Chapter Twenty-Two - Into the Night
The dimly-lit hallway outside the prison chamber was alluringly silent, like poison disguised as a rich wine. Droplets of seawater dripped from the wooden ceiling, haunting the room with an echoing drip drip drip. Rosa couldn't see how far down the musty passageway went, but she was certain she was below deck, so there had to be a staircase somewhere. She only hoped the keys she stole would open any locked doors.
Shivering, she crossed her arms tightly against her chest and quietly picked her way down the hallway. Goosebumps coated her arms and legs, desperate for warmth, but she forced herself to keep a slow pace. Plasma members could be lurking anywhere, and as much as she wished otherwise, outsmarting one guard didn't mean she could take on an army.
Rosa paused when she came across a door. It was simple – just wood with a padlock holding it closed – but the bottom was rotted away, leaving a small hole along the edge. It was unlikely there was anything important behind it, but she got down on her hands and knees anyway, just in case they were keeping Hugh in a broom closet.
Dizziness stung her eyes when she stooped over, sparking dots across her vision and a fitful wave through her stomach. She wasn't sure what the consequences of an untreated concussion were, but if her head didn't settle soon, she might not make it far.
The nausea wasn't even worth it. From what she could see, there was nothing beyond the door but darkness.
Cursing, Rosa returned to her feet and continued down the hall. Would it be better to find her team first? At least then she'd have a chance if she were caught, since her fists would only take her so far in a Pokémon battle.
Trouble was she even didn't know where to begin looking for them.
Rosa came to the end of the hallway and tried the metal door. The heavy lock held fast, but she fumbled with the guard's keys and poked at the deadbolt until she found one that fit the mechanism. It swung open with an ear-piercing screech.
Its opening revealed a staircase. Finally.
She took the stairs two at a time. Her shoes slamming against steel was a bit noisy, but knowing she could be out of the darkness in less than a minute kept her moving. Her prison cell had drowned her; she needed sunshine.
But she didn't find any. The next door led to another hallway, this one wider with fluorescent lights and metal flooring. Doors rimmed with steel molding decorated the walls, each flashing turquoise-colored lights that stung her eyes. Rosa's heart summersaulted when she spotted a figure standing near one of them.
Gasping, she ducked back into the staircased room and clenched her trembling hands into fists. Had they seen her? She'd only been in view for a second, so surely not. If they'd noticed her, they'd probably be chasing her back down the stairs by now.
Rosa carefully opened the door again and peeked at her threat. The guard was leaning against the doorway, chatting softly to someone apparently out of view. Their posture was casual as they rested their head against the door frame, and they kept their attention glued to the metal beam opposite them.
Slowly.
Her heart was fluttering like bird wings as she stepped back into the large room and tiptoed to the first door. It opened under her shaking fingers, and she was relieved to find it empty. Inside were four simple bunkbeds, and a green panel that did nothing when she walked on it. And of course, no Hugh.
Steeling herself, she peered around the corner to look at the Plasma member again. Rosa was close enough now she could tell the guard was a woman, but her unseen companion had joined her as well. Their heads were close together, talking quietly amongst themselves.
The empty metal walls allowed a few words to carry.
"Not talking much . . . he's fairly sure, compared to the girl . . . won't say a word."
Rosa's teeth ground together. It sounded like they were talking about Hugh . . . and her. So, he was staying strong then, despite their predicament. At least she knew for sure that he was alive and somewhere on the ship, instead of a drowned corpse lost at sea. Shame colored her cheeks at the thought of her stern-eyed friend sitting silently in his cell. Her throat was still raw from screaming.
"Nah, he won't say how . . . trying for real tomorrow. Dunno where, though. My guess would be the Shadow's quarters."
Her lips pursed into a thin line. Shadows quarters? Was that a branch of Team Plasma? She'd never heard of them.
Exhaling, Rosa eyed the celling and thought over her options. If they were keeping something important in the Shadows quarters, like her Pokémon or Hugh, then that would be the place to start searching. The hallway she was in appeared to be bunking for the guards, so it was unlikely she'd find anything useful here. And she already knew what rested below. So, that only left one sure course.
But first she needed to slip past these guards.
Turning back towards the inside of the room, Rosa eyed the blank walls in search of something she could use. The small space was empty aside from the bunkbeds and a trashcan, but when she poked through a trash bag, a cracked pokeball touched her hand. There was a moist wad of chewed gum stuck to the side, but it would do. Rolling the device in her fingers, she darted back to the door and snuck another glimpse around the corner.
Still talking.
Her gaze shifted to the door she'd come through, and relief touched her when she saw she'd left it open. The gap was fairly wide, but her aim had never been perfect. Still, Rosa pulled back her elbow, and with all her strength chucked the broken ball towards the entryway. Her heart skipped painfully when it barely sailed through her target, but then it bashed the back wall and clanked down the staircase. Like the devil was upon her, Rosa threw herself back against the inner wall and held her breath.
The guards paused their chatter. "What was that, do you think?"
"Dunno. Maybe the girl got out, and now she's coming after you, seeking revenge – ouch!"
A slapping noise reverberated through the hall, followed by the woman's sharp voice hissing, "Don't even joke about that! That trainer is a poltergeist."
"Alright, alright, geez. Oscar went down there a few minutes ago to give the trainer water. Maybe it was him."
"Idiot probably fell down the stairs again." She sounded relieved. "C'mon. If he needs to be dragged to the infirmary, I need you to help lift him."
Through the crack between the hinge and the wall, Rosa watched them go, her pulse quickening as they passed in front of her room. Surely, they could hear the blood roaring in her ears. They didn't stop though, and as soon as they were out of sight, she slipped out the door and fled to the exit.
More stairs, and then starlight. The overhead sky of azure blue burned through her anxiety, flooding her senses with warm comfort. A tiny sliver of moon lit up surrounding winter clouds, but its light wasn't enough to overpower the vast stream of stars decorating the atmosphere. Rosa wasn't sure exactly what time it was, especially since the sun was setting around six now, but she suspected night had fallen a while ago.
No wonder there were so few Plasma members wandering the ship. They were sleeping.
Looking around cautiously, Rosa ascended the last few stairs and stepped onto the main deck. There didn't seem to be anyone around, but surely there had to be someone at the wheel, or grunts governing the ship's enormous sails. Her wary eyes flashed towards the upper deck to the wooden wheel, but it was empty.
She was alone.
Cold seeped through her thin clothes, picking at her delicate skin, but Rosa ignored winter's icy sting and tentatively crossed the deck to what she hoped was the captain's quarters. It may not be the same thing as the shadows quarters, but it terms of finding her friends, it was as good a place as any to check.
She passed another staircase leading below deck, but she didn't bother searching it. There was no way she was going back into the darkness unless she absolutely had too.
The captain's door was a heavy, polished steel donning a single lock. Praying silently for its tenant to be sleeping or away, Rosa pressed her ear to the icy metal to listen. It was stupid to just waltz right in – she could be walking right back into captivity, after all – but if her pokeballs were inside, she didn't really have a choice. She only hoped the captain was less nasty than the ninja.
After a long silence, she found the courage to test the silver knob. It jiggled under her touch but didn't give, so she pulled the guard's keys from her pocket and started down the line.
Her struggle was in vain; none of them fit.
"Looking for these?"
Warm breath formed in front of her as a set of keys were dangled inches from her face. Unnaturally long, gloved fingers touched her aching shoulders, sending unpleasant ripples across her neck. Instinct drowned every thought, and with urgency, Rosa ripped away from the ninja and braced herself against the door to stare into his molten lunar eyes.
"You really are spirited." He breathed, tilting his head as if curious. The ninja's gaze cut through her like daggers, remaining steady despite her squirming, searching fervently for something she wasn't sure he'd find. "It's too bad I already warned you to behave, sweet Rosa. Lord Ghesis hates damaged goods."
Pain ignited her forehead, and she floated away.
The sickening smell of rotting fish and wet moss stirred Rosa back to consciousness. Her eyelids felt heavy, like someone had taped them closed, and for what felt like a long time, she lied with her cheek pressed to the cool ground and just groaned. By stars, she hurt. Every muscle ached, burning and throbbing in sync with each beat of her heart. She could feel something pulling at her wrists and ankles, but then the ship beneath her jolted, scattering ripples of pain through her shoulders, back, and neck. Suppressing another moan, Rosa gathered her strength and opened her eyes.
She was back in her cell. Even tilted, she recognized the steel bars and empty, concrete floor. Her face and hips were lined strangely on the floor, but when Rosa tried to move her arms to heave herself up, she was met with the jingling of chains instead. Her hands were shackled behind her back. A quick test of her legs proved her ankles were chained as well.
That stupid, horrible ninja! She'd kill him! She'd grind his bones to make her bread! Inhaling deeply, Rosa gritted her teeth and forced herself into a sitting position. The abs lining her stomach shrieked in protest. Her head pulsed angrily, and she had to rest against the wall to keep from being sick, but she managed to get herself upright.
"I know you're there." She called into the gloom. Her voice was thick, but clearing it seemed like defeat, so she let it stay coarse and rough-sounding. "You might as well come and join the party, instead of watching me from a distance like a freak. You're the one who did this to me, after all."
The ninja materialized in front of her cell, his porcelain skin almost glowing in the darkness. His face was lined with apathy, hardening any handsome features he may have had, and when his eyes caught hers, they tightened.
"So," He murmured, "you have perception as well as spirit. I can see why Lord Ghetsis suspects you."
Rosa snorted. "Of what, interfering with his plans? You bet I have been, you stupid snake. And I'm not gonna . . . stop . . . either." Her lungs couldn't pull in enough air. Everything was fuzzy.
"You really shouldn't say things like that. I've already had to punish you for rebelling, and I won't take pleasure in doing it again."
"Punish me?" Rosa's lip curled into a snarl. "You mean these shackles, or the fact I can barely move?"
His eyes didn't waver. "Both. Although the sore muscles are a side effect of the electric treatment I administered to stop you escaping again. Electrical shocks from a Joltik are hardly fatal, but you'll be in pain for some time."
Revulsion rocked Rosa's system, and her jaw clenched furiously. "You . . . you shocked me with Joltik?" She could hardly stand to look at him. The spider Pokémon was usually mild tempered; they weren't even big enough to generate electricity for themselves. Using them for torture was against their nature.
"You're sick. This entire organization is sick."
He shrugged. "Only because you refuse to understand. The purpose of the electricity isn't to cause pain, but to drain energy. Which in your case is overly abundant. If you cannot move, you cannot fight."
Rosa glared at the ninja venomously, her hands itching to break through their shackles and shatter his porcelain nose. If he was challenging her, then she would gladly prove him wrong. "Sap me all you want. You still won't be able to keep me here."
"Ah, but that's where you're wrong. Lord Ghetsis owns you, Rosa, and I am bound to serve him. Which means that if he wants you here, you will stay here. If he wants you in the containment unit back at Plasma's base, you will be transferred to the base. And if he wants you to be chained to an anchor and dropped into the sea, then your corpse will remain at the bottom of the ocean forever."
She opened her mouth to shoot back a snarky retort, but he snatched the bars and dropped to his knees so they were at eyelevel. Although she was still pressed against the back wall, Rosa felt his gaze like he was an inch away.
"Do you finally understand, Rosa? Your life is not your own. It never has been. And nothing, not even the Regeneration Effect, can save you now."
He shoved away from the bars and strode away, but Rosa made no move to call after him. Her mind was reeling from what he'd just told her. The Regeneration Effect? What was he talking about?
There was a bang from the exit door slamming, and she was left alone to face the darkness.