6.5
[4:10 PM. Outside Campion Octavius's Seaside Villa. Cianwood City. The same day.]
There were no lights on inside the villa.
Normally a very even tempered man, Octavius could not help but feel the rapid beating of his aging heart. With practiced determination, the historian calmed his heart with several deep breaths, finding his center. Just as Master Sobi had taught him, all those years ago.
"There is something malevolent inside that house," Santiago said, his hand reflexively moving towards the hilt of his sword. "You are not alone, Master Octavius."
"I feel it too," the rock master said. "But this is my fight—with Huck gone with Gaap to Celadon, I need you here to act as the interim Gym Leader. Those fools from Indigo are dangerous, perhaps dangerous enough to strike at Johto as well. Stay behind, comfort the people of my home."
"Master—"
"I command you, Santiago."
Santiago bowed and made his way south to the Pokemon center.
Octavius's house rested cliff-side, help up by massive supports with a winding stair case to the deck and front door. He took the first step, then the second, then the third. The door to the house was ajar. A massive black bird was perched on the railing of the deck. It regarded Octavius, tilted its head, ruffled its feathers, and let out a deep caw. Octavius stepped in the house. The smell of death permeated the interior. He heard a door slowly creak and click towards the rear of the house. He stepped into the kitchen. Everything was in place, save for a brown leather briefcase that rested next to the sink.
Footsteps.
Octavius reached for a pokeball, gripped it tightly in his old, worn hand. A man of about fifty with a thick moustache, brown hat and coat, stepped into the carpet of light that flooded in from the front door. The man removed his gloves and put them in his coat pocket, looked down, and sighed.
"I'm terribly sorry for your loss."
Outside, the black bird screeched against the roar of the tide.