Find my courage (Pokemon fanfiction)

~39 Caged

The clinking of high heels against the metal floor disturbed me from my brief rest, I parted my eyelids slightly, allowing my eyes to get used to the harsh light before opening them all the way, looking around the short hall lined with cells for anything of alarm. Nichole had come, pushing a small metal cart with five trays on it. She kicked each one through the small opening at the bottom of each cells door without a word, her face hard - grouchy almost - as if she'd just had an argument with someone. I bit down on my lower lip as she slid the last tray beneath my cells opening, hoping that no one got Nichole any more angry then she already was as the shock collar around my neck would most likely be how she let off the anger.

I managed to pull myself across the cell, not having the strength to walk after the lack of sleep and constant zaps sapping at my strength for at least a week now. Staring down at the tray, I gasped heavily for air. With my neck as sensitive as it was and the constant electrocution, my throat on the inside had swollen - much like it did when Ghetsis tried to strangle me - I could still breath but it was beginning to get difficult, especially when doing anything but sitting quietly in the corner. It was difficult not to freak out since Nichole was often left on guard duty, sitting quietly at the end of the hall, generally with a book or magazine of some sort. Sometimes Jessica would try to talk to her sister into helping us and I don't think anyone had the heart to tell her that the chances of that happening were as likely as a Tepig learning Fly.

The meal I was given, if it could even be called that, consisted of what I think may have been rice, now a cold heard lump on the plate and a bottle of water. I struggled to think of a way I'd get this mess down without choking, poking at the food to try and figure out if it was softer on the inside.

"Paige?" I looked up with a small grow across the hallway, Jessica was holding up her water bottle, reaching through the bars and rolling it across the floor. "If it makes things easier for you to eat..."

I glanced up at Nichole nervously who seemed to be half watching while also on her phone by the cart before reaching through the bars cautiously, my hand trembling as I took hold of the extra water bottle. Jessica's older sister was about as predictable as a Primape, sometimes she would ignore things like this since it was common for my friends to offer me extra water but at other times she would shock me for trying to accept extra.

Before I could give any sort of reaction, Nichole stomped on my hand, the edge of her high heel digging deeply in my fingers as she hit the button that remotely activated the shock collar secured around my neck simultaneously. I cried out in pain, collapsing against the bars  as I yanked my hand back - dropping the water in the process. Clutching my injured hard, I whimpered in agony as tears ran over my cheeks. My index and middle finger were already as red as a Tomato Berry - swelling, aching intensely as I struggled not to scream. The pain was almost unbearable for only two fingers.

Nichole simply picked up her sisters water bottle and gave it back to Jessica who seemed scared, pale faced as she looked between N and me with concern. "No sharing food." Team Plasma's Elite grunt snapped. "What you've been given is all you will get."

My stomach seemed to drop, tying itself in knots and despite there not being anything in there to puke up, the white hot pain surge through my fingers threatened to make something in there come out.  I pushed myself away from the bars and my food with my uninjured hand, huddling in the corner while cuddling my throbbing hand softly against my chest. Despite how little food I was given, I no longer feel like eating. My hand felt like it was on fire and I wasn't even aloud to cry louder with a whimper without getting a shock.

N attempted to call my name softly a few times, his concern clear in his tone but I couldn't muster up the strength to face him, with my hand aching, swollen and still bruising up. I hunched over the injury protectively as I bit down on my tongue until the metallic taste of blood swept over my taste buds, further intensifying the nausea. My nose leaked runny snot as drool dribbled down my chin. It took seemingly forever until the pain died down enough for me to compose myself, first using the back of my hand to wipe my face of snot, drool and tears (although I more likely just swiped it over my face and arm) before slowly opening my eyes and looking down at my shaking hand. My middle and index were very much swollen at this point, turning a deep blue-purple colour and I was beginning to think they might be broken.