The sun was rising by the time the truck pulled over, I didn't sleep a wink, instead remaining still and quiet with my head rested against the door - trying not to do anything that would provoke Nichole to hurt me. I'd heard Jake and Milly trying to break out of the back of the truck for a while but they seemed to have given up hours ago. My aching arm caused constant discomfort but I was too scared to move more then an inch at anytime. I'd attempted to calm myself by looking up, out the windscreen and at the stars but all that got me was a whack behind the head with an order to keep my head down.

As the truck pulled up, Nichole kicked open the door, grabbing hold of my arm to stop me toppling out as I'd been leaning against the door all night. She allowed me to steady myself before climbing out on my own. My shoulder still caused me extreme levels of pain, throbbing - burning almost - in the most uncomfortable way possible, almost with a misplaced feeling. I was almost certain it had dislocated, which had happened more then once in the past.

"Sit." Nichole ordered, shoving me to the concrete ground. She glared at me sideways before observing as the back of the truck was opened. "Remember your friends are completely expendable, anything that happens to them will be your fault." I whimpered but nodded as she walked off.

I spared this moment to observe my surroundings. We were in a large garage of some sort. Three identical trucks sat to the the left of the one we were in a set of double doors seemed to be the only way out other then the tightly sealed hanger door. As I looked back towards the truck, I watched helplessly as Jake, Milly and Jessica were brought from the back of the vehicle, each had their hands bound behind their back. Jessica was still yelling angrily at her sister but Nichole seemed unfazed by her sisters anger. Instead she one by one unbounded my friends arms from behind their back and instead used handcuffs to secure them to the front. She left me where I was, no one but my friends even spared me a glance. I looked around the building again, attempting to swallow the large lump in my throat.

I was snapped from my daze by Nichole dragging me by my hair to my feet, ignoring my screams and struggles. My knees buckled as my injured shoulder shifted into a new position. With my hands secured behind my back, I could do nothing to brace the injury.

"Nicholette stop! Her shoulder is clearly dislocated!" Jessica demanded, breaking away from the grunt holding her and pushing sister away from me. The raven haired trainer held me protectively. "Just let me fix it."

After a moment, Nichole unlocked one of my handcuffs before she stepped back - watching narrowly as Jessica faced me. "I'm sorry Paige but it will hurt a lot going back in place but afterwards it will feel better, okay?"

Taking in a shaky breath, I nodded. I squeezed my eyes shut as Jessica carefully felt my arm and without any noticed grabbed it and either yanked or twisted it - maybe both - back into place. I screamed as I fell to my knees, whimpering from the lingering pain. Getting no time to recover, I was yet again dragged to my feet by Nichole and forced to follow her through the double doors I'd spied earlier.

I kicked her in the shin, trying to bite her hand in attempt to free myself. My legs went ridged, planting themselves firmly in place as I pushed back against my captor. I didn't want to face Ghetsis, not ever again but I was easily over powered.

We weren't lead very far before we arrived in the room that was now very clearly Ghetsis's new throne room. I shrunk back, whimpering at the sight of the man who'd caused my life so much torment. His rainbow robe was now black, intricate grey patterning adorning his new attire - although I paid little attention to anything. Nichole paused once in the room, a moment in which I succeeded in biting her hand.

Nichole threw me to the floor in front of Ghetsis, cursing under her breath as she inspected her bite mark. I'd bit her harder then expected, drawing a little blood. She kicked me sharply in the back. "Insolent runt."

I snorted in response, glaring at the older trainer as I cried in fear - I didn't know if I should be brave or try to hide under the closest chair right now. I didn't want to be a pushover anymore but I didn't want anyone to get hurt because of me. My friends were lined up behind to me, almost as if reminding me to behave as it was entirely obvious that I was the centre of Ghetsis's attention.

"You're not causing trouble are you runt?" Ghetsis sneered as Nichole forced me onto my knees before him. My struggles were useless and it wasn't much of a competition to prove who was stronger in this scenario. "Haven't you learnt your lesson?"

He knelt down to my hight, a disgusted sneer over his features. "You're more trouble than you think you're worth aren't you runt. Pathetic really." He took hold of my lower jaw, forcing me to look him in the eye.

I spat on him, grumbling in response. I couldn't hide my fear, not ever if I tried but I could do little to stick up for myself. 

My salvia dripped down his face, giving me an odd feeling of satisfaction but Ghetsis remained oddly calm as he rose to his feet. "Still seems like you don't know how to respect those superior then you, runt." He muttered, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket and wiping his face with it. "Looks like I have to teach you some respect girl."

Nichole suddenly jerked my head up by grabbing onto a handful of my hair to control me, eliciting a cry of pain from me as I instinctively struggled against it. She yanked back sharply as I attempted to loosen from her grip, seemingly enjoying my pain as I whimpered. Ghetsis pulled something from his pocket but I made out nothing more then a shine before then item was wrapped tightly around my throat. "Let her go." He snarled, pulling a small remote controller out of his pocket.

The thing he'd locked around my neck tightened slowly, cutting off my airway as it did. I gagged slightly as I tried to rip off the material off as it choked me. My nails scraped away my skin as my fingers tugged feverishly at the material, fighting for the ability to breath. I was only vaguely aware as Jake shouted my name, struggling against the grunts restraining him, Milly cried out in alarm while Jessica still attempted to reason with her sister for help.

After a minute, the device relaxed slightly and although it remained tight, it was enough for me to gasp for air. I still tugged weekly at the device, small tears running over my cheeks as I did before an excruciating pain rippled through my body, jolting every inch of body with electricity.

I collapsed forward, gasping for air as my limbs jerked and trembled from the shock.

"A little insurance policy to make sure you behave yourself." Ghetsis smirked, twirling the remote in his hand. "You disobey me, you will get shocked. You misbehave, you will get shocked. You try to hide from me, I'm sure you get the picture. Do you understand me runt?"

My body froze, tears prickling in my eyes, unable to think of anyway to respond as the tremors continued to rake my body. A light shock ran through my body, not even half the strength of the previous one but still I responded with a pained moan, clutching my chest tightly as I struggled to breath clearly. I quickly nodded to Ghetsis's question, fearful of another shock.

"Good, lock her with the others." Ghetsis snickered to Nichole as he turned to leave. "And don't even think about trying to escape runt, that collar will automatically send a shock, powerful enough to paralyse you if you try to leave or take it off. Dare to touch it at all and it will shock you, enjoy."

Nichole dragged me to my feet but my trembling knees were unable to support my weight. I squeaked nervously as I struggled to support myself but the Team Plasma elite started moving before I could try again. Not wanting to anger her and risk getting shocked by the collar around my neck again, I tried my best to move myself but soon gave up as my body refused to obey instruction.

I was thrown into a small steel cell, the door slamming shut behind me and the lock clicking shut. And overwhelming sense of dread swept through me as I scurried to the back of the cell, watching fearfully as Nichole teasingly waved an identical remote from behind bars. "Behave yourself now runt, I've been waiting for this for a long time."

A dull whimper was my only reply as I pleadingly shook my head.

"Naw, where'd all that confidence you had a minute ago?" She sneered, strutting out of sight as I pushed myself further into the corner. "By the way, a little friend of yours will be joining you soon, Ghetsis is just having a word with him first."

Jessica grabbed the bars of her cell, she'd been separated from Jake and Milly who shared the cell next the near while I was locked across the hall from them all. "Why are you doing this Nicholette, please, just stop this."

Nichole didn't even flinch as she exited the hall, beyond any of our sights. I wedged myself into the corner, crying to myself as I hugged myself tightly, too afraid to try to move - too sore to want to. Nichole could have only meant N by my friend. He was my only close male friend, other then Jake but he was already here.

I managed to sit up, wiping the tears from my eyes as I looked between Jake, Milly and Jessica - silently asking if anyone had a plan; begging them to have some sort of idea of how to get out of here. Jessica was sitting with her back against the wall, hugging her knees with a brooding expression. It was easy to tell she was scared but knew she was in the least amount of danger. Ghetsis clearly wanted to torture me before my inevitable death. Jake and Milly I worried about though. He could brainwash them into grunts, he could torture them too or just kill them to get to me. They don't deserve that, they just wanted to be my friend. Nichole would care for Jessica and I don't think Ghetsis would hurt her so long as Nichole remained loyal to him which she seemed willing to do in return for Jessica's safety.

"Paige?" I looked up at Jake who had his little sister curled in his arms. "You should get some sleep, we'll wake you if Ghetsis comes, okay?"

Closing my eyes for a moment, I nodded my head. I didn't want to worry them, I don't think I would sleep but I could at least pretend so they wouldn't worry.

I closed my eyes and let my mind drift, trying to think of better times and places then the one I was in now. Once upon a time this would have been impossible but since running away for my freedom I'd made many new friends and tried many new experiences so it wasn't too hard to find a memory to reminisce.... A loud shout snapped me awake, I bolted up before crying out as the shock collar let out another burst of electricity. I fell forward, only just managing to catch myself before I hit my head.

"Paige!"

I snapped my head up, wincing as the collar tightened, to see N. He looked to be in rough shape, a bruise on his cheek and his hair much more disheveled then I was used too. Nichole was fighting to get N under control but he pushed her off as if she were a Pidove.

N reached out for me through the bars, concern in his eyes. "Paige!"

Picking myself up, I crawled to the bars, letting N hold me as I cried into his grasp.

"Oh I've had just about enough of this!" Nichole huffed, pulling out a controller identical to the one held by Ghetsis. "Get the hell into the cell Natural or she will get shocked harshly."

Whimpering in fright, I shied away from her, shaking my head. N stood up, glaring at her while standing in front of me defensively. "Don't you dare."

"Try me N." She glared back. "I am not in a good mood, I will do what is necessary so get the Worma-damn-ing cell." Nichole pointed to an open, empty cell with one hand and held the controller threateningly in the other.

After a moment N let out a low growl but complied, looking back at me guiltily for a second as he did. "Touch her and I will hurt you." He threatened, looking Nichole dead in the eye as she locked his cell.

Raising an eyebrow, she held up the controller and hit the button on the side. A low shock came from the collar, I let out a whine from the pain, hunching over. It didn't hurt nearly as much as the others had but it still hurt. Nichole smirked at N, turning on her heel as she strut off down the hall. "I don't need to touch her to hurt her."

Breathing heavily, I backed away from the bars as she passed, ducking my head as I whimpered in pain and fright. She glared at me disgustedly, pushing the button - this time holding it for a moment as I cried out in pain, falling to the ground with my eyes squeezed shut. I screamed until it stopped and I was able to again catch my breath. I could vaguely hear Jessica yelling in the background as well as N's calls of concern.

"Paige, are you okay?" I was finally able to make out as my ears stopped ringing.

Shaking my head, I burst into tears again, burying my head in my hands. Everything ached. Everything hurt. I couldn't stop my hands from shaking and I was finding it painful to breath. I was most definitely not okay.

"Hey, it's okay, calm down." N tried to reassure. "I'm here but we will be okay."

I shook my head again, sobbing harder. My body trembled in fear as I struggled to get myself under control, it felt impossible but I managed to pull myself to my knees but I couldn't control my sobbing as I did.

"Paige, please calm down." N told me softly. "I know this is scary but--"

I against shook my head, looking up at him while pointing to the collar around my neck, being extremely careful not to actually touch the horrid device. My hand trembled and I worried it may touch the shock collar so I dropped as soon as I was sure N had seen.

"I'm sorry." He frowned, looking away for a moment but all I could do was shake my head as I pulled my knees to my chest. "I shouldn't have provoked her to hurt you." N's tone was soft, filled with both pity and disgust equally.

Wrapping my arms around my knees, I gently started rocking myself as I nodded to him, sobbing into my knees. Why wasn't I allowed to just live my life? Wasn't it enough to have missed out on 7 years of it? Why am I so wrong? My head aches as the questions pounded though. I could barely hear N's words of reassurance. I don't think even N could make this better, it hurt too much. Eventually I just wedged myself back into the corner and tried to go to sleep, knowing it wouldn't be much in there then it was out here.

~~~~~~🌺~~~~~~
Word count: 2730
Surprise, N's back!
Sorry this is a day late, I had a family member pass away yesterday and I don't like writing when upset which is why the ending is kind of rushed. I don't know if I'll be able to have a chapter up next week but I'll try.