Welcome to the finale of Cringe! Making this chapter was very intense with trying to make it work well and had like what...two different endings and had to choose the greater one. I most likely post the alternate ending on Deviant Art if I can scrape it up. Enjoy!

Riley's POV

"Riley?"

Darkness.

"Riley?"

My ears pricked up the soft whistle of the wind.
"Riley please..."

I began to see shapes in a white void.

"Riley!"

I gasped for air. I slowly looked up, my body still numb from the tranquilizer. Lilly, the first one that came in my view, came up and hugged me.

"I thought I lost you for a second!"
"W-w-w-where am I?"

"We're at the finish line," Vinny smiled as he kneed next to me, "we barely made it out."
I stared at him and his clothes, charred and covered in ash."
What happened to you?"
"I was playing with fire," he gave a small smile."

Where's everyone else?" I asked.
"Sigma Six got them, " Lilly said softly after a short pause. "We were lucky enough to grab you in time."

"It's all my fault," I spoke softly, "it's all my fault..."
"No its not," Lilly calmly and sweetly.

"Yes it is!" I screamed. "None of this would've happened if I gave at the island!"

"Riley, listen to me/"

"Stupid, stupid..."

"Listen to me Riley!" she shook me violently.

I stared at her, my eyes full of fear.

"You are not the one to blame Riley. You didn't mean for all of this to happen. What happened in the past is over! You can keep blaming yourself for everything or see what good was brought here."

"We'll try to figure out what to do when Lucia gets here, okay?" Vinny said softly as he petted my head.

My eyes lowered as I gave a small nod. Lilly gently let me go and went off to a corner with Vinny, whispering.

"Always helping when one's down, full of inner strength like Dad, and always giving something to us when everything seems dark like when you were playing your guitar the other night."

"Time to show you what happens to the naughty little umbreons."

"I love you."

"Say goodbye to every single person you love, Riley Tanner."

"I love you too."

"No! Daddy!"

"Look at me Alice! Does this look like Dad? Does this look like someone who can fucking put up after brought down to the knees? I'm not 'strong' or the 'hero' of this story Alice…I just can't be."

"I'm scared, scared of letting you down and the others. Scared of getting captured and scared of losing myself.."

You are nothing...

"Hey look guys; it's the freak of nature."

Nothing...

"YOU WANT SOMETHING TO CRY ABOUT, YOU STUPID UMBREON?"

"You'll stay out here until you're a good little umbreon instead of a rotten, bitching fleabag."

NOTHING!

"I am not nothing," I whispered to myself as I clenched my fist.

My eyes met the door and my bag with my partners in their pokeballs. I could feel ambition burning as I slowly wandered to grab my things. It had to be done. I sprinted out the door without a care.

"Riley!" Lilly and Vinny yelled.
I ignored them and continued running. My rings began to glow and I felt an unbearable sensation flowing in my body. My twilight black fur slurped back into my skin as my facial features became more and more human. My paws became hands and feet, my tail whithered away, and I experienced a great growth spurt. I was me again, not nobody, not Damion's pet, but me. And there is no way I will let him hurt my family.

Alice's POV

"What are we going to do with the others?"

"Kill them," I heard a woman's voice. "We have no use for them.

I crouched at a corner, scared out of my wits.

"M-Megan?" I quivered as I glanced up at her. "Do you think Riley is okay?"
"I'm sure of it Ali," she said sweetly as she hugged me.

"And the others? Will they be okay?"

"What do you think?" Brooke questioned.

"Brooke..."
"We need to finish them before they finish us."

"Have you seen the state we're in? The others are tied up. Riley, Vinny, and Lilly are missing, Alice is barely able to shift between forms, and the both of us aren't strong enough to even cause a decent attack on them."

Brooke looked away and banged on the metal door.
"Quiet in there!"

"I have to take a piss!"

The door slammed open and the girl named Shelby glared at Brooke.

"Thank Arceus you came in, my bladder was about to burst."

"Very funny," she grimaced. "Let's go before you wet your pants."

Both of them walked out, leaving us puzzled.
"What is she..."

"No clue," Megan interrupted. "Be prepared for anything, okay?"

The door slowly opened, Shelby was glaring at us at the door.
"Get out," she growled.

"Where's Brooke?" Megan questioned.

"Get out!"

Shelby threw us our pokeballs.

"Wait, what?"

Shelby came up to her with a sly smile.
"Megan, its me."

"Brooke! How did you-"

"Zorua, remember?"

"Where's Shelby?" I asked.

"Locked in the bathroom, poor vixen. We should get going before they figure out."

We scurried out, almost blinded by the light outside.

"So what are we going to do about the others?"
"Huh?"

"The others that are locked up?" Megan reminded."
Oh shit," Brooke groaned. "No clue."

"Knowing Damion, they'll be guarded or something."

"Gwen for sure," Brooke said briefly. "We'll need something like bulldozer to knock her down."

I glanced at myself and said softly, "I have a plan."

Vinny's POV

"Riley!" I yelled. "Riley!"

"Riley!" Lilly called. "Where did he go?"

"Found him!" a butterfree above us announced.

"Where Mina?"

"East, one mile away!"

"Where could he be going?"

"I think I have an idea," I announced.

She glanced at me with uncertainly and in less than a second her eyes widen in fear.

"Oh god."

"We better move before any of them find him."

"Agreed."i

We continued our search for Riley, hoping he's okay.

Brooke's POV

"Are you sure about this Ali?" Megan asked with uncertainty.

"Positive," Alice said with a determined look. "Just get the others out of here when I lure her out."

She began to shrink as brown fur began to sprout all over her body. In a mere few seconds, she was an eevee.
"Ready?" Megan asked as she held her.

"Eev," she nodded.

She slowly placed Alice on the ground and she dashed in the room towards Gwen.

"Who the hell let you out?"
"Eev!"

"Do you think she can pull it off?" I asked Megan.
"Hopefully," she said softly.
"Come back here you mangy mutt!"

"Eev!"

"Gotcha!"

"Oh crap," I groaned.

"What do we do?"

"Improvise," I said as I wandered in the room.
"Brooke!"

"You're gonna get it now!"

I took a deep breath and almost instantly made myself look like Damion.
"What are you doing Gweneth?" my deep voice shook the walls.

"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm going to give some sense into this mutt."

"There will be no need," I assured as I took Alice away from her and glanced at the others, "and I need these...brats to be released."

"Is it time?"

"Er-yes it is."

She opened the gate and dragged them out one by one. I could tell by the looks of Trina's eyes, the illusion is fading.

"Anything else Dam-" Gwen turned and spotted me in my human form. "You!"

"Oh fuck."

"Go! Go! Go!" Gregg yelled as Gwen transformed into a Flygon.

We quickly sprinted out the room as Gwen begins to attack.
"What's going..." Megan asked puzzled.

"Move it Poole!" Trina ordered.

"Split up!" Heidi yelled.

I ran as fast as I could, adrenaline kicking in.
"In here," Gregg told me as he opened a nearby door.

Gregg, Heidi, and I scurried inside the small apartment, finding a place to hide. We huddled behind the couch as we heard Gwen barged in, furious.

"Where are you imbeciles?"

I saw Heidi pull out a dart from her sock.

"What are you doing?" Gregg mouthed.

She crawled to the other side swiftly and stealthily, clenching the dart. She was inches away when Gwen grabbed her.
"Die worthless bitch! Die!" she shrilled as she choked her.

Heidi dropped the dart and tried to claw her way out of the hold. I quickly grabbed the dart and jabbed it in her neck. I watched her eyes giving a hint of pain as she began to go limp, and then fell unconscious.

"Is she dead?" I asked after a short pause.
"It's a tranquilizer dart, she'll be knocked out for awhile," Heidi assured.

"Come you two, let's get the hell out of here."

Vinny's POV

"What the hell are you doing Riley?" I scolded him after we met him outside a large apartment building.

He turned around, his innocent red eyes glancing at us and said, "It's my fault they're in this mess and I'm planning to get them out."

"All by yourself?" Lilly questioned. "Even someone mad enough won't try to take down Sigma Six by themselves."

"I have to try," his voice became stronger. "Besides I have my pokemon with me."

"You approve of this?" Lilly asked Squirtle.

"Alice, Luna, and everyone else is family too," he said. "I can't back down."

"Well I'm not letting you do this yourself," I announced.

"You two are idiots," Lilly crossed her arms.

"You're not going?"

"Someone has to make sure you two don't do anything idiotic," she gave a small smile.

Bright white-hot lightning began to strike around us, going off like fireworks when they strike the ground.

"Hit the deck!" Riley yelled.

We dispersed as more lightning rained down, almost hitting us. The rage of lightning slowly died down as a familiar figure stepped out in the open.
"Oh crap," Riley graoned.

"You gotta be kidding me," I said angrily.

"Came back to play?" Zack announced.

"You're going down Evans!" I yelled.
"We'll see," he gave a small smirk.

I lunged at him to attack. I could feel adrenaline, energy, power in my veins as he stood there, calmly as he could ever be.
"Vinny!" Riley warned.

It was too late. He unleashed Zap Cannon and sent me flying to the nearest wall.

"Oh god," I groaned.

Squirtle was the next one to attack. His Water Gun seemed to effect very little on Zack.
"Pathetic creature!"

"Leave him alone!" Riley yelled as he used Quick Attack.

Every chance Riley had to attack, Zack was able to dodge every single one.

"What's wrong Riley?" he queered. "something dragging you down?"

I saw Riley in a new type of anger as he clenched his fist and punched him square in the face.

"So the mutt want to play dirty, huh?"

I saw sparks flickering around Zack's fist.
"Riley!"

He swung his fist swarming with electricity at him and only struck inches away from as if there was a barrier around Riley.
"Get away from him," Lilly warned. "Or you'll regret confronting us."

"Like how you were when we were together?"

"What?" Riley questioned.

"Like every kiss I gave and you gave back," Zack announced as he slowly walked towards Lilly, "every hug to help you feel better, every smile, every good time we ever had when the mutt was too busy being 'cute' and 'innocent' and forgot all the fucking damage he caused!"

"He wasn't the one who caused damage," she said out loud.

"Both of you will perish for what you did," he growled as he grew ready to unleash his most powerful and fatal move.
"No!" I yelled and got in front of her.

"I was hoping I wouldn't kill you Mitchel, but I guess you'll reunite with your family!"

My heart raced rapidly and I began to sweat like crazy as he was seconds away from killing us. I slowly glanced up and saw Riley lunging towards him, his fists in a purplish glow, and then gave a critical blow on the head. Zack collapsed on the ground, unconscious, and the two of us were still breathing heavily from the high amounts of adrenaline and fear flowing in our veins. Riley stared at him, the glow on his fists slowly dying.

"Riley," Lilly broke the long silence, "are you okay?"

"Fine," he replied as he slowly looked up.
"Listen, what he said..."

"What's done is done," he said calmly, "nothing can change that. Come on, we have people to save."

"Let's go to the fire escape," I suggested. "We don't want to end up in the same situation."

"Agreed."

He slowly glanced at Lilly.

"Lilly?"

"Yes?"

"Thanks."

"What are friends for?"

Alice's POV

"Is it safe for me to change?" I asked softly.
"Should be," Trina said softly. "We'll cover you if anyone gets in."

"Okay."

I slowly wandered into the bathroom where I can revert without the worry of being naked. After a few minutes, I managed to change back (with clothes on properly). I glanced at myself in the mirror. From this point on, I am not just a ten year old girl girl callously walking without a car. I am a soldier. A soldier fighting for her life in a game of survivor. A soldier who might not see her family again. I slowly walked out with the pokeballs that contained Cinders and Luna in my hands.
"Are you okay Ali?" Megan asked sweetly.
"I'm fine," my voice grew so soft that even the ones with superior hearing would not hear me."

Don't worry Ali," she gave me a small hug, "we'll get you back with Riley."

"Where to?" Peter asked.

"If we go through the staircase without getting noticed, we're home free," Trina gave a small smile."

Alright, let's hurry."

We slowly lingered out of the apartment, unaware of the dangers we might faced."
Let's hurry," Peter whispered.

I began to feel a cold chill at my shoulder, slowly turned around, and screamed.

Riley's POV

We slowly climbed up the fire escape, peering every window we could.

Just hang on Alice, I thought in my head. I'm coming.

"Did you guys feel that?" Lilly asked.

"Feel what?" Vinny asked curiously.

"Like someone watching us."

I glanced at the nearest window, finding beady red eyes.

"Holy fu-"

Lilly grabbed my arm and dragged me down as a wickedly long tongue of bright red-orange flames shot out the windows.

"Come on!"

Crash!

"AAH!"

"LIlly!"

Shelby, in ninetails form, was on top of her, biting her flesh off of her leg.

"Get away!" Vinny yelled as he hit Shelby with his beg.

"NINE!"

She fell down the stairs and Vinny quickly helped her up.

"Get in!" I ordered as after I opened a nearby window.

One by one we crawled inside, and Vinny quickly closed the window.
"You're alright Lilly?" Vinny asked as he examined her wound.
"It's just a tad little bite," she gave a weak smile.

"Let me fix that up," I said as I looked in my bag and pulled out some bandages and some berry juice. "Drink this, it'll recover you little by little."

Vinny stared at me as I swiftly and carefully wrapped up Lilly's wound.
"So what do we do now?"

"Stick with the plan."

"Do you think we can fight them off?" Squirtle asked.

"We have to," I said, "for Alice and Megan."

BLAM!

I swiftly got up, my fist ready to unleash another move.
"Riley?"

"Heidi? IS that you?"

"What are you doing here?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Vinny joked. "We're here to rescue you."

"You're a bit too late," Brooke replied.
"Where's Alice and Megan?" I asked.
"Damion has them," Trina replied softly after a short pause.

I began to walk out.

"Where are you going?"
"You guys get out of here, I'm going to get them back."

"Riley, we can all help," Gregg said as he went over and placed his hand on my shoulder.
"I'm not risking anyone else to get hurt," I replied. "It's only him and me."

"It's suicide!"

"Do you know how much pain he caused? He killed my father, he almost did the same to my mother, he locked me up for months! And now he has Alice and Megan. He wants me and me only. So I'm going."

I began to walk off when Vinny came up to me.
"I'm going with you."

"Vinny..."

"Alice is a sister to me Riley. And I may not know much about Megan but I can say that she is kindhearted and means a lot to you."

"Alright then," I said. "Looks like they original duo is back."

Lilly went up and hugged us.

"Be careful you two," she said.

"If anything happens to me," Vinny said gently, "I want you to know one thing."

"What is that Vinny?"

He slowly leaned towards her and gave a gentle kiss on her lips.
"I want you to know that I love you. A lot."

"Oh Vinny," she began to blush.

"Sorry about this Vinny," I said as I grabbed him by the collar, "we got to move."

"Be careful!" Heidi yelled as we rushed out the door.

The clouds were dark and spewed lightning as we got onto the roof.
"Do you think they'll be up here?" Vinny asked.
"Positive," I said. "Megan! Alice!"

"Riley!"

"They're nearby. Come on!"

We rushed across the rooftop, finding Megan and Alice tied up.

"Riley! Vinny!" Alice exclaimed.

"Did he hut you?" Vinny questioned.

"We're fine," Megan assured.

"We're going to get you out," I said as we quickly untied them. "Let's get out of here."
"Well look who dropped by. It's the pet and his friend!"

We slowly turned around and spotted the one that caused everything. Damion.

"For a mutt, you sure have determination."

"Leave them out of this!" I yelled. "They have nothing to do with this!"

"Oh Riley, you still have no clue do you? Now, I will ask you once and only once. Will you end all of this nonsense and be a good little pet?"

I could feel them staring at me, tension rising as I opened my mouth.
"Over my dead body."

"Then you will all perish!"

Gravel around him began to levitate as he began to glow.

"What the hell?" Vinny questioned.

"Stay behind me Alice," I told her gently.
His body began to twitch as he altered little by little. The blinded us as the force he bundled together was released."
"Hold on!"

The light faded and we gaped in shock at Damion.

"What the hell?" Vinny gasped.

"Impossible," Megan shuttered.

"You got to be kidding me," I muttered.
What stood in front of us was a Mewtwo.

"That's how you went into my mind," I said. "that's how you did everything."

It is true mutt, he spoke in thought. Now you will die.

"Go! Go! Go!"

We dashed off as he began to unleashed his powerful move.

"Come one Alice!" I yelled.

BLAM!

We were knocked on the our backs, helpless against Damion.

The time has come.

He wandered towards us, getting ready to end us all.

"Come on," Megan grunted. "We need to run."

I glanced back at Alice, knowing the heart break I'll cause to save her.

"Megan, listen to me," I told her gently. "When you two get out here, I want you to make sure that Alice gets home safe."

"What are you talking about Riley?"

"Promise me that you will take good care of her."

"I promise. Why are you..."

"Someone has to stop him."
"Riley you can't!"

"I have to Megan," I said softly. "It's the only way."

"Don't leave me Riley," Alice whimpered. "Please."
"I always will be with you Ali."

I gave a small kiss on Megan's forehead.

"I love you Megan."

"I love you too."

"Ready?" I asked Vinny Squirtle.

"We're always ready," Squirtle gave a small smile.
"Partners 'til the end," Vinny added.

Prepare to die!

He began to sprint, energy building inside. The three of us lunged towards him, even if it might be our last moments on Earth. All of us unleashed our ultimate powers at the same time.

"Riley!"

Rays of red, blue, and white clashed together, creating a giant bomb in seconds from exploding.

"Riley! Vinny!"

Everything grew white as a thunderous roar filled the air.

Alice's POV

I slowly opened my eyes, heart pounding rapidly. The brisk icy wind kissed my skin as I slowly stood up, shivering as I glanced at what was left of the rooftop.

"Riley?" I called. "Vinny?"

My eyes began to water as I saw no sign of life. My ears pricked as I heard the slightest movement. I slowly backed away away, preparing for the worst.
"Alice?" a gentle voice called out.

"Megan!" I yelled as I limped towards her and hugged her tightly.

"Are you hurt?" she asked me.

"I'm okay," I assured. "Just a little shaken up."

After a short pause, I finally asked, "Where Vinny and Riley?"

"Ali, I don't know how to say this," her voice cracked as her eyes began to water. "Riley and Vinny are gone."

"What?"

"I'm sorry Ali," tears began to trickle down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry."

We hugged each other, mourning over our saviors.

*** 3 Days Later ***

Megan's POV

It felt like months since I last laid eyes on the sun and felt its glorious warmth. We walked down the terminal as my eyes glanced at a girl in her late teens, her blue eyes glistened as her silky black hair swayed side to side.

"So Lucia," Heidi announced. "What's going to happen now?"

"Best thing we can do is to take you home and have protection nearby."

"So, we're splitting up?" Lilly asked.
"Only for awhile," Lucia assured. "Listen I want all of you to know that I am here to help you with anything you need. We'll do our best to bring them into justice for what they did, but for know just go home and spend time with your families."

"Thank you," Gregg said softly.

"Flight to the Johto region now boarding."

"Come on Alice," I told her. "It's our flight."

She held my hand tight as her innocent brown eyes glanced at me the way that Riley did.

"Ready you two?" I asked Lilly and Brooke.

"Ready as we could ever be," Lilly gave a small smile.

"I'll catch up with you three at New Bark," Lucia announced.

"Got it," Brooke rolled her eyes.

We walked down the narrow hallway when Alice glanced at me.

"Megan?"

I faced her.
"What is it Ali?"

"I'm happy that out of all the girls my brother met, he chose you."

"That's sweet of you Ali. You know, back in Castelia, you were a brave girl to go through all of it."

"Megan? Will you stay with me in New Bark?"

"Of course I will," I gave a small smile. "It's going to be us girls, okay?"

"Okay," she gave a small smile. "To home."

Riley's POV

Megan. Alice.

"Is he breathing?"

"Riley? Riley?"

Home.

"Come on Riley!"

"He's not responding!"

Must save them.

"Riley!"

Must go back. Must end this.

"Please don't be dead!"
I slowly opened my eyes, clenching on the revive in the palm of my hand as my pokemon were staring my awakening.

Must find...my savior...

…..To be continued in Saviors...

This brings a closure to Cringe! There is an alternative ending to this that will be up Deviant Art soon.. and a lot of other Escape series related stuff will also appear on Deviant Art