A Demon's Venom - Chapter 8 – A Glimmer Of Hope

''Ugh... Where am I... I... can't see...''
''This is your mind Ebony.'' The ghastly voice sounded familiar and yet foreign.
''P-Puro? Is that you? But how...?''
''As I said, this is your mind. Here, I can still remain.''
''Why is everything pitch black in here? I can't see...''
''Your mind has become corrupted. The demon has taken control of your body, while you can do nothing against it. And now, the corruption has taken your consciousness, which is why we're here now.''
''Why...?'' Ebony started to cry ''Why is all of this happening to me?''
''I'm here to guide you'' The spirit of her brother hugged her ''Stay strong. For me.''
''Thank you...'' Even though she couldn't feel him, she tried to embrace him as well

The full moon was at its zenith. Snow was falling sparsely in the forest, as the demon attacked everyone in her sight, except for a few corrupted Pokemon.
Those who weren't hiding, got hunted down and even those who have found a hiding spot, were spotted and eventually succumbed to the dark servants.
This fateful night brought terror upon the mountainous area, Ebony once called a home, as many Pokemon were killed in the process. Some of those, who
tried to defend their families were the first to fall. And so, the massacre endured...

''Argh... Come on... He's got to be somewhere in this area...'' The Latios hovered from spot to spot, looking for someone, as he heard screams.
''Uh oh... Not good!'' He quickly flew off into the direction of those screams.
''S-Stay away from us!'' A Manectric was trying to defend his pack as he was facing a Mightyena with a demonic visage and several scars on her body. ''Help!''
The Mightyena jumped towards her prey, as she suddenly got launched into the next tree.
''Run! Get out of here!'' The heroic Latios ordered ''I'll hold her off!''
The Manectric nodded shivering as he ran off to safety with his pack.
Even before they were out of sight, the Mightyena recovered from the blast, giving the Latios a menacing growl before launching herself at the Latios with
an incredible speed. The Latios, not having much time to react, quickly dodged and prepared a shield out of aura to block the next attack, which followed
almost instantly. The Mightyena tried breaking through the shield, as the Latios studied his opponent.
''He got you... But...'' The Mightyena was furiously attacking the shield.
''Somehow... You don't feel that dark. Maybe you'll snap out of it... Let's do this!''
The Latios flew to the side and made the shield disappear, making the Mightyena fall forward into the snow.
''Now... How do I do this?'' He was flying higher, looking at the demonic figure.
She launched herself at him again, taking advantage of her high speed, so she could even reach him in that height, but he dodged her attack once more
and she crashed into a pine tree. Upon closer inspection the Latios noticed a difference on her. The red parts on her fur were starting to glow dimmer as soon,
as she landed in the shadow of the tree.
''It's the moonlight! I need to lure her into the shadows!'' Due to him being distracted, he was cut short by another attack. This time, he didn't dodge in time
as she sunk her teeth into his skin.
''Argh!'' He tried to shake her off, but in doing so, he ripped open the wound and he started to feel weaker... ''Ugh... poison...''
Feeling weaker every second, he knew he had to think fast. Where could he find a place with enough shadows? He needed a cave, but where?
''Come... on...'' he barely dodged another attack ''I know...!'' and he flew off, making the Mightyena follow him. On his way here, he had passed an abandoned cave.
It was deep and dark, perfect for his plans. But he had to be fast, as the poison was taking his toll on him.
She was catching up, which could be seen as a good thing, because that way they'd be there faster, but also as a bad thing, as she might be able to strike
before they could even reach the cave.
''Almost... there...'' The entrance to the cave was already in sight, but so was the Mightyena, who was coming closer fast. He couldn't stop now or else, he'd
be torn apart by a furious killing machine, so he flew into the cave at full speed, shortly followed by the Mightyena.
The Latios tried to slow down a bit, but it wasn't enough to prevent a crash with the wall and he sunk to the cave's ground. The Mightyena was coming closer to
him, but as expected, red aura soon lost power and before she could reach him, she turned back to normal as she dropped to the ground, fainting from exhaustion.
''I-I... made... it...'' he said before he blacked out as well.

Ebony's vision was blurry, when she woke up. She noticed, that she was having painful bruises all over her body and was wincing in pain, as she tried to stand up.
''You're awake I see... Try not to move much.'' The blue-eyed Latios was sitting in front of her.
''W-Who are you and where am I?!'' Ebony was in shock.
''Relax, Ebony... You're safe... just like everyone else. My name is LuWickios.''
''You... know my name?''
''It was written on the front page of your diary... Your bag was pretty torn, so I tried to fix it as best, as I could. I had to take out the stuff inside though...''
''Don't worry, I didn't read your diary.'' explained LuWickios.
''Oh no...'' Ebony suddenly started to recall, why she was here now. ''I... did those horrible and gruesome things...''
''It's not your fault...'' LuWickios started ''You have been corrupted by Necrios... He was pulling the strings... not you. Yet you were lucky, it was just temporary...''
''Lucky?! I KILLED ALL THOSE INNOCENT PEOPLE!'' she starting sobbing ''I-I killed...'' she gasped ''Oh no... Saizo... no... no... no... NO!... This can't be happening...''
''Ebony...'' ''no...no...'' ''EBONY!'' She looked up again, the scar on her left eye was bleeding again. Bloody tears.
''You can't turn yourself down now... You have to stay strong... The nightmare is over''
''No... It's not... Many are dead because of me... Because I chose to confront that latios...'' she quickly noticed something ''Y-you... It was you...!''
Ebony tried to attack LuWickios, but her pain put an end to her attempt.
''What are you talking about? The Latios you've encountered was a different one!''
''How could I possibly trust you... after everything..?'' she growled at him.
''I was the one, who saved you and everyone else, by bringing you here...''
It didn't take long, until Ebony noticed a bad looking wound on his body, patched up by a makeshift bandage.
''You... were ready to sacrifice your life... just to save everyone'' she started crying ''I'm sorry...''
''It's alright...'' LuWickios tried to calm her.
''No, it's not! I accused you of causing this, but in the end... you saved everyone...''
''Ebony...''
''Those countless lives you saved... and I just accused you...''
''I really mean it... I'm not mad at you, so please calm down and rest...''
''You're right...'' Ebony took a deep breath before trying to lay down.
''I will look for something to eat... Stay here. Please...'' LuWickios said before flying towards the exit
''Thank you...'' Ebony shed a tear ''For everything...''
''You're welcome. Now rest well. I'll be back!'' he said, before he flew out of the cave, leaving Ebony to rest near a lit campfire.