Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon. The characters and story are mine, however. Deal with it.

Thanks to Foxyjosh, ziggy9677, Cedric Bale, and Rellymaster for reviewing! It's thanks to you guys that I keep on writing and not doing my homework :3 Nah, I'm just kidding, but thanks!

Alright menz, here's the deal: I'm gonna be writing essays and stuffs over the next few weeks or so. I probably won't be able to write much, I haven't written much, and I have only a little more worthy of posting. So this is the warning. The next update might be as it has been regularly, or it may be in a couple of weeks. Besides, I has Brisingr! That means hours of jolly old reading time for me. It probably won't last past next week, but we'll see.

I apologize if my chapters seem short or of irregular length. I try to aim for episodes and themes for them, rather than word length. Plus a limited amount of time means shorter chapters...

And, there's a poll up. Just giving you a heads-up... so go vote nao.

So yeah, enjoy, I'll try to get everything done so I can update but I can't promise much. Till next time :3

Also, if you like to draw and would like to draw up a picture for this story, feel free to do so :D I'd try but I'd rather not slaughter my own story... o.0

Chapter 13 - Pit of darkness

Seven's cell was as bare as usual, with an added change: it was a mess.

The few things that were in it, namely, the bed and the food items, were stained and slashed beyond recognition. Different-colored trails crisscrossed the floor, revealing a restless prisoner. The privy area was starting to smell badly, and the whole atmosphere was one of anger and restlessness.

A heap of mangy, dirty fur lay in a corner, the owner not worried about personal hygiene or appearance. Its eyes constantly moved, staring at first one thing and then another, never settling for long. It growled to itself, hissing and muttering with anger. Its tongue licked at its lips, dry and cracked. A trail of caked blood ran from its forehead to its neck.

It was thirsty. Thirsty for one thing and one thing only: blood.

-.-.-

The professor watched the creature from behind the safety of the facility's cameras. She was beginning to worry, more because of its mental state than about the wounds of her precious morph. She hoped they wouldn't become infected, or she would have to bring in the doctors again. However, that was not the most pressing issue.

Her mind drifted back to the aftermath of the battle. The Scyther morph had been wheeled to the medical wing immediately, where a team of doctors and scientists had scrambled to stop the blood flow from its wounds and patch up the broken bone. They had had to stitch most of the cuts shut, applying ointments and anesthetics to keep the pain to a minimum for the poor thing. Its natural armor had cracked in several places, while the little human flesh that remained was hanging in strips in some of the more damaged places. They had toiled all through the night, fixing the morph up as well as they could. If it survived the night, it would live.

She snapped back to the present. As much as she hated the Scyther morph, she couldn't help feeling remorse for its current state. She had almost lost it at the sight of the torn, damaged body being wheeled to the emergency room. As much as she had wanted to push it out of her mind, she had to face it.

Something was wrong with Seven.

It wasn't normal for the morphs to be unable to use their own attacks, even the most basic ones. Seven had only used brute force and claws. And the rage she had gone on... it was too much to be ignored. Perhaps it was due to the rushed morphing she had undergone. She'd have a word with the scientists once things were winding down.

The Arcanine morph hadn't eaten in over a day, refusing to even try the food that was given to it. Its angry rampaging had not stopped once the sedative wore off. It had continued to thrash about in its cell, roaring its anger out.

She turned her attention back to the monitor. The morph had begun pacing once again. It paced the length of the cell, then abruptly turned and paced in the other direction, swinging its head violently. Its tail swished angrily, matching its pace.

It growled to itself, eyes shifting from side to side. It was looking for something, and the professor had a sickening thought that she knew what it was.

-.-.-

-Blimey, that one got you good!-

The Scyther morph sighed, the simple action sending a myriad pain signals to her brain. What do you want, Ben? Her voice sounded weak, strained, defeated.

-Nothing, just checking up on you, kiddo. Think you'll survive? Or should we have a coffin ready?-

Can't you just leave me be? I'm not exactly in the mood or state for jokes...

-Upset? Tell Cousin Ben everything that's on your mind.-

It's the morph, Ben. The Arcanine morph. You should have seen the change that came over her. She went berserk, and not just angry. She lost it. She almost killed me!

A nagging presence in her mind indicated that "Ben" was replaying her memories for himself. He mentally whistled. -That's one heck of a fight, that is. You pushed her too far, Rita.-

I know. I just wanted to make sure we got the prize. I guess I didn't think it out too well, did I? A single tear trickled down her face, landing on the bed sheet. Do you think I'll be alright?

-Kiddo, I know you, and I know you'll be more than alright. You'll be up and at 'em in no time!- Ben replied, as much to answer her questions as to stifle his own fears.

-.-.-

Ray stared at the door leading to Seven's cell. He hadn't gone in since... that. He was too afraid. He was too chicken to risk being in the same room as Seven again.

He wondered if his work with her was done. He had been assigned to her only for training and preparing for the battle with the Scyther morph. Maybe he'd finally be able to leave and forget this whole nightmare...

No, he told himself. He'd be a liability. He'd be forced to work for the company forever. There was no way he was getting out of it clean. He was doomed to the underground lab for the rest of his days.

A mighty roar came from inside the cell. Ray looked up suddenly, startled by the morph's ferocity. It hadn't even been four days before that he'd joked and walked with her. She'd seemed like the most innocent of the morphs, the easiest to get along with. He hadn't even minded being assigned to her training.

He looked around the halls, making sure no one was watching. Taking a deep breath, he walked up to the door and peered in through the thick glass. There. In one corner, a heap of fur that rose with each ragged breath, dishiveled, unkempt, and dirty.

His throat was a knot. He couldn't swallow. He walked away fast, not looking back.

A/N: I really appreciate reviews, especially for this chapter and the next! They were some of the most difficult chapters to write... so yeah :D