"It's visiting day, is it not? What kind of brother would I be if I didn't come see you." He grinned. I glared at him, my hands balling to fists.
I could hear footsteps approaching us. I quickly pulled him inside the building, avoiding Ben and his mother as they walked back to his family. "You aren't my brother." I whispered in a growl. Why can't I just have a normal life? Why does my past keep finding me.
"It doesn't matter how much you deny it. We are brother and sister. I know you don't particularly like that I left, and trust me, if I had a choice, I would have stayed. But it-"
"A choice? You made your choice. You chose to leave me with that monster! The day you walked out the door, is the day you stopped being my brother. You betrayed me and now you're working with him! I don't know why you are okay with him just killing Mom." I barked.
He furrowed his eyebrows. "You think I liked the fact that he killed Mom? Well I didn't. It's what had to be done." Had to be done? What does that even mean? That makes no sense. I was safe with her. She protected me. "Summer, don't you get it? It's all about you! You are the main puzzle piece in this equation. You have a way with Pokémon. I've seen it. You can manipulate them to liking you. With the exception of our Tauros and Pidgeots. The gift you've been given can't be over looked!"
I thought for a few seconds, and it all came together. "It was you. You put that little girl in danger. You sent those Tauros after Kate and I. Pidgeots attacking me. It was all you! Why would you ever do that?" I asked, growing angrier by the second.
"To observe, of course. We had to make sure you were actually capable of out smarting Pokémon and being able to communicate with them so. We want you to join our group. To train our recruits in the knowledge of understanding Pokémon and working with them to take back what's ours!" He explained excitedly. "The growing technology in our world is only making things easier. We've already begun to create machines to manipulate the weather. Think of what else we can carry out! But we need you, Summer. You are the key. Without you, this whole operation is useless." It can't be.
I breathed in deeply. "You're saying, that you killed Mom, just so you could get to me..?" I smashed his shoulders against the wall, looking him straight in the eyes. "Your little experiments are fucking everything up. Those scientists better hope my rib gets better. Their little weather experiment, its scaring the Pokémon. They are becoming violent and attacking people at random." My nails dug into his skin. "I'll never become one of you. I will never stoop to your level of ignorance. Team Explosion has no idea the consequences of what they are doing. I'll never be a part of that."
He smiled slyly, shoving me off him and standing tall before me. "Watch yourself, Summer. That attitude will get you in trouble. The time in which you were supposed to be brought to our headquarters has expired. Don't be too surprised when we come and find you." He took a step towards the door. "Be careful, Summer. You never know when things can go south." Felix walked out the door, running off into the woods.
I leaned against the wall, feeling my world crumble down. My hands trembled as I lifted them up, hiding my face in them. I don't want anyone to see me cry. My mom was killed because they wanted me to join them. We could have escaped together. We could have made it out of there alive. But she sacrificed herself for me.
Tears stroked down my face. My body slid down the wall. Mom.. I'm so sorry. "The gift you've been given can't be over looked!" What gift? I don't do anything special. I just want to escape my past and be done with it. Why do I have to deal with this? I just want a normal life!
"Summer?" I heard my name being called from a distance. My fingers wiped away my tears quickly as I stood up, wincing at my rib. Ben and Keith jogged over to me."There you are! Where the hell have you been?" Keith asked. "Dinner is about to start!" He said excitedly. Ben was staring at me intently. I cleared my throat and looked to Keith.
"I'm not exactly in the mood for food. I'll get something later. You two go on without me." I smiled. Keith nodded and ran off. As I tried to walk past Ben, his hand latched to mine. We stood side by side, looking in different directions. "Ben.. go eat with your family. I'm just going to my room for a nap."
Ben's grip on my hand tightened. I rested the side of my head on his shoulder. "They had to leave." He stated plainly. I nodded my head, feeling my eyes begin to shut. "Summer?" He said sharply, causing me to cringe. "He was here. I know he was. What did he say to you." So he saw Felix.
I paused for a few seconds. I haven't been able to process what Felix said to me. How can I explain it to Ben when I haven't thought it over myself. "Ben.. I can't explain it now." I whispered. I could feel him shake his head. "It's not that easy to explain. Ben, things have gotten kind of bad. I don't think you should be around me right now.. I don't want anything to happen to you." I reasoned.
He scoffed unhappily. "Just tell me what he said, Summer." He let go of my hand.
My eyebrows furrowed as I lifted up my head. "No." I stated, looking at him somewhat angrily. "It's none of your business what happened." He looked like he was about to protest."I don't need to be protected, if that's what you are getting at." I barked, making my way to the staircase and walking up the stairs. My rib tweaked slightly, causing me to flinch.
"I'm not saying that directly. Sums, you're always getting into trouble. Look at your rib. You can hardly walk without it hurting!" He exclaimed, his hands gesturing towards my abdomen.
We finally arrived to the girls dorm. I turned to Ben before opening the door. "That is completely different. He cheated while I wasn't ready. And I haven't gotten into trouble that was directly my fault. Someone else is doing-"
I stopped hesitantly. "What are you saying?" Ben asked, placing both of his hands on my hips. The urge to slap him diminished while the want to be held by him grew. Why can't I have a normal life and fall in love with the guy of my dreams? I can't let Ben in, without the fear of him getting seriously hurt. Who knows what my father would do. To have that upper hand? That's me practically screaming for them to do something.
"Ben.." My cheeks reddened as I turned towards the door and opened it. I walked out of his hands and looked at my bed. "We have a problem." I muttered.
He stifled a laugh. "What the hell is a Torchic doing on your bed?" I shrugged my shoulders and walked carefully towards it. The wood under my foot creaked and it turned to look at me. For a second, I thought it was going to attack. Instead, it ran at me and hopped into my arms.
"Torchic! Tor!" It called. So this is what was in the egg. How adorable!
I rubbed the top of her head, smiling sweetly, turning to Ben. He looked mesmerized for a second, but quickly composed himself. "I don't think I've seen you smile that way in a long time, Sweetheart." He said softly.
"Looks like I've got a new best friend. Sorry Ben, but you've been replaced." He scoffed loudly, crossing his arms.
"Sweetheart, you would never replace a hunk like me. I'm always going to be your best friend." Ben said smoothly, grinning at my Torchic.
She nuzzled my face, mocking Ben. "Believe what you want babe. Looks like you've got some tough competition. Now if you'll excuse us, we are going to go get her a stall in the stables." I walked past Ben, but felt his hand gently take hold of my elbow.
His lips lightly touched my temple, sending chills down my spine. He lingered there for a second before leaning to my ear. "Please promise me. Promise to tell me what happened." He whispered sadly. Against my better judgement, I nodded my head. Ben nodded, releasing my arm.
I walked down the stairs, cradling Torchic in my arms. Should I really tell Ben what happened? Do I really have this strange gift when it comes to befriending Pokémon? It's a crazy idea. Ben would think I was a lunatic which I wouldn't blame him for thinking. This is all too much to think about. Ben is going to have to accept that I'm not ready to tell him.
Thunder crashed in the sky, making me cringe. "H-Hey!" Torchic jumped out of my arms and ran to a rock, hiding behind it. I jogged to her. "C'mon Torchic, it's not going to hurt you. It's just thunder." I mumbled.
"It won't, but I might." I groaned in annoyance. "Where did ya get the Torchic, Sweetheart?"
I turned to Jared, holding Torchic in my arms. "Wouldn't you love to know. Hows about you stay away from me before you regret bothering me." My voice was dangerously low. Another booming of thunder sounded in the sky. Torchic squirmed uneasily in my arms. "Please calm down." I whispered. Jared got in front of me, blocking my way. "Move." I growled.
"How is your rib, Sweetheart? Getting any better?" He smirked. Torchic was getting agitated and I don't think it was from the thunder. She squirmed once more in my arms.
My attention turned to Jared. "Yeah, no thanks to you, Dipshit." Jared frowned slightly.
"Now Sweetheart, is that really a way to talk to someone far more superior than yourself?" Jared asked completely seriously. I can't help it. I began laughing. Harder than I've laughed in a long time.
"Ha! You're crazy if you think you're superior. You are no better than the dirt I'm standing on. I really hope you figure things out soon Jared, because once we all graduate, you'll be out there all alone. No one is going to help you. They will remember how cruel you were. No one will have your back and you'll be on your own. But you already knew that." I spat, pushing past him with Torchic in my arms.
He seethed behind me. Just keep walking, don't start a confrontation.. And then there was a terrible force applied to my back. Within half a second, I was on the ground. Pain shot through my ribs. My body spun to my back, so I could face Jared. He towered over me, hands balled into fists at his sides. Torchic had rolled off to the side. I got up to my feet, trying to stand my ground. Jared smirked, lowering his eyes slightly. I was about to make a rude comment, but he took me off guard. Without a second of hesitation, Jared's fist connected to my jaw. I stumbled back a few steps clutching my jaw and whimpering. I can't remember anything about the combat techniques I've learned. I stayed there hunched over, unable to comprehend anything. I feel paralyzed. Why can't I move? Why do I feel feel so weak all of a sudden? "Ohh I'm sorry. Did I do it a bit too hard babe?" He grinned.
I cringed as he knelt down next to me, his hands resting on my shoulders. I can't be weak. Please body, move! "Get away." I demanded weakly.
Alrighty, hopefully everyone had a great Christmas and hopefully you enjoyed! -A