Chapter 3: Bandits
May heard a loud neigh. Her eyes are closed and she doesn't feel like opening them yet. She heard another loud neigh that was like a horse screaming.
Her eyes shot open and she swiftly sat up. "Rapidash?" She questioned.
Another loud neigh.
May looked around her. "Rapidash?" She stood up. She didn't see her Rapidash anywhere.
Cue yet another loud neigh. May could tell that the screams from the horse are getting softer, telling her that he must be walking farther and farther away through the forest.
"Rapidash!" May called. She took off running towards where she heard the neighs. She knows that it's her Rapidash. It's got to be him. And she could tell that something is wrong. It's like Rapidash is calling for help and May could tell from the screams.
Rapidash neighed again and May heard that it was louder than the last one. "Don't worry, Rapidash! I'm coming!" May called.
May ran through the forest, dodging trees left and right. She has to make it. She has to find Rapidash. She won't let him get hurt. And it really sounds like he may be hurt. Or about to get hurt.
Then,
Another neigh was heard really close to where May was. May ran a bit further until…
"Rapidash!" May called. She stopped and saw two men with ropes like lassos around Rapidash's neck. Rapidash saw May and called to her for help. "What do you two think you're doing to my horse?!" She yelled.
The two men looked at May. "Wow…" Man 1 said. "You actually have sapphire blue eyes."
Both men smirked. "I think I'll be the one who takes care of you." Man 2 said.
Man 1 looked at Man 2. "But what if I like her too?"
Man 2 looked at Man 1. "Then too bad. Someone like her deserves to be with me."
"Excuse me?" May questioned. Both men looked at May.
"So what's your name, pretty lady?" Man 2 asked.
"May." May answered. "Now, give me back my horse."
"On one condition."
"And what's that?"
"You're coming with me."
May furrowed her eyebrows. "I'm not going with you anywhere!"
"Then the horse stays."
May clenched her teeth and then dashed for Rapidash. "You're going to give me my Rapidash back!"
"We're not going to do anything you say." Man 2 just pushed May when she got in their range. His push was strong and directly on her chest. May got flown backwards and she fell to the ground.
May winced slightly in pain. She looked at her leg and saw that her pants are torn and her skin is scraped. The scrape left blood. Rapidash neighed loudly, trying to escape the two men. He tried standing on his hind legs and coming down to kick them back. The two men just tightened their grip on the ropes on Rapidash.
"Rapidash!" May called. Rapidash neighed again, trying to break free, but he couldn't.
Man 1 looked at May. "We'll give you another chance. Just come with me and not him, and we'll release your horse."
"I…" May started. She looked at Rapidash's face and saw his pleading eyes for help, and also for freedom to save his trainer. "I…" she looked down.
"She's not going anywhere."
May immediately looked up and saw Drew standing before her. "Drew?"
Drew glanced back at May. "Don't worry, June. I'll handle this."
"But-"
"Roselia, go!" Drew cut May off, throwing a Pokéball. The Thorn Pokémon materialized in front of Drew.
Man 1 tried reaching for a Pokéball on his belt, but Rapidash immediately pulled back when he only had one hand on the rope. Man 1 quickly grabbed the rope again, so Rapidash didn't escape them.
Drew smirked. They can't use their own Pokémon because they're too busy with making sure that Rapidash didn't escape. "Roselia, use Magical Leaf." He said calmly.
Drew's Roselia launched a Magical Leaf attack at the men. The sharp leaves cut through the ropes around Rapidash's neck.
The two men looked up at Rapidash. "Uh oh…" they said in unison.
Rapidash glared at them before lifting up his front two hooves and kicking them. They fell to the ground.
Drew returned his Roselia and saw Rapidash start dashing towards him.
Drew held out his hands above his head to try and stop Rapidash. "Whoa, boy! Calm down." Rapidash neighed and stood on his two hind legs. "Easy…"
Rapidash brought his front hooves back down to Earth in front of Drew. Drew brought his hands closer to Rapidash and Rapidash took a step closer to Drew, nuzzling his head into Drew's hands. Drew pet Rapidash and then took off the two ropes that were around his neck.
Rapidash walked around Drew and bent his head down to May. May pet him and then looked up at Drew.
Drew looked down into May's eyes before smiling and holding out his hand.
"You saved my Rapidash." May said, placing her hand in Drew's.
Drew pulled May up on her feet and she lost her balance a bit and fell forward in Drew's arms. Drew wrapped his arms around May's waist. May blushed at the contact.
After a moment, Drew realized what he was doing and he quickly released May and blushed slightly. "A-are you okay?" He asked.
"Yeah…" May said, blushing. "But...my leg."
Drew looked down at May's legs and saw the scrape and blood. He looked back up at May. "You're welcome to stay at my place."
"What?" May asked.
"I live in the city you just left yesterday." Drew said. "I'll bandage you up and you both are welcome to stay there for as long as you need."
"I...I don't know what to say." May said. "Thank you, Drew. That's really nice of you."
"So come on. You should get on your horse and I'll lead you both to my place."
"Okay." May said. Rapidash stood next to May and she climbed on, feeling slight pain in her leg hit her once she was fully sitting on Rapidash.
"So, I actually called the police as soon as I saw you get pushed by that guy, so they should be here any time now."
"What if the two men leave before the police come?"
"I'm sure they won't." Drew looked at the two men that were lying on the ground in pain. "Your horse really took care of them."
"Yeah…" May said, petting Rapidash's neck. "He's strong."
Drew looked at May. "And protective." He looked at Rapidash. "Do you trust me now?"
Rapidash glared at Drew. May laughed. "I guess once you actually help me with my injury, then he'll completely trust you."
"Fair enough." Drew said. "Follow me." He started leading the way through the forest.
"Hey Drew? Can I ask you something?" May asked.
"Sure."
"How did you know I was in trouble?"
"I heard your Rapidash's neighs. I just so happened to be walking in front of the exit of the city when I heard the cry of a horse. And I know that no one in the city has a horse. The only person I know that has one is you."
"But why would you save me like that? We've only known each other for 2 days, so I'm like a complete stranger to you."
"I'm not sure why I saved you either. I just know that…" He smirked. "You really can't handle yourself out there."
"Hey!" May yelled. "I can too!"
"Sure…" He said sarcastically. "Did you not just almost lose your horse and yourself right now?"
May blushed. "...Why...did you say 'She's not going anywhere' to those men? I could've just gone with them and they would've let Rapidash go."
"And did you want to go with them?" Drew asked right after May's sentence.
"I just want-"
"Think about yourself." Drew cut May off. "I understand that you care a lot about your Rapidash, but think about his situation too. He cares a lot about you. I could see how much he cared when I found you. He would only want you to be free from those people. You said he's your guard after all, right?"
"Something like that."
"And also, those guys want to do something to you. Do you know what that is?"
"I...don't know what you're talking about. They just said they wanted me to go with them."
"They wanted you to go with them, because of the way you look."
"How do I look?" May asked, a little bit offended.
"You look...pretty." Drew said, blushing slightly
May blushed and smiled. "I do?"
"Yes. And they wanted your body all to themselves."
"M-my body?"
"And so you understand now? Drew asked.
"...Yes." May answered. "Thank you again for saving us back there. I definitely don't want to be some sort of prize for a man to win."
"And so you'll be safe at my place. There's a strong security. No one will get in without the password to the gates and there's tons of security cameras everywhere."
"Tons? Where do you live?"
"Right...here." He stopped. Rapidash stopped as well. "Welcome to my mansion."
May looked at the mansion with her mouth agape. "Y-you live...in there?"
Drew put in a password to the gates and they started sliding open.
Once the gates were fully open. Drew led Rapidash onto his property. The gates closed behind them.
"There's probably like a million rooms in there." May said.
"There's only like 100. You're exaggerating too much, July."
"I told you already. My name is May!" May yelled.
"Sure." Drew said. He smirked and added, "March."
May glared at Drew which he can't see because he's looking forward and he's ahead of them.
"Anyways," May said. "Do you live here by yourself?"
"I actually do." Drew answered. "With my Pokémon of course, but my parents have their own mansion in a different city."
"Wow...your entire family's rich, huh?"
"Yeah." They stopped at the front doors. Drew looked up at May. "Your horse can go out back if he wants. I can help you inside."
May saw Rapidash glare at Drew. May looked at Drew. "He doesn't want to leave me. Is that okay?"
Drew faced the door. "Sure it is." He unlocked the door and opened it. They all entered and Drew closed the door behind them.
May looked around at how big the place is. "Reminds me of home." She muttered to herself.
Drew looked at May. "Did you say something?"
"Huh?" May looked at Drew. "Oh. It's nothing."
"Well, follow me this way." Drew said. He started leading the way again. The hallways and rooms are tall enough to hold a horse in them.
Drew led Rapidash to his room where they entered. May looked around the room. "Is this...your room?" May asked, seeing a picture of him on his dresser.
"Sure is." Drew answered. They stood next to his bed. Drew held his hand out to May.
May looked at his hand. And then at his eyes. "What are you going to do to me?" She asked cautiously.
"I'm just going to sit you on the bed, so I can treat your wound."
"Umm...okay…" May started reaching out her head. It was actually shaking a little bit as it approached Drew's. She was thinking about what those men from earlier wanted to do to her and it scared her a little, thinking that Drew might want that to.
Drew grabbed her hand and May immediately blushed. "Jump down." Drew said.
Even though May was a bit scared to be in Drew's bedroom with a stranger like him, she still jumped down because Rapidash could just protect her if she needed it. May winced softly as she felt slight pain go to her leg once she hit the floor. May stumbled forward once she felt pain. She fell into Drew and felt his arms wrap around her.
"Don't worry. I got you." Drew whispered. May's face turned really red at the contact.
"T-thanks." May said.
Drew released May and walked her to the bed. May sat down on it with her legs hanging off. "I'll be right back." Drew said. "There's a first aid kit in my bathroom." With that said, he walked off to his own bathroom, closing the door behind him.
"Rapidash, do you think we can trust him?" May asked.
Rapidash neighed softly.
"I know we can't trust him this soon." May said. "But will he really help me? Or did he just save me from those men just so he can have me for himself?"
At that moment, the bathroom door opened and Drew walked out with a first aid kit and a damp washcloth. He kneeled in front of May, placing the kit on the floor. May watched as Drew opened it and sorted through a bunch of medical items. Drew pulled a long and fat bandaid out as well as a tube of some sorts. He faced May.
"This might sting a little." Drew said.
"What's in the tube?" May asked.
"It's just something to help your leg heal faster." Drew saw the uneasiness in May's face. "Please trust me." He said, grabbing May's attention. "At least for this once. I really just want to help you."
May stared into Drew's eyes for a moment longer. He seems...sincere. May slowly nodded.
