The Looker Files

By Tonkinese Cat

#1: The Fallers

Part I

Identity

Prologue

Who Am I?

The sand underneath him was cold and itchy. It was the first thing he noticed as he moved his body around and opened his eyes. He was lying on a dark, cold beach, some wooden piers out in the distance. He looked around, seeking any possessions he may have. He saw nothing around him, but feeling around his waist, he noticed a belt with a ball attached to it.

A Pokeball.

What was inside the Pokeball, he had no idea. Surely it was not his Pokeball, he didn't own any Pokemon. So why was it attached to his belt? He left the Pokeball on his belt as he pushed his hands against the sand to force himself to his feet. There was a stiff breeze, so much so that he doubted it was a summer night. He stumbled forward, feeling lightheaded, but knowing that laying on a cold beach at night would not be the best plan to spend the night.

He moved away from the ocean, towards some stone steps in the distance and a path that no doubt led to a town or a city. He brushed the sand from his jeans as he walked and rubbed his hands up and down his arms, trying to warm himself up. He scolded himself for not having dressed warmer, with only a pair of jeans and a thin, short-sleeved t-shirt to keep him warm. Once again, he considered the Pokeball on his waist. Perhaps it was a fire type, and he could use it to keep warm.

He stopped in his tracks, sighing.

His head was spinning with questions he had no idea how to begin to answer. Why was he freezing cold on a beach at night? Why did he have a Pokeball on his waist that he didn't recognise as his? And speaking of his Pokeballs, that led to the most important question.

'Excuse me, lad,' An older, calm voice broke out over the darkness.

It took him a second to recognise where the voice was coming from, until he saw a man dressed in a large, buttoned-up brown overcoat and black boots. His salt and pepper hair seemed to glimmer in the moonlight.

'I was wondering if you could help me - I'm looking for someone, only he may not know that I am looking for him. There's a good chance he's you… do you, erm - happen to know where you are?'

His mind raced on how to respond. Should he talk to the stranger who might be looking for him? Could he even trust this person? What if they were out to harm him?

Fight or flight…

And in an instant, his decision was made. He bolted away from the man, running up the stone steps as fast as he could. His muscles screamed in protest and he dared to look back as he approached the top to see the man in the overcoat chasing him up the steps, looking flustered and angry.

He broke into another sprint, barely even registering where he was going. He passed through two streets and a small lane, before breaking out into the outskirts of a city. In the distance, the skyline was dominated with large skyscrapers.

He crept behind a stall selling clothes undetected. The stall owner, an older, short woman was leaning over the other side of the stall, counting the change of a few late customers. He took the opportunity, swiping a fluffy, blue hoodie and putting it on once he turned into another alleyway, thankful that he was now warm enough to stop shivering. He searched his jeans pocket for any money or food, but found nothing but a wrapper for some gum.

He leaned against the alley wall sighing.

What is going on?

Still groggy, the confusion of the events of the last ten minutes swam around his mind like fish he couldn't quite hook onto a rod. He was in a strange city he didn't recognise and some people - including the man in the overcoat - were trying to find him.

A shadow drowned out the light that had leaked into the alley.

'Don't be alarmed - we're not here to harm you.'

He started; it was the same man, in the overcoat. Moving backwards in a dead-end alley, he tripped over a trash bag and fell over.

'W-who are you?'

He considered the question, then rephrased it.

'Who am I?'

The man knelt down and extended a hand, smiling.

'You are a Faller. We are the Lookers. Don't worry, you're safe now.'

He took the hand being offered.