The Ordeal
Part Two
By Chris Devlin
E-Mail: chris_devlin@hotmail.com
Website: www.pokeland.org.uk
Genre: Drama
This follows on from Part One (Surprisingly) Search Fanfiction.net for Chris Devlin if you haven't read it.
"I'm afraid, I have some bad news. Miss Waterflower was attacked and raped earlier this evening." she explained. For Ash the bottom fell out of his world as he heard those words. He began to feel that awful sensation of falling when sitting perfectly still. Somehow though he kept a cool face, answering the questions of the two Officer Jenny's as if on auto-pilot, not thinking about what he was saying, just saying it. Eventually he found himself walking through a hospital ward. Unable to remember how he got there, he just followed Brock and the Officer Jennys who were taking them to Misty. Ash could feel the horrific feeling of responsibility dawning on him. Why did I leave her on her own? For the sake of a few measly minutes. Why? Ash's brain screamed at him. No, it felt as though his entire body was screaming at him, blaming him. It was his fault. He should never have left her. Some friend he was. Each individual part of his body had it's own taunt, each one worse than the last. There were none however that could match the cruelty of what his heart was now telling him. It was the one part of his body that wasn't shouting and yet it rung out, crisp and clear.
She could never love you now.
Brock looked back at Ash as they headed toward the room Misty was being kept in. He was looking straight ahead with a glazed look in his eyes. Brock could just make out his lips mumbling something to quiet for him to hear. Brock couldn't possibly comprehend what was going through Ash's mind right now. Sure it was an awful terrible thing that had happened to Misty, he couldn't and didn't deny that. But he wasn't in love with Misty, Ash was. Turning away from Ash, Brock noticed that they were almost at the room they had put Misty in. As they approached a doctor came up to them and introduced herself. "Hi, I'm Doctor Turner. I assume you are the friends of Miss Waterflower?" Brock nodded as did Ash, who appeared to be a bit more alert. "Ok." she said softly. "Firstly I think you should know that when we first got to her she was barely alive, but we managed to revive her long enough to get your names and where you were staying. Shortly afterwards she passed into a coma. She is currently stable and slowly recovering, but as I said, she's in a coma so don't expect her to wake up anytime soon." she told them, detailing everything they wanted to know. "As it is, I think you should both get some rest, you're going to be here for quite some time." she suggested. Before Brock could offer a reply Ash stepped forward. "Can I, we, see her?" he asked firmly. Doctor Turner looked at him, seeing the despair and anguish in his eyes. "Sure." she replied after a short pause and showed them into the room.
The dark room was silent save for the hissing rise and fall of a ventilator. In the gloom Ash could just about make out the figure of Misty lying prone and unconcious on the room's sole bed. Doctor Turner walked over to her bedside table and clicked on the lamp there. The sight made Ash wince. Misty's face was covered in scars and cuts. A tube disappeared up each of her nostrils, assisting her breathing. He couldn't think of a time when she looked in worse shape. He moved over to beside her head and looked down at her. She looked so frail and vulnerable. It was a sharp contrast from the Misty he had grown to love over the years, always the strong one, never giving in when she set her mind to something. Ash found it hard to believe that this was the same person. Sitting down in the chair that had been left for them he took her hand in his and squeezed it gently. "I'll give you some time." Doctor Turner said before walking out followed by Brock. He stopped at the door as he went to wait outside. "Ash." he said. "Yeah." the young man replied without turning round. "She'll make it. Trust me." he told him before walking out and closing the door behind him, leaving Ash alone with Misty. "Thanks." Ash whispered in reply.
Ash sat with Misty for the remainder of the night, watching over her constantly, never once letting go of her hand. On one occasion he thought she was going to wake up when he saw her eyes flickering under their lids, but she stayed in her slumber. Ash decided she must have been dreaming and put it out of his mind. Sometimes he would cry, thinking of how he had put her there. He really didn't deserve to be her friend. No friend would let such a thing to happen. Eventually his fatigue got the better of him and he slipped into sleep, to awake just over an hour later. At first he was blissfully unaware of where he was in the way that the newly awakened are. This was a time he intended to savor because he could feel reality catching up with him and he wasn't sure if he was going to like it. But catch up it did and it hit him like a bullet hitting a brick wall. The tears flowed as he remembered everything, the whole horrible situation. "God Misty. Why did I leave you there?" he asked her in between teary sobs. "I was supposed to look after you, to protect you, and I failed miserably. I won't be surprised if you never forgive me, and I'd deserve it." he told her. Even though she was still in the coma, he was pretty sure she could hear him. He would use this to his advantage, he would use this opportunity to tell her everything he felt for her.
Paris was lovely in the middle of Spring Misty thought to herself as she walked down the banks of the River Seine. The buds on the trees and the singing of birds always reminded her that it was her favorite time of year, and this year she was spending it in her favorite city. Her partner seemed to sense what she was thinking and echoed the sentiments. "I can't believe how beautiful this city is." he told her as they continued on their walk, arms linked. "I know. Everything is so bright and full of life. All the plants and flowers are growing again, it's almost magical." she replied to him. They continued their walk, and Misty walked closer to her companion, trying to feel secure in his presence. He sensed this as well and responded by unlinking his arm and putting it round her, holding her tight against him. She moved her hand up to meet the hand from his surrounding arm. They met and Misty quivered as he squeezed it gently. There was something about the grip that seemed familiar, she'd been with this person many times, felt as though she had known him for years and yet didn't know his face or name. She looked up at him, but no matter how she tried she couldn't make out any of his facial features. It wasn't that she couldn't see them, more that as soon as she saw them she instantly forgot. She couldn't explain this. Maybe she was dreaming.
Brock looked through the window into Misty's room. Ash was sitting next to her, ever vigilant. Brock could see Ash's lips moving, but couldn't make out what he was saying. Probably for the best that I can't, Brock thought to himself. Sensing that someone had moved beside him he turned to see Doctor Turner looking through the window with him. "Has he had any rest?" she asked of Ash. Brock answered in the negative, all the while keeping his eyes on Ash. "He really should. Why don't you go and sit with her, let him get some rest?" she suggested. "I should shouldn't I?" he asked. Doctor Turner nodded her approval. "Ok." Brock told her and walked into the room.
"Ash." Brock said to the young trainer. Ash merely looked round at Brock, before returning to Misty. "Ash, Doctor Turner thinks you need to get some rest." Brock said to him. "I'm not leaving her. Not again. She needs me." he snapped back. Brock sighed, he'd figured Ash would be like this. "Listen Ash, if she wakes up what use are you going to be to her if you keep falling asleep every two minutes? Do it for me. Please Ash. I promise I won't go anywhere till you get back." Brock told him. "I'm not going to sleep Brock." he said to the older boy. Brock frowned, Ash was being more stubborn than he'd expected. "Well at least get a Coffee." he suggested to him. Ash nodded. "Yeah, sure whatever." he said back, obviously not happy about leaving her alone even for a few moments. "Here, get me one too." Brock asked, handing him a few coins. "Sure." Ash said as he stood up and slowly shuffled out of the room muttering to himself. Brock watched him go before sitting down in the chair. He's really taking this badly, Brock said quietly. Unseen by Brock, Misty stirred in her dreams.
She was in a different part of Paris now, standing out side Notre Dame Cathedral looking up at the towering beauty of the centuries old building. Her partner still held her hand, telling her how much he loved her. Some of the things he was saying were strange somehow. Occasionally he would break down in tears proclaiming that it was all his fault and that he should never have left her alone. She wondered what was all his fault. It didn't matter now whatever it was, what did matter was that she got the best possible picture of the Cathedral to show her sisters. Letting go of her partner's hand she fished around in her bag until she produced a camera. Lining up the shot in the viewfinder she got the picture she wanted and pressed down on the button. The camera whirred and clicked as it stored the photo on the film before she returned it to her bag. "Hee, I got a great sho...." she started to say to her partner but stopped when she realised he was no longer next to her. She spun around, searching the landscape for him, vainly for a few moments, until she saw him walking away into the distance. There was something about him from the back that was extremely familiar. Bit by bit she compared his clothing and physical attributes with the people she knew. Red cap, black spikey hair, belt with Pokéballs and blue sneakers. "Ash?" she whispered to herself. Then she screamed his name.
"ASH!!!"
To be continued....
So what do you think so far? Reviews and opinions as usual are welcomed.