed grasping the picture tightly in my hands. A butler of sorts entered the room and grabbed my suitcases as I followed my father out of the house and into the waiting limo. I entered the limo after my father and the door was shut behind me.
"Everything's packed and ready to go. Shall we leave now Sir?" the driver asked.
"Giovanni," came the same withered voice of my grandmother. My father opened the limo's window to hear what she had to say.
"What is it Andrea?" he asked impatiently already wanting to be on the move back to Viridian City.
"Don't push her, her health may have improved but it's still not 100% the disease might come back."
"I won't," Giovanni growled out, "Now if that's all, we're going." And with that said the window shut and the limo pulled out leaving of the drive.
I whispered a small, "Good-bye Grandmother." As I watched her frail figure grow smaller and smaller in the distance.
The ride was silent as we drove towards my father's home most of it he spent on the phone discussing various business deals. My Pikachu doll still in my arms I hugged it even tighter and gazed longingly out of the window wondering what my new life would bring.
"Erika," I was startled by my father's voice and I cautiously glanced at him, "You will be enrolled into school as soon as we arrive home you are expected to start tomorrow."
"Yes father," I said, barely raising my voice.
"Damnit Erika, when you talk speak up! No one can understand a word you're saying."
"I'm sorry." I said trying to adjust my voice and project it slightly more.
He muttered something under his breath that I thought sounded something like, "All the work I've put into this child."
I turned my gaze back to the window and saw the sky darken around me.