"Pokémon Adventures: Crimson Chapter"

Chapter 0

"Hey, Rein!"

Hearing my name called, I swiveled around, only to be met by the familiar figure of my boss, Mr. Klein.

"Mr. Klein," I acknowledged, masking my surprise with a polite nod.

"Apologies for interrupting your break, but we have a bit of a situation. Hans, who was assigned to finalize the documents for our new project, is under the weather. Would you be able to step in and finish them?" His tone was apologetic, yet pressing.

"No, I'll get right on it after my break, sir," I responded, my voice steady and monotone.

"Fantastic! You're a lifesaver! Who knows, maybe tomorrow I'll be promoting you!" Mr. Klein exclaimed, his face lighting up with relief.

I simply nodded, the weight of his words bouncing off me like water off a duck's back. I turned my attention back to my own business, immersing myself in the familiar rhythm of my break, already mentally preparing for the task ahead.

• • •

"Finally... I'm done," I murmured, stretching my arms upward and yawning deeply.

Glancing over my shoulder, I checked the time on the wall clock.

"10:17 PM?!" I exclaimed, shock coursing through me as I hastily began packing my things.

"Shit..! I'm going to miss the train..!" I muttered under my breath, dashing out of the building in a frenzy, the urgency of my situation pushing me to sprint as fast as my legs could carry me.

By the time I reached the train station, it was already 10:32 PM. Just my luck, I'd missed my ride.

With a sigh, I sank onto one of the benches, groaning inwardly at the unfortunate turn of events. Time seemed to drag as I sat there, boredom creeping in around the half-hour mark.

Glancing at my phone, I saw it was now 11:06 PM. Well, it was clear—walking it is.

Resigned but determined, I stood up from the bench, mentally preparing for the long walk ahead.

• • •

I continued my solitary walk along the empty, dark streets. There was a certain tranquility in the solitude, a comfort in the embrace of the night. I didn't mind being alone in these dark areas; in fact, I thrived in the stillness.

As I walked, I suddenly noticed a shadowy figure trailing behind me. Instinctively, I halted and spun around to confront them, only to find the street void of anyone else. It was as if the figure had dissolved into the darkness, leaving me questioning whether it was ever there to begin with.

But when I turned my eyes to the mirror hanging on the post, I could clearly see the person's figure.

A churn of dread twisted in my stomach, a bad feeling rising swiftly. Panic-fueled adrenaline coursing through my veins, I broke into a run, desperate to escape the unnerving presence.

Yet, the moment I did, the sound of loud footsteps filled the air—echoing with each frantic beat of my heart, a terrifying reminder that I was not alone. The chase had begun.

I pushed my legs to run even faster, desperation fueling every step. Finally, I reached my apartment building, bursting through the front door and dashing up the stairs.

As I reached my door, I fumbled with my keys, the sound of the entrance opening below sending a jolt of panic through me. The footsteps drew closer. I jammed the key into the lock, twisting it with trembling hands until I heard the reassuring click.