Hey there! Here's the next chapter! I just wanna clarify a couple things though: This is an AU story, in case you didn't know. It's still set in the Pokémon regions, but there aren't any actual Pokémon; this story just uses characters and locations. With that out of the way, here's the story!


May's POV

I was in a dark forest. I didn't know where I was. It was cold, and I could hear whispers emanating from the trees around me. Every so often, I would hear a sharp crack, and would whirl around. But there was never anything there, even though I knew that there was something lurking. Something was stalking me and breathing down my neck, making me jump. I didn't know what it was, but it was a sharp contrast to the freezing darkness of the forest. Each breath was hot and fetid, but seemed to suck the remaining heat out of me.

I felt a tap on my shoulder and I yelped, spinning around. But again, there was nothing there. All I could see was darkness, and that unsettled me. Could it be hiding in the trees? Was it lurking in the shadows? I started breathing heavily as I looked around, trying to ascertain where it was.

Rustling. I turned, trying to get a good look, but darkness filled my vision.

More rustling. I kept looking, but still, I saw nothing.

A crack. I looked straight upwards; maybe there was a light source above. But there wasn't, I could still see nothing.

The cracks and rustles kept building up around me, drowning out even the sound of my own breathing. Where was it? Was it behind me? I could hardly concentrate; the sound was distracting me. It was building up, a crescendo of misery which did not seem to end. But it did, and the cacophony around me culminated in a blood-curdling scream.

"Who is it?!" I yelled, frantic. "Where are you!?" There was no response. I ran through the trees, desperate. I just needed to find someone. Anyone. "Is anyone there!? Where-" I got cut off by a pair of ice-cold hand wrapping around my neck. I froze; I had no idea who it was, or why they were going for me. I waited for them to let go, to release me. But they didn't. Instead, they began to squeeze. I tried to scream, but my airways were blocked. I felt myself grow weaker and weaker. Was this it? The hands suddenly let go, but it was too late. I felt myself slip away…

"May… May! Are you alright!?" I heard Drew whisper. I shot up, but I instantly regretted it; my face was sweaty, my back was sore, and my throat was parched.
"I-I'm… Water…" That was all I could manage to say.
"Water. Okay." Drew jumped out of the bed and ran down the stairs. I immediately started wiping my face, trying to calm myself down. It worked, but only a little. I was still gasping for air, and I was still in full-blown panic mode. I heard Drew come back up the stairs, holding a glass of water. He handed it to me, and I gulped it down as if I'd spent a year in the desert.
"Thirsty there?" He asked, laughing a little as he sat down next to me.
"Yeah, just a little." I laughed back.
"Did you have a bad dream? It sounded like you were choking. It really scared me, May."
"Nah, it's just a dry throat."

Liar.

"Okay. Well, it's only 4:30 in the morning. Let's go back to sleep." Drew said, laying down next to me. I nodded a little and laid back down with him. But I couldn't sleep at all, not after that dream. I really wanted to, though; I wanted to forget about it and wake up in the morning all refreshed. But of course, since it was me, that wouldn't happen. Normally, I'd toss and turn, but I didn't want to wake Drew up. Instead, I waited for him to fall asleep and slipped out of bed.

I grabbed my purse, making sure that I didn't make any noise. I tiptoed towards Lily's room to get changed, so I didn't wake him up. I glanced out of the window, and surprise, it was still snowing. I groaned under my breath before pulling my clothes out of my purse. I pulled on my sweater and jeans, then folded Lily's pajamas and placed them on the end of her bed. I tied my hair up so it wouldn't get in the way, before walking down the stairs. I put on my jacket and crept out of the front door.

I put my hood up to shield myself from the snow as well as possible. I walked as quickly as I could, but I kept slipping. Even though Drew didn't live too far from me, it still took me a full half hour to get home. Once I got to my door, I used my key to unlock my door as quietly as I could. I took off my coat, turned around, and walked straight into my mother.

Fuck.

"What're you doing here?" She snapped.
"Uh, this is my house?"
"You're supposed to be with Drew."
"I… H-he told me I could walk home."
"At…" She glanced at the clock. "5:15? Yeah right! Don't lie, he's still sleeping at his house, isn't he!?" I contemplated turning and running. I knew that my mother wasn't that fast, and I could probably make it back to Drew's without her catching up. And she wouldn't dare to follow me inside. But instead, me being the spineless doll that I was, I told her the truth.
"Um… I-I… Yes…" I admitted, looking down.
"Why did you lie?" She said, crossing her arms.
"I'm sorry…" I muttered. She then walked over and held my face gently in her hands.
"You will never lie to me again." She whispered. Then she took her hand and smacked it across my face. I yelped in pain and surprise, holding my cheek. She then shoved me hard, so I fell down onto the floor.
"Stop…" I whispered, but she didn't hear me.
"You worthless piece of shit! Can't even defend herself." She said, smirking. The then kicked me in the gut for good measure before walking away. For some reason, those words rubbed me the wrong way. I started to get up, wincing with every movement.
"Can't defend herself!?" I said, mostly to myself. "Fuck you!" I screamed, and launched myself at my mother. She yelped in surprise, and I punched her square in the nose. I then went to hit again, but she caught my punch. She kneed me in the gut again, but I didn't wince; I hardly felt it. I was running on pure adrenaline, and it felt great. I headbutted her in her nose, and she staggered backwards clutching her face.
"Little bitch!" She screamed, and walked away into the kitchen. I slumped down onto my knees, and wiped away the tears which had gathered in my eyes. I heard footsteps, and I saw her come back with an empty wine bottle. Fuck, she's drunk. I saw her raise the bottle and I braced myself. Then I felt the bottle crashing against my head.

I heard her walk away, laughing maniacally. I opened my eyes slowly to be greeted with the sight of my blood and shards of broken glass surrounding me. My heart pounded in my ears and my breathing echoed through my skull.
Stay strong.

"H-help…" I whispered. But I knew that nobody could hear me. I looked around, and I spotted my purse laying on the floor. I dragged myself over, ignoring the pain in my skull, and eventually reached it. I fumbled inside, and after a few seconds, I got a firm grasp on my phone. I dialed 911 and dropped the phone next to my head, too weak to hold it.
"911, what's your emergency?" I heard an operator lady say.
"B-bleeding… Please… Please help…" I rasped as loud as I could into the phone.
"Okay. We've got your location and help's on the way sweetie. Can you where the injury is located and what type of injury it is?" I nodded to myself.
"I-It's in my head… A-and I got hit… Blunt force… I can't see very well….2
"Okay, I've told the medics. They're on their way, and they'll be there as soon as possible. Just breathe, in through your nose and out through your mouth. Don't hang up until the ambulance arrives, okay?" She told me, and I obliged, trying to slow down my breathing.
"Okay." I told her, and just lay there in silence.
"What's your name, honey?" She asked me. I thought for a while before answering.
"M-May… May Maple…." I told her.
"Alright May. We know your location, but we don't know where you are, per se. Are you at home, at a friend's house? Maybe a family member's house?" She asked. I wish she'd just stop asking me questions; my head hurt and I could feel my memory becoming further and further away. But I knew that it was all for my own wellbeing.
"M-my house… I think…"
"Alrighty. And do you know who did this to you?"
"N-no…" I could hear sirens now, getting louder.
"Okay, the ambulance should be really close now, can you hear it?"
"Y-yeah…" I heard a bash against the door, and then another. I hung up, and the door swung open. I heard a mix of voices, and they just caused explosions in my head. One voice seemed familiar, and I could practically visualize who it belonged to.
"D-Drew…" I whispered, before my eyes drifted closed.


There it is! if you liked it, don't forget to drop a review, and as always, Flames will be used to fry bacon.