23

[8:15. Route 7. Between Celadon and Saffron. The same day.]

Night crept on the group as two became three.

Saffron City was just beginning to light up. Molly could hear the sound of the city come to life. The dark storm clouds loomed overhead, threatening rain with every gust of wind. Molly looked to Miles who walked next to Vi, helping with the man's bad ankle.

"I really do appreciate you folks for taking the time out and helping me."

"It was nothing," Miles said. "I couldn't well live with myself if I didn't help people."

Molly's stomach clenched. It's like he was two different people. There was the Miles that helped her from the elevator and took the time to help Vi, but then there was the Miles who only thought of himself—a self-preservationist. It made her uneasy.

"Not too much longer now," Miles said. "If our luck holds, we should make it to the city by nightfall. Maybe check into a motel."

"Sounds good," Vi said. "I can help cover it."

"We'd appreciate that," Molly said.

"What is it you folks are doing? Yout two just get out of that death trap?"

Miles nodded. "I'm a firefighter. Got out when things got too hot. I found Molly here trapped in an elevator."

Vi laughed. "I knew it was smarter to take the stairs."

Miles added a chuckle. "Tell that to that ankle of yours."

"It's not as bad as it looks." He put weight on it and winced in pain. "Maybe it is."

"How'd you make it out this far from Celadon?" Molly asked.

Vi smiled. "Where there's a will, there's a way."

His smiled look forced. Molly observed their new companion and found him lacking. He looked too boyish for his age, like ha had spent his entire life goofing off before the world turned upside down. He was scrawny, though she had to concede that he did not look weak, merely battered. The burn on his face gave him a haunted look and his left eye would not open all the way; it would twitch uncontrollably and tear from time to time, usually after a gust of wind. He looked to be in a great deal of pain, and then there were his pokemon to think about.

"Are your pokemon alright? We have medicine," Molly offered. Vi waved her away.

"They're fine, thank you."

The kept walking in silence. The rain came first softly, then it picked up until the three pilgrims were forced to seek shelter. There was a small forest off the road. Inside the misty cool of the forest, they found shelter in a small cave.

"Son of a bitch." Miles said as he wrung out his shirt. Molly and Vi had gotten a small fire going in the cave with the help of Typhlosion. "Thought we might be able to race it. Guess we'll have to pick this back up when the rain stops."

"Sorry if I slowed you two down."

Miles laid out his shirt on the ground near the fire. In the orange glow, Molly could see several tattoos across his body. "Don't apologize," Miles said, "You'd be stuck out by that rock in the rain.

Vi sneezed. "Too true. I'm not a fan of that prospect."

Molly combed through her hair. "Well, it's not a hotel, but we've stayed in worse places recently."

"Amen," Miles said. He rooted through his packs for a couple of rations. He passed them out. Molly knew there were only two left. She and Vi each took one. "Tomorrow, we'll get something real to eat."

Molly stared at her ration. She didn't feel the hunger in her stomach. "You take this, Miles." She offered up the ration to the man. Miles laughed. "I'm good. You take it."

Molly knew that it was a losing battle. She hesitantly unwrapped the ration and began to eat. Quietly, Vi picked at his voraciously."

Miles peeked out of the mouth of the cave. "It doesn't look like this storm is gonna pass anytime soon. Might as well hunker up and get comfy."

Molly laid out her jacket on the ground near the fire. She posted her head on her pack and watched the rain fall. Miles had volunteered for first watch. She had been surprised when Vi offered to take it. Miles declined, and Vi looked too tired to fight the point. He told Miles he would have second watch. Miles agreed and pulled a rock in from outside the cave and sat down. Vi took a moment to remove his shoe and massage his ankle.

"Looks like it hurts." Molly said.

"What gave it away?" Vi asked.

She laughed and said nothing. "I'm sorry, I'm not usually this sarcastic."

Vyro returned the laugh with an empty smile. "No, of course not." He rubbed his ankle, trying to combat the swelling. "What were you doing in Celadon?"

She rolled over and traced invisible faces on the ceiling of the cave. "I was just passing through. Enjoying the culture. What Hoenn girl hasn't heard that Celadon is the Lilycove of Kanto? I was taking an extended vacation."

Molly noticed Vi softly smiling at her. "Not the best idea, in retrospect. What about you?"

Vi ran a hand over his leg and scooted closer to the dying fire. "I met a guy out of Vermillion that said he had a business proposition in Celadon. He was a very persuasive man."

Molly propped her head up with her hand. "You're a businessman?"

"I just take opportunities as they come." He seemed to choose his words very carefully. "The man was selling a new Celadon image. Bad time to enter the market if you ask me."

"I guess so."

Vi laid out a shirt from his pack and covered himself with what looked like a cape. Molly didn't judge his awful fashion sense. Celadon attracted all kinds.

"Goodnight, Molly."

When Molly awoke it was still raining. Night still gripped the predawn. Miles was snoring softly with his hands crossed over his chest. The fire was long dead, and the mouth of the cave smelled of smoke. Vi was nowhere to be seen. She rubbed her tired eyes and stretched her cramped body. Two days without a bed was taking its toll on her dainty back. Vi's things were still strewn where he left them

Molly shook Miles awake.

"Wha…Morning already?" He asked through a Pyroar's yawn.

"Vi's gone."

He sat up and squinted. "What?"

"Miles, he's gone. All his stuff's still here."

The firefighter cracked his neck. "The hell?" He threw on his coat and peeked out of the cave. It was still raining, and it showed no sign of stopping. "He's lost his damn mind."

Molly threw on her coat as well. "Maybe he saw something?"

Miles was halfway through lacing his boots. "I told him to wake me if he saw anything. Something's not right."

"Should we go look for him? Maybe he's in trouble."

"Like hell I'm gonna leave him out there. No telling what kind of psychos might be lurking in this forest."

Molly bit her lip and crossed her arms. "Like Harley and Garth?"

The man froze as he was leaving the cave. He turned and gripped Molly's arm so tight, she flinched and tried to pull away, but she could not pull free from his vicegrip.

"Let go of me. You're hurting me," she said.

Miles thought for a moment, then released his grip. "This is different and you know it."

He left the cave, throwing up the collar of his coat. Molly massaged her upper arm; she could still feel Miles's strong hand press into her skin.