When I woke the first thing I felt was pain. Physical pain. My entire body was stiff and sore and there was a ring of bruised skin around my ankle. Cold, hard, damp earth was pressed underneath me and I lay on my face. Luckily though there was a bit of relief in the form of a soft, warm mass against my legs.

Then came the mental pain. Images that flashed like clips from a horror movie in my brain. Unbearable agony, and despair, filled me as my mind caught up and I remembered were I was and what had happened.

Swamped by my misery and predicament I just put my face back down into the moldy layer of foliage and cried, my body shaking with cold and wet.

Apparently the huge wracking sobs that went through my body awoke Ev, for the bundle of relief was suddenly gone.

I sniveled and forced myself into a sitting position. "Ev?" I whispered into the silent world made only of shades of green. A little sunlight filtered through the canopy to reveal a small clearing, surrounded by thickly vined trees and big leafy bushes.

"Ev?" I said again, a little louder this time. Silence.

I silently wiped the tears away with my sleeve. If I know anything right now it's that I have to get back to civilization.

I rose wearily to my feet. Clumsily I hobbled away from the clearing, following my own footprints. Throughout, whenever I could muster the strength, I would call out for my Eevee.

Finally I stumbled onto the concrete patio, my legs hurting worse than before.

Even as I collapsed my father ran out. "Jadelyn! Where on earth were you? You had me worried to death!" And he scooped me up into his arms. "Where's that dang Pokémon of yours? We need to leave right now."

Confusion swept over me at that moment. Looking back in later years perhaps if I was smarter I would've tried to get help or run away again. But I didn't, I just let myself be led around and I packed my stuff.

Momma was gone and the room tied, just as it was before. Maybe it had all been a dream and she would come through that door with a coffee in her hand any minute.

"Daddy, where's Momma?"

"What?"

"Where's Momma?"

"Momma's not here. She left and won't be coming back. But don't worry, you have me."

Something in those last words chilled my blood and made me shiver.

Right after dad had locked the door and we were walking away from the hotel, Ev bounded up. I smiled wide and hugged her tight, refusing to let go and carrying her all the way to the airport. Daddy said nothing, though sometimes he gave me weird, almost confused, glances.

"Hurry Jade, we need to hurry." Something in my mind clicked at that name. I know it's mine but it still seems wrong for some reason.

"Coming Daddy!"

So we boarded the plane in what must have been record time. Of course though, my dad was on the run from a murder… and so was I.

The plane ride was long and only proved to help stiffen my legs up more, though they didn't hurt quite so bad. I had, had something to eat and was actually feeling fine when we got home to Snowpoint City.

Of course there's not an airport in Snowpoint so we took a boat from a different city whose name is of no importance and I can't remember anyhow.

Before we got off the boat Dad grabbed me firmly by the shoulders and told me, "You say nothing about mother or me or the trip! Do you understand?"

I gulped, using all my self-control so I won't shake or start to cry. "Yes Daddy."

"Good girl. Now put a smile on your face. If anyone mentions Mom act sad, because she died in a wild Pokémon attack."

"But Daddy, that's not what happened!" I squealed out loudly.

"Shhhh!" he frantically gestured, covering my mouth, "that is what happened and if you say anything otherwise I'll whip your hide and have your precious Eevee drowned."

I was now trembling uncontrollably, but managed to put on a smile. If anything, I had always been a great actor.

Just like mom.

It felt so good to be home. The chill of my world soothed the ache and pains better than even heat could. It felt amazing to be back into my thick, warm clothing with my fluffy scarf and black gloves. A world of white is the only world that I belong in.

The town fussed over us, and they shall forever, but by now the shock had died away and so their constant affection. Candace and I still played in the snow, like nothing ever happened. Mr. and Mrs. Willis would tell us stories by the glow of the fire late at night like always.

But something was different. And that was the constant abuse.

However I hid it behind well applied makeup and fake smiles. I didn't mind the acting part too much, I loved fooling people with my skill and improving upon it. Maybe someday I'll be an actress.

Or a singer.

Or a writer.

Just know it will be something artistic like that. Perhaps Pokémon contests.

So life went on, and I grew into an independent young lady. I was kind to everyone and so got along with everyone. People were attracted to me by my modesty, talent, beauty and charms. I was the perfect person, or so people on the outside thought.

Because on the inside I was broken. Though everyone seemed to notice my socialiteness, no one seemed to notice how I never put much trust in anyone. No one saw the way I was reserved. No, because they were too busy talking about themselves to notice I never said a word about me.

I put faith in only myself. I'm the rock that I stand on, the backbone that keeps me standing. All I need is myself. I can't even count on Eevee because I couldn't bear if my father did something to her.

Even when I'm friends with everyone, I stand alone because when you're being abused by the one you love, you can't stand any other way. If you try you'll collapse, never to stand again.

Of course, even when standing alone there is still a large chance you will fall anyway.

Hope you guys enjoyed! I know it was kinda scrambled and short but there is gonna be a large skip in time between this and the next chapter because well... I can't tell you. Also since school is starting back up tomorrow I probably won't be updating every day even though I sure will try! Please review and tell me what you think!

~Red-Delicious Victory