Secrets of the Night

DISCLAIMER: I Do NOT own Pokemon!

Warning: Bloody scenes

Chapter 10: Impasse

The night had fallen and darkness loomed over the waters and heavens. The only light around came from the vessel, steadily advancing through the raging blanket of tides.

The voices of the waves roared along the lower flank of the ship, as Bellatrix and her two companions sized up the massive vessel. Gushes of cold saltwater continued to rain down on them, further impairing their vision in the dark. From where they were, it was impossible to see the upper deck so it was hard to assume if there were any sailors out.

"Whoa. This thing's huge!" Alice awed, arching her head back to see how tall the ship was. Basing on her personal judgment, it didn't look possible for their Sharpedo to leap high enough for them to get them on deck.

"How many people do you think are up there?" Leiko asked, shielding her eyes with an arm while holding on to the torpedo-like pokemon's dorsal fin.

"Does it matter?" Bellatrix remarked with cold sarcasm. The other two looked at each other and laughed softly, grinning, eager to get the party started. Bellatrix also shot a grin as she pulled out her pokeball from her belt. "Let's get to work…"

A Mismagius flew out of the capsule and hovered overhead. It smiled crookedly as the set of elliptical gems on its chest glowed vivid purple. Bellatrix became outlined in the same light and began to levitate off of the Sharpedo. Now both trainer and ghost-type floated in mid-air, gazing down on the two others, still surfing on their Sharpedos.

"See ya up there!" Leiko bid her a temporary farewell before Bellatrix and her Mismagius flew up unto the deck.

Aeron flew closer but remained in the cover of the darkness. He watched as the massive cargo vessel became hazed in a thin dark layer of mist. If it wasn't for the light coming from the ship's windows, the whole thing would be invisible. He stayed clear of the ominous mist, while his keen eyes followed the primary measures that the assassins were initiating.

First, Bellatrix cloaked the deck with her Mismagius' Ominous Wind and then lowered the anchor causing the ship to gradually halt. The loud splash was followed by confused frantic voices from the crew. A few went out to the deck to investigate, but not a peep was heard from them when they ventured deep into the open deck. The others inside waited anxiously and restlessly, but as soon as they felt something was terribly wrong, a couple of them decided to check. They brought out an Electabuzz and Poliwhirl to accompany them.

As soon as they stepped onto the open space of the back deck, a chill ran down their spine. A distant cackle lingered in the cold tense breeze. Before anyone else could utter a word, the Electabuzz used Flash and lit up the area around them. It was empty. No one else was around. Relieved, they all took a deep breath and then asked themselves where were their fellow crewmates?

*clink* *clank*

The sound of metal against metal echoed, gradually growing louder. One of the sailors acted on instinct and ordered his Poliwhirl to use Water Gun towards the origin of the noise. Again, nothing happened. Nothing stirred. The eerie sound stopped.

"Enough. You're just paranoid," the sailor's mate placed a hand on his friend to calm and reassure him. Even though he himself was unsure if everything was really alright.

The Poliwhirl trainer breathed deeply and turned towards his companion. As he did, a flash of red hair attracted his gaze. There was a girl standing with her back turned behind his friend. Dazed as to who she was and what she was doing there, he opened his mouth to speak up. But then the redhead cocked her head back, rendering the sailor speechless with her amber eyes.

"It's such a lovely night, don't you think?" Leiko commented with a sense of playful mystery.

The other sailor jerked about to see who said that. But when he did, he was met with a clean slash across his neck, instantly killing him on the spot. His body dropped to the floor with an almost inaudible thud.

The Poliwhirl trainer gasped and was about to shout when he felt that there was something prodding his back. The object trailed up his spine, towards his shoulder and finally stop a few inches beside his neck. The man raised his arms and surrendered, not daring to see the cold metal weapon or who was holding it.

"P-Please d-don't …me," He pleaded under his breath, unable to even say the word 'kill.'

Leiko stepped closer, stepping over the bloody body sprawled on the floor. With an innocent grin not leaving her face, she leaned towards the trembling Sailor and ran a finger up the man's chin. "Sorry, no can do…"

The light vanished.

It was total blackness.

Another lifeless body fell to the floor, after the sound of sleek metal slicing the air. Bellatrix retracted her scythe and glanced at her Mismagius, under the receding darkness of the haze. It was subduing the Electabuzz and Poliwhirl with Dream Eater, after the brown-haired assassin trainer placed them to sleep with some powder she acquired from the Rosette Unit for their mission. It would wipe the memories of the pokemon and leave them unconscious for the time-being, but it wasn't like that they'd die. Killing humans was one thing. Killing pokemon is a different one.

Alice was the last to arrive on the spot. She had difficulty climbing up the chain of the anchor. She was not as agile as Leiko, but her Liepard compensated for that. With the violet feline's assistance, she finally rejoined her companions. She saw the aftermath and pouted. She cursed herself for being a couple of minutes late. After a while of sulking at the work already done by the other two, she turned to the so-called leader of their group.

Bellatrix reviewed their mission. The ship was scheduled to be heading straight to Unova. But in before that, it was going to meet with another ship, where they would transfer some cargo, along with the secret package, which was yet to be known. Many of the crew was in on the deal, while others had no idea of such a plan. It would only seem as if they dropped off the usual goods to another carrier, heading to a different region. Nothing suspicious especially with a storage full of starter pokemon.

The trio's goal was to take command of the vessel and sabotage the exchange. They were to eliminate anyone on sight, witnesses included. Then locate the special item hidden somewhere on the ship and have it delivered to their client. And finally meet up with the dealers and finish off the deal with their own.

Bellatrix went on to discuss how and who should cover the areas of the ship. Going together was pointless and less entertaining, as Leiko would have put it. Cargo vessels didn't have that many people, unlike passenger ones. So the prey was scarce to begin with. With a short argument, Leiko was picked to investigate the lowest level, the cargo hold. Alice was to sweep up anyone on the second floor, while Bellatrix handled the upper deck.

Further up, Aeron stood still with the Hydreigon resting beside him and his Noibat hiding behind him. They were situated on the roof of the crew quarters, facing the back area of the ship. The boy's eyes had long adjusted to the dark, so he saw everything that transpired before him. Taking deep breaths in the cold night, he continued to listen in as much as he could, while restraining his stomach from churning.

There was nothing he could do, but watch and wait. He had no power to prevent it, and if he had where would it lead him? To become a traitor to his only home? Disgrace his father's name? He had no right. So was it a mistake to have taken the deal? Or was it an event planned by fate?

He closed his eyes and secured his cloak against the chilly sea breeze. That was when he noticed something was amiss. He turned about and shifted his vision from left to right.

"Noir?"

Alice and Leiko headed to their respective assignments, weapons in hand and their pokemons by their side. Bellatrix glimpsed at their fourth companion. She had noticed him as soon as he landed, but made no effort to acknowledge his presence, unless he proved to be a hindrance in their task. For now, she remained vigilant of him and the silhouettes of the crew running about inside the rooms.

The mature brunette walked closer with the long staff in hand. Her Mismagius fooled around inside, flickering the lights, hovering and tossing various objects around, and secretly opening the metal door. As the sailors panicked and ducked away from the possessed debris, they failed to notice the elegant lady in black stepping inside. By the time they saw her, it was too late. It was the last sight they witnessed. That and the blood stains streaking across the window pane and floor boards.

Alice bid her redheaded companion farewell as she watched her descend to the lower deck. Now she was alone, excluding her Lieapard. With a child-like smile, she motioned her pokemon and the violet feline darted through the halls. Surprised yelps and screams echoed back to the white haired lass. She continued to lean back and forth, with hands behind her back where she held her enormous silver knife. It extended above her head but she didn't seem to really mind. Her victims were coming.

The sound of running grew louder. And soon her Liepard returned with four pursuers covered in tattered clothes and scratch marks. They all stopped abruptly at the gothic themed girl smiling a few meters in front. Behind her was the mischievously grinning feline. At first, they wanted to confront her about the trouble her pokemon caused but then they wondered as to why she was there. Before they could utter a word or make another step, they froze in fear as a dark chill filled the hall. Alice giggled sweetly and brandished her silver blade to her side. Her innocent grin became dark and her ebony black eyes turned empty and merciless.

Down below, Faye Lin had just shared snacks with her two pokemon, Isis and Freya, as well as her new Cyndaquil friends. It had been hours since she snuck in and nighttime had come, basing on the plummeting temperature and the time on her poketch.

It was cold and dark, but the fire-types in the cargo hold made it more bearable. The Charmanders were the ones giving off most of the fire from their tails, though they were a little far from where the blonde heiress. The radiating glow was enough for her. Besides, she had to stay in the shadows to avoid being seen.

*rustle*

Just then, Faye Lin heard a sound coming from nearby. She glanced sideways and saw a little creature rummaging through her bag. Its head was already in the bag, only the fuzzy torso and skinny feet were visible. Immediately, her Fennekin jumped into a fighting stance and growled, while the girl pulled out her pokedex.

Noibat
The Sound Wave Pokemon
They live in pitch black caves. Their enormous ears can emit ultrasonic waves of 200,000 hertz.

Faye Lin stepped closer and observed the little pokemon. It wasn't a starter and it originally resides in the Kalos region. Her first thought was that it snuck in just like her. Feeling the sense of kinship, she grinned warmly and called out to it, "Hello, Noibat. Are you perhaps looking for something to eat?"

The purple bat poked its head out and flicked its ears. Then it shot a grin and pulled out an egg with red and blue triangles and held it in its little winged appendages, much to the girl's shock. Was it going to eat the Togepi egg?

"No! Stop! That is not food!" Faye Lin demanded, slowly making her way to the Noibat so she wouldn't accidentally scare it off. Her Fennekin was still between her and the purple bat, inching cautiously.

"AHHhhhh!"

All of a sudden screams echoed through the area. Loud noises and running sounded from upstairs and somewhere further from where she stood. Faye Lin shifted her attention to the noises as she placed a hand over her chest. She could feel her heart race. Something was definitely not right.

Freya, the Espurr who was napping against the Cyndaquil cage, opened her eyes and stood up. Faye Lin looked at her and then to Isis and the Noibat. Her Fennekin was looking at her with frightened eyes, while the Noibat had vanished with the egg. The girl didn't know which was worse, the screams and noises or the winged egg thief.

"Help! Someone!"

A scream jolted her attention. It was from a man, an extremely desperate man. The sound of footsteps grew closer. Faye Lin stepped forward and peeked beyond the cage. Just then a sailor passed and almost bumped into her, but the girl immediately back away in time due to shock. The man was covered in bloody wounds. His white uniform was torn and soiled with crimson stains. He heaved heavily and clutched the deep cut on his chest.

Faye Lin trembled in fear. Her face grew pale and her legs almost gave out on her. Her aqua blue eyes stared at the man before her, unable to look away or even try to believe that it was all a bad dream.

The man stared back at her. The blood loss was taking its toll on his strength and vision. He knew he wasn't going to last much longer. His mates had already died before his eyes. He was lucky to escape down the narrow stairways but that didn't stop his pursuer. Now, he had led the assassin here, where a defenseless girl was hiding.

"R-Ru-unnn…." He murmured under his final breath and fell to the cold hard metal floor.

Faye Lin snapped out of her shock and rushed to the fallen sailor's side. Blood was flowing nonstop, pooling the floor with thick red liquid. Something must be done. She had to do something. She knew some first aide, but not enough for deep wounds like the man had. But either way, it was too late. The man was dead.

Faye Lin stepped back, unable to believe that someone had just died before her eyes. What was happening? Who did this to him? Questions swirled in her thoughts as her hand continued to tremble and her heart thumped like a galloping Rapidash.

"Tsk. He made me run all the way here?" A girl's voice broke the tense air with her irritated tone. Slow but steady footsteps drew nearer with each passing second. *cling-clang* the sound of something metallic slid across the iron cage bars. "Yawnn… I hate it when they play hard-to-get when I'm not in the mood."

Faye Lin grabbed her bag and hid herself in the dark corner between the cage and crates, with her Espurr and Fennekin standing still near her feet. Basing on what she heard, she suspected that it was the murderer. But, that was a girl's voice. Could a girl really take out a grown man? She didn't want to find out.

"Umbre! Umbreon!" A black fox-like pokemon adorning golden rings on its ears, legs, head and tail, sprinted over and circled around the body of the lifeless sailor. It sniffed it momentarily and raised its head, facing back to a shadow of a person, walking closer.

Faye Lin held her breath and hoped from the bottom of her heart that she wouldn't be discovered. This wasn't anything she had even imagined to face when she decided to go on a pokemon journey. If things went wrong here, was it going to be the end of her? No. She still had to find her sister. She still had to fulfill her dream of travelling all over the world. It shouldn't end here. It mustn't…

Leiko sighed and stared over the bloody corpse. She nudged it with her foot to check if the guy was indeed dead. Her Umbreon tilted its head and looked up at its master. Leiko twirled her blood-stained chakram in one hand and proceeded to take her leave. "Looks like there's no one left on my end…"

Faye Lin released the breath she was holding. She was saved…

"…Or is there?" Leiko grinned and turned around, swinging her weapon to one side.

*swoosh*

A circular metal ring with a sharpened outer edge sliced through the air and pierced the wooden crate beside the blonde girl. She was found out. Faye Lin trembled as her eyes met with the redheaded assassin who was spinning her second bloody charkram in another hand.

"Nowhere to run, little princess." Leiko was about to throw her weapon when a black shroud clouded the area around her. She coughed repeatedly and cursed under breath at the group of culprits in the cage.

The Cyndaquils released Smokescreens and fired mini fireballs from their back and mouths, attempting to distract the redhead away from their new friend. Faye Lin mentally thanked them and took the opportunity to make a run for it, with her two pokemon following ever so closely.

"Oh no, you don't!" Leiko squinted her eyes and flung the remaining chakram at the escaping silhouette.

Faye Lin glanced back at the incoming projectile. It was heading straight towards her. She shielded herself with her arms and waited for the inevitable blade to strike her, but it never came. She opened her eyes and saw the bladed ring outlined in blue, hovering mere inches away from her. Freya used Confusion in time and stopped the weapon dead on its tracks.

Leiko didn't see what happened, but she had a feeling the other girl was still alive. She had no option, but to rely on her pokemon partner. "Yue, use Pursuit!"

The Umbreon darted through the black smoke and tackled the Espurr, slamming the psychic-type against the crates. The grey kitten lost consciousness and the psychic hold on the weapon lost effect, dropping the metal ring on the floor.

"Isis, Ember!" Faye Lin instructed as she ran to Freya and scooped up the injured Espurr in her arms. She withdrew her back to the pokeball for safety and turned her attention back to her Fennekin, fighting off the killer's pokemon.

The Umbreon was quick and experienced. It dodged all the fiery attacks and landed a clean hit on the yellow fox, easily knocking it back. Isis was losing. She had no chance going up against a higher level pokemon. The only choice was to get away.

*screeeeech*

A piercing shriek pierced the atmosphere, forcing everyone to shrink back in pain or shield their ears. Faye Lin saw the Umbreon backing away in pain, as did her Fennekin. This was another chance to get away. She hurriedly grabbed Isis and ran as fast as she could. She didn't know where exactly she was heading, but it was better than staying anywhere near the assassin.

Leiko groaned in pain and tried to find out where the piercing screech was coming from, but suddenly it ended and her target had disappeared. She slammed a fist against the cage, scaring the Cyndaquils into the far corner of their containment, and then retrieved her weapons. Her Umbreon quickly rejoined her at her side and they ran in pursuit of the escaped witness.

Faye Lin found a stairway and ascended to the upper levels. She needed to tell someone had been murdered, and that the killer was after her. When she arrived at the end of the stairway, she was greeted by a bloody floor and a couple of lifeless sailors slumped against the base of the wall or laid out across the floor. There were also pokemon around, but she wasn't sure if they were dead as well or merely unconscious. She gasped in horror and backed away, but then she realized that the assassin must be after her. She needed to get away and hide, but where should she go?

Just when she lost hope, the sound of fluttering drew her attention. Above her, was a smiling fuzzy purple bat with the Togepi egg secured on its feet. It screeched in a gentle cooing manner and gestured her to follow. Faye Lin realized that the screeching that saved her must have come from the Noibat. She exchanged looks with her exhausted Fennekin and chased after the Noibat. Along the way, she averted her eyes from the blood and bodies around the hallway. It was beyond scary, like nothing her nightmares could ever conjure up.

"Ahhh!..."

More screams resonated in the metal halls. Faye Lin stopped at the corner and took a peek. She paled at the sight of a white haired girl, wearing a black gothic dress, stab a man with a crimson-dyed silver knife. What scared her most was the happy grin the mysterious lass was showing, even with the blood stains on her hair and ivory cheek. She was one of them. The redhead assassin was not alone, Faye Lin concluded.

The Noibat shifted directions and motioned the blonde heiress to continue to follow. Faye Lin complied, having presented no other choice. She scooped up her Fennekin and ran back to the other side of the hallway. After a couple of new turns, she saw a door, leading outside. The Noibat flew out and the girl followed suit.

Then Leiko appeared across the hall, weapons in hand, and a fierce-looking Umbreon already dashing forward. Faye Lin saw her but kept going. Her mind was set on leaving the narrow halls. Her Fennekin fired a couple of Ember shots at the dark-type, forcing it to back up momentarily. Then Leiko followed up with a fluid throw of her Chakram, but it was blown back by an unexpected strong Gust of wind that burst from a window.

Faye Lin made it and ran out of the door. The cold darkness of the night breathed heavily on her trembling and sweating frame. Her legs were ready to give in at any given second, but her mind continued to chant her to run. She turned and sprinted to the side, only to bump in to a hooded figure with cold silver eyes.

End of Chapter 10

Well, that was my attempt at something dark.
I say that went pretty well.

And nice cliffhanger, don't you think? :D
Impasse - a road with no exit. I read it in a Fanfic. Sounds really cool

Anyway, review!