~Red's pov~

As expected, Emma didn't sleep for more then a few hours before her nightmares roused her. She bolted up with a terrified scream before the pain of her broken body forced her to curl up with a groan of agony. I gently rubbed her arm, still somewhat groggy as I'd been asleep only seconds before but I was able to pull through enough to comfort my girlfriend. She mumbled something under her breath, repeating it a few times over and it took me a moment to figure out she was just telling herself she had a nightmare and what she saw wasn't real.

Her muscles had tensed up, spasming around her injured bones and joints in effort to keep them still while her body worked at healing them. I was aware that at this point, Emma had not been given anything to help with the pain she was no doubt in. She whimpered in attempt to prevent herself from crying out as her hand meekly suck out mine to hold. I made it easy for her by taking Emma's hand within my own. She squeezed onto it tightly, not about to let go anytime soon.

Emma didn't say anything at all, she just stared at out joined hands with a pained, absent expression. It remained this way for some time, about an hour if I had to guess before Kathrine entered the room. Unlike last time, she did so quietly with the Audino that had tended to Emma earlier trailing behind her as well as two grunts and their Scizzor. Emma flinched, tensing up further as she knew the vulnerability of her current situation.

Serenity came up beside Emma, giving her a reassuring smile as she proceeded to check her vital signs while Kathrine supervised. The Audino said something to Emma quietly, holding her wrist to check her pulse.

"Grunts, take the boy back to his cell." She muttered as I looked up at her with a frown, Kathrine was looking over notes on her clipboard so she didn't see my unapproved look. "He's not needed at this time."

Emma squeezed my hand tighter. "I want Red to say!" She protested, her voice still slightly horse from last night.

"Too bad." Kathrine replied firmly. "He already stayed with you for the night and I warn you not to push it Emma, I allowed it because it was a slip in my security measures that allowed you to be put in this precarious position. I can make things worse for you without jeopardising my own plans."

A growl came from Emma throat and I knew she was ready to snap back but I cut her off. "It's okay Emma, I'll go." I didn't want my girlfriends position to get any worse then it was but she wasn't willing to give me up easily so I had to comply for her.

"But I want you here..." She whimpered quietly, hugging my hand close to her damaged chest. "Cyrus will come back!"

Kathrine stepped in, taking my hand away from from Emma with a violet jerk that caused Emma to cry out in pain. "You're perfectly safe Emma, stop being such a baby and act your age."

Emma snarled at Kathrine, glaring harshly at her biological mother but again I spoke before she did. "Just let us say goodbye then?" I sighed to Kathrine, knowing it would make Emma more willing to let me go.

"No." She replied as the grunts took my arms, narrowing her eyes. "It's not like this will be the last time you two love birds see each other."

I sighed but let the grunts take me, knowing that Emma would only continue to fight as long as I was in the room and although I didn't want to leave Emma alone, Kathrine obviously wasn't going to cave on this. My girlfriend whimpered slightly but Serenity was close to her side and would no doubt do her best to fill my position.

I did my best to memorise the halls but this place was far too confusing and each identical hall had several ways to lead to another giving any of use near no chance of ever figuring out how to even get too each other, let alone out of this place. The halls did eventually become recognisable but they were all the ones that lead back to the sector of cells where Silver and I were kept.

Silver as usual was pacing in his cell, his expression somewhat unreadable, glancing up only as I was returned to the cell across from his. "Is she okay?" He questioned, knowing that I could have only been with Emma these past few hours.

"No..." I replied with a sign. "Something happened between her and Cyrus... He beat her or something while she was asleep.."

The red haired trainers expression dropped, no doubt he was concerned about his little sister, knowing how badly Cyrus used to treat her. "Is it bad?"

I bit my lip as I nodded. "She has a few broken bones, especially her ribcage."

Gritting his teeth, Silver looked ready to punch a wall. "I hate letting this continue! If they go on much longer, they're going to fucking get her killed!"

Silver was Emma's big brother and I know he always wanted to do whatever he could to keep her safe but he could do little here, Silver and I rarely even got too see Emma, only when her condition got really bad or she had an exceptionally hard 'test' in which she needed me or Sliver near for mental stability. I ran my fingers through my hair as I let out a deep breath.

No matter how hard I searched through my mind I couldn't come up with anything that I thought might help Silver because I knew deep down he was right. Emma couldn't handle much more of this stupid testing, as it was she struggled in these situations, being forced to face her fears and fail at doing so on threat of mine and Silver's lives defiantly didn't help her at all either...

~*🌸*~
~Emma's pov~

I watched the grunts take Red, cursing mentally as I was unable to stop it, I could hardly even move without sharp pains from my broken ribcage hammering in my chest. My head told me I should be scared, having only been recently attacked by Cyrus, my childhood instincts had blossomed once more, the main difference this time; I didn't have my Teddiursa to reassure me.

The Leader of Team Rift waited until she was sure Red was gone before she looked up from the notes on her clipboard, some part of my found the thought of the papers actually being blank humours, that Kathrine was really just doing it as a way to ignore me as she figured out what too say... "I have decided that all further tests will be terminated." Kathrine explained, obvious resentment in her tone as she put down her clipboard. "It has become obvious that the... miscalculations I have made have more recently increased your stress, anxiety and other mental health levels to the point they can no longer continue without impacting the full ability of your powers."

My first thought after hearing this was plotting my attempt to escape but then I realised two things that might hinder this. 1- since I never actually finished Kathrine's 'testing', would Silver and Red still be released? 2- I think my rib cage is pretty much shattered at this point, how the hell am I meant to crawl through a vent or sewage pipe? (Please don't so about the latter, not my finest moment) I decided it best to keep the second thought to myself at this point. "What about Silver and Red... and our Pokémon?" Kathrine seemed to love loopholes, even though she seemed to be 'honest' most the time, she often twisted her words in ways to get out of any deal she made.

"Since the testing has be terminated for... reasons you couldn't have prevented, Silver, Red and all of your Pokémon will be released as our agreement stated. You however will remain here until you've heal enough to commence with Project Alpha - to take over the Legendary Council and with the power of Arceus, recreate it in my own image."

I rolled my eyes. "Antagonists, always blabbering their plot to the protagonist so they can plot their demise."

Kathrine's eyes narrowed but she said nothing about my snarky remark. "The Audino will speed your healing, Red and Silver will remain here for a few more days to assist in stabilising your mentality before they are released."

Well that answers both of my questions, now, where's the nearest vent...?

"Are you even listening?" Kathrine grumbled irritantly. Is she still speaking? Fuuuuuuuck...

"Nope." I replied boredly. "But let me guess... Just because Silver and Red are being released does not give me the right to try and escape and I must remain here, being monitored every moment of every day and on my very best behaviour."

My former parent glared at me harshly. "Watch your attitude Emma, I can still punish you without hurting Red or Silver."

I huffed. "I'd like to see you try." I mumbled to myself.

"I heard that."

"Well good on ya!" I rolled my eyes. "If I had a golden sticker, I'd give it to you."

~Emma...~ Serinity whispered. ~I don't think now is the time, she's not in a good mood...~

Kathrine's harsh glare further proved the point the Audino was trying to make, so I simply sighed and let it go, knowing that I could do little to fight right now.

"Before I leave you alone with your little Audino nurse," Serenity finches at the tone she was referred to in by Kathrine but simply continued to fiddle around with equipment, most likely simply trying to look like she was doing something important more then she actually was. "I have a question, I want your total honesty and you will see little of me until you've healed."

"Didn't you just say the testing was over?" I grumbled.

Kathrine gave me a warning look, reminding me I was already trending a thin wire. "It's one question Emma, though if you'd prefer, I can always use the dark room again, I did spend a lot of money on it after all."

"Okay okay, sheesh, no need to get carried away." Despite the fact I knew her treat was empty, I couldn't hide the nervousness that seeped into my voice.

My birth mother gave a sly, triumphant smile - yeah, don't get comfortable with that look Kathrine, I'll get you back eventually - as she glanced down at her notes. "Do you remember the night I found out Cyrus was abusing you?"

"You mean yesterday or that one day ten years ago that started that chain of events that most of which continue to haunt my nightmares?" I rolled my eyes. Of course she meant the day ten years, which I do actually remember the day, better then most would considering how long it was ago now but it was not something I wanted to discuss with Kathrine.

"Dark room." She reminded.

"I'm being serious, I don't remember it Kathrine." I met her eyes with my own, normally something I only did to piss her off. "It was ten years ago and since then I have had multiple hits to the head, suffered mild amnesia and died, how the fuc-" I coughed to cover up the swear word, wincing as it caused pain in my chest. "How the hell can you expect me to remember that one day? I know it happened, but don't remember anything more." Times like this, I'm glad I'm an expert lier.

Kathrine held my gaze for several moments, I didn't even flinch, holding her gaze with both confidence and irritation before she looked down at her clipboard, scribbling something down with an annoyed disappointed look over her features. "Fine, that will be all then. Audino, do your job." She muttered before she turned on her heal and left.

Serenity let out a deep breath as Kathrine left, helping to shift me over so I was lying on my back. ~I don't like her.~ She murmured softly as a soft pink glow of a Heal Pulse grew at her fingertips. ~This may get a little uncomfortable but try to keep still for me.~

I nodded, crying out slightly as my position was changed, forcing my chest to shift. "I have yet to see why anyone would like her." I replied, wincing slightly as I felt my bones shift in my chest. The feeling, as Serenity said, was quite uncomfortable but I managed to keep still as she tried to speed the healing of my chest.

~You're going to try to escape when your friends are gone aren't you?~ The Audino questioned.

"Yes." I admitted.

She remained quiet for a few moments before she met her eyes. ~The Pokémon here will help you, the wild Pokémon that live in the vents and the Pokémon in the surrounding forests have agreed... I got the word out and it spread quickly.~

Admittedly, I was surprised, not really expecting the timid Pokémon to help that much. "Thank you Serenity."

~You're welcome Emma. It's not everyday you get a chance to help the Voice of Purity after all... however... They want you to, once you've healed and you're strong again, they want you to come back and free the Pokémon trapped here.~ Serenity explained. ~There are many and many of the Pokémon in the forests around this compound have friends or family within. So in exchange for their help to get you out, you need to help them rescue their family and friends.~

I nodded. "I guess that sounds fare... Though I probably would have come back anyway." I offered her a smile before cringing as a small wave of pain grew in my chest.

~Sorry.~ My Audino friend whispered when she noticed my pain, dropping her hands. ~I- I think that's enough for now, bones are much harder to fix then pulled muscles.~

Again, I nodded as I fought back a yawn. "Okay, thank you for what you could do." The pain in my chest had dulled substantially from Serenity's Heal Pulse.

~You're welcome Emma, does it still hurt?~ The Audino inquired.

"Yeah, but it does feel better." I admitted.

Serenity frowned, obviously upset she was unable to do more. ~What do you normally do when you're in pain?~

"My Pokémon normally get me to sing or play my guitar..." I replied, sighing softly.

~Why don't you try that then?~

I lightly shook my head. "It hurts too much to breath."

Serenity smiled. ~Just give it a go, if it hurts too much, you can always just stop.~

Nodding slightly, I wiggled up into a sitting position - with Serenity's help of course. For a few moments, I remained quiet, trying to figure out what I wanted to sing.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

"Like a small boat
On the ocean
Sending big waves
Into motion
Like how a single word
Can make a heart open
I might only have one match
But I can make an explosion"

"And all those things I didn't say
Wrecking balls inside my brain
I will scream them loud tonight
Can you hear my voice this time?"

"This is my fight song
Take back my life song
Prove I'm alright song
My power's turned on
Starting right now I'll be strong
I'll play my fight song
And I don't really care if nobody else believes
'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me"

"Losing friends and I'm chasing sleep
Everybody's worried about me
In too deep
Say I'm in too deep, in too deep
And it's been two years I miss my home
But there's a fire burning in my bones
Still believe
Yeah, I still believe"

"And all those things I didn't say
Wrecking balls inside my brain
I will scream them loud tonight
Can you hear my voice this time?"

"This is my fight song
Take back my life song
Prove I'm alright song
My power's turned on
Starting right now I'll be strong
I'll play my fight song
And I don't really care if nobody else believes
'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me
A lot of fight left in me"

Like a small boat
On the ocean
Sending big waves
Into motion
Like how a single word
Can make a heart open
I might only have one match
But I can make an explosion"

This is my fight song
Take back my life song
Prove I'm alright song
My power's turned on
Starting right now I'll be strong, I'll be strong
I'll play my fight song
And I don't really care if nobody else believes
'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me"

"Know I've still got a lot of fight left in me"

I glanced over at Sernity, a slight blush over my cheeks, knowing my voice was far from being in it's best. After crying and screaming for hours, my throats was still quite raw.

~You sing beautifully Emma.~ Serenity smiled, leaving my side momentarily as she searched through cupboards for a few moment.

"Thank you..." I sighed, leaning back against the wall as I struggled to find comfort.

Serenity returned to my side, a bottle of water and a small box in either had. ~You're welcome. You should sleep now, give your body a rest to better recover.~ The Healer Pokémon smiled, opening the box and pulling out a sheet of tablets. ~Hand please.~

I shook my head, holding out my hand for what I hoped was pain medication. "No, Cyrus might come back and hurt me if I sleep. I'll stay awake." I took the water from Serenity, looking cautiously as the two tiny pills in my palm. "These won't poison me will they?"

~They will make you drowsy but you will otherwise be fine, as I said, you need too sleep anyway.~ Serenity smiled, gently dabbing my forehead with a damp cloth, wiping away the nervous sweat that was forming. ~Don't worry about him Emma, I will wake you if anyone else comes in. Okay?~

After a moments hesitation, I nodded. "Okay, just please don't leave me alone." I pleaded as I sipped the water first then put the tablets into my mouth and washed them down with more water.

Serenity helped ease me down again, gently tucking me in. ~I promise Emma, now rest.~ She prompted, lightly rubbing my arm until I drifting off into a fitful sleep.

~*~*~*🌸*~*~*~
Word count: 3121

Hero people, sorry it's been so long, school is an absolute pain.
I have nothing more to say - that's a first...
Anyway- vote comment and as always, keep on reading on~!