Infested

"Mister, are we going to be safe here?"  Rose asked me as we hid in a small abandoned warehouse near Solaceon.
"Don't worry, we're safe here I'm sure of it." I sure hope we were, let's face it nobody was safe ever since that dreaded virus infected Sinnoh. It's been three days now but Hearthome is just a shadow of what it used to be.

Little Rose hugged her Happiny tightly,
"Hap – Hap . . ." they were both afraid, well who wouldn't be after seeing your whole family get mauled by the things you once thought were your friends. I tried to separate Rose from her little friend, she made contact with the infected while trying to defend her master. She was a ticking time bomb, who knows when she'll turn on us.

I stood up from the old wooden chair and walked to one of the huge boxes and grabbed my Pokégear. I tuned it to the local news station. It was silent for a few seconds then only static came out.
"It's not working." so Sinnoh has been cut off from the outside world. Rose just looked at me with a blank face, tears running down her eyes soaking her Happiny
"Hap!" it would say. Maybe it was trying to tell her (stop soaking me with your tears you numbskull!)

"I'm just going to check how bad it is." I told the little child barely five as I grabbed my handgun and headed for the steel door.

I clutched my gun just in case as I walked to the passage to route 209. I took a quick peep, the door slid open, it creaked and it made an eerie tune. Everything was desolate; the place I used to pass through that was teeming with life now ran infested with things we used to call Pokémon.

I closed the door once again and sealed the barrel bolt. As I went down I heard screams of pain, and cries for help echoing from the distance, I wanted to help whoever they were but, my struggle would be futile. I would just add up to the long list of casualties, that would be written after this mess has blown over, if it does blow over. I kept walking into the darkness of the warehouse. We only had one source of light and that was from Happiny's flash.

"Well, that little monster is certainly useful!" I smirked as I lay down my gun on the table.
"Mister please, not now." Rose remarked darkly.  All of this must have taken their toll on her

I sat down on the old chair and fumbled through my bag for a pen and my journal.

My journal was old and worn down from my days as a local police officer in Hearthome. It had stains of blood from the ordeal yesterday. Yes the journal wasn't all that important but I brought along during my patrols. Still taped on the cover was a picture of me and my Arcanine, Ellis.

I took the picture and took a closer look. I missed my partner, he was the only one apart from my wife and kid that truly cared for me. We would go on patrol feeling all so cool because Arcanine weren't native here in Sinnoh.

"Hey kid come here would ya." I motioned Rose to come here.
She walked slowly with her Happiny still in hand. When she got to my side I showed her the picture.
"I know how you feel kid. He was one of the few things I had and now he's gone." I felt a tear dripping from my eye.
"If we make it out of this, and she's still fine (I pointed to the Happiny), take very – very good care of her alright?" I smiled and ruffled her hair.
"Yes mister." She replied and hugged the little pink thing tightly.

She sat beside me and I started to fumble through my journal. I searched for my entries from three days ago.

September 5, XXXX

8:00 AM
Ellis has been acting strange lately ever since we came back from that jog at route 208. Maybe he was just tired from the battle with that weird Ralts. He wasn't as lively as he was a few days back. I went on patrol today but he'd refused to go, maybe he's come down with something?

12:00 PM
The chief told me that Madame Fantina had alerted him that suspicious people had been gathering near the berry master's house in route 208. She said that they seemed to be wearing uniforms she had seen being worn in the far away region of Kanto.

2:00 PM
We arrived at the Berry Master's house. It had signs of forced entry, the hallways were a mess maybe they'd put up a fight? There were bloody footprints on the floor, but they don't look like any pokemon I've seen before.

2:06 PM
We found the berry master and his daughter along with the suspicious people Fantina had reported dead in their house. They were wearing Black hats and shirts with a large "R" in the middle, some of them we're wearing lab gowns. The scene was gruesome. Blood spatter all over the walls and ceilings, the corpses were bloody, some parts of their innards were showing. Apparently they we're consumed by something. There was a strange vial held by one of the supposed scientists. It was labelled "Pokerus" and sent to the lab for research.

6:00 PM
Back at the station we'd received reports that the health Pokemon, near the crime scene, have started deteriorating, some were even seen having torn flesh and exposed innards. Man, talk about creepy.


September 6, XXXX

7:00 AM
I'm getting worried about Ellis. He just sat there staring out the window. Danny, my little boy tried petting him but he growled and bared his teeth at him. That was the last straw, I got my pokeball and recalled Ellis, I'd bring him to the Pokémon center and hopefully he'll be back to normal tomorrow.

7:30 AM
I called the station saying I'd be taking a day of to bring Ellis to the Pokémon center. The chief just told me to call as soon as I got to the center. I wonder what's up?

8:15 AM
I arrived at the center and headed towards Nurse Joy, she wore the usual smile she had but she knew something was wrong. "What's the matter Jacob?" she asked me but I just give her Ellis's pokeball. After that she just smiled and took Ellis to the examination room without saying a single word. I don't know why, I just have a bad feeling that something's going to go terribly wrong.

8:30 AM
I called Chief. "Jake, apparently the cause of the Berry Master and several others deaths we're Pokemon infected with the PokeRus. Apparently those infected with the virus would exhibit great increase in their physical abilities, but in return the virus feeds off the Infected. In order to sustain themselves they need to intake massive amounts of protein and that's what we suspect happened to the Berry Master. Sometimes the infected tend to act savagely like the Virus has taken control." I remember every word clearly. That sounded crazy but who knows?

10:30 AM
It's been two hours since Nurse Joy took Ellis, I wonder if he's alright.

10:15 AM
There a shattering sound in the Examination Room! Nuff said you know what I'm going to do!

12:00 PM
Why? Why did it have to be Ellis? Why?! Answer me Arceus what did he do wrong? It just had to be done . . .  
Everything was a mess when I entered the room, then I saw Ellis, he cornered Nurse Joy. He charged at her and ripped part of her skin. She fell in pain and was bleeding severely. I tried to stop him but he wouldn't, he just kept "Eating" the nurse. It had to be done. But why?! Ellis I'm sorry. I shot him and then he charged to me, I just kept shooting. He dropped dead before he reached me bathing in his own pool of blood

12:10 PM
Paramedics came and took Nurse Joy. She thanked me for saving her but still. I just kept crying. The chief had come to take a look at Ellis. He patted me on the back and urged me to see him one last time. It was then that I realized what was wrong with him. His flesh has started rotting but, it had only been a few hours since he died. It was the Pokerus, it was still feeding on him even in death.

2:00 PM
I relayed to the chief what happened. I still regret what I did, but it just had to be done.




That was my last entry . . .

I didn't have time to write for the events came too fast. I stopped by Amity Park, I just stayed there staring at this very photo. The pain was unbearable, who am I to take the life of my partner, the one who always stayed beside me through thick and thin. When I got home Sally hugged me, she told that Chief had already told her Ellis,s fate. She just hugged me tightly, I knew she'd never leave me no matter what, and that's why I loved her. Then my Pokegear rang. It was the chief.

"Jacob run, take your family!" there were gunshots in the background
It seemed like they were in a war zone. I tried to ask what had happened but before before the voice escaped my mouth the chief shouted
"No! Bill! Run the infected ones are swarming Hearthome." He sounded exasperated.
"Infected ones? Don't tell me . . . Damn! Its the Pokerus!" I was shocked. I stared at Sally and she gave me a baffled look.
"I Don't think that I-" there was a long scream and then the line went dead.

"Sally!" I turned to my wife "Take Danny! Run far away from here. Head to Solaceon or somewhere safe!"
"Why Hon what's the matter?" she asked calmly though her face was riddled with distress.
"Infected pokemon are taking over hearthome!" then the window shattered

Sally screamed and I tried to shield her from the shards of glass. I turned around and I saw a grotesque zubat.

"Shit!" I quickly grabbed my gun and shot at the Zubat, it ear's were dangling from its head one of them had exposed flesh, its wings had tears half of it was missing and its teeth were bared at us. It dodged the bullet and charged towards my wife. Sally was stunned; I took my journal and mashed it into the Zubat.

"RUN SALLY!" she took Danny by the hand, he was crying. They had to run.
"Mommy what about daddy?" Danny said.
"Don't worry Daddy's going to be fine okay." And with that they were gone.

I shot the Zubat, its blood splattered all over my shirt. I quickly followed them, but I lost them in the crowd of people.

There were people everywhere running away from the horde of "Infected" as I liked to call them. I glanced at my Pokegear. The station had situated a tracking device on our issued Pokegear so I knew where the Chief was. I headed towards the Cathedral to try and save whomever I could get my hands on.

The Chief's Signal blinked out just before I reached the doors.

I entered the Cathedral, though it seemed like I was too late. I saw the Chief's Body being feasted upon by a few Medicham, and Golduck which I presume evolved due to the Pokerus. It was a gruesome sight; blood stained the Holy Ground. There were corpses all over the place others had their innards exposed, others had their bones exposed. Others were still writhing in pain but it was too late for them.

Someone screamed from outside the Cathedral it was a little girl being chased by three Golbat. She held a Happiny in her hands which tried to fend of  the bats with her light screen. She was cornered, she was just a child. I shot the Golbats with my Handgun blood spattered on the wall Happiny had made. The little girl was shocked and dropped her little friend. The wall fell and I rushed to her.

"Come with me I'll keep you safe." She was crying she just nodded and grabbed her Happiny

We just ran. She tried to keep pace with me as we headed for the gate at route 209. I gunned down all infected who tried to approach us. I could see the fear in her eyes, the bloodlust had tainted her young heart.




I looked at Rose who had fallen asleep beside me with her head on my shoulder.

"Don't worry kid, I'll get you out of this. Promise." I whispered.

I started writing an entry fearing it would be my last.

September 9, XXXX

I saved this kid yesterday, her name was Rose. She was a good kid and loved her only Pokemon Happiny. She really reminds me of myself. I've been orphaned ever since my Parents were killed by the group in black. I'm 28 and still I'm struggling to get the hang of things. She has a long life ahead of her, and I hope someday when all this comes to an end she can live a happy life.

If we don't make it . . . no . . . If I don't make it, I just hope Rose will.
I hope Sally and Danny are safe. This may be my last entry, so I hope ican make every moment of it count.



"Rose" I shook her "Get up, we're leaving."
"Mister at least five minutes more please" I chuckled and let her rest on my shoulder before we ventured out into the peril that is route 209.

I unbolted the door and we sprinted towards Solaceon. Apparently the virus couldn't spread in Solaceon due to the powers sealed within the Unown of the ruins. We were safe there for now.

We just kept running away from the Pokemon who wanted to devour us, but then we stopped in our tracks. We could see the towns boundaries but we couldn't move. We stood there transfixed like all will had escaped our bodies.

"Mister I can't move!" she was panicking

I didn't reply I was just trying to find away to break free from what was binding us. A Mr. Mime came out from the bushes, with a wide evil grin in its face. It only had one ear and its ribs we're visible from it chest. It was holding us tightly with its psychic prowess.

"Rose . . .  I'm sorry" I whispered under my breath and I started to cry.
"Mister I don't wanna die!" she was crying and so was her Happiny

The Mime drew closer.
I gave myself to our impending doom.

"NOOOOO" Rose screamed

Then at that moment we were set free from our restraints. What happened? I looked to the Mr. Mime and was shocked at what I saw. A Gengar had mauled it and was now feasting on its carcas.

"So they didn't just feed on us" I said.

Rose slumped to the ground with her Happiny. I grabbed her and just ran away. I ran like there was no tomorrow, I ran like my life depended on it and it did in that situation. We reached Solaceon and I slumped to the ground.

I woke up at a Pokemon Center bed, there were bandages around me. Rose was beside me with her Happiny

"Hey Mister, your awake. Thanks to you we're safe!" she smiled a huge grin

"We're safe? WE'RE SAFE!" I hugged Rose and she hugged me back but my happiness was short lived.

There was a notice on the electronic board near my bed. I was in centers lobby along with other victims. The names of the victims flashed one by one but my heart sunk when I saw . . .

325. Daniel B. Archer
326. Sally B. Archer

"They didn't make it. . ." I told her.
"Don't worry mister I'm here for you." She smiled and gave me a warm hug.
"I know"
Then was it just me or did I see her Happiny going outside the pokemon center?
I tried to get up but Rose stopped me
"I'm going to follow your Happiny."
"My Happiny but she's -" she was shocked to find her gone

I limped towards the border of route 209 and Solaceon all that running had finally taken its toll on my body, but then Me and Rose saw what had happened to her Happiny.
It was waving at us from beyond the border, then it was gone. Taken away by a dark shadow.

September 9, XXXX
Who knows how long it will take before this virus could infest Solaceon. But for now we we're safe so long as the Unown weren't infested.

This was engraved deep within the Ruins :

Friendship
All lives touch other lives to create something anew and alive.

Yes life is connected, but as of what we've witnessed now, the outcome of events depend on how we touch others lives . . .