Claire had Chelsea in a headlock. Her Zebstrika was watching Liam closely, electricity crackling from its mane. Liam felt himself trembling with anger as he scrambled to his feet to face down the Team Power Admin.
"You've got something that belongs to me," said Claire, her voice threatening and icy. "Give it back."
"What do you mean?" said Liam defiantly.
"My Bisharp, you idiot," said Claire through gritted teeth. "I want it back. Now."
"Or what?" said Liam.
It was a hollow retort, and Claire knew it. The cold blue eyes in her painted flace flickered.
"Or you can bury the student next to the mentor," said Claire.
Liam shot a glance at his Sneasel, and their eyes met. Liam remembered something Cass had once said, about understanding exactly what a Pokemon was thinking even without words. "Let me do it. I'm fast enough. I'll go straight for her neck. She won't stand a chance." Liam took a deep breath. Chez was in danger. No one could argue that Claire would deserve it. He didn't have a choice.
"No!" shouted Chelsea suddenly. "Liam, don't hurt her!"
The chance had passed. Claire's eyes darted from Liam to Sneasel to her Zebstrika, and she took a step back. Sneasel growled, but it didn't dare take another step forward.
"You know, it's funny," said Liam. "I really believed you when you said you regretted what happened to Chez's Scraggy. I guess that was a lie, just like everything else."
"You don't understand," said Claire, baring her teeth. "But that's just what I would expect. Now give back my Bisharp."
Liam rolled his eyes.
"I'll give you your Bisharp," he said, carefully enunciating each word. "But I want you to know the price."
Claire's eyes narrowed.
"What price?" she snarled, taking another step back with Chelsea.
"The price is losing a friend," said Liam simply.
Claire blinked. For a moment, she seemed to hesitate. Her grip around Chelsea's neck loosened.
"Don't make me choose," she said.
Her voice was different now. It was the voice Liam recognized from the cave. She was pleading with him.
"Let Chez go," said Liam, trying to keep his voice calm. "You should be able to trust a friend without threatening him. Don't you trust me?"
Claire thought for a moment. For a few fleeting seconds, Liam wondered if she was about to cave—about to let Chez go and talk to them likes friends. But then—
"Claire, please," said Chelsea abruptly. "We don't want to—."
"Roll me the Pokeball," said Claire.
Her face was hard again. Her grip around Chelsea's neck tightened. Liam took the last Pokeball off his belt and did his best to roll it to Claire across the uneven pavement.
"Now let Chez go," said Liam.
Claire shoved Chelsea forward, scooped up the Pokeball, and added it to her own belt. Liam rushed forward and caught Chelsea before she landed on the asphalt road.
"Good," said Claire. "Now, I think that's all we—."
"Shut your mouth," said Liam, "and get out of here, because I'm pretty sure I could take you and I'm in no mood to show mercy. I know who you really are now. I bet you and that sicko Rasmus make a great team."
"Shut up!" spat Claire. "You think that just because I—."
"Sneasel, Ice Punch!" shouted Liam.
His Pokemon sprang forward, but it was already too late. Claire mounted her Zebstrika in a single, graceful motion and galloped off into the darkness, leaving Liam, Chelsea, and Sneasel alone on the deserted street.
"I'll kill her," said Liam. "The next time I see her, I swear I'll—."
"Stop!" said Chelsea. "Liam, don't. She's… she's just afraid. She doesn't know how to—."
"Are you serious?" shouted Liam. "She threatens to kill you, and you want me to feel sorry for—."
"She wouldn't have done it," Chelsea insisted. "I know she wouldn't. She's just afraid. She didn't want to lose a Pokemon again, so she—."
"Lost a friend instead," said Liam.
"She wouldn't have done it," repeated Chelsea in a small voice.
"Yeah, well sorry for not gambling your life on that," said Liam sharply.
They stared at each other in silence.
"Sorry," said Chelsea at last. "I… understand. You were afraid too."
She let out a long sigh.
"Guess I'll have to tell Miss Snyder about this tomorrow."
"Yeah."
"You and Sneasel gonna finish walking me home?"
Liam cracked a smile.
"Of course."