Disclaimer: Don’t own Pokemon! A/N: Okay, sorry for the super long wait there guys but I’ve been on vacation and getting ready to start the fall semester (yuck)! Also, this chapter has some foul language (sorry, but I felt it necessary to express certain feelings) and therefore will be rated MA. Anyways, here’s chapter 4, enjoy! Chapter 4- A Startling Discovery Alex simply stared at the ID, Darren’s ID, as if it were a foreign object. Her hands trembled slightly as she held the ID and had almost forgotten about the photo that had slipped out with the ring. The photo, as it turned out, was slightly crumpled and worn around the edges. It held a slight yellow hue, probably from many years of being folded and refolded time and time again. Looking around quickly, Alex realized that she was alone in the lobby of the apartment complex. Scared, she slowly turned the photo over, afraid of what she might find. One quick glance was enough to get Alex running towards the nearest elevator at lightening speed as she frantically and continually hit the button for the fourth floor. ‘This is insane,’ she thought, willing the elevator to move faster. She glanced, yet again, to the picture in her hand, recognizing it immediately as the one Misty had shown her earlier that day. It was the exact replica of the picture of Misty and her deceased boyfriend, Ash. What she didn’t know, however, was how Darren had come into contact with the same picture. As soon as the double doors parted, Alex rushed out to the apartment where she was hoping to find all her answers. Furiously pounding on the door, Alex pressed her ear against it to see if she could hear any type of movement. ‘Come on, open up. I know you’re in there.’ “Who is it?” came a depressed voice from inside the apartment. “Darren, it’s Alex! Open up quick, this is important!” she practically screamed, getting weird looks from other people passing by. Expecting to hear some worn down excuse, she jolted back as the door opened slightly to reveal the young man she had talked to earlier. “What do you need Alex? I’m busy at the moment,” sighed Darren, rubbing his head. “I need to come in,” she retorted. “Alex, I really--” But he was cut off when she shoved the wallet into plain view. Gasping for a moment, Darren opened the door the entire length and stood gaping at his lost treasure. He didn’t know how she had found it and, frankly, did not seem to care. The money, credit cards, identification…none of it really mattered to him. He really only cared about his two treasures tucked inside the wallet, those of which could not be replaced. The only thing that truly mattered was that it was back in his possession, safe and sound. Finally finding the words to speak, Darren stuttered a barely coherent response, “M-My wallet…you found my wallet.” He went to reach for the wallet when, to his surprise, Alex pulled it just out of reach. She stepped into the apartment, closing the door behind her and handed Darren the wallet. He held it in his hands for a moment, relishing in the feel of it between his hands before hastily opening it up. To his surprise, however, his prized possessions had not been where he had last left them. Searching frantically in the folds of the wallet, Alex gently placed the two objects on the kitchen table. “Looking for these?” she asked, as he whipped his head around. Seeing his treasures, he scooped them up in his hands as if they were fragile artifacts and tenderly held them in his hands for a moment before turning back to Alex. “Alex, I--” “Don’t worry about it…just tell me one thing,” she started, “The man in this picture…who is he and why do you have his ring?” “That’s none of your business!” he snapped suddenly, tears threatening to fall. “It is goddamn well my business!” she snapped back, “Now, who is he?!” “He’s dead, it doesn’t matter anymore!” he yelled, taking a seat on the couch while holding his head in his hands, “They’re both dead…” ‘Both?’ thought Alex, as she inched closer to where Darren had seated himself. “H-He was a friend of mine…he died in that rockslide…and she committed suicide when she heard he had died…” he whispered, a small sob escaping his lips. “Dead? B-But, the girl in this picture isn’t dead, she’s alive,” breathed Alex. Darren looked up from his position on the couch and gave Alex a threatening look that shot silent daggers her way. He got up slowly and Alex, scared, backed herself into a corner. “Don’t fuck with me Alex! I don’t know what you’re trying to play with here! It’s none of your business and you shouldn’t be poking your nose around where it doesn’t belong!” he screamed, shoving the picture in plain view, “Do you even know who this is? This…” he pointed to the girl in the picture to accentuate his point, “Is the Cerulean City gym leader. And I’m sure you’re well aware of the fact that she committed suicide almost immediately following the rockslide.” Darren’s voice had started to get shaky as he slowly started to back off of Alex, realizing that he was starting to lose his temper. Alex, in turn, slowly shook her head knowing inside that what he was telling her wasn’t true. Misty was downstairs, alive and well, and, to her knowledge, had never been a gym leader, so what exactly was Darren talking about? Afraid that he would flip out on her again, she decided to keep this piece of information from him until she questioned Misty. So many questions needed to be answered and Alex was sure Misty would provide them for her. Alex, for the time being, simply nodded dumbly as if to ease Darren’s doubt. She knew he was unstable and wanted to be sure she got out of his apartment safely. “This is that girl…Misty…” he cried, caressing the picture. ‘Misty?! What the hell is going on here?!’ thought Alex, as she slowly headed for the door. “You know what Darren, it looks like you need some time alone with your thoughts. I’ll just let myself out,” sighed Alex, as Darren gave her a simple, yet sad nod. Exiting the apartment, Alex racked her brain for anything that Misty might have told her about being a gym leader or anything crucial about Ash. Realizing that she needed to talk to Misty, she rushed to the elevator in hopes that Misty would answer her questions… Meanwhile… The door to Misty and Alex’s two bedroom flat had just been opened as Misty came out of her bedroom, expecting to see her best friend, but to her surprise found Jason, the love of Alex’s life. “Jason, what are you doing here?” asked Misty, a little startled by his sudden entrance. “Hey Mist, just thought I’d drop by. Is Alex here by any chance?” he asked, searching the living room. “No, but she should be back soon. Why?” she asked, smiling at him. “Good, I need to talk to you. It’s really important,” he explained, receiving a questioning look from Misty. “Oh, ok. What’s it about?” she asked, putting her earrings in. “I’d prefer if we took a walk while we talked,” he smiled, hoping she would accept his request. “Oh, I don’t know Jason. Alex will be back soon and--” “It won’t take long. I promise, please Mist?” he pleaded. Misty, not wanting her best friend to think she was betraying her, sighed. Misty knew of Alex’s feelings for Jason and knew it was not right, however, Misty also knew that Alex trusted her. Torn between the two decisions, she caved in and decided to leave Alex a message. “Alright you win,” she smiled, writing on the notepad next to the phone, “Let me just write Al a note to tell her where I’m going.” Misty quickly scribbled on the note where she would be and who she would be with, but at the same time reassuring her friend that she had nothing to worry about. Jason probably just needed some friendly advice on some homework or something to that affect. Grabbing her purse, she exited the room with Jason in tow… Meanwhile… Darren sat staring at the photo and thinking about his conversation with Alex. She was intent on making him believe that Misty was still alive, but how would she have known something like that? He had been there at her funeral, saw her sisters, and even Brock, though he knew he could not approach them. They were all crying at their loss…his loss, and knew she was gone from this world forever. Darren had thought many times that she had been lonely in those last few days of her life, thinking that she had lost him, knowing that Aki and Marissa had won. He beat himself up for it because he believed that he caused her untimely death, that he was the one that left her heartbroken, and that he might as well have pulled the trigger. Alex was wrong…Misty couldn’t be alive. However, was it possible? Was it possible that maybe Misty was alive…that it was somehow a huge mistake? Just then, a bright flash engulfed the room, causing Darren to rear back and shield his eyes from sudden change in light. He held his hand to his eyes in an attempt to see what had caused the flare and saw the outline of a figure approaching him. “Hello Ash.” A/N: Okay, I didn’t mean to leave it all cliffhanger like, but what you see is what you get lol! Sorry if it was so short but I will try and get up the next chapter asap! Thanks and AAML for life!