Darkside

Chapter 17: Holding On

DarkSide

Chapter 17

Holding On

What now? At least that's what Emmet thought as he followed his brother as they continued on through the streets. The Chandelure ahead of them, they had rode a taxi to the outskirts of the city where they had stopped after the Lycanroc signaled to them that they should and now they were walking. At least their jackets and hats were waterproof seeing as this storm wasn't showing any signs of letting up.

It had been three days now since they had begun their search. Emmet had noticed what a toll it was putting on his brother. At first he suspected it, but now it was obvious. He was blaming himself for what had happened.

Emmet hated the look at his brother's face. The Lycanroc sat down. Emmet bumped into his brother as he too had stopped to look at the very large house they had stopped at.

"This is odd..." Ingo said looking over the familiar building. They had remembered it from their youth.

"Looks like Clarity's parents might have bought the place after our parents owned it." It was very possible since this was a high social area, but with very few large buildings save for the ones closer to the mountains. There was a huge cottage on top of the mountain that was visible from there. It was apparently owned by the governor. Or at least that's what they were told.

"It's going to be...weird." Emmet cleared his throat before slowly walking around the house toward the cellar door. At least that's what they called it.

Slowly they picked the lock using one of their many omnitools they had in their belt for the subway. Opening the door slowly and looking within.

The room was dark and empty save for a small chair next to a white shelving unit with lots of medical tools. It smelled like someone cleaned using bleach, and lots of it. Aside from the underbite of musty basement smell. The room was freezing, Ingo could see his breath as he walked in.

"Shhhhh..." Ingo whispered before slowly walking further in. Emmet stood by the door. Ingo creeped slowly looking around. They heard the Lycanroc as it whined. Ingo walked over seeing that the pokemon was stooped over someone laying on her side. Emmet watched his brother's posture go from edgy to afraid. Emmet walked over to his brother seeing just what he had seen. Ingo looked over to see a beat up, freezing, and sick Clarity. Ingo leaned down slowly picking up the young woman cradling her in his arms.

Claritys eyes slowly opened, looking up at the man. A tear rolled down her face. Her lips were chapped, and her eyes were sunk in. She looked so confused as she saw him. Almost like she had seen him as a dream or wishful thinking at first.

"Clarity?" The words were soft and almost scared. It was at that moment Clarity realized it wasn't a dream, and Ingo was really there.

"You came for me." Her words were soft and broken. Her lips cracked all over again and blood ran down her lip. The horrified look on Ingo's face caused him to reach into his pocket to pull out a handkerchief.

"Of course we did, what made you think we wouldn't?" Ingo whispered trying to remain hidden although he wanted to go upstairs to give these people a good piece of his mind.

"You threw me away..." She whispered, her eyes fluttered. "I'm not worth keeping..." Her voice was so low and she seemed so weak.

"You are so worth it." Emmet whispered as he watched her eyes flutter closed. "Clarity?" His words almost seemed afraid. "Ingo we have to get her out of here."

Ingo knew his brother was right. He tapped his earbud and slowly made for the door.

"Officer Jenny..." Nothing...the area was closed off. He was sure something was... He gasped as he heard the alarm overhead. "Run!" He pushed his brother out the door and into the wooded backyard. They would have to get out of there, run Clarity as far as they possibly could before they were caught. Perhaps Elesa could help.