Shelby GT500: Sorry it took so long to get this chapter out. There was a lot to put into one chapter, but I did it, finally. And I am pleased to inform you that in this chapter I have created a love triangle. So I guess I didn’t lie to you when I mentioned the chapters getting better. But keep coming back because the war has just begun.

 

 

DARK SHADOWS

 

CHAPTER X: NIGHT WALKER’S NAME

 

“What do you mean you don’t know where Ash or Hailen are?” Brock was holding up a tall man, shorter than himself however, up by his coat collar. Brock was shouting at the top of his lungs.

    

“I’m not sure, sir.” The man replied with a high pitched quivering voice. “One moment she was standing between Ash and another woman and the next second they were all gone.”

    

“What other woman? Hailen was the only woman included in that team.”

    

“I’m not sure who the other woman was. I never got a chance to see her face. All I know is that she had long black hair, and she wore all black-a sheepskin coat.”

    

“Well was she in your team?”

    

“No sir. She fell from the sky.”

    

Brock let the soldier drop to the floor and run off. He however continued staring at the plaster wall. A lock of his dark brown hair fell over his eyes. He flicked it back up and turned to look at the many onlookers gawking at his sudden personality change.

    

“Don’t just stare at me! Find Ash and Hailen!”

    

The group scattered to all corners of the base. Half of the men entered the weapons depot and emerged armed with MP5Ks and AK47s. Their Pokeballs were secured on their belts and they were ready for battle. They lined up facing the door, securing their weapons to their shoulders. But then, the front door was electronically unlocked and was pushed open. Both Ash and Hailen entered side by side with their guns drawn and aimed down. They were both gasping for air. Obviously they had been running.

    

“Where have you two been?” Brock beckoned as he ran to them. Before they could respond he embraced them both in a tightly. In unison they slapped at his biceps, signaling him to let go; their faces were turning blue. He soon let go and stepped back, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. “Sorry about that. I was so worried about you guys. You’ve been gone all day, after all.”

    

Hailen simply nodded in agreement while holstering her dual pistols. Before responding further she made sure her dirty blond hair was secured in a tight ponytail. “Sorry we didn’t report in. We were taking care of some personal business.”

    

Brock gasped and looked back and forth between Ash and Hailen. His cheeks became a rosy red and he grinned slyly at Ash. “Ash? How do you do it? You get all the girls?”

    

“Brock, no-“ Ash replied shaking his head to further his point.

    

“You always have gotten all the girls! You had Melody, Duplica, May, and even Misty.”

    

“Oh my God! What is it with this Misty, chick? You two act as if she were the best thing to ever happen to you guys.”

    

“But if you weren’t doing what I think you were doing, then what were you two doing?” Brock asked pointing at the two and looking extremely confused.

    

“Paying someone back. It wasn’t just us there last night. Come on Ash, let’s get this over with.”

    

“Get what over with?” Brock asked walking beside Hailen.

    

“We have an important announcement to make to the council; an announcement that will change the fate of this war.”

    

Suddenly Brock felt himself being pulled back while Hailen continued marching toward the council room. He looked at his left arm and saw Ash’s hand gripping it tightly.

    

“Ash? Can you let go of my arm, please?” he asked with a strange expression on his face.

    

Ash did as he was asked and stepped back one step. “Brock, can we go to Lavender Hill tomorrow evening? There’s something I have to tell you.”

    

“Sure, Ash. But define tomorrow evening?”

“Sunset. The forecast is mostly clear.” Ash replied smiling.

    

“Sunset?”

    

“Yes. But it’s not like that! Trust me when I say you need to hear this.”

    

“Then why don’t you tell me now?” Brock inquired raising a brow. “Did you and Hailen really do something last night?”

    

“No. We just slept in the same bed.”

    

Brock was ecstatic. “Oh my Go-“

    

“Before I went out we did that. But when we disappeared we were actually helping out a friend. That’s what I’m going to tell you tomorrow evening.”

    

And with that Ash patted his long time friend, equivalent to perhaps a brother, on his shoulder and marched toward the council room. But before he was out of sight he looked back at Brock with a sad expression on his face. The only thing was that Brock recognized the expression. Ash held it when he stood over Misty’s tombstone with a bouquet of flowers.

 

 

 

Hailen and Ash didn’t seem all too eager to talk with each other while they walked down the halls toward the council room. She was quiet and looking straight ahead. Ash was quiet also but every so often he would sneak glances at his partner.

    

After four years of friendship you really got to know that person. Ash remembered how he could always tell when Misty was upset, even if she hid her feelings. There were signs that gave away their intentions. Hailen however wasn’t as difficult to break as Misty. Hailen showed that she was pissed about something.

    

In the past Ash had learned the hard way to stay out of a girl’s private business. There were a lot of times when he would get reacquainted to Misty’s mallet. But Hailen had something more dangerous that a mallet. Actually the term would be some things. Her pistols.

“You and Night Walker seemed to have hit it off pretty well.” Hailen spoke crossing her arms in front of her chest. “You two act like old friends.”

    

“That’s because we are.” Ash replied kneeling down.

    

Hailen stopped walking and looked over her shoulder at Ash. “What are you doing?”

    

“Letting my buddy catch up.”

    

And there was the yellow Pikachu jolting down the corridor as fast as its short legs would take it. When it was close enough to Ash, Pikachu leapt up onto his trainer’s shoulder and rubbed its cheek against Ash’s.

    

“Did you miss me buddy?”

    

“Pika!” the rodent replied overjoyed.

    

“Sorry I didn’t take you with, but I didn’t want you to get hurt.”

    

“Pika pika.” The mouse retorted aggressively.

    

“Sorry buddy, but you just aren’t strong enough. Whenever you catch up to the Werewolves’ level their power increases. We don’t know how the Immortals’ systems work.”

    

“But maybe we will now that we have Night Walker. Perhaps she can give us some insight on the Werewolves. After all, it’s her job to hunt them.”

    

Ash nodded. “You’re right, Hail. Maybe she can help you Pikachu.”

    

“Now Ash, do you really think she can help Pikachu? She hunts the Werewolves, not her Pokemon.”

    

“She does have Pokemon,” Ash retorted. “A Gyarados.”

    

“Maybe we have a chance then. Maybe we can get ahead before the Demons-“

    

“That’s just what your father said. There aren’t going to be demons in this war. How could we fend them off? If your father was religious he should have thought that if demons attack, we as mortals would have no way to defend ourselves. How could God allow that?”

    

Hailen stood firm in place, glaring at Ash with pursed lips and her hands at her hips. She didn’t favor the idea of her father’s theory being downsized. But was it just that...a theory? Her father was the most intelligent man in Lavender Town and definitely one of the top five minds in the Kanto region.

    

“I don’t care what you believe. I believed my father then and I believe him now. Now let’s get this over with.”

    

Ash stood up, with Pikachu standing on his shoulders. He followed behind Hailen into the Council room, which wasn’t much of a “council room”. The room was placed behind two double steel doors that creaked as they were pushed open and crashed into the walls with a loud echoing thud. The walls were boarded with mahogany wood and the floor was cracked and worn mahogany wood as well. There were no windows, no pictures, and no plants. All there was were three wooden tables lined up close to the back wall, and several chairs. There was one lamp on each table, a gold plated lamp.

    

Six people, four men and two women, looked up from the tables and at the two people bursting through the doors. The man’s boots thudded on the wood flooring and the woman’s clicked with the slightly risen heel. Ash and Hailen weren’t accustomed to approaching the council. They believed that the council held no real power anyways. The power lied in the hands of the Shadow Hunters, and the council merely stood as the lawful head. But there wasn’t reason for laws in a war between blood thirsty immortal beings.

    

The man in the center, a middle aged man with short gray and black hair stood up as if he had been shocked. He wore a black robe, as did the rest of the council. This again begged the question ‘why?’ It was a known fact that the council merely consented with the Shadow Hunters. They were more or less advisors that heads. Yet here they all sat, or stood, wearing long black robes thinking they served a purpose.

    

“What is the meaning of this intrusion?” the man barked. He slammed his palms on the table and snarled at Ash and Hailen. “It is not customary to barge into the council room without consenting either-“

    

“I think we have more to worry about than your lame rules!” Hailen shouted back, interrupting the councilman who stared back at her as if she had three heads, one breast, and an arm protruding from her side.

    

“The war has escaladed.” Ash said softly. He tried showing the councilmen the respect that they...deserved? No, desired. They didn’t deserve anything. They weren’t the ones out nearly every night hunting rabid dogs. They sat in a room and socialized while others were losing their lives. Nevertheless, Ash knew that they did have the...ability to throw them out of the council room.

    

“How so?” the councilman asked intrigued. He sat back down in his seat and glared at Hailen.

    

“We have a new enemy. The Werewolves aren’t the only Immortals we need to worry about.” Ash paused to look out at the faces of the councilmen. They were all intrigued by his words, but they were also showing confusion and nervousness. “Vampires have joined the war.”

    

For a moment the council room was nothing but utter silence. Ash really thought that he left an impression upon the councilmen...oh how naïve they were. They were laughing. He told the “top dogs” an important fact and they pushed it to the side as if it were nothing but a ridiculous legend.

    

“Vampires? Have you suffered a head injury, boy?” asked a gray haired woman.

    

“Where did you get an idea like that? Vampires!” replied the man in the center.

    

“Why not?” Hailen shouted. The laughter ceased and all eyes were on her. “Why the hell not? Is it because vampires aren’t supposed to exist? News flash: neither are werewolves.”

    

There was a single sigh that broke through the silence. The other woman, with long black hair tied into a bun and clipped to the back of her head, shook her head and chuckled as well. “Where have the vampires been this entire war? They obviously have existed.”

    

“Where did the Werewolves come from?” Hailen retorted.

    

Ash chuckled. “We just don’t know.”

    

“Well there must be something behind it. There must be a reason why the Werewolves raged war and now have the...vampires, as you called them.”

    

“They do exist!”

    

“Enough!” The center man shouted, once more jolting up. “This meeting will continue the day after tomorrow. The council needs to discuss this matter privately.”

    

With that Ash and Hailen took their leave, arduous as it was. They each took one look back before Hailen slammed the double doors behind her.

 

 

 

Daylight. The Shadow Hunters weren’t accustomed to seeing the beaming light of the sun. Lavender Town wasn’t too accustomed either. It was a gloomy city to say the least, but every few days it would be nothing but gorgeous. Today was one of those days. There were few clouds in the sky, the air was warm and crisp, and Pidgeys were flying high above the streets and buildings.

    

But below, Ash and Brock walked side by side through Lavender Park, a beautiful place constructed just prior to the outbreak of the war. It was made to let the people get away from the grogginess and dankness of the town. It worked too. There were tall trees, several ponds, swing sets, sand boxes, benches, and Lavender Hill. That was where Ash and Brock were headed.

    

Lavender Hill was the prime accent of the park. It allowed the people to sit atop the hill and watch as the sun set directly above the Pokemon Tower. It was truly a sight to see, with the beams of light etching from the edges of the Pokemon Tower’s dark façade. But there were also the colors involved. And with Lavender Town being so achromatic the color variation was a welcomed sight.

By the time the two reached the top of the hill the sun was just above the tip of the Pokemon Tower. Already it looked much livelier. As soon as the setting sun shone its bright rays on Lavender Town the town just felt more like the rest of Kanto. It felt peaceful and warm.

    

Ash and Brock plopped down at the top of the hill. They looked out to the enlightened town and sighed. It was beautiful.

    

Brock watched, entranced by the unearthly beauty. He barely even blinked. The only movement that came from him was the waving of his hair via the cool, calm breeze. His spine tingled at the feeling. This moment was bliss.

    

Ash on the other hand was already looking away from the sunset. There was a reason he had brought Brock to this site. But for the time being he let his head hang low. His eyes began to fill with tears and he tried his hardest to restrain his urge to cry. But his attempts had failed as tears began dripping off the tip of his nose and staining his blue jeans. Soon he began sniffling, and then shaking. Then finally he burst out crying.

    

“Ash? What’s the matter?” Brock asked placing a hand on his best friend’s shoulder.

    

“There’s a...a reason why I brought you here...Brock.”

    

“What is it?”

    

Ash looked up. Brock immediately noticed his red eyes and cheeks. His lips were trembling and his body was shaking more violently. He looked out at the setting sun. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it Brock?”

    

His friend nodded in agreement. “It sure is, Ash.”

    

“It isn’t...it isn’t fair that we can see this...but Misty can’t.”

    

“Ash, come on now, you have to move on. You can’t bring Misty back.”

    

“I know I can’t. She’s lost forever.”

    

“Not forever.” Brock replied matter-of-factly. “We’ll see her again.”

    

“In which sense do you mean?”

    

“In...death. We’ll all be together then and we’ll never be separated again.”

    

Now Ash began sobbing uncontrollably.

    

“Ash, what’s the matter? You haven’t cried this much since Misty-“

    

“It’s because of Misty! She’s alive Brock! She’s alive right now!”

    

“No she isn’t. No matter how much you think she is alive she won’t be. Nothing you can do can...bring her back...no matter how much you, or we, try.”

    

“You’re wrong this time, Brock. She is alive.”

    

“Then why are you so sad?”

    

“Because, Brock, Misty can never see a sunset like this ever again. She is denied something so beautiful. Misty would love to see this but she never can!”

    

“Ash, obviously you’re imagining that she’s alive. It’s all right; we all knew that you two shared something special, even though you would never admit it. We’re in this war for a reason. We’re in this war to avenge Misty and to make sure nothing like this happens to anybody else. The Immortals have to be killed, no matter what the cost.”

    

“Brock! No! Don’t you see?” Now Ash fell back and was lying down with his hands clasped over his teary face. “Misty is an Immortal! She’s the Night Walker-a Vampire!”

    

Brock suddenly broke into tears. His stare was locked on Ash; he couldn’t believe what he just heard. The two cried together all while the sun was setting lower and lower down the base of the Tower.

    

“But Ash...she was...she was attacked by a...by a Werewolf. How...how...how is she a...Vampire?”

“All...all I know is that she gave up her mortality because she thought we were dead. Brock, she loved us so much that she gave up her mortality to avenge our deaths. That’s why she’s an Immortal. She allowed her soul to be taken.”

    

“But...we won’t be together in the end, will we?”

    

Ash simply shook his head and cried more. “All we have is the time until we die.”

    

“But we’re in the middle of a war. Who knows how much time we have?”

    

“Misty told me she won’t let anything happen to us.”

    

“It’s a war, Ash. You can’t make those kinds of promises.”

    

“Misty can. You didn’t see how she fought to keep me alive. I would have been torn to pieces if she hadn’t have dropped in. She killed them with single blows. Believe me when I say she can keep us alive...and herself.”

 

 

 

Just after the sun was buried by the cityscape of Lavender Town, Ash and Brock moved out of Lavender Park and headed for the hideout where Misty was retained. The walk wasn’t far so the trip was not all too dangerous. The moon still was not up but the top hemisphere was peaking the opposite side of the town. For yet another night it would be a full moon-and even that was strange for Lavender Town.

    

Pikachu had joined his trainer after he and Brock had their time alone. The rodent Pokemon was instructed to play around in the trees for the time being. But now it was once more in its usual place, on its trainer’s shoulder. And just like Brock the Pokemon had a smile across its face. It was soon going to be reintroduced to Misty.

    

Upon reaching the hideout Brock waited impatiently while Ash felt around his pockets trying to find the keycard Hailen had given to Ash. He checked his pockets several times and finally found the key hiding within his back pocket. So he pulled the key out and swiped it. The door unlocked and Brock thrust the door open. It had however opened much easier than expected so he nearly stumbled down flat on his face.

Ash chuckled at his friend’s clumsiness. But pulling himself back together he stepped in the building and locked the door behind him. From the moment he stepped inside Ash noticed something different about the building. It felt warm-not temperature wise, but rather in a sense. It seemed more like home than the base did.

    

“Misty!” Ash called. “Where are you?”

    

“You’re back.” Misty called back from her room.

    

Ash, Brock, and Pikachu all turned to the room but the door was shut. They waited impatiently for Misty to step out.

    

“Give me one second.”

    

“What are you doing?” Ash asked.

    

“Fixing my hair. I’ll be out in one minute.”

    

While waiting Ash and Brock decided to sit up at the counter in the center of the main room. There were four steel stools positioned around it. Pikachu jumped off of Ash’s shoulder and onto the counter but nearly slid off the edge because of the slippery chrome.

    

Brock kept his eyes glued to the door but turned his head toward Ash. He had a sly smile stretching across his face. “So what did she say when you told her you were bringing me along.”

    

“I didn’t tell her.”

    

“So she doesn’t know I’m here. She thinks it’s just you.”

    

Ash nodded.

    

“You know what that means don’t ya?”

    

“What?” he asked confused.

    

“Ash, come on, you can’t be this dense. She thinks you two are alone here and now she is in her room fixing her hair.”

    

“Stop it Brock. There isn’t anything between me and Misty. We’re just friends.”

“Don’t give me that crap.” Brock replied waving his hand in front of Ash’s face. “You’re honestly trying to tell me you have no feelings for Misty after what I just witnessed on Lavender Hill tonight?”

    

“Brock, you know I love her, you do too-“

    

“Not like that. I love Misty as a sister. I even love you as a brother. But there is more than one type of love. What I feel for you two is family love, meaning I would never dream of doing anything sexual with Misty. Where as you and Misty feel romantic love, meaning you two would get down and dirty between the sheets.”

    

The conversation was thus put on hiatus as Misty’s door opened up with a soft creak. Ash, Brock, and Pikachu stared in the direction of Misty’s room and awaited her entrance. It was about thirty seconds before a beautiful girl around the age of twenty stepped out. All three spectators were amazed at what they saw. Instead of wearing her leather body suit Misty was now wearing loose black sweat pants, and a blue t-shirt. Her hair was pulled back and held up against the back of her head with a hair clip.

    

The two men gasped at how beautiful the woman before them looked. Though she looked different with the black hair, the sight of her orange strands showing from the bottom of her hair bun brought back memories of the old Misty. Her eyes still held their same blue glow but it was much less subtle than usual. And her fangs, or nearly lack of them. Ash could barely see the bulges on her lips.”

 

“Ash!” Misty giggled excitedly. “Who’s your frien-“ she paused, jaw agape. “Brock?” she asked softly as to not offend the person if her instincts happened to be wrong.

    

“Hello Misty. It’s so nice to see you again.”

    

“Brock!”

    

Before he could reply on her looks or anything for that matter he was barraged by Misty’s body as she leapt into his arms and hugged the life out of him. He spun her around several times while they both laughed and cried.

    

It was easy to say it wasn’t like old times. In fact, it was far from old times. But Ash still liked the feel of the original gang being back together. He even shed a few happy tears of his own as he saw the pure joy plastered on both Misty and Brock.

    

After Brock let Misty go she cradled Pikachu in her arms and scratched under his chin. The Pokemon cooed contently. It cuddled into Misty’s arm and began purring. Misty smiled and looked at Ash. “He’s still so cute. You’ve really taken good care of him, Ash. I’m proud of you.”

    

Ash couldn’t help but blush a bit. He wiped a tear from his cheek and smiled at Misty. “Thanks Misty. Pikachu really missed you.”

    

“I missed you too.” Brock said hugging Misty once more.

    

After returning the hug from Brock Misty tilted her head slightly and looked at Ash with an uncertain expression upon her face. She looked almost as if she were about to break into sobs. Her body instantly froze and her eyes were locked gazing into Ash’s.

    

“Did you miss me, Ash?”

    

“Of course I did. There wasn’t a day I didn’t think about you and where we would have been and what we would have been doing. I lost my best friend four years ago. And when you were stolen from me a piece of me was ripped away.”

    

And so with those words Misty’s expression evolved tenfold. Her teary-looking eyes became teary and her glowing eyes glistened. A smile appeared on her face and she nodded in acknowledgment.

    

“I missed you too Ash. I missed you more than you could possibly imagine.”  

    

Her words were true. There was no way that Ash could imagine how much she missed him. There was no way he could ever imagine how much she wanted to wake up from the nightmare and hold him close. There was no way he could ever imagine how much she loved him-that she would give up her soul and become one of the immortal damned.

    

Then again, there was no way she could imagine how much he missed her. There was no way she could ever imagine how far he would go to see that the beasts that took her life would suffer the same fate. There was no way she could ever imagine how much he loved her-that he would go out every night and hunt down the werewolf clan one by one.

    

Brock remained behind Misty and glanced back and forth between his two best friends. They were locked in each other’s eyes. He could feel the tension between them build. But it wasn’t the good kind of tension. The thought somewhat made him want to leave now. He was grossed out just thinking about it. And every second longer they stared at each other the more their tension grew. He couldn’t take much more of it.

    

“Ash? Misty?” There was his predictable answer. Brock shook his head and looked to the Pikachu in Misty’s arms with its ears tucked back. Even Pikachu looked apprehensive about what Ash and Misty might do. After all they were separated for four years and everyone knew-minus Ash and Misty-that they had feelings for each other.

    

“Fine, I’ll leave you two alone. See you in the morning.”

    

Still no reply, besides that of Pikachu who bolted out of Misty’s stone-like arms and dashed into the bedroom which Brock was planning on sleeping in. He followed the rodent Pokemon and closed the door behind him.

    

As if on clock work, the moment Brock closed the door behind him Ash and Misty ran to each other and embraced each other. Neither spoke, they were incapable. All they could do was cry. Misty wrapped her arms around Ash’s neck and stood on her toes so she could rest her chin on Ash’s shoulder. Ash had his arms locked around Misty’s waist and held her up.

    

“I missed you so much.” Misty said through sobs.

    

“I missed you too.” Ash replied.

    

“I promise I’ll never leave you again, no matter what. I don’t care if I have to walk through Hell just to be with you.”

    

“You wouldn’t walk alone. I love you Misty. I always have.”

    

“I love you, Ash Ketchum, more than I did life itself.”

“I want to be with you forever. We can be together forever. All you have to do is bite me.”

    

“No, I couldn’t. You don’t know what it’s like walking without a soul.”

    

“I have been walking without a soul. It wouldn’t be new to me.”

    

“I love you too much. If I took your soul away how would I be any better than the werewolves who took mine?”

    

“But I want to be with you.” Ash now held Misty’s face in his hands. “I don’t want to leave you to walk the earth by yourself. Please, bite me.”

    

“No. Then you’ll be leaving everyone that loves you behind. What about your mother? You would never see her again. Besides, you hunt my kind. You deserve much better than me; better that an enemy.”

    

Ash shook his head and dropped his head on Misty’s shoulder. “I will never fight against you. I would choose exile.”

    

“We can’t be together forever. But our love can.” Misty said softly into Ash’s ear.

    

Ash lifted his head from Misty’s shoulder and leaned forward. Misty did the same and they met for their first shared kiss. As every second passed the kiss grew in passion. The two moved around the room while still holding the kiss. After crashing against all the walls and furniture, Ash and Misty made their way into the room Misty was staying in and they fell onto the mattress upon the floor.

 

 

 

Whenever a person gazed up at the clear night sky, gleaming in midnight blue texture, they thought Lavender Town was a paradise. The white moon that was set so close to the earth seemed to be within reach, and the stars each twinkled like beacons. There were no clouds, just midnight blue color and heavenly moon. The facades of the buildings gleamed in the pure white light and their shadows seemed to creep for miles. There were no street lights or lit up windows. The moon and the stars were enough to show the town’s hidden beauty and hide its darkest secrets.

    

On nights like these Hailen often stood out on the balcony to her room. She would lean up against the silver railing and stared in awe at the town that was supposedly a ghost town. While basking in the beams of moonlight she would ponder her relationship with Ash. She knew she was his best friend but she wanted more. Why couldn’t she have more? There was no other girl in Ash’s life besides Misty. But rest in peace, she was dead now, he couldn’t have her. But then why was she so afraid of losing him?

    

Marching into her quarters she changed from her black nightgown into a pair of black sweats and a white t-shirt. She left immediately after and ran to Ash’s room.

    

The corridors were quite full, which is why she changed out of her nightgown. Being a higher ranking soldier most people who saw her walking stepped out of her way and allowed her to pass seamlessly by.

     Upon reaching Ash’s room she relinquished the courtesy of knocking and barged through the door and was immediately swallowed by the darkness. Ash wasn’t in his room. There was no reason to stick around. She left Ash’s room and ran to Brock’s where, just like Ash’s room, there was nothing but furniture.

     “Where are they?” she asked to no one.

     As she did with Ash’s room she left, but slamming the door behind her. She walked back through the halls with a noticeable scowl across her face. Everyone tried ignoring her, not wanting to cross her path. But there were two people who did.

    

Both were beautiful women around the age of twenty four. One had long brown hair that was tied into a bun and clipped to the back of her head. She wore brown leather pants and a red jacket. The other, a woman with long dark brown hair, wore a pair of tight dark blue jeans, a pink sleeveless top with black shoulder straps that followed down her top and crossed in the center to form a X.

    

“Hailen? What’s the matter?” asked the brown haired woman.

    

“Have you seen Ash, Abigail?”

    

Abigail shook her head. “Why?”

“I needed to talk to him, but he disappeared.”

    

“Again?” the other woman, Saleen, asked.

    

“Yes, again.” Hailen replied irritated.

    

“Did you check his room?”

    

“Of course I did, Abby.”

    

“Well, maybe he’s there now. It won’t hurt to check.”

    

It didn’t hurt to check, but it didn’t help either. There was still no sign of Ash. The three women walked through the room but found no signs of where he might have gone. Saleen sat on the edge of Ash’s bed ran her fingers through her glossy hair. But something on the bedside end table caught her eye...a photograph.

    

“Hailen? Who’s this girl?”  

    

Hailen was leaning up against the wall when she heard Saleen. She unlocked her eyes from the floor and stared blankly at Saleen.

    

“What girl?” she asked nervously.

    

“I’ve never seen her before. She’s only a teenager. So is Ash.”

    

Hailen pushed off from the wall and jumped onto the bed, lying down beside Saleen. Abigail jumped on the bed beside Hailen soon after. All three looked over the picture of Ash and a mysterious girl.

    

“She’s pretty.” Abby said carelessly. She then rolled over onto her back and squirmed a foot over when she caught Hailen’s deadly glare.

    

All three girls were flabbergasted. None of them had seen the girl before. Perhaps a reason was because it was an old photograph. Ash himself wasn’t older than fifteen. He wore the usual black and whit tennis shoes, blue jeans, white and blue vest, dark green t-shirt, and his red and white Pokemon League hat. But the girl beside him wore tan capris and a blue tank top that hugged her figure tightly. She also had deep blue eyes, and long orange hair.

“Sorry Hailen, but I have to agree with Saleen. That girl is pretty.”

    

“Yes she is.” Hailen replied softly. There was noticeable hurt in her eyes because of the first thing she saw in the picture...Ash had his arm around the girl. “But I’ve seen her before. I can’t put my finger on it though.”

    

“It isn’t too difficult to forget orange hair.” Saleen replied with a chuckle.

    

“Orange hair!”

 

“No. But it’s a start.” With that the woman began walking down the Main Street. She stepped over dozens of Lycan bodies and pools of blood. “Take care of those two. Don’t ever let them Turn.”

 

A powerful gust of wind blew down Main Street, blowing the woman’s coat behind her and her hair as well. It was then that Hailen noticed that the woman’s hair wasn’t just black, but it was partly orange. The color variation made her all the more beautiful, sexy, and hardcore looking with the weapons, leather, and style.

 

“Night Walker! I knew there was something between her and Ash!”

 

“Night Walker?” Abigail asked.

 

“She’s a goddamned Immortal. Misty is her real name, Misty Waterflower, from Cerulean City. She used to travel with Ash.”

    

Now the three women were walking quickly toward the main hall. Everyone who caught a glimpse of Hailen’s foul expression immediately moved out of her way. Nothing would stop her. She was determined to reach Ash and eliminate Misty from the equation, by any means necessary.

    

The corridor that the women were walking down also happened to lead to the council room. Hailen had yet heard anything from the council about what she and Ash reported earlier. She had the same assumption as Ash...the information would be discarded. But just as they passed the council room the door opened and her name was called. At the call of her name she stopped and searched for the voice. It came from the councilman who was sitting in his usual seat, surrounded by the other five councilmen.

    

“Yes sir.” She replied casually. She began walking into the room while pulling away a lock of hair that moved over her face while she cocked her neck.

    

“May we have a word?”

    

Hailen simply nodded. She kept walking until she was not more than ten feet from the tables that the councilmen sat behind. Saleen and Abigail stood behind her; all three women held their heads low.

    

“I am pleased to inform you, Hailen Fisker, that your information has been considered.” Hailen looked up in disbelief. Her jaw was slightly agape and her eyes were blank. She could almost pass for a zombie. “Are you alright, my dear?”

    

There was a moment of silence. Saleen and Abigail wrapped their arms around Hailen and looked at the side of her face. They whispered softly to the Hailen and every so often looked back and forth between her and the councilman.

    

“How was it considered?” she asked breathlessly.

    

“...As factual. Therefore, we have agreed that all Immortals, Werewolf and Vampire alike, will be hunted. There shall be no alliances. This is a war. There shall be no interaction, save for slaying. All affairs of any kind are hereby forbidden. They are just animals anyway.”

    

Animal? Is that what he just called the woman who saved her life and Ash and Brock’s? But maybe that was just it. Misty didn’t drop in to save Hailen; she wanted to keep Ash and Brock alive. The war means nothing to her. Her only reason for being a part of it is to protect her friends. So...she had the order...which side would she choose?