The bitter air of the night seemed too freeze Silver once he stepped outside. He knew what he was to do, but was unsure how to go about it. He left his grandmother a note saying that he was spending the night at Rick's house.
That, of course, was not his plan.
Clutching a ticket to a private charter, Silver dashed along the empty alley. Few people were out that night, as the temperatures had hit a record low. That, and the new curfew set into place by the police.
It was supposed to "keep crime on thin ice", but Silver just saw it as another insipid attempt to tighten the city's grasp on the people. After all, nobody wanted Team Rocket in the city again. The last encounter left half of the city ablaze from the inferno set off by their pokemon. But what was the use? If you block the roads, they will come from the sky, if you seal off the sky they will come from beneath your feet. And if you sealed off the oceans, the trains, the cars, the planes, they would come from the inside out.
But Silver did not care. All he knew was that he had to get to the other side of the city before six- thirty A.M. It seemed like an easy task. After all, how hard could it be to follow the road? Just run on Midnight Road before and take a left a the Pokemart!. So he decided to keep going. The police weren't going to catch him. He was as deft as a cat! As swift as an eagle! As silent as a spider!
Before he ran into the trash can. Silver bellowed a loud curse, which caught the attention of some unwanted friends.
"Who's there? I demand you show yourself!" came a voice.
Silver crawled out of the wreckage, brushing some debris off of his shoulder.
"This is the Goldenrod Police!"
"Of course," Silver whispered to himself.
"Come out or we will be forced to become-"
"Why, hello officer!"
The officer seemed a bit startled at Silver's sudden appearance.
"What are you doing out this late? Don't you know the curfew is in effect? Every citizen locked in their houses at ten!"
"Oh, my mistake sir," said Silver. He kicked his shoes on the ground lazily, looking as innocent as possible. Dumb curfew, he thought. "I was under the impression that the curfew started next week, the fourteenth."
"There were notices all over the city, sir, and I have a hard time believing you were unaware of such changes," replied the officer tartly.
"Hmm... Pity," said Silver. "Well, officer, I am sorry if I had bothered you today. I'll just be headed off to my house now-"
"Yes, yes, of course, but could I ask you a question?"
"Anything for a noble serviceman like yourself," replied Silver sweetly.
"What is your name?"
"I don't know."
"Pardon?"
"Austin, sir. Austin..." Silver thought rapidly. He did not want to use his previous last name nor his current. Or the one he used the previous night too escape curfew. He was glad the officer was not the same.
"Brooks."
"Austin Brooks?" said the skeptical officer.
"Uh... yeah that's me!"
The officer gave Silver a long, scrutinizing look.
"Hmm... Well that's curious."
"What is it, your lawfulness?"
"You fit the description of the man my friend busted last night."
"Big city, there is bound to be some look-alikes," Silver responded, trying not too look nervous.
A third voice interrupted, "Or maybe just one good liar."
The voice stepped out of the shadows. Silver's euphoric attitude just dropped to one of despair in realization of the obvious cliché. The officer from last night emerged, face red hot with anger.
"This is him?!" exclaimed the first.
"Bet your Bellsprout it is," seethed the second. "So mister 'Wilson'... How would you like the rest of your night in county?"
"No, it's okay."
"But you lied to an officer. You're coming with me."
"Umm, no I'd rather not," Silver replied. And then he bolted.
"Stop, crook!!"
Silver was already on his way by the time the cops gave chase.
"All units, scramble! We have a rouge on Midnight Road! I repeat, all units scramble!" Roared the officer into his mike.
Silver chuckled too himself as he sprinted along the alley. Nothing like a run at night, right? He continued on his way, dodging trash cans and the occasional Grimer. In the distance far behind, he heard the barks of Growlithe the police had sent. Silver was fast, but Growlithe were faster. Thinking quick, Silver decided the best move here would be to swerve. In and out of backyards and roads, Silver's erratic path dumbfounded the hounds, and soon they were all over the city, desperately searching for the renegade on the loose.
"Aha!" Silver panted, "the Pokemart!" It was quite a ways off in the distance, but he could arrive in time.
With no time spared, he stepped on the gas, ripping through the city even quicker than before. When the Mart 's aromas of potions and cleaning supplies reached Silver's nose, he knew he had to make his turn. But the dogs were in hot pursuit. Even if he made it to the pier, by the time he found a hiding place, he would have become kibbles. Oh well, he thought, no harm trying.
Silver slammed hard left at the mart and, almost loosing his footing, sprinted with all of his might. The dog's howls were getting louder by the second, and with the pier in view, Silver just kept pouring it on. His heart was punding with the almighty force of fear and exceitment. All that was keeping him upright was his adrenaline. He could see the sea, the docked boats and the lighthouse, now. He was about there, but now he could hear the Growlithe's snapping of teeth and snarls of hunger.
There it was! His feet stepped on the wooden dock, and Silver made an almightly, last- ditch leap- straight into the icy water. The dogs screeched to a halt, and all collided to produce a heap of fur, fangs, and fire. Silver's jump into the water had nearly stopped his heart, but he still managed to smile. A smile for his achievement, and narrow luck. He turned and swam across the water, and collapsed onto a small sailboat. All with the serenade of yelling dogs, and confused citizens back on the solid, arid earth.
