Chapter 12

The next day, Alexa woke up early so that she could go to the pokemon center before school. As she walked there, she couldn't help but wonder if Spectra actually would get better. Each time she or Lina asked Nurse Joy, the pink haired woman had assured them that he would recover, but Spectra never showed any sign of waking up.

When Alexa turned the corner to the pokemon center, the three teenagers from before were waiting for her. "Hey girlie. Where ya goin'," Zac said.

"Don't start. Just get out of my way," Alexa warned, not wanting to deal with their ignorance today.

"Someone's acting tough," Yao taunted.

"She probably has some injuries from her "pokemon partner" that she got," mocked Tom.

Alexa ignored them and attempted to walk around the boys, but Zac blocked her path every time. "Hey, we didn't say you could leave," he teased, his face extremely close to hers.

"I warned you," Alexa said. With a swift uppercut, she knocked Zac down and pinned him on his stomach.

"Hey get off him!", Tom demanded as he tried to rush Alexa. She was too quick, though. Using one foot to keep Zac pinned, she tripped Tom with her other one causing him to fall on top of his friend.

"Big mistake Missy," Yao hissed as he walked over, his fists raised. "I'm not afraid to hit a girl like these two chumps."

"Neither am I," Alexa replied. Yao chuckled and threw a right hook towards Alexa's jaw, but once again, she was too fast. She dodged the boy's fist and shot a return punch right at his stomach. He began to crumple in pain and fell face first into the street.

Alexa then stood and regained her composure. "If you don't want to be embarrassed like that again, I had better not see your faces. Ever," she said. With that, Alexa turned around and walked into the pokemon center. Nurse Joy saw her and walked over.

"Good morning Alexa. If you could please follow me, I have someone who wishes to see you," she said with a curious smile.

"Certain someone?", Alexa said, puzzled. She then gasped, realizing who Nurse Joy was talking about. "Wait, you don't mean...He's awake!?"

"They asked me not to say, but please do be quiet. The Kirlia is probably still sleeping," Nurse Joy explained.

Alexa became engulfed with excitement as she ran to the ER. When she opened the door, Alexa saw that the capsule was open and the machinery was turned off. She walked over and saw Spectra standing in the capsule, looking like a brand new pokemon.

"I don't believe it. You're awake!", the girl exclaimed. Spectra raised his hand over his mouth, then pointed at Lina. The little pokemon was asleep, lying on two chairs pushed together like a makeshift bed. Spectra then pointed at the door and walked out into the hall. Alexa followed, not wanting to wake Lina after what she had been through. She closed the door behind her and sat down next to Spectra.

"I suppose I should introduce myself," the little ghost type said. Alexa realized this was the first time she'd actually heard his voice. It was dry and raspy, but at the same time calm and soothing. "I'm Spectra," he said.

"Alexa. Nice to see you awake for once," she joked.

Spectra nodded. "Nice to meet you. Now that that is out of the way, thank you for saving my life, and more importantly Lina's life. And about your offer to let us live with you, I cannot accept. I know Lina won't like it, but it's better for everyone if I'm alone. That's the way it has to be, so that my accursed life doesn't end up hurting others, especially her." Spectra lowered his head, not wanting to reveal his emotions to Alexa.

"Wait, you heard us!?", she exclaimed. "But I thought you were still unconscious."

"Yes," Spectra replied. "I didn't say anything because I thought it would break Lina's heart if I told her this. I had planned to explain this to you and your mother and leave before she woke up." The air was still and silent for a few moments.

"I understand how you feel," Alexa said. She remembered how when her father died, he mother had waited until he was gone to let her see. Even though Cassandra had tried to save Alexa from the pain, she still felt it.

"But I don't think going off on your own is the right decision," she stated. "I mean, what if you get hurt like before? You nearly died this time. And what about Lina? You know how much she cares about you. If you leave without telling her, it would destroy her. Please, for Lina, you don't have to stay with us, but don't leave her behind."

As Alexa finished, she heard a small sob. She looked over and realized Spectra was crying. Alexa reached over and embraced him in a hug. "I suppose you're right," he said.

"You don't have to be alone anymore," Alexa replied.

=

Lina woke up to see that Spectra's capsule was opened. She bolted upright when she realized that Spectra wasn't inside. "What!?", she yelled. She jumped off the chairs she was on and began frantically searching for her ghostly friend. "No, no, no this isn't happening! Where are you Spectra!? A horrible though then crossed her mind. "Did he leave without me?", she thought.

"No, he can't! I have to find him!" Lina opened the door and darted into the hall to see Alexa and Spectra hugging. She sighed as her fear began to leave her.

Alexa jumped, realizing that Lina had woken up. "Oh, you're awake too!", she exclaimed.

Spectra turned to see Lina standing there, watching him like a lost puppy. "Hi," he said sheepishly.

"Hi," Lina said in the same tone.

"Well, um I have to get to school and I think you two have a lot to talk about," Alexa said, giving Spectra an encouraging look as she set him down in front of Lina. "I'll come by after school and sign you guys out so that we can talk at my house. Bye!" With that, Alexa was out the door, leaving Lina and Spectra alone in the empty hallway.

There was an awkward silence as both pokemon tried to think of something to say. Finally, Lina hugged Spectra. "I'm glad you're okay," she said.

"Thanks," Spectra replied. "So, uh, listen. Can we talk in there?" He pointed at the ER door.

"Sure," Lina said. She opened the door and got two chairs for them to sit on. "So, what did you want to talk about?", she asked.

Spectra considered how he should phrase his next statement. He did want to stay with Lina, but he knew she'd be in constant danger if he did, and he didn't want that. But, he didn't want to hurt her feelings either.

After a few seconds, he took a deep breath and began to talk. "All my life, I've been treated exactly like I was at Ten Carat Hill, and I know that the rest of my life will be no different. You know you'll be in danger if we stick together. You'll never be safe from my curse. I don't want to leave you behind, but it'd be safer that way. There's no way I could protect you forever. So if you don't want to come with me, I understand."

Lina couldn't believe it. "He likes me too!" she thought. "He wants me to stay with him." "I won't leave you," she told Spectra. "I don't care about all the bad stuff that could happen. I'll stay, no matter who or what comes our way."

Spectra was speechless. After all that Lina had seen and heard and felt, she wanted to stay with him. Even though she knew the danger she was putting herself in, she wasn't afraid. "Am I really worth that much?", he thought.

"Besides," Lina said nudging Spectra's arm, "you couldn't get rid of me if you tried."

"You're right," Spectra chuckled.

"But you know, there is a place where we can be safe and together at the same time, if we took Alexa's offer," Lina suggested. "I know you don't really like humans, but they risked their lives to save us. I know we'd be safe with them."

Spectra looked straight into Lina's eyes, as if he were searching her soul. "Do you?", he asked. "I trust you, but I'm not sure that we can trust them. I know now that it was just to escape, but look at how easily Alexa left when we needed her."

"But it's like you said, she was pretending. She came back, and it's because she came back that I trust her. She would look out for us. Trust me," Lina prompted.

Spectra sighed, now knowing what Lina wanted. Of course he thought living with the humans would be better than roughing it, but he didn't want to admit it. "Okay, I'll take Alexa's deal," he said.

"Thank you," Lina said as she pulled him into another hug. However, something about the deal was still making Spectra uneasy. He knew, for his and Lina's sake, that he would have to keep a close eye on their new friends.