Time's Up
#29 of Only Crystal
The plague spread across Sinnoh and wiped out a majority of its population in less than a year. A teenager who has yet to contract the virus, along with his espeon, must survive in an increasingly dangerous region. With only his pokémon to keep him company, he soon can't help but feel differently about her.
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Existing; complete stories: 'Midnight.' (Male umbreon x fem trainer.) 'A Night She Couldn't Resist.' (Male midnight lycanroc x fem trainer.) 'Cassidy's Journey.' (Male braixen x fem trainer.) 'All They Knew.' (Male alolan ninetales x fem trainer.)
~ Timeline of all stories and upcoming projects are available in my profile.
Ray was restless for several hours. No one had come to the door during that time, and he was itching to see Jenna. The more minutes that passed, the more his worry grew. "They can't be that busy." Or perhaps they were, but there was no way not a single soldier couldn't spare a moment.
Crystal sat at the edge of the bed and watched the sky dim as evening loomed, which was pretty to look at, but her mind was still on Bizzy as if in an endless loop. Crystal was fond of him. They hadn't interacted much, but they did battle to what they assumed would be their dying breath. He would make a close and trustworthy friend.
After months of no interaction, he would be the only one she'd have, and the virus was ready to take his life like it had everyone she knew. It felt pointless and tiring to form a relationship and grow attachments here.
A knock on the door caused them to snap their heads to it, and they heard it unlock.
A few people in hazmat gear opened it and stood at the doorway, one with a change of clothes while beckoning Ray. "Change and come with us."
It was a pair of gray pants and a sweater, generic common wear. He assumed the soldiers were here to take him for additional testing, as they'd said hours ago. Ray was just glad they finally came.
He caught the outfit tossed to him and put it on after they shut the door to give him privacy. He pushed his other clothes aside and picked up Crystal before going to knock.
He wouldn't let her out of his sight. Ray shouldn't even have let them get separated back in Floaroma. That would never happen again.
They opened it, and while following them down the corridor, Ray thought about how exactly he would bring up Jenna. He'd probably ask about her when they were done taking blood and whatnot.
Crystal rested her chin on his shoulder as they walked, her tail dangling. She shut her eyes, feeling as though she'd faint from fatigue simply being out of bed.
She'd felt tired throughout their months in Sinnoh, but this was vastly different. Crystal was beyond venerated mentally as much as she was physically. She truly hoped this would be the end of their struggles.
Ray grimaced while walking up a flight of stairs but kept going. Putting constant pressure on his leg was beginning to bring the pain back, and the meds were likely wearing off, but he wouldn't feel comfortable asking for more. Something about this place rubbed him the wrong way, and he'd listen to his gut.
He could slow his pace, but the soldiers around him barely spoke and could find something as minuscule as that suspicious for all he knew.
Fortunately, the destination was just ahead. Ray stopped shortly after they did at the door and ushered him in with Crystal.
Before them was a chair, various hospital equipment on counters nearby, and another suited person.
"Take a seat," the woman said while grabbing a needle and packets out of a drawer.
He obeyed and set Crystal in his lap.
"We need some more samples of you and your pokémon's blood. It won't be long."
They sat for around ten minutes while having blood drawn and were released to the group that would escort Ray back to the room, but he didn't want to be there for hours again without seeing Jenna first. It was time to ask.
This time, he didn't budge as they started walking. "I need to see my friend." One grabbed his arm to pull him along, but Ray tugged away, although his resistance may not be the best idea. "I have to, please. I've known her for years and came with her from Celestic." Anything to edge it in his favor.
Another sighed and nudged a soldier beside him. "Go ask."
Crystal was relieved they hadn't taken to more extreme physical measures since she wouldn't have been able to aid realistically but knew she would have tried, which would have created a horrific scene.
Ray stood with the remaining for several minutes in awkward silence before the one given the order returned, hopefully with what he wanted to hear.
He didn't like being around them. It could be the suits, but it felt like something more. Perhaps the fact that he was infected played a role. They didn't see Ray as they did those in clean regions and likely wanted to be nowhere near him. He couldn't blame them.
"I'll take him from here," he told the others, and they nodded, walking the other way.
Ray took a breath, grinning while trailing behind the man down more flights of stairs. He didn't know how he'd gotten his way but wouldn't question it. To be fair, it wasn't a major request.
He was confused about why he was being taken to the lower deck where cargo was usually stored until they went through a large door the soldier had to unlock. "What..." Ray's eyes shot from bed to bed labeled with numbers, hundreds, possibly a thousand in rows with armed people patrolling.
Was this some kind of massive quarantine zone? It chilled him to the core.
Crystal watched as they ventured into the aisles, her ears twitching from constant coughing and groaning all around them. These beds must be full of sick survivors, and the sounds of significant suffering among many made her queasy.
The man stopped at a bed and nodded. "Be quick," he said before leaving, not giving Ray a chance to ask any questions.
He heard harsh coughing and parted the curtains, seeing Jenna lying on her back with Bizzy sitting beside her. She looked debilitated as if only holding onto a string. "Jenna..." He entered and set Crystal on the bed, sitting beside her.
Jenna looked at him blankly. Almost every breath she took stuttered. She was deteriorating fast. She didn't have the energy to show it, but Jenna was happy to see that Ray and Crystal were alive and healthy.
Ray couldn't help the tears that filled his eyes, and he moved closer to take her hand, holding it. "Did they check on you?" He noticed the unopened water next to her and reached for it.
She put up her free hand as best she could to reject it and spoke between breaths. "They... gave me painkillers hours ago." Jenna squeezed his hand while she coughed. It became harder to bear by the hour. She needed more medicine she wouldn't get. "There are too many to keep up with."
Crystal sat in front of Bizzy and glanced at his wounds. "Espe es," she grinned, bringing up the battle they put up together hours ago. See? He was a fighter. Every pokémon was. He just had to find it in him.
Bizzy returned it and tensed while stifling another cough. He was feeling more sluggish than he had but still held up for the most part. "Zel bi." That act took an impressive amount of improvised coordination they were able to string together. They had natural chemistry.
"Bui." He then thanked her for the talk he gave her in that room, which helped more than she knew. Crystal was a sweet espeon that he'd love to get to know more if that time was given to him.
"I was supposed to get you two out of here. I'm really sorry." Ray wanted her and Bizzy to see a deserved normal life again, and that was no longer in the picture. It was impossible to reach and wasn't fair.
"No." Jenna coughed and shut her eyes briefly. "You... got us here."
Crystal watched, her ears flattening slightly. It was pitiful seeing Jenna fall apart before her eyes like this.
"But I wanted to do more than that." Ray wiped more tears and sniffed. It wasn't his fault, and he still felt ashamed.
She shook her head. "You d-did your absolute best. Besides... my existence would have been a painful one."
He wouldn't and couldn't continue beating himself up over the outcome, although it dismayed him. It would lead to nothing but pointless sorrow he couldn't handle. "Are they going to let you two suffer?"
"Usually, but... they're going to execute many of us soon, so no." Jenna had come to terms with it. The best thing she could do was accept her fate.
Ray looked down. He'd gotten attached to Jenna and shouldn't have, but he couldn't possibly have avoided it. She was pretty, had a personality that pulled him in, and they'd gone on the most important adventure of their lives together.
He leaned in and hugged her sides which were almost hot to the touch, feeling her flinch at first, which was likely sensitivity due to body ache. He held the back of her head and brought her to his chest while she coughed several times and whimpered. He winced as more tears came.
She brought her arm up and draped it over his back, her head against his shoulder. Jenna felt him rub her head and sift his fingers through her hair, closing her eyes. Ray had cared from the beginning and was a kind boy. She was satisfied with him being the last person she knew and was glad she had been able to save him and Crystal that night.
Ray would miss her dearly and almost wanted to kiss her because of it. He squeezed her gently before setting her back and looking into her dreary eyes for a moment, then sat up, looking at Bizzy. "And you're a great and capable companion, Bizzy. Thank you for your help. I won't forget it."
He nodded. Bizzy wasn't much assistance until the end, but he'd more than made up for his lack of it and could die with the fact.
The curtains opened abruptly from behind, revealing several soldiers. "Time's up. You've gotta come with us."
Ray looked back at them. He wanted to stay but couldn't bear to stick around for the mass execution. He reached and held Jenna's hand, rubbing its topside with his thumb and squeezing it just so he could feel her warmth one more time. He stared at her dying face, filled with indescribable emotions, and slowly pulled his hand away, feeling her slip from his grasp.
Ray grabbed Crystal and stood, glancing at Jenna and Bizzy with an ache in his chest. "Goodbye."