Chapter 24

I stepped into the underbrush. The cameras on the side of the building adjusted ever so slightly, lens focusing in and out. Except for the storm raging outside, sand pecking away at the bulletproof glass dome, the garden was silent. No pokemon. No humans. Just the obnoxious sound of cameras pivoting on their rusting metal arms.

I ducked lower quickly, mimicking the movement of having my legs swept out from underneath me. The cameras followed my movement to a key, almost as if they were tied to me by a long strand of fishing wire. I was the center of attraction for more than twenty cameras. These were the only ones within range of eyesight. The others were probably focusing in and out past the mist that settled over the stadium like a blanket to get a better look. The mist masked how tall the dome was, but from what I could tell, it was probably large enough to accommodate several Groudons carrying Wailords on their backs. That didn't mean it was hard to find and pinpoint my location.

It had been a full week since Ein and his comrades had abducted me and forced me to live here at the Shadow Pokemon Lab. From the morning to the evening my days were filled with non-stop effort at finding my way to freedom. The first two or three days I thought it was easy to creep past scientists and pokemon trainers. It was almost like they were doing their best to ignore me and look the other way when I was tip toeing from wall to wall, room to room. That was before I realized that this building had cameras. Everywhere. At three three per wall. Some were easy to spot: the ones in the garden were the old devices that scanned the room left and right with lazy, systematic sweeps of the room. Others were just pinpricks on the wall that could barely see much besides anyone that walked right in front of them. They had seemed harmless.

Until they started following me.

It had just been today, the week anniversary of when I had been captured, that they kept their attention in my direction. Wherever I went, no matter how well I was hidden, the cameras were set on me like a hungry cat on a caged bird. The reason why this sudden change escaped me. I had been doing Ein's tests without defiance nor complaint. His tests were simple. Sometimes he had me run on a treadmill with wires taped across the crown of my head. Other times he would administer sight and hearing tests. The most bizarre of his tests had been the day he had asked me to try and read his mind or lift small objects without touching them. I had expected being cut open and experimented on, but what he had for me was a much better alternative. Hence why I was so compliant.

The cameras made it hard to feel comfortable in this building. Not that it had been comfortable to start. They provided me meals, clothes, toiletries, and whatever I had asked for. I had a room, a bathroom, a view of outside and several other nice effects, but I was still a captive. A hostage. I was still trapped here against my will with no foreseeable escape. And now, with hundreds of eyes on me, the feeling of being a prisoner only intensified.

Regardless of being prisoner, Ein had no problem allowing me to explore the building. It had taken four days to see everything the five floors of the building had to offer. Offices, dining halls, storage closets, bathrooms, bedrooms, even classrooms. Almost all of them had someone in it, but to my surprise, none of them contained pokemon. That meant they kept them elsewhere. And where else could that be? Obviously, the basement, which no one allowed me see. There had been times I had tried to snatch passes from Ciphers only to find them attached by uncuttable wires or hitch rides down only to board and be escorted out at ground level. It was impossible to get down there.

I stood up, brushed off the dew from my sweater, and started back to the door. Though my eyes were set on the path, I could see the cameras following me out of the corners of my eyes. Even when I shut the door and rolled the blinds, I knew they were still focused on me.

I started down the hallway. The instant my foot touched the wooden floor, every camera nearly broke off their mounts to look my way as quickly as they could manage. There weren't people behind these cameras controlling them. Somehow, these devices were detecting where I was. It could've been something they put on my clothes. It could've been the sound of my footsteps. Whatever it was, I didn't like it.

The watch on my wrist sounded three bells twice. It was time for Ein's daily checkups. I'm glad I was in the garden instead of my room or else I would've been late. One hallway to the left and across a wide room later, I was in the testing room.

I stopped at the doorway. Ein stood in the center of the room holding a skarmory feather that billowed and breathed the Haze. It was so thick, his hands were masked behind the layer of darkness. The shadow bled to the floor where it curled around Ein's feet idly before making one full rotation and shooting straight to Serenity, who stood beside him.

There was no longer any lines or markings on her body. She was nothing but a black silhouette with pulsing red eyes and bright yellow teeth. When I entered, she wheeled on me, horns now long and corkscrewed to a fine tip. Her tail was barbed with what looked like thick black knives. The end of her tail had become a club that resembled a qwilfish. Every ounce of Haze that fell from the sword was absorbed by her like a giant magnet.

"What have you done to her…?" I whispered. Ein turned to me, unaffected by the look of heartbreak on my face. The sword in his hands pulsed as a smile crept up his face.

"Good to see you could make it," Ein replied with no intent of explaining. "How do you like your sword?"

"That's not my sword." The words came out of my mouth before I processed what I wanted to say in response. For a brief moment, a look of surprise crossed Ein's face. Was… was that really my sword? Serenity was suddenly looking agitated, almost like she was waiting for Ein's permission to strike me. She stood between the two of us, lips permanently pulled back over her gums in preparation.

"Nonsense. Come here." Watching carefully to make sure the dragon pokemon didn't lunge at me, I approached Ein. The closer to them I got, the colder the temparature dropped. My air plumed out in front of me. The air grew thick around me.

He held out the sword to me. The cold that seeped off the onyx blade raised the hair on my arms and legs. Ein and my thick breath was being sucked in by the sword completely. It was like the sword was sucking in whatever came near, converted it to Haze, and spat it out. "Take this. It's been redesigned for you."

I paused to think, eyes running up and down the blade. "I think I'm going to pass on that." For the first time since I'd arrived, the look of evil intent appeared on Ein's face. That was quickly replaced by the high-end neutral look he always had about it.

"It will not hurt you," he said softly. "I know, to you it must look like some sort of dastardly device, but it's really just a sword. Just your sword. Just a better version of it. This one can actually cut people."

"That's because 'this one' isn't my sword," I replied.

"Just touch it." He was clearly getting impatient. Deciding it was best not to tick him off too much, I reached forward in an attempt to prod it with my index finger. As soon as my hand entered the smoke that thickly shrouded the weapon, the shadows lurched for me and took a strong grip on my wrist. Screeching, I back peddled as fast as my legs allowed on the slippery tile floor before stepped out of the doorway and pressing myself on the wall outside. The tendrils of Haze that had grabbed me broke free and returned to their nest, hissing softly.

"What the hell?!" I shouted, grabbing my wrist and examining it. The tiny fingers of shadow had left tiny pricks were they had touched. Three tiny holes, forming a straight loop around my wrist, started to bleed softly.

"It'll only hurt for a second," Ein promised, stepped closer. "All we need is both hands on the sword for two minutes. Then you can leave here."

"What will it do to me?" I questioned. I paused. "Is… is that the thing that's been making all the Shadow Pokemon?" The scientist leaped at me and slashed from right to left. If it wasn't for my killer reflexes, I would've been halved like the wall behind me. It had been cut so clean that there didn't seem to be a cut at all. I skidded to a stop down the hallway that took me opposite the garden, slowly stepping backwards. Ein and Serenity stepped out from the room. I couldn't decide which of their faces looked more malevolent.

"You've proven nothing but useless to our case," the scientist explained. The shadows around the sword started gathering around him. "No special abilities, no growth in strength, it was like babysitting a superhero that got their powers from their suits. You're worthless to us as you are. Let me end this nonsense right now!" He slashed again, lower than before. I hopped out of the way and stepped a few paces further back. I hadn't told him about the golden bubbles, so I could see where he thought I was useless. Without my sword, I was nothing more than a young girl. So I did what any young girl would do.

I turned and ran.

"Come back here!" Ein's shrill voice hollered. "You! Get her!" Even from far away I could hear the hoarse sound of Serenity chuckling.

I started down the hall and up the stairs faster than I thought possible. I toppled people over holding crates or clipboards. There were a few times I'd grab bottles of water and toss them on the ground in an attempt to slow Ein. He was close behind but the obstacles worked to subdue him for the time being. It wasn't him that was to be fear most, however. Whenever he neared me, tendrils of shadow grabbed at my clothes and my skin, pricking me like needles and leaving behind numb sections of skin that warmed only when I slapped them with my hands. By the time I reached my room, my back was red and sweat trickled down the sides of my head. I slammed the door shut and shoved the bedframe with the mattress against it to keep them from entering. It worked.

"You little wrench," Ein hollered from the other side. "You're cornered in there! As soon as I open this door, you will join your pokemon with open arms! Jump out the window if you please! If you die, it won't hinder me!" The sound of heavy footsteps followed his words.

I stacked the door with everything I could find. Chairs, the mini sofa, even the shower curtain. Whatever to weigh it down so it took him longer to get to me. But where could I go? How could I escape? Dammit, I could've used my bubbles to get out of the window. But the storm was too strong to risk it, I'd still just fall to my death. There was nothing to do but sit there, curl up against the wall, and cry. And boy did I cry. Sure, no one would care that their test specimen was going to turn into a Shadow like the pokemon she knew and loved years ago, but it was worth a shot. I shouted help and fire and even things like I had a family. Nobody came to my aid.

There was no way out.

I backed myself up against the wall and wailed in savage sorrow. Tears fell down my face and puddled at the floor in a neverending stream. I bit my tongue and pinched my arm. Nope, this wasn't a nightmare. Maybe jumping out the window would work. Sand was pretty soft. If I aimed for a tall dune, there was a chance of survival. Yet every part of me was beginning to fail. My fingers twitched and my body was shivering in cold fear. If I didn't faint from shock, then I would faint from hyperventilation.

Two arms grabbed me from behind. One wrapped an elbow around my throat, the other covered my hand with a thick glove. I froze. This was it. This is how I died. They were going to snap my neck and toss me out the window. Even if it was nearby, the sand would cover my body enough to where I'd never be seen again. So I went limp, leaned my head flat on the sill of the window, and let the tears flow. Whimpering escaped me.

"Rui," my captor whispered. "Psst. Open your eyes." It took effort to pass the shield of water that blocked my vision, but I did as told. A few blinks and wipes on my sleeve later and I saw him.

Wes had come to save me. His expression was worried. "Are you hurt? What's going on?" I was so baffled that he was there, leaning above me from out the five story window, that I was at a loss for words. He started gently patting my cheek. "Am I too late? Rui?" Tears started running down my cheeks again. I grabbed him and hugged him from his awkward upside-down angle, sobbing softly.

"Thank Arceus," I whispered. "You're… you're really here." He hugged me back.

"I'm here," he said softly. "Now let's get you out of here." He jumped into the room and lifted me to his feet. Outside the window, Duking, Silva, and Fateen were riding on the back of a pidgeot. I blinked at them, surprised.

"Glad to see you, too!" Duking called, sitting directly behind Fateen, who controlled the giant bird by grabbing the nape of her neck. "Might want to hurry up! We've got some ground to cover!"

"My sword," I realized. Wes glanced back at me.

"They still have it." he guessed. The look in my eyes confirmed his fears. "Silva, Duking. We need your help." The two of them hopped into the room.

"I will circle the building," Fateen called over the growing sandstorm. "When you need me, whistle, scream, make a bunch of noise. I will find you." Then her pokemon dove downwards.

"You won't leave this place alive!" Ein called from the other side of the door. Wes' eyes nearly caught on fire from the look of sheer hate in them. He took my hand, squeezing it between his warm hands protectively. Then, adjusting the snag sleeve on his arm so his fists were fully revealed, he walked up to the pile of furniture and crossed his arms. I put my hands on his shoulders and looked around him.

It took Ein one, two, five times of ramming the door before the furniture gave way. The scientist, face red from anger and exhaustion, stumbled in. He barely had time to realize what was going on before he stumbled into Wes, who punched him in the face. Blood splattered and teeth fell to the floor like confetti. The scientist was so taken aback by the hit he crumpled to the floor and kicked himself backwards where the door lie flat on the ground.

His nose had been broken and hung almost flat against his face. A stream of blood trickling out of both corners of his lips and dripped to the floor, giving him the look of a vampire. The dazed look in his eyes confirmed he was not fully there with us. Wes grabbed him by the collar and lifted him in the air, cocking another fist by his side. Suddenly, Ein's face cleared.

"I know you." Wes paused, waiting to strike. "You're the boy who joined us when you were young, just a boy. I remember that." The golden-eyed trainer narrowed his eyes. "Oh, yes. The boy who needed to prove he was part of Team Snagem. Do you remember how you were finally accepted? Finally promoted as an admin?"

"Shut up," Wes hissed through gritting teeth.

"You had to steal a pokemon." Ein smiled and blood fell from his mouth like a floodgate. "The dratini of a little girl in Saffron City, correct?"

Pokemon Author Mew Ike Has Returned From Break!

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