Rosa woke slowly, roused by the aching drumbeat in her head and the horrible nausea twisting her stomach. The solid surface beneath her felt hard and cold, like crusted snow in a wind-blown field, and as she lifted her head, her vision swirled.

She blinked rapidly, but it did little to dispel the stars dotting her eyes. Where was she? Everything was dark. It felt like the room around her was moving, drifting up and down in a rocking motion. Rosa sat up further, using her arms to pull her up from her stomach. The simple motion worsened her queasiness, and she had to close her eyes again to fight the vomit rushing up her throat. No way was she going to let her breakfast reappear. Not here. Not in this unknown place.

Numbly, she settled onto her knees and tentatively touched the tips of her fingers to the tender spot on the back of her head. Her hair was still in its tight buns, but the loose locks were tangled, and when she pulled her hand away, it came away wet. Her eyes were adjusting to the darkness now, so she didn't need to squint to see the blood dripping from her pointer finger.

The sight sent a jolt through her chest. What was happening? Everything felt blurry, out of reach. She tried to push past the fog in her mind, struggling to remember. She and Hugh had been on a ship, chasing after Team Plasma. The air had been thick with tension, and then—there was a flash of light.

Suddenly, Rosa was wide awake. Her eyes darted around the room, locking onto the steel-plated bars that lined one wall. There was a door on that side, but when she crawled over and rattled the handle, the lock refused to budge. Her cell was little more than a hollow tube of concrete, the walls made of thick, gray stone. There were no windows to let in any light, no air to break the stifling, musty atmosphere that clung to her skin.

Beyond the bars, the rest of the cavernous, cobwebbed space stretched out, filled with row upon row of empty cells.

A shiver ran through her as she wrapped her arms around herself, trying to fend off the chill. It was freezing. The cold stones surrounding her seemed to absorb warmth, leaving nothing but the biting air. When she exhaled, her breath puffed out in front of her like a cloud. Desperately, she searched for her coat, or even a thin blanket, but there was nothing.

Where were her Pokémon? They'd been fighting when Plasma knocked her out. Anna had just overcome that worthless Absol, but the rest of her team hadn't been faring so well. Had Plasma taken them? The thought ignited a surge of anger in her chest. If they so much as touched a single one of her Pokémon, they would regret it.

And Hugh? He had been protecting her back, but then he'd been attacked—had they taken him too?

"Hugh?" Rosa called into the vast, suffocating darkness. She gripped the icy metal bars, using them to haul herself to her feet. Her voice trembled, but it echoed back at her, swallowed by the prison's emptiness. No answer.

She grit her teeth, forcing herself to calm the rising panic. If they'd imprisoned her, surely they'd taken Hugh hostage as well. Was he still unconscious? She couldn't afford to lose hope. She tried again, her voice a little firmer this time. "Hugh, are you there?"

"I wouldn't waste your energy on that. He cannot hear you from here, but I assure you, we are taking good care of him."

Rosa startled, but forced herself to remain where she was. A figure appeared at the other end of the outside room, his long, white hair shining even in the darkness. She recognized the outfit, and her grip on the bars tightened.

"Where is he?" Her voice came out low and sharp, though she fought to keep the tremor from betraying her. "What have you done with Hugh? I swear, if you've hurt him—"

The ninja's laugh was cold and devoid of humor, sending a chill down her spine. "I think the one you should be worrying about is yourself, dear hero. Ghetsis will be thrilled to know we've finally caught the ones who've been interfering with our plans. He's not exactly pleased with you... or your friend."

Rosa pressed closer to the bars, fists clenched so tightly her nails dug into her palms. The urge to reach out and strangle the ninja was overpowering. "Hugh has nothing to do with this! I was the one hunting you down, and I dragged him into it. He's done nothing. Let him go."

The words felt like acid on her tongue. She knew it wasn't convincing. But she couldn't afford to show weakness now.

He caught the shift in her voice, a predatory glint flashing in his eyes. "Ah, throwing yourself to the dogs to try and rescue him? Are you sure that's wise? I know you're used to playing the hero, but I'm afraid we've already informed Lord Ghetsis that you two will soon be joining him. If either of you fails to show up, he'd be... most disappointed." The ninja smiled, exposing sharp teeth. "Such things would be... unacceptable."

Rosa's legs trembled. She'd been so stupid to not recognize the boat as a trap. They should have abandoned the place the minute she realized something was wrong. "Is that what happened to Touko?" She could barely get the words out. "You kidnapped her, then shipped her off to be Ghetsis' plaything? Is that your plan for us, too?"

The ninja's laugh echoed through the cold, dark air, his voice thick with malice. "You've heard of my dear friend, Touko?"

"Of course I have." The words burned in her throat. "You know where she is. You admit to taking her!"

The ninja lunged forward suddenly, gripping the bars on the opposite side of Rosa. He dropped down to her level, their faces inches apart, his molten silver eyes locking with hers. The cold steel of his gaze felt suffocating in the dim light.

"You're just as troublesome," he murmured, his voice like a slow, deliberate hiss. "Lord Ghetsis' will is my only concern, but she interfered at every turn. Her fate was deserved. As is yours."

Without thinking, Rosa spat in his face. The hot rush of fury propelled the action before her mind had even caught up. The spittle hit his cheek and dribbled down his chin. He didn't flinch, didn't even wipe it away. Instead, his smile widened, chilling in its satisfaction.

"Such spirit," he said softly, his voice filled with a dangerous appreciation.

She didn't know how he did it, but suddenly his hand was through the bars, striking her cheek. His blow was powerful enough it sent her sprawling to the floor, and her hands burned when they rubbed against the concrete. Rosa grunted, but bit her tongue to prevent anything else escaping her. He already thought she was weak. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of hearing her cry out in pain.

"Acting up will only mean pain for yourself, your friend, and your Pokémon," he said in a clipped voice. "I would suggest you remember that."

Rosa picked herself up to shout something profane, but the ninja was gone.

She was alone in the darkness.

They couldn't do this. They couldn't contain her. She was stronger than this cage, stronger than their threats. Rosa's fists clenched, her heart pounding in her chest, but she refused to let the fear overtake her. She couldn't let them hurt Hugh.

Stumbling, Rosa got to her feet and banged against the bars. She slammed against them again and again, ignoring the sting, throwing the entirety of her weight as she screamed for Hugh and her Pokémon. They could be torturing them. Slaughtering them.

Her voice was raw, but still she screamed, hurling herself into the bars until droplets of blood slid down her forehead and dripped off the bridge of her nose. She didn't realize she was crying until a sob caught in her throat, cutting off her cries. This was her fault. She'd brought her team into this dangerous place. She'd insisted on hunting Team Plasma, on continuing to fight them. It was all her . . .

Finally, her legs gave out, and Rosa slipped down the bars, her hands making squeaking sounds as they slid down the frigid metal. What was Ghetsis planning on doing with them, once they arrived to whatever destination he had in mind? Would he lock them away forever? She couldn't let that happen to Hugh; his entire life was ahead of him.

And her Pokémon? They would fight to the death for her, especially if Ghetsis tried to use them. The thought of them being punished—her loyal friends—was unbearable.

Zaveid was too stubborn to ever fight for them. He would rebel until his last breath.

The realization froze her blood. No. She wouldn't let this happen. Her team would never be condemned to such a fate—not without first having to kill her.

Rosa retreated to the back corner of her cell, her mind spinning with thoughts of escape. She had no idea how much time had passed, nor how long she'd been unconscious, but sooner or later, someone would come by to deliver her water—or at the very least, a blanket to keep her from freezing to death.

When they did, she would be ready.

***

Rugged footsteps outside Rosa's cell made her stir. Several long hours had passed since she'd spoken with the ninja – just how many, she couldn't say – but any movement at all was welcome in her empty prison.

From her spot on the concrete floor, Rosa tensed and scurried to her feet. Her joints ached when she moved, and stars spotted her vision when she stood upright, but she forced herself to remain still. This moment had already happened a thousand times in her head, but her palms were still clammy, and her heart pounded so loudly she could hear it.

She pressed herself into the shadowed corner of the cell, blending with the darkness. The heavy, rhythmic footsteps grew louder, closer—boots, unmistakably.

"Water. And be grateful I brought you that." The man's voice was low and gruff, his words carrying a hint of disdain.

Rosa leaned her head back against the cold stone wall, trying to steady her breathing. Had he seen her?

There was a shuffle, then a surprised grunt. "Huh?"

The sound of keys jingled, followed by the screeching of metal as the prison bars creaked open, the iron biting into the air. She held her breath, every muscle tensed, waiting.

"No way she could have escaped. That's not possible." The man's voice was more certain now, but Rosa's pulse hammered in her ears, drowning out everything else.

He stepped inside. She could just make out his bulky silhouette as he passed by her hiding place, heading toward the back of the cell. Her pulse quickened, urging her to make a break for it, but she held her ground, forcing herself to stay still.

You're tiny. Elliot's not. Strategic, targeted moves are your best bet. You already know the most vulnerable parts of the body. Injure your opponent, and the moment they're caught off guard, run.

She sprung. Her feet skittered the concrete, alerting the guard to the threat behind him, but he couldn't turn fast enough to avoid her foot connecting with his knee.

Thank you, Sal.

There was a horrible, devastating crunch. The plasma guard's screams filled the prison cell, bouncing off the walls, but unlike the time she'd fought Elliot, Rosa didn't stop grinding her foot into bone when she heard it break. Instead, she whirled and kicked his back, sending his hunched form sprawling.

His keys flung from his hands onto the floor. Adrenaline roaring, Rosa dashed over to them and snatched them up. The man had stopped screaming, but she paid him no mind as she ran for the open entrance. She was going to save her Pokémon. She was going to save Hugh.

Something caught her foot, knocking her to the ground. Pain lurched through her knees and palms when they connected with the concrete, but Rosa's eyes were on the set of keys that flew out of her hand and towards the door. The plasma man yanked viciously on her ankle, dragging her back towards him, a string of profanities falling from his mouth as he pulled her.

She kicked back at him, hard. She didn't know where his face was, but if her shoe broke his crooked nose, she would consider it a victory. Her fingernails dug into the floor as she tried to heave herself forward, but it only served to make her fingertips ache.

"You're not getting away, little rat! Come back here."

Rosa was close enough to reach the prison bars. She reached out her hand and grabbed onto one, hauling herself closer to the keys. The guard tugged back on her, fighting her grip on the metal, but with the last of her strength, she kicked back.

The man swore. Her shoe hit something solid, probably his nose, but she didn't look back to find out. With his grip finally loosened, Rosa kicked it away and dragged herself to the set of keys. She picked them up and fled outside the door, slamming the barred door shut on her way out. Her hands trembled as she struggled to fit the keys into the lock, but finally the mechanism clicked, and as the guard reached the door and shook it roughly, it stayed firmly in place.

She was free.

"The only rat in here is you," she snarled, turning back to face him. There was blood smudging his pale skin. "That bloody nose comes compliments of my Uncle Sal. I hope you enjoy rotting here."

Then she ran, flinging herself towards the exit, and with any luck, Hugh