Flaming Dreams [Pokemon]

Chapter 24: Every Ending is Another Beginning

Knock, knock, knock! 

Somebody banged on the door.

"What?" I groaned, pulling the blanket over my head.

Knock, knock, knock! 

"What!?" I said a little louder, throwing the sheet off again and sitting up.

"Breakfast is ready, so you can come down." The knocker, Laura to be exact, cooed from the other side of the room.

"Coming!" I called back and threw my legs over the bed.

I sighed, looking out of the window. The beautiful Laverre spring didn't match my mood at all. I was still too depressed about what had happened only yesterday. It didn't seem real. Yesterday I still had Alice, today I don't. A part if me tells me this is all my fault. If I was more careful and would've noticed other things around me, Alice would still be here and I wouldn't be broken inside.

Forcing myself up I quickly changed clothes and arranged my hair. We were staying at Laura's place, at the edge of Laverre City. It was more quiet and it seemed like a countryside here, although you're technically a part of the big town. Actually, it was her parents' house before, but since they moved to Hoenn a few years back, Laura got the whole place to herself. Thanks to that there was enough room for all of us to stay over. Drasna and Valerie slept in Laura's room, Korrina and Laura got Laura's parents' room, the boys stayed in the bigger guest's room and I got the second, one-bed room for guests.

I exited, closed the door behind me and made my way downstairs, to the kitchen. Everybody was already sitting at the table, munching down on Laura's delicious pancakes. I took a seat next to Valerie and lifted a cake onto my plate.

"Slept well?" Valerie asked with a smile.

"More or less." I said quietly and sighed.

"Oh, Chelle." Laura took a seat on my other side. "We're all sad about our lost, but you need to stay strong, not let it get to you."

"How! You just want me to sit here and do nothing?" I glared into her eyes.

"No no, not that." Laura raised her hands in front of her. "Just don't let that break you into pieces. It's much harder to pick yourself again. Besides, I heard that Siebold had a little surprise for you." She winked.

"Oh boy." I rolled my eyes, continuing my pancake - this didn't sound good.

After finishing breakfast, I quickly escaped back into my room. I sat on the bed once more and released Houndour from its Pokéball.

"How are you feeling, buddy?" I asked, petting his head.

The Dark Pokémon gave me a big smile, making himself comfortable in my lap.

"I don't know what to do." I sighed, stroking Houndour gently. "I really don't. I feel like what happened to Alice is all my fault. If I wasn't so stupid, she would still be here. I want to go after her, I do, but," I wiped away a tear in my eye. "she could be anywhere from what we know. I don't even know what region they're in right now, not to mention a city, town or any other exact location."

Houndour looked up to me with a worried face, nudging me gently.

"Thanks!" I giggled a little. "I'm fine, don't worry about me."

The Dark Pokémon looked at me once more before resting his head again. I wiped away another tear, trying not to cry again.

"Poor Alice." I mumbled.

Knock knock knock!

I sighed, lifting Houndour out of my lap and went to open the door.