Author's note: I have a test coming up really soon- so I definitely might be late for the next chapter... This one's short- but enjoy!

Chapter 14: I do this for her

-Present Day-

"Wh-Why are you-?" Anastasia cried as Zennon scurried to run behind the girl and untie her hands from the chair she sat on.

"Shut up!" Zennon cried. It was too dark in this room, pitch black, even. He could barely see anything, let alone the rope used to tie the girl's hands together. Why was this room so dark anyway!? Whatever- that didn't matter, because he was nearly done untying the rope.

"As soon as I undo this rope, don't move a muscle, got it?!" Zennon cried. After undoing the last tie, he finally finished. Anastasia's hands were free, and she stood up and spun around to face Zennon.

"I- Thank you, but- why are you doing this?" Anastasia asked.

"I'm doing this because the leader said he had no plans of letting you go, even after we got the information we needed from Marie. He said he still has use for you- But I made a promise to get you out."

"A promise?"

"Less questions, more listening, understand? Here's what's going to happen. There's a hallway that leads to your escape behind the door. The moment I open this door, you're sprinting out of here. As soon as you get out of here, an alarm is going to ring, and I'm going to shout, 'she's getting away!' I'm going to pretend to chase you, but in actuality, I'm going to make sure you get out safely. As soon as you reach the exit, you'll see a digital combination lock that will demand a password. The password is 0541, understand? 0541. Memorize it. Are you memorizing it?"

"I-..."

"Yes or no?! Answer me!"

"Y- Yes!"

"Say it out loud, what is it?"

"Uh-... 0541!"

"Good! Remember, don't stop for anyone or anything! No matter what, okay!?"

Anastasia looked like she was moments away from panicking.

"Don't say a word, and nod if you understand!" Zennon cried.

Anastasia blinked.

"Do it!" Zennon asked. Anastasia shook her head wildly to snap herself out of it and nodded.

"Okay." Zennon turned to the door and put his hand on the doorknob. "The moment I open this door, we're out of here. No questions. And no looking back. Okay?"

"Okay." Anastasia said. "You- You look like you're shaking.." Zennon's eyes widened. She was right. His hands were trembling.

"Are you okay?" The girl asked.

"Shut up, I said less questions, and more listening!" Zennon cried. "I'm opening the door in 3… 2….1!" Zennon swung the door open, and Anastasia raced out of the room and into the white-walled hallway. As soon as she did, an alarm started blaring. Zennon watched her run, and after she gained some distance, he took in a deep breath.

"She's getting away!" Zennon yelled. He started sprinting after her. Suddenly, he heard several footsteps coming from behind him. Zennon turned his head and saw several grunts chasing after her.

"After her!" One cried.

"Don't let her escape!" Another cried. Some of them even started to run past Zennon.

Zennon started sprinting even harder to get farther from the grunts that ran past him. He managed to get past a few of them, but one was eagerly keeping up with him.

It was Aiden.

He sprinted like a man possessed. Of course he would- if he caught the girl, he could possibly get promoted again. Aiden's long raven hair flowed wildly in the wind as he kept running.

"She's going to get away, Zennon..!" Aiden cried. "We need to move faster so we can get a promotion..!"

"Uh- Y-Yeah!" Zennon cried. The two of them sprinted fast enough to gain on the white-haired girl. Anastasia was closing in onto the door that would set her free- and the two grunts were nearly within grabbing-distance of the girl. Anastasia reached the door, and started punching in the numbers quickly. Aiden grinned once he reached her and was moments away from grabbing her, until Zennon suddenly tackled the man to the ground.

"What're you doing?!" The raven-haired man cried.

"Hurry up..!" Zennon cried, looking up at Anastasia "What're you waiting for!?"

"I-I- I forgot the code..!" Anastasia shouted.

"Darn it- It's 0541! Hurr-" Aiden punched Zennon in the face and knocked him away. Anastasia quickly punched in the numbers as Aiden began to stand up, and she bolted outside. Aiden tried running after her, but Zennon grabbed the man by the ankle.

"G-Get off of me!" Aiden cried. He slammed his heel against Zennon's face. He lurched in pain, but held on tight as Anastasia ran far away.

"She's getting away!" The other grunts who lagged behind finally caught up, but by the time they came, Anastasia was already gone.

"Heh…Hahaha-..." Zennon chuckled to himself. Aiden turned around, pulled his ankle away from Zennon's weakened grip and kicked the traitor in the gut hard enough to have him bend his back in pain.

"You helped her get away!" Aiden cried. "That was my second promotion you just stole from me!"

"He's a traitor!" One grunt cried. The rest of the grunts swarmed Zennon. They pinned him to the ground.

"What is this…"Every grunt who was standing on their feet turned to the leader, Aldrich, who was stomping his way over to the crowd. "What is the meaning of this?" The leader asked.

"Zennon let the girl get away!" Aiden cried. Aldrich turned to Zennon and looked down at him as though he was worthless trash. After staring down at him for a while, Aldrich sighed and crouched down to the downed Zennon.

"You made a mistake, crossing me." He said, grabbing the young man by the head and pulling him up. "But… your quick thinking and craftiness is useful. Eliminating you would be a waste. I've found a use for you." Aldrich dropped Zennon's head on the cold paved ground before standing up. "Bring him to the brainwashing device." Aldrich said.

"What..!?" Zennon cried. He squirmed and struggled to break free of the several grunts holding him. "No..! NO!"

"Sir, allow me to do it,": Aiden said, looking up at Aldrich.

"Hm?" Aldrich put his hands in his pockets and looked at the Raven haired man as he stood up and stared at him eye-to-eye. "You want to do it?" The leader continued.

"Yes, I want him to pay for what he did to me… so I'll make the process as slow and as painful possible." Aiden said. The two shared a devious smirk.

"Please..!" Zennon cried. "Please! I'm sorry! I- I won't do it again!"

"You and Zennon worked together in the past… how do I know you won't betray me for his sake?" Aldrich asked.

"Because he doesn't matter to me. Power is all that matters to me."

Aldrich snickered.

"I like you." The leader said. "Perhaps I'll promote you once again. To Vice Captain. Only if you make him suffer- and turn his brilliant mind into our weapon. He was the one who orchestrated the kidnapping of that girl, and thanks to his thinking, he gave us the ticket to our God Quinton's location.. Soon, we will see God himself… But before we leave for Sinnoh, we must find and capture the two primal gods of Hoenn… Groudon, and Kyogre. We will need Zennon's mind to bend to our will and give us the intelligence needed to defeat and capture the two of them."

"I will do just that." Zennon said. "Don't you worry."

"Please!" Zennon cried. "I'm begging you! Anything, anything but-"

"No can do, Zennon," Aiden said, glaring furiously at Zennon. "No. Can. Do. Pick him up and take him away."

"Who gave you the right to tell us what to do..?" A grunt grumbled.

"I did." Aldrich said. "Aiden, you are hereby promoted to vice captain. Anyone who disobeys you, disobeys me, and will be given the same treatment as Zennon."

"Oh-Oh jeez! Okay!" One grunt cried. They quickly hoisted Zennon up., and the green-haired man kept struggling.

"Let me go! LET ME GO!" Zennon cried.

"This is the price of crossing us…" Aiden said as he followed the grunts carrying Zennon. Aldrich grinned to himself.

"We will see you once more, God. We will find you. And we will give you the crown you truly deserve… Quinton.."