They travelled in silence for most of the journey, each of them both lost
in thought. They had been in Viridian forest for what felt like hours
before Butch threw the map to the forest floor, frustrated
"I give up" he sighed "We've been walking around in circles for the past hour"
James didn't reply and sat down heavily on a fallen tree trunk using this as an advantage to rest, as he was still feeling weak. Butch leaned back against the tree behind him, looking up at the small amount of cloudy sky that could be seen through the canopy of the forest. He sighed heavily again and closed his eyes.
The strength that James had previously was now beginning to waver as doubts filled his mind "Do you think we'll find her?" he questioned looking desperately for some reassurance
Butch was silent for a moment, not really knowing what to say to him. The chance of her still being there were minimal to say the least, but that was not what James needed to hear. He left his answer ambiguous, hoping that James didn't hear the doubt in his voice
"I don't know."
Suddenly a loud gunshot echoed through the forest causing numerous bird pokemon to fly from their nests
"What in the hell was that?" Butch exclaimed
James' eyes opened wide "Jessie!" he yelled, getting up abruptly and running towards the sound
"James!" Butch called whilst trying to catch up with him, feeling that a gunshot is not really the sort of sound they should be running towards
James had nearly reached the clearing where the shot had came from when Butch tackled him, forcing both of them to hit the floor hard
"Are you insane!?" Butch hissed quietly
The look on James' face was one of shock, his eyes were wide open and as Butch followed his gaze he realised why. About 3 foot in front of them laid a dead man, blood seeping from a gunshot wound to his head. Butchs' head turned away from the body, looking towards the area of forest to the left of them where he thought he could hear voices. He turned back to James who was still lying on the floor, too shocked to move. "Stay here" he whispered to him, although it was apparent that James wasn't going anywhere.
Growing up in a rough part of town had somewhat hardened Butchs' emotions. He hadn't seen a dead body since he was a child, but he remained unaffected by the sight that had paralysed James with fear. After seeing your parents killed in front of you at only ten years old he found it easy to block out his emotions, it was either that or he would break down completely.
Butch slowly crept over towards the voices, making sure they would not see him by keeping low down behind the shrubbery.
"Now that I've got your attention, does anyone else wish to question my orders?"
"No sir!"
There was a group of five men, as far as Butch could see. They seemed to be searching the debris of a house that was obviously destroyed in the raids a few days ago. The man who appeared to be in charge was facing away from him, the light that filtered through some of the trees glinted off a gun that the man held in his right hand. The others, all in dark uniforms, were also carrying small guns attached to holsters around their waists.
"Over here sir, I think I've found something"
The leader of the group walked over to the man, both had their backs towards Butch and he leaned in closer to hear the quiet conversation they were having, but as he did so a fallen tree branch he had been standing on snapped under his weight. Butch immediately froze praying silently that he hadn't been heard -no such luck
"What was that?" one of the men whispered withdrawing his gun from his side and aiming it in Butchs' direction "Sir, I think someone's out there"
"Shit" Butch swore as he made a dash for the area where he had left James. He was vaguely aware of voices shouting behind him, and it was not long before shots were being fired.
James' head snapped up at the sound of more gunfire to see Butch running at top speed towards him, shouting at him to run. Without hesitation James scrambled up away from his position on the ground and began running for his life.
Despite the gunshots that were continuously narrowly missing hitting his body Butchs' thoughts were not focused on his life, but on Cassidy. He had promised her he would come back, now unsure if he could keep his promise he was annoyed at himself for not telling her how much he loved her while he had the chance. He thought back to his childhood, he swore he would never become like his parents, cold and unloving and yet that was exactly what he had become, before he met her. He thought he had changed...maybe he was wrong. His thoughts were interrupted as he felt a white-hot pain shoot through his chest. The impact of the shot forced him to the ground and he skidded a few feet before he realised what had happened.
James turned back to see Butch lying face down on the forest floor, struggling to get up. He immediately noticed the blood that was seeping through the back of his shirt from the gunshot wound to his chest.
Moving quickly he managed to get Butch into a standing position, attempting to put his arm around him in order to support his weight and keep moving away from their assailants. After stumbling further into the forest James found himself becoming weaker and Butchs' extra weight wasn't helping. He eventually collapsed, causing both men to fall to the ground.
Butchs' breaths were now coming in short gasps, and James realised that he didn't have much time left.
"Please Butch, don't die on me" James begged, sitting him up against a nearby tree.
Butchs' eyes opened slowly, each breath becoming more and more painful "It's too late James..leave me"
"No" James spoke determinedly, trying not to let his fear show "you're going to make it Butch, you have to, for Cassidy"
Butchs' eyes were beginning to lose focus as he spoke for the final time, each word punctuated by a painful gasp for breath "Tell Cassie I love her, and I'm sorry"
James moved away from him as his body slumped down against the tree, a stream of blood flowing from his mouth. He whispered his name mournfully, wondering what in the world he could say to Cassidy when a shot whizzed past his head, reminding him of the still apparent danger he was in. He clambered away from Butch but only far enough to see the men surround the body. They seemed satisfied that they had caught the only person who had witnessed their activities.
" What should we do with him?" One of the men asked bending down next to Butchs' lifeless form.
"Take the body back to Cinnabar. Let the boss deal with it" one of the other men spoke coldly, his eyes scanning the vicinity looking for any other sign of life. James promptly ducked behind a large tree concealing himself, hoping that he hadn't been seen. He waited for a few minutes until the sound of footsteps crunching along the forest floor could no longer be heard.
His next destination was apparent, Cinnabar Island, but first he had something to else to attend to ...Cassidy.
TBC...
"I give up" he sighed "We've been walking around in circles for the past hour"
James didn't reply and sat down heavily on a fallen tree trunk using this as an advantage to rest, as he was still feeling weak. Butch leaned back against the tree behind him, looking up at the small amount of cloudy sky that could be seen through the canopy of the forest. He sighed heavily again and closed his eyes.
The strength that James had previously was now beginning to waver as doubts filled his mind "Do you think we'll find her?" he questioned looking desperately for some reassurance
Butch was silent for a moment, not really knowing what to say to him. The chance of her still being there were minimal to say the least, but that was not what James needed to hear. He left his answer ambiguous, hoping that James didn't hear the doubt in his voice
"I don't know."
Suddenly a loud gunshot echoed through the forest causing numerous bird pokemon to fly from their nests
"What in the hell was that?" Butch exclaimed
James' eyes opened wide "Jessie!" he yelled, getting up abruptly and running towards the sound
"James!" Butch called whilst trying to catch up with him, feeling that a gunshot is not really the sort of sound they should be running towards
James had nearly reached the clearing where the shot had came from when Butch tackled him, forcing both of them to hit the floor hard
"Are you insane!?" Butch hissed quietly
The look on James' face was one of shock, his eyes were wide open and as Butch followed his gaze he realised why. About 3 foot in front of them laid a dead man, blood seeping from a gunshot wound to his head. Butchs' head turned away from the body, looking towards the area of forest to the left of them where he thought he could hear voices. He turned back to James who was still lying on the floor, too shocked to move. "Stay here" he whispered to him, although it was apparent that James wasn't going anywhere.
Growing up in a rough part of town had somewhat hardened Butchs' emotions. He hadn't seen a dead body since he was a child, but he remained unaffected by the sight that had paralysed James with fear. After seeing your parents killed in front of you at only ten years old he found it easy to block out his emotions, it was either that or he would break down completely.
Butch slowly crept over towards the voices, making sure they would not see him by keeping low down behind the shrubbery.
"Now that I've got your attention, does anyone else wish to question my orders?"
"No sir!"
There was a group of five men, as far as Butch could see. They seemed to be searching the debris of a house that was obviously destroyed in the raids a few days ago. The man who appeared to be in charge was facing away from him, the light that filtered through some of the trees glinted off a gun that the man held in his right hand. The others, all in dark uniforms, were also carrying small guns attached to holsters around their waists.
"Over here sir, I think I've found something"
The leader of the group walked over to the man, both had their backs towards Butch and he leaned in closer to hear the quiet conversation they were having, but as he did so a fallen tree branch he had been standing on snapped under his weight. Butch immediately froze praying silently that he hadn't been heard -no such luck
"What was that?" one of the men whispered withdrawing his gun from his side and aiming it in Butchs' direction "Sir, I think someone's out there"
"Shit" Butch swore as he made a dash for the area where he had left James. He was vaguely aware of voices shouting behind him, and it was not long before shots were being fired.
James' head snapped up at the sound of more gunfire to see Butch running at top speed towards him, shouting at him to run. Without hesitation James scrambled up away from his position on the ground and began running for his life.
Despite the gunshots that were continuously narrowly missing hitting his body Butchs' thoughts were not focused on his life, but on Cassidy. He had promised her he would come back, now unsure if he could keep his promise he was annoyed at himself for not telling her how much he loved her while he had the chance. He thought back to his childhood, he swore he would never become like his parents, cold and unloving and yet that was exactly what he had become, before he met her. He thought he had changed...maybe he was wrong. His thoughts were interrupted as he felt a white-hot pain shoot through his chest. The impact of the shot forced him to the ground and he skidded a few feet before he realised what had happened.
James turned back to see Butch lying face down on the forest floor, struggling to get up. He immediately noticed the blood that was seeping through the back of his shirt from the gunshot wound to his chest.
Moving quickly he managed to get Butch into a standing position, attempting to put his arm around him in order to support his weight and keep moving away from their assailants. After stumbling further into the forest James found himself becoming weaker and Butchs' extra weight wasn't helping. He eventually collapsed, causing both men to fall to the ground.
Butchs' breaths were now coming in short gasps, and James realised that he didn't have much time left.
"Please Butch, don't die on me" James begged, sitting him up against a nearby tree.
Butchs' eyes opened slowly, each breath becoming more and more painful "It's too late James..leave me"
"No" James spoke determinedly, trying not to let his fear show "you're going to make it Butch, you have to, for Cassidy"
Butchs' eyes were beginning to lose focus as he spoke for the final time, each word punctuated by a painful gasp for breath "Tell Cassie I love her, and I'm sorry"
James moved away from him as his body slumped down against the tree, a stream of blood flowing from his mouth. He whispered his name mournfully, wondering what in the world he could say to Cassidy when a shot whizzed past his head, reminding him of the still apparent danger he was in. He clambered away from Butch but only far enough to see the men surround the body. They seemed satisfied that they had caught the only person who had witnessed their activities.
" What should we do with him?" One of the men asked bending down next to Butchs' lifeless form.
"Take the body back to Cinnabar. Let the boss deal with it" one of the other men spoke coldly, his eyes scanning the vicinity looking for any other sign of life. James promptly ducked behind a large tree concealing himself, hoping that he hadn't been seen. He waited for a few minutes until the sound of footsteps crunching along the forest floor could no longer be heard.
His next destination was apparent, Cinnabar Island, but first he had something to else to attend to ...Cassidy.
TBC...