Hollow Hearts

The Darkness (PokéMon fanfic)

I walk on, pressing forward through the cold and suffocating darkness, toward the light at the end of the hall. It is a faint light, but enough to keep hope tightly clutched in my chest. I inhale a frigid burst of cold and dense fog, small particles of dust cloud what's left of my vision, my eyelashes brush them away from my tear-filled eyes as they wash themselves. I wipe them away, then let one real tear slide down my cheek. I should never have come here, I was warned of the possibility of death. She is faint, as of now, but, some-thing attacked us... I was warned.. I should have listened...

Two days earlier
I was ambitious, and believed that no harm could come before us. But I knew that it was time for me to leave, and I would be taking my Torchic with me. My mother and father hugged me good bye and bid me good luck on my journey, tears streamed down our faces as I departed from my home.
I got my strong build and face from my father, the eyes, hair and good manners from my dear mother. They taught me all I need to know to live, love and learn. I learned all I could for my trek, even gathered gear for rainy nights and snowy days. I even had enough money for fishing and camping, still had enough to spend a night or two at any local inn I might pass. It was just her and I against the world. Nothing could stop us from achieving our dreams.
All my friends were jealous of me leaving first, as I was the eldest of them all, the closest just being a few weeks behind. Jealous, but supporting. I loved them all, and could ask for no better then what I had already.
That first step out the door was ironically the saddest event that took place in my life, as I was leaving behind a home, friends and family. I was stepping out of my familiar little bubble to a world full of possibilities and change. Naïveté was a problem with me, I usually believed no harm could come to the good, but I put that out of my mind step by step as the weather became worse over time. I had to, on many occasions, camp on the side of roads or trails because either the rain got too much or it was late and couldn't walk in the darkness.
I gathered up some logs one night in a pile after pitching my tent.
"Torchic, light these logs with Ember." Doing so, the cute little bird Pokémon made a tiny "Chi!" and inhaled a deep one. I watched my friend exhale a magnificent stream of fire as it caught on the logs. We were instantly warm.
"Nice work, Torchic," I told her, "come 'ere." She padded her way to me and tripped on a stray vine. "Chic!" She screamed. The poor girl got herself startled. She quickly got up, her feathers on top of her head bounced. I picked the fire-bird up in my arms and gave her a hug.
"You ok now, Torch?"
"Cheep!"
So we sat there in front of the fire we made, me telling ghost stories and Torchic falling asleep. I looked up at the fire and immediately thought of my family. It had only been one full day, and I missed them like hell. Right then I felt like I could go through hell and back just to go home, but unfortunately for me, I made the decision to leave. I had to.
I pulled out a picture of them. It was my favorite one, taken at my best friends birthday party seven years ago.
That day was filled with happiness and fun; my dad was a party clown doing flips and whatnot. My memory of it is fuzzy, but I do remember that my friend got his first Pokémon: a cute little caterpie. He was so happy, he played with it and us all day. Eventually, everyone had to go home. The sun was setting with a beautiful yellow-orange contrasting just fine with the deep blue of the coming night-time sky. Before leaving, he pulled me to the side and told me that he named his caterpie Josie. I had no idea why, but that name fit the little creature and she seemed to like it.