Ben's P.O.V.
"I need a few minutes." Summer said quietly, not looking at me directly. I sighed but nodded, standing up and walking towards the drinking station. She seems really upset. Is she jealous of Molly? Molly.. she looks so damn good tonight. It has been so long since I've seen her. Although, I'm not sure if I still feel how I used to for her. It is a big possibility that I do but.. seeing Summer like that, I'm not sure if it is worth finding out.
The lady behind the counter handed me a soda. The dance floor was really crowded, everyone dancing happily. I sighed, leaning against the wall. What do I do? How do I feel? Seeing Molly just rekindled somethings I've felt for so long. But Summer was always there when Molly wasn't. "Whatchya thinkin' about Ben?" My body tensed slightly but I smiled, looking over to her. "What are you doing over here all by yourself? Why aren't you dancing, cutie?" Molly smiled sweetly. A blush crept across my cheeks.
"My friend is kind of upset with me." I said, walking a little closer to her. She looked slightly confused. "Summer. The girl I was with earlier?"
Molly eyebrows furrowed slightly. "Why is she upset with you?" My heart pounded as she placed her hands on my chest. I looked down at her, my mind going blank. I shrugged my shoulders, leaning down closer to her. She smiled. "How about you forget about her for a minute, and focus on me." She whispered. I nodded, catching her lips in a kiss. I could feel her smile slightly. Her hand went to the back of my head, running her fingers through my hair. We stayed like that for a while. Finally, she pulled away, smiling at me. "It's getting late. I have to go now. Goodbye, Ben." She said quietly, walking away.
My lips tingled as I stood there. Something is off. That wasn't as glorious as I always thought it would be. It was nothing like the time I kissed Summer. Speaking of, I should probably go and talk to her about somethings. I don't know what to think about any of this. I walked back to our table. Kate sat next to Keith, her arms crossed. She had an uneasy look on her face. No signs of Summer, though. As I got closer, they both noticed me. Kate looked like she was expecting something. "What?" I asked.
"Where is Summer?" She asked. I shrugged my shoulders. "You mean, you haven't seen her?"
"No? I was told that she needed a minute. She might have gone to the bathroom or maybe back to bed. It is getting pretty late. I think I'll head up too." Kate shifted uneasily. "Why? Kate, you seem real worried." What is wrong with her?
Kate shook her head. "It's nothing. Just go to bed." I sighed but nodded, walking out of the cafeteria. A few people followed. It is really late. I wonder where she went. I mean, I was only gone for a few minutes, right? Or was it longer? I was so focused on Molly I hadn't even kept track of time. Oh well. She is probably in her room sleeping. She didn't look too well. I just need some time to clear my head. A good nights sleep should do the trick.
Summer's P.O.V.
The sun began to rise, illuminating the dark woods. I'm so tired. I haven't slept at all yet. I'll take Annabelle home and then I'm going straight to bed. She clung to my arm, occasionally taking glances back at Aiden. There is something intriguing about him. I'd better just keep my distance for now. "Summer, why are you with these bad people?" She asked quietly.
I sighed, trying to keep tears from welling up in my eyes. To keep her from looking up directly at me, I picked her up, letting her head rest on my shoulder. "I didn't choose to be like this, Annabelle. I'm doing it to protect the people I truly care for."
"Like me?" She asked.
A few stray tears fell from my eyes. "Yeah, like you Sweetheart." My voice cracked. When I get you home, you can't tell anyone that you saw me. No one can know about me, okay? Promise you won't tell anyone about me." She nodded her head. "Good.. Get some rest. We will be there soon." Aiden chuckled behind me. Wonder what's so funny to him.
We finally arrived to the town. The three of us stayed in the woods, hiding in the shadows. The sun had still hardly risen over the treeline, casting shadows over the town. "Stay here. I'll be right back." I ordered to Aiden.
He chuckled softly. "Don't get any ideas."
I scoffed, taking hold of Annabelle's hand. I lead her through the shadows, getting closer to her house. "Okay, your house is right there. Think you'll be okay?" She nodded her head sadly, hugging me tightly. I knelt down, giving her a soft kiss on the forehead. "Remember, don't tell anyone you saw me. I'm sorry, Annabelle." She nodded again, walking to her house. The first person from my new life that I actually liked. And now I have to say goodbye. How is that fair?
Out of the blue, a body collided with mine. Completely taken off guard, the person held me to the ground. "You've got three seconds to tell me who you are, and why you had that little girl." The girl growled.
"K-Kate?" I gasped.
"Summer?" She scooted off me. I sat up looking at her. "What the hell!" Kate hugged me tightly. "Where the hell have you been? I've been looking for you all morning. W-why are you in that uniform. And why was the missing girl with you? Summer.. what is going on?" She backed away slightly.
A weight fell to my chest. I stood straighter, shifting uneasily. "You will never understand. I had to do this. It is the only way to make sure everyone stays safe." I informed in a slightly hurt voice.
She furrowed her eyebrows. "You're right, I don't understand. Why did you join them!? How is Ben okay with this?" She yelled. I began to feel sick. Ben..
"He didn't tell you.." My voice cracked. He really doesn't care. I clutched my stomach, wanting to throw up.
"Didn't tell me what?" She asked in a softer voice.
I looked over my shoulder, towards Aiden. I can't see him so hopefully he can't see me. Once I tell her, I'll leave. "Last night, when I went to tell Ben that I love him, I found him by the drink station." I started. Come on, spit it out. "Before I could walk over to him, Molly walked up to him. He instantly brightened up. She put her hands on his chest.. and-" My voice cracked. Why the fuck does it hurt so much to say it? It was just a stupid kiss.. but it hurts so bad. "And he kissed her. It wasn't a little peck either. It was the real thing." Tears welled up in my eyes. "He still loves her." I cried. "And there is nothing I can do about it." I'm so weak. He is just a stupid boy.
Kate's mouth fell open, her eyes wide. "Summer.. I didn't know." She looked down at the ground. "How could he be so cruel.."
"Summer!" Aiden called from a ways away. He can't see Kate. He will kill her.
I hugged Kate tightly. "Run. Get out of here. You can't tell anyone you saw me. Please, don't tell. I'm trying to keep everyone safe." She tried to protest. "Please." I begged. She sighed but nodded her head. I watched as she ran back the way she came, disappearing from view. A hand touched my shoulder. I cringed at the unfamiliar touch.
Aiden stood next to me. "Weren't trying to escape were you?" He laughed. I scoffed, pushing his hand off and walking back towards the headquarters. "So, you're Grant's daughter." He sure likes to state the obvious. "Wonder what it would be like gettin' with the leader's daughter." He said huskily.
"Too bad you'll never know." I said plainly, avoiding his gaze. A gasp escaped my mouth as I was pushed up against a tree, followed by a painful moan. My rib stung from the force. Felix's punches last night didn't help either. Aiden smiled down at me while I glared at him. "Get. Off."
"Is that any kind of attitude to have towards me? Remember, Grant gave me permission to punish you for any signs of struggle." He grinned.
I stiffened my body, cringing slightly at my rib. "I'm not struggling." My voice was weak.
"Who is he going to believe? My word, over yours. You may be special, Summer. But that is only with Pokemon. Although, you've made an interesting impression on me." What is that supposed to mean? "Keep an open mind. I'm not as bad as I seem." He said softly. I looked up at him, almost in awe. Who is this guy?
"Initiation?" I sighed. Why can't I just go to sleep? "I was forced to join, so why do I have to do this?"
Grant chuckled softly. "It is tradition that all new recruits take part in initiation. Though, yours shall differ greatly from the others." He lead me through some halls, until we approached a large set of doors. Grant held his hand out, beckoning me to open them. Sighing, I pushed open the doors. A giant, and I mean giant, room greeted me. Giant screens lined one wall while a huge glass box sat against another. A few lanes had targets at the ends of them. I walked in, taking in every detail. "This is where you will be spending most of your time if you pass initiation. You will train our recruits in the art of fighting, along with communication skills with Pokemon. But we will start with your first challenge." He walked to the glass box, waving his hand for me to follow. I did as told. The door opening caught my attention. Felix and Aiden walked in. Great.
They both walked to us, standing next to me. Grant held a bow and quiver full of arrows out to me. You've got to be fucking kidding me. "You're lying."
"I heard you are very handy with one. As well with a knife." Grant said, handing me a sinister looking knife.
Annoyed, I took both items. "This isn't the fucking Hunger Games." I growled.
Felix looked weirdly at me. "The what games? Is that some weird erotic fantasy of yours or something?"
"You're ignorance has yet to disappoint me." I spat. Regardless of Felix's idiotic comment, I stepped inside of the glass box. Is something supposed to be happening. "I think your machine is broken." Suddenly, an arrow shot at me. I gasped, dropping to the floor. "This thing shoots real gods damned arrows?! Are you insane?" I screamed. Another arrow flew at my feet. I rolled to the side, just barely dodging it.
"Try hitting the targets that are shooting the arrows. Once you hit it, it will stop attacking." Aiden informed. He better not be lying. Another arrow barreled at me. My eyes scanned the room, searching for the target. I dodged the arrow, pulling one from my quiver. I knocked the arrow, pulling back the string and releasing. Bulls eye. Is it over?
I cringed as an arrow skimmed my upper arm. A new target replaced the old. Once again, I hit it square in the center. This continued until I had no more arrows. A target appeared at the end of the box. What am I supposed to do? I'm out of arrows. Wait.. the knife. This was obviously a set up. Grant made sure I would run out of arrows and have to use the knife. The target's arrow was knocked. I only have one shot at this. Taking a deep breath, I pulled the knife out of the waist belt by the blade and pulled my arm back. With a grunt, I threw the knife towards the target. Within a second, a loud thud sounded. A perfect throw. The lights got brighter, and an unlocking sound could be heard. The door to the box opened. So they locked me in here, in case I tried to escape the arrows? That's barbaric. What if I really needed to get out? "Excellent job, Summer." Grant smiled. "Your next challenge won't be as easy." He clicked a button on the control panel next to the box's door. The entire layout of the glass box changed. Blocks rose from the floor, creating an uneven terrain. Ropes dropped down from the ceiling while branch-like beams lined around the top. Kind of like the Mankey bars at kids parks. "You will be fighting with our best combat instructors."
Felix and Aiden looked uneasy. On cue, a man walked in through the doors. My mouth fell open. You've got to be kidding me.. He is literally is the largest human being I have ever seen. He stood at least seven feet tall with about two hundred pounds of raw muscle. There is no way I can beat him. No way in hell. The man went to talk to Grant quickly. I felt a hand grab my elbow. Aiden leaned down to my ear. "Use your size to your advantage. Be quick and cunning. Whatever you do, don't let him get a hold of you. He will literally kill you." He warned. Why is he helping me? "Stay on your feet and use the terrain as a tool to stay above him." I tried to ask him why he is helping me but Felix pushed me towards the box doors. I walked in slowly, followed by the instructor.
"Good luck to ya, lassy. You'll be needin' it." He sneered. The doors sealed shut and I could begin to feel my heart beat faster. What if I can't win? He lunged at me. Be quick and cunning. I tumbled to the side. He completely missed me. I don't even think he saw me move. Quickly, I glanced at Aiden. He smiled at me, giving me a thumbs up. The guy charged at me again. I scampered up some of the blocks, getting out of his reach. Use the terrain as a tool to stay above him. He growled angrily, following me up the large blocks. I got to the top block. It is a real big drop.. "No where to go, lassy." He cackled. Before he could snatch me, I jumped off the block, latching onto a dangling rope. I swung to another rope further away from him. He yanked a rope off the ceiling. What is he doing? He tied a knot, creating a loop.. A lasso? Oh gods.
Before I could move, he swung the lasso. It went down over my head, tightening around my neck. He pulled as hard as he could, choking me. Out of instinct, I grabbed at the rope. Mistake. He pulled me away from my rope. I swung backwards, my back crashing against the block. I dangled there choking to death. Just as I thought I wouldn't be able to take anymore, he released the rope. My stomach dropped at the unpleasant falling sensation. My body hit the floor like a rag doll. The man jumped down next to me, his feet leaving cracks in the floor. I weakly took the rope off my neck, wiping the sweat from my forehead. He grabbed my arm, dragging me to the middle of the box, where there was a flat surface. I thrashed around, but of course, it was useless. His fist powerfully connected to my rib cage. A blood curdling scream echoed throughout the box. He hit me again, yet this time, no scream left my mouth. I'm surrounded by pain. The man laughed, walking towards the doors. "This is what ye wanted me to beat? The lassy hasn't put up a fight!" I rolled to my stomach, lifting myself up slowly. As I got on all fours, I coughed up blood. A little too much blood. It splattered across the floor. Regardless, I stood up. Stay on your feet. The man didn't even notice. Quietly, I climbed up the blocks. I clung to one of the branch-like beams, swinging to the one right above him. I hooked the front of my feet on top of another beam, getting parallel with the floor. He turned to the area I was at previously. "Where did she go?"
"Look up, you fucking dick." As soon as he looked up, I released my feet, swinging right at him. I power kicked him right in his face, knocking him out cold. My grip faltered. My back hit the ground with a thud. Blood trailed down my chin from my mouth. The unlocking sound could be heard again. I got up painfully, walking to the door hunched over. I walked past Grant, Felix, and Aiden. "I'm going to my fucking room."
A sigh could be heard. "Aiden." I tried pulling the door open but I was too weak. Aiden came up behind me, pulling it open. I walked through, paying him no attention. My breathing was shallow as we walked side by side.
"You okay?" He asked quietly. I nodded my head, trying to focus on walking straight. Things got to blurry momentarily. I stumbled slightly and Aiden tried to steady me. Angrily, I pushed him away, continuing to walk forwards. "You're not okay." Everything turned into twos. I stumbled again. This time, straight into Aiden. He wrapped his arm around my shoulder, keeping me steadied to his chest. Instead of pushing him away, I let him help me. "Come on. It'll be okay."
Alrighty, hopefully y'all enjoyed! -A