Adrenaline coursed through my veins as Salamence swooped right into the middle of the battling. The men and women gasped, covering their heads. Salamence landed next to Vulpix. "Hop on, buddy." I smiled. The small fox Pokemon did as told and sat in front of me. Salamence lifted into the air again, waiting for my command. "Dragon Breath!"

Salamence unleashed a thick green beam at the opposing Pokemon. It was an instant knock out for all of them. I sighed in relief as the wild Pokemon escaped deeper into the forest. The men and women called back their Pokemon, calling out to retreat. Salamence lowered back to the ground and I dismounted him, Vulpix following in suit. "Excellent job, Salamence! You saved all of those innocent Pokemon! You should be very proud of yourself." I cooed, petting his head. He nudged his nose against my cheek before taking off into the sky. "Well, Vulpix, I say we head back to the beach and see if-"

"You." A cold raspy voice called. I turned my attention to the dark figure emerging from behind a tree. He tossed a pebble up and down in his hand. His tall, well built, body stalked into the light. He wore a black jumper with a red 'R' centered to the left of his chest. His sandy blonde hair hung loosely over his deep blue eyes. A jagged scar cut across his right cheek, starting at the temple, barely nicking the top of his lip. Save for the scar, he is actually quite attractive. "What do you think you're doing?" He barked. Vulpix ran a few inches in front of me, growling angrily. The man threw the pebble at the Pokemon, hitting it square in the head. I gasped, running forward and hugging the Pokemon close to my chest. "Answer me."

Anger boiled throughout me. "Who the fuck do you think you are? What kind of person throws something at a Pokemon!" I spat disgusted. Whoever this guy is, he is trouble. A small smirk spread across his face.

In the blink of an eye, he was in front of me. I gasped at his inhuman speed. Vulpix hopped from my arms and into the trees. The man's eyes widened as he studied me. "It's you. You're the girl the boss threw off the boat." He shook his head slightly. "That's not possible!" I felt a force applied to my chest and the next thing I knew, I was laying on the ground. The man straddled me and took hold of my collar forcefully. "How are you still alive!?" He yelled. There is no way I'm giving him any information. Regardless of whether or not I even know the answer. He pulled my collar up and slammed me back down. "Answer!" A whimper escaped my mouth as his knee dug into the wound on my side. He took notice of this and lifted my tank top up. I struggled against him and tried pushing his hands away. My heart raced and I began to panic. "How did you survive?" He asked again. Tears welled in my eyes but I did not speak. The man sighed before curling his hand into a fist. I screamed out in agony as his fist collided with my wound. Tears streaked down my cheeks once again. "How did you sneak into our headquarters?" I breathed in and out rapidly. My hands weakly pushed at his chest, trying to create any type of distance between us. My voice was hoarse and dry and I cried out again at the sting of his punch. "I can make this much more painful." He said in a low, husky voice. He grabbed my bare hips tightly, digging his fingers into my skin. "You are rather pretty." His voice was hoarse. Fear crept into my heart.

"Please. I don't know what you're talking about." I cried. This is so uncomfortable. I'd rather be dead than continue on like this.

The man scoffed, leaning down closer. "Now you're just plain lying to me. " He lowered his lips to my ear, his warm breath sending chills down my spine. "Team Rocket isn't the same. We aren't afraid to do whatever it takes to get information. Killing and torture are some of our new main specialties. Although, getting information out of you might be more fun than I originally thought." My blood ran cold. A shriek escaped my lips as he punched my wound again. The warm trickling of blood made itself noticeable on my side. That bastard reopened it. "Hopefully you don't bleed out while I get my information from you." Tears continuously leaked from my eyes. Either from the pain or the fear of whats about to happen. "This is how its going to work. I'm going to ask you a series of questions. Answer them truthfully and we move on to the next. Refuse, and I'll have my fun." He grinned.

The sound of my heart beating pounded in my ears. Beads of sweat rolled down my hair line. Breathing was becoming more difficult by the second. "Don't do this." I pleaded. "Please, I won't be able to answer your questions. I don't remember anything." My voice was small.

"How did you get into our headquarters?"

Why can't I remember anything! "I don't remember!" The man growled, his hands going under my shirt. Instinctively, I thrusted my knee upwards, barely nicking him.

"I'm growing impatient with you, girl. This is your last chance before you regret not telling. How did you sneak into our headquarters?" His eyes held me in an icy stare down.

A small whimper left my lips, "I don't remember."

He grit his teeth. "Fine, have it your way." I could feel his hands working up my body.

"Oh gods! Please no!" I cried out desperately.

"Hey!" A voice yelled from the tree line. The man froze, his head turning to the direction of the voice.

He chuckled softly and looked down to my tear soaked face. "Team Rocket isn't a force to be taken lightly anymore. Make sure no one forgets it." He growled, digging his fingers into my wound. Pain shot through my abdomen and I let out a painful cry. "We will meet again and pick up where we left off." Within a blink of an eye, he disappeared.

I lay there, sobs tearing through my body. My side is on fire. The bandage became entirely soaked in blood, dripping into the small pool of accumulated blood in the grass. Footsteps approached me quickly and I felt hands rest on my arm. No, he is back. I cried out, flailing my arms and shutting my eyes, trying to escape. "Summer, please! It's me!" Pleaded a familiar voice. My body relaxed somewhat.

"Ben..?" I whispered, opening my eyes slowly. I wiped my tears and immediately stopped crying. I don't know him that well so he doesn't need to see me weak and vulnerable.

He ran his fingers through my hair, straightening out the tangles. I looked up at him, mesmerized by his eyes. "I'm going to get you out of here, okay?" His voice was soothing. I nodded my head, never breaking eye contact. "It's going to hurt when I pick you up." He positioned one arm under my back and the other under my knees. "Brace yourself." He lifted me up and a terrible shot of pain spread throughout my abdomen. I whimpered loudly, fighting back tears. "I know, I'm sorry. Just hold on and try to relax. It'll only be for a few minutes."

"So.. are you ready to tell me what happened?" Ben asked softly. He sat next to me in his bed. I ended up passing out on the way back to the Union. Since all the infirmary beds are taken, I ended back here again.

I shifted uneasily under the covers. "Nothing." My voice was raspy and weak.

Ben scoffed. "Ripped stitches and severely bruised hips? That definitely sounds like something."

"You know, I don't have to explain myself to you." I stated angrily.

"You do if you want me to protect you. It is my job." He shot back.

My eyebrows furrowed. "I don't want you, or anyone for that matter, to protect me. So why don't you just back off?"

He chuckled. "No way. You see, I'm far too involved to stop. So please just trust me." His eyes looked down at my broken form, holding sympathy.

I sighed, feeling defeated. "He held me d-down.. and kept asking me questions that I honestly didn't know the answers to. But he thought I was lying, so he.. up my shirt. He almost.." Tears welled up in my eyes as I stared at my hands, recalling the almost disaster. I can't break down.. but it is so hard to stay strong.

Ben sighed. "Its a good thing Vulpix got me when he did. I don't even want to think about what that guy would have done to you if I hadn't gotten there in time." I cringed. "Wow. I'm so sorry.. I shouldn't have said that." He studied me for a few seconds. "You don't have to keep your walls up around me. I'm not going to think any less of you if you cry."

Tears began to freely fall from my eyes. I covered my face with my hands as sobs tore through my body. Ben wrapped his arms around me, careful not to touch my side. I rested on his chest and he leaned against the backboard of the bed. With his free hand, he ran his fingers through my hair. Soon my sobs turned to sniffles and light shaking. He whispered sweet nothings into my ear the entire time, eventually lulling me to sleep.

"Sir. The girl is alive."

"What girl?"

"The girl who snuck into base and stole the Celebi. She is in Almia getting 'buddy buddy' with one of the Rangers."

The leader slammed his hand on the wooden table. "Dammit Logan! Why didn't you bring her here?"

Logan sighed, "I wasn't even expecting to run into her. After all, she was supposed to be dead. I was overseeing a routine raid when she swooped in on a Salamence and scared off the Grunts. It wasn't until I got close to her when I recognized her face from the Team Rocket wanted list. While I was in the middle of questioning her, that Ranger boy interrupted us. She claims she remembers nothing of what happened but I'm not entirely sure I believe it. She is quite the stubborn one."

"Well I did smash her head more than a few times against a pole. Regardless, we can't risk her getting her memory back around that ranger. I managed to capture one of her companions but she has been hesitant to talk. Come. I feel you may be more persuasive."

The two walked down the black spiral stairs in their hideout, leading to the chambers. They entered a cramped hallway, cell doors on either side. The leader came to a stop and pulled out a wad of keys, taking the one marked '28' and placing it in one of the cell's key holes. With a swift turn, the cell unlocked and the two stepped inside. "Get the fuck away from me." The girl demanded in a weak voice.

"Now now Melody. Is that any way for a proper young girl like you to speak?" The leader cooed.

She spat at his feet, taking deep breaths. The leader growled taking a step towards her. She tried scooting away but the shackles on her hands and feet allowed little movement. Her hair had tangles everywhere and there was a certain fear in her eyes. Tattered clothing was all she was given to wear. The leader grabbed her hand shackles, yanking her into a standing position. He handed Logan the chains and pointed to a room down the hall. "Sir?"

"Go show Ms. Melody what it is like to be a prisoner of the new and improved Team Rocket. While you're at it, see if you can squeeze out any information about Summer. It may be of use when we deal with her."

Melody's eyes lit up. "Summer is alive? She is alive! Aja-" She stopped herself before she could give anything away.

Logan smiled evilly. "When I'm done with you, you're going to wish she and you were dead."

Tears of fear began to well up in her eyes and he yanked on her shackles to move forward. "Someone help me!" She cried. Logan shoved her into the room, locking the door behind him. "NO!"

"Melody!" I opened my eyes, breathing frantically. Tears streamed down my face and my hands shook. What the hell was that? Who is Melody?

I could feel Ben touch my hand. "Are you okay?" He asked groggily, moving to sit next to me on the bed from his sleeping position in the chair. "Who is Melody?"

The panic began to subside and my breathing slowed. "I-I don't know. I had a nightmare but it's already beginning to fade. A girl was in it.. and she was in trouble. Her name was Melody. I feel like I know her but.. I can't be sure."

He yawned loudly, earning a yawn from me. "Maybe you'll remember in the morning. We still have plenty of time to sleep. It's only eleven thirty at night."

I nodded slowly. "Maybe your right. If there is a girl named Melody out there in trouble.. I hope she makes it out okay.."

Alrighty so hopefully everyone enjoyed! Been a while since I last added a chapter. Writer's block is a bitch. Anyway, till next time. -A