Complete Mess

Chapter 19: Explanation

Complete Mess

Chapter 19

Explanation

Lake was glad she was given a jacket now. The wind bit her as they started to ride. It didn't seem to bother Emmet, and he didn't seem to mind that she pulled his jacket around herself in an attempt to keep her face warm. She pulled her hat around her head and ears more securely. It was like he sensed her cold and leaned farther down on her and pulled her closer. He even gave off a soft chuckle and smiled down at her.

"It's like you're a small caterpillar." He told her, and she smiled up at him. Did he just imply that she's going to look pretty someday? Nah...

Lake heard a small giggle from the Stantler next to them. She looked at Akari who smiled at them.

"She's so young, what happened?" Akari asked. Emmet was about to open his mouth to speak. It was Lake who answered first.

"My parents were killed by a mad man. I was placed with an orphanage until I was placed with a family. It happened a lot at first. Each family was either hurt, or they died. I thought nothing of it till just recently. The foster parents I was currently with apparently worked for the man that killed my parents. My dad had found an old emerald mine out in the country. They want it. They want the map..." She yawned and shook her head.

"They can have it...I just want my..." She stopped herself. She curled deeper into Emmet's jacket.

"You want?" Emmet asked. Was she ready to admit it? Would she say it...? Emmet and Ingo weren't too sure about being parents. There was no mother and they had no prospects.

"Nothing..."

Emmet just hugged her tightly for a moment, but then pulled away once again. Not much he could do but wait for her to feel comfortable enough to say it. Oh how he and Ingo were ready when she was. But she had been pushed into a corner all her life, walking out of it for but a moment is scary.

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Ingo could feel the soreness returning to his sore limbs he had been shoved, kicked, and punched. He was sure he would have a shiner in a few hours. He looked up at the man in a tailored outfit. He blew smoke into Ingo's face.

Coughing racked Ingo's frame. It took a moment for the air to come back to his sore lungs.

"Ah so I see you approve of our...nice hospitality then Mr. Subway Boss?" He chuckled, putting his cigar back into his mouth and he blew the smoke through his nose as he sat down in front of Ingo.

"What do you want Deeds?" He had heard his name being passed around with the men on several occasions that afternoon.

"I see...so you aren't aware that your brother, the girl, and some unknown brown haired woman have been spotted riding Statler pokemon heading our way through the pass?" The man asked.

"A...brown haired girl?" He obviously had no idea what he was talking about. They didn't leave town with some girl? Perhaps someone who knew the way?

Deeds snapped his fingers and a tablet was placed into his hands by a red haired woman who stood there in a nice suit.

"Ah, here we are." He held up the tablet.

"Akari!" Ingo cried out.

"You know what else?" Deeds asked, holding up the tablet once again.

"Charges have been lined along the pass. If you don't tell us what you did with the map...we'll just...blow the snow that has lined the mountain pass. That's a week's worth of snow my friend." He chuckled.

Ingo felt shocked, this man was playing dirty and he didn't like it. His aching heart hurt. He knew he didn't want to do what he was going to do, but if he did it Lake's map and his precious family would be gone.

Ingo hung his head and sighed.

"They have it, the girl. I grabbed it from the bag and threw it on the floor before I slipped into unconsciousness."

Deeds' laughter echoed within the cell. He pulled back, handing the tablet back to the woman.

"Ah, I see. Very clever." Deeds leaned down next to Ingo's head. "Telling me, thinking I just won't blow those charges and pull the map from her cold dead fingers." Deeds sly chuckle rang in Ingo's ears.

"NO!"