Chapter Four
A Surprise Gary
The life in the cave was extremely boring and lonely. Ash was dying to know what was happening outside, but he wasn't allowed to go anywhere. Since he and Melissa where the ones that fought the grunts in the forest, everyone agreed that they should be the ones that went out the less. Unfortunately, the only time Ash went out, a week after they arrived to the cave, he was recognized by one grunt and chased for about two miles, before he and Gardevoir were able to Teleport back to the cave. After that, Ash was forbidden to leave the cave. He gave up after another week of fighting, and he finally agreed to stay in the cave. He had to settle with the news that Misty, Brock and Melissa told him. He was beginning to feel really useless and stupid.
One day, two months after their arrival, Ash, Misty and Brock were in the cave, since Melissa was out to get food. Ash was beginning to get worried, although these days, he got worried and anxious almost all the time. Melissa had left almost 5 hours ago and she still hadn't returned. He could tell that both Brock and Misty were worried as well, but they didn't say anything. Finally, when Ash was about to say something to his friends, Melissa appeared at the entrance of the cave. She was carrying several things in her basket and was looking very excited.
"What happened what took you so long?" asked Ash running towards her.
"I was getting the food, and guess who i saw?" she answered leaving the basket in a small table and sitting in a rock. "Gary Oak!"
"Gary???" asked Misty clearly shocked. Brock and Ash exchanged looks.
"Yes, he was in the supermarket. But that's not the important thing. When he was about to leave, two men in suits walked towards him and told him they needed to ask him some questions about his grandfather"
Ash felt a feeling of excitement in his stomach. "Well we need to know what they're going to ask him. We need to go right now."
"Wait", said Brock looking at him. "You're not going to go anywhere. I'll go with Melissa, you stay in here with Misty."
"Ash you know you can't go out, you were recognized the last time", said Misty with a sad smile in her face.
Ash turned around, avoiding looking at any of them. Not only was he hoping he could go out of the cave, but he was looking forward to spend some alone time with Melissa...just the two of them...
"Okay", said Melissa holding Gardevoir hand and giving the other one to Brock, but Ash was faster. Running towards her, he took her hand and, before he knew it, he was out of the cave and in a small, narrow alley.
"What the hell is wrong with you!?" asked Melissa letting go of him. She was red in the face and was looking at him angrily.
"Mel, I just wanted to...common..."
Melissa turned back, put Gardevoir back in her Pokeball and started walking towards the crowded street. Ash caught up with her, smiling. They didn't talk until they reached a tall, intimidating building.
"It's here, I heard them saying they were taking him here. I've been here before; it's like a Police Station. Come," she said holding Ash's hand and walking to an alley next to the building. She send Gardevoir out again and grabbed her hand. Then she turned around and faced Ash. He was glad to see she was no longer angry, but she seemed rather happy and excited. She held hands with Ash and they stayed a few seconds looking at each other. His heart was pounding strongly and he could tell he was sweating. Finally the alley vanished and they were in a room with a lot of chairs and a small coffee table in the middle.
"We're in the fifth floor," she said to him, letting go of his hand. Ash looked around the room, waiting for Melissa to put Gardevoir back in her Pokeball. When she did, she grabbed his hand again and together, they walked to the door. The hall was empty, so they were free to walk it without any fear of being discovered.
"Look for room 578", she told him. Ash thought they had walked around twenty minutes before they finally reached the room. It was at the very end of the hall and Melissa opened the door. Nobody was there, and when Ash was beginning to think they had arrived to late, he heard voices coming from a door in the left side of the room. It was half-opened and, while Ash and Melissa walked to it, he felt an odd feeling.
"So you have absolutely no idea of where your grandfather is?" asked a tall, dark man in suit. He was walking around a chair, where Gary was sitting. He was just as Ash remembered him, just that a lot taller. In front of the chair was a second man, shorter than the other one, blonde and wearing black suit and black glasses.
"No I've already told you, I don't know. And can I please go, I'm running late", he said standing up. He turned around, but Ash was too slow. Gary had seen him. Ash looked at Melissa, who was looking scared. To Ash's surprise, Gary did not come out.
"Okay, I have something that might help you", Gary said from the other room. "My grandfather used to love the Sinnoh region. If he wasn't kidnapped, I bet he's hiding somewhere in it."
Gary sounded very calmed, but Ash couldn't see him. He didn't dare to look back in the room.
"The Sinnoh region is very big Gary", said a voice that Ash recognized as the dark man.
"I know, but that's all I have", he said and Ash heard footsteps coming closer to the door. He froze and his heart started pounding very fast. He turned around and Gary was at the door, looking down at him. He (Gary) smiled and very slowly put his hand inside his pocket.
"Listen I know you think my grandpa was kidnapped," he said turning around to look back at the men inside the room. Ash was looking at Gary, surprised at his reaction. "But I bet he was faster and is now on the run."
"Mr Oak you must understand we need to take this seriously," said the voice of the dark man. "And we also think that it would be prudent to take you into a safe place until everything is solved."
Gary turned around again and walked back inside the room. But as he did it, a folded piece of paper fell in Ash's lap. He took it and looked at Melissa. Slowly, he began to walk to the door, holding Melissa's hand. He could hear Gary talking to the men about random things, and he was sure Gary was giving them time to escape. When they reached the door, he and Melissa stepped out into the empty hall and ran back to the room where they appeared. Just when they closed the door, he saw Gary and the other two stepping out of the room and walking the opposite way. He turned around to face Melissa, who was already holding Gardevoir's hand and automatically, he grabbed her hand, still holding the piece of paper, his heart pounding, and his mind racing.
Come on Ross, you're a paleontologist, dig a little deeper.