Chapter Seven: Secrets
With Every Legend, There's a Beginning
"Here we are." Constance said. We walked into a field outside of Jubilife to catch a Pokémon. "Since you had to stay here to catch one…" She muttered. I rolled my eyes. I was getting more and more annoyed with her since I spent the morning with her.
I walked around the tall grass and she stood back. Probably scared of Pokémon. I walked further and further until I heard something. I froze. My mouth curled up into a smile. I see you. It was a small, brown Pokémon. I recognized it off of a furniture logo. Which one… Oh! 'Bidoof and Company Furniture.' Bidoof? Let's see what you're made of. The Pokémon was turned away from me, chewing on a rock. I shrugged. At least it's making its teeth sharper. I had Gible's Pokéball in my hand, and the new unused one hooked to the belt loop of my jeans. "Go, Gible." My voice sounded unsure. Which I was. Where was Ellena when I needed her?
I took a deep breath and focused my eyes and brain. "Tackle, now." I had the Bidoof's attention. It had crouched down and lifted its upper lip more, showing how long and big its two front teeth were. Gible hesitated, but then obeyed. She jumped into the air and landed on the Bidoof. She squished the Pokémon and it was crying and whining. The Bidoof stood up and knocked Gible down, showing strength and toughness. Bidoof then let out a strong Growl. It pinched my ears a bit because it was so high-pitched, and I knew Gible was affected.
She kept her facial expression clean. No wince. I smiled. "Sand-Attack." Might as well practice while we're here. Gible stood still and squinted. Then coughed. I smacked my hand to my forehead. "Sand-Attack." I commanded again. My Pokémon glared at me before going into a coughing fit. No sand. The Bidoof pounced on the Gible and knocked it down. But Gible pushed the Bidoof back and snarled. "Dragon Rage." I was still unsure. Was I doing this right? I guess not.
Gible growled at me. "Dragon Rage!" I yelled. "Are you deaf?" Gible growled and I heard rumbles from her stomach. A little bit of purple came out of her mouth and spattered on the face of the foe. The Pokémon squealed. I grabbed the empty Pokéball and paused. Okay, okay, I've seen it done enough, I can do it. I threw it. It hit the squealing Pokémon and popped open. Light beams shot through it and covered the Bidoof. It started crawling away, but it turned into light and was sucked into the ball.
It laid on the ground shaking rapidly. "Come on come on." I muttered. Then, right on the button, a red light flashed. I smiled. "Yes!" I looked at Gible. She was giving me a weird look. I smiled at the Pokémon. She turned away and looked at the woods longingly. I watched her. Would she bolt? "Don't even try. I see an electric fence."
She looked over at me and noticed my stare. She growled. I put her back in her Pokéball.
I walked over to Constance, feeling proud of my accomplishment.
"Done already?" She was sitting on the paved path. I nodded. "Which one did you get?"
"A Bidoof." I answered. She started laughing.
"Seriously? No, you're kidding. Totally kidding." Her 'Golden' accent was at its high-pitch form.
"I'm not kidding!" I snapped. "What's wrong with my Pokémon?"
"Oh, oh nothing." She took deep breaths. "But you want to beat a gym with a, what Pokémon do you have? And a Bidoof? You really don't know anything."
"It's none of your business what Pokémon I have. And my Bidoof is tough. You should see it battling."
She chuckled then handed me another empty Pokéball. I debated on taking it. "Okay, whatever you say. But if you want my help—"
"I don't." I snatched the ball and walked back into the field. "I'm going to catch another Pokémon and fight with my Bidoof. Care to watch?"
She said something I couldn't hear. I took it as swearing. I rolled my eyes. Whatever. I have a great team. Hear that, Constance? A great team!
I slowed my long strides and listened. Nothing. I stopped. Not a rustle of grass or leaves from the woods. I jumped when a Starly flew overhead. By the time I looked it was already gone. I walked in a different direction, one straight up Route 204.
I saw another Bidoof growl at me and take off. Then nothing.
I smiled when I heard something. I looked toward the sound. Something was moving on top of the strands of tall grass. Grass moving? I grabbed Bidoof's ball. The wild Pokémon approached me and jumped off of the grass. It had a bulb-like thing on the top of its head, and a very small body. How did it even get on the top of the strands? Then the green Pokémon answered my silent question by leaping into the air happily. For a bipedal Pokémon it was fast. It was just standing there. And I wasn't sure, but I thought it was grinning. I half-way rolled my eyes. Why would I want a Grass Type? But from my years of studying, Grass Types have an advantage to Rock Types. This Pokémon may come in handy.
"Okay then. Bidoof, do your thing." Bidoof came out of the ball with a huff. Then crouched low to the ground. "Growl." It obeyed. The green Pokémon recoiled, then came back with a weird move. It shrieked and bounced on its toes. It grew a bit taller and larger. I knew that move as 'Growth.'
"Tackle, Bidoof." My Pokémon (My Pokémon) jumped on the opponent. It looked strong, but really, it was weak. The other Pokémon moved swiftly out from under Bidoof and stared at it.
Then, Bidoof started screaming. A loud, rodent scream of hurt and discomfort. I knew what the Pokémon was doing. Using some sort of move that Grass Pokémon know. Drain-something, maybe?
Bidoof's wails stopped and it didn't move. I knew it fainted. That's what I get for not healing a Pokémon after a battle. I returned the Pokémon and, to my surprise, the little Grass Type didn't make any move of escape. I watched it for a second and it stood there happily. I grabbed the empty Pokéball and tossed it.
The ball enclosed the Pokémon safely and laid on the ground. It didn't shake at all. The light started blinking. I smiled and laughed. "Okay then Grass Type. You're strange, but you will do."
I walked back to Constance and told her that I caught a Grass Type. She didn't do anything but nod. We walked back through the white building and into Jubilife. It was raining.
"Oh great. They're wetting the city now? Yeesh. This is what I get for waking up early." It wasn't even that early.
"What do you mean 'wetting the city'?" I asked.
"They have this strange weather machine over the Golden Cities. They make it rain in the morning for, I don't know, something. Then they make it nice and hot through the rest of the day. Oh good, it's done."
We walked onto the street. It wasn't wet. "It's dry." I asked it half-like a question.
"Yeah, it does that. Scientific stuff. I don't give a flip about that. I'm more into, I don't know, makeup."
I sighed. Oh help me. We walked to the Center and I handed them my three Pokéball.
"Did you just catch these?" The nurse asked as she handed them off to a younger nurse.
"Only two. Why?"
"We can show you their genders and stats, if you like."
"Sure." I said.
I waited until they came back out. The nurse put them on a fluorescent, screen-like counter. Then, a hologram appeared above them.
"Come look." The nurse waved me over. I looked at the hologram. It said that my Bidoof was a boy and healthy and level eight. The other Pokémon was a Budew, Grass Type as I suspected. And also Poison. A level five girl. Five? Uhg. Oh well.
We walked back to the studio and I retrieved my bag and egg pouch. I didn't want anyone to know I had an egg, but I thought it was obvious with the pouch. Hopefully no one would care enough to ask.
Constance and I walked out of the studio and down a brick pathway. She said this would take us to our 'transportation.'
We made it to a small building. Well, small for Jubilife. It was probably the size of my house. I walked in to find only a staircase leading downward. "Constance, where are we?"
"The station. Downstairs is where the underground train takes off." She said.
"Underground train? Why can't we take a normal train there?" I asked. I only knew of trains from television and stories my Grandfather use to tell me about his father, the train conductor.
"Oh, you know there is no safe way to travel to Oreburgh. Don't worry so much, we'll be fine." She pulled me down the stairs and into an underground room. Maxina, Steven from the studio, and other people I recognized from Jubilife studio were all there. Doors on the train slid open and all of us piled in. Inside the train was a living room. Sofas lined the walls and coffee tables scattered around the area.
I blinked. Why did I get on a train with these people? Constance pushed me to a red sofa and sat me down. My hands instantly rubbed the fabric. It was smooth. "What is this?"
"Velvet." Maxina answered as she took her seat across the train. All the others went onto another cart or went to the back, leaving this end to the three of us. Maxina had changed into a normal black dress and had black hair in a pixie cut. "How long is the ride, anyways?" She asked.
"Just a mere two hours or so." Constance answered. Maxina started chirping about stuff in her perky way and I tuned out. She wasn't talking to me. Good.
Unfortunately, the chatter came my way. "Are you excited?" Constance asked me.
"About what?" I asked stupidly.
"Uh, becoming a trainer."
"Oh, yeah! Of course!" My fake perkiness was obvious to any human. Maybe that's why Maxina and Constance squealed.
"Good!" One of them sang.
"So how old are you, Carinthia?" Maxina asked.
"Cynthia." I corrected and rolled my eyes.
"Whatever."
"I'm thirteen."
She blinked. "You're a very strange thirteen-year-old."
"Whatever." I muttered. The conversation flowed back between Constance and Maxina. Thankfully. I zoned out.
Constance started talking about the studio and about that days morning news. At first they talked about food shortage. And by food shortage they meant meat shortages on Goldeen in their area. Then, they talked about the attack this morning. I quickly looked at Constance.
"What?" She asked me.
"Another attack?" I ran out of breath before I got the full word 'attack' out. Inside I was screaming: Where? Where? Where?
"Yeah, this morning in Pastoria." My heart slowed in relief.
"Oh."
"And Lea was so upset about it." Maxina continued. "It's horrible when bad stuff happens! Especially when Lea gets all upset."
I almost gagged. I was about to say 'Why would you care?' But she's a 'celebrity' she needs to be on Lea's good side. So babying him is the way to go, I guess? But I didn't say that. I said "Maxina, why are you joining us?" She was a well-known trainer because she came from Hearthrome and was a contest champion. She gave up on gym number four. No one knows why. She probably doesn't know why. But I've seen her on TV; she's a 'role model.' That's why she attended the interview.
"Oh, because I want to see this battle in person and not from a TV somewhere. I normally go to all the first battles." She chirped. I nodded.
A while went by when I felt the train come to a stop. Everyone came back into the cart and exited. We were in another underground station. This time, people who worked down there weren't Golden City natives. They didn't have the Golden accent or apparel. We walked above ground. We weren't right in the town. We were on the other side of the electric fence. Guards stood there and nodded at us as they opened the gate and let us in. I felt like Miltank being herded by their master. Well, I guess we sort of had a master. Lea and his guards. They controlled enough.
We were on the other side of Oreburgh, the side I was not familiar with. I could see the top of the gym, but I couldn't see the forest where Sake and Ellena many times escaped into freedom. On this side there was another opening to the mine and another row of houses. All looking just like Sake and Ellena's. The Center was in front of us, and that's where everyone corralled into.
"Okay, Blondie." Constance said once Maxina, she and I walked into the Center. She said as though it was my name and didn't show any malice. I still rolled my eyes.
"Cynthia."
"I know." She put her hands on her hips and stared at me for a moment.
"What?"
"Just giving you a good look. I think this time me and my team will go with forest colors. Don't you agree, Maxina?" She looked at the girl.
"Yeah, yeah! And a simple outfit. She looks good in simple."
"Perfect! Alright, Cilia," I didn't correct her. "I know you've never been in Oreburgh before, so I'll give you the information. First off, don't talk to the locals. They're rude. Trust me. Don't waste your time. Secondly, the place is pretty dirty. Don't—just don't—Wear good shoes out there. The ground is like dust. It probably is dust." She mused. She knows I've never been in Oreburgh before, does she? "Got it? Good!" She didn't wait for my answer and walked off, leaving me with Maxina.
After a half hour of everyone getting their plan for me worked out, Constance approached me.
"Oh, Blondie! You must be so happy!" I mustered a smile. "Well, if you're ready let's start working with that." She pointed to my hair.
"Actually, I thought I could train first. I haven't trained with my Bidoof or Budew yet." I said.
Constance sighed then smiled. "Okay, we can train. I'll go with you." Great. I thought.
"Let's go." I said through my best fake smile. She led me back to the electric fence and the guard let us out. There was forest and tall grass in the distance. We walked into the woods and I began my training.
After a long time of training, Constance walked into the forest yelling "Blondie, Blondie, come on. It's like, what, three? Four in the afternoon? You're wasting my life!" She scared off the Wurmple I was about to battle.
"Thanks, Constance." I murmured. I turned on my heels and found her quickly. She started snapping at me about taking way too long and things. I tuned out.
Training was progressive, I found out Bidoof has a strong Tackle. Budew uses Absorb well, which will come in handy. Gible was as stubborn as usual. She really hated me. But her Tackle has improved and she's fast when dodging. That's what matters. I wasn't sure what levels my Pokémon were, but I thought I could beat the gym easy enough.
We went to the Center and I healed my Pokémon. Maxina helped Constance quickly put some makeup on my face and dress me in a green and brown 'simple' outfit. Then, we went to the gym. The gym was on the backstreet, the street Ellena and Sake lived on. We entered the building. Jubilife cameramen flooded around. Steven had his microphone in hand ready to announce to Sinnoh that Cynthia Everheart is challenging Byron, the first gym leader.
The camera focused on the two of us. "Hello Sinnoh. This is Steven here with Sinnoh's newest challenger of the gyms, Cynthia!" He paused like he expected applause. He turned toward me. "Now, Cynthia, what feelings are you having now?" Fright, nervousness, nausea, a weird tug at my heart telling me this is wrong.
"Excitement, mostly." I answered. A lie, of course. "And anxiousness." That one was the truth.
"Do you have any strategies you want to share?" He asked. No. None that I would like to share.
"Well, I want to do my best and hope for the badge." Ember and Jamie just died of laughter.
"You heard it here first! This is Steven, reporting from Oreburgh, Sinnoh. Thanks everyone." The cameraman gave a thumbs-up and Steven removed his arm from on my shoulders. I took a deep breath. Okay, this is it. Where is Byron? I scanned the area. It wasn't a very large gym, in had the usual gym setup. It was definitely old and dusty. I saw my opponent across the arena. He was on-camera at the moment. Steven had his arm around his shoulders, too. Byron wasn't a clean-cut man. He had stubble across his chin and neck, and his hair was in a mess of spikes. If you looked at his eyes you would assume he was tired. He had bags under his eyes that looked like they sagged to his chin. Why was he tired? He didn't work in the mine, he wasn't forced to work, and he probably had enough food.
Byron took his place on the other side of the gym. A young boy stood behind him and poked his head around his legs. I saw the resemblance, brown hair, the same set jaw. The only difference was the excitement in the child's eyes and the almost annoyance in Byron's.
"Let's do this." I whispered to myself.
"Hello, Cynthia, you dare challenge me, I see. A young girl like yourself? Hm." He grabbed a Pokéball from his belt.
I followed his lead. I didn't lug around my black bag, I left if with Constance, I had my three Pokéball hooked to my belt loops. I had Bidoof's ball in hand, ready to see what Byron had. He threw his ball first, and it popped open. It revealed a small, blue Pokémon. I was expecting a Geodude. Not this. It looked slightly muscular as it danced around. I knew it was a Pokémon popular for working. Byron caught the empty Pokéball swiftly as it fell back to him and smirked at me. I bit my lip.
"Bidoof, do your thing." I wanted to smack my forehead. You sound real confident, Cynthia. I thought I heard a slight laugh.
"Machop, Focus Energy." Byron commanded. Confidence boomed through his voice and repelled off the walls and into my ear. It slipped in and started ringing. Soon it felt like poison.
It had started. I couldn't avoid it. Machop started dancing again. It breathed heavily with its eyes closed. "Bidoof," I yelled. My voice so unsure it hurt. "Growl." Bidoof growled rodent-like at the foe, which did nothing in return.
"Low Kick." Machop ran toward my Pokémon. It leapt into the air and came down on Bidoof.
Bidoof was knocked to his side and slid to my feet. I cringed. This wouldn't go well. "Tackle." I commanded. Bidoof shook as he stood, but then snarled as it ran to the opponent. He tackled it. Oh, it was beautiful. Machop's head collided with the ground and it shrieked. It pushed Bidoof off of it and jumped up in one motion.
"Karate Chop." Byron yelled. The smirk still on his face, crammed between a few layers of stubble. Machop reached its long arm to my Pokémon, who was still lying on the ground, and hit it hard. Bidoof winced and growled. He wasn't going to make it. If he survived that move, he wouldn't the next.
"Tackle again, Bidoof. You can do it!" I encouraged. Bidoof stood weakly, legs trembling, and snarled at the foe. It stood there, bouncing on its toes, challenging. Bidoof lunged and knocked the Pokémon down quickly. Machop fell down and moaned. "Tackle, hard, now!" I yelled, my trainer instincts kicking in, in full-gear. Bidoof weakly obeyed again.
Machop stood up with the same weakness of my Pokémon. They growled and circled each other. It wasn't until Byron made a command that I realized I was battling, not watching a fight on television like I did many times before.
Low Kick again, I assumed. Since Machop leapt into the air and its foot collided with my Pokémon's head. Bidoof fell to the ground and cringed, its body twitching. His eyelids mashed together, and I knew he slipped into a deep sleep. I returned him. "Good job, Bidoof." I whispered into the ball, sincerely believing he could hear me.
Byron kept his smug smirk on. I focused my eyes on him and the battle. Machop, okay, I know that Bidoof's moves hardly did anything for him. Normal moves do nothing. I don't want to bring out Gible until I have to, so I guess Grass Type is the way to go. I grabbed Budew's ball. I knew which one was which, Gible's was much older and had some of the white paint chipped off, and Budew's was still glossy and smelled new.
I let out my level five Grass Type. She cooed happily and awaited a command. But I couldn't say a command before Byron.
"Karate Chop, Machop." Byron shouted. His Pokémon obeyed, of course, and Budew shrieked. I knew more than half of her life had seeped away.
"Absorb, now." I commanded. She got up weakly and stared into Machop's eyes. It slumped to the ground and grabbed its head. It shrieked and cried. Budew stopped, and Machop laid on the ground. Its eyes were still plastered on my Pokémon. Was it getting up?
"Machop, Focus Energy." The Pokémon didn't move. Its eyes flicked to its trainer, and then closed.
I smiled. No, grinned. But Byron still looked smug. He grabbed another Pokéball. "Abra, win for me!" He threw the ball into the air. A small yellow Pokémon materialized from the light beams. It had a long nose and was bipedal. It looked like it had just awoken from a long sleep. It sat on the ground silently with its eyes trained on me.
"Budew, Absorb." I yelled. My Grass Type obeyed. The life was drained from the foes body and Budew breathed it in like the sweetest scent. I was waiting for Byron to command, but when he hesitated I jumped in. "Run in and use Absorb." Budew took off, a mix between hopping and running, and stood in front of the sleepy Abra. She concentrated.
"Teleport, now." The foe disappeared and reappeared behind Budew.
"Turn around!" I yelled.
"Flash."Byron yelled just as I did. Budew spun around quickly and met Abra, who used the move Flash. Budew looked stunned and distant for a moment, but returned quickly.
"Absorb." My Pokémon focused, and the Abra didn't flinch. Instead Budew fell over. "What just happened?" I shouted. I looked at Byron. Too smug.
"I ruined your weak Pokémon's accuracy. She hit herself instead. You shouldn't play with weak Pokémon, Cynthia."
A growl rumbled in my throat. "I don't have weak Pokémon!" I boomed. I returned Budew. "Go Gible!" I threw her ball into the air. She came out and landed on the ground perfectly. I smiled. "Tackle, and don't hold back." Gible ran to the opponent and pounced on him. She pushed the small Abra to the ground and growled.
"Teleport, Abra!" Abra disappeared under Gible. She collided with the ground and jumped up fiercely. Abra appeared back in his place.
"Sand-Attack." I snapped. Gible opened her mouth wide, and some sand splattered unto Abra's face. "Tackle." Abra couldn't Teleport if he couldn't see. Gible tackled him, and Abra hit the ground and squeaked. "Get off, now." But Gible didn't move. She had Abra pinned down. "Move!" I yelled at her. But she didn't.
"Teleport." Byron yelled. Abra did, and Gible's face met the ground again.
"Listen to me!" I yelled at Gible. She turned and growled at me. "Dragon Rage." My voice was as unsure as ever. Gible glared at me. She turned to Abra and opened her mouth. Nothing.
"Flash." Oh great.
"Gible, Tackle." She jumped and Tackled the foe before it could use a move. It hit the ground. This time much harder. Critical Hit? Maybe. I thought. Abra moaned and curled into a ball. It was shaking hard. It had fainted. Gible returned to her place in front of me and Byron returned his Pokémon. I knew he had one more because of the Pokéball on his belt. The child, his child, was sitting behind him, watching everything with eager eyes.
"Geodude, go!" He threw the ball. A Geodude came out. It growled at Gible and she growled back.
"Sand-Attack." I commanded. Gible spit an inch of sand on the foe, he instantly wiped it off. "Tackle!" I added. Gible tackled the Rock Type. Geodude pushed her away like she was nothing.
"Rock Polish, Geo." Byron yelled. Geodude focused. His bodies become shiny somehow. I knew there was a deeper meaning to the move, and I was ready for it.
"Tackle." Gible ran to the foe and jumped toward it.
"Dodge." Byron countered. Geodude quickly moved out of the way. I was surprised at this speed. "Tackle." Geodude flung his body with his hands on Gible and knocked her to the ground. She growled and stood up, causing the rival to fall to the ground. He recovered quickly.
"Gible, use Sand-Attack as best you can." I shouted. Gible focused, her stomach rumbled, and she spewed some sand on Geodude. I didn't wait to see what he would do. "Tackle, now!" Gible pounced. She landed on the foe and pushed him down. He winced as his rock body collided with the arena floor. Gible jumped off and returned to her place.
Geodude pushed his body up with his hands and growled. "Tackle." He Tackled Gible. Again, his speed surprising. Gible fell to the ground and pushed the opponent away. She then pounced on Geodude and Tackled him. For once, I was happy she was stubborn, because Geodude didn't get back up.
Cheers rose from the group of people in the room, except from Byron's son. We returned our Pokémon and met on the middle of the battlefield. He extended his hand.
"Well done, Newbie." He said it like he was forced to.
I smirked and grabbed his hand. "Thanks. You're not so bad yourself."
Byron reached into his sweatshirt pocket and pulled out something odd. It was a piece of flat charcoal with a flat, silver plate on the front. It read: 'Just the beginning…' I smiled. It was.
Everyone left after a quick interview with Byron, who seemed very calm even though he lost. We made it back to the Center, which had been transformed into a Jubilife hotel, and I healed my Pokémon. Apparently, the Center had a basement with rooms for the Golden City people only. So we were in luck.
I walked downstairs and found my assigned room. I walked in. It was small, there was a dresser and two beds in the corner. It was a good size for me. I wonder how Golden City people will like this. I thought and laughed. I wasn't planning on sleeping here, I was going to slip out overnight and visit with Ellena and come back before breakfast. I left the door to my room ajar and Maxina skipped in. She stopped and glared at the room.
"How tiny." She grimaced.
I was laughing inside. "Yes, it is small." I put my bag, egg pouch included, on one of the beds and looked back at Maxina. She had two large suitcases with her and had set them on the other bed. My heart jumped and my breath stopped in my throat.
"Where are you sleeping, Maxina?" I asked.
"What do you mean sleeping?" I blinked at her. Stupid?
"You know, the thing you're doing when you're dreaming of pink roses and boys and Butterfree." I snapped.
"I know what sleeping is." She scoffed. "I'm your roommate, Roommate!"
I rolled my eyes. "Joy." I murmured inaudibly. How am I going to get out now?
"Dinner." Someone yelled in the hall. I shot a quick glance at Maxina, who looked like she was pouting over something, and left the room.
For dinner more meat was served. I didn't touch it. They told me it was Starly. Why would I eat that?
To my luck they also gave me a plate as big as my head of greens and a bowl of mixed berries. While eating I looked around the huge, makeshift table made up of picnic tables and saw all the food. I kept thinking that all of Oreburgh could be fed by my plate. I only ate half my meal, not counting the meat, because of all the food. Someone took my plate and threw the perfect, fresh, delicious greens in the trash. I winced.
After a very boring dinner I went back to my room. Maxina came back in after a while. She laid on her bed a few feet away. I asked her if she was ready for me to turn the light off, she nodded, so I did.
I stayed up for a while. I was very still for and listened carefully. Maxina started snoring a bit and I moved to my side so I could see her. She was sleeping. I stood up, still fully clothed and in my shoes, and walked to the door. I opened it and it creaked. Loud. I froze and peered at her bed. Why did I pick the bed farthest away from the door? Maxina slightly moved but made no indication of consciousness. Would she even care if I was out? I shrugged.
I slipped out and shut the door. The hallway was carpeted and my footsteps were well muffled. I was silently thankful. Although, I thought my escape was just too easy.
I got out of the Center and looked around. There was my problem: Guards. I saw one leaned up against the electric fence and one down the street. I froze. The guard at the fence should have seen me by now, why wasn't he pursuing? I squinted into the night air. I saw his chin was pressed against his chest. Sleeping. I looked back down the road. The guard wasn't facing my direction, but it was only a matter of seconds until he would turn his head. I tip-toed around the Center and in an alleyway.
I got halfway down it until I gasped. Another guard, asleep in this alley. My eyes were huge as I looked at him. "Great protection, Lea." I muttered. I stepped around him and out of the alley. I saw the second entrance to the mine and knew where I was. It wasn't dark enough for me to be completely concealed and safe from the lurking, or sleeping, guards. I peered onto the street. A guard was only a foot or two away from me. He was staring at something in the distance, but he was definitely awake. Think, think Cynthia! I looked behind me. This guard could wake up anytime, I don't know if it's safe to go back or not. What do I do? I starred at the sleeping guy. I smirked. I know.
I bent down next to him. I shook his shoulder. He started to stir. I stood up and stepped behind him. I hesitated, but then kicked him. I turned around and darted for the end of the alley.
"Hey!" I heard him yell. After I got out of the alleyway, the sleeping fence guard was still snoozing, and the guard at the end of the street had run around the corner to see the commotion. I peeked back into the alley. Two men we around the guard.
"What happened?" One said. They were all facing away from me. I hoped that that meant the guard I kicked didn't see me. I ran to the street, which was now guard-free, and found my way from the mine entrance to Ellena's street. No guard. Of course, it's the backstreet. I thought. I went up to one of the doors and prayed that it was hers. I knocked slightly.
I heard unsure footsteps. They paused at the door before cracking it. Then, it swung open. Esmeralda. She didn't look like she was sleeping. She smiled at me uncertainly, and then motioned for me to come in. I did. She closed the door. It creaked slightly.
Little Essie sat up in her bed. She looked much worse from the last time I saw her. Which was only days ago, right? Her eyelids hung over her brown eyes and dark circles lingered underneath them. She was skinnier, if that was possible. I immediately worried about her. I walked to her bedside pushed some of her springy curls from her sweaty forehead like I did for Clarice all the time. Essie had a fever, a bad one.
"Cynthia, what are you doing back so soon?" Esmeralda cocked her head at me.
"Well, I just beat the gym here." I smiled brightly.
She matched my smile. "Good." Her voice was full of uncertainty. "How have you been?" She sat next to Essie.
"Fine. The question is, however, how have you been?" I looked around the room. "And where's Ellena? How is she? Can she hear?" All the questions spilled out of my mouth and Esmeralda gave me a weird look.
"Everything's been fine. It's been hard, of course…" She paused and looked at Essie. "But we've been fine, haven't we?" The young girl nodded and laid back down. "And Ellena, well, don't you know?" She cocked her head at me again.
"No I don't know. How would I? I have been in Sandgem and Jubilife. What am I supposed to know?" When I was with Esmeralda, Sake or Ellena, I felt as though there was something that they weren't telling me. A secret of some sort that was implied in what they said, like I should know what they were talking about. A code of sorts.
"That Ellena is considered hard-of-hearing." She said quickly. "Mostly deaf. She can hear—understand, rather, what you're saying. She hears better on her left side. Sake says she's lost her hearing in that ear and that's her only hard-of-hearing problem. But I think differently. Sake also says it can clear up in time, that she can regain her hearing. I hope she's right." She sighed.
"Where is she, Esmeralda?" My voice was more forceful than it was supposed to be.
"She's out with Sake, Cynthia." There it was, the implied tone. The secret. The code.
But I didn't pry. She could be doing anything. Gathering food. At night it's probably safer to escape, since there are absolutely no guards on her road at night. But the thought still whispered in my ear. Secret, secret, secret. I shook my head. What is there to hide? I thought. But my answer came too quickly. Everything.
Esmeralda rubbed Essie's arm. I could tell Essie was fighting to slip into unconsciousness, to let the dreams of sleep take her away from her pain, but it never came.
"Are you hungry? I have some berries. They're a little rotten, but you know, its food." She offered in a whisper. I shook my head and though of the food being put in the trash. They throw away fresh greens, Esmeralda eats rotten foods. Does that really make sense?
"Are you tired? You look tired. You can sleep here if you like."
Exhaustion was heavy on me. I knew I would be awake before everyone else back at the Center and I knew it was safe to sleep here. I would be more comfortable here than in the Center anyways. I nodded and Esmeralda stood and walked to the other bed at the head of Essie's. She opened the blanket and invited me in. I crawled in and took off my shoes. I rubbed my eyes and freed all the makeup off of my face. Thank goodness. I look like me again. Maybe that was the reason for Esmeralda's weirdness. I agreed with myself and brought the blankets up to my chin. I ignored everything that was screaming at me, like the danger of not sleeping at the Center. I could expose Ellena and Sake if they wake up before me or if a guard catches me. But no. I ignored it. I was stupid.
I heard a creak of my bathroom door. Grandmother's awake. I tried to roll over, but I couldn't, I was way too tired. Grandmother would be mad if I slept any later though, soon I would hear her bustling in the kitchen. If I wasn't awake by breakfast, Grandmother would come in.
"Cynthia," She would say. "You need to wake up. Half of the morning is gone. Do you want to waste it in another life? The life of dreams? Haven't you been there long enough?" I could hear the joking in her voice, but she was also serious. I had never slept past that point.
I swore it was way too early to be awake. It was early for Grandmother. Or maybe I had gone to bed late last night. What did I do last night? I had no recollection of the day before. How long had I slept? I thought. Then I heard the door creak again. This time louder. Then I heard a wispy voice of a child. Clarice? What are you doing here so early? I tried to say, but my mouth couldn't find the words.
"Ellie!" It said. Then a 'shh' followed. I didn't recognize that voice. Bianca, maybe? Then another voice followed. I couldn't make out what it said.
Then it hit me. I knew where I was. I was in Esmeralda's house. My eyelids opened less than halfway. I was looking at the wall. The whispers were behind me. Everything was foggy.
"I thought she was with you, Ellena!" Esmeralda's quickened whisper. "She said she had been in Sandgem and Jubilife and she beat the gym, I thought she was lying but I wasn't sure."
"What?" Ellena's voice. It didn't sound fully Ellena. "Did you tell her anything, Mom?"
"No! I'm not that stupid."
"She's a trainer, not one of us. She doesn't know anything." Ellena said.
"Then how did she get here! Why would you trust her! What was Hilbert's letter about!" Esmeralda sounded a bit livid.
"Es, calm down." Sake said gently. "I'm not sure what it was all about, we stopped in at Solaceon on our way back from Pastoria, Hilbert said she's not one of us, but needed to see Pete. He said she needed to be trusted and we should help her and that she should join us, but I told her no one else needed to be involved. Pete wouldn't want anyone else involved." Everyone became silent. Should I let them know I'm awake and heard everything? I considered this, until Ellena spoke again.
"So this still needs to be a secret. We can't tell Cynthia."
Authors Note: Hello readers. Again, if you've been paying attention you should know the whole thing. But if not, it's coming out little by little. How'd you guys like the gym battle? If felt so good to write a battle again. I'm excited for battles to come!
Well... It was sort of a cliffhanger ending... Heh. I tried.
Thanks for reading! It means so much to me.