Chapter 21
"Hyper Fang"
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get Billie to leave
without me. She always could come up with a better excuse than I could…Maybe it
came from actually being in contact with humans for the past two weeks…
She asked me what I had been doing while I had been here by
myself…I told her what little I thought she could actually care to know…I
didn't tell her about how my conscience only surfaced during my dreams…and how,
when it did, it only sought to make me miserable……I didn't tell her how much I
had cried after my first kill…or how many Pokémon I had ended up killing…I
didn't tell her how glad I was that I didn't have to kill anymore, since she
had been smart enough to bring food with her…
"…You still haven't told me why you left, anyway…"
"…Yes I did."
She shook her head. "No you didn't…Not really, anyway…Come
on. Tell me in plain English."
I couldn't tell her anything that I hadn't already told her,
because that was all there was to it. I wasn't hiding anything…Well, not much…
I heard a faint rustle in the bushes…
"…Ash?"
"Sh."
It was coming from the right. I reached back and picked up
one of my rocks…Whoever was there didn't sound friendly…
There was a sudden crash, and two humans stumbled into the
clearing. They were wearing the black version of the Team Rocket uniform, and
they looked familiar…
"Ahem…" said the girl.
They started reciting their motto…
"Prepare for trouble and make it double," they said
together.
"To infect the world with devastation."
"To blight all peoples in every nation."
"To denounce the goodness of truth and love."
"To extend our wrath to the stars above."
"Cassidy."
"Butch."
"We're Team Rocket, circling earth all day and night."
"Surrender to us now, or you will surely lose the fight."
"Raticate!!"
"Not you two! What are you doing here!?" Billie exclaimed.
"Exactly what I was about to ask you…Billie," Cassidy
replied with a sneer.
"…I've seen you before…" I said, mostly to myself.
"Hmm…Oh yeah. You were one of those kids who were trying to
steal from our Pokémon spa," Butch nodded.
"And got us arrested…" Cassidy said with a frown.
"Hello!" Billie interrupted, "I repeat, what are you two
doing here?"
"You silly Billie…" Cassidy chided, "At least let us finish
our introductions before you start hounding us with questions."
"The introductions are over! Now tell us why you're here!"
Wow…I've never seen her this upset before…
Cassidy sighed. "If you insist…" She glanced at Butch and
they exchanged nods. "We are here to bring the both of you back to Viridian…The
boss wants to know why it's taking you so long to bring…Ash, was it?…back. He's
very upset."
"Well…" Billie said nervously.
"I'm not going back," I stated.
The two newcomers stared at me.
"And…why not?" Cassidy asked.
"Because."
They continued to stare at me, and finally they burst out
laughing.
"You don't have a choice, kid! If the boss wants you back,
then you're going back!"
"So let's hurry up," Butch added.
"Come on. We don't have all day."
I glanced at Billie. She was looking at her feet.
Probably doesn't want them here just as much as I don't…
"I…'m…not…leaving…" I said quietly.
Cassidy growled. "That's not the answer I was looking for,
you little brat. Now come on."
She walked towards me, with Butch close behind. My fist
tightened on the rock in my hand. I didn't want to hurt them, but if they were
gonna play rough…
She grabbed my arm and yanked, hard. I gritted my teeth and
stayed seated.
"Come on," she grunted, "Don't make this any harder than it
has to be…"
I let go of my rock and found a good grip on one of Ash's
roots.
"Get up, kid," Butch warned, "You don't want us to have to
force you to come…"
Cassidy pulled using both hands. I wished I could both hands
against her, but she was holding on to one of them, so I didn't…I held on to
Ash for dear life.
She kicked me in the ribs.
"Let's get going, you imbecile! You don't want to force us
to hurt you…"
What is she talking about? That kick hurt!
"Just let me go, and maybe…we can talk about
this…like…adults," I replied.
"Adults? You're not an adult! Why would I talk to you like
one?"
I tried to grab onto Ash with my other hand, but she kneed
me this time, and I almost lost my grip.
I noticed that Billie was still staring at her feet.
"Billie! Give me a hand!" I said.
She looked at me for a brief moment, then turned away and
pretended like she wasn't there.
You little……
"Hey, Cassidy," Butch said, "Should we start playin' rough?"
"Rrr…Yeah. Now's a good time."
"Alright then! Raticate! I choose you!"
I glanced over my shoulder and past Cassidy and saw their
pet rat staring at me.
Now what…?
After a hard tug, Cassidy let go and I fell forward onto
myself. I don't know exactly how I did that, but I did.
"Raticate! Quick Attack!" Butch said.
Say what? Who's he battling against? I don't have any
Pokémon with me…
"Ow!" I shouted in surprise, as their Raticate slammed into
me.
"Cate!"
I glared at their overgrown rodent.
They can't attack me! I'm not a Pokémon!
I picked up my rock.
"So you wanna play rough…?" I whispered.
"Quick Attack!" Butch said again.
Raticate slammed into me again before I could block.
"Wh…What are you doing!?" Billie asked.
It's about time you woke up…
"He's not cooperating," Cassidy replied, "We're teaching him
how."
"But…!"
I grabbed onto Ash's trunk and pulled myself up.
I'm not gonna lose to a rat…
"…Butch?" Cassidy said after a moment.
"What?" he asked.
"What does he have in his hand?"
They all turned their heads toward me. I looked down at my
rock. It's edge glinted in the light.
"…Looks like a very sharp rock," Butch said.
"Better watch out," said Cassidy.
"Got it covered," said Butch, "Raticate! Use your Hyper Fang
attack!"
…Hyper Fang?
"Rrr…Raticate!!"
Raticate jumped towards me. I got a really good look
at its incisors…
Yep…Those are some hyper
fangs……and…they're…coming…right…towards…me…
"Ah!"
I blocked at the last second. It's huge teeth chomped down
on both of my arms in one bite, but it still wasn't finished. After getting
some leverage, it loosened it grip and used its top teeth to tear straight down
from my face to the ground.
"Ash!!" I heard Billie shriek.
Ouch…
I didn't move. I didn't open my eyes. I could feel the tear,
cold and burning, ripping me apart…but I didn't want to look at it…
"Ash!!"
I opened one eye. The first thing I saw was Cassidy, Butch,
and their Raticate, all staring at me smugly. Raticate had blood dripping from
its mouth…
I dared to look down…and immediately wished that I hadn't.
I could see the bones in my arms…broken…and covered with red
blood…My shirt…was destroyed…revealing…more blood…flowing…downwards…dripping…
Is that really me…?
"Ash!!" Billie cried again. "…Why did you do that to him!?"
"I'm sure he'll be more agreeable now…" Cassidy said.
The world suddenly toppled to one side, and I struggled to
regain my balance.
What on earth…?
"Hang on, Ash…Please…"
Pieces of my vision disappeared…I felt an intense throbbing in my head…It almost covered up the pain I was feeling in the rest of my body…I tried to shut it out…but instead…I think…I shut myself out…