The Feminist Challenge

Chapter 18: One of a kind

Ash pulled over and got out of his car quickly. This time, he was really worried about Misty. Usually, Misty can work out things on her own and is reliable. She doesn't shout help over the phone every day, so Ash was really concerned this time.

He hoped nothing bad happened. Misty wasn't even clear over the phone. She was saying too much at once and mumbling incoherent replies. Ash thought he'd better pay her a visit in Cerulean.

"Misty?" Ash called out behind the locked door of her apartment. He rang the doorbell again. His phone started ringing. It was Misty?

"Uhm, Mist? Open the door."

I can't—use the keys—I can't move...

"Wha—okay, I get it, you're on your period? You need something?"

No! But just use the keys...

She hung up. Ash was completely confused. What was Misty up to?

Ash unlocked the door and got in. The house was completely messy, as if a hurricane has ravaged the whole place. "Misty? Where are you?"

"In the bathroom!" a shout came from behind the restroom door. 

"Did the door get stuck? That's why you called me?" Ash chuckled. He walked over the bathroom's door and tried to turn the handle. The door opened quickly and he almost lost his balance.

"Hey!"

Misty closed the door again when he got in. She looked completely terrified.

"Uhm, what's going on?"

"This is so scary there is something in my kitchen it's moving and it moves fast and it scared me and I think it's a cockroach and I can't even imagine myself killing it because it's disgusting and I hate this and I hate bugs so much and I don't even know why they have to exist because they're so ugly and useless!"

Ash stared at her for a moment. His smile was noticeable. "And you're hiding in the bathroom so it doesn't kill you?"

"It's not funny!"

"Seriously, Mist, all this mess because of a microscopic little bug? I thought you were sick."

"It's not microscopic! It's huge! I couldn't even—ewwwwww!" Misty shuddered and hugged Ash.

"It's microscopic compared to you." Ash rolled his eyes.

"I don't care!"

"Okay, this is stupid. I drove all the way to here because my girlfriend is scared of a stupid little bug?"

"This one is not like the others! It's so big and fat and disgusting and scary!"

"So convincing. Let's get out of this bathroom." Ash unlocked the door and got out. Misty followed slowly after him.

"You don't have to follow me inside the kitchen, you know. We wouldn't want the monster to eat us both."

"Hey!"

"A huge mess over a little bug..." Ash mumbled to himself as he turned the doorknob of the kitchen. It was locked. He turned toward Misty. "Misty, come on..."

"It's scary—it's really scary!" Misty kept talking as she unlocked the door. Ash found this whole thing just funny. "Anything but bugs—anything but bugs! I hate bugs! They hate me! I feel so powerless when I—they're so yucky! I hate bugs! God just hates me!"

"Okay, we got it."

"Misty, let go of the doorknob."

"Misty."