Ray woke up to a noise he couldn't comprehend as it was what ripped him from his sleep. He couldn't get a full night's rest nowadays. Ever. It was pitch black, meaning Ray had only gotten a few hours in.
He heard it again over the perpetual patter of heavy rain hitting the ground and roof, this time more pronounced; it was a chilling groan that sounded of pain and suffering.
"Can't be serious..." Ray sat up to peek out the window. It was even darker outside, and the thick rainy mist made it more difficult to see, but he could faintly make out the silhouette of a person, and as his eyes adjusted, he could see that there were multiple. "There's really nowhere to go…" Ray watched them lurk aimlessly, somewhat resembling normal beings, but their motions were listless. It would be risky to try and sneak away, but that would be his and Crystal's safest option since they were outnumbered.
Ray left the window and got off the bed to get his pistol. He didn't want to wake Crystal yet. He flinched and clutched his chest upon hearing glass shatter, feeling his heart drop, skip several beats, and about burst through his ribcage.
That had to come from the Mart next door, which meant they could break into this house next. They'd only just shattered that window, though, meaning whatever phenomenon this was— dead bodies rising from the dead, was very new, and they would soon roam in droves.
Ray looked at Crystal. "Agh… I can't leave her by the window." He set his firearm on the bed for a second and picked her up, waking her in the process. He let her front paws drape over his shoulder and hugged her back with one arm to hold her up, his pistol in his free hand. "Sorry, sweetheart, we have more trouble outside." Ray took light steps to the front door to ensure it was locked, then crouched beside it to listen.
A part of Crystal wanted him to set her down so she could have a sense of freedom, control, and direction, but she still felt disoriented and had to gather herself more.
Ray leaned against the wall while waiting for a sign that the infected would try and force their way into the house, but the constant impact of rain and frequent thunder didn't make that easy.
But he soon heard footsteps by the door, causing him to hold his breath and hug Crystal tighter. They had to get out of this region. At this rate, he and Crystal would be dead in less than a week.
He went completely stiff after hearing more shuffling and moans nearby. It was harder to stay calm in a perilous situation than he thought. He figured he would have been more than prepared for this, but everything besides his mind was frozen solid. Ray had to try to keep his composure so he could make rational decisions.
Crystal twitched her ears upon hearing the noise and shut her eyes to scan, holding it upon sensing so many entities. Every last one was dark red. A pure evil that made her shudder. She quickly opened her eyes and exhaled upon release. There were over twenty, which told her any action that wasn't leaving was beyond a questionable one.
This was it. Ray felt his heart thump and breaths start to quicken that he was still able to keep quiet. The infected would likely break the door down, and the scariest part was that Ray couldn't let them lay a hand on him or Crystal. They were likely stronger and faster with the intent to kill. He panicked mentally and knew he would have to find somewhere to hide with her, but how viable was that idea?
"W-We have to hide before they get in," he whispered. He barely wanted to move, never mind think. His mind was scattered. He was still frozen, and his arms shook while holding Crystal.
That was when she knew she had to take matters into her paws. Hiding was an iffy idea that wouldn't last, but they couldn't just run outside either. They needed a second to come up with a plan. Crystal wriggled her way out of Ray's hold and glanced back at him while walking to the hall.
"Crys–" there was a loud bang on the door, causing him to flinch again and snap out of his fearful state. Ray scrambled up and followed as she trotted into the next room, which appeared to be a dressing one. There were dressers against the walls and a door in the left corner. "C-Closet." Ray pointed her toward it.
He went and opened it. Many shirts, pants, and jackets were hanging up in rows, so the closet would conceal them to an extent. Ray stepped inside, pushed the clothes aside, then closed the door and sat, putting Crystal in his lap.
She kept silent and faced the door. This wasn't the best spot when twenty or more bodies out for blood would barge in. Hopefully, they'd spread out once inside because she and Ray would have no chance otherwise.
He heard another sequence of thuds and wondered why they weren't just breaking windows. Perhaps the virus wasn't that smart, although it had almost shot Ray, so it could be very smart.
There was only one way to escape this closet, meaning the infected could find and corner them, and if not, how long would they occupy the home? Ray's backpack was still in the bedroom. He hoped they wouldn't tamper with it, but he may have to leave it behind anyway. "We have to try and keep track of their whereabouts. Scan and feel once they're in."
They hid just in time. Ray heard several aggressive thuds, followed by the front door hitting the floor, and knew the infected would find them if enough searched the house at once.
There was a beat of silence before footsteps and heavy wheezing filled the living room as if belonging to an older man, heard easily among silence. They would see Ray's backpack for sure.
Crystal was prepared to burn more holes into carcasses if necessary. She shivered while feeling a grim alteration in the air as an infected closed in by the doorframe, listening closely to every step and gauging the distance, then scanning as Ray instructed. She couldn't pinpoint the group's precise location this way, but many were nearby, telling by how strongly she felt the presence. Crystal would charge a psybeam when this one touched the doorknob.
"Let me know when they're close…" Ray whispered, and moments after, he heard steps enter the room, along with the gross noises they made.
He brought his pistol up and waited for the door to open. The groans eventually stopped before it after circling the room, and Ray could hear every creak along the floorboards, along with one right before it because they were so close.
He saw the knob move and aimed his pistol over Crystal's head where he assumed the assailant's upper body would be. It was crucial that he didn't miss the shot. He got a whiff of the body's pungent stench through the door's cracks and gagged. "Ready…"
One step ahead. Crystal glared at the door and prepared her attack, twitching the fur on her back against the chilling, contaminated air. The inside of her mouth flickered a dull yellow, steadying and getting brighter as she charged the beam. It sounded almost like an airy engine winding up, though not as loud. If the infected wanted to kill them, they'd have to be willing to die a second time.
It was pulled open slowly, and Ray fired twice as soon as a silhouette was in view. The first bullet whizzed past its victim's face, but the second hit them in the chest.
"Esh!" It was hastily followed by Crystal shooting a clean psybeam through their throat, no blood involved. Her backside pressed against Ray due to the attack's recoil. Crystal was glad to have mastered that attack enough to kill on the spot when required. Now, if only she could tear someone apart with psychic.
The body collapsed onto the floor with a heavy thud, and the ruckus had to have alerted the rest. This would get worse before it got better.
"Now, now!" Ray got up while holding Crystal and set her on the floor after stepping over the decaying body, standing by her. If one of them had to suffer the rapids, he wouldn't let it be Crystal if he could help it. He knew there were more infected inside the house, so he wouldn't leave the room— through the doorway, that was.
Ray looked next to them at the closed window, which was their safest option, and he had to act quickly on it. He heard more heavy footsteps accompanied by shudder-inducing screeches closing in. If they hadn't been in attack mode before, they certainly were now.
Ray and Crystal couldn't take all of them on, and he didn't want to stick around to test an outlandish theory. "Out the window." He ran to it and, with struggle since it hadn't been touched in months, managed to pull it upward. "C-Come on, hurry." He waited for Crystal to trot and prime herself under it before hopping out himself.
"Just run!" Ray yelled back while heading towards the city's exit while thunder reverberated and rain fell. She had four legs, so he wasn't worried about her falling behind, but those infected could undoubtedly catch up to him. His backpack was forever lost, but it would slow them down if he was carrying it anyway.
Crystal was right behind Ray, stepping in puddles that muddied her paws and splashed her fur while running as fast as she could while glancing back to see a horde of over thirty infected chasing them, mainly men and women, but a few children and local pokémon as well. The people wore torn, dirty outfits that resembled what the miners of Oreburgh once wore.
She never thought she'd see this actively chasing them. It was something out of fiction, and Crystal had sat through a few films when they watched them with Ray's mother. They usually didn't end well, either.
Ray saw the horror behind them too and had no idea how to lose them. He wiped his brow and eyes from beads of water that dripped as the rain hit his head. It was unfair. How was one supposed to survive this? He had a few shots in his pistol and no magazines on him. The odds were against them twice over.
He looked around for anything that could help them escape. There were homes all around, and they were passing the museum, but Ray trusted nothing here, and hiding was impossibly risky. Who knew how many infected were occupying Oreburgh?
They were approaching Route 206, the straight gated bike road that stretched for miles they had taken to get here. It would be like running a marathon, and Ray couldn't do that, nor could Crystal. In fact, he would have to slow down or stop soon to catch his breath. His chest burned with every huff. He hoped Crystal wouldn't tire either, as they couldn't afford to lose their current pace even slightly.
For minutes on end, Ray ran down the bike path's dampened dark road. His legs were numb, and the forlorn souls wouldn't stop pursuing. He looked back to see Crystal panting and barely keeping up. "Crystal!" Ray slowed and let her catch up. The moment she did, he scooped her up and held her against his chest while running faster than he could, struggling not to trip over his numb legs.
He'd broken a heavy sweat even under the rain. His shirt and collar were covered in it, and his breaths heaved and hitched. They were headed back to Eterna City, and he still would be lost as to how to outrun the infected. Just their luck, more would be waiting for them. It felt like his legs would give out at any moment, and Ray wouldn't look back at the horde at this point, his heart pounding and everything on fire.
Crystal saw multiple closing in and would beam them if they got too close, although her attack's recoil could throw off Ray's balance. Many bodies stumbled and fell over repeatedly while chasing but immediately scrambled back onto their feet.
If she were more confident in her abilities, Crystal would try and force them back with telekinesis, but she wouldn't want it to go awry again. Exploding their bodies wouldn't be bad in this situation, but there were several possible outcomes, and now wouldn't be the best time to experiment.
Ray squinted upon seeing two figures fall into his vision, one massive that he could make out, ahead in the distance but couldn't stop.
Great. More trouble.
He then heard a loud blast and saw a fast projectile source from the large figure. It startled and nearly caused him to lose balance. The confusion increased once the projectile passed him, and Ray heard what sounded like water hit something behind him.
"Keep hydro pumping!" he heard and slowed his pace to look behind him.
What he saw made him stop in his tracks. The infected were being assaulted with a continuous blast of high-pressured water. As Ray closed in on the shadows he saw and came to a halt, he made out a blastoise and what had to be its trainer standing beside it.
Since the workers' bodies were decaying, the water melted their skin and tore them apart in seconds.
Ray fell to his knees and wheezed while clutching Crystal, his legs quivering. He couldn't catch his breath and felt dizzy enough to puke or pass out. He had never run that far a day in his life, so his body was freaking out.
The person walked and stood before him, and he eyed their black boots. He had no energy to defend himself and Crystal. He would have to hope whoever this was wasn't hostile.
"Needed assistance?"
Now that Ray was close and could focus on something that wasn't running for his life, he made out from the voice that she was a girl, although his ears were ringing. He'd assumed that pokémon was the same blastoise he and Crystal hid from, but this girl's voice sounded higher. He couldn't really tell.
The person knelt and studied Ray and Crystal under the faint moonlight. "You mind dropping the gun?" she asked, and he did.
Shooting her and a colossal blastoise wouldn't be an easy task, and truthfully, Ray needed all the help he could get.
"Thanks." She kicked it out of reach and stood. "Are you infected?"
"Not... th-that I know of," he replied between breaths, looking up at her enough to notice straight auburn-colored hair resting over her shoulders. She looked roughly his age and wore a black utility belt holding various items, a holstered pistol, short black leather sheath holding what he assumed was some kind of blade against her hip, and a pouch. She wore dark jeans and a jacket to blend in with the night.
Crystal had looked her over as well. She licked her maw and had stopped panting, shaking out her dirty paws, though her breaths were still quick. She was glad they'd been saved. As much as Crystal hated for the idea to cross her mind, they would have died otherwise.
"We'll see." There was a pause. "I guess... I'll take you and your pokémon somewhere safe for the night." She reached a gloved right hand down, which Ray gripped and pulled himself up while releasing Crystal.
The glove felt abnormally warm, almost hot, and she grabbed his pistol with it after helping him up. Why she trusted that he didn't have the virus and touched him and his equipment, Ray didn't know, but he didn't even have it in him to ask.
"Jenna. You?" She started down the path toward Eterna and motioned for the blastoise to follow, turning a dial at the bottom of her glove. Ray lagged with Crystal, which forced her to slow her pace.
"It's Ray. Uh, thank you for saving us…" He was a lot more grateful than a simple thank you. Maybe he'd be able to express his gratitude later.
"What's your little one's name?" Jenna looked at the espeon. She didn't trust Ray but didn't feel uneasy so far. Still, she kept her distance and was ready to pull the pistol on her belt if necessary.
"Crystal… It's been her and I for the last few months," Ray replied. It felt odd conversating with someone. Surreal, actually. This was his first genuine interaction with another human since his mother had sent him off.
"I get it. I only have my brother and a pokémon of my own. Hydro here belongs to him." She glanced back at the blastoise trudging along. "By the way, that pistol of yours won't get you far anymore. I've figured that out myself tonight too..."
Ray assumed Jenna was referring to the virus' recent evolution. "I've noticed."
"We've been studying the virus back at base. We know it targets the respiratory system, but then it seems to branch out and just wreak havoc... No one can pinpoint its behavior or the effect its mutation has on us. We aren't even sure how long the virus stays dormant before its host begins showing symptoms, but we get general ideas as we go. I haven't seen them travel in groups like that yet, though. I'll have to share that info with our doctors... Wish we had scientists."
Ray had nothing more to say, but this info was interesting. He just felt relieved to be going somewhere safe and what sounded sophisticated, especially when a seemingly friendly girl was taking him there. He hadn't been at rest for a long time, so the word base kind of excited him.
"We do know this virus hates heat. It's why I keep the insulated glove on when I'm out. It reaches up to one-twenty Fahrenheit if I dial it, so I can touch items or people that may have rapids. To be safe, we still disinfect constantly, and I only touch what I have to."
In over an hour, Jenna had led them into Celestic Town, and the rain had stopped. "We have a section of this town to ourselves some miles down, including the Pokémon Center." She shrugged. "We just call it the Celestic Base. No one bothers us but potential virus carriers begging to get in and some bodies recently, but we have a ton of weapons for that."
Ray glanced at her, then down at Crystal. Weren't they potential virus carriers? He wouldn't say a word about it, as he needed this aid more than ever, but now he wasn't sure what treatment to expect. Ray looked up at the usual abandoned skyscrapers and buildings, some with vines and leaves covering the walls. The town's trees were overgrown and needed some tending to, with leaves and branches pressing against windows and having broken through several.
"I assume you've searched like every building here?" Ray was surprised he hadn't come across this base when he and Crystal walked through Celestic. Then again, they'd stuck to the outskirts.
"Pretty much. It's not the smallest town, but we do rounds several times per week in a certain radius for safety. It mainly helps prevent people from scouting us." Jenna realized how much she'd been running her mouth to someone she didn't know and shouldn't be. She had really spilled throughout the entire walk here. She was generally talkative, but she didn't know where this guy came from or who he could report back to. Jenna had to control herself.
It didn't take long for them to reach a large, reinforced metal wall built between two structures east within the town. Barbed wire lined the top with two platforms attached to both ends of a scaffolding that two armed people currently stood on.
"Stay," she told Ray and approached the wall. "I'm back. It's Jenna!" she said upon approaching.
One of them shined a flashlight on her, then behind her on Ray and Crystal. "Who's your friend?" the man asked, leaning over the railing.
Ray shielded his face with his arm from the powerful beam, and Crystal winced.
Jenna didn't want this to be a big deal. "Just get them tested. I saved them earlier."
The man switched off the light. "You shouldn't be out this late, and your brother was strict about bringing in more survivors. It's how places like this get eaten from the inside. We've done a lot of work here."
"If you want to tell Chris, be my guest, but debating with me outside the gate won't get us anywhere."
Ray was tense. He didn't feel good about how this would turn out and wouldn't want to get Jenna in trouble. He saw the man disappear and pull up the wall moments later. Ray could smile while watching it, but he wouldn't dare.
She looked back. "Through here."
He followed her and stopped a few steps in, watching a soldier wearing an outfit that looked exactly like what Ray saw back on Route 210 scan the inside of her wrist with a white device and check its screen before letting her go. He then heard the wall close behind them after Hydro entered. Besides working streetlights, interiors of buildings he saw with more lights, and people casually walking the streets, it looked like the rest of the city. There were no vehicles congesting the roads either. They must have cleared them out.
The base was Sinnoh's final stand, robust with four staunch main makeshift walls on the north, south, east, and west sides guarded 24/7 by armed soldiers. Strong barbed wire steel walls surrounded and closed off the rest of the perimeter to keep outsiders from wandering in. It did great for what it was and provided a decent quality of life. Food, water, clothing, and more are filtered in from around the region by designated soldiers qualified and trained for the field. Everything brought in from outside the base was processed, tested, and cleaned in labs thoroughly for and from traces of the rapids. There was always a small chance something could slip through, but it was a risk that had to be taken.
The base's citizens were as happy and comfortable as one could be under the circumstances, and most tried to drown the rest of Sinnoh out and enjoy the gift they were fortunate enough to have, unlike the millions that had passed or were murdered.
Children and pokémon frolicked in the proximity of adults that conversed with each other, people walked the roads past soldiers on shift with rifles in hand, making rounds on residential streets and through vacant commercial areas other than a few stores in use, including a few armed and suited machoke and gallade.
Other citizens helped reinforce walls around the base, clean weapons at indoor stations, trim greenery and wash windows, and keep areas clean and safe through neighborhood watch. Everyone was expected to do their part to help keep things running.
Crystal's eyes were everywhere, meanwhile. She saw pokémon and people living carefree, which almost excited her. It looked as if the pandemic never occurred here. It looked like a safe space.
A clefairy followed a little girl around while her parents talked with friends, ensuring she didn't get into any trouble, and a pichu followed behind two pikachu, who followed behind a young man that entered an apartment complex far ahead.
Crystal wouldn't come in here expecting to make friends but seeing something that resembled civilization brought her warmth.
"Congrats. You're safe. You're out of my hands and in Jan's for now. You'll be tested and quarantined in a dedicated room for the night so we're certain you have no trace of the rapids. If you don't, you two will see me tomorrow… or later since it is tomorrow." Jenna waved them off while leaving while Ray faintly returned it.
"This way," Jan said. He had short blonde hair, wore a black bandana over his nose and mouth, and wore an outfit like the rest of the soldiers. He resembled a rough man with a rougher past. He helped oversee and direct soldiers and daily routines as a trusted friend of Chris. Everyone answered to him except for Chris and one other.
Ray had heard his voice come from behind and walked east with him along the wall's outskirts, noticing the same sword with a black grip Jenna wore on his belt. He received glances from many people along the way that could tell he wasn't a familiar face. Hopefully, he wouldn't feel and be treated like a complete outcast here. From Ray's knowledge so far, new people didn't seem to be welcome.
Crystal looked around as they walked through double doors and down a lit hall with white tile and many more. She wouldn't let her guard down just yet. Crystal felt odd about Jan, and the bandana made it difficult to see his face. Maybe she was still on edge.
"You'll stay in here until our testing proves you aren't sick." Jan stopped at a reinforced metal door and took out a key, unlocking and opening it before stepping aside.
Ray saw a bed in the corner dressed neatly with a white blanket and a restroom on the other side. There were no windows. He entered and set Crystal on the floor, turning to face Jan.
"Head doctor will be with you soon."
"I appreciate the room–" Ray replied but was cut off by Jan shutting the door, hearing it lock. All he could think of was collapsing. He hadn't gotten much sleep, ran more than he ever had, and had a near-death experience with Crystal tonight. Ray sat on the bed. His body was vibrating, and he couldn't take another step.
Crystal joined him and sat on the edge. She was fatigued too but didn't feel she could sleep without knowing they'd be able to stay. Then again, this may be the only time she could without worrying about being awoken by an infected or murdered in her sleep.
Ray lay back on the bed and sighed, reaching his hand down to touch Crystal's tail before letting it fall onto the mattress. "Glad you're still with me."
She glanced at his hand and stood, walking and lying beside him. She outstretched her legs and sprawled on her side. She was, too. Running down that road still felt unreal looking back on it, and never again did Crystal want to experience anything of the like, but she expected worse if they had to go back out there.
The only thing Ray was bummed about was his backpack. It was likely contaminated now, and he'd never step back in Oreburgh. He wasn't sure what to do about supplies if he and Crystal couldn't stay, so Ray would have to hope to Arceus they didn't have the rapids.