A/N Finaaaaaalllly! Woah, it's been ages since I've updated! Well, I wasn't able to complete NaNoWriMo... XD Next year, I'll actually plan beforehand and not start two days late.
Thanks for sticking with me, and thank you for your patience!
Anyway, I'm visiting my dad in Doha, Qatar and I have heaps of free time and a lot of inspiration. If you complete the equation, that equals a super-fast update! XD
Replies to reviews:
XxCherriesandChocolatexX: Huehuehue, yesh I killed Walleh! And his family while I was at it. X)
Kitten-lover136: XD He will never be hers, indeed!
schoolmouse33: When will the madness end? Nevaaaaaaa! *insert evil laughter*
Sakura Touko: Aha, thanks! I apologise for the long wait!
SapphireStarHikari: XD Huehue. It's get's worse~!
ShadowyBlue: Why? Because I'm evil, and everything happens for a reason. :)
Primal Groudon: XD Indeed.
Contestshipper16: Haha... indeed. Nuuu, don't die. DX Sorry for the super-long wait, Anica!
awolflover: Hahaha! Damn right, she's going to get it. XD *joins you with another baseball bat*
Ama Zon: ... No idea. XD
DeadpoolRULEZ: Thank you! :DDD I apologise for the super-long wait!
PolarDawn: Thank you, thank you. *bows* Most will end up together, I think! XD
jayfeather12345: I just did. XD Hm, I'd say Leaf had suffered the most, up until now.
Guest: Well, I am quite a sadist. XD
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Chapter Twenty: Betrayal
"We're coming for you."
Dawn woke up sweating, again, in the middle of the night. It had been two weeks since Paul had said those words to her, and she was yet to see him. She narrowed her eyes, laying back down onto her pillow. His words still haunted her, and she was yet to find out the meaning.
"Dawn?"
She rolled over in her bed, to see Misty looking at her concernedly. "Misty, what're you doing up so late?"
"Same reason as you, probably," the gym leader replied in a hushed voice, careful not to wake the two sleeping brunettes. "I'm nervous, about you know what and also our performance today. We have to stay in this competition, you know. Forget about that heartless jerk."
Dawn winced, there were eight remaining participants in the contest, and four were to be eliminated after their next performance. "Half on us are being kicked off," she said wistfully.
"We'll manage," Misty replied, giving her friend a reassuring smile. She let out a sigh, rolling onto her back and staring at the ceiling. "Go back to sleep now, we have a big day ahead." Shooting Dawn one last smile, she turned over in her bed.
The smile immediately faded.
"I can't do it, I can't trick her like that!" the raven-haired assassin cried, the dilemma creating overwhelming pressure. "And this will lead the others here too..."
"You have no choice," his friend replied, massaging his temple. Then all of a sudden, his dark, onyx eyes looked up at Ash. "Actually, you do. It's her, the scrawny red-head, or us. Your brothers."
Ash's chocolate-brown eyes were filled with tension. He cupped his face, shaking his head. "Fine. If it's what I have to do to keep you three alive, I'll do it. I'll bring them."
"Good," Paul replied, standing up. He turned to walk out of the room, stopping at the door. His emotionless eyes met Ash's for a second, regret showing for a fleeting moment. He turned back, leaving the room.
"Do it soon."
The next morning was extremely busy, the few remaining contestants constantly rehearsing, trying on outfits and preparing for the show that night. Currently using the rehearsing room were Eye of the Liepard.
"They tried to break me down, but I'm still on my feet. This city's full of life, so why is it hard to breathe. Oh why did God create this world so unfair?
I don't know," Misty sang, clearly struggling.
She stopped abruptly, wincing slightly. "That was last note off again, wasn't it?" she asked Leaf, who went over to stop the background music.
Leaf sighed, turning around. "Unfortunately, yes, Misty. Come on. Concentrate! You can do this."
The red-head rubbed her forehead, walking over to the wall and sliding down it. "I need a break." She took her phone in her hand, her eyes widening as she read the name of the message showing her lock screen. She unlocked it and scanned through the message.
"Are you okay?" May said in concern at her friend's face, taking a sip from her drink bottle.
"I got a message from Ash... he told me to meet him after the show," Misty replied, not shifting her eyes away from the screen. "Strictly alone."
Dawn snorted, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, seems legit. Like we're going to let you go meet with an assassin alone." She added, after seeing Misty's face, "Even if it is Ash."
Misty sighed, putting her phone back down. Although she thought she trusted Ash, she felt good knowing her friends were coming along. She stood up, blanking her mind of anything and everything to do with assassins.
"Alright, let's get practicing."
The next few hours seemed to go by in a flash, the contestants finding themselves in the waiting room once more. The eight participants had already been introduced and seven had performed. Once again, Eye of the Liepard were left to perform last.
"It's okay, Misty," Dawn said reassuringly, patting her friend's back. She had her hair curled, long dark blue curls cascading down her back.
The nervous red-head had her hair out, fiery red locks gracefully hanging over her shoulders and back. She had light eye make-up on, bringing out her sea-green eyes even more. "I don't know if I can do this!"
Leaf turned to her friend, raising her eyebrows. Misty never usually acted like this, there was clearly something bothering her. And the intelligent brunette knew exactly why. She flicked her long, straightened hair back and turned to face her anxious bandmate.
"Look," she began, placing her hands on Misty's shoulder. After a moment, she violently started shaking the surprised red-head. "Get that annoying idiot out of your mind! Ash is not your concern right now!"
Standing nearby, May watched on as Misty received a lecture. She also had a certain assassin on her mind, but didn't show it. She sighed and tucked a lock of her wavy hair behind her ear, looking down at the floor.
Cutting everyone out of their thoughts and lectures, they were called up to the stage. As they made their way towards it, they heard the MC announcing their name.
"And finally, the girl band you've all been waiting for! the one and only, Eye of the Liepard- performing In Your Arms!"
Each of them squeezed hands reassuringly, and then made their way onto the stage. The four girls took their places, and the lights on stage brightened as the music began playing.
(In Your Arms- Nico & Vinz)
"I feel like Superman, they gonna remember me," Leaf began, taking her microphone off the stand and walking towards the front of the stage. "I think I know I can, who says it's hard to reach? Who's gonna stop me on the road to success? I don't know."
Misty was next, taking her own unique microphone and walked with a small dance, a rush of confidence flowing through her. "They tried to break me down, but I'm still on my feet. This city's full of life, so why is it hard to breathe?" She turned to her friends for a moment, boosting her confidence. "Oh why did God create this world so unfair? I don't know."
May shot Misty a wide grin, glad her friend had her confidence back. "Sometimes I feel like I can't run, I can't crawl and sometimes I feel like I ain't nothing at all. Life is a journey where you stumble and fall, but I'm okay."
They went to the chorus, syncing perfectly, others coming in at the right times. What Misty didn't know was that the whole time, Ash was watching her from nearby. Waiting to meet her, to betray her trust.
Misty let out a deep breath of relief as the four girls strode off the stage.
"That was amazing, guys! We can do this!" she said, grinning widely.
"Oh really now?" they heard a voice cut in. It was Brendan, who was leaning on the wall with a smirk. "With Ghost of the Night gone, I've got this thing right under my arm."
A couple of people snorted from behind, they turned around to see The Candies. Brianna had her eyebrows raised, and glared at Brendan. "You are so not as good as us, mister! Sorry, but the winner of this show isn't going to be you, Marshmallow Hat."
Brendan's ruby red eyes narrowed as he rummaged around in his brain for a valid comeback. "Yeah, well you-"
Then, a third voice was heard from behind. This time, it was the Kalosian honey-blonde. "Guys, don't you think it's a little too early to start arguing? Only four out of eight is getting through, you know."
Beside her, Calem nodded. "Half of us are out, tomorrow."
Dawn let out a small giggle, to the surprise of everyone. "It would be funny if none of us four that were arguing got through," she said. After the weird looks from everyone, she hastily said, "But it would suck, that's for sure!"
Misty realised something in that moment; she was meant to meet Ash. "Come on girls, we have to go!" she whispered furiously, pulling May and Leaf's arms as she turned to leave.
"Where are you going?" Serena asked, cocking her head curiously.
"Oh... Just somewhere," Dawn replied, singing a line. She winked, and then followed her bandmates out of the room.
"Where'd he tell you to meet him?" May asked, as they walked briskly down a hallway.
"Just out this building, around the back," the red-head replied, reading off her phone. Her eyes began to slightly twinkle with curiosity as they exited through a back door.
"Ash?" she called out, rotating to find him. "You there?"
The silence, excluding the sounds of nearby roads and the surrounding city, made it seem like the four girls were alone. Then suddenly, they heard steps from behind. It was Gary, Paul and then finally, Ash. Misty narrowed her eyes, it was boy meant to be Ash there, and he had a suspicious guilty expression on his face.
"W-what are you doing here?" Dawn stuttered, pointing at Paul. Her blue eyes were wide as she recalled their previous encounter.
"I told you we were coming for you, didn't I?" he replied, stepping closer towards them.
Leaf was speechless, and started stepping backwards. "No, no, no..."
May just stood there, almost as if she had been expecting it. "Drew," she said to herself quietly.
"If you think you can take us that easily, think again," Leaf spoke strongly from behind. Her previous state of shock was gone, a fierce expression replacing it. She took her battle stance, narrowing her dark green eyes.
Everyone turned to look at Leaf in surprise.
"We're not as weak as we used to be," Dawn added, taking Leaf's side. She also took her own unique battle stance.
Behind them, May came to her senses. Her and her friends were in danger, her family and Drew weren't the issue. "Count me in," the brunette said as she joined their line, holding her own different stance.
Ash looked up just in time to see Misty join the line, hurt and betrayal present in her beautiful sea-green eyes. "I thought I trusted you," she said, shaking her head. "But what did I expect? You're an assassin."
Tears were forming in Ash's warm chocolate eyes, Misty's cold words piercing his heart. The coldness of them seemed to temporarily freeze his heart as well. He watched as she completed the line, the hurt in her eyes now replaced with fury.
Paul sighed, letting out an annoyed groan. "If you come quietly, we won't have to hurt you, but if you don't," he cracked his knuckles, "I wouldn't mind having a training session on live punching bags."
The girls didn't even flinch, his words fuelling them even more.
"Alright then," Gary said, standing sideways, his head turned to face them. He flicked his index finger towards him, signalling them. "Come."
Gritting her teeth, Leaf leapt off in a flash, ready to launch a punch at the auburn-haired assassin. He smirked, dodging and getting hold of her wrist. "You're fast, Leafy," he said, the girl narrowing her eyes at the nickname. "But, still not fast enough."
She spun around, kneeing him powerfully in his stomach. He staggered back for a moment, which was enough for the brunette to land another powerful hit. With a loud battle cry, she managed to kick him in his stomach.
Gary's eyes widened, realising he had underestimated her strength. He quickly regained his composure, blocking her incoming fists.
In the meantime, Dawn was using her agile, flexible fighting style to somehow manage to hold her own against Paul, the strongest assassin out of all four of his teammates. May was attacking from behind, the two hoping their strength combined could overpower him.
Closeby, Misty and Ash were having an intense stare-off. When Misty thought the stare-off had been going on for long enough, she reached into her bag to take out her trusty mallet. Gritting her teeth, she charged at him with the large weapon in her hands.
"Take this!" she yelled, bringing up the mallet. However, in a flash, the raven-haired assassin and his small mouse Pokemon were gone. The mallet hit the ground, a crack appearing in the dirt.
A low whistle came from behind her, and she turned to see Ash with his eyebrows raised, "Whew, good thing I dodged that one!" He grinned, but it wasn't the same happy grin that Misty remembered. It was somehow dark, evil. Like a dark side of Ash had taken over his mind.
She just managed to dodge a hit from Ash, her eyes widening as she did so. He wasn't holding back, he was really out to get her. She turned to land a hit on him with his mallet, but hesitated for a few moments as she looked into his eyes. Those few moments cost her everything.
Ash took hold of her mallet and pulled it away with his muscular arms, the force of the tug causing Misty to lose her balance and face-plant onto the floor. With a triumphant twinkle in his eyes, he placed a foot on her back, holding her down.
She tried her best to stand back up, but it was no use. Tears formed in her eyes as she looked around at her friends.
Leaf was also pinned to the ground, her teeth gritted in frustration and anger. But what worried her most was Dawn and May, being held to the wall by their necks. One in each of Paul's hands.
The tears escaped from Misty's eyes, falling onto the concrete floor. She should've known better not to trust him, then none of it would've happened and they would still be safe in the waiting room.
Each of the assassins took out a syringe, inserting them into the girls' arms. With one last cry of pain, Misty's world went blank. And she knew exactly where she would wake up next.
The wretched building where it all began.
A/N Cliffhangers are the easiest ways to end chapters, okay? XD
I focused this chapter a lot around Misty, as I noticed there was a lot of lack of Misty in the story.
The end is veeery near! Only a couple of chapters to go, and then onwards to the sequel! Speaking of sequel, vote on my poll please! :D The last chapter will include a peek of what the sequel will be like. :D
Edit: So just to clear up something, Drew is not dead and will be returning!
Until next time~