A tiny cry forces my blue eyes open. The two dull ovals are like headlights, reflecting whatever sombreness left within me. They must be like that, because that's what my mother usually told me before she was gone.

I'm standing as I soak in my surroundings, the same one as before. No, I missed something out just now.

"Until you have been purified and you have repented, you will not return," I read the blood-red words on the wall on my left.

What does that mean? Am I not pure?

Okay, maybe I shouldn't have drunk alcohol. That was an accident. I merely thought it was some fruit juice. But I have repented. And, accidents can be frequent, I think, so it couldn't have been my fault.

My body rises. I'm not suddenly less dense, and I didn't morph into helium. Is it some psychic power? Telekinesis, maybe.

I'm moving in a backwards, projectile motion, making a parabola. No, it's not telekinesis. If everything is in reverse, someone must have dropped me onto the floor. But who?

I inhale once. My body lands on something huge and purple. It's bouncy so it's probably an inflatable or foam object. A ball? A mattress? There's a white wisp right before me. Could it be a fancy pillow? The pillows back at home don't look like whipped cream or toothpaste, though. I don't understand.

I do, when the cry from before is audible again.

"Drifblim."

Maybe this is the Purgatory. It would make sense.

Zir red eyes glance up at me, conveying fury. I shiver. Zie's got a yellow cross for a mouth (would removing it cause zir to lose air and die? I should think about that.) and I don't know, four scarves—or fabric or flat tentacles—sticking out from zir body. The Blimp Pokémon isn't an uncommon sight when you live in Hearthome City. They flock past the city every now and then, past the tallest building, the church.

I remember now. I used to frequent the church, praying to Arceus for forgiveness. I don't remember what I had to be forgiven for, but it couldn't be anything too grave. That's because I don't really have a guilty conscience. I'm not very religious either. I mean, it's a relationship, not a religion. Then again, I've shedded myself out of Arceus's care. It felt strange, that a Pokémon would birth humans. So, I thought my God must be human, distrusted Arceusism, left it all together. That was ten years ago. Should I regain my faith now? No, that's hypocritical, to call on a God you don't believe in anymore. Right?

It doesn't remove my fear anyway. There was once an incident in which a man took a trip riding a Drifblim, only to go missing. Also, even while under careful observation, large flocks of Drifblim flying at dusk will inexplicably disappear from view.

Maybe this is where the flock comes. Maybe the man who evaporated off the surface of Sinnoh was Adolf. It's possible. That's the only incident that's ever happened and Adolf's the only man here.

The Blimp Pokémon descends, screeching every time it passes a cloud. This is so like a dream. But it could be real.

"Yan, I'm sorry."

I look around, but no one's there. It's just me and this Ghost-type Pokémon.

What could someone be sorry for? I don't remember being offended by anyone.

"Please."

It sounds familiar, but I don't remember who's calling me. I don't have my phone with me and my purse isn't here either. Maybe it's a mind voice. Or a hallucination.

Or I'm trapped in a nightmare while lying in an asylum. Is that a reasonable explanation? What do you think? I'm not sure who I'm talking to, but I guess I'm blindly hoping for responses. Please tell me I'm not alone in this. It's crazy. Maybe I'm driving myself crazy. Uh, let's create an imaginary friend. OK, I'm not alone. I'm just talking to my new friend. I should feel better now. I am better now.

Then again, it's so still, so placid. The air doesn't shift much, but just remains frigid. It's like a stagnant tide crashing onto me, still waters wrapping my being whole. There it is, my lone soul in the multitudes of clouds. Strange how fast the heart beats.

The journey seems smooth, for the most part. I'm dropping from a great height, on a freaking Drifblim. Nothing can go wrong. Maybe I'm the first one to return. It's possible, isn't it?

Impossible. It's more likely that I'm second to be caught. Everything's moving backwards after all.

I think about my name. It means Swellow, but I'm not some proud woman. I don't see myself as one. I'm not an ugly bird Pokémon anyway. Though, there's something about flight that gets to me. I just like to flee.

My mind drifts back to my ex. I hardly remember how he looks like. Is Adolf my ex? That's highly unlikely. Also, Adolf doesn't seem to be a liar, or a killer. Looks can be deceiving, though. Deception is the best way to make sure trust is forever—not thrust. He probably wouldn't betray me like Dream Adolf did.

No, no, no.

The Drifblim is suddenly, totally silent throughout the descent.

"What the hell is going on? Let me down! Let me down!" I hear myself scream. Of course, it didn't sound that way. It was, obviously, "down me let down me let on in go is hell the what", without any punctuation. Stupid. I guess I'll just have constantly remind myself to flip the speech as I hear them so I don't lose my mind. If I haven't already.

Maybe I'll go to a bar and pat the bartender's head. "Do you have iodine? Or brackish water? You sell cocktails here, don't ya? What about a glass of Molotov cocktail?"

Wait. You don't drink that kind of cocktail, do you?

My mind wanders off on its own again. Random thoughts.

Soon, I see golden sand below me. There are a few buildings and not a lot of people. It probably is Sandgem Town then. Sunyshore City has too many people to count since it's got a beach and resorts nearby.

Dull Sandgem Town, here I come!

Like I said, I love things that are dark, dull and gloomy. How assuring.

The Drifblim slides me off zir head and I hit the soft sand. The Blimp Pokémon is bouncy and soft. If zie's not so creepy, I would probably cuddle zir home. Zie makes a good pillow and bed. Never knew a Ghost-type Pokémon could bring such comfort.

"Please forgive me."

The masculine voice projects itself. Sexy. Maybe it's some soap opera broadcast across the region. I mean, that's happened twice when the broadcast system got hijacked. It could have happened again. The people around me scream and peel their faces and release their tight grip, their fingers no longer shaking soon after. Will you look at the surprise and suspense in a radio drama?

As I watch the purple Pokémon float into the sky, zir lonely shadow shrinking, I lay on the sand. The heat is blazing.

I'm rolling on the sand for a minute or two before I stand.

"Ah! Hot, hot summer!" I squeal. Eww. How did I actually do something so embarrassing in the past? Cringe 101!

At the corner of my eye, a Hypno leers at me. Is it the same one? Not sure.

But I know I'm backtracking, again.

Where the heck am I going now?