I ran full pelt into the clearing, Brock and Nurse Joy right behind flashed through my mind, none of them good. Kuro injured, kuro dead. Ash injured, Ash you might think hats a bit much. But that building was making me feel odd. I mean, I'm a coordinator. I like the cute, stylish appeals of polemon. Not this. Besides, when I reached the clearing my fears were confirmed.

It was empty. There was no sign of Ash or kuro only things that moved were the petals kuro had fallen into earlier. They swirled around in the wind, round and round, hypnotising me. I could smell the heavy scent of roses in the air. Roses were my mums favourite flowers. Glameow and I used to sit with her as she worked in the garden, tending to her plants. But now they just made me feel ill.

Footsteps came from behind me as Nurse Joy came over o stand by my side.

"I thought you said your friends were here, "she said "You told me they were injured. So where are they now?"

"How would I know?" I snapped. It wasn't like me, but I was feeling pretty insecure right now. No need to worry, I told myself. No need to worry.

"They were here when we left them," Brock told her. "One of them, Kuro, was unconscious, so we went to find you. And now, well, they're gone."

I walked over to where we had left them. Crouching down, I studied the floor and noticed things I hadn't noticed before. Part of the grass was scorched and blackened. I recognised that. That's how my bike had looked after Pikachu had finished with it. Pikachu.

"Come here," I called to the others.

They came up and I pointed to the scorch marks.

"Pikachu did that," I said, certain.

"Then they were probably attacked," said Brock gravely. He got up and studied the surrounding area. Walking over to a large tree, he stopped and motioned to the grass near it.

"Blood," he told us, looking worried. "Someone must have been hurt."

I felt sick. Nurse Joy put a hand to her mouth looking horrified.

"Should I call Officer Jenny?" she asked him.

"No!" I yelled, hysterical. They looked at me in confusion.

"Why not?" Nurse Joy asked "This is obviously a serious situation!"

"Why would we call Officer Jenny? Isn't it obvious?" I said, my voice as shrill as a Zubat's. "What I think is that kuro and Ash were taken! By the Old Chateau spirits!"

They looked at me oddly but I didn't care. I felt weak and scared senseless. I just wanted to find my friends. Fast. I turned and ran towards the mansion.

"Dawn, wait!" Brock called after me. I ignored him and kept running until I felt a pair of arms grab me and pull me back.

"Dawn dear, listen," Nurse Joy told me gently "Even if your friends were taken, it's no use just running in there like that."

"Then what?" I wailed in despair. I couldn't just leave! But what can I do? I'm just a rookie coordinator. Im no use.

"Well what can I do?" I repeated "Who can help? Who's an expert on ghosts?"

I didn't expect an answer, so I was surprised when brock looked thoughtful.

"There is one person I know," he said slowly.

"Who?" both me and Nurse Joy asked at once.

"Morty," he replied "Gym leader of Ecruteak city, in Johto."

I saw Nurse Joy frown.

"Johto is a long way off. How will you get there?"

"Oh, we will," I told her. I wasn't going to give up. "There's no need to worry. Were going to Johto!"