"Oh, my dear."
Her head whipped upwards, her hair flowing in all directions, face splitting open to reveal a glowing purple face with huge red menacing eyes, sharp pointed teeth lining her mouth as her huge tongue hung out. She let out a horrifying scream, drowning out Cheryl as she screamed in pain and terror.
...
Cheryl awoke screaming. Screaming and screaming and screaming. Chansey cried out, trying to calm the green haired woman, but Cheryl fought the calming sensation of Chansey's healing abilities. Only when the nurses rushed in and held her down long enough for a needle to get inserted into her neck did she finally stop. She lay limp, eye's distant as she fell back into darkness.
...
She was standing before a forest. Cheryl glanced around, the breeze gentle as it moved the grass. It has been a while since she was here. She took a step forwards, reaching out her hand towards the dark and foreboding Eterna Forest.
Suddenly, she stopped. A peculiar sensation crept up her legs and she found they were now rooted to the dirt. She went to bend, only to realize she couldn't do that either. All she could do was stare at her darkening outstretched fingers as they began to harden. Her mouth opened in a silent scream and then she couldn't do anything at all. Nothing but stare endlessly, left with her own thoughts for all eternity.
...
Cheryl awoke again, this time in a cold sweat. She blinked at the light shining above her, watching it move almost hypnotically.
"Chansey!" the musical voice made her turn her head on the rough pillow, staring at the pink Pokemon standing there. Chansey seemed to be happy Cheryl was awake now, a pink glow spreading from the Pokemon and over her. Cheryl sighed softly, feeling calm. Sitting up, she smiled at the Pokemon. "Thank you, Chansey."
"Chansey!" The Pokemon cried, pleased with herself.
Cheryl got to her feet, only to find herself off balance. She reached out her left hand to steady herself on the small table by her bedside when something caught her eye. She stared at her fingers, seeing the hard brown substance from her dream coating them. She held them up to her face, turning her hand slowly to examine it.
"Oh, dear," a brown haired nurse who appeared to be in her ageing years rushed over from the open doorway. She grasped Cheryl's hands, looking into the green haired woman's eyes. "Feeling all better now? Here, you should take your pills."
She set down a glass of water and two white pills and one orange one. She hurriedly left and when Cheryl glanced back at her fingers, she found them to be clean. Shaking her head softly, she swallowed the pills and headed out of her room, Chansey by her side at all times. She wandered without direction, once smelling something sweet and poked her head into a small kitchen where food was being prepped.
A tap on her shoulder made her whirl around. Standing just a foot shorter than her was an older man wearing a lab coat. He adjusted his red tinted glasses resting on the crook of his nose, smiling at her.
"Well now, up and about I see," he said, taking her hand. "Come with me, Cheryl dear. You have visitors."
"Oh?" Cheryl perked up. She had seen many others here get visitors, but she couldn't remember ever getting any herself. "Visitors?" She was being lead by the hand down a hall and she knelt slightly to get closer to the man's ear. "For me? Are you sure?"
"Quite," the man nodded, smiling broadly. "I hear they're your oldest friends."
"Friends?" Cheryl was surprised. "I have friends? Oh, lucky me!" She felt happy, giddy even. She had friends. Who would've thought?
The man brought her to a white room with comfortable looking chairs and a couch. She seated herself in the middle of the white couch, relishing in the rare comfort. She straightened her hospital gown, slightly irked that it had wrinkles in some places. It had to be perfect for her friends.
She glanced up at the man, who was leaving the room. "Um, do I look nice?"
He glanced back and nodded, a warm smile adorning his features. "You look lovely dear. You don't need to worry."
"Oh," Cheryl relaxed, satisfied. "Good. Good."
She sat there as he left and closed the door. She absentmindedly stroked her long braided green hair, something she found calmed her nerves. She wondered what her friends would be like and she had enough time to entertain one of her fantasies before she heard the door creak open. Hurriedly, she straightened and stopped stroking her hair, resting her hands in her lap.
She saw the old man hold open the door, letting two people enter. Cheryl didn't recognize either of them and she tilted her head as she studied them. One of them was a woman, maybe her age, wearing brown shorts and a green shawl with orange hair. The other was a guy, wearing pants with a black vest over a white t-shirt. He wore a red hat and red scarf around his neck. Both of their eyes lit up upon seeing Cheryl.
"Oh, Cheryl!" The woman cried out, rushing over to wrap the green-haired girl in a hug. Cheryl smiled awkwardly as she tentatively hugged her back. The guy reached out with one hand towards Cheryl, then hesitated. Cheryl tilted her head slightly, wondering why he looked so... sad. Instead, he turned to old man.
"How has she been?" He asked and Cheryl wondered that if he was her friend, why didn't he want to hug her as well.
"Oh, she's had her good days and bad days," the old man nodded with a glance at her. "But then, so do we all." He chuckled at that and the guy's face muscles seemed to clench.
"Is she getting better?" He asked more sternly.
"Um," Cheryl spoke up as the woman stepped back. "I know we're friends, I was told that, but I don't know your names? Could I please know them?"
The woman sucked in a sharp breath, eyes widening. "Lucas," she whispered, voice shaking.
The guy, Lucas, began to look enraged. He turned on the old man and gripped the front of his shirt. "Tell me why she's like that! She's worse than the last time we came by!"
Cheryl tried to gather her memories. He just said they've been there to see her before, but she couldn't... Maybe... She could see them, slightly younger, but the memory was hazy and she started getting a headache when she thought about it too hard. She came back to reality as the door slammed open and two of the staff yanked Lucas away from the old man.
Lucas struggled against them, the girl crying out, "Lucas! Stop!"
He ceased, but he still glared. "This isn't over!" He said through gritted teeth at the old man before he yanked himself free of the staff. He cast one more sad look Cheryl's way before leaving the room. The woman looked confused, but she hugged Cheryl one last time before following Lucas.
"I thought we would be able to talk more," Cheryl said, disappointed.
"Don't worry about it my dear," the Old Man helped her stand back up. "They're just upset, that's all. Don't you worry about it."
She nodded, letting his words wash over her. She was led back to her room where she laid back down on her bed. Despite being awake for only a couple hours, she found herself exhausted. Her eyelids drooped and finally she couldn't keep herself awake any longer, slipping away into darkness.
...
"Make sure she's tied down firmly before you give the injection."
Cheryl's vision was hazy as she blinked sleepily. She could hear voices, but they sounded as if they were muted somehow.
"Hold out her arm for me... that's right."
Her body felt numb. Then a searing pain erupted in her right arm, making her jerk. She opened her mouth wide and for a couple moments didn't even realize she was screaming.
"Arceus! I said make sure she was tied down!"
Cheryl's body bucked before she was forced to lie still. The pain was spreading throughout her body and she felt as if she was crusting over.
"Geez, remind me again why I work with you people."
She felt as if the pain stretched on for an eternity before finally she felt her body relaxing as she began to drift away. The last thing she saw before she was overcome by darkness once more was a flash of white light. "That's a good picture. Charon will want to add this to the scrapbook." There was a chorus of laughter before all was silent.
...
Cheryl sat straight up in bed, blinking in confusion. She held her head, a sharp pain stabbing into her. She scrunched her face up as she felt the last remnants of the nightmare fade away.
"Chhhhheryllllll."
She froze.
"Chhhhheryllllll."
She turned towards her barred window, feeling as if something was calling to her. She crept out of bed and peered out into the darkness, seeing the dark treetops of Eterna Forest far in the distance.
"Chhhhheryllllll."
Her eyes darted around, trying to find something, anything! She hauled up her desk, the items falling off and scattering along the floor. She hefted it and threw it at the window. It shattered outwards and Cheryl knew the staff would be here any second. She broke the glass shards that remained and pulled herself through the square opening, still managing to slice herself on her arm and leg. She tumbled onto the broken glass laying in the grass and stumbled to her feet.
She ran, stumbling every so often, the pain pushed to the back of her mind. It was calling her. The forest was calling for her. Something shot ahead of her, stopping in front of the tall metal gate. Cheryl's eyes widened as she recognized the Toxicroak.
"AUGH!" She cried out, coming to a stop as she fell to her knees, her mind exploding with pain. Images flashed through her head. Walking into a the Psychiatric Hospital for the first time and meeting him and Toxicroak. Then waking up to see nurses dragging you out of bed. Running, running, but that Pokemon kept catching her. Pain, so much pain. That dark room. So much pain.
A voice tutted as the grass swished around their feet as they passed by. Cheryl lifted her head in agony, somehow managing to twist her face into rage as she glared at Charon and his Toxicroak standing side-by-side.
"You-!" She gasped, trying to fight the pain threatening to overwhelm her. Somewhere in the back of her mind she could still feel the pull of the forest. She tried standing, but her knees buckled beneath her and she fell to the ground.
Charon nudged her face with his shoe. "Now, that isn't a pretty look on your face. It seems like you're escape attempt has once again failed."
"The forest," she gasped, this time reaching out with her hand in its direction. She wanted him, someone, anyone, to understand the pounding in her skull. "I must-!" A swift kick to the head made her roll over to the side, smearing her cheek with dirt.
Another sigh from Charon as darkness threatened to close in on Cheryl, who still struggled to crawl towards the forest. He knelt beside her and she barely spared him a glance, her eyes wild with desperation. He frowned. "It seems the side effects are more... powerful than we had originally thought." He grabbed her arm and injected something into her. She didn't care. She just needed to get to Eterna Forest. "I'm sure we can remedy that."
As Cheryl was losing her consciousness, her fingers curled around the chain linked fence. Then darkness swept over her like a wave.
...
Cheryl blinked awake. She sat up in bed, hand instinctively running through her hair. It felt... soft and maybe even slightly damp. She smiled to herself. "Perhaps I took a shower before bed and was too tired to forget."
"Chansey!" the Pink Pokémon trilled. She wobbled over to her bedside and set down a couple pills for Cheryl to take. Two were white, one orange, and another purple.
The green-haired woman smiled. "Thank you, Chansey." She took the pills and small glass of water on her desk and swallowed. She set the glass back down on the wood and marveled at how smooth it was. "I bet this is new! I must thank... thank..." she struggled to remember who she should thank. "Thank..."
"Chansey!" the Pokemon cried and Cheryl started at the sound of her door opening.
"Ah, awake now I see," an old man with grayish pink hair and red-tinted glasses settled on the crook of his nose entered. "How are you feeling this fine morning, Cheryl?"
"Much better," she said brightly, though she hadn't the faintest idea of why she might be feeling better from. "Are you the one who gave me this new desk?"
"Oh, yes," he nodded. "I decided the old one had far too many cracks. This one you'll find to be much more smooth." His eyes seemed to wander to the wall and Cheryl followed them, looking at the smooth stone.
"Now," his voice made her turn back to him. "I must take my leave. Enjoy yourself today, my dear." He left and Cheryl stared back at her wall, tilting her head. A vague memory put a window where she was staring, but the image was quickly whisked away.
"I hope I change rooms again soon," she murmured. "I think I quite liked having a room with a window."
She stood up and started to make her way to her door, only to feel something digging into the back of her leg. She lifted her dress and saw a piece of bark sticking to her skin. She ran her fingers down the rough object before trying to pull it away. She gasped in pain and saw a drop of blood pool around one edge, a line of blood sliding down her skin.
...
Cheryl limped slightly as she walked towards the counter with a tray in hand. Food was deposited onto it from a Mr. Mime and only seemed to glare as Cheryl thanked him. She sat down at a table, feeling nostalgic as she did so.
"Looking bright as usual." A raven haired teen, years younger looking compared to Cheryl, sat hunched as she swirled her spoon in the orange-brown slop. Her long hair was messy and unwashed, her gray uniform just like Cheryl's, albeit more rugged.
"Hi," Cheryl said brightly. "And you are?"
The girl groaned, rolling her eyes as she let her spoon drop with a clatter, not bothered by the bit of slop that hit her front. "That time again, is it? Fine fine, my name's Princess."
"Princess?" Cheryl giggled. "That's so cute."
Princess' gaze looked murderous for a moment, but dropped back to her tray. "You always say that." Her eyes flicked back up. "I saw you limping. What happened?"
"Oh, nothing," Cheryl picked at her food, still smiling. "Just a cut."
Princess frowned, but didn't argue. Instead, she lifted a spoonful of slop, made a face, then swallowed. Every time Cheryl tried to start the conversation again, the girl ignored her attempts, so the green-haired girl ate as the silence stretched on.
A tap on the table made both girls look up. The old man from before was smiling at Cheryl. "Come dear, we need to take a couple tests."
Cheryl looked down at her food, having ate most of it. "Sure."
He smiled as Princess glared at him, her grip on her spoon turning her knuckles white. She hastily turned her head, not meeting Cheryl's eyes. The green-haired girl shrugged. She'd only just met her. They could become friends later.
But as she was following the old man, Cheryl stumbled as she felt a hand pull up her pant leg. Cheryl hurriedly pulled it back down as she felt a sharp pain shoot up her leg, shooting a curious and hurt glance at Princess, who blinked innocently at her as she withdrew her hand, a smear of blood on her fingertips where she had found Cheryl's odd wound. There was also a piece of bark that she had tore from her skin clutched in her hand. As Cheryl left the cafeteria, she saw one last look on Princess' face. An expression of extreme sadness and helplessness.
...
"Where are we?" Cheryl gazed around at the small square room she had just entered. The panels covering the entire room were white, almost blindingly so. A metal chair leaned back slightly in the center, cuffs extending from the arms. A metal tray stood on a small table to the right of it, an assortment of tools on it. A foreboding feeling began to creep over Cheryl, a shiver running down the length of her spine. "W-what is this place?"
She turned as she asked the old man that question, then jumped as the door slammed behind two people in light blue scrubs, masks covering their faces. They advanced on her and Cheryl stepped back, fear starting to register in her brain. "Ple-please! What's going on!?"
"It's alright my dear," the old man grinned, something that sent chills through her. "We're just going to do your treatment." He nodded to the two nurses. "Restrain her."
Cheryl found herself against the chair now as they gripped both her arms tightly. She screamed, "Stop, please! I don't want to do this." Her mind was totally lost on what was going on, but a small section felt this was familiar. That the experience to come was something to fear, so that's all Cheryl could do. Fear.
Images began flashing through her head as she caught glimpses of flashing tools, masks, and so much pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain.
She was restrained now to the chair. She struggled, unable to hear herself scream over the pounding in her skull. She felt something being injected into her arm, a searing fire erupting inside herself. Through a haze of pain, she saw the old man watching with a broad smile, hands clasped behind his back, orange ear plugs sticking out of his ears.
She felt her leg get lifted up and one of the surgeons reached for a scalpel and sliced the skin on her right knee. Cheryl screamed and screamed, pain nearly overwhelming her as she watched the blood ooze from the large cut. A large needle was injected slowly into the opening and Cheryl threw back her head in agony.
Her fuzzy memories seemed to open up now, making her relive past times in this same room going through similar procedures. She could feel all the pain from then and the pain from now all at once. A thousand times of suffering.
Cheryl couldn't move now, looking at the large cut through a haze of pain. The skin seemed to bubble around it, turning dark as it crusted over. It sealed up the wound with a layer of rough bark.
Then she saw the glint of the scalpel being raised again and Cheryl's world became only one of pure agony.
...
"I think that's about enough for one day."
Cheryl watched Charon with a blank gaze as he ushered both surgeons to the side. Her mind and vision were hazy. Her body felt heavy, rough, and a different feeling seemed to be spreading through her body like roots. She could see Charon jotting down notes on a clipboard, pushing up his red glasses.
"Cheryl."
She still couldn't move, but her mind reacted weakly to the new presence.
"Cheryl."
"Hel... hel... hello?" she thought weakly, numb with pain.
"Cheryl."
It was achingly familiar. Before it had been faint, more of a whisper. Now it was louder, clearer.
"I can help you, Cheryl."
"Who... are... you?"
Memories not her own flickered past her mind's eye. A dark forest filled with trees. A dragging sound, brushing past fallen leaves as they moved. Limbs swung back and forth slowly, gnarled and creaky. A puddle of water lay ahead. Before splashing through it, we leaned down to stare at our reflection. Gnarled branches rose from its head like a crown with bushy leaves, a single red eye glaring down at ourselves.
"What... is this?"
"Feel my power."
More memories. A mighty Torterra rose in the clearing, stomping its feet on the ground. Roots ripped up from the earth and lashed out towards us. We raised our gnarled hand as it glowed bright green, slamming it into the roots like a hammer. Creaking sounded from our body as we leaned forwards, rushing forwards and slamming our horns into Torterra, lifting him up and jabbing our head into his stomach. Energy flowed from him and into us, revitalizing our health.
Cheryl felt as if merely watching the memory gave her strength. She was not alone in her mind anymore. This creature, no, this Pokemon was one with her. He could give her power. Power so both of us could escape this torture. Two people flashed in her mind and she longed to meet them again. One a orange-haired girl and the other a dark-haired boy. Her best friends.
"Gardenia... Lucas..." she managed to choke out hoarsely, a single tear rolling down her cheek.
"Eh?" Charon looked up, squinting at her. "Are you-"
With a guttural scream, Cheryl gripped her fists and broke through her bonds. Rage consumed her as she reached for Charon, only for both the surgeons to quickly descend on her. She yanked herself free from their grasps and slammed her right arm into his chest, his body cracking the wall as she did the same to the other surgeon. She stared at her arms. The fingers on her left hand were gnarled and woody while her right arm ended in three curled fingers, looking very much like a branch. Small bent leaves were already starting to grow on her body and as she stared, one unfurled fully.
"AAAAAAUUUUUGGGGGGHHHH!" She screamed, gripping her head tightly, her claws scraping against a hard section of her head. She turned her furious gaze on Charon, but he was already through the door. She ran after him, a Crobat zooming down the hallway towards her. She raised her claws, a green glow surrounding them into a hammer shape. She swung, slamming Crobat into the ground as she leaped over him.
She could see Charon rushing towards a door at the far end and she roared, her footsteps pounding loudly on the ground. Roots spread from her, breaking through the ground and curling through the walls as they spread towards the scientist. He cast a fearful look back as he made it through the door and slammed it shut. Cheryl slammed into it full force, denting it. She narrowed her eyes as they glowed red and raised both hands, shadowy claws forming. As she broke through the door, the voice within her head seemed to louden as a familiar tug pulled on her.
Forest! Must reach forest!
Cheryl ran in a straight line, Charon forgotten as she broke through anything in her way, finally reaching cool night air and grass beneath her bare feet. Clouds hid the moon as she ran. She raised her arms as she neared the gate and they grew, extending to wrap around the top of the fence. She hauled herself into the air, dropping on the opposite side.
Eterna Forest was closer than ever now. She ran and ran, the voice within her and the voice of the forest growing louder and louder. She could see the tree line through the darkness now. She was so close!
Something slammed into her back, a spike erupting through her chest. She coughed up blood, driven to her knees as she tumbled. She screamed as it was pulled from her and she turned onto her back to see the Toxicroak with its knuckle claw dripping blood.
A sudden flare inside her chest made her curl up. She could feel something new spreading through her body, burning up her insides. She retched onto the ground, a vile liquid wilting the grass. She scrambled backwards, swinging her claws incase Toxicroak advanced, but he didn't. He only watched as if waiting.
Cheryl soon turned her focus back on the forest. She sprinted for the forest, it's darkness welcoming. She reached out her senses, causing roots to grow larger as they erupted from the soil everywhere, blocking the path she came from. She didn't know where she was running to, only towards the voice as it seemed to echo all around her. Then the pain within her made her stumble, her movements slowing as she collapsed. She began crawling, reaching out for the roots at the base of a nearby tree. She could feel its pull, its energy, its life. She wanted so bad to be a part of it.
Her breathing slowed as she curled her left fingers around the closest root and went limp. She couldn't see anymore as she was left in total darkness.
She could see both Lucas and Gardenia now, faint images in her mind. She longed to reunite with them, but the pull of the forest was stronger, and soon they were washed away. She felt the last of the life coursing through her slow to a halt as everything went silent.