Silver stared at his hands – blood.
Blood was trickling on his palm, drawing a demonic sign on each of his fingers. Silver trembled. He didn't remember getting hurt. He didn't remember touching anything horrid. He didn't remember having the crimson liquid dancing on his skin.
He remembered nothing.
"You insolent monster."
Silver snapped up, eyes vast in fear to see a figure covered in black. A black hat dropped from the dark sky, landing on the dark shadow's head. The figure faced upward. Silver couldn't breathe as the image became clear in his mind.
"You," he growled maliciously.
Giovanni tipped his hat. "You monster," he said nonchalantly, a white smile flashing on his face.
Silver clenched his fist at his words, acting so casual about it. "The fuck you said?" He dashed towards the hatred man and wanted to land a punch. But it seems that the elder man was faster. With one hand, he gripped the teenager's fist and threw him on the wall.
"AHHH!" Silver yelped in pain at the excruciating impact. He stood up, body wobbling.
But before Silver could even stand straight, Giovanni zoomed like lightning, clutching Silver's neck, pushing him against the wall.
"Ackkk…" The redhead could barely breathe. He clutched his father's deadly hand, trying to pull it away from his choking neck. Unfortunately, it was as if the man didn't budge at all. Silver gasped for air. He felt his throat dry, burning his skin inside out.
"You monster," Giovanni muttered grimly. A small smirk painted his face. "But you are me."
Silver felt like his ears had been ripped off by hearing his words. "I…am nothing like you…" he gasped. The cold man's grasp was getting tighter and tighter.
But the man just smiled. He showed no guilt of choking his own son to death. Instead, his eyes shimmer in joy. "Monster…" Suddenly, the man disappeared out of nowhere. Silver fell on the cold ground, gasping harshly for air. He looked up, trying to find the bastard that tried to kill him. He slowly stood on his feet, hands holding the cracked wall for support.
You are so much like me…
Silver flinched. His eyes scanned the dark alley. There was nothing but walls and trash.
Monsters…Hurting the ones you love…
The redhead clenched his teeth. He cringed as his lips caught the taste of copper in his lips. The stunned teenager wiped his lips – blood was dripping from his mouth.
Hurting the ones…they who you don't deserve…
The mad redhead was getting more enraged. "Show your fucking self you coward!" he yelled into the dark clouds.
A thick fog covered area, blinding the teenager. Silver cursed irately and covered his nose and mouth. He felt himself harder to breathe. Silver held his neck. The air around him was cutting his oxygen level, suffocating him. Weak, Silver kneeled, choking and coughing for air.
He gawked in fear as he coughed out blood. The taste of copper was nauseating him. Just as he thought it couldn't get any worse, a huge headache slammed him. His right hand moved to his temple as his left stayed on his neck. Silver felt like screaming. He wanted to yell. He wanted to cry for help. But the more he coughed, the more blood painted the pavement – until it became a small black puddle.
Silver lay on the cold tar. He curled his body in a foetus position, baring the horrible pain. The disgusting puddle splashed on his face, painting his face red. His pupils dilated frantically. Help…me…
A black faint shadow stood a few miles from him. Silver looked up, wheezing. The dark figure smirked evilly and pointed a gun at him.
"Hurting the ones you love…" He pulled the trigger.
Silver shut his numb eyes. But he felt no bullet piercing in his chest. He opened his eyes, appalled to see a familiar figure standing right in front of him. The figure wobbled frailly, then down on her knees. Silver was horrified to see the person who just took the bullet for him.
"Ko…tone…" he croaked.
Kotone didn't say anything. She didn't move other than drop her body limply on the ground. A small pool of blood covered her body, scarring her beautiful skin. Silver felt like his world has fallen on top of him. He tried very hard to shift his numb body next to her.
"No…" he gasped without a sound. His trembling hand took a strand of her blood-covered hair, pushing it aside. Silver froze in horror to see her face. Broken. Her eyes were dead and cold. It showed no light. No joy. No life.
Dead.
The shaken redhead bit his inner cheeks, tearing the fragile skin. "Kotone…" His throat burned him everytime he whispered her name. He heard a loud, cackling sound which painfully, literally stabbing his eardrums. Silver frailly looked up. The shadow was coming closer. The image of the killer was getting more vivid in his eyes. The fallen redhead growled despicably, his voice weak and croaking.
But all that was replaced with utter horror as soon as he saw who it was.
It wasn't Giovanni.
It was him.
The redheaded devil smirked, holding the gun that had taken the life of his love. His bloody silver eyes glared menacingly at the terror-stricken image of himself.
"In the end, all the ones you love…will suffer from your consequences…"
The shadow Silver pointed the gun at the lifeless Kotone, shooting it over and over again in the eyes of the feared fallen.
"KOTONE!" Silver yelled, body snapped up immediately. He gasped frantically, moving his hands on his hair. A loud cackling noise hit his earshot. Silver looked outside. It was night time – and was raining heavily.
Silver buried his face in his palms, breathing unevenly. It was a nightmare. A horrible, terrifying nightmare. His heartbeat raced like a maniac inside his chest, banging his deep injury. The traumatized teenager clenched his chest, grimacing.
Slowly, he got off his bed and wobbly walked his way to the toilet. Silver shuddered, seeing that he was only wearing a boxer. The cold white bandage felt constricting. Groaning, Silver pushed the door and entered in. He washed his face, flinching at the frozen liquid seeping into is skin.
He held the sink's side, supporting his body. Silver felt his stomach getting queasy. His whole body began to quiver under the cold weather. The wound on his chest began to ache. Silver growled. Unable to bear the tormenting pain, he ripped the white cotton off. Silver shrieked in agony as the cotton stuck to his bleeding skin like glue, so the minute he scrape the wrapping apart, it felt like his skin was ripped into two.
Silver breathed heavily, firmly gripping the sink. His eyes trailed to the mirror, shocked to a long stitch on his chest. The scar was placed on his left abdomen until it reached above his stomach. His shaking fingers slowly caressing it. Silver flinched at the touch and groaned again. Letting the chilling breeze sweep his bare open chest was a terrible idea.
Shivering, he scooted his feet towards the closet, wanting his jacket. But luck wasn't on his side as another crashing, thundering noise filled the room. A harsh wind was blown so strong, it slammed opened the windows.
The deathly chill was stabbing his whole body, piercing his deep wound. Silver felt the extreme coldness flowing in his veins. "S…Shi…" he gasped hollowly. Before Silver could even finish his sentence, he couldn't take it anymore thus, his unconscious body slammed to the ground.
"Silver!" Kotone knocked on the door. Typhlosion yawned lazily behind her back. "I'm gonna go home alright." She turned the doorknob and welcomed herself in. "I'll be back…to…morrow…?" Both the trainer and Pokémon's eyes were round in horror at the body in front of her.
"Oh my Arceus! Silver!" Kotone ran to him and held him in her arms. She was shocked to see his bandage gone, revealing a very nasty, very red looking scar. The female trainer cringed at the sight. But quickly shook her head and regained her senses. She tried to pull him up, but no use. Silver was much heavier than her. Swiftly, Kotone took out a Level ball and released Mewtwo. The genetic Pokémon eyed his trainer in curiosity as to why he was out, but soon his thoughts were shocked on the fallen human.
"Mewtwo," Kotone whimpered in panic. "Carry Silver to his bed."
Without another word, Mewtwo nodded and used his telekinesis to lift Silver, placing him on the bed. Typhlosion scurried to the flailing windows and shut it tight. Kotone watched nervously as Mewtwo lifted the sheets and covered his cold body.
"I need to get Nurse Joy." She quickly turned around and dash for the door.
But things didn't go out so smoothly as another cackling thunder boomed from the skies, cutting the electrical surges in the hospital – causing a blackout.
Without her clear vision, Kotone slammed onto a wall.
"Oww!" The brunette yelled in pain, holding her forehead. Typhlosion lit the fires on his back, lighting the room. Both her Pokémon gawked in horror to see a small bump and trickles of blood on her forehead.
"Tyhroargh!" Typhlosion roared in panic. He swiftly dashed to his beloved trainer, supporting her as she wobbly got up.
"Ow…my head…" Kotone muttered at her aching head. Her left hand carefully held her starter's head while her right rubbed her swollen forehead. She cringed to feel something slippery in her fingers. Just as she thought it wasn't what she thought it was, Kotone froze in aghast. She was bleeding.
But her mind snapped back as she heard a weak cough.
Silver. She quickly dashed to the door, but her headache was making her eyes go all woozy. "Okay oww…" Kotone leaned against the wall, agonizing. Typhlosion was getting more and more worried for his ignorant trainer.
And so was Mewtwo. Kotone, I think it's you that needs Nurse Joy's aid first.
Kotone shook her head, eyes closed shut. "No. Silver's in a bad condition. He needs help fast." She reached for her Pokégear in her satchel. But the bruise was banging her head so hard, she couldn't think straight.
Mewtwo quickly zoomed to his trainer and took her Pokégear away. No. You need help fast. The genetic Pokémon growled worriedly at her. Typhlosion nuzzled his head on Kotone stomach, begging her to get herself some treatment.
Kotone opened her left eye, staring at her stubborn psychic. "But –"
No buts. Mewtwo replied sternly. His eyes soon glowed purple, lifting his stunned trainer.
Realizing she was off the ground, Kotone glared at Mewtwo. "H-hey! Mewtwo! Put me down!"
The purple Pokémon did what he was told. But instead on the ground, he placed his trainer on Typhlosion's back, careful not to let his trainer hit the flames. How about this? Let Typhlosion bring you to Nurse Joy and let her treat that wound of yours. And also, tell her that the boy needs immediate care.
Kotone turned her head towards her psychic Pokémon, eyes round is distress. "But…"
Go. Kotone. Mewtwo was getting impatient. Typhlosion led out a heavy sigh, bearing at his trainer's ignorant and stubborn attitude.
Finally, with a small frown, Kotone faced the ground. "Fine…" Her eyes moved to the bed, looking at her unconscious rival. Her heart ached in despair. "I'll be right back as soon as possible." With one sure command, Typhlosion dashed out of the room and towards Nurse Joy.
Silver opened his eyes slowly, flinching at the sudden light reaching his eyelids. He raised his hand, covering the beam away from his silvers. Carefully, the man sat up, groaning as he felt a strain on his back. W-What happened…?
He flinched as he felt a pair of soft hands touching her left. The teenager snapped his head to his left, eyes round in shock to see a petite woman laying her head on the edge of the bed, her hands still gripping his fingers.
"Kotone…?" He mouthed. The woman was no longer wearing her nurse's uniform. Instead, she wore her normal trainer attire. The only thing missing was the white hat. Kotone laid her cheek on the soft mattress, facing right. He heard faint snoozes from her, indicating that she was sleeping soundly.
Suddenly, his mind tried to recall last night's incident. He remembered going to the bathroom. He remembered ripping the cotton plaster from his body. His hands moved to his chest, stunned to feel soft cotton. Silver looked down. He wasn't blind. His chest was wrapped again. But I just… His mind suddenly stopped as he recalled fainting after feeling the frozen death of the night's wind.
Silver massaged his forehead with his free hand, groaning as a small headache slap him. His mind vividly remembered last night's nightmare. His eyes can see the blood, the gun, his old man – and his own self.
He growled as he saw Kotone in his eyes – dead and cold. His body trembled, enraged at himself.
Monsters…Hurting the ones you love…
"Damn." A low snarl escaped his lips.
Waking Kotone up. "Mmm…" The brunette blinked her eyes faintly, slowly lifting her head up. She yawned and rubbed her neck, slightly aching. Soon, her brown eyes focused on her already awake patient. "Silver!" Without any rational thought, she plunged to the redhead and hugged his neck.
Silver was taken aback by her hug. He quickly regained his senses and pulled the woman away, annoyed. "T-That hurts you little –" His words were cut off as he saw something white hidden on her head. Unwarily, Silver bought his hand to her hair, shifting the strands away. He cringed in horror to see white cotton plastered on her forehead. "W…What the…" he stammered, his thumb caressing the pure cotton.
Kotone bit her lip, eyes moving about. She looked away and bought the strands of her hair down, covering her forehead. "Nothing…" she muttered.
But Silver wasn't convinced. "Kotone, what happened?"
Her mouth was pressed shut.
He was getting impatient. He took hold of her chin, lifting it up so that she faced him. "What…happened…" he growled deeply.
Hearing his voice, the brunette shivered in fear. "I…bumped…"
"You…'bumped'?" His silver eyes focused on the white bandage. It was slightly lumpy. But the plaster was a bit bigger – definitely not caused by an average bump. On impulse, Silver ripped the bandage off her forehead, earning a small flinch from her.
His silver eyes were round in aghast to see a small stitch. What…the…fuck… The scar was black and clear, still new. The line was as short, almost the length of a pinky finger. His heart was beating faster, pounding his chest. Silver gritted inside his mouth. His focus quickly on Kotone – wanting an explanation.
Kotone had nowhere to run but to come clean. "Um…you fainted that night…Luckily I came in your room. I was gonna tell you that I'm going home for awhile…" She gulped. "But then…when I saw you on the floor, I panicked…" She bit her inner cheek, forcing back a sob. "So Mewtwo carried you to your bed and I ran to get Nurse Joy…But then a blackout hit and…" Her voice went mute. Eyes down again and fingers twiddling nervously.
Silver was suffocating on her words and gritted angrily. "And what?" His voice shaken and filled with remorse.
"I slammed on a wall…"
That was enough to punch Silver in the face. Her words slammed him flat, making him breathless. Silver released his grip on her chin, covering his face. I did this… He scornfully thought. I cause her that bruise. I hurt her…
"Silver…"
Her velvet voice reached his eardrums. Silver peeked at Kotone. He felt in even more despair as he saw eye bags under her eyes. Her sclera was red than ever. Kotone was crying the whole night and didn't get much sleep. Then Silver realized, ever since he was admitted in the hospital, the woman was taking care of him 24-7 – ignoring her own health and sleeping hours.
Silver bit his inner cheek deeply, trying to tear the thin skin.
Hurting the ones…they who you don't deserve…
Silver felt like banging his head on the wall. No – he felt like taking a gun and point it on his head.
"H-Hey…Silver. It's okay. It's cool. I'm fine now –"
"COOL?" he snapped, startling Kotone. "You think hurting yourself because of me is cool! Seriously just what the fuck is wrong with you?" His voice cracked. His throat ripping his vocal chords. But Silver didn't care. He was too angry to care about anything right now.
Kotone bit her finger and took a few steps backwards. An angry Silver was a dangerous Silver. "It's not your fault…"
"It is so damn my fault! You should be at home safe and asleep now dammit!" Silver cringed as he felt his lesion twitching, making him gasp. "Damn…it…" His eyes burned madly on the floor, cursing every word in his mind. The longer he saw the scar on her, the more he began to hate himself.
Kotone reached her hand out to Silver, worried. "Silv, you okay?"
"Don't touch me!" Silver shouted and gripped her hand harshly, pulling her.
Kotone widen her eyes in both shock and fear. His grip was getting tighter, squeezing her wrist. His dark silver eyes pierced her shaken brown. "Silver…that hurts…"
"Tyroargh!"
A loud roar echoed inside the room. Both the teenagers looked at the door. Typhlosion dashed towards them and pulled Kotone away, hiding his trainer behind him. The red flaming eye of the fire breather glared viciously at the redhead. Don't you dare touch her, you fucker. His flames sprouted at his back, proving his point.
Kotone quickly held her starter's arm before it got any gruesome. "Ty Ty, it's okay. I'm fine honey."
But Typhlosion didn't move away. His eyes still focused on him. A deep, threatening growl escaped his lips. His sharp piercing fangs bared at the awed Silver.
"Typhlosion…" Kotone murmured. She had had enough of all the drama for today. "Please…"
Hearing her soft plea, Typhlosion slowly calmed down. He led out a huge huff and stood behind Kotone. The starter wasn't leaving his beloved trainer alone with the redhead again.
Silver took a few slow breaths. For a second, he thought he was about to be Pokémon food. He coughed a few times. His throat was itching again. But that wasn't bothering Silver anymore. The petite trainer in front of him was still standing at the edge of the bed. He could feel her soft eyes staring in concern at him. She was worried, so filled with care.
And Silver loathes himself for even thinking he deserved something so pure.
"Just…go…" he stammered, head down in his palms.
Kotone clasped her hands together and slowly strode closer. "Sil-"
"Go!" he yelled, face still dug inside now formed fist.
Typhlosion tugged his trainer's overalls. Come on Kotone. Just leave him be.
Kotone was feeling guilty. Finally, with a heavy heart, she left the room and without a word, shut the door.
Leaving a self-hatred Silver.
In the end, all the ones you love…will suffer from your consequences…
The redhead snarled wickedly under his broken breath. "Fuck my life…"