Chapter 35 – Depressions

"Alexa? Alexa, honey?" called a motherly voice from outside the silent bedroom. Alexa lay in her bed, looking depressed and unenthusiastic. Her eyes were tired and sore, as if she cried herself to sleep but woke up in the middle of the night. A blue and shiny white Zangoose overlooked her human friend with concern; Alexa hadn't said a word since she moved into Chicole Village, nor had she looked at anyone in the eye.

Lily stood outside the grey bedroom door, concerned for her daughter. She knocked on the door again.

"Alexa..." She sighed. "Come down when you're ready, sweetheart," she said finally before leaving Alexa in peace.

Keenan and his Vaporeon ally, Iara, sat on the red leather sofa and watched a police drama on the plasma television. Hayden sat at the table reading the new edition of the Vien Tribune, paying particular interest in the news regarding Cain's psychopathic antics. His Mismagius, Malik, watched Hayden from the other side of the kitchen table with worry, feeling empathic towards his trainer. Lily arrived and instantly made her way towards the kettle. Hayden watched her as she prepared to reboil the already hot water.

"Lily, it's still hot," Hayden said.

"Yes, I know," Lily sighed. "Still no word from her..."

"Hun, Lydia's fresh on her mind after, what, seven years? She's probably gathering her thoughts about the matter," Hayden assumed. Keenan and Iara looked at one another.

"Among other things," he whispered.

"Por," Iara nodded quietly.

"You can't tell me you're not worried, Hayden," Lily said as she rubbed her forehead with her fingers.

"Alexa hasn't said a word since she arrived; as soon as she did, she retreated to her bedroom. Of course I'm worried," Hayden said as he placed the newspaper down on the table.

"It's just not like her...it's not like her to hit someone."

"I know it isn't," Hayden said as he approached his distraught wife. "It's not like she did it on purpose; she was provoked."

"I'm not condoning what she did, but-"

"Neither am I. But she was provoked. Besides, the fact that she's not looking anyone in the eye has got to prove how guilty she is about hitting her friend."

"Alleged friend," Lily corrected.

"Oh, yeah; the whole Roserade thing," Hayden grumbled as he sat back at his chair. Malik rolled his eyes as he pushed his glasses a little further up his face.

"Mis-mah-gius," he sighed.

"I agree. If she just trusted Alexa in the first place, the two wouldn't be on negative terms right now," Hayden sighed. Keenan shuffled himself to look at his parents from the sofa.

"Has she said anything? Alex, I mean," he asked with concern.

"No," Hayden replied. "I went to pick her up from the Ranger Union, and she hadn't said a word or even looked at me since we left."

"Seriously?"

"I tried to make conversation, but she never said a word. I know she was ashamed of herself, and still is, I suppose, but...she just seemed very depressed."

"Nobody told us the full story about what happened," Lily sighed. "We were just told to take Alexa home because she's been suspended for assault."

"I don't believe it!" Keenan said suddenly. "There's no way she'd hurt anyone!"

"Poreon..." Iara tugged at his T-shirt sleeve with her paw. Keenan looked towards his partner.

"...that was different, he was a bad guy!" he exclaimed. He stood up from the sofa and raced towards the front door.

"Where're you going?" Lily asked.

"To find out what really happened yesterday," Keenan replied.

"Por!" Iara leapt from the sofa and followed Keenan out of the house.

"Be careful!" Lily called out before Keenan closed the front door behind him. Lily sighed as she sat next to Hayden.

"I know why you're concerned; if Keenan can defeat Palmer twice, I'm sure he'd be able to hold his own against this Cain kid," Hayden said reassuringly as he placed a hand on her shoulder. Lily held onto his hand with her own.

"Alexa was fine before she encountered him, though...I'm beginning to see what Erma meant."

Keenan and Iara ran into Vien Town and past the Ranger base. Barlow spotted the two and intercepted them as they approached the forest.

"Whoa, what's the hurry, kiddo?" he asked.

"We're trying to get to the Ranger Union," Keenan explained. "I want to know what happened with my sister!"

"So you're Alex's brother, huh?"

"Yeah; Keenan," Keenan replied.

"You sure you should be out here on your own?"

"I'm fine," Keenan said spitefully. "Can you not underestimate me because I'm 12!?" He brushed past Barlow and ran towards the forest with Iara trying her hardest to catch up to him. Barlow looked back at him in confusion.

"What'd I say?"

Eventually, Keenan and Iara arrived at the Ranger Union and stopped to catch their breath once they were through the automatic doors. Keenan looked around in confusion.

"Now what?"

"You okay, kid?" Murph asked. Keenan and Iara looked towards Murph as he approached them.

"I want to talk to someone about my sister," Keenan explained. "My name's Keenan, I'm Alex's brother."

"Ah. I think you need to speak to the professor about her. Maybe afterwards, you and I could have a nice cold drink, what do you say?" Murph smiled.

"I'm 12, not stupid," Keenan sighed. Murph was taken aback at Keenan's attitude, but cleared his throat nervously not long later.

"Right, I-I'll, er, escort you to him," he stuttered. Keenan and Iara followed Murph up the escalator.

"Wait, wait, wait...you're saying that you won't let me leave the Ranger Union unless Ryder's with me?!" Keith exclaimed angrily.

Why not? I don't want Buizel to end up like Medicham or Lydia! Ryder growled.

"I don't know who this 'Lydia' is, but Ryder is correct; I don't wish to put Buizel's life at risk again," Hastings said firmly. "Ryder can battle, Buizel cannot, therefore Ryder is ideal for a bodyguard."

"Cain will be needing a bodyguard when I'm through with him!" Keith yelled.

But I don't want Alex to see you in a body bag! Ryder roared.

"I can look after myself!" Keith snapped.

Says the Ranger who got snared by a Seviper and assaulted by Carnivine! Ryder argued.

"Calm down!" Keenan cried.

Keith and Ryder looked behind them to find Murph arriving onto the scene with Keenan and Iara following.

Sorry, mate, Ryder apologised.

"How's Alexa?" Keith asked. Keenan shook his head slowly.

"Not even a word?" Hastings asked.

"She won't even look anyone in the eye," Keenan sighed.

"I assume you're here to find out what happened, correct?" Hastings questioned.

"Yes, sir," Keenan replied politely. Murph looked at Keenan in confusion, remembering the attitude he witnessed earlier on.

"Hmm.. Keith, Ryder, I think it'd be wise if you went on patrol for now," Hastings said. "And no more bickering."

"Okay," Keith said reluctantly.

What's wrong with me?!

"Nothing," Keith said quietly. He faced Keenan as he went towards the escalator. "I'll come by later on, okay?"

"Okay. I think she'll like that," Keenan smiled. Keith smiled back as he and Ryder made their way out of the room. Keenan and Iara approached Hastings. He instantly noticed Iara's strange size.

"That's a rather small Vaporeon you have there," he said, almost heartlessly. Iara sat down, pouted and looked away from the man.

"So? She was the runt of her litter, she can't help that. I love her anyway, I don't care if she's smaller or even taller than average."

"All right, all right, I don't need a lecture," Hastings mumbled to himself. "You're here to ask about your sister, am I right?"

"You already asked me that," Keenan sighed, rubbing the back of his head. Iara looked cross towards Hastings as he began to pace around.

"Right, right... First and foremost, Alexa has been suspended from her duties," he began.

"I know that. But did she really hit Rhythmi?" Keenan asked worriedly.

"It would have been more than a simple hit if Keith hadn't intervened," Hastings said, looking at Keenan with a hint of regret about what he was going to say. "It was a full-on brawl."

"Brawl?!" Keenan asked in shock.

"It means fight," Hastings explained.

"I know what it means!" Keenan snapped. "What happened?! Alex isn't usually so quick to anger!"

"It's...ridiculous, if I say so myself; it was over a necklace Rhythmi had found," Hastings continued. "It contained a flake of a Butterfree's wing inside."

"The flake didn't have blue markings on it, by any chance, did it?" Keenan questioned. Hastings looked towards Keenan in bewilderment.

"Yes. How do you know that?" he asked. Keenan looked at the professor sadly.

"It came from Lydia's wing," he explained.

"Lydia's a Butterfree?"

"Was."

"Meaning what?" Hastings asked in further confusion. Iara lowered her head in mourn.

"She was killed, sir," Keenan answered quietly.

"By Cain?"

"No, sir; it was seven years ago," Keenan answered as he shook his head. "I was only five at the time, but I remember it."

"What happened?"

"I had to find out from Phoenix; Alex was so distraught she couldn't think straight. They were outside Lavender Town, just outside Rock Tunnel, when it happened. A Hiker challenged her to a battle. Lupin, newly evolved into Kadabra, took down the Hiker's Geodude with ease. Onix, though, was a tougher challenge for him."

"I fail to see how-"

"Hear me out," Keenan said abruptly. "Lupin wasn't in doing much damage to Onix, and Onix thrashed him about. Onix was about to finish the battle off with an Iron Tail when..." He sighed. "Alex was about to send Phoenix into the battle to deflect the Iron Tail with a Metal Claw, but Lydia had her own plan; she intercepted the attack with her own body."

"Why would she do that?"

"She and Lupin were very close; I guess Lydia thought Onix was going to kill Lupin," Keenan shrugged. "Phoenix did end up beating the Onix and winning the battle after all, but nobody was happy about the win. Lydia's wing ripped as she fell to the ground after getting hit, and died from her injuries. I don't know any more than that; I just know that when she came home, Alex made a memorial for Lydia in the garden."

"I'm sorry for her loss. But that's no excuse for-"

"And she knows that," Keenan said sharply. "She's ashamed of herself as it is! Nobody's been able to get through to her since yesterday!"

"Yes, well...her mission yesterday didn't help matters, I must admit," Hastings said quietly.

"What happened then?" Keenan asked.

"It's not something I should discuss with a child," Hastings replied.

"Hey! If something happened to my sister yesterday, I want to know about it!" Keenan snapped.

"You sound like you care about her," Hastings said plainly.

"You bet I do! I love her!" Keenan said boldly. "And I hate seeing her upset! How am I supposed to help her if I don't know what's upset her in the first place?!"

"Fair point..." Hastings sighed. "All right...she saw two dead Pokémon yesterday," he said reluctantly.

"Two?"

"One was a wild Salamence who was killed by Cain's Pokémon sometime the night before. As for the other...it was Cain's Medicham."

"A trainer killed his own Pokémon!? No wonder Alex's upset!" Keenan exclaimed.

"I do admit I find it strange for a trainer to murder his own Pokémon, but from what I was told yesterday, Alexa was very distraught."

"I guess you suspended her because she had a go at Rhythmi?" Keenan assumed.

"Not exactly; her suspension is for her own safety. She was, and still is, I presume, in no fit state to continue her duties. Erma is going to deal with Alexa and Rhythmi herself, and it will be in an adult manner. Have I answered your questions?"

"Y...I-I guess..." Keenan sighed. "But now I'm even more worried about Alex... C'mon, Iara." He started to make his way out of the room. Concerned, Iara followed him closely. Hastings watched as Keenan left the room, looking rather glum.

Outside, Keenan and Iara walked leisurely along the rural path outside Puel Town, heading towards the Vien Forest. Iara looked up at Keenan worriedly.

"Vapor..."

"Sorry...I know what happened an' all, but I don't think I'll be able to help her enough; I've never seen a dead Pokémon before," Keenan sighed. "I guess that makes me lucky, huh...?"

"Poreon..." Iara rubbed her head against Keenan's hip. Keenan stroked her head as he smiled at her.

"I guess you're right," he admitted. "Just because I can't fully empathise with Alex, it doesn't mean I shouldn't try to help cheer her up period. I just need to be careful about what I say when it comes to that."

"Vaporeon!" Iara cheered happily as she pranced around gracefully. Keenan watched Iara as she looked up happily at him.

"Thanks, Iara. I'm glad someone knows what to say about all this," he said sheepisly. Iara sat down.

"Poreon," she grinned. "Por?" She looked behind her in confusion.

BOOM!

"POOR!" Iara leapt away from the large sphere of energy that crashed into the same spot she sat in not two seconds ago. The sudden attack startled Keenan as much as it startled Iara. She ran back to Keenan and they looked at the three headed black and blue behemoth that attempted to assault Iara. Its eyes were blood shot red and its fur was messy.

BROOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!

"A-a Hydreigon?! What's one of those doing here?!"

"It's mine," Cain replied as he approached his fiercely intimidating beast of a Pokémon. "You a trainer or something?"

"Who're you?" Keenan asked. "And what gives you the right to attack without warning like that?!"

"Another goody-two-shoes. Just great," Cain complained.

"Another—wait a minute...aren't you Cain?" Cain looked at Keenan as he raised an eyebrow.

"How do you know my name?"

"Easy; you're the one who's upset my sister!" Keenan yelled.

"Alexa has a brother? I guess I can see the resemblance; you look just as pathetic as she does," Cain mocked.

"You don't know her!" Keenan snapped.

"What're you going to do, little boy? You going to cry?" Cain taunted.

"I have better things to cry about than a bully! But I'm not going to fight you!"

"You're going nowhere until you do," Cain threatened.

"What's the matter with you?! If you want a battle, you ask! You don't strike from out of the blue!"

"Speaking of which, you look ridiculous, trying to be all blue like your shrimp of a Vaporeon," Cain huffed, pointing at Keenan's blue water drop print T-shirt.

"Don't call Iara a shrimp! She was the runt of her litter, but that doesn't make any difference to her skills!"

"Then fight me then," Cain said simply.

"Por...!"
"No, Iara, I don't want you to battle yet," Keenan said as he took a Poké Ball from his belt, hidden underneath his T-shirt. He opened it in his palm and released a Riolu with a red and yellow Focus Band tied around his waist.

"Buh!" Kyle growled eagerly.

"You've got to be kidding me...you're sending THAT little thing against my Hydreigon? It may have type advantage, but it's nothing for my Pokémon."

"You don't know that! Kyle, Bullet Punch!"

"BUH!" Kyle lunged at the large dragon with both fists shining in a red-white light.

"Outrage," Cain commanded simply. Hydreigon's eyes illuminated in the same red aura that enveloped its entire body. The beast bore its fangs out of fuelled anger.

Iara winced and hid her head behind Keenan as Hydreigon unleashed all of its fury on the unprepared Riolu. Hydreigon was abnormally fast and extremely devastating in its attacks; Kyle had no opportunities to retaliate. How could he when he couldn't see where his opponent would strike next? Kyle's blood spilled all over the place as the ferocious Hydreigon struck its victim with its fangs, arms and, occasionally, tail.

WHACK!

"BUH!" Hydreigon gave Kyle a tremendous smack in the eye with its tail before the aura faded. The aura around its eyes lingered, and Hydreigon looked around frantically. Kyle lay on the grass, bleeding from almost all over, battered and with a huge bruise on his right eye. Kyle strained to sit up, flinching as he moved.

"K-Kyle, don't move!" Keenan cried. He looked towards Cain with devastation. "How can you put up with this?!"

"Easy," Cain replied simply as he took out a small round green berry from his pocket. "I just think about how weak the victim is." He tossed the berry towards Hydreigon. It miraculously landed in its mouth and ate the berry unknowingly. The glow in its eyes faded and it regained its original composure.

"Hey, that's not fair!" Keenan snapped. "Where did you find that Lum Berry?!"

"Bloody thing's always getting confused after Outrage," Cain complained.

"Duh! Outrage causes fatigue to the user!" Keenan yelled angrily. "It's no different from Thrash or Petal Dance!"

"B-buh..." Kyle managed to sit up, but couldn't move any further. Hydreigon had done a fair amount of damage to one of his legs. Snarling, Kyle held out his arm as a small sphere of aura began to materialise underneath. Keenan watched Kyle before facing Cain worriedly. Iara watched Kyle with fascination.

"Please, you have to stop this! You could kill Kyle if you don't!" he exclaimed.

"That's the idea."

"What..?!"

"One more time, Hydreigon." Hydreigon regained its enraged state as the red aura around its body and eyes returned.

"BUH!"

BOOM!

Kyle fired the Aura Sphere straight at Hydreigon's main head, but, in the outraged state it was in, Hydreigon took the hit and took it like it was nothing. Kyle watched in horror as Hydreigon sped towards him, with its teeth ready to strike.

BANG!

Kyle, Keenan and Iara looked at Hydreigon in horror; it was fighting to penetrate Ryder's grip; he had each paw on Hydreigon's arms and challenged the main head with his own head, lashing out various bites against it.

"Ryder!"

Tell me this guy didn't provoke a challenge out of you, Ryder growled as he struggled to restrain the behemoth. His feet slipped on the grass, ripping underneath his paws.

"I would, but that would be a lie," Keenan said regretfully.

Figures.

"Ryder!" Keenan, Kyle and Iara looked towards Keith and Buizel as they ran onto the scene. Keith instantly stopped when he spotted Cain.

Never mind him! I'll keep him company for a while. Just get Keenan back home, pronto! Ryder yelled as he squinted towards the infuriated Ranger. Keith looked towards Ryder in astonishment.

"What?!" Ryder managed to smile at Keith in spite of the strain he was under.

C'mon, Keith...I didn't fight fang and claw in the Sinnoh League for the lulz.

"Okay," Keith agreed reluctantly. As Keenan ran to pick up his injured Riolu, Keith and Buizel ran over to him. "C'mon, let's get out of here!"

"But what about-"

Just tell Alex I'm preoccupied right now, Ryder said as he slid back another inch. GET OUT OF HERE!

Cain kept his eye on Ryder and Hydreigon's struggle, thereby ignoring Keith escaping with Keenan and Iara. Cain smirked.

"This is going to be satisfying."

Wanna bet? Ryder opened his mouth as wide as he could and a small green flame ignited in the gap.

BOOM!

Ryder unleashed the pulsating flames from his mouth, which struck Hydreigon's throat, knocking it back. Hydreigon was airborne and took no collision damage from its environment. Cain raised an eyebrow as he witnessed Ryder's Dragon Pulse.

"Impressive. But it'll take more than that to succumb Hydreigon."

I never assumed it wouldn't, Ryder snarled as he and Hydreigon began to circle one another slowly. This will be my first proper battle in ages. My apologies if I'm a little rusty, he said sarcastically as he crossed his arms in front of him. The spikes on his paws shone and divided to form three metallic claws on each paw.

Meanwhile...

Keith and Keenan stopped at the large tree just before Chicole Village to catch their breath. Keenan's shirt, arms and palms was stained with Kyle's blood as he held the wounded Pokémon in his arms. Iara looked back at the path they ran down worriedly.

"Por..."

"He wouldn't have told us to leave him if he couldn't handle Hydreigon," Keenan panted. Keith looked at the boy with concern.

"I'm more worried about what Alexa's going to say when she hears about this," he confessed.

"I'm not; I'm more worried about telling her that Ryder's fighting that Hydreigon," Keenan gulped. "W-we should go; I don't think Kyle can hold on much longer." He and Keith, along with Iara and Buizel, made their way into the village.

Hayden instantly spotted his son as he entered the house with his wounded Pokémon. He quickly took Kyle from Keenan and sat the Riolu on his lap.

"Lily!" he called as he took a squared spray bottle from the briefcase leaning against one of the kitchen table's legs. Kyle winced as Hayden sprayed the medicine onto the bleeding wounds. Lily walked down the stairs. Before she could ask, she instantly spotted Keenan's blood stained attire.

"Keenan? What happened?!"

"Cain happened," Keith answered as he approached Keenan.

"He forced me to fight, I-I didn't have a choice!"

"Typical," Hayden huffed. "Anyone as bloodthirsty as him wouldn't take no for an answer. It was just fortunate the battle stopped when it did."

"Uh...y-yeah, a-about that...uh...R-Ryder's...kinda battling Cain right now," Keith said nervously.

"He's what?!" Hayden asked in horror. Lily turned towards the small grey pigeon Pokémon roosting on the sofa armrest.

"Rick!" the Pidove looked at Lily in confusion. "Find Ryder and keep an eye on him for me please!"

"Pid!" Rick nodded as he took flight. He flew straight out of the open window in front of the kitchen sink. Lily looked towards Keith.

"I'm not taking any chances. I know Ryder's strong, but I don't want to hear about his demise in the papers."

"Nor would Alex," Keenan agreed.

"That reminds me, is she all right?" Keith asked worriedly. Lily shook her head solemnly.

"She hasn't come out of her room all day," she replied. "I don't know if it's because she fell asleep or what...I just know she's still in there at the very least."

"How do you know?" Keith asked, now even more worried than before.

"Layla's told us of her state from time to time," Lily answered. "She's been called in to see Erma tomorrow, but..."

"You're not sure if she's up for it?" Keenan assumed.

"Exactly," Lily confirmed.

"There we are," Hayden smiled as he ceased spraying the last of Kyle's injuries; all of the wounds have stopped bleeding. "Now he just needs to rest and preferably not fight for a while."

"Thanks, dad," Keenan smiled as he looked towards Kyle's improved condition. Keith looked towards Hayden.

"Was Alexa really that bad last night?" he asked with concern.

"You've heard about Lydia, haven't you?" Hayden asked as he lost his smile.

"Y-yeah...Ryder told me everything he knew. He said it wasn't the whole story, though, but he told me everything he knew," Keith explained.

"Let me just say this; I've never known my daughter to have been more depressed than she is right now," Hayden sighed. "It worries me a lot, believe me."

"I know she'll come out of it eventually, but when that'll be is what worries me the most," Lily added. "The longer she's like this the worse it'll be."

"She just needs to stop feeling guilty about what happened and try to set things right with Rhythmi, that's all," Keith said. He tried to sound reassuring, but the tone he used was unconvincing. "Think you can keep an eye on her?"

"I've been doing so all day," Lily sighed.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to be offensive," Keith apologised. "I'm just worried about her, that's all."

"No, it's all right. I'm worried about how this whole thing might affect her health," Lily said worriedly. "She hasn't had anything to eat all day. Not to my knowledge anyway."

"That IS worrying," Keith agreed. "Maybe I should go and talk to her?"

"Honey, I've tried and tried to talk to her; she isn't responding," Lily stressed. "She's not even responding to Layla."

"She's bound to talk at some point. Maybe I could try?" Keenan pondered.

"It's worth a shot, I suppose," Lily sighed. "Just be careful about what you say to her. I can only imagine how sensitive she is right now." Keenan and Iara ran up the stairs and out of sight.

"Well, anyway, I should be off; I should let the Union know about what happened," Keith said quietly.

"You can do that from here, can't you?" Hayden questioned. "I don't think it's wise for you to go back to the Union right now. Not without an escort, at least."

"Escort?"

"Your last escort's distracting Cain right now, supposedly."

"Oh yeah," Keith said sheepishly.

"Stick around and have a break," Hayden smiled. "Looks like you need one."

Keenan approached his sister's bedroom door and knocked; no response. Keenan carefully opened the door and made his way inside with Iara. Layla looked at the pair in confusion as Keenan closed the door behind him.

"Nyah?" Keenan merely smiled and winked at the confused Zangoose.

"It's a nice day outside. Iara and I had a lot of fun! Didn't we, girl?" Keenan looked down towards Iara and winked at her. Iara returned the smile and wink.

"Poreon!" she replied merrily.

"The Pokémon out there are super happy today! Maybe they're happy because it was a really nice day! I mean, how could today get any-"

"You can cut it out now, I know what you're trying to do," Alexa said plainly from her bed. Her back was turned against her brother. Keenan and Iara looked at her with concern.

"Come on, sis...don't cut us off. We just want to help you."

"I just need to be alone."

"Keith's been asking about you!"

"I'm not surprised. But does Professor Hastings give a hoot?" Alexa asked snidely.

"Uh..."

"Thought not," Alexa huffed.

"It's hard to tell with him, to be honest. How do you put up with him?"

"No idea," Alexa replied simply. "But I doubt he'd miss me if I don't come back."

"Alex, it's only temporary! And it's not even for discipline, it's-"

"It might as well be a punishment," Alexa sighed. "Erma was right...I've gone too far in attacking Rhythmi like I did...I'll bet Rhythmi will say I'm to blame at tomorrow's meeting..."

"So you HAVE listened to mum?" Keenan asked in puzzlement.

"Just because I didn't communicate with anyone, it doesn't mean I never listened to what was going on." Alexa sat herself up and looked at Keenan; he instantly noticed how drained she looked. "At any rate, I kind of shut myself off from everyone to think about what happened yesterday. I needed all the time I could get."

"Looks like you didn't invest any time in sleeping."

"I didn't, no."

"You stayed up all night?!" Keenan asked in horror.

"Yeah. Haven't eaten anything today either."

"That's just idiotic!" Keenan exclaimed.

"It's appropriate, given I was stupid enough to give Rhythmi a shiner," Alexa shrugged.

"Starving yourself won't solve anything! Come on, you just need to work things out with Rhythmi! Keith thinks so too!"

"Yeah, I know," Alexa sighed. "I'm not really looking forward to tomorrow's meeting, even though I don't really have anything to lose anymore."

"You don't know that..." Alexa sighed and gave a weak smile to her concerned brother.

"You're right, I don't. I'm sorry I worried everyone."

FWP!

Keenan suddenly held onto his sister in a cuddle. Alexa held onto Keenan gently and smiled warmly at him.

"I'm just happy that you're back to your old self again," Keenan said happily.

"Yeah...me too. By the way, there's something I've been meaning to ask you. How did you get blood on your shirt?" Keenan's eyes widened in horror; he'd forgotten about the dirtiness of his shirt.

"Uh..."

To be continued...