A/N: Sorry that I didn't update this on Saturday like I usually do. That's what happens when you work on two stories at the same time. Also, I got retainers today! They feel weird in my mouth, though.

Juster of Rivia: Well, I hope you got more things to say on this chapter. Reviews are always welcomed!

Ritsu: It's okay! XD

Clemont could feel himself panicking internally as he struggled against the bonds that held him. Why was he even tied up in the first place? From all the stories he's been told about the deaths within the Lewis Manor the murderer would kill their victims the first chance they get. So, why was he still alive? And where was Bonnie? Was she still alive?! Thoughts of his sister were what helped him to continue struggling. But due to his lack of physical strength, it became a long process. Again, why was he tied up?!

He almost considered giving up on wiggling his way out and tried to figure out a different method when he heard it.

A small click.

Then the doorknob slowly turned to it's right. It was almost disturbing at how slow it was going. Like someone was taking their sweet elegant time trying to terrify him. And it was definitely working if he could feel his heart pounding out of his chest.

The door finally opened after what seemed like an eternity. And standing before him was a familiar face, but at the same time, it wasn't.

"Ash!"

The boy that stood in the door did look like Ash. From his raven mess of a hair right down to those strange markings on his cheeks. However, his skin had gotten so pale from everything that happened inside this horrible place, a complete contrast to his regular mocha skin tone. The once amber eyes that were so filled with life, determination, and support had lost their glow. Now, they have dulled down to the point he couldn't even see his own reflection in them anymore.

Ash just cocked his head slightly to the side. Apparently, seeing his friend in this type of situation didn't affect him at all since he did nothing but stand there in the doorway. Remembering Serena's words awhile back he immediately stiffens. This wasn't his best friend standing before him, it was the murderer. But, for a moment, he thought he could see the old Ash within those lifeless eyes but it was gone before he could fully comprehend it.

"Ash, can you hear me?" when the boy gave no type of response he tried again. "Come on, Ash! I know you wouldn't just give up to something like this, fight it!"

Ash's face slowly changes at that. But while Clemont was expecting to see some of the real Ash, the Ash in front of him just gave him a small smirk before he drifted his gaze upwards for a moment.

Confused, Clemont looked up to where his possessed friend was looking at and his heart immediately stops.

A noose was hanging in the air above him, looking completely harmless but Clemont knew its true intentions.

He should have recognized this closet. It was the same closet he and the girls found Ash in, hanging by the same noose around his neck.

The intentions became so clear to him that he almost didn't notice the noose knot dropping down to his level and Ash taking ahold of it. He finally screamed for his life when Ash was about to put the rope around his neck.

"Ash, don't!" he stopped, thankfully, but he didn't know how long that would last. "Ash, please listen to me. I know you, you would never do something like this! Not to your friends, not to anyone! You have to fight this, Ash! You wouldn't this thing kill all of your friends, right?!"

That small smirk came back. It was so unlike the Ash he knew and it was almost sickening to look at.

Then he spoke in a voice that sent shivers down his spine.

"Are you really sure he would never kill a friend?"

Clemont didn't know how to respond to that. He couldn't even understand what he meant by that, anyway. Ash actually considering the possibility of killing any of his friends was an idea that shouldn't exist. But, what if it was true? He didn't know what Ash was thinking anymore, his whole entire personality was slowly demolishing the longer they stayed in this horrible place. Maybe the murderer was able to understand what Ash was thinking right now and he could hear Ash's possible idea of killing of his friends for not believing him.

What in the world was he thinking?! Ash actually considering the idea of killing his friends? That's completely outrageous! This murderer was probably trying to trick him into thinking that so he could give up hope on Ash. But there was no way he was giving up on Ash. After all, Ash never gave up on any of them before.

But before he could say anything, Ash had already tied the rope around his neck.

"No! No, no, no, no! Ash, please don't do this! Don't let this thing do this! Fight it! Ash! Ash!"

Ash just backed away from him after securing the rope tightly, his horrible smirk never leaving his face once as he steps aside until he was facing the helpless lemon-haired boy's side. He drew his right leg back.

"ASH, PLEASE!"

And he kicked the bucket out from underneath Clemont, leaving him dangling in the air by his neck.

The first thing Clemont registered was the sudden lack of oxygen coming into his lungs and started to gasp for it. When that didn't work he tried to claw at the rope but he was quickly reminded that his hands were tied behind his back, leaving him only able to kick helplessly air as his lungs practically burned for the precious oxygen to come back.

Through his sizzling tears, he saw a figure come in front of him. Despite his fading vision - even with the glasses - Clemont knew who this figure was. After all, he was the one to kick the bucket from underneath him.

"A...A...sh... As...sh... H...He...lp..."

He didn't know what happened after that - his vision had darkened at that point and he knew he was in trouble. However, he thought he heard something in the midst of his suffering. Strange, it sounded like someone was grunting as if they were in a middle of a physical battle. Who would be brawling in this awful place?

"Clemont!"

Suddenly, he felt something lift him up higher than the rope that was so close to taking away his life. The moment the rope became loose Clemont immediately took in all the air he could grab. However, his short reunion was ruined when he realized something; how was he able to breathe when the rope was still around him?

"Clemont, get that rope off!"

Clemont's eyes slowly widen once he realized what was happening. Ash had hoisted him up by putting the young blonde on his shoulders. Then again, he really isn't surprised by that; Ash was always physically stronger than him. But what surprised him was that Ash was actually helping him. Wasn't he the one who caused this to happen?

"Clemont, please! I can't fight them off and hold you up at the same time!"

Oh, wrong Ash.

Clemont immediately took hold of the rope - he didn't even realize that his hands were free from his back at first, maybe Ash must have freed them before he hoisted Clemont up - and ripped it off his head faster than Pikachu's thunderbolt. After taking a few deep breaths, he tapped Ash's head to know that he was freed.

The raven-haired boy gently set him down on the ground beside him, right out of the closet where they hopefully will never have to see again. He could feel him patting his back while Clemont coughed due to the itchiness from the rope and sudden lack of oxygen for a split moment. But then the hand disappeared and loud groans somehow overlapped his own coughs.

Daring himself to look, Clemont slowly turns his head and the sight caught him off his guard. Ash was on his knees, his back arched in a frightening way as he tried to curl himself up as much as he could. His arms were wrapped around himself and gripped his night robe, shirt, and possibly his skin as tight he was able to as if he was trying and relieving himself from the inner pain he was in.

He couldn't help but wince when a small scream erupted from Ash's throat. It was clear that Ash was possibly using all of his willpower right now to fight off the murderous spirit that was inside him and with everything that happened it probably had taken it's toll on him and his willpower to fight back. Why else would Ash's body tremble like he's about to have a convulsion?

"Ash...?" Clemont reached a hand in some way to comfort him.

"C-Clemont," he froze when he heard the strained and trembling voice of the Ash he knew. "G-Get as far away from me as you can, f-find the girls, a-and get out of this place..."

Clemont couldn't believe what he was hearing. "What?! Ash, there's no way the girls and I are going to abandon you!"

"P-Please," his voice became high-pitched at that, showing how close Ash was to losing this battle. "I-I can't fight them for long. J-Just get out of here!"

Clemont froze. Them?

He shook his head. "Ash, I'm not gonna leave you alone with this thing inside-"

"Go away, Clemont!"

Ash had whipped his head around to face him, trying to convince the young genius to leave him alone. But what Clemont saw horrified him; one of Ash's eyes was stuck in-between of going into his head or remaining where it originally was. Dripping from the corner of his mouth was this strange black liquid. That's the same substance we found on his pillow right after he disappeared, Clemont thought.

"Please, just go!"

Clemont was pulled out of his thoughts when Ash roughly pushes him away. It took a few seconds for the message to get fully across his mind before he brought himself up to his feet and made a run for it. While he may like it or not, Clemont knew Ash was right. He couldn't keep fighting the spirit forever. Not to mention it clearly looked it was also physically painful for Ash to fight back. His body had no idea who it should listen so that inner battle was affecting it as well. Maybe it would be best for him to leave Ash until he finds the others.

So, the young genius was off, leaving behind his possessed friend - who had risen his head up and his blank white eyes were staring into the direction the blonde went off to.

"And, there!" Bonnie stood up proudly after previously sitting down. "You're wound has been properly bandaged by Doctor Bonnie! I would have given you a lollipop, but I ate the last one a few days ago."

Greninja wanted to raise his imaginary eyebrows at the little girl's antics but he ended wincing when he moved his injured leg slightly.

After escaping the possessed Ash, Bonnie and Greninja had found themselves back in the living room of the Lewis Manor. Thankfully, all of their stuff that she and Clemont had previously left behind when Serena and Pikachu disappeared were still there, giving her the chance to find the medicine she needed to sterilize the wound - she never really thought paying attention to Clemont's medical lectures would actually come in handy in her life.

And here they were; Bonnie standing up proudly after successfully wrapping Greninja's leg up with a bandage cloth. Granted, it wasn't done by a professional, but it was better than nothing. Although, Greninja wasn't exactly so keen on taking his chances with a young girl's education in medicine.

After finally letting go of her spotlight, Bonnie moved over to Ash's bags and pulled out a Pokéball.

"I know I'm not that good with medicine, Greninja," the young girl admits as if she had just read the Ninja Pokémon's thoughts. "Which is why I think it would best for you to stay in your Pokéball until I find everyone and get you to the Pokémon Center as fast as possible. I promise, Greninja, I will get Ash back and I will get you the help that you need."

Greninja was honestly a little surprised. Throughout their journey, he has never heard Bonnie sound so sincere before. Granted, she did had a few serious moments but they were nothing like this. It was possible that after coming down to the decision of saving herself and Greninja over staying with her unconscious brother and take the risk of all of them getting killed by their possessed friend has brought out a side of Bonnie that they never got to see. It was like she finally realized that things were really serious and all of their lives were about to be determined by the choices they will make it in this literal house of horrors.

He nods to show that he believes in her on finding everyone and working together to defeat the evil that's within. With that, Bonnie pressed the button and sent Greninja right back into his Pokéball. Thus, leaving the little girl and her equally little Pokémon alone with a murder in the form of her best friend on the loose.