Chapter 2: Pain

***Ruby's P.O.V.***

A/N: I hoped you enjoyed the previous chapter to my new story. I do not own anything in this story, and I make no profit in this. Everything belongs to the rightful owner.

"Normal speaking out loud"

Dream

'Voice inside Ruby's head'

'Thinking'

I knew Latios noticed something was plaguing my mind, but knew it wasn't the time to push me into telling. I had my Pokemon fly me to Mossdeep City in the utter downpour. Even as Latios flew at high speed I was too numb to notice or care about the rain. I barely noticed that we've reached our destination already. However, it wasn't until Latios motioned me off of him that I realized we landed. My clothes were beyond drenched. It wasn't just my shirt and pants that were wet, but just about all my under garments have been too.

I felt so frigid, but it wasn't due to my wet clothes. I recalled my Pokemon back inside its Pokeball. After that I dragged my drench body towards Steven's house. Despite being in the completely opposite side of the region, it was still raining. In fact, I believe it was pouring more here than in Rustboro City. The longer I lingered out in the rain the harder it got to keep myself from collapsing.

'I wish I was never been born!'

'Then May wouldn't have to toy with me.'

'The world is better off without a pathetic person like me around.'

'I'm sorry for disappointing you May.'

My cynical thoughts continued to invade my over-fatigue mind with complete ease. I didn't even attempt to hold them back. I no longer had the will or the strength to stop them. Even if I did I no longer cared. After an excruciating long hike to Steven's house I felt completely and utterly worn-out. I rang the doorbell of his house as I fought to just stand up straight. My entire body felt numb from the biting cold and heavy from exhaustion. My vision blurred in and out of focus every so often.

'Maybe I deserve to suffer like this?'

'After all I did just disappoint May.'

Without much of a warning, Steven Stones opened the door for me as I jumped at the sudden sound. I was surprised I had enough energy and strength to jump at all. Then as he opened the door, I collapsed on top of him.

"Ruby what's wrong?" Steven asked frantically ushering me inside out of the onslaught outside. I didn't even managed to walk ten feet before I fell unconscious. I was just too mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted to continue staying conscious much longer.

***Ruby's Dream***

I was surrounded my nothingness on all sides of me. I couldn't even see my hand that was straight in front of me. No sound echoed through the area as I tried calling out for anyone. It was like a room that contained nothing, and it made me feel claustrophobic. It was like the walls that were non-existing close around me squeezing my body together. I felt so alone that it scared me like I was the last human alive on the planet. Then I heard a familiar voice talking echoing in my ears, but belonged to someone who's not here in this place.

"Do you think he was a mistake, honey?" I heard my mother's voice say.

"Sometimes I believe he was our biggest mistake in our lives. We should have adopted someone instead of having him." I heard my father's voice say. Their words shattered my already frail heart. Hearing both of my parents say that I was a mistake ripped me to shreds.

"Stop!" I pleaded weakly falling to my knees clutching my hair. I tried to block out their voices, but they continued to echo in my ears.

"He shouldn't have been born in the first place. Who would want a worthless son like him? We never even loved him once in our lives. We should have killed him when we had the chance." I heard my mother say

"No! No more! Make it stop please! NOOOO!" I screamed as my tears cascaded my eyes like a gate from my ruby colored eyes. My father's figure made its way closer and closer to me. Until he was standing right next to me glaring at me with disgust and loathing. Without warning, he violently grabbed my throat with his hands suffocating me. I tried to push him off of me, but he was too heavy for me to move.

"No one wants you prick! Get lost and out of our lives forever!" Father hissed gripping tighter at my throat. I tried to push him off, but I couldn't find the strength to do it. I could feel my vocal cords and my wind pipe being constricted.

'If I die here, will it end everything?' I thought to myself as I lay there close to death's door.

'Just kill me.' I urged the figure of my father in despair. I finally realized that May and my parents were correct. I really am unwanted in life.

'How stupid could I be?'

'I'm not worth anyone's time'

'I'm not worth keeping alive.'

I relaxed my body to welcome my upcoming death. As I became closer and closer to the light I could vaguely hear someone calling my name.

"Ruby!" I heard the voice call

"Ruby come on wake up!"

"Come on Ruby!"

The longer the voice called the more I wanted to know who it was. Whoever it was, it made me feel secure. I wanted to escape out of this hellish nightmare, and with whomever it was that made me feet safe.

***Dream End***

I gradually opened my eyes to wake up. Once I could keep them open long enough, I found myself in an unfamiliar room. At first I felt nervous at first, but as time went by I started to recognize where I was.

"Ste...ven?" I asked groggily unable to recall the majority of yesterday. I gradually sat up on the bed. Leaning my back up against the wooden bedpost. As I leaned on the bedpost I tried to recall yesterday's incidents. Each time I thought I recalled something in my head would feel like someone was pounding it with ten metal hammers.

"What happened?" Steven asked calmly leaning against the side of the doorframe.

"I don't remember." I answered honestly knowing I couldn't lie to him.

"You came here completely soaked to the bone. Luckily your fever broke while you were resting at least. If you don't have anywhere else to stay you can stay here for a while." Steven offered kindly

"I shouldn't trouble you any by staying." I said

"It won't trouble me any Ruby. I could use some company for a bit." The older man said warmly.

"If you say so I'll stay until I'm able to take care of myself again." I said steadily standing up, but most of my strength was still gone. I used what little strength I had left to stay up against the side of the bed.

"You shouldn't be moving around too much just yet." Steven scolded warmly much like how my family scolded me. I decided to continue lying in bed until I had enough strength to stand again without falling.

"Are you hungry?" Steven asked in a calm voice like always.

"Somewhat." I said as he left to prepare something for us to eat. While I lay in bed, I stared out the window. I wasn't really looking at anything in particular; instead I opted to thinking. I thought about May, but unlike before my heart hurt when I thought about her. I used to feel warm inside whenever she came into my thoughts.

***Ruby's Mind***

'Why May?'

'Why do you have to use my feelings like that?' I heard a voice inside of my head say.

'Who are you?' I called out to the voice questioning, wondering as to who or what it was.

'Wouldn't you like to know?' May's voice said with dripping with malice.

'Get lost bastard no one what's you around!' May's voice spat at me with utter disgust and loathing to someone I thought she loved. Hearing the person I truly loved saying that hurt, a lot. I tried to block out their voices, but they only got louder.

'I'm sorry May.' I said, fighting back fresh tears in my eyes once more.

'Sorry for what prick no one wants you don't you know that? Sorry for being born is that why you're apologizing?' May's hissed shattering me completely. I no longer fought back the tears. This feeling felt like déjà vu to me, but my mind wouldn't allow me to recall why though.

***Reality***

I was jerked from my reveries by the smell of freshly cooked food. Steven was kind enough to bring a tray in for me to eat off of while I ate in bed.

"Thanks." I said, attempting to abnegate the soul shattering despair I felt inside. I smiled, trying my best to make it look genuine.

Steven either believed my smile, or he just didn't push me to answer him. Whichever it was I was grateful either way. He sat down in a chair close to the bed while I ate. The longer he stayed the harder it got for me to masquerade that I wasn't screaming inside.

Steven cooked chicken and corn soup. It was delicious actually too.

"It tastes delicious Steven." I said, finishing up what I could eat. I couldn't eat all of though.

"Thanks can I let my Espeon out?" I asked as he took the tray from me.

"Of course Ruby. Any Pokemon that can easily fit inside can come out." Steven said, leaving me alone once again. I quickly released my Espeon out of his Pokeball.

"Espe?" Espeon cocked its head at me confused as to why I showed pain in my eyes.

"Its nothing I'm fine." I tried to convince myself. However, the more I told myself I'm fine the more it ached. I pulled my small purple Pokemon close to me. I pulled my knees close to me as I sobbed. It feeling inside me was beyond unbearable. The feeling was close to mind shattering I just wanted this agony to disappear. However, somewhere inside of me, I knew that it wasn't going to fade anytime soon. I held my Pokemon as I continued to cry.

"I'm sorry." I said, repetitively as tears much like a waterfall continued to fall.

"Espe." Espeon cooed nuzzling its nose against my face. I pulled my head from my knees to pet him.

"Is it wrong to want to be loved?" I asked him knowing he couldn't communicate telepathically yet. I haven't known this Espeon for that long, so the psychic connection between us isn't that strong yet. However, despite that I could vaguely understand what he's saying.

"Espe Espeon." Espeon shook its head as he placed a small paw on my hand.

"Then why do I get treated like shit?" I asked going from sobbing to anger in seconds.

"Do my parents really believe that?" I mumbled quietly even though my Pokemon could hear it either way.

A/N: How was this chapter? I used the Espeon I have on my Omega Ruby game. It's a male on level 60. Tell me if anything didn't make sense.

Will Ruby ever be able to mend his shattered heart, or will May makes sure it stays shattered? Does Ruby's parents truly believe he's better off gone, or do they love him? Lately who or what is the voice that Ruby hears?

You'll have to read to find out next time. Read & review.