Whisper

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

112 hours remaining

(Chili's POV)

We had been tracking them for 8 hours straight now and Stoutland was starting to look tired. I pushed back an annoying lock of crimson hair and patted him on the back. "It's alright boy. I'm sure Cilan and Iris will want to rest soon enough." I assured him.

But as I looked to my brother and 'sister-in-law', I regretted my words. They didn't look the least bit tired. Even Haxorus, who was now carrying two people, looked completely fine.

A mile or two back we had picked up some random old hiker guy. Well, he seemed random at the time but based on Cilan's face, he knew this man. Since then they have been talking up a storm. I caught bits and pieces here and there and collected enough to clue me in.

This guy's name was Henry and he had seen two kids, a male and a female, in Cilan and Iris's old clothes.

It was Amalric and Amaria. I was sure of it.

So we were bringing him with.

I hope I got the chance to speak with him, to find out what his relationship with my brother is, how they knew each other.

Though before I worry about this Henry guy, I need to take care of my Pokémon.

Stoutland seemed as if he was about to collapse when Henry called out, "Maybe we could stop and eat?"

I watched for Cilan's answer. He slowed his jog to a walk, to a complete stop. We all followed his lead. He nodded.

"Yes, we need rest and nutrition. I'll cook." He grabbed his old, tattered backpack and pulled out a small, folding table, equipped with multiple cooking utilities.

I sat, petting my collapsed Stoutland. I looked up and watched Cilan at work, itching to get behind a burner again.

Cilan waited for a pot of water to boil, tapping his finger against the table. I wanted oh so badly just to come up next to him and cook together. Back when we were kids I had respected him so highly for his cooking. It was the best I had ever tasted and I strived to be exactly the same. When I realized I couldn't I begun hating him more.

I turned away, ashamed. Cilan will never forgive me, I don't blame him. I still haven't forgiven myself.

I stayed turned away and listened to Cilan. I heard my brother cease his tapping and sigh.

"Chili." He called. I turned around to see Cilan holding the bridge of his nose, his eyes shut tight, and looking miffed.

"You wanna...help?" I was surprised so badly that I had no idea what to say. "Help c-cook?" I finally choked out.

Cilan turned forward to where all I could see was his back. He placed his hand flat against the table.

"Yeah." He said in an irritated voice. I stood and waited by his side.

"Chop these." He instructed, pointing to a pile of carrots. I silently did as told.

My mind suddenly flung me into the past.

"Hey Cilan, how do you make your soup so good?" I asked, watching my five year old brother smoothly stir the wooden spoon in the pot on the stove. "What do you add to it?"

That day Mammy was sick so we were each making a meal and taking care of her.

Popa was at work all day. I had made her breakfast, cinnamon waffles with a side of strawberries (Mammy's favorite.), Cress made her lunch, grilled Pidgey topped with barley seasoning and a small side salad, while Cilan was making dinner, his legendary Miltank soup.

We were all only five but we were child cooking prodigies.

Cilan looked down at me and smiled that sweet, innocent smile. "A good chef never reveals his secret recipes."

I smiled back at him. I turned slightly and a blue blur caught my eye. Cress was peeking in the doorway with those...crazy eyes, glaring at Cilan. Cilan, however, didn't notice. I wondered what Cress's problem was but then turned back to my green haired sibling.

I returned to the present with a jolt. I jerked my hands and felt a stinging pain immediately after. I had still been holding the knife and I had accidentally sliced open my finger. I yelped and stuck the bleeding cut into my mouth, licking away all the blood.

Cilan chuckled beside me. "Getting rusty, eh?" I shook my head. "No, I was just...somewhere else..."

Henry gave me a bandage and I finished helping Cilan. We had made Cilan's legendary Miltank soup, without the Miltank beef chunks however. Go figure.

As we all sat down I thought back to this new and unlocked memory. Cilan and I used to get along...What made me turn on him? Does HE remember those times?

I thought about how Cress was looking at Cilan. Those weren't crazy eyes exactly, they were eyes filled with the most insane, intense hared I have ever seen. Thinking about Cress made me realize that there was something yelling at me from a dark corner of my brain.

I felt like I was missing a piece of important information. I tried to pry it out but it wouldn't come loose.

There was something extremely important there. I just have to know it!

I must have been making weird faces because I drew in Henry's attention.

"Son, are you okay? You look like you have something on your mind."

All eyes turned on me and I quickly took another sip of broth to give me a few more seconds to prepare.

I swallowed and smiled," I'm just trying to figure out what Cilan's secret ingredient is."

Henry chuckled, Iris shook her head smiling, and Cilan rolled his eyes and brought his spoon to his lips. But he stopped and commented. "A good chef never reveals his secret recipes."

My eyes went wide and I sucked in a breath. Does he remember!?

But Cilan resumed his meal, showing no hint of recognization.

I sighed and continued eating as well. I also continued mentally trying to chip away at the locked information in my mind.