Huh…? What? What's wrong? Someone's shaking me. Where's a clock…it's one in the morning. Why is someone waking me up at one in the morning…!?
"What's wrong!?" I ask, jumping to my feet. Arcane is still sleeping on the ground, but everyone else is awake, still lying on the ground.
"Hi, Cayla!"
I look straight at Amy. She's okay! And she's smiling.
"Amy! You're okay!" I exclaim, trotting over and hugging her.
"Yeah! May is really great," she laughs.
What? Something's tapping my head. I turn…there's nothing there. Everyone is laughing, though…I turn again…Matt!!
"Hi, Cayla!" he chuckles, doing a flip in mid-air. Huh. I guess he's mastered levitation.
"You're all checked-out, and everyone's fine," May says as she comes into the room. "Now, I think we need to sort some things out."
I look over at the others. They're all staring at me, including a half-awake Arcane.
"What?" I ask.
"What's been going on?" Matt asks, floating in front of me.
"Nothing. I've just been training Arcane," I explain.
"Matt and I have been looking for you guys and Nate," Ritchie states.
"I've been doing some personal training while looking for you," Victoria says. All eyes turn to Amy.
"Your turn, Amy," Victoria states. The Raichu girl glances up, then turns away.
"Will you please tell us?" May asks. Amy stays silent. Her shoulders are shaking…she's crying.
"Arcane," I murmur. He looks up at me, ready to listen to my commands. "Will you go over and make Amy more comfortable?"
"Lithe!" he barks, then bounds over to the Raichu girl.
"Lithe-grow?" he whines. Amy looks down at the Growlithe climbs into her lap. He starts licking her hand as she scratches him behind the ears.
"Polly was training me for two weeks," Amy murmurs. "Well, just under two weeks. We were training two days ago. I was finally getting control of the Thunder Ball technique. We were just about to take a break when…'they' attacked.
"We tried to shock them, but they were in insulated suits. They threw smoke bombs, but I was scared and I was sparking. The smoke exploded. I ran out, and they started lashing out with whips. They hit my back, but I kept on running. I made it to the trees and circled around. Polly had been burned in the blast, and 'they' took her without much of a fight. I could only run so they wouldn't catch me.
"I ran for the rest of the day, took a short rest, then continued. I slept a bit yesterday, but I was too afraid to sleep long. I kept going until I found the cave, and I thought I'd be safe there, so I went in, crashed into Victoria, and you know the rest.
"The last thing I heard before I bolted was that they were taking Polly to Goldenrod."
Yikes.
"But what would they want with her?" Ritchie asks.
"Because she was the only survivor from a batch five years ago," I explain. "She is more Pokémon than human now."
"That's a good reason," Matt says, sitting cross-legged in the air, nodding his head slowly.
"May, how well do you know this city?" I ask. She looks at me confused.
"Well, my grandfather works at the radio tower, so I've had a good amount of time to get to know Goldenrod," she explains slowly.
"Is there some kind of genetics lab around here?" I ask her.
"Umm…." She's thinking hard about this. "Yes, a small one near the edge of town. I don't know who runs it or what they do, but it might have some clues."
"Thank you," I say, walking to the door. Arcane follows, I hear his claws clicking on the tile.
"Where are you going?" Victoria asks irately.
"I'm going to try and find Nate," I reply.
"Hey, don't forget me!" Matt laughs, flying around my head.
"I'm coming, too!" Amy cries, jumping up and running to me.
"I'm not friends with him or anything, but I'm coming as well," Victoria says stiffly, standing and walking over to us.
"Ritchie?" I ask, turning to him. He isn't too excited about this. But he sighs and stands. Waling to us.
"Thanks, Rich," Matt whispers.
"Should I come, too?" May asks, a bit timid.
"Wouldn't hurt!" Victoria exclaims. May smiles and comes over to us. One by one we exit, walking down the hall and into the waiting room, then out of the Center.
"It'll be faster if you ride," I say to the nurse. She nods as I lay down, then climbs onto my back.
"AAHHHH!! STOP!!!"
"What…!?" I start. Someone screaming! Sounds like some boy getting tortured!
BANG!!
And a gunshot!
"Come on!" I exclaim, jumping up and taking off. I feel like I'm flying! But that sensation needs to be ignored for now. I have to follow the screams. Another gunshot! I have to go faster….!
WHAT!?!