My plan worked, covering up for Jasper and Peridot. I told their parents that they had gone ahead to Snowbelle because Peridot wanted to see one last city before he went home. Jasper's mother didn't seem to care, unlike Peridot's. She actually wasn't put at ease until I told her how nice the gym leader there is. Never have I told a bigger lie in my life. I don't think any of the parents knew about the bridge. If they had, I don't think they would've been that happy.

It's been a full day since then. Now we're in Snowbelle City. When we got here, I wasn't surprised by the freezing temperatures. They were familiar. Not comforting, but familiar. I hate that. I was cold, but I wasn't. It's strange how that works.

Right now, Cerise and Russet are planning to go to the gym. Jasper and Peridot are coming too but then are headed to the forest. Something about evolving Alyssa or whatever Peridot's Eevee is named.

Me? I'm preparing too. I got a knife just for him. It's just a pocket knife, a smooth baby blue blade and a snow white handle with pictures of Snover, but it'll get the job done. Besides, I've come to realize stabbing is my preferred method. It's personal, intimate even. It's painful and slow. It's perfect. I put the blade in my pants pocket and turn my attention to Averie. She tilts her head. I pick her up and rub the top of her head. She wags her tail and yips in happiness.

"Don't worry, Averie," I say to her. "It'll all be over soon. Real soon. I promise." She looks at me quizzically. Her tail slowly stops wagging. Maybe she realizes what's going on; she does looks very concerned. I set her down on my bed.

"Hey Sienna," Cerise says while walking into the room. "You ready?" Am I? I have to be. This may be my only charge. This is my only chance. I can't back out now.

"Yeah, I am." I slip on my Eevee hoodie. I laugh a little thinking about how he'll react. He hates Eevee. Averie jumps into my arms and I follow Cerise out.

Cerise talks strategy with Russet. I hate it. Of course she would be so serious when it came to him. He's the region's best, most amazing gym leader. Lies. They're just lies and nothing more.

There is a boy standing at the door of the gym. I can't see his face, he's looking on the inside of the gym. Despite the cold and snow, he's wearing his light colored jacket like a cape. I pause. He's most definitely related to me. The only people I knew who where their jackets like that are people in my family. Them and people who want to be cool. Wearing your jacket like a cape isn't cool. It's cold. Freezing cold.

Not only the jacket, but also his hair cues me in. It's exactly, or almost at least, like mine: dark reddish-brown and wavy. It stands out against his pale skin. Pallid would probably be more appropriate. He's about the same height as me; maybe he's one of my older cousins? None of them but Akia were around my age. There's a backpack in his hand. As we get closer, he turns and I freeze. His eyes are green and gray. Pale green mixed with pale gray.

"Sage," I say breathlessly. It's Sage. It's Sage and his sage green eyes. His innocent, broken, confused eyes.

"Who..." He trails off.

"Sienna," I answer.

"So-WHAT?!" His eyes widen in confusion. "How are you..." He frowns and looks at the rest of the group. "Why..." He groans in frustration. "Where are you...going?" He forces the last word out.

"Nice to see you too," I mutter.

"Why would I..." Sage trails off again and looks over each person in my group. He stops at Jasper, earning a strange look from the short boy. Like a look of recognition.

"You're..." Sage, again, trails off. Man, does he ever finish his sentences?

"J...Jasper." Said boy doesn't sound too sure. Sage looks as if he wanted to say more but doesn't. Instead, he turns to Cerise and Russet.

"Challengers?"

"Just me," Cerise says. Sage nods. I notice he keeps eyeing me, like at any moment I might attack.

"Then...I'll escort you." Sage puts on his backpack (under his coat cape) and opens the door to the gym for us.

I was expecting to blank out, but I was too busy freaking out. I hate this place and coming here again...dear Arceus, it's terrifying. It hasn't changed at all. I bet the pattern for getting to...Wulfric is exactly the same.

I keep my head down. I'm trying to avoid the stares from the gym trainers. They're all family, aunts, uncles, cousins. They all recognize me. Even the youngest ones. I'm the crazy one, the murderer. Hell, I saved all of you! Wulfric didn't expect what I did. I saved your lives.

pink, pink, blue, blue, blue, pink, pink, pink, yellow, green, green...green

Those are the colors. The exact path I took almost everyday as a child. The beams turn so slow. I wish they'd hurry up. I want this to be over with.

We walk up the icy staircase. I can do this. I can do this.

"Granddad," Sage says. He doesn't make eye contact. He doesn't sound scared either. He sounds tired and sad. "You have a challenger. I thought I should..."

"Thank you Sage," Wulfric says. He looks over us. His cold gray eyes land on me and harden.

"Shall we begin," Sage and I say. I hate training. I never wanted to be a Pokémon trainer, much less a gym leader. I wish it was all over.

He doesn't even like is. He glares at us like we're demons. But we're not. He's the demon. I hate him.

He doesn't respond. He just throws a Pokéball and Abomasnow pops out. Dammit! Why this thing? Please don't use Blizzard. Please don't use Blizzard!

"Abomasnow." His voice. Dear Xerneas his voice. He's gonna call Blizzard. What could be worse.

"Ice Shard."

I jump back. His hands was on my shoulder. Why's he so close? H-He shouldn't be this close! He's starting at me so cruelly. His expression is even and neutral, but his eyes, his slush gray eyes, tell the story. He hates me. Plain and simple. He looks down at Averie and I tense up. Damn. And to think, I was so confident.

He pets Averie and she...growls. She actually growls. His hand tightens on her head, making Averie growl even more...

"Inouï, calm down," I whisper. "Please, I don't want you to get hurt." Inouï looks back at me, but still has that aggressive look on his face.

"Come here Sienna," he grumbles impatiently. "I'm not saying it again. I start to walk but Inouï jumps in front of me again. Wulfric looks at me in a challenging way. I'm afraid of him, but I love my Eevee more. He doesn't want me to go. He knows what will happen. He just wants to protect me.

I start running, but Inouï reacts to late. Wulfric's foot had already connected with Inouï's head. I stop running.

I wish I hadn't. Inouï wouldn't have wanted me to. He would've wanted me to keep running, to save myself. I failed Inouï. He was the most incredible Pokémon anyone could ask for. Averie, while I love her like nothing else, could never be a proper replacement for Inouï. Inouï was bold and hot-blooded. He was never quiet, always letting himself be known. Inouï was incredible. Averie is, and I hate to say it, average.

I put my hand on Averie's chin and tilt it down away from Wulfric's hand. She stops growling and I hug her tighter to my chest. I don't want her to end up like Inouï. I couldn't live with myself.

Wulfric turns to the rest of the group. He points to Cerise. "You're the challenger. I can see it in your eyes." Cerise nods excitedly.

"Yes sir! I've been training really hard for this." Cerise still sounds reserved and sad. I can't tell whether she's faking her excitement or not.

"Good kid. I like your enthusiasm." Wulfric laughs and I cringe. I see Sage look away too. "Let's begin now so you can put all the training to use."

"Yes sir!" I hate this man. He gives this fake, all-loving front to trainers. Kids and adults alike love this man. I hate it. I hate him.

"Hey Perry," Jasper says. "We should probably get going now." Peridot nods. Wulfric looks at them.

"Are you not staying to watch," he asks.

Jasper shakes his head. "No sir. We're going to go evolve his Eevee." I'm sure no one else saw Wulfric frown at the word Eevee.

"Is that so? Sage, I want you to go with them. If that's alright with the boys..." Jasper and Peridot nod. "It's nothing serious. I just think it'd be nice for Sage to make some new friends." I hear the unspoken command. 'Find out what they know about Sienna.' They know nothing. I've been very careful not to reveal much about myself.

"Yes sir," Sage says, still not making eye contact.

"You can continue on afterwards. You will continue on afterwards." He said it as a question, but he meant it as a statement. Sage again responds, he motions for Jasper and Peridot to follow him as he leaves.

Wulfric smiles as he grips a Pokéball. It's a sickening smile. It helps me regain some confidence. "Let's begin. You'll get the first move." Cerise nods and sends out Silex. He caws loudly and spreads his wings.

Wulfric scratches his beard. Ha, as if he doesn't already know his strategy. He sends out Cryognal. Man, I hate that thing. Well it could be worse. It could be Abomasnow.

will