Surreptitious
"You're gone from here, soon you will disappear
Fading into beautiful light."
Keane
Day 60
Post-contest, it was time once again for the family and friends to part ways. Soledad and the other members of their geo-catching group had gone to another part of the island in search of the blue and green Morelull and the special Mimikyu that Professor Rosedale told them about. Rita and Ralph were given a side project by Giovanni that required them to go to one of the outer islets of Alola. The kids' parents and siblings returned to their homes, and Sandshrew returned to the group of Annastasia, Michio, Lily, Maya, Logan, Jocelyn, Jay, Amber, Jezz, Benny, Lucario, Mewtwo, Takeshi, and June. The latter were at a nearby Pokémon Center relaxing and eating their breakfast.
"Onēsan, why are you leaving?" Jocelyn asked as she packed her backpack.
"I have to do something important," Annastasia answered.
"Why can't I come?"
"Because it's a grown-up thing."
"Please tell me. Pretty please?"
"Flaaa?" Flaafy bleated
"Bebebe?" Pinky wept.
"Chill, it's not that exciting," said Annastasia, internally disagreeing with herself. "I have to meet with Rumika and talk about something important. I should be back by lunchtime."
"That doesn't tell me anything," Jocelyn argued.
"Fee," Flaafy agreed.
"Bou," Pinky pouted.
"It tells you all you need to know," Annastasia replied. She gave her a brief hug. "Catcha later."
"Okay," Jocelyn sighed. "Have fun."
"I'll certainly try."
"While she's away, do you wanna hang out with me?" Michio asked, picking up on Annastasia's near-telepathic request.
Jocelyn's eyes sparkled and she gleefully dashed to him.
"Okay!" she laughed, grabbing his hands and swinging them around.
"I can help you level up your Pokémon," Michio suggested. "Or we can get malasadas."
"Or both! Both for sure!"
"Fla aa aa!" Flaafy laughed.
"Bee ee ee!" Bounsweet cheered.
"Sure, both," Michio replied.
"Thanks," Annastasia whispered to Michio. "I'm going to look for the J-J-A squad and then head out."
"Good luck."
"Thanks; I'll need it."
"Come on!" Jocelyn told Michio. "We have a busy schedule."
"I'm coming," he said before turning to Annastasia. "Will you call me when you get out?"
"If you want me too," Annastasia replied. "Though my plan was to return in-person. I'll do both."
"Thanks. Okay, see you later, then."
"Come on!" Jocelyn repeated.
XO
Annastasia found Jay, Amber, and Jezz in the woods a few meters from camp, sitting and talking together with their Pokémon.
"I'm leaving now," she announced.
"You will be back soon, right?" Jay asked.
"Definitely before one."
"And you promise you will tell me how it goes?" Jezz asked.
"Absolutely. You can be sure of it. I will tell you everything, and get a copy or transcript of the interview if I can."
"I very much appreciate that."
"Why can't he go with you?" Amber queried, sounding irked.
"No minors are allowed to be involved in the interrogations," Annastasia replied.
"That is okay, Annie. I trust you will do everything in the best and most appropriate manner," said Jezz.
"I appreciate that trust. I will see you all later, don't give the people in charge of you all a hard time, and tell June and Takeshi I will be back soon, then we can move on."
"Aren't you pissed that you can't go with her?" Amber asked Jezz after Annastasia and her Pokémon were out of earshot.
"Not particularly," he answered. "I don't think I would want to go anyway."
"It's because it would make you sad," Jay guessed.
"Yes."
As the trio continued to chat, Annastasia unlocked her bike from a nearby tree and left the campsite to find Rumika. They agreed to meet in the garage of her parent's bungalow, where they would take the teleporter back to Kanto. From there they would drive to the Viridian City prison. They arrived at the prison about an hour after she left camp.
They rang the doorbell of the detention center and waited for someone to come open the door.
"Nervous?" Rumika asked Annastasia.
"A little. Last time I saw her things didn't go well," she replied.
"I feel the same way. But you get used to things sorts of things after a while, and one day it'll bother you less."
A tall, heavy-set man with black hair and a beard answered the door.
"Are we expecting you ladies?" he asked.
"Yes," Annastasia began. "My name is Annastasia Morgan."
"I'm Rumika Winchester," said Rumika. "We are here to interview Jessiebelle Winchester and her parents."
"Ah yes. I am Warden Michaels. I presume that one of you young ladies is the woman a spoke to on the phone yesterday," the warden replied.
"That was me."
"As you requested, I did not tell her that it was you specifically you wanted to talk to her or what you wanted to talk about. I simply explained that she had a visitor who wished to have an appointment. She agreed to it."
"Thank you. I was afraid that if she realized it was us who wanted to talk to her, she wouldn't have accepted."
"It was no trouble. I hope you get the information you need out of her. Unfortunately, there is nothing I can do to compel her to speak, so if she wants to keep silent, she shall."
"We understand," said Annastasia.
'At this point, even the slightest detail is bettering,' Annastasia thought. 'At least a sliver to bring back to him.'
"Follow me," said the warden.
They traversed through several doors, long hallways, and staircases. They passed cells that were empty and some hosting inmates.
"Have you been here before?" Warden Michaels asked the girls.
"When I was little, I visited some family members, but I hardly remember it," Annastasia answered.
"I've come several times, my goal to extract information from ex-Team Firestar members," said Rumika.
"Then you probably know that we separate the inmates based on the crime and number of offenses they committed. The woman you wish to speak to was convicted of attempted murder, abduction, sexual assault, robbery, fraud, evading governmental procedures, and Pokémon neglect and abuse. But you probably knew all that already," Mike explained. "Surprisingly enough, she is not our most dangerous inmate. Rather she seems to think she is above the law, and that is why she broke it so often. Other than that, she seems quite harmless."
"That sounds exactly like my sister," Rumika replied. "Though cruel, she never gave off that 'dangerous criminal' vibe."
The next few minutes passed in silence. Annastasia looked downward as they passed more cells. Several of the inmates yelled rude things at her, and the warden and some guards called them out for it. She didn't imagine this to be quite as emotionally devastating as it seemed, and they haven't even talked to any of her rogue relatives yet.
"These are the interrogation rooms for this unit," the warden told Rumika and Annastasia. He opened a door and led them inside a room filled with telephones and glass walls. "Here you can talk to her through the glass, using the phones so that you can hear one another clearly."
Rumika spotted her sister sitting on the far end of the room. Like the other inmates, she was behind a glass wall. Her face paled when she noticed Rumika and Annastasia watching her.
"You sit tight and start talking to her. I will get Usodan," said Michaels.
After he left to go get their lie-detecting Pokémon, the two women sat down next to each other so that they were facing Jessiebelle. Jessiebelle picked up the phone with annoyance and—perhaps—some curiosity. Rumika and Annastasia both had their own mouthpieces so that their conversation could be a three-way one.
"Why are you here?" Jessiebelle began, her anger directed at Rumika. "I said I never wanted to see or hear from you ever again."
"We have some important questions to ask you," Rumika calmly responded.
"I refuse to be interrogated again."
"We need to talk to you about something very important," said Annastasia. "This isn't directly about you. This is about someone else. We promise aren't here to further incriminate you."
"How can I trust you?"
"Warden Michaels is bringing an Usodan. As you probably know, their most powerful ability is the ability to detect lies. Usodan will be monitoring our interview. You don't lie, we won't lie, and the Pokémon will be able to tell who is keeping their word and who isn't," Rumika explained.
"Fine then. I'll do this, granted I get to ask you my own questions."
"Of course," Annastasia responded. "Ask us anything."
Jessiebelle smirked at Annastasia, taking her in with her cold green eyes.
"Anya, it's been a while," she said.
"I'm Annastasia," Annastasia mumbled, looking down again.
She focused on a wee spider crawling on the tiled floor. She felt that ineffectual. The fact that Jessiebelle looked so much like her mother only made her feel worse.
"I don't care at all about your name," Jessiebelle scoffed. "You are rubbish either way."
"I didn't think you'd recognize her," said Rumika.
"She's ruined my life—I cannot forget the face of such a repulsive enemy."
Annastasia chuckled and looked up. "Funny, I always thought I took after you too."
Warden Michaels returned with the extremely rare psychic-type birdlike Pokémon known as Usodan. He placed it next to them. The Pokémon chanted its name and stared at them creepily.
"Usodan will honk if it detects a lie," the warden explained. "This Usodan never makes mistakes and I have full confidence in it. Also, this interview will be recorded, just like all the other ones we do here. Trained professionals will also pick up on any deceit."
"Thank you," Rumika and Annastasia replied together.
"Uso," the Pokémon commented.
Jessiebelle huffed. "You might as well get started. Why are you here?"
"We have questions about our family," Annastasia replied. "We need to know if you have any other sisters."
"I do not," Jessiebelle answered.
Usodan was silent. Rumika and Annastasia internally groaned—so early in and already a disappointment.
"Do we have any cousins, young aunts or uncles, half-sibling, or anyone like that?" Rumika asked.
"No one that you don't already know about," Jessiebelle responded. Usodan didn't make a peep. "Why are you asking me this nonsense?"
"We found someone we think is related to us, a twelve-to-thirteen-year old boy, but we cannot figure out his connection to our family," Annastasia explained. "He's desperate to uncover his roots. Here is his photo of him as a toddler and a current picture of him with his main team of Pokémon, some of whom he's had for many years."
Annastasia held the photos up against the glass. Jessiebelle squinted at the photo, smiled, then frowned and closed her eyes.
"I don't see why you are bothering me with this hogwash. I haven't the slightest clue as to who you may be referring," Jessiebelle said bitterly.
"Usoooo!" Usodan honked.
Annastasia and Rumika exchanged fleeting grins of knowingness.
"That was a lie. You do have an idea of who we might be talking about here," Rumika asserted.
"I suppose. But I would very much prefer it if you did some talking first before I reveal anything," Jessiebelle responded.
"What would you like to know?" Annastasia asked.
"What can I do to get out of here faster?"
"Nothing," Rumika answered.
"Usooooo!" Usodan squawked.
Jessiebelle smirked and Rumika sighed.
"If you help us with this, do everything we ask, then we can shorten your sentence," Rumika admitted.
"By how long?" Jessiebelle persisted.
"We…technically…let you out whenever…since Team Rocket makes the rules around here…"
Jessiebelle sat back in her chair haughtily.
"Continue," she demanded.
"Did you ever have a son?" Annastasia asked, confident after Rumika took charge.
"No."
"Do you know anyone who had a son his age who might seem like they could possibly be related to us?"
"No. Are we done here?"
"Not yet. Tell us what you know about the Kapule Klan," Annastasia requested.
"I haven't much to say about them."
"Uso," Usodan said softly, as if he was unsure of how to respond.
"What little bit can you tell us?" Annastasia continued.
"They are an old-money wealthy family in Alola. They rose to power slowly over the last four decades, though they had some governmental influence centuries before that," Jessiebelle revealed.
Annastasia smiled, which pissed off Jessiebelle and amused Rumika.
"Thank you," she said. "That's helpful."
"You aren't so bad, Jess-jess," Rumika added. "What else can you tell us?"
"They are just as nasty as our family," Jessiebelle answered. "And I respect them."
"Explain more."
"Please," Annastasia implored.
"They are cut-throat, in the most literal of senses. Vicious group, really. The completely wiped Team Skull off the radar and obliterated the Aether Foundation. Now that respective gang and organization only exist in name. They protect their own and are extremely conservative," Jessiebelle explained admirably.
"Do you think the Kapule Klan would have any business with that boy we asked you about?" Annastasia inquired.
"If the child was valuable to them in some way."
"How can a child who isn't a member of the Klan possibly be 'valuable' or even remotely useful to them?" Rumika asked.
"If the kid was worth money, that would be a reason."
"How can a child be 'worth money'?" Annastasia asked, growing sick to her stomach.
"If that boy came from an aristocratic family, it would be typical for the Kapule Klan to adopt him, wait until he is grown, then take his money. They've done it many times before. It's practically their trademark practice. It's embarrassing that you didn't already know."
"They've done that to foster children?" Annastasia asked. "That's horrible."
Jessiebelle laughed at this. "No, Honey, it's smart. Sometimes the children in the Klan grow up believing that their parents are their birth parents! It is quite hilarious. Though that boy you showed me couldn't pass for an Alolan. He must be an exception."
"Do you know which foster children were victims of this?" Rumika queried.
"No idea. It isn't any of my concern."
Rumika and Annastasia exchanged mutual glances of frustration and pity. They felt trapped, and Rumika was feeling like a failure. It was her job to make sure families like the Kapules continued to be non-threatening, and yet this tragedy slipped by her. She dreaded discovering the number of children affected by this.
"Are we done?" Jessiebelle whined.
"I…I guess so," Annastasia sighed, with an agreeing nod from Rumika. "Thank you for answering our questions."
Jessiebelle hung up the phone smugly and turned to walk away. Annastasia and Rumika reluctantly returned Usodan to the warden.
"Done already?" Michaels asked, stroking the Pokémon's feathery chestnut head.
"Jessiebelle doesn't seem to have the answers we were looking for," Rumika responded.
"I am sorry to hear that. I have a recorded copy of the interview here; in case you ever want to go back and listen to it." He handed Rumika a disk with the words 'J. Winchester Interview 1' and the date written on the cover. "I will also record the next interview."
"Thank you," Annastasia replied.
"We appreciate you giving us your time and resources," said Rumika.
"No problem. Good luck on your search," Michaels responded. "I'm on lunch duty now. My colleague Andreas will take over."
A short man with long brown hair and a goatee entered the room. He introduced himself as Andreas and then lifted Usodan. He led Annastasia and Rumika to another interview site. This time Rumika's parents were on the other side of the glass.
"It looks like this delinquent child finally came to beg for our forgiveness," Rumika's mother spitefully remarked.
During the nearly eighteen years that her parents have been in prison, Rumika had only come to visit them once. The visit didn't go well, and Rumika vowed to never come back. She didn't think that one day a third party would impel her to break that vow.
"I am here only to ask you questions that do not directly relate to our relationship," Rumika emotionlessly responded.
"An Usodan. Obviously, you still don't trust us," Rumika's father observed.
"I can't trust you. Not yet and maybe not ever."
"You can ask us anything you want too. We need information and we think you might have it," said Annastasia.
"Who are?" Jessiebelle's mother nastily inquired.
Annastasia took a deep breath and looked at the ground as she spoke. "I am Annastasia Morgan."
"Oh. You are the reason we are here at all. If it wasn't for you, we would have never been incarcerated. How dare you come here. I refuse to speak to you!"
"Annastasia couldn't control the circumstances of her birth, so she is not at fault for any of the things that happened all those years ago," Rumika told her parents.
"I don't want to have this conversation," said Rumika's father. "Leave."
"Please, we just need to know one thing," Annastasia begged, bravely looking into their eyes. "Please. It will take only a couple of questions, then we promise we will never bother you again."
Rumika's parents watched Usodan, who was silent; they knew Annastasia would keep her word.
"We will answer two questions, no more," Rumika's father said impatiently. "Hurry, what are they?"
Annastasia held the pictures she showed Jessabelle to the glass. In one, Jezz was about three. He wore a school uniform and was holding an Oddish. A Chingling sat beside him. The other photo was one that Lily and Logan had taken of him earlier that week.
"Do you recognize the child in either one of these photos?" Annastasia asked.
"No," they answered together. Usodan honked loudly.
"Lying during an official interrogation adds years to your sentence," Rumika reminded them.
Her mother growled. They only had a decade more to go, then their case was going to be put up for re-evaluation. As far as they knew, she and her husband were going to be released unless they committed another offense while in prison.
"We recognize that child," her father sighed.
"Who are his parents?" Annastasia demanded.
"His parents? That child is a boy?" Rumika's mother asked in confusion.
"Yes."
Annastasia wanted to ask them why they would ask such a thing, but she realized that she only had one more question; after that, they would refuse to answer anything. She looked at each photo again. She reasoned that Jezz did look a bit girly, but then again, so did many other young boys before puberty, including her own brother. She thought carefully about the next question she wanted to ask.
"The child that you thought you recognized when I first showed you these pictures, who did you think she belonged to?" Annastasia questioned.
Rumika's mother hesitated before answering the last question. "That child looks like the daughter of one of the other inmates."
"Can you be more specific?" Rumika inquired.
"We answered both of your questions. Unless you have an apology or a way to get us discharged, I suggest you leave now," her father growled.
"We can maybe negotiate—"
"—Leave," her mother ordered.
Rumika and Annastasia left the prison despondently.
"That went almost nowhere," Rumika sighed. "Sorry, A."
"It wasn't your fault. And we did find some things out. We know that there is another child out there, a girl, who must be related to us. Anyone who can be mistaken for Jezz must share blood with him," Annastasia replied. "And we now know where we can find an Usodan if we ever need one. And we know that Jessiebelle isn't Jezz's mother."
"Always looking on the bright side." Rumika smiled and leaned on Annastasia's shoulder. "I wish my other relatives could be more like you."
"Ditto. So…I know Jezz will be relieved that Jessiebelle is not his mom, but I wish I had an answer for him. I almost wish it was her, this way I could provide an answer for Jezz instead of giving him nothing. All he ever got was nothing."
"He has all of us, and that's more than what most people have. Keep doing what you are doing, and soon Jezz will feel like he has truly found his home. After all, that is what happened to me. I know it can happen for him too."
"I sure hope you're right…Maybe all he needs is time."
XO
Later that night, as they prepared for bed, Annastasia requested to speak to Jezz alone.
"How did the interview go?" Jezz asked nervously.
He had been asking Annastasia about the interview ever since she returned to the group, but she didn't answer because she didn't want to talk about it in front of everyone else.
"Here are the CDs they gave us. I suggest you listen to them. I must warn you that we didn't learn anything groundbreaking. I was really hoping to come back with an answer, truly, but I didn't," Annastasia admitted as she handed him the two disks.
Jezz stuck the CDs in his bag and nodded knowingly.
"I had a feeling that would happen," he sighed.
"Are you okay?" Annastasia asked. "I know you've been going through a lot lately."
"I am fine."
Annastasia didn't buy it.
"You can tell me anything. I won't tell anyone, not even Hauana and Perry, unless you want me to," Annastasia vowed.
"…I am overwhelmed. I suppose I do not believe there is anything I can do to feel better about it," Jezz hesitantly replied.
Annastasia sat and indicated for him to join her. When he did, she wrapped her arm around his shoulders and looked him in the eyes.
"I know what it is like, being overwhelmed. It is frustrating, and even the ones you love can't always help you. And even if they do help, they can never really heal you completely. Don't be afraid to express yourself around us. Nothing you say or do will make us reject you, or care about you any less than we do right now."
Jezz turned away from her, hurt that he couldn't say what he felt he should explain. He got up and walked away.
"Jezz?" Annastasia asked worriedly, standing up to follow him.
"Tarrrria!" Bleu cooed.
"Lili!" Lil-G yipped.
"I am sorry, Annie. I need some time to think. Thank you very much for the CDs. I shall listen to them tonight," Jezz mumbled before retreating into his tent.
"Goodnight," she called after him.
Annastasia decided to turn in for the night but to make it a priority to watch Jezz closely over the next few days and to talk to him some more. She had a sinking feeling he was hiding something from her, and she knew sooner or later she was going to have to confront him about it.
XO
Day 60
Rita and Ralph resided in a Team Rocket cabin on a small islet of Alola known as 'Kamahele Island'. While there were dozens of cabins located on the islet, they were all full, and they were forced to share. They ordered a pizza, put on the old T.V., and looked over the paperwork that Giovanni had recently given them.
"Don't you ever get sick of these bullshit assignments?" Ralph asked Rita as he scanned the files.
"Yes. Anyone would. But this isn't entirely bullshit," she responded. "I'm doing something very important for a friend."
"Not that, I mean the other stuff Giovanni is having us do. Our next assignment says to 'Obtain as many Morelull as possible, and to continually check our radar for high-level Mimikyu. If we find one, we must capture it and send it to Giovanni immediately'. Morelull and Mimikyu are common Pokémon, and am I sure we didn't really have to come all the way to this tiny island to find them."
"We have to search for blue and green Morelull, which are rare and very mysterious, and I bet Giovanni has a plan for that Mimikyu. After all, they do say that high-level Mimikyu have some enigmatic powers. I bet the Boss wants to figure out what they are."
Ralph tossed the papers aside and stretched out his arms before flopping back onto the couch. "The point is that I don't want to do it right now. It's Friday! I'd rather be doing something fun."
"I know very well what you'd rather be doing, but now is not the time. We have shit to look through. All this paperwork is going to take hours, and it's almost ten. I want to go to bed before 1:00 am today."
"Fine then. I'll pick up the pizza. It should be ready by now. You get started on the paperwork."
Rita stood up. "No way, you start the paperwork and I'll pick up the food."
"Fine then. I'll just do it really, really slowly."
"I hate you."
"No, you don't. You would have kicked me out and gotten yourself a new partner by now if that was true."
"We are still together because I'm tired of switching out partners," she responded.
Ralph stood up next to her.
"That's not it," he countered. "You like me. Just admit it."
"I like you for some reasons," she retorted. "Reasons you, and only you, know about. But that's it. Don't take it personally. You aren't more or less special than any other the other people I hook up with. I only use you for stress relief."
"That's better than nothing,"
"But right now, you are just causing me more stress."
"Fine then. I'll stay here and vow to get at least half of the paperwork done. How's that?"
"Great. I'm going to take the motorcycle."
"In the dark? It's all muddy and rainy. Take the van; it's safer."
"The van will just get stuck out there. I've driven the motorcycle in bad weather dozens of times. Don't patronize me."
"Fine, but don't crash and mess up your pretty face. It would be such a shame."
"If you don't stop bothering me, I'll mess up yours."
Rita stepped outside. It was drizzling lightly and the sky was dark. She looked up, wondering if maybe she should take the van instead. The out of nowhere she saw what looked to be a large, oddly shaped Pokémon, floating through the sky and almost ran back inside the cabin out of panic. She decided to not embarrass herself like that, so she got on the motorbike and left, deciding not to hold any regret to the decision.
XO
Day 61
Twenty hours passed since Annastasia's last conversation with Jezz. He hardly spoke the entire day, ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner by himself, and didn't do any training with his Pokémon. Amber and Jay were worried for him, but decided that they were better off leaving him alone. Unlike them, Jezz valued alone time, and they knew it. Annastasia was also worried and sent Maya to go talk to him, but all she managed to get out of him was more negative emotions.
Now it was once again nightfall and Annastasia's group was at a Pokémon Center, getting ready for bed.
"Nurse Joy says that boys and girls can't sleep in the same rooms," Benny informed the Annastasia and Michio, who were brushing their teeth in the gender-neutral bathroom.
"We know. We were thinking that you could sleep with Logan and Takeshi instead of us," Annastasia responded. "Are you okay with that?"
"Um…it's not that I don't like Logan and Takeshi, it's just that…I sorta just want…um."
"You want to stay with me?"
Benny sheepishly nodded. "I'm sorry…"
Annastasia placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay. Nurse Joy will be fine with that. I am in room 110, and I am sharing with Jocelyn, Lily, Maya, and my Pokémon of course."
"Thanks."
"Anytime."
Jezz was waiting his turn in the bathroom when he overheard them speaking. He came up to Annastasia and Michio just as they were leaving.
"Does that mean that I can't sleep with Amber and Jay?" he asked.
"We can make an exception. We must be discreet about it though," Annastasia answered. "And don't stay up too late, we are going to leave here by eight-thirty tomorrow. The next contest is all the way in Orchid City, and it starts at 9:00 am, you know as well as I do how big a deal this is for June, Jocelyn, and Jay."
"I know. Thank you very much," Jezz responded.
Jezz walked down the hall and entered Amber's room. She had left the door open, and she was sharpening her arrows on her bed. Several of her flying-type Pokémon were sleeping nearby.
"Hey, Buddy," Amber said as he shut the door behind him.
"Hello," Jezz responded. He sat down on the bed across from her and sighed deeply.
"Got something on your mind?"
Jezz nodded.
"Feel like talking about it?" she hopefully.
He nodded again. Amber put her arrows down and moved closer to him.
"I did something…bad…and I must get it off my chest," he started.
"I do bad things all the time," Amber shrugged. "I'm sure it's not as bad as you think. What'd ya do?"
"It's about something that happened a long time ago. I made some incredible mistakes."
"Is this about that interview?"
"Not particularly, but it did…prompt me."
Amber checked the door. After assuring it was locked, she sat back down next to Jezz.
"Tell me," Amber prodded.
"It's hard to explain…but…remember when they said they couldn't find any information about that home I was in?" he asked.
"You mean the one that Rita and A were talking about."
"Yes. The information is gone because I got rid of it all. I…I didn't want anyone to ever know about them," Jezz responded. "I had my Porygon go into the computer system. He got rid of everything, erased my identity."
Amber felt a confusing mixture of anger, curiosity, and dread.
"Why?" she asked shakily. "Did they hurt you?"
"Not exactly. Not in the traditional sense, anyway," he replied. "But that is not the main reason I did it."
"What did they do!? If that is not the main reason then what is?!"
"Please lower your voice. I don't want anyone else to hear."
"Fine." Amber let go of his shirt, which she grabbed and torn in frustration, and folded her arms. "Tell me. I promise I won't share it with anyone."
"You truthfully promise?"
"Yes…unless I think it will hurt you. Then I have to tell."
Jezz hung his head. "Never mind, then."
"Don't be like that. I hate when people hide secrets. I am trustworthy. Just ask Jay, or Annastasia, or anyone else for that matter. I never gossip. You already started this confession, now finish it."
"The matter is that…I used my Pokémon to destroy the evidence because…I am ashamed of what happened there."
"Why you were so ashamed? I mean if you regretted it you could have just told them it was an accident. You could've told them that Porygon went berserk. It is a weird Pokémon anyway."
"There were other consequences, things that I feel guilty about. Something disastrous happened because of me, even though it was not my intention. I could never admit that to any authority figures. I would have been taken to someplace horrible. I just know it."
"What disastrous thing happened?"
"Porygon did more than destroy the files…he destroyed the house."
Jezz was in tears and Amber struggled to process the situation. No one had ever confessed anything quite that intense to her before and the level of emotion Jezz was expressing was above Jay's.
"How could a Porygon even do that?" she queried. "Answer when you, uh, feel like you can…"
"I can," Jezz replied, coughing and rubbing away tears. "Porygon was threatened by one of the other Pokémon in the house. He defended himself using Discharge. All the light bulbs in the house exploded, and it caused a fire. Then one of the homeowner's Electrodes became disturbed, and it used Self-Destruct. The entire house exploded, and it is all my fault. All because I wanted to hide my own secrets."
"Jezz… I can't believe that happened. You feel bad but it wasn't entirely your fault. What were you trying to hide? Did that explosion kill someone?"
"No. At first, I thought I did, until I heard the story on the news. That is when I knew I didn't hurt anyone, but the way they talked about the incident…I knew I couldn't go back."
"Tell me what you were trying to cover up. Please?"
"I wanted to hide something personal, something I never wanted the world to know about. Sometimes when I am with certain people, it seems silly almost, but it wasn't at the time. And it still isn't now, but now I have people who aren't going to punish me or make a big fuss about it. That changes everything."
"Did you do something really embarrassing? Is that why you don't want to say it?"
"Moderately. I am embarrassed about it now at least."
"If it'll make you feel better, I can tell you something embarrassing about myself."
"No, that is unnecessary."
They sat in silence. Jezz felt his anxiety growing in potency until he started to cry. Amber wrapped an arm around him, once again amazed out how similar he was to Jay. She chalked it up to potential genetic links.
"My secret, may I whisper it to you? I don't want anyone else to hear," he said after a few minutes.
"Yeah. Go for it," Amber responded.
Jezz cupped his hand around her ear and whispered his secret, along with a lengthy and thorough explanation. When he was finished, he pulled back nervously and hung his head, waiting for her reaction and hoping that it wouldn't be too harsh.
"That's…that's pretty incredible," said Amber. "Like, really incredible."
"Incredible?" Jezz asked in astonishment. "That is what you think?"
"Yeah. I'd have never suspected…never guessed…wow. You're good."
"Good? I never expected anyone to say that to me about this."
Amber observed him, scanning his entire body with her eyes, and squinting to try and picture something that was invisible to her.
"Yeah, good is right," Amber concluded. "But I'm sorry you had to go through all that stress. It isn't fair."
"I am so happy you are okay with this. You are okay, right?" he asked, dazed from her positive reaction.
"Yes! I'm relieved! I thought you were hiding something criminal. I didn't even think it was something this. There isn't anything else, is there?"
"No. This is everything that is I have to confess."
"You don't have to have any secrets, anymore, you know that, right? Everyone in our camp is fine with whatever."
"I know, but I was never allowed to follow my heart before. You see, everyone around me always called me a liar, or they would say that all I wanted was attention. Sometimes they made me go to therapists who told me I was wrong about everything. This means that in the past I had to choose between everyone knowing and treating me horribly or constantly hiding in order to feel okay. When I met you all, I realized that I didn't have to hide, but I still did. It is impulsive. It is why I become withdrawn at times."
"The closer you become the further you feel you need to get away, even if you don't want things to change."
"Precisely. That is wise. Did you come up with that on your own?"
"No. A said that one time to her Espeon. She was telling Star that people react to love differently. When you are scared and anxious because of past situations, you are guarded and the closer people get the more you feel like you have to push them away. Not all people are like that. Some people really thrive once they realize that they are close to someone. Others decide to run away. She told Star that when she first started training her a few years ago. I was there, so I remember. Star decided to take the second option and stayed. I hope you do that too."
Jezz thought about it. "I will try. I changed when I met you all. That is why I am making this confession. I want to try to make everything right. I originally destroyed the files because I didn't want my foster homes to find me. Now I am not sure what I want, but I do know that I don't want to continue living with so much fear and anxiety."
"I think you can do it. You seem brave to me. You can show that off, you don't have to mask it."
"How can I tell a story like this to Annie? She should know, but I can't tell her. I will let her down. I don't want her to be disappointed in me for lying. She says that nothing I say will change her heart, but I don't even understand how that can be true. If let her down then I am hurting her, and that makes a difference."
"Tell Annie the same way you told me. Also, A isn't a god, she isn't perfect, and she doesn't have to know everything. And it is okay to let her down. I disappoint her on a daily basis, and I am still one of her favorite people in the world."
"I will keep that in mind…but there is one other thing. It is about Rita. She already knows. She found me a long time ago."
"She knows everything? How?"
"She was a volunteer at my shelter. She helped me, she was my mentor. I was different then. I had a different name. But we were very close, and I think I hurt her when I ran away. The hardest part is that I don't regret it. Rita understood, and she forgave me when we were recently reunited. She didn't tell anyone else about me, and I don't think she will unless…"
"Unless what?"
"Unless she tells someone in order to help save me."
"Save you?"
"I didn't mean that, not really."
"Okay…So, why'd you decide to tell me and not Jay or A?"
"Amber, I trust everyone here, but you…you don't make you pitying of me so obvious. Your tough heart can handle me too. You truly do not see me differently now?"
"No. I really don't. You are who you are, Jezz. And trust me, we all get it. Don't be afraid to tell people. It might make you feel a lot better. And thanks for that trust. It is hard for you, I can tell. I can't relate…but I can understand."
"You are welcome and Amber, you are very wise, truly you are. You have Annie's heart but a brain and body that is unique only to you."
"You think I'm wise? People call me 'wild', 'odd', and 'fierce' all the time, but only two other people have ever called me 'wise'."
"Annastasia and Jay?"
"Yep."
"That is because it is true."
"Huh. Okay. So, personal question but…I need to know…have you like, gotten your you-know-what yet? I mean, you are a year older than me, and I suffered for my first time not that long ago."
Jezz blushed. "That…that is not a very nice question to ask someone…why is that something you 'need to know'?"
"I just wanna know."
"I…I have not quite reached that point yet. And Rita…she is going to help me get the…stuff…that will prevent that from happening…"
"Lucky."
"You can join me."
"Nah, it's too much effort, and besides I am not really all that interested. But…if something goes wrong with that and you ever need any supplies, remember that I'm always stocked up."
Jezz laughed nervously, appreciating her genuine reaction. "Thank you, Amber."
"Np. So, are you staying here tonight?"
"Yes. Annie said it was okay, as usual."
"Good. I'll leave so that you can get changed into your pajamas. I gotta brush the sugar off my teeth anyway."
Amber strolled to the door, put her hand on the brass knob, and turned her head to take a final look at Jezz, proud and relieved.
"Thank you, again," Jezz said as she cracked open the door. "I feel better now that I told someone."
"Anytime," Amber replied.
After Amber left, Jezz lied on the bed, arms and legs outstretched. The strife wasn't over, as there were still many more people who did not know, and asking Amber to keep a secret from her loved ones was unfair. But mostly what he felt was relief. He never truly believed that Amber—or anyone else in this group—would freak out and then resent him if he revealed his secrets, but he did mentally prepare for the worst just in case.
'She didn't even seem to care,' he thought. 'Rather she cares, but she isn't bothered by it…the world needs more people like her.'
After a few moments of peace, Jezz changed into his nightclothes. Just as he was finishing up, Jay arrived at the door and asked to come in. Jezz's Vileplume opened it for him.
"I'm not bothering you, am I?" Jay asked.
"No. I was just getting changed into my nightwear," Jezz replied. "I will be staying in this room tonight," Jezz answered.
"Cool. A wants to talk to you, though. She says if you're tired, it can wait until tomorrow, but she wanted me to pass along the message."
"I can go now." Jezz marched to the door, his confidence boost from Amber's reaction still present. "I will see you upon my return."
"See ya soon."
Inside room 110, Michio organized his backpack while Annastasia brushed Minun.
"Plusle!" Plusle shouted when she spotted Jezz.
She also shocked Michio, and after the Pokémon greeted Jezz, they scolded Plusle for accidentally hurting someone again.
"Are you okay?" Annastasia asked, taking Michio's arm in her hands. "You got a laceration there."
"It's fine—been through Thunderbolt before," he replied.
Annastasia tenderly rubbed the cut with an aloe leaf while Minun and Lil-G found them adhesive bandages and a bag of ice.
"It's fine," Michio told Annastasia, taking over the nursing. "Take care of Jezz now."
"Sure," Annastasia replied. "Jezz, I'm glad you came. Michio, can you give us a few minutes?"
"Um, okay."
Anastasia handed him a brush and Plusle.
"Go brush her while I talk to Jezz," she instructed.
"Yes, Ma'am," he responded as he took the Pokémon and brush from her.
As soon as Michio was gone, Annastasia shut the door and asked Jezz to sit. He picked at his nails nervously. The confidence boost Amber gave him vanished; now he felt exposed. He didn't understand why, either.
"I noticed that Michio calls you 'Ma'am' frequently. You told me you did not want to be called ma'am," Jezz noted.
"He was being sarcastic," Annastasia explained.
"Oh." He involuntarily added some more nervous laughter.
"Don't be nervous. I just wanted to talk to you about the interviews. It's been hectic lately and I haven't had the chance to get back to you. Did you listen to both?"
"I did."
"As you must realize, there is another person we're looking for now. Which is why I need to ask you: did you ever have a foster sister that looked similar to you and was around the same age?"
"No."
His voice squeaked and he refused to look her in the eyes.
"Please don't lie to me," Annastasia pleaded. "Whatever happened, I can handle it. I just want to help. Do you remember her name?"
Jezz was silent for a while. Annastasia asked her Pokémon to leave the room, and then she let him cry into her shoulder for a while. About twenty minutes later, Jezz did his best to recompose himself and started to stutter an explanation. He decided to be vague; it was the halfway point. He felt it was that or nothing at all tonight.
"Her name…was Jess," Jezz murmured.
"Okay. When did you last see her?" Annastasia inquired.
"I was six."
"And she was also six?"
Jezz nodded.
"Who were you living with? Can you remember the name of the family?"
"…No…"
"Please tell me."
"The family's surname was 'Smith'."
"What town in what region were they in?"
"Kanto, near Celadon City," Jezz replied.
"Alright…"
She knew Celadon was the most populated city in all of Kanto, nearly twice the size of Viridian City, the second-largest, and four times bigger than Cerulean, the third-largest. There were bound to be dozens of families with the last name Smith.
"Can you remember anything else about them?" Annastasia asked. "What did they look like? Did they have any rare Pokémon? Biological children? Do you remember any of your foster family's names?"
"I don't remember any of their first names. They made us call them Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and I don't think they had any biological children. They were Japanese, and maybe part something else. They also had several carrier Pidgey."
Annastasia nodded. Almost everyone in Kanto was at least part Japanese, and most people had Pidgey to deliver messages to neighbors and friends. She was also distressed at the fact that Jezz was crying over this, after he had been fine and even helpful when they were investigating his other foster homes. It was very worrisome, especially since Jezz had notably spent the entire day withdrawn.
"Please tell me about Jess," Annastasia calmly requested. "What happened to her?"
"She… is gone now. There is no point talking about her," Jezz said darkly.
Annastasia was taken aback; she never heard Jezz speak in such a negative tone before.
"Did she pass away?" Annastasia inquired.
"She no longer exists," he responded.
Annastasia decided to take that as a 'yes'. "Was it a tragedy? Is that why this is so hard for you to talk about?"
"I don't think I would call it a tragedy. All I know is she is never coming back."
Jezz felt corned. He couldn't bring himself to repeat the confession he had made to Amber. He loved and trusted Annastasia, but he knew she had the power to make things change, and that scared him. Meanwhile, Annastasia decided that they had done enough for tonight. She stood up and held her hand out to Jezz. It reminded him of Jay.
'Hand holding must run in the family,' he thought.
"I am sorry for causing you to relive painful memories," Annastasia apologized. "If there is something you want me to do for you, or if there is anything more that you are willing to talk about, come see me anytime. I'll always make time for you."
"Thanks," Jezz responded guiltily. "I…I will."
Annastasia watched him. She was unsure of what to think, but she knew he was holding back still. She had a feeling uncovering Jezz's past would lead to some dark memories, but never something so mysterious and painful. She gave him a towel to wipe his face, and he took it. Then she walked him back to his room.
"Everything good?" Jay asked Jezz as he passed through the doorway.
"Yep," Jezz lied.
"Goodnight. Come wake me up if you need anything. I won't mind," Annastasia told the three preteens and Pokémon before shutting the door.
"What did you talk about?" Amber asked eagerly.
"Um…nothing that important," Jezz replied.
"…Okay…"
"You'll find out soon enough."
Though she wasn't sure what he meant by that, she let it go and the three of them stayed up late, talking and playing games. And just as Jezz had hoped, no one suspected his next move.
XO
In The Next Chapter:
- Stormy consequences
- Sandshrew returns
- Jezz makes a bold move