Here's the next chapter! It's a biggie! XD
Chapter 26: Silver Bullets
I ran as fast as I could and rushed back to the power plant. Michelle and Nick were behind me. Even though I?m very tired from yesterday, I was very worried.
?Hey, wait up!? I heard Nick from behind. His arm was still bandaged and even though handicapped, he was faster than Michelle.
?Marina!? I called. My voice reverberated through the empty corridors of the power plant as I still continued to run, pausing a few times and calling Marina?s name.
I stopped, panting, as I leaned down to breathe air. Nick caught up and Michelle followed.
?What?s the big deal with that girl?? Michelle panted with an annoyed tone.
?Michelle, you shouldn?t talk like that. Gary, what if she went outside from here and we didn?t notice?? Nick suggested.
I shook my head in disapproval. I looked up and noticed something floating.
?Hey!? I yelled trying to catch the floating thing. I quickly recovered and chased whatever it is.
It was dark in there. I could only see shadows even though it was already morning. I felt the cold air as I chased after the silhouette. Thin rays of light filtered down from the holes of the ceiling. I could see the body of the thing I?m chasing. It was metallic and shiny. It was a Pok?mon!
It turned around and stared me with its three eyes. Its three metal parts levitated around observing me. I looked at it and looked back. No sign of Michelle or Nick. I looked back at the Pok?mon and I noticed it formed together to look like one Pok?mon. I took out my Pok?dex quickly and learned that it was a Magneton. Apparently, it has been spying on me since I entered the building. I looked at it again and saw it position for an attack.
I dodged a bolt of electricity coming from it and took out my Pokeball.
?Blaze, use your ember!? I yelled as I released my Charmeleon.
Blaze replied affirmatively and sent out a wave of fire. The attack connected and made the Magneton go back a few feet. But then, it came back with another attack. This time, it fired a tri-colored beam. The beam barely hit Blaze, which raised my heart a bit.
?Blaze, take it down with flamethrower!? I yelled.
Blaze sent out a stream of fire towards the Magneton. It was a critical hit and caused the Magneton to hit the wall. However, the Magneton doesn?t seem to have intent of giving in. It dodged a second flamethrower from Blaze and tackled him.
?Blaze!?
Blaze was thrown back from the attack a few feet away. He tried to stand up since the attack shook him up a bit.
?Blaze, don?t give up! Use another flamethrower!?
Blaze sent out another stream of fire. This time, it was another direct hit. However the Magneton was still floating.
?Why won?t you give up?? I muttered.
I tried to think up a plan to get away but I realized that I was trapped.
?Fine then,? I said as I took out a Pok?ball. I threw it towards the Magneton and watched it fell. It wobbled once, twice, and thrice.
I sighed with relief as I picked up the Pok?ball. I returned Blaze then noticed a figure moving from another room. It was a girl.
?Marina!? I yelled.
It was her. But I could only see her back. I followed her as she moved from room to room.
?Marina!? She didn?t reply. ?Marina! We have to get out of here!? She continued to move to the final room as if not noticing me.
I followed her to the dark room even though I couldn?t see anything but shadows. Once I was inside, I heard the doors slam from behind me.
I looked back and continued once more, my goal in my mind. ?Marina!? I called once more. My voice echoed the dark room. I walked further as the room became darker and darker. I stopped the moment I couldn?t see anything at all.
I then heard a chilling laugh from the shadows. It was very familiar. I?m sure I heard it twice in my life. Every time I hear it, something weird happens. I could clearly remember the cold laughter. I pictured in my mind?a masked man killing my parents and their friends. I tried to think that it was just my imagination but the laughter was so vivid.
?Anyone here?? I called.
The laughter turned into a shriek. I jumped as I felt the hair in the back of my neck rise. Whatever that is, it was really in pain.
I stopped as I felt a wall in front of me. I couldn?t see around. It was pitch black dark and I felt something cold. The wall? No. It was soft like human skin.
?Marina!? I said as I felt her shoulder. Then, the lights were turned on. We were inside of some sort of laboratory. I looked around and squinted. Then looked in front of me. I was shocked the first time I saw something like this. It was Marina all right?but she was wearing some sort of mask. The mask looked familiar. It came to my mind at once that it was the same one worn by the man that I saw in Mount Moon.
?Marina, what are you doing with that thing?? I asked shaking her shoulders.
She didn?t reply. I couldn?t see her eyes from the shadows of the gaping mask. Then came the same laughter from behind her. I looked around her and saw a familiar sight. A weary man covered in dark robes. Long white dirty hair sat softly in his shoulders. A mask similar to that of what was Marina wearing covered his face.
?Welcome?? A sound came from behind the masked man. It sounded a lot like a whisper.
I stepped back, scared, and unable to do anything. It was the same man I saw in Mount Moon a few weeks earlier. I tried to scream but only a squeak came out from my throat.
?Welcome, Gary?? The man repeated. Marina stood silently in front of him. From the dark dreary robes, out came a bony, pale hand that reached out and was placed in Marina?s shoulder. I could see long, uncut fingernails. The hand squeezed Marina?s should tightly as the nails dug into her clothes.
?Who?who are you?? I stammered.
A soft laugh came from the man. ?Don?t you remember??
I shook my head. Even though I couldn?t see myself, I knew my eyes yielded terror. Another soft laugh came from the man then a soft moan of pain. He coughed and choked but then regained his voice once more.
?Don?t you remember that night?? He asked.
I didn?t move and didn?t say a word.
?How foolish of me,? He said. ?I never introduced myself.? He turned around and went in front of Marina. I couldn?t see his whole body; it was all covered in a dark shroud. ?My name is Pryce. I believe we have met.?
My heart raced and my palms were sweaty. Could it be the same Pryce I saw in my vision? No, it couldn?t be!
?You?you can?t be him!? I yelled. Even though I couldn?t hear my own voice, I?m sure he heard it. My throat was dry and I could feel the blood running in my ears and into my temples.
?My, quite rude, aren?t you?? Pryce said.
He levitated towards me and now, we were face to face. His icy breath sent chills down my spine and the hollow eyes stared at me. I cowered and tried to stand all by myself. I remembered how he was easily defeated in Mount Moon. Then again, I was thinking that my Pok?mon aren?t strong enough.
?Yes, it is true to what I heard,? I heard a whisper from behind the mask. ?You do resemble your father quite remarkably??
I stepped back as I saw an icy hand reach out and touch my face. It was freezing cold. It was as if the hand was dipped in icy water for a long period of time. The hand ran down my cheek then wrapped around my neck. I could feel the grip getting tighter and tighter. A small laugh came from the man.
?Its so amazing how fear can stop the most bravest of all wills?your fear?it is so great, I can feel it melting my veins.?
I tried to struggle but the grip was getting tighter. I was loosing air quickly. I fell down to my knees struggling for air. Pryce laughed.
?You?re as weak as you father?cowering down as I gripped his body.? Then he laughed a piercing laughter. ?All of you are so easy to kill!?
?You?? I gasped. ?You?you never killed my father??
?I killed everyone!? Pryce shrieked. ?I showed you everything I remembered in my memory. Everything that you have seen from before happened!?
?I?I don?t understand?? I gasped.
?Fool!? He yelled and threw me back against a wall. I could feel a sharp pain on my side as different kinds of glass crashed down on the floor.
?Don?t you remember how I killed them? Or perhaps the memory of your dying mother is too harsh for your na?ve mind??
I moaned in pain as I tried to sit up. But then, I could already feel another hand reaching on me. It was a smaller hand and much softer. Marina grabbed the sleeve of my shirt and raised my up.
?Mom didn?t die!? I yelled. ?She?she?s alive!? I cried hysterically. The vivid memory of my parents, killed haunted my mind as Marina?s gripped tightened. ?Marina! Snap out of it! Please listen!? She didn?t respond.
?Pity fool?? Pryce muttered. ?It?s as if that boy, Silver never taught you anything.?
?What do you mean?? I could feel warm blood trickle down my lips.
?Ah, don?t you remember those wisps that you in Mount Moon before?? He asked.
It dawned in my mind. Those things?I could remember Silver?s words?those things can control minds.
?It?s no use telling my slave what to do,? Pryce said. ?She?s in my full control and she would do anything that I wanted too.?
I looked at Marina and was followed with a quick fist that hit my directly in the face. Then came another punch. Then another. I could feel her punches?they weren?t from someone like Marina. They were more like brick fists or something. Blood dripped from my nose as I gasped for breath. Marina doesn?t seem to show any signs of getting tired.
?Marina?? I muttered.
?Enough!? I heard Pryce yell. ?Have you accepted your fate, boy??
I looked up at him. I tried to fight him or somehow reach for one of my Pok?ball but I was held back by Marina?s inhuman strength.
?Stubborn fool?? Pryce muttered. A final punch from Marina came next.
But then, I heard something crash. I looked towards the doors and saw that they were open. Three figures were standing in front of them. I realized quickly that it was Nick and Michelle. The third one took me time to realize that it was Silver.
?Leave him,? I heard Silver say.
I saw Pryce and Marina look toward him.
?GARY!? Michelle and Nick both yelled. They tried to run toward me but both were stopped by Silver. ?Hey!? Michelle yelled.
?It?s too dangerous!? Silver said. ?Both of you stay back!?
Silver approached us calmly. His large black boots didn?t make a sound. Only the scraping of his long cloak was the sound.
?So Pryce,? Silver began. ?What do you want from the boy??
I could feel a smirk from behind Pryce?s mask.
?Silver, my boy,? He said. ?What a day for us to be together in the same room.?
?Don?t give that kind of talk.? Silver retorted. ?Everything that you did to me and my friends?I won?t be able to forgive you for that!?
Pryce chuckled. ?What did I do to you? All of your petty friends are alive, aren?t they??
Silver grunted.
?What are you talking about?? I yelled. ?I don?t understand all of this!?
Silver looked at me. His silver eyes stared at me. They looked so familiar yet this is one of the few times I?ve seen them.
?Why don?t you tell the boy everything?? Pryce muttered. ?In that way, it won?t be so hard to??
?Shut up!? Silver yelled.
At that moment, I knew he was hiding something from me.
?Do you want me to tell him everything?? Pryce asked with a cruel tone in his voice.
Silver swore Pryce as he lunged forward. His fists were in the air but were stopped as Marina stood in front of him.
Pryce laughed. ?Are you scared? Are you fearful to strike your own rival?s daughter? Yes, this is the same girl that carries your rival?s blood.?
Silver paused then sneered. I saw Nick and Michelle rush towards me in order to help me. Silver looked at us, unable to help.
?So, Gary, would you allow me to begin?? Pryce asked.
?Begin?what??
Silver didn?t move but I was sure that there is something he was hiding from me. My mind raced as I thought. I couldn?t help thinking that is it about my dad.
?Tell me?? I said.
I looked at Silver but he was already gone. He went around Marina, stunned her, and aimed a punch at Pryce. But Pryce caught the punch.
?Hah, very well!?
Silver swore again. ?Gary, don?t listen! You won?t be able to handle it!?
?It began in one cold night,? Pryce said in a cruel voice. ?It was just Silver, your father, Red and three curs.?
Silver continued to punch Pryce but all punches were dodged.
?They were finishing me off?but they couldn?t!?
Silver took out his Pokeball and summoned out his main Pok?mon that I?ve seen a lot of times.
?Feraligatr, hydro pump!? It was a direct hit. Pryce was hit against the wall but continued to talk.
Michelle and Nick were both stunned at the scene.
?Two of the three are weakened. They could just die any moment. That one cur, Toshin? alone standing and using the last of his energy.? Pryce continued.
I stood up even though my whole body was hurting.
?Gary, you shouldn?t stand up!? I heard Michelle said. But I just ignored her.
?Tell me!? I yelled at Pryce.
Silver stopped from attacking Pryce and looked at me.
?Pitiful?? Pryce muttered. ?You have to just know it all by yourself. I must leave??
With that, I could see his dark shroud disappear and his mask evaporate. He was gone.
?NO!? I yelled. I tried to run toward where he was but I was too late. ?Why?why??? I said.
I could feel Silver approach me.
?Why didn?t you let me know?? I yelled at him. I faced him even though my whole face was hurting.
He paused. Behind him, I could see Nick pick up Marina?s limp body. He looked at her passionately as he carried her out.
?You?re still young.? Silver then said. My eyes returned to him. ?You won?t be able to understand.?
?I will understand!? I shouted. ?The only thing I don?t understand is why you people are hiding something from me!?
Silver?s emotionless face turned around. ?Don?t ignore me!? I yelled.
?Gary, just go back to Lavender. Blue?s worried about you.? He began to turn around but then he handed me a white towel. ?Here,? He said. ?You should wipe out that blood off your face.?
I glared at him and refused. I just allowed him to place it in my hand. As he went outside, I felt miserable as I wiped the blood off my face. The scene of a savage battlefield lay around me. I thought about what would have Pryce said as I went out of the power plant.
~*~*~*~
I met Nick and Michelle outside. Nick was carrying Marina.
?Is she??? I asked but was interrupted quickly by Nick.
?Oh she?s fine.? Nick said. ?She?s just a little bit shaken. She?s alright.?
?Are you sure you can carry her?? I asked. ?What about your arm??
?Nah, I?m gonna be fine. Since Michelle here don?t even wanna carry her.? He then looked at Michelle and saw her just ignore him.
?So?we should go back to Lavender town.? I suggested.
I saw Nick nod then Michelle.
?C?mon then!?
All of us went on our way back toward Lavender. After crossing the vast meadow, exploring the dark cave, we managed to go back to the north of Lavender. Then, I heard a faint noise. It was Marina?she was waking up.
?Wha?what happened?? She asked as she rubbed her eyes. She was still in Nick?s arms as she managed to realize what?s happening.
?Thanks,? She said to Nick as she stood up.
Nick told her everything that happened. Her eyes widened as the story progressed. In the end, she was speechless.
?Oh Gary! I?m so sorry I did that!? Marina said as she approached me with the bloody towel still in my hand.
?Oh I?m just okay.? I said, realizing a few cuts and bruises in my face. My left eye was sore, but that was just it.
?You know Nick, Gary could?ve carried her.? Michelle muttered.
?What? What do you mean?? I asked.
?Look?Nick?s arm is badly hurt and you let him carry her!?
?Oh, that?s just fine?? Marina said. I swear I saw her blush at the moment. I looked at Nick and he was smiling.
?Oh well,? I muttered.
?There you are!? I heard Blue yell. ?And where have you all been?? She yelled, as she looked at us, all bloody and shaken.
?Um?nowhere???
To Be Continued
