Warning:There's a bit of graphic violence implied in this chapter. Just a heads up.

Chapter 19:Psychic's Lament

The realization had hit me harder than a bullet. I wanted to stand up, kick him to the ground, and rip out his spine. I was THAT mad. I was surprised at myself for keeping a poker face.

I had to say it."You're her old trainer."

"Yeah, so what? Answer the damn question, dumbfuck."I must have had the patience of a saint.

"Go away,"I said calmly, looking forward and away from him. You cannot imagine how pissed he was.

"I said answer the question, you stupid bastard,"he snarled.

"Why did you treat her the way you did?"I asked suddenly, keeping my tone calm.

"How do you know?"he asked me.

"Telepathy,"I replied right off the bat."So?"He rolled his eyes.

"That pathetic little bitch isn't worth anything,"he said dismissively."Just kill it off."

That tore it.

XXXX

Ken stood up and gave Jack a cold glare that could have even made Mewtwo flinch. The anger I sensed from him gave me a sick feeling in my stomach. I didn't think it was possible for him to even GET that angry...

"You have five seconds,"his voice dripped with venom as he spoke. I was beginning to feel a bit scared of him.

"Or what?"Jack challenged with that chilling smirk of his. I could never forget that smirk...

"Or I'll do one of three things,"Ken continued."One:I'll choke you to death with your own intestines after tearing them out of you."Jack blinked, that cold smirk disappearing."Two:I'll rip your arms off and beat you to death with them."He grabbed Jack by the collar and pulled him him close, their faces only inches away from each other."Or three, my personal favorite."A bone-chilling grin spread across Ken's face. I had to resist flinching at the sight of it."I crack your skull open and tear your brain out piece by piece until I find the part responsible for sentient thought and CRUSH IT UNDER MY FOOT!"He screamed the last part furiously right in Jack's face, which made his eyes widen. Was I dreaming? I had never seen Ken, or anyone, for that matter, so...angry. The sheer hate I sensed from him, it reminded me of that horrible time I spent as a Shadow Pokemon.

Jack took a deep breath, pulled away from Ken's death grip, and then turned around and walked away. Ken just glared after him, and I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. While the ordeal had scared me, I couldn't help but wonder why Ken acted that way. Did he...did he really care that much about me? So much that he would make such terrible threats? While I haven't been travelling with them for very long, I knew Ken pretty well by now. He wasn't one to make idle threats, which is what scared me the most.

I looked to the door that lead to the back room to see the others staring at Ken with wide eyes and open mouths. Oh, dear...

XXXX

I glanced to the side, noticing the others all staring at me. Zephyr was actually cowering behind Zapperton. I can't believe how much that hurt to see. I looked away and down at my fists, slowly unclenching them. I abrubtly turned away from them and swiftly ran out of the Center.

XXXX

The others all looked at me questioningly, eyes still wide.

"What in blazes just happened?"Psyche asked, both looking and sounding shocked as they came over to me.

"Who was that guy, Serenity?"Fang asked, glancing at Jack, who was sitting across the room and staring at us coldly."And what'd he do to piss Ken off so bad?"

"He's...my old trainer,"I said weakly. They blinked in unison.

"Ah, that would explain it,"Wrath said.

"No wonder he was so furious,"COREM said.

"Is he gonna be okay?"Zephyr asked.

"Maybe someone should go talk to him,"Fang suggested.

"You sure that's a good idea?"Zaps asked."After all that, he'd probably want some alone time."He looked at Anubis."Hey, Anubis. You've known him longer than the rest of us. What do you think we should do?"Anubis crossed his arms.

"I dunno,"he admitted."I've NEVER seen him get that angry. Not even before our adventure started."There was a moment of silence as we thought of what to do.

XXXX

"...I'll go talk to him,"Serenity said quietly. The team looked at her.

"You sure?"Anubis asked.

"Yeah, I'm sure,"she said, standing up."I'll be back soon."With that, she ran out the door after their trainer. The pokemon looked amongst themselves for a moment, then noticed the teen in black standing up as well. Without so much as a glance in their direction, he walked out, a scowl on his face. Their eyes narrowed.

"Zaps,"Psyche said, glaring at the exit.

"I'm on it,"the Electivire responded, quickly running after them.

XXXX

I looked back and forth as I walked through the city. I wish I had some idea where to find him. I stopped and closed my eyes, trying to sense where he was...there! He was sitting on a bench a few buildings away and around a corner. I opened my eyes and started to walk forward, but was stopped by a hand grabbing my shoulder. The hand spun me around and I froze.

It was...Jack.

"Since that idiot trainer of yours isn't the smart enough to get rid of you, I'm going to do him a favor,"he sneered at me. I started trembling. I...I couldn't move. I was paralyzed with fear. He grabbed me and threw me into an alley, where I landed on my back. I wanted to scream, but I couldn't find my voice. All those terrible memories began flooding back as he walked towards me, pulling out a pokeball. He released Reptis, a very cruel Arbok who had nearly squeezed me to death multiple times. He grinned at me nastily, flicking his tongue.

"Heh, and here I thought you died when you tried your little essscape attempt,"he hissed, slowly advancing on me."You know, the bossss actually liked it when you ssshowed sssome ssspine and tried to attack him."

"I-I w-w-w-wasn't in my r-r-r-right m-m-mind then,"I managed to stutter out.

"Obviousssly,"the poisonous snake said, rolling his eyes.

"You hungry, Reptis?"Jack asked with a smirk. The snake nodded, looking at me hungrily. Oh no..."You've been dying to eat her for a while now, haven't you?"Reptis hissed loudly, and I scurried back as much as I could, only to hit a wall."Go right ahead. But be sure to take your time. I want to see her face when you take that first bite."He laughed hysterically, as if the whole thing was just some cruel, sick joke. It probably was to him. Reptis slithered towards me slowly, looking at me hungrily. I tried to concentrate so that I could teleport away from the sadistic snake, but as soon as we made eye contact, I froze, unable to focus. It...it was his hypnotism! I had fallen for this so many times by now! How could I not immune to it?

"Now, now, jussst relax,"he hissed soothingly."Thisss won't hurt a bit."

'Ken, help me, please!'I thought desperately, then I noticed someone standing behind Jack. Was that...no. He was far too big. Who was that?

XXXX

Jack felt a large finger tap him on the shoulder. He turned around just in time to see something yellow and black just before a giant fist connected with his jaw, sending him flying about 4 feet back with a shout of pain. Reptis quickly turned around to see his trainer lying on the ground in front of him, groaning. Serenity, now free of the Arbok's hypnotism, took a good look at her savior.

"Z-Zapperton!"she cried out. The Electivire cracked his knuckles as Reptis lunged at him angrily. With reflexes that instantly put the Arbok to shame, his arm snapped forward and he grabbed Reptis by the neck. Before the poison snake could even blink, Zaps sent a powerful surge of electricity through him before tossing him onto his trainer. Serenity quickly ran past them and up to the electric thief, who looked down at her with a raised eyebrow.

"How many time do I hafta tell you and the others that only the Boss can call me that?"he asked rhetorically. Serenity smiled.

"Thank you, Zaps,"she said gratefully. He nodded, looking back at Jack and Reptis, who had gotten up to glare at him.

"Go find the boss,"he said, stepping forward."I'm gonna have some fun with these punks, see?"She nodded, then quickly ran off. Zaps' tails crackled with electricity as his eyes narrowed."So, you like picking on helpless little girls, do ya? Let's see how you like THIS!"He charged forward, fist reared back and readying an Ice Punch.

XXXX

I buried my face in my hands as I tried to calm down and steady my blood pressure. Taking a deep breath, I leaned back on the bench I was sitting on, looking up at the sky. It was around noon, if the sun's position was any indication.

"Ken?"

I quickly looked forward, seeing Serenity standing just a few feet away from me.

"Serenity?"I asked."What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see if you were okay,"she told me, walking over and sitting down next to me."Are you?"

I sighed."I've been better."She didn't say anything for a moment.

XXXX

"...His name is Jack,"I said quietly. I decided not to tell him about the incident. I didn't want him getting angry again. Ken looked at me in confusion, then blinked.

"Oh,"he said, looking forward."...I'm sorry you had to see that."

"Hmm?"

"My anger,"he clarified, sighing."It's just...when I think about all the possible things he could've done to you, I just...it makes me sick."He gave me a regretful look."I hate that I can be so short-tempered sometimes."

"But you can't help it,"I reasoned."After all the things you've been through in your life, it's amazing that you can bring yourself to like any human."He looked down at the ground. I shuffled nervously and blushed a little."Besides, I think it's really sweet that you care that much about me."

He blinked again and looked at me."Of course I care about you. I care about you and the whole team. We're a family."I looked down in thought. Was that it? Did he just see me as a little sister or something? This thought depressed me for some reason. But why? It didn't make much sense. I did't like him like that...did I?

But...now that I think about it, when Reptis had me cornered, I had instantly thought of Ken. I wanted to see him come running in and rescue me. Did I really feel that way about him? No, of course not. That was impossible.

...Right?

XXXX

"...And then I came back here,"Zapperton finished, having explained what had happened to the rest of the team.

"We don't think we should tell Ken about this,"Wrath said.

"Yeah, if he found out about it, he'd probably tear the city apart looking for that guy,"Fang remarked. The others nodded.

"Then it's settled,"Psyche said."Mums the word on the whole ordeal."

"Who's Mom are we talking about?"Zephyr asked.

"It means we don't tell Ken about this,"COREM said."Understood, brother? It'll be our little secret."

"Okay!"

"Quiet, they're coming!"Anubis hushed, seeing Ken and Serenity walk in. Serenity looked at the team with a somewhat worried expression. They all smiled and nodded at her, and she smiled gratefully. Of course, Ken noticed the whole exchange.

XXXX

"Is there something you guys aren't telling me?"I asked. They all paused.

"Ummm,"Anubis mumbled.

"Why do you hafta be so smart?"Fang muttered.

I shrugged."Well, you guys must have a good reason, so I won't pry."They all sighed in relief, which confused me, but like I said, I wasn't going to grill them."So, what do you say we head to the gym?"

XXXX

End of Chapter

Hmm, looks like Serenity has some thinking to do.