"Archie, this is me, Michael, Team Magma is up to their old tricks again. A little girl by the name of Arinia was almost killed by them."
Now Archie asked, "Is the girl all right? How is she?"
"She's bordering on death in a way, she has pneumonia….."
"Where are you at?" Archie asked.
"I'm at the Lavaridge City Hospital, Mark is here too."
Now Archie said, "I'll be right there in a while, tell Mark that I'm on my way……."
"Okay I will……. See you soon."
"Goodbye." Archie said.
Michael hung up the phone and walked back to Arinia's room.
Michael entered Arinia's room and said, "Mark, Archie's coming, I told him what happened…….."
"Good, at least Archie can help us…….." Mark said.
Arinia began to come to, "Karania……."
"Arinia? I'm here……. Talk to me……" Karania said.
"Karania…… I'm scared……. I don't know what's going to happen since I have pneumonia……." Arinia said.
"Don't worry Arinia, you'll get well don't you worry. Also our boss won't allow Maxie to harm you." Mark said.
"But I'm so scared and afraid……." Arinia said.
"I know you are, but you need to be brave. You never give up, and you shouldn't start now." Michael said.
"But……." Arinia said.
"No buts, little sister. He's right and you know it." Karania said.
"I guess you're right……" Arinia said.
The door opened and Lance entered, "Karania, honey, your parents told me what happened, I'm so sorry."
Karania ran to Lance and threw her arms around him and gave him a kiss on the cheek, "Lance! I've missed you so much!"
"Me too, honey……." Lance said.
Now
Lance asked, "How's Arinia doing, darling?"
"She has pneumonia…….." Karania replied.
"That's not good…….." Lance said frowning.
Arinia sat up in bed, "Lance, is that really you?"
"Oh, Arinia! I didn't realize you were awake." Lance said, then he hugged Arinia.
Now Lance asked, "What happened to her? How did she get like this?"
"It's a long story……." Karania replied.
The door opened and Karania and Arinia's parents entered.
"Karania how is Arinia? Her dad asked. Her dad saw Michael and Mark, "Who are these people?"
"Dad, this is Mark and Michael……." Karania replied.
Now their mom, Rosella, said, "Nice to meet you. I assume you helped Arinia somehow……."
"Yes, ma'am we did." Michael replied.
Now her father, Steven, asked, "How did Arinia get like this?"
Mark replied, "Maxie had her kidnapped and he held her prisoner, and while she was his prisoner he starved her half to death. She caught pneumonia from being so weak from being starved."
Lance, Steven, Edgar, and Rosella gasped.
Now Steven asked, "How long was she starved?"
Mark replied, "Arinia was starving for several days now, no thanks to Maxie from Team Magma……."
Now Arinia said, "He starved me for a week………"
Mark gasped, "No wonder you were so weak when I found you………."
"Yes…….. I know……. If it wasn't for you, I would've died or worse……."
Edgar looked shocked after hearing what Arinia said. Mark hugged Arinia.
Now Steven asked, "What's going on?"
Karania replied, "Dad, Mark loves Arinia."
"What?!" Steven exclaimed.
"Dad, what's wrong? He did rescue her." Karania asked.
"This took me by surprise…….." Her father replied.
Now Mark said, "This is going to be hard to believe, sir, but I love your daughter…….."
Now Steven said, "I see. However, I don't know whether I want my daughter to be with you, as you might put her in danger."
"I wouldn't do that! I'd get her to safety before I stayed to fight if she was with me!" Mark insisted.
"We'll see." Steven said.
Steven turned to Arinia, "Arinia, how do you feel about this?"
"Dad, I love him too……." Arinia replied.
Now he father asked, "Are you sure about this, Arinia?"
Arinia looked away from her father, she felt ashamed.
Now Karania said, "Dad, don't you see, they both love each other……."
A tear ran down Arinia's cheek.
Now her father said, "Honey……. Arinia……. I'm sorry…….. I wasn't thinking of your feelings……."
"It's okay, dad." Arinia replied.
Steven turned back to Mark, "Take good care of her, I'm entrusting her heart to you; please don't break it……."
"Thank you, sir. I promise that I'll take good care of her, and I won't do anything that could hurt her." Mark replied.
Now the door to Arinia's room opened and Archie entered.
"Hi, boss it's good to see you again." Michael said.
"It sure is. By the way, this is Arinia." Mark pointed to Arinia.
Now Archie said, "So this is Arinia……. My……. You poor thing……. Michael told me all about what happened, I'm so glad that you're all right……"
"Thank you." Arinia said.
"You're welcome, by the way do you mind telling me how you were captured?"
Arinia grew silent, and trembled slightly.
"What is it, Arinia?" Steven asked.
"I….. I just saw everything that happened to me flash before my eyes, it still frightens me to think about it……." Arinia replied.
"Don't worry, daughter, everything will be fine, I promise……." Her father replied.
Now Arinia said, "I'm afraid. What if he tries to go after me again?"
Now Archie said, "He won't because we won't let Maxie get away with this, you have my word, Arinia……."
Arinia started to cry and her mom walked over to her and hugged her as she cried, "There, there it's all right, honey……"
"Mom, I don't know what to do…….. I'm so scared…….." Arinia said.
Now her mom said, "You're not alone, sweetheart……."
Now Archie said, "She's right, you're not alone……. I hate to say it, but when you feel like it, I need you to tell me everything that happened to you so that I can be sure that I take the proper precautions to help keep you safe."
"I'll try……." Arinia said.
Now Michael said, "I know you're scared, but you must help us, otherwise Maxie will not rest until he has you again."
Arinia hugged Mark in an effort to seek comfort.
Now Lance said, "We'll all be here for you, we won't leave you until you're well."
"Yeah, little sis, we won't leave you." Karania agreed.
Mark hugged Arinia back, "You can be sure that I won't leave you either…….."
Now Arinia said, "Thank you, thank you all……."
Now her father said, "Now Arinia, you should try to get some sleep now. You need your rest to get well. I know you're glad to see us, but you still need your sleep."
Mark released Arinia so that she could try to get some sleep.
Now her mother said while tucking Arinia in, "Your father's right, you need to sleep now, sweetheart."
Arinia fell asleep and became oblivious to the things that were going on around her for a time.