The Ordeal
Part Three
By Chris Devlin
E-Mail: chris_devlin@hotmail.com
Website: www.pokeland.org.uk
Genre: Drama
This follows on from Parts One and Two (Surprisingly). Search Fanfiction.net for Chris Devlin if you haven't read them.
"ASH!!!"
Brock fell out of his chair at the sheer volume of Misty's scream. As he scrambled back to the seat he saw Misty sitting bolt upright in her bed, eyes wide open as if she had just seen a ghost. She was breathing heavily, her brow covered in perspiration. Brock could hear Ash's approaching footsteps as he ran back towards the room. The door flew open and Ash flew into the room. "Misty!" he cried out, fearing the worst. Misty slowly moved her gaze towards Ash, not noticing anything else until she saw him. She smiled weakly at him and then lay back, exhausted from the effort of moving, but relieved that he was still there with her. Ash moved over to her side while Brock moved out of the way to let him have better access and to get a nurse. "Where am I Ash? I don't remember anything." she asked him, distressed at her lack of memory. "You're in Hospital. You were attacked and..." he hesitated, unsure if now was the best time to tell her. Misty looked at him, sensing he was holding something from her. "Ash. What is it? Tell me Ash." she demanded. Ash took a deep breath before he explained everything to her. "Raped. You were raped Misty."
Another week passed before the Doctors declared Misty fit for release. Once Ash had explained to her what had happened she tried not to think about it too much, to put it out of her head. However hard she tried though, every night without fail she would wake up screaming out Ash's name, dripping in sweat. It wasn't even as if the dream was about the attack, more about her feelings for Ash. The dreams were nice until the last few moments when Ash would leave her, that was the part of the dream that terrified her, mostly because she feared it might somehow translate to real life. For the present though Ash stayed with her almost every minute of the day. She had always really liked him, always held a torch for him. These past few days though she came to realize that she was falling in love with him. He was being kinder and sweeter than anyone else had ever been to her before, and it only stood to enhance the feelings she had for him. His every movement, word and gesture was like a fix of some drug that she couldn't get enough of and only he could supply. Right now she was lying in her bed back in Cerulean City listening to Ash talk about anything and everything.
"That's why I think Batman could take Superman in a fight." he finished. Misty giggled at the inanity if the conversation they had just had. "Listen to us." she said with a smile. "We're talking about the most pointless things ever." she added with a slight snigger. Ash smiled broadly back and looked at his watch. "Oh, listen Misty I'd better be going. I said I'd go for a swim in the pool with your sisters." he said standing up. Misty gave him a half-hearted smile. "Don't get all upset on me, I'll be back later." he told her as he took her hand. "Suppose." Misty muttered. Ash went to go but, almost as an afterthought, quickly leant over Misty and kissed her on the forehead. Moving back he started to turn to leave when Misty tugged at his hand. "Don't go Ash. Please. Just sit with me." she pleaded. Ash looked her in the eyes and saw the hope there, she really didn't want him to go. Still she held his hand, her soft skin brushing against his. "Please Ash." she asked again. Ash closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath before deciding that he would rather be with Misty. "Ok Misty. Whatever you want." he said and sat down again. Misty still held his hand though. Ash wasn't objecting.
An hour passed before they spoke again, and it was only after Misty had been doing some serious thinking. She had very nearly died a week ago. If Officer Jenny hadn't found her when they did she most probably wouldn't be lying here now, her brain had been telling her. Misty suddenly realized the fragile nature of life, and that you have to take advantage of the time you have because you could die at any moment. That shook her to the core, but still strengthened her in that she resolved never to waste her time again, never to worry about what could be but to go and find out. "Ash?" she said as she turned her head to look at him. "What is it Mist? Everything ok?" he asked her. "I. I need to tell you something." she said, her voice quivering with hesitation despite her new resolution. "Go ahead." he said in return ready to listen intently to her every word. Misty swallowed, trying to clear the lump she could feel forming in her throat. "Ash, I've been doing a lot of thinking recently, and I've came to the conclusion that life is too fragile and short to waste hiding things from people." she explained. Ash merely nodded, a slight look of puzzlement on his face as he continued listening to her. "I have to tell you that I've been hiding something from you." she added and Ash shifted uncomfortably in his seat, not knowing if this was going to be good or bad news. "It's just that over the past few years, and especially the last week, I've been having more than feelings of friendship for you. I've been... Oh how can I say this without sounding totally stupid... I've been falling in love with you." she spluttered, just getting it out in the open. Ash, seemed to think about this for a few moments, leaving a gap filled with nothing but awkward silence. "You love me?" he eventually repeated, just trying to clarify the fact. "Yeah." Misty mumbled quietly, obviously embarrassed by his reaction. He stood up, and slowly headed for the door. "I need some time to think. Not long. I'll be back soon." he said, almost as an after thought, before walking out the door.
Ash wandered slowly around the underwater viewing gallery, trying to tell himself that he really heard what Misty had just told him. She loved him. This was a first, really a first. He'd never even suspected it. Of course he felt the same way about her, but she had caught him off guard, unprepared for the emotional burden she had just piled upon him. Ash plodded over to a nearby bench and sat down, trying to think what to do. He could tell her how he felt, or he could just keep it bottled up. He sighed. There was no point trying to decide which choice he had to make, because he had none. He would tell her his feelings.
"Misty what have you gone and done." she whispered to herself after Ash wandered out of the room. Now he would think she was nuts and laugh at her. Either that or she would have scared him off, dampened any motivation he may have had for making a move of his own. She cursed herself for forcing him into this position. Perhaps she should tell him that it was just a piece of nonsense that she'd spouted as a side effect of the medication she was on. No, better to see what he says first. she told herself.
"Hi." Ash, said awkwardly as he walked back into the room. "Hi." Misty replied. Ash sat down in the chair, but otherwise said and did nothing. The awkward silence returned and they sat there, neither saying a word to the other. Ash broke it, "Misty, I've been thinking about what you said, and I've came to my decision. But first I want to give you something." he told her and stood up again. Putting his hand into his back pocket he pretended to rummage around. "Ok, I've got it." he said, keeping his hand behind his back at all times, so that she couldn't see that it was empty. He moved closer to her bedside before leaning over her slightly. "Close your eyes." he told her. She gave him a suspicious look before compliantly closing her eyes. Slowly he lowered his face to hers, moving closer and closer by the second. Soon he could feel the heat and warmth from her sweet breath but continued closer until his lips met hers in a gentle and loving kiss. Misty moaned slightly in enjoyment before bringing her arms up and around his neck. She reciprocated the kiss, gently pecking at Ash's lips with her own, every time getting a better feel and touch of his skin. Ash, having totally familiarized himself with her lips moved on to her neck and ears, softly caressing and nibbling at them. Misty enjoyed this immensely and let out another moan to let him know. The ended their first kisses soon after. They had satisfied their initial desires with each other, but still left new areas still to be explored, saving them for a better time and place. One thing they both knew was that they could and would make it work. The future looked brighter now than ever, a sharp contrast with most of the previous week. There was no doubting that Misty's scars, both physical and emotional would eventually heal, helped by Ash. They would face the future together, and be stronger for it.
Well, there you have it. The final part of the story. As usual, criticism, criticism and more criticism is both welcomed and encouraged (As long as it's constructive). I personally felt that I under used the Rape element of the story, and that Misty seemed far too cheery far too quickly. Anyhow, opinions please.