The Patron Quadrilogy: The Legend Begins

Chapter 55

Friday, October 20th, 9:36 p.m.
Brimstone Pub

May woke to the sound of rapid knocking at the door to her and Brendan's room. Along with the sound, she felt a sense of dread that some part of her mind was telling her was familiar, but at the same time it didn't feel right.

"Guess I fell asleep," she thought, wiping her eyes, and finding them dry. Whoever was at the door kept knocking, as though they were trying to bash the door down. It took her a moment but she heard a muffled voice, and she recognized it.

"May! May! C'mon, wake up! Please! Open the door!" It was Max. She knew something was wrong and she got up, flinging the door open.

"What's wr-" she was cut off by Max hugging her, which surprised her, and made her even more concerned. He hadn't hugged her in years, and even then he only ever did it when he was genuinely terrified.

"It- it's Harley! He appeared in Littleroot! Brendan and the others went to face him. C'mon, we have to get you out of here."

"Get me out of- why didn't they wake me up?"

"Brendan didn't want to put you through anything else," Max explained. "He's sick and tired of seeing you suffer because of Harley, so he's determined to make sure you and him never meet." He tugged her wrist. "C'mon, Green Bonnie and Claire are waiting."

She paused for a second, reflecting on everything she'd been through because of Harley. She saw the faces of Soledad and Drew flashing through her mind and she clenched her fists. People died trying to protect her. She was sick of it, and she could feel Kyogre smirking. She was done being scared.

"Max, I'm not going," she said firmly, pulling her hand away.

"Don't be stupid!" He growled. "C'mon, you need to get away from here!"

"I need to face him, Max," May wasn't going to relent, but she knew Max wasn't going to, either.

"AND I NEED MY SISTER!" He shouted at her, tears streaming from his eyes.

"He's scared for me," May thought. She put a hand on his shoulder and used her free hand to take off her bandana. "Max, you and I both know we have jobs to do. I need you to do your job, and I need to do mine. Please. Do your sister a solid and just go do your job."

"But-" he was cut off by her handing him the bandana.

"Here, hold on to this for me. I don't want it to get ruined. And I'll be expecting it to be in one piece when I come back for it."

"...You promise you'll come back?" Max sniffed.

"I swear I will." She wondered if Max thought her response was hollow, and wondered if she could've put some more confidence behind her voice.

"I know you have to go... And that I can't stop you.... But I still don't-"

"I know," she said. "But, there's no other way. This has to end, and if I just run, it isn't going to. And I refuse to lose anyone else."

"Just... Be careful," Max begged as he turned to run for the hills. May had a light grin on her face.

"Same to you." She took a deep breath, and went was about to go upstairs, but instead decided to go to the roof.

"I need to find Brendan," May thought. "And then we'll take on Harley together. Kyogre, I need your help finding him."

"Focus your Aura and try to detect his. You've spent plenty of time with him so it shouldn't be too hard, mortal."