Chapter 10: Can We Trust Her?

The group woke up early that morning, although Cassie was still asleep. "Guys, do you think we can trust her?" Akio said, picking up his stuff. "What do you mean?"

"She was from a family of psychos!"

"But does she look like a psychotic person?" Chiasa said, pointing her finger in Cassie's direction. Akio sat there to think for a second, before getting whapped over the head by Toshiaki. "My point is…" Chiasa continued. "I think we can trust her, she's helped us so far. And besides, does Etsuko look psychotic." As if on cue, Etsuko appeared behind Akio, and glommed on.

"Who would say I was psychotic?" Akio fell over onto the ground. Before any one could say anything, a small yawn emerged from beside them. The two boys flinched, but Chiasa acted as normal as usual. Cassie sat up sleepily and rubbed her eyes. "Is it time to go already?"

"Cassie, we're voting-" Before Akio could continue Chiasa put her hand over his mouth. Cassie looked at the group, "is something wrong?"

"We're voting you out of the group!" Toshiaki shouted, before anyone could stop him. Cassie looked around and began laughing. "Nice joke guys! Now seriously, what's wrong?" She watched the threesome exchange glances. "You mean…" Her eyes started to tear up. "You guys really don't want me here?"

"It's not that we don't want you here…" Chiasa said, sitting down beside her. "It's just that they don't think we can trust you."



"Then how do I get you to trust me?! I'll do anything; I'll burn myself if I have to!" Chiasa shook her head. "No need to get crazy…If we can trust you…Then you travel a day behind us."

"How will that earn your trust?"

"We'll be waiting in the next town over; I'll give you the egg I found. But no matter what Pokemon hatches from it, you must give it back." Cassie nodded and packed up her stuff. Before the threesome left, Chiasa handed Cassie the egg. Cassie smiled and sat down by the tree, watching the others walk off.

The group had gotten as far as the day had let them. They stopped in a small clearing and set up their stuff. It was very quiet, no one was speaking. The team had let out their Pokemon, to help them get to know each other.

Suddenly, the Pokemon began to attack the air. Chiasa watched them and looked up. "Something's wrong…"

"Yea, the Pokemon are attacking nothing!"

"No….Listen…" The team got quiet. Nothing. No noises of the night, no Pokemon, nothing. "I don't here anything." Toshiaki said, looking back over at Chiasa. "That's just it! It's too silent….there's nothing in the air…"

Before any one could speak, they heard chimes. They were soft, but began to get louder. Then, a soft tune came through the air. "It's Old Man Jeepers!" Akio shouted, and the other two spun around to see a crippled man with a hatchet. The Pokemon began to try and attack, but everything went through the intangible person.

The group screamed and began running. But before they were able to get out of the clearing, they heard someone. "Stop it!" The turned around to see Cassie, standing in front of the ghost. The ghost raised his hatchet again, 

but before he could swing, Cassie flung herself at him. The threesome watched as she hugged the crazed ghost.

"Daddy, don't do this to my friends!"

"Ca….Cassandra?" Cassie nodded and looked up at the ghost. The ghost smiled, and began to fade a little. The team watched as the ghost faded into the darkness, and Cassie turned around and smiled. "How did you know we were in trouble?!"

"Etsuko told me." She pointed behind her to the perky little ghost girl. Etsuko waved and then also faded into the darkness. "But I guess you guys can't trust me now, 'cause I didn't obey." Chiasa hugged Cassie as tight as possible. "Of course we can trust you! You saved us from your father, you're a hero!"

The two girls rejoiced, and Toshiaki joined in. Akio however stood on the side lines and watched. Cassie walked over and hit him on the back again. "Don't be sad, now we're going to be stuck together!" Akio dropped to the ground and screamed a long 'no'. Cassie laughed and spun around. "Friends Forever!"

"Gee, wasn't that the sappiest thing you ever saw…"

"Shh, or the Author will find you and kill you!"

"No she won't! The author is just a no good, sissy, pansy girl who can't fight her way worth beans, and she's standing right behind me holding a giant bat, isn't she?"

"Yea, basically…"