Chapter 8- Night Fright
As darkness passed over the grassy hills of the Enkada region, the group of four was still trekking towards the ever growing lights in the distance. About 5 miles away the dim lights of Liechi city can be seen, glowing like a beacon for the trainers to follow. Dark clouds covered the stars in the sky; as a pale moon was hung over the travelers.
"So how long until we get to the city Seb?" Ken asked his friend, who threw his head back in a loud yawn.
"How should I know man? Am I the navigator now?" Sebastian replied back. "Well, you do kind of hog the map dude." Ken said back. Sebastian looked at him for a second, and just rolled his eyes. Ken and Sophie began to chuckle a bit.
"I am actually glad I
was able to join you guys," Sophie said cheerfully. "Your all
pretty damn cool, like my friends back home."
"Where is that
Sophie?" Sebastian asked her. She closed her eyes for a second,
deep in thought.
"Well…" she began, her voice going a bit
higher due to nervousness, "I live in Hondew town. My
dad….he's…he's the gym leader in the town there. Tough guy,
you know." She said meekly, struggling to place the words.
"Oh cool!" exclaimed Ken.
"I take it you are not that fond of him, are you?" Damon remarked.
Sophie's face drooped, and flushed red with rage; her eyes nearly retreated back into her head.
"NEVER SAY THAT AGAIN DAMON," she screamed. HOW DARE YOU TALK TO MY FATHER LIKE THAT!"
"Ok, ok jeez relax." Damon said calmly. "I'm sorry about that."
Sophie nodded her head, and smiled her normal smile. "It's ok Damon, im sorry I got all upset."
"That is fine. We all have things we wish to keep secret.." Damon trailed off. He then turned around and began to stare at the moon. Sophie began growling in anger, but before she could say anything, Sebastian cut her off.
"What about you Damon, where are your family from?" Sebastian asked him. Damon kept his eyes onto the sky, deep in thought as he always is.
"I…I lived around, me and my family. We moved from Drash city to Pumkin Island and back. Lived in Belue port the longest, before….before my mother died. Since then I have kind of been on my own." He said, with no emotion coming from his mouth. Sebastian, Ken and Sophie stopped walking. All of them had their mouths wide open in semi shock.
"Damon im…."Sebastian began to say, struggling to even comprehend the story he just heard.
"No don't worry about it, Sebastian, you didn't know…I…keep it to myself." Damon said softly.
"I can relate though, I don't remember my father that well." Sebastian replied, taking a seat on a moist patch of grass. Everyone followed suit in the darkness, forming a semi-circle while talking.
"He left home a while back, when I was like 6 or 7. Well not leave like he was not coming back, I mean...he was a salesman and stuff. So he kept contact all the time, but… but we haven't heard from him in a long time. My mom took it hard, and my sister doesn't even remember him. Mom never says anything, but she fears he is probably with another woman, or worse…" Sebastian said dryly.
Sophie took a deep sigh, and put her palms on the back of her head and laid down onto the grass, looking at the dimly lit sky.
"My mom died four years ago from cancer." She said in a somber tone. "It's been rough since then, my dad doesn't do much gym stuff, because him and mom worked as a team. I inherited most of my mom's pokemon…but it's just not the same really when battling."
"How long were they gym leaders?" asked Damon.
"Since I was born I remember them, they're not the most famous gym leaders in the world, but they do an excellent job as a team."
"I did visit Hondew once, was denied a battle however." Remarked Damon.
"That happens, Damon. My dad only battles once or twice a week now, and he usually has his friend do most of the work."
"What about you, can't you take over?" asked Sebastian. Sophie's face filled with rage again, her eyes quivering this time at Sebastian's remark.
"Yeah, but I CHOOSE not to. Is that a problem?" She said defensively. Sebastian was shaken by her aggression, and just smiled and whimpered, "No no, it's ok Sophie."
"Damn guys," Ken said, suddenly, "I really feel bad right now."
"Why's that?" asked Sophie.
"Well, its just that Seb never really knew his dad, and you and Damon lost your mom's early on…it just seems like I can never feel what you guys feel you know." Ken said meekly. Damon nodded for a bit and put his hand on Ken's shoulder.
"Never experienced loss before, have you?" Damon said.
"No…I mean yeah like my pet dog died, and my grandma and stuff, but not my mom, my dad, nothing like that. They were always there for me, always encouraging you know? Telling me to be the best I can be…" Ken said, the thoughts of his family back at Ganlon bringing swelling tears into his eyes.
"And I'm happy for you dude, always was. Never worry about them you know. They will be proud of you no matter what." Sebastian said to his friend.
"You know, after a while you're a nice guy you know that Ken?" Damon said with a smirk on his face. Ken just grinned and chuckled a bit.
"Gee thanks Damon. I appreciate it." He replied.
"You finally over that match?" Sebastian asked. Ken shot him a glance and shook his head.
" Hell no, but were having a tender moment!" Ken exclaimed. The teens bursted out in laughter, releasing the raw emotions that the group shared with each other.
"Well guys," Sophie stated, getting up from her spot on the grass, "I hate to be the only boy in the group, but we got to stop the sap fest and get our asses to Liechi."
"Heh, since when are you a boy?" Ken remarked sarcastically. Sophie smiled and hit him playfully in the arm.
"I am probably more of a boy then you!" she said back. Sebastian laughed deep on that one, while Damon just smiled.
"Oh, well see about that once we reach Liechi gym! I will make sure I get the first badge from there!" Ken snapped back, challenging Sophie. Sophie just nodded her head and rolled her eyes.
"Yeah yeah hotshot, lets keep moving."
The lights of Liechi city immediately woke up the tired trainers as soon as they walked past the front gate. The bright yellow lights of the skyscrapers and lampposts kept them all aware of their new surroundings. Ken and Sebastian in particular had their eyes widened and their mouths open; this was the first time they have ever been in Liechi since they were two years old. Even during the night, the city was hot with action. Clubs and bars were open for the adults, and teenagers were walking the streets in packs, discussing random nonsense things that happened to them during the day. Restaurants were still open, and packed with people enjoying a fine meal, even in the late hours of the night. It was as if the city never closed, and everything was open twenty-four seven. By the time the foursome reached the pokecenter in town, they were eager to head out again.
"Anyone want to go into a club or something?" asked Sophie
"No, I don't like crowded rooms." Damon said.
"And why is that?"
Sophie asked. Damon just smirked for a second.
"I'm not a
people person." Damon said flatly.
"No shit." Muttered Ken under his breath.
"Guys, let's go in now, might as well get some rest for tonight." Sebastian said, as he opened the glass door to the pokecenter.
"Eh..I guess your right. We can go clubbing tomorrow night." Sophie sighed.
Like the pokecenter in Rawst, the fresh paint and white washed walls gave an atmosphere of familiarity to the trainers. The only addition to this center was that it had a pokemart built inside as well, so that it would be easier for the trainers to purchase items. There were some trainers up still, talking and eating at the cafeteria, while others were more than likely sleeping in the dormitories.
"Ok, I am starving!" Ken nearly shouted, running into the cafeteria immediately. Damon went straight to the dormitories, not even bothering to say anything to the group.
"He's a charming one." Sophie commented.
"He is kind of serious all the time," Sebastian said, "It's better to listen to his advice over anything else."
"Advice? What is he an expert in pokemon now?" Sophie remarked.
"No, but he is powerful." Replied Sebastian.
By this time they were both near the dormitories. Inside, they saw a large number of bodies, lying down in the beds sleeping. Damon was among them, using his backpack as a pillow and looking up into the ceiling, trying to sleep as well. Sophie let out a big yawn, and then turned toward the shower area.
"Well, I am going to take a shower and get to bed, night Sebastian." She said.
"Oh yeah, I want to take one to," Sebastian replied, putting his backpack down and getting ready to take his shirt off. Before he could pull it over his head, Sophie grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled his shirt back downwards.
"Not a chance buddy, I'm going in there alone, no boys allowed." She said, walking into the bathroom smiling to herself.
"Uh..I didn't mean with you….I mean there is a girls room and….." struggled Sebastian, his face flushed with embarrassment.
"Heh, you know your cute when you get embarrassed." Remarked Sophie, who then winked at the red-faced teen before closing and locking the doors to the women's shower behind her.
Sebastian just stood there in awe, his face dropped slightly from embarrassment, before shaking it off and heading into the men's shower.
Sebastian was unsure how this happened. One minute he was trying to get some sleep, the next there he was, standing naked in the middle of nowhere. Nothing but a autumn forest in front of him, the leaves falling off the tree in brilliant red and orange colors. The grass was up to his waist, a deep green color that contrasted the auburn canopy but Sebastian kept one of his hands over his genitals, and looked around sharply for cover just in case if someone…or something, passed by.
'What the fuck is this?' he thought to himself. He kept his body down in the field he was in, hiding himself in the tall grass.
Suddenly he heard a rustling sound. Sebastian kept his head down, making sure that his body was hidden from anyone's view. The rustling sound came closer to him, as Sebastian's heart pounded in his chest, chills running down the base of his spine. He looked up, and his eyes bulged with bewilderment as he saw a figure, dressed in a white suit, standing in the middle of the field, looking upwards. Sebastian kept his head down, watching the figure, but he began to creep closer to the figure, the curiosity getting the better of him.
After a few moments, Sebastian was right behind the man in white, who kept his eyes on the clear blue sky. Sebastian shot himself up, still covering his genitals with his hand, looking at the man's back. Then, out of nowhere, the man began to say something.
"Glad you are here, Sebastian." A deep voice said.
"Dad?!" Sebastian screamed, grabbing the man's shoulder and pulling him so that he could see his face. Sebastian jumped back once he did this, for instead of seeing his father's face, it was nothing but two, big red eyes staring back at him. The thing in the suit roared all of a sudden, and Sebastian screamed back.
"NOOO!" he screamed, as the thing in white grabbed his arm.
Ken couldn't believe his luck. Making the finals in the World Pokemon Tour was a dream of his, and he couldn't believe he actually did it. The crowd was on his side, cheering for him as he had the advantage against his opponent. Although the field was a rocky mountain, he felt good about the type advantage he had now.
"NOW SPEAROW, ARIAL ACE!" Screamed Ken, as his opponent, cloaked in nothing but a black hood, just nodded it's head. Ken thought it was strange that his opponent never spoke, but his pokemon, a Machop, had no chance in defeating him. The wily bird was to fast for the Machop to grab, and the advantage it had with the terrain was not helping the grounded fighter at all.
As Ken's spearow circled the air, its wings began to glow a radiant white light. It flew down low, aiming straight for the Machop's head. The figure in black just nodded again, and the Machop's body began to glow, its eyes staring straight up at Ken's Spearow. As the bird flew in to hit the Machop, it grabbed it's wings and slammed it on the ground, then began to pummel it with punches until the bird pokemon began to lose some of it's feathers. The referee kept the match going, despite Ken's objections.
"WHAT THE FUCK REF, THIS IS UNFAIR. DAMNIT!" Ken shouted. The referee kept his mouth shut, as the Machop kept up his barrage. Ken's Spearow shrieked numerous times, until the sounds coming from it silenced for good. The Machop finished his barrage until there was nothing but a bloody pulp on the ground.
"Ww…what…no!" screamed Ken! The ref held up a red flag, signaling that his opponent won the match. The man in black removed his hood, and Ken nearly had a heat attack seeing the person across from him.
"Your next." Said Damon, who had a devilish grin on his face. His eyes were red with fire, his mouth gleaming as he smirked back at Ken, then suddenly he leaped into the air and in one swift motion, jumped onto the platform that Ken was on. Ken tried to run away, but Damon grabbed him by the neck and held him over the pokemon battlefield, choking the teen with superhuman strength. Ken was losing oxygen quickly, meekly struggling to talk, but barely able to get any words out.
"Goodbye, KEN!" said Damon devilishly; as he let go of Ken's throat, who felt like he was falling for eternity to the stone ground of the battlefield.
Damon was confused about what was happening. He heard his mom screaming in her bedroom, like she usually does every night with her current "boyfriend" as she called him, but this time it didn't sound right to her. After moving to his new home here, he didn't want to bother his mom and her new friend. After all, why would an 8 year old do such a thing? Wait a minute, 8 years old?
Damon checked himself out, his small body was sitting in his old bedroom at his old house, clad in his light blue pajamas, staring at the pale brown wood of his bedroom. The posters of various cartoon characters, pokemon and celebrities were abound, as well as his old toy chest, now mostly empty because he sold most of them for cash in a garage sale.
'No…not this again…' he thought to himself. He got up, shivering as his bare feet touched the cold wooden floor. The curiosity to see him mom won over any reason as he crept to see how his mom was. He knew he shouldn't bother her, but he also knew that he had to make sure his mommy was all right.
Damon saw the light coming from his mother's bedroom; her screams were soft, but clear. Inside there was a man's voice as well.
"YOU WANT THE FUCKING MONEY, THEN STOP THE CRYING BITCH!" the man shouted.
"NOOOO…I SAID NO, NEVER DOIN THAT…YOUCH!" Cried Damon's mother; after she felt the slap hit her.
Damon opened the door slightly so that he could see what was going on, as the man in his mother's bedroom kept on slapping her in the face. The man was only in his pants, his shirt long discarded onto the floor and his shoes tucked in a corner. His rugged face showed lots of aggression as he slapped Damon's mother again. His mom was naked, covering her slender frame with the bed sheets, trying to push the stranger off of her.
Tears were running down her cheeks now, causing Damon to clench his hands with rage, making tiny fists. He bursted into his mother's bedroom; charging right at the man as he kept trying to slap her in the face.
"LEAVE HER ALONE YOU JERK!" The young boy squeaked, as he jumped on top of the man, trying to outmuscle him. The man was shocked at first by the tiny attacker, but then pushed him off the bed hard, his head hitting the wooden floor with a large bump.
"You little piece of shit…"the man began to say, before he himself was slapped in the face, this time by Damon's mother.
"Don't you EVER talk to my SON like that you low life!" she snapped at him.
The man, with his eyes wide and his face red with anger, punched Damon's mother in the face, knocking her head back on the bedpost. Her nose was busted open, red blood gushing down her nostrils.
"Oh, your gonna pay!" the man said enraged, grabbing Damon's mother by her hair and dragging her down on the floor. Damon himself was powerless to stop him, as the throw knocked him out cold. His eyes were still open, but his young body wouldn't move at all, as if he was paralyzed to do anything. He was crying, because he kept hearing his mother screaming, begging for the man to stop, until that finally ceased as well.
Sophie was on the top of the world. Her winning streak was up to fourteen, as she vanquished another hopeful at the Hondew Gym. 'Surely he will be proud of me now.' She thought to herself, as she recalled her Treeko and saw her opponent leave the gym. She went into the private room and went to the upstairs apartment where they all lived in.
Sophie went upstairs and found her dad relaxing on the sofa, watching a tournament match on the television. Today was his day off, and usually his friend, Andre, runs the gym for him. For once, Andre wasn't needed.
"Dad! Dad! I beat fourteen in a row today!" cried Sophie, waiting to see her father for any type of reaction. He just stayed in his seat, not even looking up to pay attention to his daughter.
"Dad," Sophie said again, hoping that his father would pay attention, "Aren't you happy for me?" she asked him. This time, her father turned his head and looked at her big, blue eyes. His face looked saddened, his brown and gray hair disheveled slightly and his brown eyes bloodshot.
"Why is Andre letting you participate down there?" he asked her flat out, keeping his gaze on her.
"He said I have potential to be a good trainer, and that I should practice with the pokemon Jim doesn't use." She said back meekly. Jim, her older brother, is a struggling pokemon trainer. He has been out of the house for a few years, but has yet to win a badge. In Sophie's mind, he was not a strong trainer and would be better off with a real job.
"I really don't care honey," Her father said back to her in an angry tone. "I don't want you to go out there and getting beat by those boys who think they can win a badge from this gym!"
"But dad…"
"Don't BUT DAD me, Sophie! I don't want my daughter to go down there and flaunt it like some boy would, you understand me!" By this time her father was up from the couch, his hands up in the air flaying around like mad. Sophie was almost in tears.
"Why don't you just be like a normal girl and play with some dolls or something? Why do you have to be so manly? God damnit! Why!" her dad kept wailing, pacing back and forth in the living room. Sophie's head was hung low, tears streaming from her cheeks.
"You know what, forget it. Go to your room please, id rather not talk right now." He said, sighing in defeat as he sat back down on the plush chair, his gaze returning to the television. Sophie looked back at him, and felt the room get smaller and smaller around her, as if it was imploding around her.
"DAD!" she cried out to her father, but by this time the room was so small, she could barely breathe.
Sophie woke up, her head darting upwards after coming out of her bad dream, cold sweat pouring out of her face and on to the worn sheets of the pokecenter dormitory. She sniffled a bit, and put her head down back on the pillow, tears swelling up in her eyes.
Sebastian woke up suddenly, shooting himself out of bead. Beads of sweat were running down his body. He checked to see if he was all right, running his hands down his chest and shoulders. He never really wore a shirt to bed, but he always kept his pants on just in case he was in a hurry. He saw from a nearby window that the sun was out; the rays of light were shining through the windows. He checked to see if Damon was still asleep under him, but was not surprised to see a bare mattress already in the place of where Damon once slept.
Sebastian got up and jumped from the top of his bunk bed. He put his t-shirt back on, and grabbed his backpack from the floor before walking outside of the dormitory. He saw Ken, Damon and Sophie all sitting down near the lounge in the front, each of them had a cup of juice in their hands and were engaged in mindless chatter.
"Good morning Seb," Ken said as Sebastian walked over to where they were sitting. "You sleep well?" He asked him.
"No, not really," Sebastian replied. "I had a weird dream last night about my dad for some reason."
" Hey I had a strange dream to, I was in a pokemon tournament and I lost." Ken said suddenly. Damon just smiled at that.
"Why the smile, Damon?" Ken said, nearly spitting out Damon's name.
"Oh nothing," he said back "I to had a restless night, but I couldn't really get to sleep to begin with."
"Well then, it looks like I am the only one who is ready for that gym," Sophie said sarcastically. "Sebastian, get some grub and eat, you'll need the strength." Sebastian just smiled back at her rather dreamily, and nodded.
"Oh yeah, I can't wait for it." Sebastian said, full of confidence.
