章節 43: Chapter 43: Escaping Mount Moon

A sliver of sunlight cut through the crack in the walls of Mount Moon, sharp and blinding against the suffocating darkness. I paused, taking out my Pokégear to check the time—𝘑𝘶𝘭𝘺 25, 4 𝘈𝘔. Too early for anyone sane to be awake, but sanity was a luxury we couldn't afford out here.

"There's good news," I said, not bothering to turn around. I could feel Alisha's boundless energy bouncing behind me, while Lucy shuffled, probably wishing she was anywhere but here. "We've reached the exit."

The words had barely left my mouth before Alisha wrapped her arms around me, her laughter echoing off the cavern walls. "Finally! Let's get out of here, shall we, darling?" Her voice dripped with playful teasing, but I could hear the exhaustion beneath it.

I nodded, ignoring the warmth of her embrace, and instead focused on the jagged crack in the wall ahead. The dim light coming through the opening seemed almost surreal after so many hours trapped in this darkness. Lucy, however, hesitated, her soft voice breaking through the brief silence.

"So… are you two a couple?"

The question hung in the air like an uncomfortable fog. I felt Alisha stiffen slightly, but I kept my eyes on the sliver of sunlight. I wasn't about to wade into that mess. Instead, I stepped closer to the crack and peered through. Dawn was breaking, casting an orange glow across the jagged mountains beyond. I nodded toward the gap.

"Who wants to go first?"

Alisha shot me a look, her large, expressive eyes narrowing like I'd just said something stupid. But she didn't argue. She slipped through the crack with ease, her side ponytail bouncing behind her. I motioned for Lucy to follow. She hesitated, her gaze flicking between me and the exit, but eventually, she stepped through.

Once they were both outside, I lingered for a moment, glancing back into the cavern behind us. 𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦. The thought was fleeting, but it dug into me, leaving a small ache in its wake. I exhaled and followed them out.

The sight that greeted me outside stopped me in my tracks. The sunrise stretched across the sky, painting it with hues of gold and purple. The rugged mountain below us seemed endless, a sea of jagged peaks and valleys. Alisha stood a few feet ahead, her silhouette stark against the morning light, while Lucy lingered at the edge, her face soft, eyes distant.

"We should rest for a while," I said, breaking the silence. "Have some breakfast. Our Pokémon must be hungry too."

Both girls nodded, but there was an edge to Alisha's voice when she spoke. "Please, let's get farther away from here first."

I caught the tremble in her words, and for once, she didn't try to hide it. I nodded again, motioning for them to start moving. Lucy stayed quiet, her fingers brushing the edge of her scarf.

We began the descent, winding through narrow paths that seemed to stretch on forever. Hours passed—three, maybe four—before I turned to Alisha, who hadn't stopped fidgeting since we left the cave. "This far enough for you?"

She grinned, her playful side back in full force, and hugged me again, tighter this time. But I gently pushed her away. "Let's set up camp here. Alisha, you handle food. Lucy, you take care of the Pokémon."

Alisha shot me a mischievous look. "And what are you going to do, Mr. Leader?"

I grinned back. "I've got the toughest job of all."

Lucy tilted her head, confusion crossing her soft features. "What's that?" Her voice, as always, was hesitant, like she wasn't sure she should be speaking at all.

"I'm going to take a nap. You know, I'm exhausted."

Alisha's laugh was sharp, but surprisingly, neither of them argued. I pulled the tent from my sling bag, the automatic folding system kicking in and setting it up in seconds. My Pokémon deserved a break too. I released Pidgeotto, Raichu, and Venusaur from their Pokéballs, watching them stretch and settle in. Once everything was in order, I found a spot under a tree and let the exhaustion hit me all at once.

Sleep swallowed me whole.

It felt like minutes before someone shook me awake. I blinked, trying to shake off the drowsiness, only to find Alisha standing over me, panic written all over her face. Her usually mischievous eyes were wide, her voice trembling. "Splash and your Raichu… they've been gone for three hours."

I was on my feet before she finished speaking, my mind snapping into gear. I placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to steady her. "Don't worry. Raichu's a powerhouse. Unless they ran into something seriously tough, like a Psychic or Ghost-type, they'll be fine."

Alisha nodded, but the fear didn't leave her eyes. I took a few steps away, my gaze landing on Lucy. She sat quietly a few feet away, brushing Eevee and Clefairy with gentle, practiced care. She didn't speak, but her eyes flicked to me, concern etched in every soft line of her face.

"Pidgeotto," I called. My bird Pokémon swooped down from the nearby tree, landing on my arm. "Did you see which direction they went?"

Pidgeotto nodded, its sharp eyes gleaming in the sunlight.

Behind me, Alisha stepped closer, tears brimming in her eyes. "I shouldn't have let Splash go alone."

I turned to her, meeting her gaze with a firm resolve. "It's not your fault. Splash is playful, you know that. And Raichu loves a good time. They probably went off to play."

Her voice cracked. "Please… just find them."

I nodded and turned to Lucy. "Stay here with Venusaur. He'll protect you."

Lucy's soft voice called after me, "Take care, Punit."

I didn't look back, only nodded as Alisha tried to reassure her. "He knows what he's doing."

I stepped into the dense forest, the tall grasses brushing against me as I moved. The tension hung thick in the air, like a storm waiting to break. Behind me, the trees closed in, shadows stretching long across the path.

We were getting closer, but something told me this wasn't going to end the way any of us expected.