Pokémon Mars

Chapter 48: Depression

Nyx was woken before her alarm by flashing red. A spine-chilling roar followed it. It no longer sounded like a trapped monster, fighting to break free of its grave as it rose from the dead, but one that was finally free. Zorua was already on the windowsill. It whacked itself in the head with the blind as it tried to open it. Zoroark sometimes sighed at its mischievous big brother, but it opened the blind for both of them. It pointed. Zorua was already scrambling back onto the bed by then. It jumped on Nyx's head.

'Nyx! Nyx! Wake up!'

'I'm already getting up, Zorua!'

'Come quick!'

Feraligatr was curious. It peered around Zoroark. The blinding red flashes dimmed to an eerie pink glow that shone over roofs as it moved slowly from the epicentre of the lingering light. Zorua wriggled free of Nyx's arms once they reached the window.

'Look!'

Its paw waved at a lone figure on the street below. Nyx expected Racer or Courtney, but it was Alec, facing the direction of the light with a determined scowl.

'Shit!'

Zorua scurried after Nyx as she ran to the door. Firmino was groggy. He rubbed his weary eyes.

'What happened...?'

'The weird light's back and Alec's out there on his own!'

'Oh, shit.'

He frowned. 'He was in the elevator last night. And the night before that. Once, OK, but isn't his mom watching him at all?'

The door shut before Nyx heard him. Natu was still in the elevator, pressing their favourite button, the one that opened the doors. It trapped the elevator on the ground floor. Nyx ran down the stairs. She panicked that Alec might have boarded a train already, but Mercury was there, gently directing him back to the building.

'Come on. It's early. Go back to Mom and Meg. Y'all can go out together later.'

'Poop.'

'It's not "poop." There might be weird stuff out there.'

'There's nothing weird...'

'Morning, Alec.'

Nyx tried to give him a reassuring smile. He tried to smile back. It became a genuine smile when he saw Zorua.

'Hi, Zorua!'

Like his father, he could speak to Pokémon. He heard Zorua ask what he was looking for.

'I wanna find my daddy and his friends.'

'Sorry, li'l dude...'

Mercury couldn't look Alec in the eyes then.

'But it's gonna be a long, long time 'til you see Daddy again...'

Sonnet, wearing Mercury's Shadow Force t-shirt, removed Natu from the elevator and placed it back on Alec's head. He looked surprised.

'Who are you?'

'My name is Sonnet. And you?'

'Alec.'

He paused. 'You're cool. My Natu likes you!'

'Really? I'm flattered!'

Nessie answered the door right away. She pulled Alec in. He tried to wriggle free of her embrace, but it was too tight.

'Oh, thank you, Mercury... and Nyx... Alec, dear, please stop running off like that... I was so worried...'

Megara sat with Bulbasaur on the couch. Nyx waved. She didn't notice. Alec sat beside her. He prodded her arm. She didn't notice that, either. Nessie sighed.