Sorry I suck at updating lol.
I glare through the metal bars separating me from freedom. Who knew that if you sacrificed yourself and put everything you hold dear on the line to save the ones you love, you'd still be considered a criminal and imprisoned.
Loud footsteps approach at a quick rate. It's probably Kate. She hasn't stopped visiting me for the past two days. Her spiked hair is visible before the rest of her body. She finally comes into view, a sad smile on her face. "Hey Sums. How are you holding up?" She inquires genuinely, handing me a water bottle through the bars.
My still trembling fingers struggle to unscrew the cap. I'm still shaken up from coming back from the dead. A few of the hospital staff are convinced I'm a zombie. After three failed attempts, in finally able to twist the cap off. I take a long swig of the cool beverage, letting it soothe my throat. "Have they decided?" I question, ignoring her previous one. It doesn't matter how I'm feeling. What matters is finding Felix. The sooner they let me out, the quicker I can begin my search. He will never get away with what he has done.
"They want to bring you in for questioning. Someone should be here soon to bring you in." A long silence spreads between us. I know what she wants to ask. I've already answered it but my actions go against what I said. "Were you really going to kill us all? I mean, you nearly had Mewtwo shoot me." I cant help but feel hurt.
"You know what happened." I say somewhat angrily. "I told you everything."
She lets out a puff of air, looking up at me with a frown tugging at her lips. Just as she opens her mouth the say something, the door that leads into the cell room opens. A police officer, one of Officer Jenny's lackeys, struts up to my cell. Kate wordlessly steps out of the way. He looks to me with a smirk plastered to his face. "The council is ready to see you."
"Summer Minami, you are being charged with robbery, murder, and treason. How do you plead?" The main councilman asks. His ranger uniform is one of the older models, showing how old he really is. This guy should be retired.
"I don't plead anything. I was forced to join Team Explosion against my will. If everyone you loved and everything you knew was being threatened, you would do anything to keep it safe, right? Well that's what I had to do. I risked my own life joining that bloody team to save the Ranger School and every Ranger Union in the region. If I hadn't killed Grant, there is a very strong possibility half of our kind would be wiped out by now." I snap, trying to cross my arms, only to remember I am handcuffed.
Rangers from all over the world sit in the stands circling us. I feel like I am being scrutinized by every single person here. "Our kind, you say?" The main councilman scoffs. "My dear Miss Minami, you ceased being a ranger the second you stepped into that Team Explosion uniform. All of your ranger titles and privileges have been revoked. You will never be a ranger again."
My stomach drops to the floor, my mouth falling ajar. "N-No, you can't do that! You all don't know the full story!" I plead. I have nothing if I can't be a ranger. It's all I know. I need to have purpose, otherwise I see no point in living. I've been through so much. It can't have all been for nothing.
"Since there is no one to testify for you and say that you truly are innocent, I am sentencing you to life in isolation. The prison in the Johto region should do. You will never speak to another person for the rest of your life. Maybe that will give you enough time to reflect on your traitorous actions." The sick grin on his face brings me to my knees.
Hands latch onto my forearms and shoulders. "No!" I scream, thrashing my body around as I'm dragged towards the back doors that lead to the cells. "You can't do this!" I cannot go to prison. I don't deserve this. Someone please, help me..
"Stop this instant!" A female voice booms from the halls main doors. All movements and voices come to a halt as heads snap towards the hall's doors. In the door frame stands Chairperson Erma, Professor Hastings, and Principle Lamont. The three of them storm into the hall. Behind them, I see someone leaning against the frame. He is tall and has a buff yet lean frame. I'm unable to see his face, though. Chairperson Erma marches straight up to the councilman. "You let this young lady go right now, so help me Johnathan Greenway I will make it so you never step foot in this hall again as a member of the council." She barks.
Greenway stares at her in complete shock, obviously taken back and somewhat intimidated. "B-But Chairperson Erma.. this girl is a felon. A traitor and disgrace to the Ranger name. She must be punished!" He argues. "There is no sufficient evidence that she is innocent. The charge will have to stand."
"Actually Councilman Greenway, we do have a witness. He was there the entire time and witnessed everything Miss Minami did to not only survive, but to save every Ranger she possibly could. I'm sure his recorded, detailed testimony will change your mind." Professor Hastings says matter-of-factly.
"And who is this eye witness you speak so highly of?"
A voice I have come to hold dear to my heart speaks up from the door frame. "Special Agent Top Ranger Aiden Holmes, Councilman." He steps forward. Greenway takes a deep breath and bows slightly.
"Special Agent H-Holmes. It is a true honor to see you. I was unaware of your presence." The intimidation and dominance radiating off Aiden rivals that of even Erma's.
Aiden completely disregards him. He instead directs his attention to the two police officers restraining me. "You both will let her go, if you want to keep your jobs." I'm instantly released. "Now, Councilman," Aiden chides calmly, "I will be escorting my partner out of here, seeing as we have a mission to take care of. While we do that, I suggest you listen to my testimony. The council will be reevaluating your ability to be the official head of council. I suggest you remain completely objective in these types of affairs rather than letting your own past situations sway your judgement." He walks over and places his hand on the small of my back. "Erma, Hastings, Lamont, you all promise to see this through?"
Lamont nods his head. "Consider it done. Now, get to your mission. There isn't much time left." He sighs. And the next thing I know, Aiden is leading me out of the hall.
"Why didn't you tell me?" I ask quietly as we walk side by side. Aiden sighs before stopping in his tracks, pulling me with him.
His hands slowly trail up my arms, tracing the smooth skin with his calloused fingers. "You have no clue how happy I am that you're okay. You were dead.. I thought I lost you." As nice as it is to hear that he was worried, it doesn't change the fact that he lied to me. I sternly say his name to which he lets out a small sigh, a smile creeping onto his face. "I couldn't tell you. If you had known, you would have acted different around me and Grant would have noticed. He would have caught on that I wasn't who I was claiming to be. It's not every day you come across a person that can read others so easily. It was almost too convenient." I let my eyes stare at the ground. I can't even look him in the eyes right now. He is right so its hard to stay angry at him. "I know you want to forgive me. C'mon Summer, I had a mission to do. And so did you. You have to understand why I couldn't tell you, no matter how much I wanted to."
A tiny sigh escapes my lips. "You're right. I would have done the same." Aiden smiles softly.
His large hands cup my cheeks. "I'm so happy you're okay." He mumbles just before leaning down and pressing our lips together. I have no time to decide whether or not I want him to stop before a familiar voice startles the both of us.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" A voice bellows from down the hall. I can feel my heart leap up my throat and then sink to my stomach. It feels as if it has been years since I've heard his voice, or even seen his face. But here he is, storming down the hall towards us, eyes burning with rage.
I pull away from Aiden's hold and turn towards the person who tore my heart apart, the person who I'm not sure if I still love. "Ben."