Left to Rot
Author Notes: It's been awhile! December was the last update day so time to have some fun...with trauma! Now as usual I do not own Pokemon.
Diary Entry 3
Should I start with the good news or bad news? I suppose it's automatically good that I am even able to continue my writing, but it's nothing compared to the events that have undergone since my last little log.
I guess doing the real bad one first gets it out in the open. Like ripping off a band aid right? Unfortunately this set of news, despite my attempts of lightening the mood is too big for even the most expert of healers to fix.
They broke through.
It happened late into the night, five days after my second entry. I had been just so busy running around that I ended up falling asleep as soon as I hit the bed instead of writing after that day. Which was why it was a miracle I woke up to the screaming when it happened.
Finnia won't tell me the details but they were there when the fences surrounding us collapsed. I remember rushing out the door, being greeted by their tear-streaked face as they told me to get what's important and run.
Things were a blur as I grabbed at my bag full of essentials, something I gratefully had not bothered to unpack. People were shoving and screaming through the doors, my ears ringing as pokemon and weapons came out.
Chaos ran rampant as the infected dragged their decaying bodies forward. I saw the eyes of a reanimated nidoran tackle a person to the ground, biting their neck viciously. Just one of so many other lifeless yet aggressive husks-seeking the flesh of the living.
All that fell died, just to join their pack of killers. It was horrible and terrifying. Due to panic everyone ran in different directions. Supplies were scrambled after, what power supplied to phones and other communication devices now on a limited battery.
Things feel so bleak. Even if there were no limitations, there's no one I can call for help. My family is far across the vast seas unaware of the dangers I volunteered for. It's better that way, knowing that they're safe, but fear still reigns in my heart.
But...despite all that, there is some good news. Some light in the darkness that threatens to end me. I'm not alone. Finnia, myself, Lillian, one of Lillian's assistants named Mimo and lastly the little girl all survived and found each other after everything.
Additionally, the little girl-may I be so joyful to brag-finally talked to me, telling me her name was Aurora. It happened during dinner on our second day after the invasion. I was on food duty, chopping away on what little bits of food we found in the wild.
At first I felt nervous, reminded of the origins behind the infection but Lillian had assured me. So long as the food growing out in the wild-even if it was touched by an infected, was cooked, it would be safe.
All the rations we had been storing and eating back at the base were what were gathered after the crisis began so I relaxed a little. It was while I was continuing with my work when I heard the sound of a pokeball being released. Then a gasp.
When I turned around, I heard a happy chirp, and a light-weight smashed into my chest. "Veee!" My partner looked so happy and proud as he snuggled against my chest. No matter how much I missed seeing my little eevee, Hero, out of his ball-he couldn't stay.
I was ready to scold him, ready to tell him to go back into his ball, when little Miss. Aurora apologized. Apparently she saw the ball in my bag and let him out. The rest of the adults watched on, not sure what to do or even say to the circumstance.
"It's not safe for him to be out." I said that in my most calmest of voices-or rather the calmest I could muster. I didn't want to yell at her. "But he misses you. He doesn't like you to be in danger either." As if agreeing with her, my backstabbing Hero chirped, leaping out of my arms to snuggle with her!
It wasn't fair! I had not one, but two adorable looks being sent my way! And NO one wanted to help me explain why he had to go back into his ball. I was left trying to be the bad guy for all of thirty seconds before giving up.
One would think after seeing the nightmarish things she had, Aurora would be afraid of pokemon. Instead, she was a ball of sunshine that brightened our days. When she wasn't following me like a lost mareep, she played with Hero, as if he reignited the embers she lost.
Lillian not too long after told me that her grandmother, before she passed, was an eevee breeder and that the one pokemon her parents had who protected her was actually a sylveon. A small ironic world.
A pokemon from the eevee line took away her voice. And another gave it back. That was my Hero, always helping people in need. Though I don't think either of us expected him to be carried around like a pokedoll, he didn't whine or grunt a complaint if it made Aurora happy.
Something I was grateful for as it's been a long time since he's been on kid duty. And of course with me being his owner, that meant the reinvigorated chatterbox clung to me like a Komala does to its log.
She acted like a little sister seeking attention. Quite the contrast to how she distanced herself from everyone. Even her own relatives. "Silvia was my best friend. And you wore the same type of keychain Nana had." She told me story after story of her life before her parents died.
Her aunts and uncles, despite their worried tones-were actually pricks. Only invested in the family business-rather the inheritance Aurora would be getting since her grandmother had put her and her parents to be the ones receiving it.
Apparently they didn't even like pokemon. Instead they wore smiles like a fashion accessory. Which also explained why she kept looking at me but didn't try to start a conversation.
"I'm sorry for not talking to you before-I just didn't know if you were a nice person yet. If you have an eevee who loves you-then you have to be good."
On one hand-I really wanted to point out the flaw that just because a pokemon liked someone-did not mean they were a good person. On the other I really couldn't blame the kid for her innocent train of thought.
Being so young, it made sense that she had little experience with those who were filled with fake kindness. Unlike me who was so used passive-aggressive people that it made me want to cut off socializing a good ninety percent of the time.
Not that there were any actual socializing with the region as it was mind you. Caution was the name of the game, but damn it my heart felt warm seeing the girl attaching herself to me.
I never had any siblings or close friends growing up so having those bright wonder-filled eyes stirred protective feelings that I only felt when caring for baby pokemon at the center.
And it was a good thing that I had a soft spot since Lillian placed Aurora officially under my care. Hero and I would've taken her under our wing regardless-but being ordered from arguably the most leader-like individual who knew what was going on in the group essentially meant I had no choice.
Glad to know she had faith that I was capable of caring of the girl at least. "You are good for her. Let her shine." No one should be going through such terrible times, especially not her. So I decided that I will do what I can.
Right now the priority is survival until we can find another base not overrun. If we made it out alive, then others did too. Maybe we can get a better idea on the situation and get in communication with others.
Hope was a fragile thing to have here, but I'd rather have hope to motivate me to move and do something than give up and despair in my final moments. As of writing this it is late into the night. A terrible habit at this point but with how this place is...I at least have the time to write.
A fire burns in front of me as everyone is nestled into a uneasy slumber. Hero, of course keeping Aurora company as she sleeps, is wide awake, just as vigil. After everything, it baffles me how Lilian is ok sleeping outside like this.
We're in a little circle sure, and one of us keeps lookout at all times, but I don't feel safe. Never have since the first night if I'm honest. I can still hear the growls and feel the predatory eyes watching us.
And what's protecting us? A tiny fire that I struggle to keep blazing and a bit of powder surrounding our circle. "This is a repellant made to keep the infected away." Lillian had batches on her person at all times, they had even more at the base apparently.
"What is it made of?" I remember asking her that when she showed me how to use it. Its texture is akin to salt or sand and through a little hole atop the canaster, it pours out once a little button on the side is pressed.
At the time she was on duty to reset the circle around base. "It is made out of special herbs and spices we grow. Despite the infected losing themselves, most are still pokemon and all of them find the smell and taste of this revolting."
Before being used against the infected, it was used as a special spice rub only found in Pariya. I know mint is in it, but the rest I couldn't tell by taste or smell, just that it's sickeningly sweet.
"We always had this on hand, and it was only by pure chance that we discovered its ability to repel them." She told me that this spice rub was the only thing that kept the infection from completely decimating the region.
However, there are setbacks, nothing's perfect, unfortunately. First off, it takes time to make this blend. The ingredients, though plentiful, have to be collected and grinded down before getting cooked. Once hardened, it gets grinded down again, creating the strong smell and grainy texture.
For a trained professional it takes hours just to make a small pot full. It could be worse or take longer, but to prevent a region wide decimation, a mini army of locals have to dedicate their days making it. Healers and cooks were especially valuable because they could make this spice rub perfectly with ease.
The second setback-the scarier one is the fact that the smell wears off after awhile, or when it gets wet. So as useful as it is, you have to reset it after a couple hours each day. It was actually what caused Cokoko village to get broken into.
I guess someone, despite the strict schedule and constant reminders, didn't reset the repellant, so once the smell went away, so did the infecteds' reluctance at breaking through the barricades.
One thing I noted while running (though it wasn't until long after I actually thought back to it) was how specific the hordes were with their targets. Which after what Lillian told me, makes sense.
Those who worked closely with the spices and herbs, who ate huge amounts of it to check its potency, were safe. They still ran for their lives, afraid, but if any pokemon went near them they moved in a different direction, or tried killing with their ranged attacks.
But that left the last concern. It bothers pokemon who are infected-not humans. Humans have no qualms with the repellant, hence why the barricades were there in the first place. The repellant kept the pokemon out, while the wired fences and stone walls prevented infected humans from coming in.
Unfortunately, the ratio between human and pokemon being infected was slowly balancing out, which was another reason for all of us in the group to take turns keeping watch. Nothing's happened yet, thank goodness, but paranoia is a good thing to have.
Tomorrow, Lillian is planning on taking us further north. She had a mental map of where to go. But now it was just a matter of us safely getting there. We can't take the roads, so through the forests and unused trails trainers used to travel were what we had to use.
After writing this, I'll need to add more of the rub to the circle. After that it'll be Mimo's turn for guard duty. I can only hope to live to my next entry.
To be continued
Author Notes: Dun dun duuuunnnnn. Of course there will be a next entry...will it be a good one is truly the only question to have ladies and gents. But for now we need to wrap this up!
As per always, everyone and anyone, thank you for reading. If you like this series so far please feel free to fav/follow/review as it always means a ton to me and I will see you next time. Tchao for now