No One Gets Left Behind!

Sounds of paws and feet pattering the dirt ground sounded through the tunnel as a line of uninfected Pokémon rushed ahead, with you leading the line with Neku, Felix and Melanie right behind. With the infected close behind, you must make it to the end of the line before they do.

“Almost there, everyone!” Melanie exclaimed as you can see a passage coming up on you fast, “It’s still open!”

“Then that means they drove the psychic’s off!” Neku added as you three entered the room. You can see that inside was Rachael and Terrence who were looking at you four with relief.

“Rachael? Thank Arceus! Where’s Kate and Nina?” I asked urgently.

“They’re safe and not too far. We wanted to make sure it wasn’t more of the infected or hostile Psychics.” The Buneary answered, pointing at the ladder to those who were arriving.

“Everyone, climb up there and we can get out.” The Nidoking told them.

The group hurried to the ladder and started climbing, struggling not to step over the other while some leaped up, floated, or jumped up for it.

You turn back the way you came and your eyes widened when you saw the infected in hot pursuit. The door was closed as you saw Felix and Neku gathering the stuff around and blocking the door.

“To buy us any time!” The Grovyle explained as he, Neku and you pressed against the door, feeling the strong impact of multiple Pokemon charging forward, trying to push through.

The area was becoming less crowded as more Pokémon exited the room with Terrence being one who left leaving only Rachael, Melanie, Felix, Neku and you. Sounds of wood breaking sounded from the other side as the infected tried to break in.

“We gotta go, like now!” Rachael stated, using her strong legs to hop up to the platform without the need of the ladder and headed out through the opening.

“It’ll get harder to keep the door back as more Pokémon leave.” Felix pointed out.

Just then, a strong impact knocked you away from the door. You turn around and see cracks forming on the door, a few of them you can distinguish the purple gaze of the infected. You pushed your fear back before you went back to the barricade, forcing the door closed once again.

“Felix, you go first! We’ll be right behind you.” You told the Grovyle, who looked at the two of you for a moment before he headed towards the ladder, though he used the scattered items to hop all the way to the top of the platform before staying there. Melanie was heading towards the ladder, but then heard another crash as she turned to see the door being damaged again, and you two pushing back against it.

“Melanie! Get up there!” You called out, struggling to keep the infected Pokémon back as you turned your head to the Zoroark.

“Okay Neku, you go now!” you told him.

“Are you crazy?! What about you?!”

“You, Melanie and Felix will cover me as I climb, no go!” You told him while giving the Zoroark a stern face. The Zoroark didn’t argue any further and bolted towards the ladder.

The infected charged against the door and pushed you forward once more. You recovered quickly and pushed against the barricades, but with just you holding them back, it was a struggle to get the stuff back where they were, though you managed to keep them back as you pressed your back against it, watching the ladder. The second you move they’ll push through the barricade in a matter of seconds!

‘I’ll have to use agility to rush for it!’ You thought as you prepared to use it, but then you felt a really hard slam knock you off your paws. You groaned and were about to get up until you felt energy nearby and you turned and saw a magic protect bubble right at the doorway. It was then that you realized that Melanie was using it, while still being below the platform.

“Get out of here, Rai! I’ll hold them back!”

“Why are you still down here?!” I shouted at her, “You’re supposed to be up there, you can’t move while using Protect!”

“I’ve let this happen, many died and I didn’t do anything to stop them other than talk and did nothing when it failed. This is my way to atone for my sins.” The Gardevoir stated, feeling the infected slamming against the now dislodged door.

“Are you insane?!” You shouted in disbelief of what you are hearing, “They don’t want to just beat you up, they’re going to **** you and/or just eat you!”

“I know, but I am a coward who left others to the same fate!” Melanie exclaimed, tears running down her face. “I deserve this and you know it!” she stated, “Please go, and don’t worry about me. I saved you and your sister, so I have no regrets.”

You gritted your teeth when she said all that, you wondered if that was the reason why she was quick to use Healing Wish before and was about to use it again if you didn’t stop you. Even if she was ready to sacrifice herself, that isn’t what you want.

You could attack her, but you’re not confident you could knock her out in one strike, plus you would have to carry her on you and that would be tricky, especially with the infected on the verge of breaking through.

You then got an idea and looked at Neku in the eye and quickly looked at Melanie and you put your finger up before heading towards the ladder and climbing up.

“Wait, is he really going to leave her like this?” Felix asked, wide eyed.

“No, he’s not.” Neku said confidently as he got ready.

You were right at the top of the ladder as you looked at Neku. “Do what you must.” You spoke out loud.

“Take care of each other.” Melanie stated, her focus on the door that she didn’t notice the Zoroark coming down and landing silently behind her as she closed her eyes.

“Arceus, I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me for-” She was unable to finish her apology as felt a strike from behind her. Her vision grew dark as she fell forward to the floor, Neku catching you before you landed.

“You could consider yourself lucky. Rai doesn’t want unnecessary sacrifices.” Neku stated as he headed to the ladder, just managing to get on it as he heard the crashing and smashing of objects, no doubt the infected broke through.

“Keep them off me!” Neku shouted as you and Felix worked together to attack the group with long range attacks in order to cover Neku’s climb. As he was nearing the top, you took a look outside and saw that you were in some kind of tower with only a rope to help you down with some bushes near the wall.

“Do we have enough time to climb down?!” you asked, knowing the infected are close as Felix slipped down, using his talons to make it down safely. ‘Showoff!’ you thought seeing him flee.

“Just gotta take the fast way down!” Neku’s voice sounded.

“What fast way down?” You asked, trying to think of how to get down fast. “Neku?” you called out his name as you turned to him standing a little distance from you.

“What are you doing?” you asked as you saw him bracing himself and it was at that moment when you realized.

“Neku, no! Wait, at that height is going to-huuurrrtt!” You cried out at the end as the Zoroark tackled you, sending all three of you tumbling down from the tower and right into some bushes with a thud.

You and Neku groaned from the impact as you stared at him with anger. “What the hell is that for?! Payback for me accidentally sitting mmph!” Neku covered your mouth with his paw.

“Quiet idiot, you want them to find out where we’re hiding?!” Neku growled low, staring sharply with his red eyes just visible in the dark bushes.

You cease movements of your mouth as you start to hear thumps nearby, guessing that some infected were trying to look for you.

You steel yourself to keep yourself perfectly still, not wanting to make even a twitch that could risk exposing the three of you to the group. The only thing you can hear is the infected growls surrounding you.

‘I’m a literal mouse surrounded by a bunch of hungry predators…’ I thought, biting my lips in order to keep them from chattering. Even a single noise could alert them, you fear even the beating of your heart could potentially draw them out.

You try to calm yourself as you resort to breathing through your nose in order to keep quiet. As you do, you notice the wind picking up as you hope it doesn’t carry your scents and exposes you. As the wind subsides, you notice a couple of leaves starting to tilt downward. You start to sweat as you hope that they do not fall off which was quickly snuffed out as they do. They gently floated downward as your eyes followed their movement insistantly as they landed…

On your forehead

On your nose