--- Espeon Day 10

All I know is that today is Monday. The boat had arrived to confirm my fact.

I had been eager to get on it as soon as possible but Aiden had objected, stating that while we were near one of the biggest shopping centres, we should stock up on stuff. Although I retaliated saying that we had no money, he claimed to have another way. A way, I knew, that would be slightly... illegal.

'But we need money to buy clothes!'

I had complained; quiet so that only he could hear. The shop was crowded but they weren't concentrating on us, just the rails and rails of coloured clothing.

'No one will miss a few scraps. Now shut up and act normal.'

He hissed at me, picking up a few pieces of clothing from the rails, only a small fraction of what some people took. And those people looked shiftier than us. Did he know if they fit? He seemed to be picking up only certain ones, but since when had Aiden known how to steal anyway?

I sulked, following close behind, arms crossed. No clothes interested me, I was happy in the ones I had, but Aiden had joked many times that people may get suspicious of a girl who has no interest in clothing. Humans were so materialistic.

Before we were at the entrance, Aiden picked up the security tag that was the link between this store and prison, and melted it with one, weak ember. My eyes widened, not with the act of theft he was committing, but that he still dared to use attacks. Our friendship took the strongest blow because of that and he still carried on? I looked at him, my face shocked but instead of smirking at me, as he usually did, he bit his lip, his eyes flashing confidence contrasting the panic I had in mine.

'What-are-you-doing?'

I asked slowly, my voice too loud in the shop. He looked up, checking to see if any workers had heard me, before replying.

'I can handle it. It's... it's just too natural a thing to let go. I'll be quick.'

This seemed too much like an addiction. I wanted to stop him but he had finished before I had figured out what to say. We walked out of the shop, my legs moving mechanically, my mind reeling. Could we control such compulsions? I had cut using attacks out of my life completely, for now, but I knew they were there, ready at my fingertips. Is it possible to be rid of them forever? Or would they force me into corruption?

Aiden kept walking, the clothing fluttering slightly at the pace he was walking at. Were they the root of evil? Aiden turned and smiled at me as we walked, a sign of reassurance, but it wasn't me who needed it most now...

***

The boat did not have a long queue. Most Pokémon trainers came from Mossdeep to Lilycove, not the other way round. Lilycove did have the main Pokémon contest arena after all, and the shopping centre of Hoenn. I was stiff in my new clothes, they were the right size amazingly, but the style was tight and I felt awfully exposed after my simple outfit from before. A skirt than barely went over my knees, the top that seemed to show every detail of my torso, and heels. Who could walk in them?

Forcing me forward, Aiden hadn't tried to change his style; he was in a t-shirt and jeans, the norm for most of the trainers I had seen. His hair however seemed more ruffled, the curls longer and stuck out in a mess. Running a hand through mine, the straight locks fell into order; I suppose I didn't have much trouble controlling it, although it was lilac.

I lay here now, on the cabin bed thinking. Aiden had gone with Flint to check out the battles on the top deck. We were on this boat for eight hours, checking round the ship there was a large hall with a few people in it, but nothing interesting. I intended to sleep away the time but my eyes refused to close, staring instead at the ceiling of the room. My thoughts kept me awake but this body was tired, the emotional stress always wearing it down. I was thirsty also but it was a dull scratch blocked out by the depth of my thoughts. I tried to relive my oldest memories but they had changed, twisted, blank before the end.

I left the cabin, hoping that a quick walk around may clear may head and allow me to feel tired again. I knew I had plenty of hours of sleep to catch up on. I must have stayed in my cabin longer than I thought for the hall I had passed before had been decorated with lights and there was some light music playing. It seemed sweet and as that appeared to be all that this ship contained, it did not have much to compete with. A hall, an outside deck and some cabins, well it was a free service, the likelihood was no one stayed long.

I crossed the floor, hearing the clack of my heels reach the wooden surface. I tried to move quickly but the sound just became louder. I sat at a stool on the other side, near the bar area, tugging my skirt over my knees.

'Drink?'

I jumped but realised it was just a man behind the bar. Smiling nervously I shook my head but immediately regretted it. The burn in my throat flared up at the mention of quenching it, but I didn't want to embarrass myself further by changing my mind. Acting normal... such fun. He shrugged and carried on clearing things up, obviously preparing for a kind of party.

***

The hall was packed full with people. It had only been a few hours but couples, groups and single people had crammed themselves onto the floor, the music changing from ambient to dance. I had stuck to my stool, watching the crowd curiously. The movements they made, there was such a trance like atmosphere to it, but I couldn't feel myself getting into it. There was no sign of Aiden, he would not feel the night's chill. He would be out there as long as possible.

'Hey, want a drink?'

I slowly turned my head to meet a new face. A girl, with neat, short, brown hair that seemed to spike slightly upwards. My thirst was gnawing away at me now so I nodded eagerly, afraid to hear the sound my voice would be. She smiled and ordered two drinks. Mine was strong smelling, light pink in colour. I was suspicious of it but soon I was past caring. I did not drink fast, but deep, my throat slowly warming with each sip, a salty aftertaste left with every taste. I realised quickly to not drink it all at once but savour it, the flavour too strong to take all at once.

'So what's your name? I'm Natasha.'

I was unsure whether to trust her but she gave me a drink and had been the only person so far to approach me. She seemed to be concentrating on the crowd as I had done but I was sure the question was aimed at me.

'Willow. Thank you for the drink.'

I was quiet, my voice weak after the burning thirst. Still, she heard me and turned to look at me, her lips stretching into a smile as she examined my hair.

'Why do you have purple hair? You a goth?'

I had heard those terms before, oddly the people in the woods of home used to refer to themselves as 'Braniac Steve' or 'Cue-ball Dave' but I shook my head, realising then that no one had asked me before.

'I like it this way.'

I finished my drink while she smiled, amused by my answer.

'Want to dance?'

Dance? By the looks of things, it was a fun, energetic activity but it was loud, and I was scared to get involved in the rabble.

She must have seen my expression because she quickly grabbed my hand and dragged me into the group, bringing me to the centre of it before I could protest. She let go of me and began moving her body in time to the music, copying the others around her. It was odd and as much as I tried, my body was too reluctant to move, restrained by my fear. Natasha laughed, causing me to smile at myself. Okay, so I wasn't a great dancer, but I didn't think that would be an issue.

'Come on, you party animal, let's go somewhere quieter.'

Relieved, I followed her anxiously. My mind was feeling a little lighter, my eyesight blurring at the sides but I didn't notice, thinking that I was just feeling the fatigue I had fought for so long.

'We could go to my cabin, it's pretty empty.'

My suggestion was just a thought but Natasha seemed pretty eager to get there. I grew groggier as we went further, my pace slowed and soon I had to rely on resting on the wall to stay upright. The hallway before my cabin door, she stopped and turned to face me, I looked at her but I couldn't think, everything was blurry. Her expression was odd, her eyes concentrated on mine. She took a step toward me and suddenly I felt alone, vulnerable. Aiden.

Before I was able to turn away and shout for help she had crushed her lips to mine. This felt wrong, but my mind was too fogged over to concentrate, to make my mind move. She kissed me furiously, trying to force me to the floor. I tried to push her off me but my arms felt heavy and I fell, feeling my lips being forced to kiss back.

Was this the way humans fell in love? They kissed, they knew that they belonged. I didn't feel anything but the weight of the girl on my chest, trying to undo my top. She threw my hands over her pulling herself forward. This was nothing like I had imagined with Aiden, this was more... desperate. More needed. But it was not her needing, it was mine. I needed to belong to something, to someone. If I didn't have Quiyelle, then I was just a wanderer. An aimless soul.

She undid my top and I was... I don't know. But this felt fake. The salt, the drink, fixed. Only could I make the connection now. I tried to loosen my grip of her but I couldn't, I couldn't move. I was at her mercy. Her weight was suddenly shifted off me, but I couldn't see what had happened. Only the ceiling again. The painful light...

'Glace-Glaceon-Ce!'

My senses suddenly snapped back into place. I needed to move. Get away from Natasha. The Pokémon beside me tried to help me as I struggled to stand up but I felt heavy, so it soon disappeared, leaving me on the ground. I turned my head slowly, glimpsing a look to where Natasha should have been. There was nothing. Was the glaceon's attack so powerful that it pushed her all the way down the hall, or had she just ran? I felt a burning hatred as I relived the last ten minutes; trust was a precious thing now. I had trusted her as a friend; I had trusted Aiden to help me. Where was he?

'Willow?'

Looking the opposite way I saw the glaceon and its trainer, it was Lyle. I smiled weakly, happy to see a familiar face.

'What happened? Where's that boy, Aiden, you normally travel with?'

I felt myself being pulled and leant against the wall. I realised I couldn't answer any of those questions. I didn't want to think about the first and the second, where had he been? Shouldn't we have stayed together?

Lyle helped me up, and supported me as I made my way into the cabin. I fell on the bed, feeling the tears well up in my eyes.

'I'm going to find Aiden, I will leave Belle with you, I will be back within a half hour whether I find him or not.'

I forced a smile on my face, fighting back the terror that I felt when he mentioned leaving. At least I had Belle with me but... where was Aiden? He was my only thought. Aiden. Why had he betrayed me? I heard the door shut as Lyle left and I curled onto my side, gripping the covers tight.

***

'Willow?'

Had it been a few minutes already? I was peaceful for a second before the memories came back and I shuddered. His face was very close to mine and he was near enough whispering in my ear.

'I'm so sorry Willow. Truly I am. I mean... sorry.'

He pulled away from me and turned to face, I presume, Lyle.

'Thanks, you can't imagine how much.'

'Where were you?'

I couldn't imagine that Pokémon battles would take up his whole evening, even Lyle would be surprised by that concept, but I couldn't think what else he could be doing. I didn't want to think anymore. It was a painful process. Too many terrors to go through.

'I was just held up. I guess I was longer than I thought.'

'You can say that again....'

The door closed silently, I think for my benefit but I was already too tired, no mere sound would stop this now. I drifted gently as the waves rolled beneath me but they were troubled too. Tossed with the oncoming of a storm...

---

Quite a long chapter but I feel I owe you as I have posted this at the very limit of the timescale. This was one of the hardest ideas to write but I only realised yesterday that I have only have a few ideas left before this can end, unless I go on after the mission. Hmm, I need to think about it.

Thank you

MoonLynx