(This chapter is told through Henry's perspective.)
Four left. There are four of them left. DO NOT use them unless necessary!
This is it. I'm outside the apartment of my target. You'd think tracking down a criminal would be extremely difficult, but when you have a little intelligence and common sense, it's fairly easy. Anyways, I should probably make sure I have everything I'll need before I barge into this guy's apartment. Switchblade? Check. Pistol? Check. Floor plans of the apartment? Check. First aid kit. Check. Handcuffs? Check. Spare ammo? Check. Cell phone. Wait, where's my phone? Oh right, it's on the inner pocket of my hoodie. Check. An extremely annotated note explaining how to make the capture of my target. No check, I'm just kidding. Check. Okay, that's everything. Taking a deep breath, I can already feel the adrenaline in my system. This is what I've prepared to do for the last few days. Physically, mentally, and literally.
"Let me review the plan one last time before I do this." I think to myself. After I dig around in my pocket for a moment, I pull out a crisp piece of loose-leaf paper. It is folded into perfect sixteenths and was torn out of the notebook with perfect precision, meaning there aren't any signs of a rip or tear. You can't get much neater than that. There is a feeling of satisfaction as I unfold the note that I wrote down for myself. The sound of footsteps walking close to the alleyway alarms me and I instinctively duck down behind the garbage can to conceal myself. "Don't get so engrossed in your own work that you let your guard down." I remind myself. " This is serious, Henry. You need to stay vigilant and not let simple things distract you from possible threats."
As soon as I review the plan and conclude that whatever inspected the alleyway was gone, I prepare to climb the wall. The only problem is that the wall is made of bricks. That means that it won't be easy to climb without a rope or something to chisel through the brick. However, I'm not concerned because I've already planned for this predicament. If I use one of the trash cans as a stepping stool, I'll be able to jump high enough to grab onto the window frame and get inside. So really, I'll be doing some parkour to get inside.
"Everything is going as planned," I mutter to myself. "all I need to do now is wait for the window to open." Crouching down beside the trash can, I begin to think about everything that led me into this situation. First I met Mrs. Stevenson at the bar, and she told me that her husband used to work as a bounty hunter before they made their fortune and settled down in Kalos for their golden years. Then, I signed up for bounty hunting lessons and graduated with flying colors. Nate was scared when I told him I'd be tracking down dangerous criminals . . . but why? He knows very well that I can easily fight with these lowlives and come out on top. After all, if I didn't learn how to fight, I'd be dead because of . . . . Let's not think about them now. So that's how I ended up here, but WHY did I end up here? Besides having some cash to play with on the side, the job does give me a good thrill. Also, criminals have enraged me since I was young. Clearing a few off the streets wouldn't hurt for the public either. In the end, it is a win-win situation! Ah, there is something pleasant about protecting the citizens of Kalos. Maybe it has something to with the fact that I failed to protect my . . . I'm gonna be sick! Why did I have to think about that!? "Breakfast is coming back up!" I think as I open the trash can lid and puke. Well, whoever opens up this trash can is going to know EXACTLY what I had for breakfast.
I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. The notification is just a reminder from a gamer who I've been watching in my free time.
"It's 11:43." I note to myself. "I've been waiting for this scumbag for about 12 minutes." Maybe he isn't even home now. There is a Pokémon Center nearby, I might be able to buy a pack of breath mints there to deal with the stench of vomit on my breath. "Alright, I'll go buy the mints and come back." I reason. Walking out into the street, I stroll casually to not raise any suspicion. As if coming out of the alleyway and wearing all black didn't raise it already. Suddenly, I hear the sound of a window being opened behind me. Of course. Glancing over my shoulder, I see that the window to the apartment my target lives in is open. I'll need some type of distraction that would get the crowd's attention, or I just need the crowd to disappear altogether. The real question is how do I attract hundreds of people's attention at once?
"Wait a minute, that's it!" I thought to myself. "People already haven't acknowledged the fact that I'm wearing all black and that I came out of an alleyway. Are they even watching me now?". Glancing at the people around proves that people aren't even looking at me. Perfect, these fools aren't even aware I'm here! A few people were taking photos of the Lumiose Tower, probably just some tourists here for the view. They look like they're completely carefree . . . almost like everything was going perfectly for them. Just to be safe, I'm going to go around the block. It's way too late into the process to take any chances.
*15 minutes later... *
"Okay Henry, you can do this." I encouraged myself as I ate a breath mint I bought. One quick dash and a jump on the trash can got me up to the frame of the window and I pulled my way up into the apartment. The bedroom was incredibly untidy with empty beer cans littering the table, and clothes were all over the floors. A drawer was partially opened which had more clothes in it and a video camera. Considering the fact that I'm tracking down a rapist, I don't want to know what types of videos are saved in the camera. "Yeah, this is definitely the right place." I think. There was also an open laptop sitting on the large bed. Slowly approaching the bed, I reach my left arm out to grab the laptop. Damn, it's closed. There's a good chance that I won't be able to get in.
"Alright, I'll try to see if it's accessible. If not, I might as well just find this idiot and get my bounty." I mumble under my breath. Shaking the mouse pad does nothing. Oh, right I have gloves on. Silly me. Every few seconds, I glance up at the door just to see if this bonehead is coming into the room. After I press the spacebar on the keyboard a few times, the laptop opens up . . . and I'm rewarded with the sounds of extremely loud moaning! This bastard was watching porn on his laptop.
"WHAT THE F*CK!?" I yelled, forgetting that I was trying to be sneaky. Then, as if thirty Tauros were running down the hallway, there was an incredibly loud thumping coming from down the hallway. I had to act fast! First, I spring up out of the chair and throw the laptop off my lap. It breaks the very second it hit the wall. The deafening crack is something that I'll remember in both this life and my next one. But, it is still better than what I was originally hearing. Nate would've winced at the loud noise, hence why I didn't let him come with me, to begin with. Next, I run over to the bedroom door and slam it shut, then I proceed to lock it. I'll definitely have the neighbors at the door in a few minutes if all of this noise keeps up.
Whoever was running down the hallway is now at the door and banging on it as hard as they could.
"When I get in that room, I'm gonna beat your ass!" the voice yelled from outside the door. At this point, I'm certain I've found the guy that I'm looking for. Still, I can't really do anything, as my presence was now surely known by the whole apartment. I need to retreat for now and try again later. 50,000 dollars isn't worth risking if I'd never see Nate again! As I ran toward the window to flee the apartment complex, I stopped and smirked.
"Of course," I thought to myself. "I don't actually need to leave, I just need to make it SEEM like I left." All I would need is a hiding spot. My only two options are in the bedroom closet or under the bed. Choosing to hide under the bed, I move in a quick but silent manner and crawl under the bed, making sure that the blanket looked exactly like it did before I hid. *thump-thump* *thump-thump* *thump-thump* In all of the confusion, I didn't even notice how fast my heartbeat was. Surely all of the adrenaline in my system isn't helping either. The door cracks as the person pounding on the door finally got through.
"Where are you, BITCH!?" an intimidating voice yells into the empty room. I'm breathing quickly, but silently as to not give away my location.
"I need to calm down," I think to myself. In an attempt to appease my conscience, I slow my breathing down. "That's better." My conscience tells me. Suddenly, I close my eyes and have a flashback of a pleasant time from a few years ago.
October 3rd, 2018 11:26 PM
"Noibat Noi." Nate whines. (Translation: I'm scared Dad.)
I slowly cradle the whimpering Noibat into my arms and calmly ask, "What do we do when we're anxious or upset?".
His yellow eyes stare into mine and he answers, "Bat Noi Noibat." (Translation: Take a deep breath, and think happy thoughts.)
"Atta boy!" I say as I stroke his ears softly. He starts to purr from the praise and his anxiety begins to visibly drain. As I walk out toward the fireplace, Nate yawns. The fireplace ignites and I sit down by it to warm up Nate.
" Noi Noibat Bat." Nate whispers as he drifts off to sleep. (Translation: I love you, Dad.)
"I love you too, son." I reply as I stare into the fireplace.
My will steeled that night. We had moved to Kalos about a year ago and not much was certain, but I knew one thing for sure: I'd protect Nate for as long as I possibly could, or I'd die trying!
The darkness from being under the bed reminded me of my situation. Now, I'm calmed down and I listen for any sign of the rapist's location. I hear his footsteps walking toward the closet and then I hear the sound of him opening the closet door.
"Good thing I didn't hide in there." I thought to myself. The sound of my target ranting broke me out of my little thought bubble.
"Arceus dammit, I can't even jack off to some decent porn without having someone destroy my laptop!" His voice yells. So, that's what some of the white stains of the dirty clothes were . . . . Then, my target seems to leave the room, while mumbling something unintelligible. I peek out of the bottom of the blanket and don't see anyone there. The coast was clear and I'm in pursuit.
"Now's my chance." I think to myself as I climb out from under the bed. Remembering I have the pistol in my hoodie's inside pocket, I pull it out and hold it in my right hand. A calming and exciting feeling rushes into me as I held the gun. "This time, remember to stay silent." I scold myself. Mistakes can be fatal, and I can't afford to make another! Creeping down the hallway leads me to the living room, just like the floor plans of the apartment said it would. Like the bedroom, it looked like a hurricane swept through it. Now that I feel a little calmer about the whole situation, I put my gun back into my hoodie pocket and zip it up. If that's the case, then the kitchen should be in the next room.
I poke my head around the corner and my target is getting food out of the fridge. Slowly, I come out from behind the wall and crack my knuckles to get his attention.
"I've been waiting for a really long time to do this!" I say.
"Who are you?" He asks.
I laugh dryly and reply, "I'm the guy who was sent here to kick your ass!" then I beckon for him to make the first move.
*End*