Chapter 6

GRAVITY

Pull me close, I feel the water reach around my neck

Don't let go, just show me that there's better days ahead

Make me see I'm only half the person I should be

Pull me close, set me free from this gravity

-Wage War

I

Following Staravia through the relentless storm, Seth's eyes strained to catch glimpses of his Pokémon's silhouette illuminated by the intermittent bursts of lightning. With each thunderous roar, he pushed forward. The rain cascaded down in torrents, drenching him to the core, as they ventured towards a building on the outskirts of Pewter City.

As they drew closer, the lights of the city flickered in the distance, providing glimpses of the imposing structure ahead. The flashes of lightning revealed a dilapidated warehouse, with weathered brick walls. The once vibrant paint had long faded, leaving behind a somber gray appearance that seemed to meld with the darkness of the stormy night.

The warehouse loomed before them, its windows shattered, allowing the gusting wind to whistle through its hollow chambers. The rain battered against its roof, creating an eerie symphony of drumming sounds that echoed through the night. The surrounding area was shrouded in an air of desolation, with overgrown weeds and tangled vines reclaiming the abandoned land.

As Seth approached the entrance, he could make out the peeling letters of an old sign, barely legible in the dim illumination: "Pewter City Storage Co." Through the cracked windows, faint light could be seen peering out. He cautiously approached an old awning that overlooked a side door into the storage building. As he reached the spot, Staravia swooped down and landed beside him, their eyes fixed on the entrance. He released Lairon and Mankey from their Pokéballs.

"Staravia, you need to engage as quickly as possible. Aim for the person who took Emily. I'm not sure how many or which Pokémon you'll face, but your main objective is to evade as much as possible until you position yourself just below Mankey," Seth explained, his voice firm and resolute. He turned to Mankey. "Mankey, I need you hidden up top and get ready to use rock tomb. You cannot miss this; the entire plan hinges on you timing this perfectly. We've practiced this countless times while hunting." Mankey looked away from Seth. "I know you can do this. If there are multiple Pokémon, I need you to jump into the fray after," Seth instructed. "Lairon, you're on defense. We might encounter Emily in there, and I don't know what condition she's in. Your priority is to protect me until I give the signal." Lairon grunted, understanding his objective.

Seth glanced at his Pokémon, "I don't know how many people or Pokémon are inside. Erin's safety is my priority. If the odds are against us, I will retreat. Understand?" Each of his Pokémon responded with affirming sounds. "Mankey, take your position, go." He swiftly vanished into the darkness. "Lairon, Staravia, follow me." Seth cautiously pushed open the creaking door, and together they disappeared into the depths of the building.

II

As Seth cautiously stepped into the warehouse, a scene of eerie darkness and chilling stillness enveloped his senses. The interior was dimly lit, with only flickering fluorescent lights scattered across the vast space, casting long, eerie shadows on the worn concrete floor. The air was heavy with a musty odor, mingling with a faint metallic tinge that sent shivers down Seth's spine. The warehouse itself was in a state of disarray, with stacks of wooden crates and discarded machinery haphazardly strewn about. The walls, coated in peeling paint and graffiti. Cracks and Spinarak webs stretched across the aged ceiling, further adding to the unsettling atmosphere.

Seth's gaze was drawn towards the back of the warehouse. A chilling breeze rustled through the broken windows. Seth's eyes shifted to a figure standing at the very back of the storage building, bathed in a dim spotlight. He quickly creeped behind a large wooden box and peered over to get a better view from safety. What he saw horrified him. It was the Pewter City Brute, a towering and imposing figure, his face obscured by shadows, but a wicked grin visible on his lips. What gave his identity away was the Scyther just off to the side of him eating what looked like a human arm.

As Seth's eyes scanned the grim surroundings, they fell upon Emily, she was suspended by a leather strap, her hands bound and raised by an attaching chain. He could see the fear in her eyes. There was also a young man strapped up across from her. But his attention was abruptly diverted to what laid on the table nearby. It looked like the missing sister, Rachel, her young and lifeless body displayed in a grotesque manner. Her missing limbs and her head separated from her neck created a chilling and brutal scene. His gaze turned towards the Pewter City Brute, whose twisted pleasure was evident as he sank his teeth into Rachel's severed leg. Scorched marks covered the skin. The sickening sound of flesh tearing sent a wave of revulsion through Seth.

Seth crouched behind the box, carefully weighing his options as he observed the scene before him. His eyes scanned the surroundings, searching for any sign of Mankey's presence. Perhaps if he waited, Mankey could find a way to maneuver above the room on the metal beams that stretched across the ceiling.

Amidst the tense silence, the sound of the Brute's voice reached Seth's ears. He peered back over and saw the sight of the enormous knife in the Brute's hand. Its sheer size was staggering, resembling the length of the Brute's own forearm. Seth strained to listen as the Brute spoke to Emily. "Apologies for the rather uncomfortable position you find yourself in," the Brute sneered, waving the colossal knife with nonchalance. "We had an incident a month ago, you know? Someone had the audacity to run from us. Can you believe that my dear? But rest assured, I've taken extra precautions to ensure that you won't be going anywhere." The words dripped with a sadistic sense of control.

Seth cautiously observed Mankey perched atop one of the metal beams, clutching a rock of immense size. Although his maneuverability was limited, Seth realized that the timing was perfect, since Scyther seemed engrossed in its gruesome feast. However, his heart sank as he noticed Lairon, who had strayed from hiding, fixated on Emily with an intense anger radiating from its body.

"Lairon," Seth whispered urgently, "Come back, wait." Ignoring his plea, Lairon's gaze remained locked on Emily and he began to charge. Frustration welled up inside Seth as he swiftly made his move towards the Brute. "Damn it, Staravia, distract Scyther and guide it beneath Mankey!" He whispered, "Go!"

III

In the chaos of the unfolding battle, Emily's eyes caught sight of Lairon charging towards the Brute with incredible speed. "Lairon, use Iron Head!" she screams. Scyther attempts to intercept, but before it can reach Lairon, Staravia swiftly seizes one of its wings, swings it around, and hurls it towards the ground. Lairon's powerful horns connect with the Brute's gut, sending him hurtling into the nearby wall, blood starting to discolor is white shirt. The impact jars the previously unconscious man, who is now wide awake and bewildered by the intense clash before him.

"What is this?!" The Brute yells, his voice echoing through the warehouse.

Lairon stands protectively in front of Emily, emitting a fierce roar directed at the Brute. Seth approaches Emily; he takes out his knife and begins cutting the strap that binds her. "Lairon, protect us at all costs," Seth commands, his voice filled with unwavering determination. Emily gazes into Seth's eyes, her own eyes filled with tears of relief. "You came," she whispers, her voice trembling. Seth gently lowers her to the ground, ensuring her comfort, and unbuttons his flannel draping it over her to shield her torn clothes from view. "Take it easy," he reassures her, his voice tender and comforting.

Seth ponders the situation, weighing his options carefully. He realizes that moving Lairon to attack Scyther would leave them vulnerable to this psychopath. Although Lairon had a better matchup against Scyther, he just moves too slowly in order to land a move. Then they run the risk of the Brute and Scyther teaming up against themselves with Staravia solely playing defense. Seth contemplates his next move, realizing that the established plan is their best chance at saving Emily. Staravia's role as a bait to lure Scyther under Mankey's position remains their only hope.

IV

Seth turns his head towards Emily and gives a smirk. The side smiles conveys a sense of confidence to Emily, instilling a glimmer of hope in her. Despite the fucking awful situation she was in, it feels as if Seth has an advantage.

"Staravia, Double Team!" Seth commands, his voice resolute. With a ferocious burst of speed and agility, Staravia lunges into action, leaving a trail of afterimages that blur together in a violent whirlwind of grey and black. Scyther is caught off guard, its movements faltering as it desperately tries to land an attack. Confusion and frustration consume him as it struggles to discern the real Staravia.

"Use wing attack on the counter!" Seth roared. With a snarl of frustration, the Brute commands Scyther to retaliate with a swift X-scissor. Scyther charges at Staravia, blades glinting ominously, but its attack falls short once more, narrowly missing its agile target. Seizing the opportunity, Staravia swiftly dives downward, driving its powerful wing into Scyther's side, sending it staggering toward the waiting Mankey. However, Scyther quickly regains its composure, slashing its blades in a furious frenzy, determined to land a hit. Yet, despite its relentless assault, Staravia's nimbleness proves too elusive for Scyther's flailing strikes, each slash slicing through nothing but air. The near-misses only fuel Scyther's mounting insanity, its movements growing wilder and more desperate. But with each failed attempt, Staravia becomes more emboldened. As Scyther swings and misses yet again, frustration etches deeper into the Brute's face. He realizes he is being outmatched and outplayed by the relentless speed of Staravia.

"Fuck this!" The Brute's frustration reaches a boiling point. He bent over and picked up a broken brick beside him. With a menacing scream, he hurls it towards Staravia. Reacting instinctively, Staravia retracts its wings, easily dodging the brick in mid-air. However, this split-second proves to be its undoing. Seizing the moment, Scyther hurtles towards Staravia with its arm raised. In a devastating strike, Scyther's blade slices through Staravia's wing. Blood spurts from the severed wing, splattering onto the floor below. The sound of him flapping on the hard ground with his anguished shriek enveloped the void, as Staravia writhes in excruciating pain.

"Staravia!" Seth's voice echoed through the room, horror coated his face as he watched Staravia, barely ten feet away from the spot where Mankey needed to be. Covered in blood, Staravia struggled to move, flapping its one wing, inch by agonizing inch, slowly closing the distance to Mankey. Unbeknownst to Scyther, lost in its own triumph, took slow steps hovering over top of its prey relishing in the moment. With a final, defiant shriek, Staravia collapsed. its eyes fixed on Mankey.

The Brute, noticing Seth staring at the ceiling finally sees Mankey, "Scyth…"

Seth yells over top of him, "Mankey, Rock Tomb!"

The room fell silent. Without hesitation, Mankey leaped from the steel beam, summoning every ounce of strength. With unbelievable speed, it hurled the massive rock downward. Scyther, oblivious to the impending danger, looked up to see its doom. The rock crashed it onto the unforgiving concrete below. Scyther's legs convulsing, and its battered wing was the only part visible from beneath the colossal stone. Staravia, caught in the aftermath, found its head trapped under the weight of the rock.

"No..." The Brute's voice quivered, his expression morphing into stunned disbelief.

"Take that, you fucker!" Emily's voice pierced the air.

Mankey landed atop the rock, his triumphant yells echoing through the room. His eyes glowed with an intense white light as he leaped off the rock, a ball of steam flooded around him causing him to vanish from sight within the immense power. With a mighty force, a massive fist burst through the sphere, and the vapor began to dissipate to reveal Primeape, steam billowing from his nostrils. His scar above his eye stretched to reflect its newly evolved form. As Primeape advanced toward The Brute, each step filled with impending doom, the Brute took a desperate step back, his pleas dripping with fear, "No, no, no, please, no."

"Primeape," Seth commanded, "Close Combat." Primeape surged forward, a blur of furious motion. The Brute, now cowering and shielding his face, could only watch in horror as Primeape unleashed its devastating attack. With an explosive impact, Primeape's fist tore through the Brute's chest, obliterating his heart. The Brute's body went limp, hanging lifelessly from Primeape's arm. Blood sprayed the wall behind him, splattering and pooling on the floor below.

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"Fuck Yeah!" Emily screamed. Screams and sobs came from beside her with the man still chained up, broke down in relief.

Concerned for her well-being, Seth knelt down to meet Emily at eye level, his eyes searching hers. "Are you okay?" There were no words that could fully express her emotions. Instead, Emily simply wrapped her arms around Seth in a tight embrace, clinging to him as if he were her lifeline.

After a few moments, Seth gently pulled away from the hug, his concern visible. "Emily, I need to go. Erin is alone at the hotel."

She released her grip on him. "Thank you, for everything," Emily whispered, her voice filled with gratitude. She knew any part of her that wanted to continue her journey of solitude had come to an end.

"I'll take the Brute's body to the Citizen Watch building to collect the bounty. Once I'm done, Team Rocket will likely show up. Can you make it back to the campsite safely?" Seth asked.

"Yeah, I have Lairon with me. I'll be fine. Leave me your knife so I can free this guy before I leave." Emily replied, slowly rising to her feet. "I'll see you at camp tomorrow."

Seth nodded, "yeah, that sounds good." He made his way over to Staravia, following the trail of blood that led to his fallen Pokémon. Its head was no longer visible, the severed wing lying motionless on the ground. "I'm really sorry," Seth murmured, his voice heavy with regret. "But thank you."

Emily walked toward Primeape, who stood proudly in his evolved form, gazing down at his defeated opponent. She placed a hand on top of Primeape's head. "Fucking incredible, Primeape. Absolutely incredible," she praised, then spat on the corpse below her.

"Hey, grab the Brute's body. We need to leave," Seth called out. "Emily, you sure you are okay?"

She nodded, and watched the two disappear from sight.

V

Seth approached the Team Rocket gate, Primeape trailing behind him as he dragged the lifeless body of the Pewter City Brute. Rain still drizzling on them but the threat of the storm subsiding. The spotlights flashed upon them, drawing attention from the night shift members. One of them hurriedly approached, accompanied by a Zangoose, demanding an explanation. "Stop! What the fuck is this?"

Seth maintained his composure, looking the Team Rocket member straight in the eye. "This is the Pewter City Brute. You know, the killer that your organization did nothing about," he retorted.

He scoffed, attempting to distance himself from any responsibility. "We're not your fucking police force," he retorted dismissively.

"Yeah, I'm well aware of that. You shut down our police force, remember? Now let me through. Here's my ID. You can compare his face with one of the many bounty posters scattered around the city." After a tense few moments, the gate slowly opened, granting them passage. Seth and Primeape continued their march toward the Citizen Watch building, the city eerily deserted at this late hour. Seth had lost track of time amidst the chaotic events that unfolded. The Citizen Watch Building came into view, its worn exterior displaying remnants of its previous affiliation with law enforcement. The word "Police" was stained into the brick walls, marking the absence of a sign that once proudly hung above. As they entered, the doors slid open, revealing a brightly lit waiting room. A woman dressed in a blue uniform, with matching blue hair, sat behind the front desk, her gaze fixed upon them. "Hi, I'm Jenny. How can I... No way," the woman's voice trembled with surprise.

"Hello, I'm here to deliver this guy to you," Seth replied, his tone steady. Primeape heaved the brute's body onto the center of the room, dampening the floor with blood, water and mud.

"Where did you find him? Do people still need help?" Jenny asked, concern evident in her voice.

"He was hiding out in an old storage building near the eastern gate. There was another woman, Rachel Ja... I can't recall her last name. I saw a missing person poster of her."

"Jarrus, her brother has been desperately searching for her. He'll be devastated," Jenny lamented.

"Yes, we've crossed paths. There was a man and another woman who were tied up, but I managed to free them. I presume they escaped before Team Rocket arrived," Seth explained.

"I have some messages to send out. Can you come by tomorrow morning to collect the payment?"

"Sure, 7,000, right?"

"Yes, I'll have it ready for you."

"See you tomorrow. Just a word of warning, he was a cannibal, be prepared when you clean up the scene. Primeape, return," Seth called, and the Pokémon vanished. He waved a farewell to Jenny and made his way back to the hotel.

VI

The door creaked open, allowing a stream of light to pierce through the darkness of the hotel room. Seth noticed Vulpix standing protectively over the still unconscious Erin, its teeth and golden fur glimmering faintly. "It's just me, Vulpix," Seth reassured, though his attention was fixed on his son. Ignoring Vulpix's inquisitive prancing, clearly wanting to know what happened, Seth collapsed onto the bed next to his son and let out a frustrated sigh, "Mother fuck." Taking a moment to compose himself, Seth stood up and caught a whiff of his shirt. "Yep, pee," he muttered. He gently lifted the groggy Erin and carried him to the bathroom, where he proceeded to change both of them into their last set of clean clothes. Erin, barely conscious, clung to his father as they made their way to a makeshift bed on the floor.

"I love you, mommy," Erin mumbled in his sleep.

Seth smiled at his sleeping son, brushing a hand through his hair. "She loves you too, buddy." Exhausted, they both drifted off to sleep, with Erin in Seth's arms, safe.

VII

The rain persisted as Seth and Erin approached the City Watch building. Erin rode on Torterra, trying to seek shelter under the small tree on its back. However, they were greeted by a swarm of people gathered on the steps. Seth called out to Erin, "Get off Torterra, we need to go in quickly. Hold my hand, it's crowded here." Erin looked wide-eyed, fascinated by the bustling crowd. "Daddy, what's going on?"

"We just have to make a quick stop inside," Seth replied. They entered the building, where Jenny was frantically running around like mad. A group had formed around the bloodstain on the floor. As Seth made his way through the commotion towards the desk, the discussions about the Pewter City Brute's brutality filled the air. Everyone seemed to be discussing his death or who was responsible. Jenny finally noticed Seth and motioned for him to come to the back room.

"Are you okay?" Seth asked.

"Yeah, it's been just me in this office for years, and I've never really had anything like this," Jenny replied.

"Did you manage to clean up the storage building?" Seth inquired.

"Sorta. I sent letters to the families of the known victims, informing them of where their loved ones were. It turned out to be a mistake on my part. I thought it would stay within the families, but now the whole city knows. They went to the building to recover their loved ones, but Team Rocket and half the damn city showed up shortly after."

"Fuck, you had them go there personally? I told you how messed up it was."

"What do you expect from me? I'm the only one here in the entire city. Brock is never out of his gym, or let's be honest, his women and girls long enough to help. And Team Rocket thwarts any effort I make to actually police the city," Jenny responded with frustration.

"Alright, alright, pull back. I didn't mean to offend you," Seth said, recognizing her difficult situation. Erin sat on the couch in the office, gently stroking Vulpix as Jenny began counting the money and placing it on the desk. "By the way, what happened to the other guy who was trapped there?" He asked.

"Brian Jarrus took him to the hospital. He's alive, thanks to you." She pushed the money towards Seth who set his backpack down to secure the payment.

"Thank you. I hope your day gets easier. Come on, Erin."

Erin enthusiastically jumped off the couch. "Let's go!" he yelled.

Walking out of the lobby, Seth noticed Brian sitting on a bench near the door, his gaze fixed on the floor. There was an emptiness in his eyes, as if all emotions had been drained from him, leaving behind nothing. Seth approached him and took a seat beside him.

"I'm going back to the campsite with Emily. Do you want to come with us?" Seth asked. He didn't know if this change of heart was from pity, or empathy but most likely mutual understanding.

Brian simply nodded, his silence speaking volumes. Seth continued, "Do you need anything from your house?"

Again, Brian nodded, his gaze still fixed on the floor. "We don't plan on coming back here. Does that change anything for you?"

Brian shook his head as if to fight back tears.

"Meet us at the camp when you can. We'll probably be heading out tomorrow," Brian remained fixated on that spot on the floor, seemingly lost in his thoughts.

Seth stood up, called for Vulpix and Erin, and made his way through the crowd of people, exiting the building. The rain continued to fall almost in solidarity.

VIII

"Oh, Vulpix, thank fucking goodness! I couldn't get this fire to start for the life of me," Emily exclaimed in relief as the group approached. What had taken Emily two frustrating hours, Vulpix managed to fix in a mere two seconds. "I really need a fire-type Pokémon."

"Emily!" Erin called out, running towards her and embracing her lovingly.

"Hey, little man," she started to run her hand through his hair. "Lairon needs a good workout. Want to go play with him?"

"Okay, sure!" Erin responded eagerly, his eyes lighting up. He began running off. "Does Arcibax want to play too?"

"Um..." Emily stumbled on how to approach the situation.

"Oh, Erin, I forgot to show you!" Seth released Primeape, who now loomed over Erin.

"Mankey?" Erin exclaimed excitedly.

"Primeape now, buddy," Seth clarified.

"He's beautiful!" Erin emphasized. Primeape began to jump up and down from the compliment. The Pokémon and Erin started having playful battles in the nearby field, giving Emily and Seth a moment alone.

"Thank you for that," Emily said gratefully. "I just finished burying him."

"No problem. I'm also at a loss on how to explain Staravia," Seth admitted. "You okay?" Seth asked, concerned about Emily's well-being.

"I mean, no."

"Right, stupid question," Seth admitted. "Oh, I ran into Brian. I think he's going to travel with me."

"I've been meaning to ask you about that," Emily said, her tone shifting. Seth's ears perked up, and he looked intently at Emily, sensing there was more to her words. "I want to come with you guys. I'm really tired of living alone, and I really want to see you get Erin out of here. He's such a funny kid. I just want to be part of something good, you know. It's like for so long I could feel the water reach around my neck. But, I don't know if it's like I'm not about to drown anymore."

"Emily, I can't risk Team Rocket's wrath."

"What are you trying to say, Seth?"

"Coming with us means giving up on revenge. It means giving up on Devin," hr clarified.

She stood up, anger flowing out of her. "He is right fucking there!" Emily exclaimed, pointing towards the direction of Pewter City.

"And Erin is right here. What would happen if they tracked you back here?" Seth countered.

"Bullshit! What if the man who killed your wife was in that city?" Emily retorted, her emotions running high.

"Calm your fucking voice down!" Seth snapped, his own frustration showing while looking to make sure Erin didn't hear. "I don't know what I would do. I know it's not fair, but I have to think about what's best for him."

"Fuck you," Emily uttered, hurt and anger evident in her voice. She turned away and walked off, disappearing into the distance.

IX

Emily sat by the creek, her feet immersed in the cool water. Tears streamed down her face, her emotions overwhelming her. "I'm so sorry," she pleaded, her voice filled with anguish, speaking into the emptiness. "I was just so fucking scared." She clutched her knees tightly, trying to find solace in the embrace of her own arms.

"Fuck!" Emily screamed, releasing the pent-up frustration and pain that had consumed her. In that moment, she realized her answer. She couldn't save her sister Heather from him, from the endless nights of abuse, from his Mightyena that tore her apart. But she could save Erin. She could be there for him, protect him, and help him escape and to finally be able to just let a kid, be a kid.

A gentle ripple disrupted the water's surface. A Vaporeon emerged, its sleek body glistening with droplets of water. It approached Emily and sat down beside her, its presence bringing a sense of calm. Emily reached out and began to stroke the Vaporeon's head. Its fins vibrated soothingly.

"Thanks, Vaporeon," she whispered. She rose to her feet, ready to walk back to camp. To her surprise, the Vaporeon followed closely behind, its graceful movements mirroring her steps. It seemed to understand her need for support and was willing to stay by her side.

X

Night was descending upon the camp as Emily made her way back. The scent of something delicious wafted through the air, filling her senses. Brian stood by the campfire, tending to a stew that seemed far more appetizing than their usual meals cooked over an open flame. However, his demeanor had changed drastically. Once surprisingly bubbly for such a muscular guy, he now appeared distant and detached.

Seth observed the change that followed her, "That's new."

"Fuck you," Emily snapped. Seth immediately averted his gaze. Brian continued tending to the stew without saying a word. Breaking the tense silence, Emily asked, "We leave tomorrow, right?"

Seth looked back at her with a genuine smile on his face. "Yeah," he replied.

"Okay, and fuck off," she said finally before retiring to her tent. Vaporeon now laying in front of the open flap.

"Fuck off daddy," Erin said mischievously.

"Alright, I might have made a mistake," Seth said to himself. To his delight he noticed Brian finally cracked a smile. Through so much in the past month Seth finally felt, not happy but optimistic or the community growing around him.