A few hours later

Grandpa Reece had lit a fire in the fireplace earlier for Marcy and the others. Her clothes were mostly dry, but she didn't seem to mind. Her mind was still set on the Cubone and where it could have gone. She wanted to go after it, but there was a high chance that her brother and friends wouldn't allow her to leave the house again.

Besides, they were now trying to get her to play a card game with them.

"Marcy, it's your turn." Elen said as she gave her friend a rough poke in the side. Marcy hadn't heard her earlier attempts to get her attention. "Got any Nidokings?"

"No…go fish."

The pink-haired girl pouted. "You didn't even look at your cards. Are you even playing anymore?"

Marcy shrugged and let her gaze drift towards the window. It was still raining outside, but not as heavily as it had been before.

"We can play something else." Sora said as he placed his hand of cards down on the table.

"Charades, anyone?" Flynn suggested.

Rowan placed his hand down and tried to follow Marcy's line of sight. "Are you looking for your drawing, Marc? I tried to grab it, but it blew away…You can always make another one."

Marcy flinched. "Drawing?" Her hand moved to the pocket where she had stuffed her picture in and found it to be empty. Her stomach dropped. "…uh…"

"How about you draw a happier picture?" Jo suggested.

"Happier?" Aaron repeated.

Jo hadn't told anyone about Marcy's drawing, but that didn't mean Marcy's picture hadn't unnerved the hooded kid. They young girl had drawn what looked to be a Pikachu and her watching three figures hitting a brown and red Pokemon, while a smaller, brown Pokemon stood behind it.

"I need the drawing back." Marcy said quickly as she stood from the table. She didn't care now whether or not her brother and friends didn't want her going outside. She had to get that drawing back before the cruel men would return for her.

"Marc, it's dark outside and it's still raining. You won't be able to find it." Sora explained.

"Besides, it's probably ruined by now." Flynn added.

"…"

"I rather play another game." Elen huffed. "Can you recreate your drawing later, Marcy? Please?"

"Actually," Grandpa Reece sighed as he entered the living room, "It's getting late and your parents are all probably waiting for you all to return home. I'll walk with you back to your homes."

All the children groaned sadly, while Marcy let out a soft whimper.

After a few minutes of grabbing umbrellas and rain jackets, the group of kids were ready to leave. They waited out on the porch as Grandpa Reece locked the door behind him. "Alright. Let's be off."

The small group marched down the street in the pouring rain with Grandpa Reece and Arcanine bringing up the rear. They all walked in silence for a while…with the occasional 'Splash' of Elen's rain boots as she jumped into all the puddles they came across.

"I bet I can catch more raindrops in my mouth than you can!" Flynn challenged.

"You're on, brother!" Sora grinned.

Both boys tilted their heads back and opened their mouths to catch the falling rain.

"Be careful where you two walk." Grandpa Reece cautioned.

Neither of the two boys heard him as Flynn accidentally tripped over Sora.

"Flynn, no cheating!" Sora growled playfully as he gave his brother a shove.

"No promises!"

Aaron nudged Jo on the side. "So now that we finally got to hear you speak, does that mean that you'll be talking more often?"

Jo shrugged. "Maybe…"

"Hopefully. I think Marcy is slowly taking after you." Rowan pointed out as he motioned towards his silent sister. She was sitting on his lap again. "She's going back to being quiet."

"Hmm…" Jo studied Marcy for a moment before tapping the little girl on the shoulder. "Marcy, can we talk for a moment?"

The little girl didn't reply, but she willingly slid off of Rowan's lap and stood beside Jo. She didn't meet Jo's gaze though…

"Want us to wait?" Aaron asked.

"Sure. Just…give us some space." Jo said, kneeling down to Marcy's level. The hooded kid waited until the others were out of hearing range before speaking quietly to the younger girl. "Can we talk about your drawing, Marcy?"

Marcy still didn't look at Jo.

"I take it your drawing was about what you saw yesterday, huh? You saw those three people hurt a Pokemon?"

There was still no response from the younger girl.

"I understand that you're scared and you don't want to talk about it. I know your fear." Jo said slowly.

"N-Nothing happened…" Marcy lied.

Jo sighed. It felt like Déjà vu, except she was now the one trying to get the little girl to explain what had happened. "Marcy, take it from someone who was too stubborn and scared to tell anyone what had happen to her. It is better to tell, rather than stay silent. Aaron and Grandpa Reece, after finding out about Mr. P, have protected me from him when Aunt Sharon wouldn't."

She put a comforting hand on Marcy's shoulder as she tried to look Marcy in the eye. "I used to have no one to help me. You have Rowan and your mother looking out for you…and Elen and Aaron, and everybody else. Even me!"

Marcy's head slowly drifted up as she finally let her gaze meet Jo's. There was a hint of fear in her eyes. "T-They told me not to."

"Not to tell?"

The little girl nodded.

"Mr. P convinced me not to tell by saying I'd get into trouble. What did they tell Marcy?" Jo grimaced. "Did they say you'd get into trouble? Did they hurt you at all?"

"No…"

"No, what?" Jo pressed softly.

"I-I can't tell you, Jo!" Marcy sobbed.

"Marcy, if they hurt you in anyway, then we need to tell someone like Grandpa Reece." Jo stated firmly. "Do not be like me. Do not make the same mistake that I made."

Marcy blinked and rubbed her teary eyes. "W-What did Mr. P do to you that was so bad? Why were you silent for so long?"

The question caught Jo off guard. She blinked and lowered her hand from Marcy's shoulder. "…There are some things that…you are just too young to know about, Marcy. I was silent because I was scared and I had no one. Mr. P convinced me that I would get in trouble if I told anyone, but I didn't know…or rather understand that that was a lie. He would be the one in trouble if I told."

"S-So if I tell, they would…no…they said they would come back if I told. They said they would take me away if I told anyone." Marcy flinched and covered her mouth. She was spilling a little too much.

Jo's expression darkened. "They threatened you? …Do you know if they live in the neighborhood? We can have Grandpa Reece or your mom call the cops on them. They may not have hurt you physically, but threatening you is still not-"

"They're not neighbors…"

"…Then how do you know if or when you may tell someone?" Jo paused for a moment before sighing with some relief. "They may even be long gone, Marcy. I know what you saw was horrifying, but those people might be on the other side of the region."

"H-How do you know? My drawing is gone. They could have found it!"

Jo shrugged. "It's still raining. Your drawing of them is undoubtedly destroyed by the wind and rain. And besides, they didn't hurt you. They only threatened you, and I take it they just wanted to scare you. As cruel as the threat was, their only intent was probably to get you to be silent."

Marcy seemed to relax. "But I should tell someone. Right, Jo?"

Jo nodded as she stood up and held a hand out to Marcy. "Let's go back to the others and tell Rowan about the people. Okay? You don't have to tell him the moment we get to the others, but I would like it if you told him and an adult soon."

Marcy nodded slowly as she took the older girl's hand.

"Is everything alright?" Rowan asked as they rejoined the group. "Marcy?"

Marcy climbed up onto Rowan's lap and rested against him. Rowan frowned and directed his attention towards Jo. He had a brow raised questioningly.

"Give her some time." Jo said calmly.

But the boy didn't want to wait. He wanted to know what exactly was bothering Marcy. Was it because she had lost her drawing or because he had scared away the Cubone? He had only been trying to protect her.

"Ro-Ro…"

"I'm sorry for scaring off the Cubone. If you want, I can try catching one for you later."

Marcy cocked her head to the side. "How? You don't have any Pokemon."

"You don't have to battle every Pokemon in order to catch them. Sometimes, all you have to do is ask." Grandpa Reece explained as he patted Arcanine on the back. "That's how I got Arcanine…though I don't suggest it for every Pokemon you plan to catch. The results could be dangerous."

"You caught Arcanine without having to battle it?" The twins asked in awe. "Was it your first Pokemon?"

"Hehe. No, Arcanine was…I think either my fourth or fifth Pokemon."

Marcy thought Grandpa Reece's words over for a moment and smiled. "I-I want to ask the Cubone to be mine so it doesn't have to be lonely anymore."

"Lonely?" Rowan frowned. "What makes you think the Cubone is lonely? I'm sure it has a mommy and a daddy somewhere."

Marcy glanced over Rowan's shoulder at Jo. "No…it's all alone. It's mommy…she's gone. Can the Cubone join our family, Rowan? Pwease? It can be like a younger brother or sister."

"Uh…"

"Why is the door open to your house, Elen?" Flynn asked as they came across Elen's house.

Sure enough the door was left wide open. Elen shrugged and skipped her way up to the house. She poked her head inside and called out for her mother. "Mama, I'm home!"

No response could be heard.

Elen stepped farther inside her house. Her gaze locked onto something before she sprinted back towards the others. Her face was pale.

"Elen, what's wrong?" Aaron asked.

Her eyes were wide. "M-Mess…"

"Elen?"

"M-Mess…"

Aaron, the twins, Arcanine and Grandpa Reece approached Elen's house and peeked inside. From the sidewalk, Rowan could see the twins flinch at the unseen 'mess' inside the house before running back towards him and the girls. They had the same terrified expression as Elen had on their faces.

"What? What did you see?" Rowan asked as the twins rushed past him.

Neither one of them stopped or slowed to answer. "M-Mess…mom! We need to see our mom!" It looked like they were heading back to their home.

Marcy looked up at Rowan with wide eyes. "Ro-Ro?"

"Don't worry, Marcy. Everything is going to be alright." Rowan said as calmly as he could, though it seemed more like he was trying to convince himself. "Jo, I'm going to take Marcy home. Elen, stay with Jo. Wait for Aaron and Grandpa Reece."

"I want to go with you. Elen, come with us." Jo said as she took Elen's hand. "Aaron!"

No response from the older boy.

"Grandpa Reece! Aaron! Arcanine!" Rowan called.

The sound of something crashing and falling could be heard from inside the house. It sounded like a fight. What was going on?

"Jo. Elen. Start heading towards our house." Rowan said slowly as he began wheeling himself and Marcy away from Elen's house. Panic was slowly filling his being.

A darkly dressed man with a red 'R' on his torso suddenly appeared in the doorway carrying an unconscious Aaron under his arm. He noticed the four kids staring wide-eyed at him and grinned. "Evening, kiddos!"

"R man!" Marcy gasped loudly as Rowan grabbed Elen and wheeled them away from the house.

"Jo, come on!" He cried over his shoulder, but Jo wasn't following. Instead, the light, brown-haired girl was running towards the man.

"Let Aaron go!"

The man dropped Aaron and picked Jo up by the neck. She kicked her legs as she tried to nail him in the chest, but he was cutting off her oxygen. He could kill her in a minute if he wanted to.

Rowan let Marcy and Elen down and ordered them firmly. "Go home and get mom. Call the cops. Marcy, don't argue! GO!"

The two little girls sprinted down the road for Marcy's house, while Rowan turned on the 'R' man. He bolted down the walkway and rammed into the man.

"Gawh!" He hissed as he dropped Jo.

Luckily for Rowan, she landed on his lap. He spun his wheels backwards before the grunt could recover and shot down the street for his house. "Jo?"

Jo coughed and looked over his shoulder at Aaron's limp body. "Aaron…"

Within Rowan and Marcy's house—Following Marcy and Elen

Marcy and Elen slammed the door behind them. They ran to Marcy's mother's room, but her mom wasn't there. In fact, they hadn't seen or heard her as they ran through the house.

"M-Mommy?!" Marcy sobbed loudly. "Mommy!"

There was a shuffle from somewhere in the front of the house. It sounded almost like someone was trying to get up and move around.

"M-Momm-"

"Shush, Marc." Elen hushed as she clamped a hand down on Marcy's mouth. She pointed to the bed and ushered the girl underneath. Soon enough, both girls were huddled under the bed. "Keep quiet, Marcy."

"okay…"

They waited as the shuffling became struggling. Muffled yelling could be heard as well as heavy footsteps approaching the bedroom.

Two grunts stormed in as they threw Marcy's struggling mother onto the ground. She looked absolutely furious, but the second her gaze met with her daughter's, her expression switched to terror. Her baby girl was trapped inside the house with her and these men.

"Losing all that fight you had in you earlier?" One of the men huffed. "Well, that's no fun."

Marcy's mom didn't hear the man. She casually put a finger to her lips so only the girls could see before climbing to her feet. "I want both of you OUT OF MY HOUSE!"

"I don't think I heard a please." The grunt snickered. "Shall we teach her a lesson, Luke?"

"Mom-"

Elen clamped her hand back over Marcy's mouth. "Shh!"

Marcy tried to call out for her mom, but Elen refused to let them get caught by the grunts. She had to hold the young girl back.

The two men approached Marcy's mom, but stopped when they heard the front door open and shut. Rowan was home. Marcy's eyes widened, but Elen still didn't release her mouth.

"Mom?" The boy called. "Mom?! Marcy?"

"Rowan, ru-!" Their mother was instantly silenced by one of the grunts.

"Shh! That's all we need. Just call his name and bring him to us."

The sound of wheels on wood drew closer to the bedroom. "Mom?" Rowan called again.

"Mrs. Rowk?" Jo called.

"Here come your children, Mrs. Rowk." The grunts sneered. "Shall we say hello?"

"M-Mommy…" Marcy thought pitifully. "Just leave her alone! Leave everyone alone! This is my fault!"

"Mom!" Rowan and Jo had spotted the grunts and his mom. "Let her go!"

"Rowan, leave!" His mother barked as she managed to free her mouth.

"Shut up, bitch!" The grunt holding her hissed, but Mrs. Rowk wouldn't obey. She fought with all her might against the grunt.

"Mom!" Rowan cried as he sped towards the grunts. He only managed to run into one of them before someone grabbed his chair from behind.

"Hold your Rapidashes there, speedy. We wouldn't want any of you damaging yourselves." The grunt holding Rowan back jeered. Two more had appeared behind him and had grabbed Jo. "We need you all."

"Don't you dare touch him!" His mother roared.

"I said, SHUT UP!" The grunt growled as he struck her with his baton, sending her to her knees.

Mrs. Rowk gritted her teeth, but she didn't back down. She climbed to her feet and scowled at the grunt who held her son. "Let. Him. Go!" She growled as she tried rushing the man.

The grunt struck her again, this time on the back of the head. She fell again to her knees shaking, but, much to everyone's surprise, attempted to climb to her feet once more. "R-Rowan-"

"Stay. Down!" The grunt snapped as he hit her again.

The crack of the baton was near deafening against her skull as she finally collapsed onto the ground.

"Mom?" Rowan chocked. "M-Mom?"

Mrs. Rowk didn't even flinch at the sound of her son's voice.

"Geez, Alex, ease up, will ya? Get those two brats to the vans." The grunt ordered.

The new grunts began carrying the kicking and screaming Jo and Rowan out of the house. "MOM! MOM! MARA! PUT US DOWN! MOM! MARA! MARCY!"

Marcy looked up at her brother's squirming being as the grunts slowly began disappearing down the hallway with him and Jo over their shoulders. He had called out to both her and her mother. She wanted to call back, but she couldn't let the cruel men know that she was hiding under the bed with Elen… "It's still my fault."

The young girl quickly squirmed out of Elen's hold and crawled out from under the bed. The remaining grunts turned on her with a confused, yet amused expression on their faces.

"Well, lookie here. It's our cute little friend from the other day. Hello, kid." The obnoxious grunt, Alex, snickered. "By the way, we got your drawing of us."

The little girl looked up at the tall men and tried to swallow back her fears. "S-Sowwy I told…p-pwease let everybody go. Y-You can take me."

"Marcy, NO!" Elen hissed as she crawled out from under the bed. She wasn't going to just hide while her younger friend got kidnapped by the scary men.

"Really now?" The grunts asked in slight disbelief. "Are you trying to be a little hero?"

"I-I told…" Marcy confessed softly as she turned her gaze to the floor. "I'm so sowwy. Pwease leave my friends and family alone."

The grunts burst out into laughter, while Marcy remained froze with a look of utter confusion on her face. Elen, on the other hand, only hugged her friend as the grunts looked down at them. "Oh you poor child. You see, it doesn't matter if you told who what when. We're here to complete a simple milk run, and you all are on our grab list."

Sometime later—Within the back of a van

The grunts must have grabbed only a handful of unfortunate children and adults who just so happened to either be home or outside. Rowan tried scanning all of their scared faces, but many of them were turned down out of fright or towards their friends and family in hopes of finding some sort of comfort.

"Where are they even taking us? Why do they need us?" Rowan wondered to himself as he pulled Marcy closer. "Someone is bound to notice our absence and call the cops."

His gaze honed in on Mr. P, who was sitting against the metal wall of the van. The men must have grabbed him during one of his 'walks'. He was staring back at the boy, but only because Jo was right beside Rowan.

The poor kid had her hood covering her face again as she tried to hide behind Rowan. She probably would have been next to Aaron and Grandpa Reece, but they were both still out cold.

The van shook and jostled them all as it carried them to their unknown destination. The small, compact holding was filled with a baby's wailing as her mother and Elen tried to soothe her.

"Somebody shut that thing up before I do!" Aunt Sharon shrieked as she held her ears.

Some of the captured adults shot the woman disgusted looks. Rowan even found himself shooting the woman a death glare.

"Abby, please don't cry. If you cry, then I might start crying too." Elen spoke gently as she could to her baby sister, but she too was on the verge of tears. "Mama?"

Her mother pulled her close and held both of her children in a protective embrace.

The twins were being held as well by their mother, who looked like she had been struck by one of the grunts before being dragged into the van. She too had put up a fight.

Marcy looked down at her mother, who was left lying at her children's feet. She hadn't moved once since being struck down by the grunt. Marcy curled up close to Rowan and clung to his shirt. "Ro-Ro…" There were tears in her eyes.

"Be brave, Marcy. We'll…we'll get out of this." He said firmly as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "All of us." He added as he glanced at Jo, who was leaning on him, much to her glowering Aunt's disgust.

"Ro-Ro…" Marcy began again. "Mommy's not breathing."