Ash's PoV
I rush home to find my senpai asleep on the floor in a little heap. He's so cute when he's sleeping: it's been nearly 8 hours since he has his potion, so I have quite a lot more time with him.
"Clemont?!" I say, sitting down and holding his shoulders as his eyes stare at me - turns out he wasn't asleep at all! Only resting. I grin and he crawls over to me tentatively like a scared animal, extending a hand: he takes it without hesitation while saying quietly: "You left me... all alone..."
"It won't happen again baby; I promise! I had to take care of a few things first... but I'm all yours now." That made him smile - he looked like a child being given a new toy: although for him, I bet he would've preferred some kind of mechanical tool or something! He's a funny one, my senpai.
"Promise?" He asks sweetly - I nod and kiss him on the cheek. Laughing, he looks at me with an expression of someone thinking hard about a decision.
"What are you thinking about?" I ask him what suddenly, he begins to panic and yelled: "Ash - th-the knife in your hand: it's bloody!" I jump, not realising I had a knife... but I don't! I'm confused by this so I feel his forehead and - oh god he's like a radiator!
"You're ill!" I exclaim as he freaks out even more and backs off, shaking his head vigorously. "Clemont; there's no knife! You're hallucinating... look! Oh god please don't worry... I'll never hurt you!" Again, I go to him and hold his hands as he begins to cry in pain - his pain almost hurts me! Perhaps it's a side effect of the potion... I run upstairs and take out the bottles I was given by Lillie and stare as a piece of paper unfolds - I gasp in shock as I read it:
Ash: I wrote this because I didn't have time to explain properly about the potion, like I predicted. If I did, then good on me but have this note anyway. There are some negative side effects for the first day, but fear not. They'll be over after the second dose. I left you some instructions too. Basically: never give him more than one dose of it at a time; try not to let him know you're giving it to him; try leaving at least an hour after the last dose wears off to give him another; mix the potion in thoroughly to get it to work, and to make him love you permanently, make sure that he has it 7 days in a row. That's all, but remember that I need those 5 bodies! Bye Ash!
Well that's useful!
After I reread the message, I hide the note in a draw and return to my Clemont with a glass of water. He takes it gratefully and says: "Thank you Ash... I love you!"
"I love you too." I reply - he downs the drink and smiled shyly as he lays his head on my lap and falls to sleep. Oh god... he's so hot! In both ways - he's the most adorable thing ever as his golden blond hair hides his perfect face like a curtain: but he's properly burning up! It makes him so... vulnerable! It would be so easy to take advantage of the situation: he's under the influence of a love potion AND he's ill and physically unable to resist me - not that he'd want to at this point! I grin slyly as I run my fingers along his soft, silky hair; it's so... delicate! Like him - a specimen too precious for this world. I have to save him from things he knows nothing about... I can protect him! I can love him, and make sure he never gets hurt again!
And that means doing what Lillie wants.
Running to school to find some defenceless victims for Lillie, I stare as I see a dejected Bonnie walk around town with another boy her age, presumably a friend that she's hanging out with. Walking closer, I try to stay unnoticed as I listen carefully to their conversation:
"...and then he left a note and now he's gone! My brother left even though he said he wouldn't leave me! I think it was Korrina's murder/attack that sent him over the edge!"
"Hmm..."
"Max: what is it?!" She started to look puzzled at the young boy who ran his hands through his dark hair, asking quietly: "You're sure he left of his own accord?! Wasn't he with Ash - the guy that notoriously kidnaps people and holds them hostage in his basement?! Don't you think it's suspicious that they both go missing at the same time?!"
Oh shit!
"Ash saved me! He saves us! He wouldn't do anything to Clemont... would he?!"
Max looked at her and said with a dark expression on his face; "Clemont was one of those people that could remember anything, right? In that case, it's quite possible he was unintentionally the information source Ash used to obtain information on his victims: knowing their schedule, their fears, their hobbies; what if Ash decided he couldn't risk loosing access to that information so he took your brother?! It's possible, and very like Ash to kidnap someone he can use: and he knows what to do to get Clemont to talk. That means he might come for you to hurt Clemont. You need to stay away from Ash - move house. Move regions! You're not safe Bonnie!"
"And neither are you!" I say angrily - the 2 kids abruptly turn around and Bonnie screams as Max yells defensively at me, "Leave Bonnie alone - don't you even think about touching her! Where's her brother - what have you done to him you psychopath?!"
"Oh no guys... what makes you think I know? I'm just minding my own business when I hear untrue rumours about me so I'm gonna fix things up!" They aren't convinced so I sigh and reply; "Don't make me angry kids! Look. Just agree to drop the suspicions and I'll let you go unharmed ok?"
"Ok." They say in unison without hesitation; Bonnie shaking as she asks me fearfully: "D-Do you know wh-where Clemont is then?!" I shake my head and they run off in doubt and fear. 2 more bodies I need...
As I see them disappear, I make a plan or two and follow them, staring as they run into Bonnie's house. Perfect - I don't need to figure out how to get into this house! I've done it before... I see them talking to a tall, muscular man - Clemont and Bonnie's father, Meyer! He's a good guy - frightfully strong though. I also notice him getting more concerned before picking up the phone to dial a number. Hiding in a tree, I laugh as I see Bonnie start to cry onto Max in fear. My plan is already in action! Cruel... but inevitable. I need to protect my senpai - even from his own family. When he's finished on the phone, the father runs to Bonnie to comfort her - wait, no. He's.. showing her... a GUN?! Dang! This household is crazy! And making my job harder... oh well never mind. There are ways around this! I make my move and try to open Clemont's window but there's an extra lock! Never mind! I'll BREAK IT DOWN INSTEAD!
Smashing a large rock through the glass, I'm able to walk through it, laughing as the tall man barges in, yelling ferociously: "GET OUT!" He points the handgun at me so I say quietly; "Shoot me and you won't know where your son is! I'm prepared to tell you as long as I get what I want. Or, you can shoot me down and your son dies cold, scared and alone in the room I left him in because I'm not there to look after him - so do the right thing and protect Clemont." The mention of Clemont makes his eyes widen and he shakily puts the gun back in his trouser pocket.
"There we go! Nice and sensible now, are t we?" I laugh - Meyer makes a growl like a wild animal so I look him in the eye and say quietly: "Clemont's gone. Just like he said he had in the letter he told me that he'd written to you. I might've influenced the decision to write it, maybe - but what's done is done and I can't change that!"
"Liar... YOU LIAR! My son would never do that!" He screamed at me - I shrug and say casually, "Suit yourself. But that's the truth. Now... I need to speak to your daughter. Don't make this harder than it needs to be. Let me, and I might even tell you where your precious Clemont went!" He pales and moves aside, whispering; "If what you say about Clemont abandoning us is true, then she's my everything. Please, don't hurt Bonnie!" I nod and say quietly: "I'll behave. Unless I need to take action, and then in which case I'll make it painless."
I walk out of the room but before I can get to the young kids, my phone suddenly vibrates from inside my trouser pocket. I sigh as I reach for it, only to see it's from a blocked caller! Intrigued, I answe it to hear a very desperate high pitched voice on the other end;
"Ash?! Ash is that you? It's Lillie - the potion; I messed up!"
"Woah, woah! Calm down!" I say reassuringly as she says quickly: "Are you with Clemont?!"
"No..." I reply slowly as she squealed in fear and screamed: "GET TO HIM, NOW! He's in danger - I messed up the potion! Whatever you do, DON'T LET HIM FALL ASLEEP! I'm so sorry Ash... the first day effects were more lethal than I anticipated! It might be affecting him as we speak Ash! It really could. Can you get to him in time?! His life depends on it!"
"Lillie... I think he fell asleep a few hours ago... I'm sorry..."
"No - that's fine. Unless - did he have a nosebleed before?!"
"Nope."
"Oh ok... we're all good then. If he had a nosebleed, then it means the potion's effects are finally kicking in."
"Then what was the fever?!" I ask incredulously; she takes a deep breath better rattling off:
"If he had a fever earlier then that's a sight the potion worked. If he has a nosebleed, that's the sign the potion went wrong. I didn't know what happened but I have a few test experiments that consumed the potion, all at different times and a few have had more than others - yet they all got a nosebleed in the same hour. My first lab rat went to sleep, and then he... he's gone now... as in he's not waking up. Another fell asleep and the same thing happened. I tried to keep the rest of them awake but they want to sleep. Clemont will want to sleep but DON'T LET HIM! Please Ash?"
I stare at my feet in shock before feeling a wave of determination. Everything I'd done was for Clemont; my senpai. I'm not going to watch it all go to waste as the one person I love die.
"Ok." I reply dauntlessly. "After the effects wear off, should I give him any more of the potion?"
"NO! NO GOD NO ASH - THE EFFECTS COULD BE CATASTROPHIC!" She screams - I move the phone away from my ear hastily and yell; "OK: fine! I won't let him sleep or else he'll die, and I won't give him any more of the potion, ok? K. Thanks for clearing that up."
"Good luck Ash. For Clemont's sake."
Lillie whispers before hanging up. I turn to see a shocked and horrified Meyer facing me: the handgun hanging limply by his side. I glare at him before yelling;
"YOU HEARD WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO YOUR SON IF YOU DON'T LET ME GO AND SAVE HIM! GET OUT OF MY WAY AND OUT OF MY BUSINESS!"
Having another idea, I say; "Call the police and I sing him a lullaby." And with that, I run down the stairs and out of the house to rescue my precious senpai from a threat of my creation...