Chapter 2
When Drew came to, he could feel the headache and an urge to throw up. He tried to lift himself up but the former dizziness he had felt before passing out took him again. So he decided to lie back. besides, his body felt like his all energy was drained out of him. Slowly the image of that creepy thing, with his eyes glowing, towering over him flashed in his mind. He straightened his pose on the couch he was laid on and swallowed hard when he reminisced those fangs and what they did to him. His hand subconsciously touched the skin on his neck where the fangs had punctured him. He felt that there was a band-aid, covering his wound.
After a moment, when the exploding pain in his head subsided a little, he tried to make out about his whereabouts. This place seemed to be in a different location. Not the place where he had been attacked. It looked like a hall room of some kind of abandoned mansion. The place was dim lit but not too dark to have a clear view. The sunlight was trying to penetrate through the cracks of the planks that had been used to board up all the windows. It was daybreak already, which meant he was asleep for the rest of the time during the previous night.
Fear mixed with curiosity, he scanned all over the place for an exit, and was a little stunned when he realized that he wasn't alone!
A Charizard and a Greninja were there, the latter was standing, leaning against a wall with a calm and carefree posture, both hands crossed over its chest. The former, on the other hand, was lying on the floor on its left side in such a pose as if someone was about to draw its picture.
Both pokemons had their eyes closed, but Drew could sense that their attention was all on him. And if he made any move to escape, they would definitely block his path. They probably belonged to the person who took him here.
He was brought back from his musings when footsteps approached one of the doors that was linked with the room he was in. And then he saw him.
It was Ash!
A chill ran down his spine.
Drew had seen him in the picture that the employer had handed him, but to have the experience of seeing someone in person is something else, and he looked a little different from his picture because of his cold stoned expression. He was around Drew's age and of a same height. His raven hair and skin complexion had a well combination along with his features. The expression in his eyes seemed like something dark had happened to him. He might be a victim or brought it upon himself. Drew couldn't guess any more. His detection told him that this was a kind of character that could be easily feared...and couldn't be read, such persons can turn unpredictable or leap into action without giving anyone the slightest idea.
Giovanni couldn't help but shake his head in disappointment when he heard the newest person his subordinate had hired to track down Ash had gone missing as well. He was about to contact them but he did not. The period was over and it didn't look like that Drew would ever show up. So they had to give up their hopes on him.
"I can't believe it will turn out to be like this." A man in a lab coat, who was standing by the person who had hired Drew, said.
"Me neither." Giovanni responded.
"At first I thought, No one will be ready to subject themselves for an experiment like this. Not even for money." The man spoke again, "So it was a surprise when you got that volunteer for us to perform our experiments on him." he added.
"That boy was an utter bleeding heart..and a fool. His love for his Pikachu was his biggest weakness. It was easy for me to bend him against his will. Just a little manipulation and using Pikachu as a bait." Giovanni replied. "But I didn't know it would go like this."
"It is good that the operation didn't fail. If we could just had him restrained by then, this present circumstances would..." he sighed, "We were careless. We thought he died."
"That's what he was, he was dead." Giovanni pointed out. "Before we found out that our formula had actually worked even after the person's death."
"But all the formulas and documents have been destroyed by Ash that night."
"I sure remember that." Giovanni said.
"And he has also murdered the main scientist who was leading the experiments and one behind the formulas ." he added desperately.
"That's why I need Ash Ketchum in my grasp as he is the living proof of our success. He has no right to get away with it. I created him so I can use him. He can't change that." Giovanni admitted.
"So what's now?"
"Let me think." Giovanni said thoughtfully with a frown visible on his face, "Since that boy Drew is probably murdered too by now. We can't arrange anyone at this moment, it will be too early and draw suspicion from the locals. And I want it to be a secret."
"The locals already know about Ash's existence, he is feared among them as 'He who kills'."
"What a funny name." Giovanni let out an amused chuckle, "I am more dangerous than that 'He who Kills'. I've turned him into that frightening thing. The credit goes to me."
"Sure he won't come back to you on his own out of gratitude for that." One dared to say.
"So what? I will make him." Giovanni replied confidently.
Swallowing his discomfort, Drew stayed still on his seat, facing Ash who was busy picking on his food at the other side of the small table. There were so many rich varieties of dishes in front of him, but Drew had not touched any yet, he was just holding the fork. Most of the abductees would want nothing more than to stab their abductors with that fork and run for their lives. But Drew was one of those who don't do something that they will regret later. So no matter how uncomfortable he felt. He didn't bother to do anything stupid.
The worst part of the situation was that the radio Ash was listening to, was now playing a romantic song. The lyrics of the song was describing the mood of a couple on a date. And some of the lines had some meaning in it, at which Ash would stop chewing at his food and stare at Drew that made him uncomfortable. It was insufferable.
"People are going to notice that I am missing." Drew said after the silence was bothering him.
Ash looked at him, "They will, but they won't care."
"What do you mean?"
"You don't seem to be universally popular, neither you are obnoxious and loud enough to make the news of your disappearance. People don't value something that isn't important to them. The world doesn't care what happens to you." Ash replied.
"I have plenty of friends-'' Drew tried to argue.
"That doesn't matter, your friends are also people, they will probably declare you the victim of some foul play or write you off as a missing person before they get back to be busy with their lives. You will only live through their gossips." Ash said.
"Why do you say that?"
"Because that's how they are, people!" Ash spat and Drew flinched at how he said the word 'people' with so much distaste.
"You don't like people do you?" Drew asked next but Ash didn't answer.
"You really dislike them." Drew repeated.
Ash let go off his fork and stared at Drew, "I don't dislike them, I HATE Them." He said with pure cruelness and vindictiveness in his voice that chilled Drew for a moment.
"So why me? Why are you punishing me solely for it?" Drew wanted to know.
"Because I can." Ash said coldly, Drew just stared at him in disbelief and puzzlement.
"Besides, You should feel lucky that you aren't already dead like my previous victims, even after I know that you have been sent after me by my enemy group. Instead of having you killed I am letting you live here as my guest." Ash said.
"Guest?!" Drew suppressed the urge of rolling his eyes, "You have me hostage!" he said.
"But that doesn't change the fact that you are still breathing, unlike the former ones. And that's what I call improvement." Ash said, he was amused to see how Drew's shoulders slumped in defeat and disappointment and a sad sigh escaped him.
Ash was standing in front of the sink. Busy washing the dishes when he felt someone's presence behind him.
"Let me help you with the dishes." Drew said lightly.
"I have been doing this for quite a while now, I don't need anyone's assistance. Don't show fake love." Ash said arrogantly before resuming his work and Drew tried his best not to grit his teeth, but his fists were already clenching.
He soon calmed himself, "I don't pretend what I don't feel. It's just.. it discomforts me when someone else is doing all the chores and I am just sitting." Drew said. There was no sign of mocking in his tone. It looked like he was simply wanting to help.
Ash stared at him for a moment before stepping aside, leaving Drew a space beside him. Drew took the place silently and for a next few moments they just concentrated on doing the dishes. When it was done. Drew decided to break the silence first.
"So what you want to do to me?" he asked, but there was no fear on his features.
"For now, nothing." Ash said cocking his head.
"But you can't keep me here forever. Sooner or later you will have to get rid of me, and the best way to do that is to kill me. So why not now?" he asked Ash.
"Why are you so desperate to die?" Ash asked.
"I just simply want to know that what will become of me. I can't live with this fear everyday that when you are going to finally kill me. If you are not letting me go, and killing me is also not your option, then what is it that you have in your mind?"
"You don't have to worry about that right now. You still have some time ahead of you, enjoy!" Ash said icily.
"And my pokeballs? You have my pokeballs." Drew said desperately.
"They are safe, besides I don't hurt pokemons, I have nothing against them." Ash said, "I just can't let you have them back right now since you will probably use them against me to get away from this place. And I am not in the mood of cat and mouse game." Ash said.
Before Drew could add something to that they were greeted by a pair of pokemons, Hoopa and Meloetta. Both mythical pokemons came to hug Ash. The raven haired boy knelt down to pat on their heads. For a moment he didn't look like the cold expressionless Ash anymore, a smile formed in his face and his eyes held a genuine fondness. Drew wondered if this was how he used to be before he changed.
These two pokemons were totally opposite of the combination of Ash's other two pokemons. Charizard and Greninja.
"They like you." Drew commented. He found himself drawn to the scene.
"Because pokemons can't hate." Ash responded softly.
The bedroom had only one middle sized bed. And it took Drew a moment to realize what he just heard when Ash told him that he was going to have to share the bed with him.
In a bed? With him?
Drew shook his head inwardly. He insisted at his best to convince Ash that he would better take the couch and that he would not run away but Ash didn't budge.
The thought of their bodies coming into contact during small movements on the bed in their sleep totally unnerved him. So in bed, Drew re-arranged the pillows, forming a barrier, so that he could be at a safe distance and it would make him feel like he was sleeping separately.
After Ash cuffed one of Drew's hands to the bed, he switched off the lights and took the other side of bed, not minding the bunker Drew had created with pillows that separated them from each other. Ash fell asleep immediately. But Drew was still up. He was watching the pretty moon through the window that was open. Sometimes the gentle breeze would invade the room and ruffle Drew's messy hair.
Drew sighed, just a few weeks ago, he was having a great outdoor adventure, camping in the woods with his friends in the night.
"Life is full of surprises." He whispered, mocking his own situation.
It was midnight, Drew felt a little drowsy but he immediately woke up when he heard a muffled sob behind him. He turned to his side on the bed, despite his cuffed hand he tried his best to look at what was going on.
It was Ash, he was sleep talking, or having a nightmare. He was clutching his pillow with such a force that it looked like it was going to be torn up.
"Pikachu...Don't die..don't die on me!" Ash was muttering in his dream.
After a few moments, Ash's muttering transformed into painful yelps. "You can't leave me...Pikachu..Don't leave me."
Drew blinked in surprise, something is wrong, he thought. And someone inside him felt a little sympathetic for him.
"Hey, are you alright?" Drew asked gently, reaching for Ash's shoulder with his free hand.
Suddenly, Ash's eyes shot open. He caught Drew's hand in vice grip. Drew grimaced in pain but hoped for the best, he hoped that Ash won't at least twist it.
"Ash.." he called his name desperately, and this was the first time he actually called by his name.
Ash then stepped out of his temporary dazed situation, after he was finally wide awake, he turned his face to see Drew. When he realised what he was doing, he let go off his hand immediately.
"Did I break it?" He asked.
"No I guess." Drew said as he used his teeth to pull up his sleeves to take a better look at his wrist. It seemed fine but Drew knew there would be bruises on it soon.
"It needs tending, it will be alright." Ash spoke as he got down from the bed and soon came with the necessary supplies.
Drew watched his wrist while Ash tended to it, and stole a few glances of Ash who was also doing the same. When the nursing was done, Ash backed away as he locked his eyes with Drew.
"Thank you." Drew said and turned his eyes to the wrist. He deliberately avoided Ash's gazes.
After a moment, Ash switched off the light again and fell on the bed by Drew's side.
"Go to sleep." he told Drew.
And Drew instantly followed the suggestion as the whole duration from previous night to now had been quite tiring. He closed his eyes, and then falling asleep...before Ash did.