It was early in the morning, the sun had barely risen. The reason I had awoken so early was because of another nightmare, one I do not wish to recall the details of. Horrific images of what will become me had flashed before my eyes in that dream; sadistic, cruel, and uncaring. And then what it whispered... Your time has come, Keith...
I blinked, shaking my head. Once I get to the source of these nightmares... I can finally get some wonderful as hell sleep...
I didn't dare going back to sleep, afraid of another nightmare, so I decided to explore the place a bit more. The mansion was big after all. I went to the library, the kitchen, the park, the front patio, and even the upper floors, which were restricted for Pokémon. I felt a bit uncomfortable being up here, knowing that Isabelle had told me that this place was probably restricted because secret experiments on normal-type Pokémon were being held here. But since I'm a fire-type, I should be safe... right?
Passing several doors, which all have the word 'office' on them, I saw a large glass door, surrounded by glass panes, making a large square window. Apparently, it led to the balcony. But what interested me was not the balcony itself, but who was at the balcony: it was Xera, the quiet Espurr. The balcony was facing east, where the sun was rising, making most of her features masked, but it's definitely her. From the looks of it, it seems like she's writting something on a book.
Curious, I quietly opened the balcony door and apporached her. Halfway across the balcony, I stopped. This is a bad idea, I shouldn't interrupt her... That hesitation made me look away for a moment, and when I looked back, she vanished. "What?" I blurted in disbelief. Where'd she go? Did she teleport? Not that it mattered; since she's not here, I guess I should just leave...
But as I was about to leave, I hesitated again. The book. Looking back, I saw the closed book. My heart thumped. Should I...? Some strange force was compelling me to read the book. Does that mean it's good? Or is it a trap? But either way, I just didn't accpet the fact that I might never find out what's inside, so I quickly rushed over to it. On the cover I saw words written in fancy golden lettering: 'Diary'.
My heart thumped louder. I instantly changed my mind, ignoring the strange gut feeling to read it. If it's a diary, then I'm not reading it. As I began to turn around, I sensed someone. I felt a pair of eyes stare at me, observing. Gulping, I turned around, fearing that it was Xera.
It was Xera.
Shit.
We stared silently at each other, the wind blowing quietly. Flushing a bit, I stammered, "U-uh, hi Xera... Um... I d-didn't read it, j-just so you know..." I was honestly a little afraid. Quiet people are normally unpredictable. The next thing she did was unpredictable. She smiled. Smiled!
I stared bewilderedly at her. "Y-you're not mad at me?" She shook her head. "A-at all? Not even a little bit?" Again, she shook her head. I was confused to why she wasn't at least upset; who would want anyone to read their diary? Then, even more to my amazement, she simply vanished in a blinding white light, teleporting. The wind only quietly blew through my fur as I stared where Xera was standing, utterly baffled.
In my head, I tried to think up a logical conclusion to why Xera did what she did. I could only come up with one. Perhaps I should just trust my gut and read the diary. Maybe that's why she wasn't mad. Maybe she had expected me to invade her privacy and read it. Although the theory sounded stupid and ridiculous, I couldn't come up with another possibility. So I picked up the diary and flipped through it, skim-reading it.
Nothing in it was actually personal. It was mainly personal opinion on certain things. Other stuff included her regular daily activities and thoughts. I felt a bit relieved to know that I wasn't going to delve into a high school girl's book of secrets. As I flipped the pages, I noticed one that dated back a few days after Sam and Jonathan arrived here. I spotted several paragraphs containing Xera's personal opinion on Arthur, Spark, Vivico, Kirlia, Blanch, and me. I laughed a bit when I saw her opinion on me.
All it said was this: '?'
I guess even she's uncertain on how to judge me, I mused to myself.
Continuing on, I flipped through the pages, when it suddenly stopped. Huh, stupid sticky pages. I peeled it off, seeing glue dripping off the page. That couldn't have been accidental, right? Looking at the page I opened, I realized that I definitely wasn't. I read the contents, baffled. When I reached the end, I reread it again, just to make sure.
Keith, I know that you've been suffering lately. What you told me last night made me sure of it. Although I am uncertain why you keep getting nightmares, I've personally met up with the clan's best doctor (a Pokémon doctor, of course) to check your condition. I've even asked her to wake up early this day, so you can check with her immediately after reading this. The clinic's at the first floor, farthest room down the east wing.
You might be wondering, how I knew you were going to read this. From what I know of your... 'condition', it's most likely for you to wake up early today from another nightmare. I stood outside your door to make sure. Once I knew you were awake, I went up here; the balcony. This note has just been written recently.
To how I knew you were going to the balcony... Well, that wasn't a coincidence, no. To be frankly honest with you, I guided you here. I will not go into the details, but I merely controlled your subconscious a bit, tugging and nudging your mind into the right direction.
I know that you'll find this and my method rather creepy and uncomfortable, even stalker-like, but I'm doing what I thought would be best for you. Forgive me if you don't like this approach; I'll be more direct next time. For now, you should go see Doctor Lirrian. She's the Espeon at the clinic. Being a psychic-type, I'm sure she'll be able to help you, although I doubt she would be able to cure you.
Regards, Xera ;)
After I made sure that this note was serious, I felt confused, but also relieved at the same time. I didn't really understand why Xera didn't just give me the note directly, but from reading this note I immediately jumped to the conclusion that she was an introvert.
And so, I decided to do what Xera has written in here, and went to the first floor of the manor.
Going down the far end of the corridor, I saw an Espeon. I assumed that she was Doctor Lirrian, the Espeon at the clinic and one of the Pokémon medics. Walking over, I greeted her. "Hi... are you Doctor... Lirrian?"
The Espeon nodded, beckoning me to walk into the room. As I did so, I observed her. I prefer to assume that she was in her twenties, since you can't tell how old Pokémon are by look. She was pretty much just a regular Espeon, other than the fact that she was wearing a custom-made lab coat and square glasses. I didn't even know that some Pokémon needed glasses, I thought to myself.
"You are Keith, right?" She asked. Her voice was a bit deep, but soothing. "As Xera may have told you, my name is Lirrian. At Xera's request, I've privileged the entire clinic just for you. Although I don't normally take off-schedule visitors, I have decided to excuse myself, just this once." I was amazed that Xera had gone to such great lengths to find me help. "Oh, and do forgive my doctor's attire; my trainer made me wear this." I almost burst out laughing, but I held it in.
"Are those glasses also...?" I asked her.
"No, these are real. I need them to see since I'm shortsighted." She replied, grabbing a pen and paper at a nearby desk. "Now tell me, what exactly is your issue? Xera didn't actually clarify that much."
"I've..." I gulped, feeling shaken. "I've been having a lot of nightmares recently..." Lirrian stared at me, as though as she was thinking this was some stupid prank. "I-it's not a prank, I swear! I've been having them ever since I've arrived here, and it's consistent on every single night! I-it's abnormal!"
"Alright then..." Lirrian mumbled, still uncertain. "Do you have any clue to why you're getting them?"
"N-no... the only possibility I can think of is an... outside source..." At those words, Lirrian's interest seem to perk up.
"Fascinating..." She started writting a bit on her piece of paper. "I think the best way to proceed with this is... a test." She looked at me, trying to identify any reluctance in me. "I'm going to need you to go to sleep. From there, I'll use my abilities to be able to determine the source of your dreams, if it's from outside."
Fear shivered through my entire body at the thought of having another horrifying nightmare. "Th-there's no way I can s-sleep..." I spluttered. "I... I..." I wished to say that I was afraid, but that'll just show that I'm nothing but a cowardly weakling who's terrified of a little dream.
"If you can't sleep, then I have something to help you," The Espeon walked over to a fridge in the corner of the room, opened it, and took out a jar. The jar contained purple, glittery gas, swirling around inside. "This is Sleep Powder." She said, walking back towards me. "Of course you would know that this is a move some Pokémon use. I've taken some and preserved it in the fridge for some insomniacs here."
I stared at the swirling gas inside the jar. That would definitely knock me out cold, but do I want to...? I gulped, swallowing down my fear and nodded. "O-okay... let's do it..." I climbed onto a nearby clinic bed and braced myself.
Lirrian carefully twisted open the jar's lid, the opening facing me. The jar then opened, releasing all the gas inside, blowing right at my face. The sweet scent instantly hit my nostrils, calming me, and I felt a bit woozy. I knew that it was working, but I was still afraid, however the drowsiness soon overtook my fear as I slowly plummeted into a deep state of slumber...
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"Where am I?" I asked to no one, having woken up in empty space. Above me, below me, around me, everywhere... it was just empty space; an infinitely vast void. "Hello?" Even though this was empty space, the fact that my voice echoed means that it's not vacuum... I guess...
"L-Lirrian?" I called out, my voice echoing about ten times before it faded. "Are you there?" Again, it echoed, but no response. I was beginning to think that this was a bad idea when a voice caught my attention, one I definitely recognize.
"Keith!" Turning around, I saw her. Lirrian, the Espeon, floating around in the void as well. She waved her arms and legs, swimming toward me. After a while, we were finally facing each other. "Thank goodness, Keith... I was starting to think that my method failed."
I stared at her, bewildered. "M-method?" I looked around us. It was just black, black, and more black. "Where are we?"
"We're in your mind." Lirrian replied in a tone so casual that it took me by surprise. "Using my abilities, I was able to enter your mind while you were still sleeping. This is why I am here. The reason everything is so... empty, is because a dream hasn't formulated yet."
I pondered her words for a moment, trying to process it. "So... how do we get it to 'formulate'?" I asked her.
"You don't. It happens naturally, really. Neither you nor I can control it." She paused for a minute. "All we can do... is wait."
I groaned. Waiting? It sounds like torture! And the entire world is currently a clean slate!
But we waited anyway, since there was nothing else to do.
We waited...
And waited...
And waited...
And waited till what felt like an eternity before finally something happened.
The empty space started to receive color, contorting into various shapes. Soon, a room was slowly starting to form. You could see the cabinets, tables, posters, the floor; the entire place rising from nowhere. While me and Doctor Lirrian were staring awestruck at the bizzare sceen, I suddenly felt something cold clamp on my shoulder.
My heart skipped a beat. I felt the cold fingers gripping tightly, on my shoulder, sending chills down my neck. Before Lirrian knew what was happening. I was suddenly pulled back by some mysterious force. "AAAAAAAAAAH!"
"Keith!" Lirrian yelled. But it was too late, I had vanished.
Being pulled back, it suddenly stopped, and jerked me forward. I screamed even more, until I suddenly felt mountains of pain as I got slammed onto a metal surface. My vision got blurry. I was on a metal table, in that room that we saw earlier. An anonymous hand appeared, attached to no body at all. It was holding a syringe filled with strange blue liquid. I tried to move knowing what was gonna happen, but I couldn't; I was pinned down, somehow. The syringe got closer and closer, as my own heart began thumping louder and louder.
And then...
I felt a sharp pain on the side of my neck. I momentarily stopped breathing, pain spreading all over my body. But I couldn't yell. I went suddenly numb. A moment later, as I slowly regained my senses, I felt another feeling. No... it wasn't really a feeling, but an urge. An urge to hunt. An urge to attack.
An urge to kill.
Looking around the room like a wild animal, I saw her. Lirrian, the Espeon, completely defenseless in the corner of the room. She could only shudder and stammer as she watched me approach her. "M-my god... Wh-what did they d-do to you, K-keith!?" She spluttered. Keh, it was so pleasing watching her crouch in fear. I stepped even closer, claws and teeth ready.
"K-Keith, this isn't funny! S-stop it!" Lirrian went pale at this point, her eyes full of fear, sheer panic. Her legs practically gave way from all that fear. I only laughed, but even I was surprised to hear myself laugh. My own voice sounded joyful, yet sadistic, as though enjoying this moment. It was a voice that did not belong to me, but to another completely different entity.
I stopped just a few feet from her. I watched her panicked expression, that look of despair and hopelessness. I smacked my lips, savouring the moment. All of a sudden, I pounced, paws outstretched, ready to kill her. As I did, time seemed to slow down. I only grinned at Lirrian's gradual change of expression; from fear, to panic, to pure terror. Her stomach slashed open as my claws swiped across.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" I gasped, tumbling off the bed with flailing paws. It hurt, but I didn't care. The nightmare... it was worse than I could ever imagine. I was sweating all over, breathing hard. Watching Lirrian's body being slashed open like that in slow-motion... Ugh, it makes me feel ill... "Wait, Lirrian!? Lirrian!"
Lirrian was on the floor, collapsed. A stool lay beside her, probably so she could observe me from greater height. With her belly facing down, I turned her body, making sure she was okay. She was not. Instead, there was a gash at her belly, around seven centimetres in length. I screamed, recoiling. "OH MY GOD! LIRRIAN!" I could only stare at her, numb with fear. What will the others say if ther hear about this!?
"Guh..." My ears twitched when I heard the groan. It was Lirrian. She was struggling to get up, gripping the stool for support. "God, this hurts..."
"L-Lirrian!" I rushed over to her, helping her to stand up. But in her condition, she could barely stand, so I told her to sit on the stool. "L-Lirrian..." I croaked, still completely shocked. "A-are you okay?"
The Espeon gave a reassuring smile. "D-don't worry, I'm fine..." She was covering the wound with her lab coat, the white fabric beginning to turn blood red. "A-anyway... about what we're r-really here for..."
"But your wound-!"
"I'll patch that up later," She interrupted. "but about the test results. I-I can definitely say th-that your nightmares a-are not from an outside source."
A moment of silence passed as I took it in. I was both relieved and extremely frightened at the same time. Relieved, because I now know that someone is not deliberately sending me these nightmares, but frightened, because if it's not an outside source, then that means the dreams came from...
"You mean... my dreams come from myself? Naturally?" I asked.
Lirrian nodded, walking wobbly to a nearby cabinet to get some medical supplies. "Yes. Although, I am uncertain why they happen at such high frequency... I've never encountered such a phenomenon, so I'll need to look into it further." Lirrian and I continued to stare at each other, waiting for the other to do something. "You can go back to your room, if you like."
"O-oh, sorry," I excused myself before going towards the door, but then I stopped. A thought crossed my mind. "H-how did I c-cut you anyway?"
Lirrian looked up, sighing. "It was a subconscious movement. When you slashed me in your dream, your body followed that movement and slashed me in real life. But I find it very curious that that dream movement could cause so much damage..." Lirrian sighed again, put her lab coat aside, and started bandaging herself. Feeling guilty, I ran off to my room without another word.
The next few days were terrible, I was still feeling guilty about what happened to Doctor Lirrian. I was worried about getting caught, but fortunately the event somehow didn't make it to the notice board. I had a sneaking suspiscion that Xera played a part in that. However, it didn't make me any less troubled. I spent the days staying away from everyone, even Arthur.
"Come on, Keith, you've been like this for a few days now!" Arthur complained to me. "What's going on?"
"Sorry, sorry! It's... complicated..." The fact that I was hiding something made the Azumarill even more annoyed at me, but what was I supposed to do? Tell him that I slashed the clinic's nurse and tore her belly? Arthur would never forgive me.
It was like this for the entire week, until one day I decided to rejoin them. Alright... I'm gonna find Arthur first... As I walked down the hallway towards the park, I felt someone tap my shoulder. Thinking that it was probably Spark or Blanch, I turned around... only to get my mouth covered by a hankerchief. I sniffed a familiar scent, and that familiar feeling washed over me, sending me to instantaneous sleep...
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When I woke up, I was in a completely different area. An area that I know. An area that I do not wish to be in.
The laboratory in my dream a week ago.
It was exactly the same as I remember it. Metallic floor, concrete walls, lockers and cabinets filled with various objects, desks lined with computers and printers, and chemical racks on the wall. Fear coursed throughout my entire body. Sweat began to drip. If I remember, there was a syringe...
Looking around, I saw someone wearing a surgeon's uniform filling a syringe with liquid. The sight of it made my eyes bulge. Panicking, I looked around more for a way to get out of here. There was a metal door, but it was blocked by a security officer, and barred with a sliding lock. I can't open that door. Looking around more, I saw a window. Knowing where we are, it might be a one-way window, like in interrogation rooms. I tried to see what was on the other side, but I was too short. Seeing a bunch of paper files, I pulled it toward me and used it as a stool.
When I saw what was on the other side, my jaw dropped.
It was a Minccino. And I know that Minccino. Adam, my 'nemesis'. He was in the corner of the room, lookin around frantically. He must be feeling as panicked and afraid as me. Before I could do anything else, I was suddenly pinned down to the table by someone. I gasped as I felt a sharp pain on the side of my neck. I know what it is. And if this is like that dream... then I also know what it does.
Seconds passed, and I was literally thrown into the room Adam was in. The room was padded and soundproofed; if someone screamed, no one would hear it. At first, he seemed relieved to see me, but when he saw my face, that sense of relief vanished.
Dark, cruel, violent, and sadistic. That was my face. I only grinned evily at him, enjoying the look of terror on his face. Finally, I've been waiting for the day to rip him up! Him and his stupid complaints, I've had enough of it! Hehehe, I'm going to enjoy this.
No! Stop! Please, this isn't me! But the real me, the one trapped inside, was the complete opposite. I had no control over my own body, emotions, or actions. I was like a puppet, only able to do what the puppeteer commands. It was like watching a TV. I-I don't want to kill him!
"K-Keith...?" Adam stammered, backing away to the corner. "Wh-what the hell is wr-wrong with your face!? H-hey, wh-what are you gonna do with me?" I sneered at him as I slowly walked toward him, my claws clicking against the floor. Adam started to get unnerved. "L-look, man, I know y-you and I haven't gotten along very well, but –"
"No more buts, Adam," I snickered, gnashing my teeth. "It's about time I've been given this chance!"
Adam went white. "K-K-Keith!?"
I felt my legs stop walking, then I felt them bend. I can tell that I'm about to pounce, lunging for Adam. Although I crave for his death, I didn't want it to be this way. No! Please! I-I-I... Someone stop me! But it was too late, I was too into this. Savoring Adam's petrified look, I sprung and pounced at him.
NO!
He was the last thing I saw.
His scream was the last thing I heard.
His flesh was the last thing I touched.
His blood was the last thing I smelled.
And his meat was the last thing I tasted.