If I can just save those two…

After returning from the crypt, Rachael and Felix explained to the others what they saw down there, even showing you and your sister’s bags to them.

“I took a quick look at the few bags excluding theirs. They were all empty.” The Grovyle explained.

“If the other bags are empty, and they were hiding this from everyone, I suspect foul play.” Nina stated, her face showing dread.

“T-This is insane!” Vargus spoke, staring at the bags with trembling eyes, as if he’s trying to accept what he sees, but unable to find an explanation as to why the church members would do this. “They said that they’re providing safety and security for us!”

“Looks like it’s more for them, and we’re secondary and expendable.” Neku answered as they all went to gather their bags. “It hasn’t been long since you two arrived, so they might still be alive. We got to find them.”

“But the place where we saw the bags didn’t lead anywhere.” Rachael explained, who’s trying to stay calm, but is clearly worried about you and your sister. “Even if we tried searching around for another way, that’ll still take time and they would get suspicious.”

“I think I know someone who might know where to find it.” Neku stated, getting the group’s attention. “That Gardevoir that opened the door and blasted the infected back, Melanie was her name. She just might know where those two are being held.”

“Yeah, she did save us, but if she knows, why would she tell us?” Felix asked.

“Because she saw what I was doing…” Neku revealed and everyone’s faces lit up in shock.

“What do you mean-”

“You know what I mean.” Neku said, interrupting Vargus words. “She caught me moving the Meowstic from his post when I knocked him ****.”

He noticed the look of worry appearing on their faces, so he adds, “If she wanted to stop us, we would be surrounded by everyone in this church.” Neku then took a look at the location the Gardevoir and Baltoy entered earlier and saw the latter leaving the area, knowing now that she was alone, and this was their chance.

Neku opened the door, and as he expected, Melanie was there, waiting for them.

“I know why you are here-” she tried to speak, only for Neku to rush towards her. “Gnnhh!” she grunted from the impact of the solid wall to her back.

“We found bags that belong to those that were with us, along with many others. What’s going on?!” Neku snarled at the woman.

“I know, and I can help you. There’s no need-“ she tried to explain, but the Zoroark slammed his fist into the wall near her out of impatience. Seeing this, Melanie answers, “Underneath the church grounds, we have created an area for… sacrificial purpose.”

“What?!” the Croconaw and Buneary both exclaimed in shock.

“What do you mean sacrificial?” Rachael asked impulsively before her face went pale as she remembered the bags. “You don’t mean…?”

“We have an infected underground… We feed him in order to protect this place. This was the only building around since the nearby village was destroyed, so they… we wanted to make sure that we were safe…” Melanie’s face grimaced, as if she feels sick just talking about it. “Valorie didn’t want this place to fall so we… periodically would sacrifice a few-“

“So we’re pretty much secondary to your life for the sake of survival!” Felix stated, growling.

“And including children?! Is that all for survival?!” Vargus accused.

“The thought Valorie had was that her brother wouldn’t make it. I tried to argue about it, but she wouldn’t budge…” she stated. “When I announced his arrival, she insisted they couldn’t back down.”

“That’s ridiculous. Infected don’t protect anyone, they act on instinct!” Nina explained.

“I know, but Valorie and the others are convinced otherwise.” Melanie said.

“Enough of that, are they still alive?!” Neku demanded.

“There’s a hidden passage behind the bookshelf. It’ll lead down to where they’re located!” The Gardevoir answers.

“They’re still alive?” Racheal repeated the question .

“Yes, but they’re about to start.”

“Thanks for the info, I’ll be knocking you out for your cooperation.”

“No wait, I want to help you!” Melanie offered.

“No need, we’ll find them on our own, plus you could warn them we’re coming.” Felix stated.

“You can’t, they know everyone by voice. They won’t let you pass. You have to trust me.”

“You may have kept quiet about this, but why should we give you a chance?” He asked, pressing to her hard, making her grunt from discomfort.

Melanie stares at the Zoroark’s eyes, “I want to help those two.” She answered. “Ever since she started doing this, I haven’t really slept, food had lost its taste, I can’t even look at my reflection before turning away in shame… What’s the point of surviving if this is what we have to resort to?”

Neku kept a firm press of his arm on the Gardevior’s chest, but the look in her pink eyes show sorrow and deep regret.

“I’m not asking for your sympathy or forgiveness, it's just that too many families have been destroyed by our actions. I don't want those two to be another victim…”

Rachael listened and looked at Neku, “I… I think we can trust her. Plus she didn’t alert the others of what we were doing.”

“Maybe she just wants to make it look like that in order to stab us in the back to make her look good.” Neku warned, but thinks about how alerting them would’ve gotten her good marks as well. She then lets her go, seeing her brush her upper form. “Just so that we understand each other clearly, I don’t trust you, so I’ll be keeping my eyes on you until I’m convinced otherwise. If I see you do anything that could jeopardize their survival, you won’t live to see the next day.”

“H-Hey, Neku! Threatening her life is going too far-” Rachael called him out on that, but then she and everyone heard something chilling.

“It’s alright if I die tonight.” Melanie responded to Neku’s threat. “By you, by them, or even the infected Pokémon outside. If I can just save those two, I don’t care if I die.”

The group are taken aback by what she said, even Neku blinked a couple times to make sure he heard that before she walked towards the door.

“Follow me. I’ll show you where the hidden passage is.” Melanie told them which snapped them out of it before they followed the Gardevoir till they arrived at the mentioned bookcase. She moved the bookcase to see a wooden plank. The Gardevoir knocked on the door twice, paused before adding a knock, then two more.

“Who’s there?” A voice spoke behind.

“It’s me, Melanie. Arceus created our world and Pokémon.” the Gardevoir responded.

“Melanie, I can’t let you pass, we talked about this.” the voice responded.

“We have a problem. I think the group that the Zoroark came with is becoming aware of what’s going on. They’re asking questions.” when those words were said, things were silent for a moment before the plank was moved out of the way, revealing the Kadabra.

“What do you know?” the Kadabra asked.

“I saw them knock out the Meowstic and enter the crypt.”

“Dammit, I better let Valorie know.” the Kadabra said, turning around in preparation to let the Medicham know before his eyes widened for a moment before collapsing on the ground. The Gardevoir’s hand was black before it and the entire Pokémon shifted into a Zoroark.

“Can’t let you do that.” Neku stated just as everyone came towards him. He turns towards Melanie. “You can find your way through to them?”

She nods as they’re about to move before the Zoroark notices a Nidoking and Nidoqueen with them.

“Who are they?” He asked before remembering how you and Rachael arrived as a couple with children. “So you’re the Nido couple. What’s going on?”

“Our children are missing.” Terrence revealed to them.

“Your children are missing?” Vargus repeated back. “What do you mean?”

“We can’t find them!” Gloria answered, clearly worried. “We looked around, asked those who were around, and either they didn’t see them or said not to worry. We told them to stick together and check back, but they hadn’t checked back in awhile.”

“If they’re missing, then we may know where they are.” Neku stated as he showed them a hidden passageway. “We need to move.”

The two poison types saw the entryway as the Gardevoir headed in and the group followed her to hopefully where you and the missing kids hopefully are.