Chapter 38

It was shortly before the dawn. A ceremonial was being held for Sam who was recently killed by Purple Town in another dark room of the coven. His friends and the teachers along with Mr. Macdonald attended the ceremonial. Redwald thought of leaving the room and letting them be, but Eusine was interested to be a part of it. Redwald thought he would feel more comfortable if Sam’s parents were not in the ceremonial, too. His mother was silently crying, while his father was staring at a point thoughtfully.

“May the soul of this zealous young man rest in peace.” Mr. Macdonald said. “He was a beloved son to his parents, a promising student to his coven. If he lived, he would achieve great things in life. To pay him respect, these are the things he dreamed of all along.” Mr. Macdonald pulled a paper out of his pocket. He was going to read a list of things. He collected all the information from Sam’s close friends in the coven and his family. He read what was written on the paper. Greta was impressed to hear about his wish of being a volunteer Psychic trainer. He really dedicated himself to this job, she thought. Once the list was completed, Redwald could hear Sam’s mother cry slightly louder. “His revenge won’t remain unreciprocated.” Mr. Macdonald was talking to Sam’s mother directly.

“Thank you so much, Mr. Macdonald… for giving my Sam a home here… and a chance to prove himself as he desired… He was very proud of being part of this society…” She said. Mr. Macdonald had a slight smile on his face. “We are proud to have someone as talented as Sam here.” He said.

Eusine left the dark room. Redwald and Greta followed behind. Eusine leaned on the wall. His hands were shaking. Greta held his hand with her two hands. Eusine felt the warmness. “Eusine… Are you alright?”

Eusine seemed uncomfortable revealing his insecure feelings. Ever since, he seemed to be the brave, strong one just like a leader. But now, he was just weak and sad. He stared at the floor, replied. “No. This… this is not right. People shouldn’t be able to kill someone so easily. This can’t be justified.”

Greta knew at that moment there was no way stopping him from accepting the mission that Mr. Macdonald wanted to grant him. She nodded. “We are by your side no matter what. Whether you want to risk your life or not.”

“She is right.” Redwald responded. “You won’t be alone. You can count on us.”

Eusine smiled gently. “I know. We will do this. After all, I won’t be alone. Teresa will be with me all the time.”

Greta let go of Eusine’s hand. Her sincere smile was gone as well. Redwald and Eusine were surprised for a second. Greta turned her back and stepped forward. “We can’t waste any more time. We have to get ready for any case.”

After the ceremonial, Mr. Macdonald invited Redwald, Greta, Eusine, Hadley, Teresa and Lily to the meeting room. Hadley, Teresa and Lily were sitting next to Redwald, Eusine and Greta, respectively. Mr. Macdonald was looking at both sides from Redwald’s right and Hadley’s left. It was a top-secret meeting that would reveal the plan of destroying Purple Town.

“Teresa, Eusine. You will go to the headquarters of Purple Town.” Mr. Macdonald said. “As stated before, Teresa knows where it is, and they will arrive there safely.” He was indirectly talking to Greta after he saw she was about to interrupt his words. “Eusine, show off your Haunter, please. Show them some tricks if you can. Whatever could help you make them believe you. Make sure that they think you want to become a Ghost-type expert and be involved to their coven.”

Eusine nodded. No words needed to be spoken.

“In the meantime, Teresa will have her Starmie with her. Starmie is a well-trained Pokémon. It will drop water and won’t reveal anything. Through the water, we will use Lily here to observe you all the time.”

Lily was staring blankly. Greta felt irritated by her despite of her beauty. “I will do anything to keep you safe.” She said. “If something happens and you need to be warned, I will send signals through my Slowbro. Starmie will feel it and warn you.”

“We are missing something.” Greta interrupted. “How come they won’t suspect that Teresa has a Psychic-type Pokémon in her possession?”

Hadley smiled. “Starmie won’t be visible.” She said straight away. Greta was not quite sure she understood what Hadley said. “What do you mean?” She asked weakly. Hadley responded with confidence. “Purple Town might have experienced afterlife. But I managed to bend the dimension.”

“I can’t follow.” Greta was getting annoyed. “I am not familiar with your voodoo words. Explain me in the most simple way!”

“Keep it down, girl.” Hadley was clearly mocking with her now, as if she was enjoying Greta’s annoyance. “Starmie doesn’t have eyes because it doesn’t need to see. It only feels its environment. We tested it. I sent Starmie to another dimension. It could still stick with us and sense us at the same time. In other words, Starmie will follow Teresa and Eusine, but no one will be aware of its existence.”

“How does Starmie warn them if it needs to, then?” Greta asked. She was wondering why Redwald and Eusine were not as concerned as she was.

“I will feel it and bring Starmie to our dimension at the right time. By any means…” Now, she was talking to Eusine directly. “…if you see Starmie, that means you need to escape as soon as possible. It might be a good idea to not leave hints behind. Don’t make it obvious that you are worried. Just pretend you have second thoughts about this coven.”

“And what is our goal exactly?” Eusine asked. “What are we going to do when we get there?”

“Collect information.” Mr. Macdonald said. “How many members do they have? What do they know about us? Do they know where our coven is located at? How much manpower and strength we actually need to even them? Anything you can think of.”

“What are you going to do, then?” Eusine asked. “I mean, after we collect the information and you gather the strength and power you need, what comes next?”

“We will destroy their coven.” Hadley answered cold bloodedly. “It’s been centuries that me and my ancestors have always been alarmed in case of any attack by Purple Town. Now, they are doing it. We won’t suffer again. We will kill them for once and all.”

“You are not that kind of person, Eusine…” Greta held his hand again. “You are not the kind of person who could be responsible for the death of many.”

“If we don’t kill them, they will kill us!” Hadley stood up. “Are you incapable of understanding the situation, girl? Didn’t you just attend the same ceremonial as I did?”

Eusine pulled his hand. “She is right, Greta.” Eusine said. “I want to save people from those who kill. That’s not wrong.”

Greta felt like she was looking at a total stranger. She failed to see the Eusine she knew all along. The eyes of this man were not Eusine’s. Despite of that, Greta couldn’t ease her feelings for this man. He was Eusine from top to bottom, and she could not get over him.

Mr. Macdonald stood up. “Please let me know when you are ready.” He said to Eusine. “Then, you will leave with Teresa.” Rest of the Dawn’s Hope members stood up as well. They all left the room. Redwald, Greta and Eusine were altogether again.

Redwald left the room to find Mr. Macdonald. Greta and Eusine were alone. Greta sat next to Eusine. She put her left hand on Eusine’s shoulder. She toucher his neck with her right hand. “I am worried, Eusine.” She said. “I am worried to death for you. I don’t want to sacrifice you here, for this. I want to go on my journey. It won’t be the same without you.”

“Don’t worry, Greta.” Eusine said softly. “I will return safely. I have Teresa with me.” He felt Greta was annoyed again. “Even if I don’t make it, don’t you think it is all worth it?”

Greta was confused. From to look of her, she did not agree with him at all. “What do you mean?” She asked, even though she thought it was a useless question. She absolutely didn’t think it would be worth any of it.

“Pokémon journey is not meant to be safe.” Eusine said. “Statistically, at least one of three trainers or travellers die on a journey every year. This is what we bear with. We risk our lives to be involved in the cruel world of Pokémon and nature. If I die for this cause, I wouldn’t regret a second. Dying on a journey is the most honourable act that a trainer like us can achieve.”

Greta was crying. She covered Eusine’s back with her arms and hugged him very tightly. “I don’t care. I don’t want you to die.” She said. “You belong with me. You belong with us, on our journey. You are meant to go with us.”

“We will do that, Greta.” He said. “I will return.”

“Let’s leave this useless place and be on our own again.” She was crying louder. “If I don’t have you, I won’t continue my journey. I will return home and mourn for the respect of you.”

“That would be the most useless thing you could potentially do.” Eusine said softly. “You didn’t begin your journey with me. You don’t have a goal involving me. I have nothing to do with your goal, in fact.”

“That’s not true!” Greta dug her face on Eusine’s chest. “I was struggling with wild life in the beginning. I was even considering returning home to have clean clothes, be tidy as ever again. But you, you changed everything. I was eager to complete this journey only because of you!”

“Greta…” Eusine sounded shocked. He had no idea he had such influence on her. He put his hands on Greta’s shoulders. “I promise you, Greta.” He whispered. “I will be back for you.”

Greta pulled her head back and stared at Eusine in the eye. She was dumbfounded. Did he really say it? “Will you?” She asked. Eusine nodded with a gentle smile like he usually had.

Eusine and Teresa were being checked for the last time. “Stick to the plan no matter what.” Mr. Macdonald said. “Remember that Starmie will always be watching your back in there. So, don’t panic.”

“I want to meet Starmie.” Greta interrupted. Mr. Macdonald looked almost like he was expecting her to say it. Teresa stood up and grabbed the Poké Ball before she pushed the button on it. A purple Pokémon appeared on the floor. Greta scanned it with her Pokédex.

Starmie Water & Psychic type, Mysterious Pokémon with Natural Cure ability. At the centre of its body is a red core, which sends mysterious radio signals into the night sky.

Greta did not seem convinced, but no one expected her to anyway. “You are ready to go.” Mr. Macdonald interrupted. He put his hand on Eusine’s shoulder. “I can’t thank you enough, young man.” He said. “Your name will be remembered in our coven until eternity.”

“My pleasure, sir.” Eusine responded. Teresa held Eusine’s hand. “Let the show get started.” She said, almost sounded calm.

Eusine walked a long hallway with Teresa. The hallway was rather dark, and the walls were brown, reminding underground. They reached to a door. Teresa pushed a green button next to the door. It opened to show an even darker room. “I know where the steps exactly are.” Teresa said. “Hold my hand.” She lifted her hand. Eusine held it. The two walked through the stairs for almost five minutes. After a couple of minutes, Eusine could climb the stairs as if he saw them, because the pattern was regular. But Teresa, despite of that, did not let go of his hand.

“There it is…” Teresa said. Eusine could not follow what was happening. “Urgh!” Teresa sounded like she was pushing something. All of a sudden, the sunlight touched Eusine’s face. He felt his eyes get watery. It had been a while since he felt the sunshine on his skin. Teresa jumped on the ground and reached her hand to Eusine to help him. Eusine held Teresa’s hand and the two were on the ground entirely.

Eusine realized the cover that would lead downstairs to the coven would almost become invisible when Teresa put it back. Because it looked exactly like ground. “That’s a fine job what you’ve done there.” He said.

“Let’s take us to Purple Town.” Teresa said. Eusine almost stumbled. “What do you mean? How am I supposed to know where it is?”

“Not you, Haunter.” Teresa said. “Haunter can bend the dimension and transfer us there. That is what Ghost-type Pokémon are capable of.”

“Wait a second…” Eusine responded. “If you need my Pokémon’s assistance to get to the coven, how did you manage to go there before?”

“I didn’t.” Teresa kept it short and obvious. “Why would you expect me to have been there, anyway?”

“That’s what you told down there.” Eusine snapped. “’Teresa knows where it is.’ That’s what Mr. Macdonald said!”

“I know, but I haven’t been there.” Teresa yelled. “Clearly, you’ve misunderstood some situation here.”

Eusine grabbed the Poké Ball in his pocket and called out the Pokémon, “Haunter, I need your assistance.” The ball popped up and the white beams showed Haunter floating in the air. “Hey, pal.” Eusine said. “It seems we need your dimension bending skills. Could you, please?”

Teresa interrupted. “When you bend the time, you will feel the existence of a place.” She said. “That feeling is the invitation of us to there. Including you, me and your trainer, Eusine. Can you do that?”

“That’s something Haunter has never done before.” Eusine said. “He might try, but it doesn’t mean he definitely can.”

“Ghost-type Pokémon naturally know how to bend the time. Once you feel it, you can carry us along. That’s in your nature. Please, try Haunter.”

Haunter’s eyes suddenly got bright purple colour. Eusine watched his Pokémon using his skills carefully. Teresa stood back of Eusine and held his hand again. This time, she squeezed his hand. Eusine did not respond to that. Teresa doubted he even realized. When Eusine felt a bare smile on Haunter’s face, he knew Teresa felt it as well. Because she stepped forward and gave directions to Haunter. “Follow it, Haunter. Carry us along.”

After Eusine heard Haunter’s cry in the background, last thing he did before he blacked out was trying to help Haunter. The rest was pure darkness with no feeling of existence.

Eusine heard someone calling out his name. He was in a blank place where nothing was visible. He tried to turn around and see something, at least the owner of the sound. Nothing helped. “Eusine! Eusine!” He wanted to turn around faster, he wanted to call out back. He could not.

Soon later, everywhere seemed blurry. In the following seconds, he saw someone looking at him in the eye, calling out his name. “Eusine… Eusine, wake up…”

Eusine felt his senses again. That was Teresa. The leptorrhinic girl in the dark skin. “Eusine, are you alright?”

Eusine pushed himself on the ground and stood up. “I… I suppose…”

“First travel is always harsh. But you have to pull yourself together. We are at the gate.” Teresa said. Eusine then realized that Teresa and Haunter were standing before the gate. It was a dark grey, steel door. It looked longer than two meters. “Thank you, Haunter.” Teresa said, then she pushed the button on the door.

Teresa was nervous. Eusine saw her hands shaking. He held Teresa’s hand to help her feel better. Teresa put her other hand on her chest where her heart was located. “Keep it cool, girl. Nothing is going to hurt you.” She whispered. She made Eusine nervous as well, but Eusine chose to look as calm as possible. Two people about to freak out would only hurt them.

Soon later, the long, steel door was opened. A young boy greeted the visitors at the gate. “Welcome to the secret headquarters of the coven Purple Town.” He said. “Please, come inside.” He turned his back and walked to the hallway. Eusine and Teresa followed him behind.

The inside was quite dark, even darker than Dawn’s Hope headquarters. The weak fire lights on the walls were the only sources of the light. The young boy showed a couch on the hallway. “Please have a sit and wait. I will let our master know that we have new visitors.”

Eusine and Teresa nodded at once. Haunter was right behind them. The two did not have a sit, instead they waited for the arrival of the “master”.

Soon later, an old, blonde woman in a purple dress, holding a walking stick appeared on the other side of the hallway. “Welcome to the headquarters.” She said. Probably assumed by Teresa and Eusine holding hands tightly, she had a smile on her face. “What has brought you two young lovers to our one and old headquarters?”

Eusine and Teresa looked at each other in the eye. Eusine was the first one to speak. “I… I am, sir… training my Ghost-type Pokémon, you see… My Pokémon…”

“Calm down, young man.” The old woman interrupted. Eusine knew he was looking suspicious by feeling excited this much. However, his heart was beating so hard that it could stop at any second. Under such pressure, it was not easy for him to just not feel excited, or whatever.

“Let me take you to my office.” The woman said. “We will have a proper meeting there.” She turned her back right away and began to walk the hallway. Eusine and Teresa were right behind.

Right after turning around the corner, the two saw the old lady entering in an office. Eusine and Teresa, still holding hands tight, entered after her. Inside of the room was relatively brighter.

“Let me introduce myself first.” The woman said after she sat on her chair. Eusine and Teresa sat on the wide couch as well, still very close to each other, holding hands. Eusine wished he could sense Starmie somewhere.

“I am Agatha.” The woman said. “I am the second person in charge of the coven. At the moment, you can’t reach to the first person, I am afraid. Our coven, as you probably know, is for Ghost-type masters.”

“Yes.” Eusine could finally speak. “Yes, madam. I am a Ghost-type trainer. I want to become an expert on Ghost-types. My partner, Haunter, is also very skilled Pokémon. He has been feeling this area for a while now. We took our chance and came here.”

“What about your girlfriend?” Agatha asked.

“I… I am also willing to…” Teresa stopped talking. Eusine cursed himself for not thinking about that. He focused on himself and getting in to get the business done so much that, he totally forgot about an excuse for Teresa other than being there.

“She was uncomfortable about letting me come here on my own. She wanted to be with me. I hope that’s okay, though…” Eusine said. He knew it was not a good excuse, but that was the best he could think of.

“That’s very unusual.” Agatha said. “I must confess, considering my old age, this is the first time I see someone doing that.”

“What can I say? We are very fond of each other.” Eusine said with a big smile on his face. He felt he was getting better at lying and playing his role. He suddenly felt much more comfortable about being this Eusine.

“I miss my old days with love and such sometimes.” Agatha said. “Despite of being useless and holding me back.” She stood up and walked to the front of her desk. “However, first things first… Let me test you what you are capable of so far. Maybe we can test your girlfriend, too…”

Eusine played it according to the rules. “I would be delighted, sir. It would be a pleasure for me if you accept me as your student in this academy.”

“We are not an academy!” Agatha responded unpleasantly. “You still have many to learn, but that’s okay. Who teaches the young people some manner and attitude these days, anyway?”

She held Eusine from his collars and pulled him up. Eusine stood up. Teresa did the same. Haunter floated in the air. “Call your Pokémon back in its ball.” Agatha said peevedly. Eusine quickly grabbed his Poké Ball and pushed on the button. The Poké Ball opened up and called the Pokémon back inside.

Agatha walked outside of her office. Eusine and Teresa followed her behind. She walked down the stairs on the other side of the hallway. “Don’t fall behind.” She yelled, not looking back. Eusine and Teresa almost ran to reach her and walked down the stairs. The downstairs were much brighter than the upstairs. The whole hallway was covered with steel doors like the one at the entrance. Eusine felt something wrong with this. He was unsure what to do about it. He only held Teresa’s hand, almost like giving her some confidence about himself and followed Agatha as she asked.

She pushed a button next to a steel door. The door opened with loud friction sound. Teresa had to cover her ears to that annoying sound. “Go inside.” Agatha said.

Eusine looked inside. There was nothing in there. Only the cold grey floor and weak lights on the white walls. Eusine was not sure what to do in there. “Why would you—?”

Before Eusine finished his sentence, the old woman pushed Eusine and Teresa very hard at once. Both Eusine and Teresa were shocked that such old lady as Agatha could be this powerful if she wanted to. Eusine and Teresa found themselves on the cold floor of the tiny room. Agatha pushed the same button again and the door closed very quickly.

“What are you doing, sir?” Eusine yelled from the inside. Agatha chuckled. “Did you really believe you could trick me? My coven? Did you think we would take such amateurish and naïve bait and surrender to Dawn’s Hope?”

Teresa punched the door as hard as she could. “Let us out here! Dawn’s Hope will know we are in danger, and they will be here in no time unless you let us out!”

“Bring it on, young girl.” Agatha said. Neither Eusine, nor Teresa could tell what Agatha exactly did, but after a sound that reminded of a gasping, Starmie became visible in the tiny room.

“I am sorry that I can’t send a message to Mr. Macdonald.” Agatha said. “Because you won’t be able to see him again. But still, he will receive the message correctly once you two are gone for good.”

Eusine saw that Teresa was losing her control entirely. She punched the steel door one after another without a break. The punches caused an extremely loud sound echoing through the hallway. “When I get out of this box, you, old woman, I will come and kill you in person! Did you hear what I say?!”

But there was no answer, which led Teresa to punch the steel door more and more…

Humans

 * Redwald Walker
 * Greta Parker
 * Eusine Hunter
 * Mr. Macdonald
 * Hadley
 * Teresa
 * Lily
 * Sam
 * Sam's Parents
 * Agatha
 * A member of Purple Town

Pokémon

 * Teresa's Starmie
 * Lily's Slowbro (mentioned)
 * Lily's Slowbro (mentioned)