The Final Dream

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???'s POV

"What a great job you have been doing.", said Malva.

"I only followed your orders."

"How close are you to reaching our goal, exactly?"

"Before the end of the year. I would be able to do it by then, if my calculations are correct."

"Very well. I'll expect more of you, Agent 349."

"Yes, assuredly."

"Just make sure you have a plan that works. I have wasted much time with a bunch of useless people. So, better not disappoint me, Calem Xavier. Or should I call you by the mask you use?"

"That will not be necessary, Malva."

"Good. Farewell, then.", she said as she hung up.

I placed the phone on the countertop and sat down. Malva had assigned me the mission months ago, and I needed to finish it sooner rather than later. I had a plan, however. I just needed to check out the situation and the person I had "convinced" to help me. After all, I wanted everything to come together. Before that, however, I would need to fix my connections to smoothen out things.

"Hello, Mariana, have you paid the actors?", I asked.

"Yes, sir. I have also curated the things you asked me to."

"Let's see. Have you talked to the spies?"

"Yes, I have."

"The equipment?"

"I have."

"Good. I will call you later if I need you."

I sat back down. It was stressful with my plans reaching the "setting up" stage, but I was delighted that it was going well. It would only be a matter of time before I succeed in this mission. 

I opened my laptop and started looking through the documents that I had obtained. They were related to the people I needed to disappear to complete my plan. After all, it would be quite unwise to go in blind. I combed through the numerous files, wanting to find a connection between them. My eyes widened as I found one.

"My, my. They're in a relationship, huh. This would make things interesting."

I started formulating a plan as I sipped my cup of coffee. Malva had recruited me a few years ago, right before the attack on the Lumiose Conference. I had narrowly survived in there, thanks to her. I had devoted myself to support Team Flare after that, carrying out missions for the group. I'd risen the ranks to become an admin after these years, and if I complete this mission, Malva had promised that I would be her successor.

She had been planning this attack for a few months now, using her position as an Elite Four Member to get information directly from the Pokémon League, helping us adapt to the League's plans. If this attack succeeds, then Team Flare would finally achieve its dream, which is why I needed to not fail this mission. It was the most important mission out of all that she had assigned, as the two people I needed locked up were the most dangerous for our plans. 

Suddenly, my phone rang. As soon as I saw the name on it, I rapidly picked it up and answered, panicking.

"Hello, what is it?", I asked nervously.

"You may want to come to the hospital."

I picked up my bag and hurried out the door. I needed to come there quickly. When I arrived, I rushed to the room.

"What happened?! What happened to Marina?", I frantically inquired.

"Please, sit down first, Cal—"

"What happened to my girlfriend?!"

I covered my mouth and sat down. I looked at her. Her face had gotten paler than before, with her hair turning into ash-grey due to the mysterious illness she'd had for three years now. A tear fell out of my eye as I gazed at her. I had celebrated our anniversary alone three times now. Hope that she would wake up one day had slowly diminished in that time. I managed to muster a weak smile as I faced her sister, who had been staying with Marina whenever I wasn't available.

"I'm sorry for the outburst. I-I just...", I sighed. "I really don't know anymore. I've waited for a long time wanting to receive good news, but I haven't really gotten any."

"It's alright. I can understand. You love her too much and you can't stand looking at her like this.", she replied with a distinct sorrow in her voice. "Honestly, it's a miracle that you're still by her side. Other people would just leave her, but you didn't. You stayed. My sister is very fortunate to have you."

"I suppose so.", I responded as I stared blankly on Marina's face. "So, what happened to her?"

"Well, the doctors said her illness had progressed even further than they had anticipated. They...They're giving her seven months at most."

"Seven months before she dies?", I questioned in disbelief.

"Seven months before we have to let her die. By that point—"

"No! I'm not letting her go! Tell them to do anything they can. Please.", I pleaded as I caressed Marina's hair.

"You don't understand, Calem. She's the one who's suffering. Do you really want to prolong it just so you can stay with her forever?"

"I...I'm gonna go now.", I said as I walked out the room.

I walked back to my house, this time slowly. My brain was still processing what she had said, while I kept trying to deny it. Surely they're wrong, right? What if it's a mistake? My mind explored every possibility that kept me away from the thought of her passing away. I wanted to forget about everything, but I just couldn't. There was the hypothetical "what if" nagging on my thoughts. 

I collapsed on the bed, exhausted and wanting to sleep. A stream of tears flowed down my face as I remembered the days when my girlfriend felt alive. The days which my naïve mind had thought to be everlasting, but alas, it came to an end when she was struck by that mysterious illness of hers. We had been friends long before we started dating each other. She was smart and sweet. Her happiness was unmatched and her energy unparalleled. She was perfect for me. 

Now, five years had passed since we became boyfriend and girlfriend. We were fourteen at the time when she accepted my proposal to be her boyfriend. It was my first romance, but now, it seemed like it would also be a devastating heartbreak. 

I wondered if fate was even true. If this was just a cruel manifestation of Arceus' will. I could not contain the sadness inside my heart. She'd taught me to never be selfish many years ago, but now, I simply couldn't let her go. The happiest days of my life abruptly ended, and ever since then, I had wanted to recoup the lost days of us together. But now it seemed like it was time to face reality. The reality that I would have to give up on the last dream that I had. The dream that I would see her open her eyes and smile one more time.

I wiped the tears and lifted my face away from the pillow, now drenched in the tears I had cried out. I needed to be tough while I was on this mission, as Malva was helping me pay Marina's medical bills. It would be a sort of thank you for her if I completed this mission. 

I went to the bank to collect some of the money she'd sent me for the hospital charges. I was incredibly grateful for the monthly payments she was giving me for Marina's treatment, which only solidified my loyalty to Flare. I walked up to the bank teller and asked to withdraw the money deposited to my account, which was under my fake name to draw away suspicion. My mask, as Malva called it.

"Understood, sir.", the teller said. "Please tell me your name and input your password on the device over there.", pointing to a machine on my left.

"Oh, uh, Melac. Melac Esreverni."