Chapter Thirty-Two - Happy Reunions
Despite the lapse in rainfall and living space heater pressed against her chest, Rosa was freezing. Maybe it was leftover trauma from the last time she rode a flying type, when Colress sent her into a snowstorm on the back of his Braviary. Or her red-tipped fingers were stealing the rest of her body heat, which would be less annoying than the prior option. She didn't want to know she'd been permanently affected by Plasma's torture. It was easier to believe her body was just acting stupid.
Teeth chattering, she loosened her grip on Curtis's middle and pressed her forehead to the hollow between his shoulder blades. Flying was necessary to reach Opelucid City without losing weeks of travel time, and Curtis had been excited to transfer his Swanna back into his party, but she was really starting to dislike being in the air.
If they arrived before she threw up, she certainly wouldn't complain.
At least their side trip to Black City had been worth it. As fragile as it was, her peek into Ghetsis's mind had given them a game plan. For now, they hoped to find Ghetsis's hiding place and stop him in his tracks. As far as they knew, he had only managed to brainwash a few of his members, meaning something went wrong when he summoned Arceus the first time. If they could stop him before he made the correction, Unova would be free of his influence.
If. So much was based on speculation. If her assumption about Ghetsis's plot was correct. If he had to fix something before calling Arceus again. If she was strong enough to beat him, and whatever army was waiting for them. Curtis too – she kept forgetting she had help now.
Stopping in Opelucid was the only blip in their otherwise determined plan, but it would be over as quickly as they could get there and speak to the gym leader. Challenging gyms no longer interested her, but maybe Hugh was still after the champion's position. Perhaps he'd beaten Drayden and was on his way to claiming the eight gym badge.
It was a hopeful thought, sure, but one she clung to. How could she go on, if he'd met the same fate as Touko?
Something warm touched her clasped hands, jerking her from her thoughts. "Better wake up back there if you don't want to fall off." Curtis said, using his free arm to cinch her fingers tighter around his waist. "The entrance to Opelucid is just below us. Unless you'd prefer to meet us at the bottom?"
"Hilarious. Take us down, smart mouth. I'm freezing."
Her eagerness to reach the ground didn't heighten her enthusiasm to wander yet another foreign city, but at least it was far from the nightmare they'd left behind. Sliding off Swanna's back, Rosa straightened her clothes and brushed a feather from her hair, pointedly ignoring the way Curtis adjusted his hat to hide his own blond strands.
It seemed he would always keep secrets from her, no matter how close they got.
In a word, Opelucid was stone. Glossy white marble, to be exact, polished so brilliantly it almost glowed blue. It layered every street and cube-shaped building, a maze that was neither beautiful nor unfeeling. There was something tranquil about the way the trees swayed in perfect unison, true to the lines they were planted in. Or the swing of easy footsteps from passerby linked arm in arm as they strolled down the sidewalks.
Curtis noticed this as well. Rosa saw that sly smile pull at his mouth from the corner of her eye, and before she could strengthen her resolve to be aloof, he was bowing slightly and offering his hand.
"Can I escort you through town, Miss Rosa?" He asked, too innocently.
"No way."
"Come on. It'll look more natural in this place."
"Hold hands with Gallade. I don't want any part of this."
His eyebrows drew together in a sad sort of way. "But you got lost last time. What if it happens again? We don't have time to search for each other, especially if you want to be out of here by dark."
An exaggerated sigh. He was so full of crap.
Rosa took his arm.
"Quit smiling. It's creepy." She muttered as they passed another lamppost and rounded the corner.
"Make me."
This street revealed the rose-colored roof of a Pokémon center, which signaled Rosa's stomach to grumble sorrowfully. Tensing her abdomen silenced its lament - she wasn't in the mood to eat now.
"Oh my Arceus."
There was no time to register the shriek by her shoulder before a pair of arms were around Rosa's waist, crushing the breath from her lungs. They yanked at her, tearing her arm from Curtis's, leaving him stumbling across the walkway. An older couple window shopping nearby raised their silver eyebrows at the violent display, but Rosa was in too much shock to shoot them an apologetic look.
She knew that voice. Too well.
"Bianca?"
Rosa turned, and there she was. Mushroom hat tilted, eyes brimming with adoration, a smile like summer had come early. For perhaps the first time, Rosa didn't mind seeing that face.
At the mention of her name, Bianca beamed and threw herself against Rosa's neck in another embrace.
"I knew it was you!" She crowed. "I saw you walking from behind – well, I thought it was you; no one else has such long hair. Have you considered trimming those split ends? They look like a ratsnest! – but I'm so happy you're okay. I was worried, 'cause I hadn't seen you in so long. Since Nimbasa, can you believe it?" She drew back to shoot an avid smile over Rosa's shoulder. "And you've gotten rid of that awful snot-nosed boyfriend of yours! Who's this?"
Okay, maybe she minded a little. "This is-"
"Curtis." He interrupted, suddenly appearing at Rosa's shoulder to shoot Bianca a charming meet-the-parents smile. She indulged him by coloring a shade brighter. "I'm a friend of Rosa's. It's so nice to meet you."
Good grief. So that's where his Pokémon get it from. He'd never behaved that way with her. "What are you doing here, Bianca? I thought you'd returned to Professor Juniper."
"I've been assigned to study under gym leader Drayden for a while. The professor thought it would be good for me to work away from home, after what happened at the lab and all." Bianca rocked back and forth on her toes. "He's really nice, but nothing like Juniper. I think he views me more like his granddaughter than his assistant, even though I've done everything I can think of to get him to take me seriously.
"Oh, but you'll meet him when you challenge him. Do you want me to show you there? I was on my way back to the gym anyway."
"That's not necessary-"
"Please?" Bianca twisted the strap of her travel bag, suddenly looking nervous. "I don't want to say goodbye yet. It's been months since we've seen each other, and I'd like to get to know Curtis better. You've always been by yourself, and it's weird that now . . . I want to know you're okay. Can't I stay just a little longer?"
Another sigh, this one dejected. Why did Bianca have to look at her so earnestly? It made it harder to say no. Especially since it wasn't spending time with Bianca that Rosa objected to, but knowing they didn't have time to spare.
She glanced between Curtis and Bianca, wondering if he'd say something to back her up, but he just grinned and shrugged his shoulders expectantly. Apparently he'd noticed the assistant bothered her, and he was loving it. Eating it up. Like the brat he was.
So little time. They'd walk fast.
"Of course. Thank you for showing us, Bianca."
It was a distracted walk to the gym. Rosa stared hard at the buildings they passed, only half listening as Bianca chatted animatedly about this Pokémon or that contest. She latched herself to Rosa and Curtis by clutching their hands and swinging them as they walked, but Rosa was too far away to care.
"You sure I can't come inside with you?" Bianca whined when their feet scraped the pavement outside the pyramid-shaped gym. "Drayden wouldn't mind me observing your match if you don't. I'd love to see how your Pokemon are doing."
Rosa tensed, but forced a small smile to hide her unease. Bianca didn't need to know that there would be no match. Just a conversation that was sure to be disappointing. "Sorry, but I'd rather do this on my own. I fight better when people aren't watching."
Bianca's bottom lip puckered. "But Curtis gets to watch! Why can't I go inside if he can?"
"I have to be with Rosa at all times." Curtis interjected, tossing Bianca another award-winning smile while wrapping his arm around Rosa's waist. His touch was gentle, like it was meant to be comforting rather than playful. Was there nothing that escaped his notice? "Otherwise I get anxious – it's a real problem for me. I'll text you how the match goes, though."
Bianca continued to argue, but Rosa's patience wasn't prepared to outlast their conversation. It didn't matter if they followed her inside or not; she just wanted to talk to Drayden.
Pulling away from Curtis, she strode up the gym's pathway and through the automatic entrance. Words of concern from her friends looped on the breeze behind her, but were silenced as the stone doors slammed closed.
Please Hugh, tell me you've been through here. Tell me you're safe.
"No one like that has passed through here."
"You're absolutely sure-"
"I keep a detailed record of every trainer who passes through my gym. Your friend hasn't made it here yet. I'm sorry."
The news she'd expected, but disappointing nonetheless. So much so that if the hand pulling her heart through her ribcage killed her, maybe Rosa wouldn't have cared.
Hugh hadn't been here, which almost certainly meant he'd been delivered into Ghetsis's hands. Why had she believed Colress when said Hugh was safe? She should have searched every inch of that boat before agreeing to go anywhere.
Why had Colress saved her, and not Hugh? What had he gained by setting her free?
Her cheeks felt wet, but Rosa swiped the stray tears away with a flick of her hand. Hugh wouldn't want her to cry. He'd keep fighting for her, no matter what. She had to do the same.
I'll find you, Hugh. Or I'll die trying. I promise.
Curtis, who'd followed her inside, hesitated before touching her dampened cheeks to stop the flow with his thumb. "We'll find him, Rosa." He repeated, his voice tender. "We won't stop until we do."
She sniffed and pushed away his hand, muttering a thank you that tasted like ash on her tongue. If Ghetsis's list of grievances grew any steeper, she'd have no choice but to strangle him with her bare hands.
Drayden shifted uncomfortably and touched his spiked beard, unnerved by the display of emotion. His gym was usually for battling, not blubbering.
Steeling her breath, Rosa straightened and did her best to tighten her expression. She wasn't weak. No more tears. "Thank you for your time, Drayden. We appreciate it."
His caterpillar eyebrows scrunched in confusion. "You're not going to challenge me? The other leaders informed me to keep an eye out for you, Rosa. They said you have talent."
"Unfortunately, I've more important things to-"
There was a sudden shift of the floor. A humming sound from above, like angry bees protecting their hive. The sound echoed down the pyramid walls, causing the stone to shudder. Rosa gasped and nearly lost her footing, but Curtis snatched her before she could fall. The swinging lights overhead popped, raining sparks on their heads as the gym fell into darkness.
Then a voice through a speaker.
"This is a message for gym leader Drayden and Rosa Mae. We have someone precious to you, my friends. If you want her to remain intact, I suggest you bring the DNA Splicers outside when you meet us. You won't like the consequences if you don't."
Frozen blood. Silent breath. Drayden, touching a hand to his forehead before he was off like a shot towards the gym's entrance. The fabric of Curtis's shirt twisted in Rosa's grasp. A whisper in the dark, like smoke from a candle.
"We left Bianca outside."
There was a small army of Plasma members surrounding the exit. Each was decked in full uniform, complete with their trademark smug expressions and arrogant eyes. An enormous airship hovered behind the hoard, its propellers buzzing furiously as they whipped air through them.
Zinzolin stood at the front, his long robe billowing in the breeze like a flag. As Rosa, Drayden and Curtis stepped onto the pavement, his wrinkled lips pulled into a smile.
Words couldn't describe the hatred Rosa felt in that moment. It went beyond loathing, beyond mere animosity. The man who'd helped kill Touko, who'd possibly murdered Hugh, was standing before her again.
Was he brave, or just incredibly stupid? She couldn't decide.
Bianca was in the center of it all. Knees pressed to the concrete, white skirt layered with dust, blond waves a tangle on her head. Tears mixed with red liquid trickled down her cheeks. The man holding her was gripping too hard; she was whimpering.
Her misery was more evident when she saw her rescuers, however.
"Rosa!" She cried, unconsciously reaching though they both knew the distance was too vast to close. "What are you doing out here? They're going to hurt you and Drayden." The sob building in her chest broke, causing her wind chime voice to crack. "You have to leave. Leave me and go!"
"Don't say that. We're not leaving without you."
"As touched as I am by this happy reunion," Zolin interrupted casually, "I'm afraid we've got a lot to talk about. Even though I would love to catch up, Rosa dear. So, let's skip the pleasantries and get down to business, shall we?"
His snake-like eyes rolled between Drayden and Rosa, calculating. "As you both can see, Bianca here is in a bit of a bind. I'm not authorized to let her go without something to replace her. Fortunately for you, the price tag isn't out of reach. All I require in exchange for Bianca's safe return are the meeting of two conditions.
"First: Drayden, you must hand over the DNA splicers you've been hiding in that oversized gym of yours. I hope you aren't surprised, since we asked you to bring them out with you." Zolin shot the elderly gym leader a meaningful glance. "You don't really need them, after all. Especially when you consider what we're offering to trade for them. I require the pair to be in my hands before Bianca goes anywhere. And as for the other requirement, well . . ."
A poker face. The twit was enjoying himself.
"I'm afraid you'll need to make the trip with me, Rosa."
"No way in hell." Curtis murmured, stepping forward to position himself in front of Rosa. The muscles in his back were relaxed, his tone calm, but there was an ominous glow in his eyes Rosa caught when he shifted slightly closer. Was that . . . a warning?
No. Something more than that.
A challenge.
Come closer. I dare you.
It was a sweet gesture. Except Curtis wasn't dangerous.
Zinzolin certainly didn't look intimidated. "I'm afraid that's not your decision to make, Curtis. That is what you go by now, isn't it? Curtis? This is Rosa's choice to make, not yours. It's her life, after all. She doesn't need a man to make decisions for her, especially when it's her friend who's on the line." His attention fell over Curtis's shoulder to smirk complacently. "Do you?"
What was he playing at? The admin's victorious smile was on her, but Rosa couldn't pull her eyes from the friend glaring a hole in Zolin's forehead. What had he meant just now? Was he trying to get inside her head?
"Thinking a little faster would benefit everyone, Rosa. But maybe Bianca's tougher than she looks. Should we find out?"
The man holding Bianca suddenly jerked her left thumb savagely to the right. There was a loud pop, followed by a chilling cry from the assistant. She struggled and thrashed against her captor, whimpering pathetically as she tried to free herself, but she didn't cry out for help.
"Stop!" Rosa cried at the same time Drayden yelled, "Leave that girl alone!"
Zinzolin brushed aside a strand of white hair. "Oh, that was pretty good. She's not even begging yet. Should we try the other thumb?"
Curtis swore colorfully, but Rosa barely heard. All she could see was Bianca. Her dampened face. The wrinkled clothes. Her lower lip, trembling even as she stared hard at the ground, trying to hide how scared she was. Where was her hat? Had those monsters lost it? They'd be sorry if they did.
"Drayden," Rosa said, stepping out from behind Curtis. "The DNA splicers. Give them to me."