The heat of the flames hitting my face lashed me without remorse or hindrance on my part, my open eyes facing my burning home only reflected my despair in my speechlessness, as my mouth slowly opened as the reality of that event welled up inside me again.
─Mom! Dad! ─I shouted... before my mind came back to reality.
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It was just a few seconds in which my concept of reality seemed to stop, as if it were a slight exchange, passing just a few moments back to the nightmares before my consciousness returned.
My head hit the ground as soon as I received that blow, the impact had been enough to leave me unable to respond to the knockout, but as soon as I woke up again I only managed to groan in pain once the same man who had hit me lifted my head, pulling my hair, before kicking me in the stomach and throwing me to the side.
I barely managed to spit out some saliva, before I finally ended up falling to the side of the place from the force of the kick.
─ Put the straps back on ─The one who had hit me spoke, now completely disinterested in me, as it was easy to see that my body had stopped responding long ago, leaving as a trace of consciousness my slightly open eyes pointing in the direction of where the pokémon were gathered in fear.
They would not escape... not once that trio returned to threaten them with their weapons; long batons, made with a sadistic technology focused on torturing and restraining pokémon with great electric shocks. Created with a strange material that could omit any kind of resistance from the weak.
My body trembled, it was hard to breathe, and I could only cough out of mere inertia at the last kick, but even that action made a constant and penetrating pain emerge in me, unavoidable, but that only made the agony permanent.
Consciousness didn't plan to leave my body, even with all that, my eyes remained on the pokémon, while two of the burly men approached them, with new necklaces in hand and pointing their guns at them.
But the foot of the third would not take long to land on my head again.
─ It's not so easy when you're the one being attacked from behind, is it? ─ As he spoke, burying my head in the ground, I could only groan and frown at the pain, yet the force he applied, slow and steady, only seemed to indicate that he was seeking amusement in the mistreatment.
─ I don't know what you intended to do with all this stuff ─ Referring to the pokémon, as he spoke, the man slowly began to lean more on my head as he bent down and brought his head closer to mine, before grabbing my hair again, pulling his foot off me and lifting it slightly, at the same time bringing his mouth close to my ear.
─ But I don't think it's going to be possible to do it anymore. ─ With a mocking and even childish tone, he finally let go of me roughly back to the ground, already beginning to separate from me.
─ The boss said to take care of you for humiliating him, but he didn't say how ─ As I said this, my breathing, in its own agitation, could only increase after hearing the safety of a gun being pulled out.
─ Don't worry... I'll make it qui- ─ His voice finally stopped…
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After a bone impacted full in his face.
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By the time that group of thugs arrived, the very fear that had frozen the pokémon didn't stop that little Cubone that had once helped from hiding under the wagon.
Going unnoticed by those who were trying to retake the rest of the pokémon, did not stop him from hiding and being afraid, however, in his innocence and few months of life strong enough to generate the detachment that the rest of his species felt for any human in general, just a small token of kindness had been enough to undermine in his mind a desire to put a stop to the abuse I was receiving and launch his attack.
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But his act of bravery only lasted for a few seconds... before one of those in charge of keeping the pokémon under control finally electrocuted him with the tip of his gun.
His screams did not take long to emerge, the amount was completely different from what was necessary to control him, but the smile of the one who stopped him had long ago stopped demonstrating that the latter was his desire.
The pokémon could only watch in fear as the other man who was still watching them quickly placed the collars on them one by one, sealing their fate once again.
The leader of that group could only manage to slouch with fury at the relevant pain, bringing his hand to his eye without wanting to leave it uncovered by his own discomfort, however, it would not take him long to aim his weapon again.
─ Damned filth ─ The sound of the finger on the latch would be heard after that, the muzzle of the gun would be directed towards the Cubone.
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But my body would have been between it and the shot by then.
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My life by that time had already been sentenced. I had absolutely no strength left for anything, and the intention of those men was clear enough not to give me any hope that I would open my eyes again the next day.
My last action was nothing more than a mere way of trying to give some value to my life in its last moments, neither of them noticing me in their own pain and pleasure of causing it respectively.
My arms responded better than my legs, the adrenaline would help me one last time, I could only crawl until I made the one electrocuting the Cubone move away by slapping his crotch as hard as I could, not hard enough to leave him unable to respond, but enough to push him and his damned weapon away for just enough seconds to protect something one last time.
He didn't even think premeditatedly when he pulled the trigger, his intention was only Cubone, but when he realized me, it was too late to retract his action born out of anger.
But the bullet, giving birth in me only the pertinent and short scream as a consequence of still being alive, could only land on my right shoulder after reaching to shield Cubone himself with it.
There was only silence, even the one who finished placing the necklaces had raised his eyes in surprise and disbelief at what had happened... but only the leader's snort was born again shortly after that, my impertinence in intervening being sufficiently shocking to counteract his own anger at the stupefaction.
─ Let's get it over with ─ Those were the man's last words, before aiming at my head... and finally firing.
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At the same instant a Riolu suddenly appeared, jumped and growled before biting the hand holding the weapon.
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A new shot and a second bullet entering my body was felt, I could only open my mouth and eyes in response, this one had been different, its pain was no longer felt, but the impact finally immobilized my body, with no return to give any new response.
I barely remember the sounds by then... I felt another body fall close to me, but I would no longer be able to turn around and see it. My consciousness faded for the last time, I no longer felt pain, while screams and a strange fight seemed to happen behind my back, while the sense of time was also lost.
I was not able to recognize the phrases, only a few words remain in my memory, jumbled... "kill" "Riolu" "no" "sold" "should have", only that I perceived before my hearing ceased, leaving only the blurred sight as the last trace of consciousness.
The Cubone was still beneath me, unconscious, a hand reached out, grabbing it by its head and pulling it off roughly and disinterestedly. Quickly walking away along with the rest of the pokémon... thus finally yielding my sight behind it.
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Even if you, reader, know the outcome knowing this from my own hand, even today after so many times in which my life was involved in the fights and events that that little instant with that Riolu had provoked, in which I thought that death would be next, I still feel the impact of that last bullet...
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And all that it brought with it.
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There were no nightmares, as ironic as it seemed, in the most chaotic moment my brain could receive, the memories of my past would not return. Today my memories of that period of time when my consciousness refused to return are still alive in spite of everything; the faint images of the last scene I experienced seemed to repeat themselves with changes, as if I could have magically stood up and attacked them with some of the sticks from the campfire that were on fire, imagining myself protecting those pokémon with all my being, unafraid of what might have happened to me.
It was only a lie... the impetus I showed so much in the past could only finally reveal my incompetence. On the ground, helpless, unable to overcome those who were stronger than me, feelings like that I remember strongly.
But the last memory did not change, that Riolu that had thrown itself against that weapon, that instant remained as a constant in all the imaginative situations that I created in my dying mind.
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But the illusions sooner or later had to disappear... after finally waking up.
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The sound of a truck passing by a few meters before driving away was what ended up opening my eyes. As I did so, the pains returned, the grief, impotence, rage, continued; even to the point of hating the fact of even thinking that they did not want me on the other side because my body refused to die.
Silence predominated now... all the chaos that had once occurred was now contrasted by a gloomy night scene, slightly illuminated by the faint embers that remained from the almost extinct bonfire together with the light that the moon itself gave.
I was still on my stomach, trying to focus my eyes, they slowly began to respond.
There was no one there, my first reaction was to want to cough, as if my lungs were begging for some oxygen. My mouth on the ground gave the reason, but I was not so lost as not to remember the extra pain that action would bring.
I had to get up, my fingers and toes responded, with faint timidity I moved my joints, the pain re-emerged in my right arm. The first bullet had hit there.
I didn't know where the second one had hit, the spine had been discarded when I moved my feet luckily, but the need to breathe made me finally gather courage to turn over and manage to stay on my back, breathing in and out with effort.
I couldn't help coughing, even forcing myself not to, a small movement in my lungs emerged, and with it a new pain returned. This time it was not from my chest as it had been in the past, nor was it as piercing as I had expected. It was as if it were a small prick from a simple needle in my stomach.
Supporting myself with my left hand, it wasn't long before I saw and even smelled the dried blood on my clothes and the dirt.
The bullet had hit me in my side near my belly, I really felt that death did not want me by its side as I saw how lucky I was to realize that it had not gone through some artery as I did not see so much blood.
The wound was still open, drying and sticking to the fabric of my clothes, the pain returned as I tried to pull it out, and I didn't have the courage to continue with it.
I tried to see more around me, there was no sign of the pokémon; my things, thrown away, were still a few meters away from me, it was clear that they were not interested in stealing me at all; as my sight went around the sector, it wasn't long before my frown turned to pity after noticing it.
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His body was still there, inert... I could slightly see how a faint breeze moved his short fur with the small shines caused by the moon on it.
I couldn't get up, not yet. Under the same pain and trying not to make my wound touch the ground, I slowly started to crawl sideways towards that Riolu.
I couldn't see him at the time... but I knew he had jumped towards that man after hearing his growl.
I doubted that someone would miss a shot like that on purpose, even less at that distance, they should have left me for dead when they saw all the blood, and it was thanks to him that I had survived, plus the blood all over his torso gave the sign that he had received the shot in spite of everything; the bullet went through him until it hit me.
I only looked with pity at his lifeless body, the blood stained his narrow torso, and the earth around him also maintained that color.
I didn't take long to place my hand on his forehead in order to caress him with respect before trying to take him.
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But it was only the brief moment in which his eyelids moved, almost by mere millimeters... that ended up completely opening mine on the spot.
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I couldn't even take it for granted at first, I couldn't believe it, not with all the blood and the area where I had been shot; for the first time it seemed as if the pain in me lessened, as I brought my ear closer to his nose...
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And perceive a small breath of this...
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Everything had become complicated... my body was one thing, even in the face of the risk I was taking, I knew I had enough drugs to make my heart endure to get to the capital or at least to some merchant who could take me; but the Riolu was far from having that kind of time.
I should make an effort, run if necessary to get there, however, as much as I doubted myself and wanted to deny it, I was not even able to stand up; helplessness again overpowered me as I gritted my teeth while I tried to grab the Riolu's body with my forearm and, supporting myself with my elbow and my weak knees, I tried to stand up, suffocating the wound in my stomach even more.
My right arm was not responding even to make even a small effort, my muscles had already given up completely while the tears would not take long to come out as I could not bear the discomfort.
─ D-Damn it ─ Slowly I was getting up, my legs succeeding, even if their task was not yet what I would really demand of them, the Riolu's body still inertly resting on my arm and torso, as I tried to calm my breathing in the face of the pain...
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But only... to feel someone kick me in the back, sending me tumbling back towards the ground.
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I didn't have time to react other than to turn around and slam my right shoulder into the ground to prevent the Riolu from suffering worse damage; it was a mere reflex movement, but the act was enough to finally make me scream out in pain.
─ See if you have anything useful ─ Voices were heard, but my crying and agony prevented me from recognizing them, but I knew at least that they were not the same as before.
As my scream faded, my angry and hurt eyes finally tried to settle on the one who had pushed me.
─ Well... well, look who we have here… ─ My eyes opened again, reddened by everything that had happened before, I could not curse the situation any more, nor did I know what I had done to deserve such bad luck, since it was not even logical how these people were there.
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Seeing how the same men who tried to steal Hina's package were once again standing in front of me.
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─ Looks like they didn't lie to us... you'd really be around here ─ The leader laughed, at the same time bending down and looking at me and Riolu. ─ They really did shit to you ─He was stating the obvious, while it didn't take him long to focus on the pokémon.
─ Boss, they are the same medicines as in Hotaru, nothing more ─ A discouraged voice was heard behind him, while the same man who was still in front of me only began to smile, while continuing to look at the Riolu.
─ I think there's something of much more value here, guys ─ The boss finally said, as only worry and fear dominated my expression.
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─Hey ─ A serious voice is heard, loud and clear enough to make me open my eyes again, exalted and horrified at what it all meant.
The man stopped, only managing to turn slightly to his back.
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While in front of this... Hina, with a large shovel in hand, was standing.
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─ Stay away... from my godchild ─ That's all that was heard... before a rumble finally gave way and echoed throughout the sector.