I've decided that, since schools back, from now onward I will be updating sporadically, so you might get two or three in one week then none for another two weeks.
I hope you enjoy :)
Chapter 9 – No POV
May just sat there.
She sat there for the whole night, just staring out at the ocean.
She refused dinner and was now refusing breakfast.
"How's she doing?" Drew asked as Leaf walked back with a full tray of food "No better than Ash" Leaf said as she looked at the crates nearby where Ash was sitting, he was silent, unmoving and Drew could tell he was still blaming himself.
After the boat was out of view, Ash showed up. Drew told him what happened and Ash dropped to the ground mumbling "It's my fault" over and over.
It was entirely awkward, for Drew because he didn't know how to comfort his friend and for Leaf because she was the outsider, she knew nobody on a deep level.
Suddenly May stood up and spread her wings proudly "May what the hell are you doing?" Drew asked as he ran over to her "I'm flying to Lorcan" she said with a cold voice, never taking her eyes off the ocean.
"Are you crazy?" he asked her as he grabbed her shoulders "That's too far, you'll die of exhaustion" he scolded bet her stare was blank, her eyes no longer the radiant blue that were brimming with joy, they were now dark and lifeless.
Without waiting any longer May took off "May!" Drew yelled as she just ignored him and kept going.
Ash stood next to Drew and watched May "I wish I could fly" he commented before Drew grabbed Ash's shoulders angrily "Will you snap the fuck out of it!" he screamed "What?" Ash asked confused "I get that your sad about Misty and you blame yourself but if you don't wake the fuck up then they're all going to die, this time it really will be your fault!" Drew yelled before walking over to Leaf.
"You mentioned you have people who can help" he said to Leaf who just nodded vigorously "Take me to them" Drew demanded as he grabbed his bag.
Ash followed close behind the two as they walked into the slums area, eventually stopping at an old hotel that nobody used anymore.
Leaf looked at Drew and Ash before knocking in a short rhythm on the front door.
A moment passed before a short knock originated from the other side, being replied with another knock from Leaf before the door opened to reveal a short girl with dark blue hair and ocean blue eyes "Leaf!" she yelled as she hugged Leaf "Is that Leaf?" a few young voices asked from inside.
They all walked into the building and the doors were closed behind them.
Everyone gathered around Leaf as they welcomed her back, all saying things like 'I'm so glad your back' and 'we were so worried'.
A loud bang was heard as a guy with spikey brown hair dropped an empty crate the second he saw who just arrived.
A smile spread across his face and he ran over to her "Leaf, you had me worried sick, why didn't you contact us?" he asked annoyed before she pulled him into a kiss, all the kids in the group saying "Gross!" and making vomiting noises.
The boy looked to the door and noticed the two new faces "Are these the desolate from the mansion? I thought you said there were more?" he asked kindly but regrated asking once he saw their expressions "What happened?" he asked as he look them onto a different room, so the younger inhabitants wouldn't hear "Gary, Paul needs your help with something" the girl with dark blue hair said just before the door could be closed "It can wait Dawn, this is important" he said calmly before quietly closing the door.
Gary sat down at a desk as Leaf and the boys sat on a couch in front of it.
Drew and Ash explained everything, Leaf feeling she didn't have the right to explain what had happened "Your friend May, how long has it been since she ate anything, or drank water?" Gary asked as he looked at a world map "Lunch yesterday I think" Ash said unsure.
"No… I tried to calm her down last night so before we left we used the kitchen to binge eat and made a giant cookie… she ate most of it" Drew said sadly.
Gary made a humming noise "Well in the state she's in emotionally… plus the nurturance her body has… and the fact she didn't sleep last night… her body will run on adrenalin for the next 18 hours at best… after that she'll be struggling to stay in the air, if she falls she won't have enough energy to swim and she'll drown… and this is all if she isn't caught on her way there" he said calmly "Can you get us there?" Drew asked as Gary looked over at Leaf "I hate to be this guy but… what do I get out of this?" he asked as Drew just glared at him "What?" he asked "I have dozens of desolate and human orphans staying here, I can't just give you our resources, we barely have enough as it is" he said in a sorry tone "And I can't just leave them here, they rely on me" he said, his tone turning serious.
"Your forgetting your grandfather" Leaf stated calmly "He won't be able to even talk to me as far as father is concerned" Gary mumbled "What does he mean?" Ash asked "Gary is the banished son on the Oak family, he isn't a Desolate but he was banished after he helped the blue haired girl, Dawn, hide Paul here, she isn't a Desolate either but helps us out" Leaf said as Gary looked away.
Ash gasped "That's why you look familiar, my mother tried to make us become friends when we were younger to strengthen the relations between our families" Ash said a little surprised.
Gary, who seemed to have already known who he is, gave Ash a 'no shit' look before he opened the door, a girl tumbled into the room "Dawn, what are you doing?" Leaf asked as she was supposed to be making breakfast for the kids "Don't worry I got Brock to take care of it" Dawn said with a wave of the hand before looking at Ash and Drew "I can help you two" she said proudly "How?" Drew asked sceptically.
Dawn smiled cheekily "I'm the only child to the Berlitz family, my father gives me anything I want without question and he and my mother both support Desolate rights" she said proudly "I knew you looked familiar" Drew said with a smile before hugging her "It's good to see you too Drew" Dawn said as she hugged him back "Am I interrupting something?" a gloomy looking boy asked as he seemed to appear behind Dawn.
He had grey/purple hair and black eyes. He had a muscular build despite looking around Dawn's age (15). Just by looking at him you knew he was a Desolate, showing proudly on his right shoulder.
Drew let go of Dawn and held a hand out to the boy "You're Paul aren't you? Dawn wrote about you in her letters" Drew said as Dawn blushed tomato red behind him.
Paul gave Drew a genuine smile and shook his hand "And you must be Drew… making him Ash?" Paul asked as Ash shook Paul's outstretched hand "So you're the Paul we've heard so much about" Ash stated before Dawn turned to Paul "What's up?" she asked, obviously trying to change the topic.
Paul wanted so badly to tease her, but he had more pressing matters to focus on.
"Gary the slave ship that left last night had several kids on board" Paul stated seriously "WHAT!?" Gary practically screamed "And you're only telling me this now!?" he asked angrily.
Paul looked down "It's my fault… I didn't do a head check last night… we're missing four" he said sadly "Who?" Gary asked "Bonnie, Clemont and Iris" Paul said before looking at Drew and Ash "I overheard that the two of you have friends on board that ship… I'll get you a ship if you help save those kids" he said seriously.
Drew and Ash shared a glance before both saying "Yes" with desperate looks but serious voices.
Paul smiled and looked back at Gary "You let me and these two go… and we'll come back with the kids" he said as Gary knew he was right.
Gary had to think about it, other than Leaf, Soledad and Brock, Paul was the oldest Desolate they had, he was also the strongest of the four of them, if they were to lose him then if the Desolate traders were to find them they wouldn't stand a chance.
After some careful thinking he sighed "Fine… but Dawn's going too" he said "Why?" Paul asked, knowing it would be dangerous and he was worried for her safety… but… "What do you mean 'Why?', I have diplomatic trading rights, you need me to get through the check points idiot" Dawn said as she huffed "That's why" Gary said calmly.
Dawn smiled proudly before turning to the three boys and saying "Alright, meet me at the docks in twenty minutes" before running outside "How will she get a ship that can travel across rough seas in twenty minutes?" Ash asked before Leaf laughed "Despite her cheerful demeanour, Dawn can be rather terrifying when she wants to, making it a lot easier to get things" she said before walking upstairs to the kids.
"How did you get that!?" Ash asked as Paul and Drew snickered "I have my ways" Dawn said smugly "I also present fellow Desolate activists, Steven and Brawley the crewmen who will be helping with maintenance, Tracy who will be our captain, and Melody here will be helping to prepare food" she added as four people stepped forwards so the three boys could see them "Hey cousin" Tracy said to Drew who waved back "Hey who's the guy with black hair?" Melody asked but Dawn ignored her "Come on, we have to make it there before the selling can start, plus we still have to watch out for your friend right?" Dawn said as the boys got on board.
It was a beautiful ship, it had accommodations fit for nobles and even the wood it was made from was expensive quality "How did you get this expensive ship in twenty minutes with a chef and captain in tow?" Ash asked as Dawn just gave him a smug look before yelling "Set sail for Lorcan!" before running to the bow of the ship.
Ash looked at Drew "Come on tell me how this is possible" he begged. Drew, who felt sorry for Ash, chuckled and said "Dawn has a very influential family name and her special way of persuasion helps a lot to get what she wants… as I've known her since she was four and I was seven I know exactly what it's like to be on the receiving end" as Ash looked at Dawn a little scared "I'm a little scared to ask about this 'special' persuasion skill" he said but was quickly knocked away from his train of thought when Melody clung to his arm "So what's your name? I'm Melody" she said with a cutesy voice.
Ash looked to Drew to help since Ash wasn't great around flirty girls, however Drew felt like being a little mischievous and said "Sorry Ash I've got to go ask the crewman for a favour" as he walked over to Steven and Brawley "Dick" Ash mumbled before looking back to Melody.
Steven and Brawley looked at Drew and bowed their heads slightly "None of that here guys… I'd rather nobody else know of my family unless it's important" he said as they both nodded "Right, anything we can do for you?" Brawley asked with a grin "This girl, she started flying off to Lorcan this morning and since we all know she won't make it on her own I want you two to look out for her" Drew said as he handed them a sketch of May "Wow this is pretty detailed… when did you have the time to draw this?" Brawley asked with a teasing tone "Not important… can you do it or not?" Drew asked with a light blush across his cheeks "Of course we can, what kind of bird is she?" Steven asked sceptically, as if he knew something and was hiding it "She's not a bird" Drew stated calmly "But then what?" they both asked "She's a bat, her wings are beautiful" Dawn said dreamily "When did you see them?" Drew asked sceptically "I saw her a few nights ago flying around, her wings are pretty big so it shouldn't be hard to spot her" Dawn said before she took the sketch from Steven who was suspecting it "So this is what her face looks like" she mused as she walked off with the picture