Pokémon: Rough Water (Sequel to Finding Red)

Chapter 18

Recap:

[Skylar's POV]

I dragged the lady's lifeless body to the farthest cubicle, then tossed her make-up bag beside her. Her face was in a horrible state, particularly her eyes. Leaving a bloody masterpiece on her once beautiful face surely satisfied me.

I shut the door and quickly mopped up any drops of blood that was splattered on the floor. I washed off the blood on my arms, then washed the knife next. My fingerprints were still on it, and it was certainly a problem. Hmm... What to do...

Gold must be tired of waiting for me. I gave one last look at the shut door before leaving the restroom.

Anything's okay if you do it out of love, right? Besides, she was getting in the way... I know you'll try to change, Gold. I know you'll do it for me...

~~~

[Genesis' POV]

Skylar briskly walked out of the restroom, holding the butterknife— a bloodied butterknife behind her back. She maintained a calm expression as she walked back to her table, seeming confident that no one had seen the item she had been poorly hiding.

*flashback*

I could hear her shots firing after one another, but so far none of them had hit a target. The way that she was clicking the trigger, it was too obvious that her fingers were trembling. But this isn't her first time. We've done target practice many times before. Today's session is slightly different, though.

"Enough. We're done for today." I sighed, walking over to the wall and pulled down a lever.

The lights in the room activated, illuminating the wall with the target circles first. None of the targets were hit at all. Her closest hit was about five inches from the edge of target circle. A sudden change in lighting and this happens? I expected more from her. I thought Skylar was one of my best students, but maybe I was wrong.

The lights had been off the whole time. I've trained her long enough to for her to be able to find her way in the dark, but I guess seeing with your ears is another thing.

I know that Skylar wasn't an expert at target practice, however, she can manage to hit a bull's eye if certain conditions are met. A change of lighting in the scenery shouldn't affect her skills this much.

Skylar was staring at the floor, panting with her hands on her knees. The thin fabric of her shirt clung to her skin, visibly drenched with sweat. "I... *pant* I'm s-sorry, I was distracted."

Distracted? That's your excuse? I raised an eyebrow, questioning her words, remembering a certain memory.

*a flashback within a flashback*

'File Selenus II-A, updated. Status: IN PROGRESS AND IT NEEDS MORE PROGRESS!' a voice on my computer rumbled.

I yawned, taking took a long sip of coffee from a silver mug beside my Umbreon, who was peacefully sleeping on my desk. I don't know why Anino prefers to sleep on my desk. He has a bed of his own— a bed that is much more comfortable than the hard flat surface of my worktable.

Ten more files to be updated— it takes about almost an hour for each file— and then maybe, just maybe, I could get a minute of sleep or two...

Time check: 3:21AM

Arceusdamnit, who cares about the time anymore! What's important is that I finish this before our next training session! How can I —