This Dark Day(Ink)

[KARP KARP!]

{FLASHBACK}

It was just one of those days. The good news was, Mikey could actually afford a hotel room the night before. The bad news, it was a cheap motel that smelled like drugs, booze, and stale sex. Needless to say, the man didn't sleep well, despite dreaming of Sanja. Actually...that just made him miss her MORE. Rolling out of bed, he pulled on his usual outfit. Dragging himself out of the room, he groggily walked to the counter and checked out. Sure, he was sore on all sides, but it was shopping day.

Calling out Lila, he hopped on. "Alright, let's head to the capital." But the Flygon shook her head, lying down and shivering. Something....something didn't feel right to the Dragon. She had this terrible feeling. "Lila, come on. Let's get this over with, please?" But she wouldn't. She wished she could explain it to her master, but she just had this nagging feeling... Mikey sighed, cursing under his breath and returning her. For some reason, it seemed he'd just woken up in a bad mood. Walking to the nearest small shop, he grumbled the entire way.

[THIS MOMENT IN TIME]
Once in the store, he picked up the bare necessities. On his way out, the news came on a small TV on the counter. The capital had just been bombed...Mikey could have been...."Oh dear Arceus...." Then...an even darker thought hit him. "Sanja!" Pulling out his cell phone, he cursed. "Arceus dammit..." The phone was dead...

Running outside, he called out Lila again. "Lila....you need to fly for me. We need to find Sanja." Sensing the urgency, Lila nodded, and Mikey hopped on. She took flight, her eyes looking for the familiar girl or one of her Pokemon...

[Inkythulhu]

I am unwritten, can't read my mind, I'm undefined
I'm just beginning, the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned

[flashback]
"MIKEY!!"

Her scream had rung out from her room. It sounded like someone was ripping her heart out. The echo of it had reached Viktor's ears, and he came barreling through the house, fearing the worst. His panic was met with confusion when he met with Andrew outside of Sanja's room, the two having come from opposite ends of the hall. "Father...The news..." was all Andrew could get out before Viktor snapped open Sanja's bedroom door. The thin teenage girl was curled up in a fetal position, sobbing.

The TV was on...And it was playing the news of the bombings as it happened. Viktor placed a hand to his throat, suddenly feeling like he couldn't breath. Andrew had both of his hands over his mouth, feeling like he'd be sick. The young man had a hard time fighting tears and beating back his wilder, darker nature. Viktor sat next to his baby girl, pulling her close. Sanja hugged onto him tightly, sobbing so hard her body shook. "Tell...Tell me I'm dreaming...Oh Arceus, oh God, this can;t be happening!" Viktor rubbed her back, trying to sooth her. Staying quietly by the doorway, Darling the Alakazam kept silent watch, her cold gaze studying the family. Did it really take tragedy to pull them together?

Sanja grew more frantic by the second, eventually struggling away from Viktor, much to his confusion. "I have to leave...I have to find him...Oh Arceus, oh God, please let him be okay!" she was muttering and rambling worse that Andrew now, enough to make her older brother give her space. "Father..." "Sanja, you aren't leaving." Sanja snapped to look up at her father, eyes large and glassy, still spilling tears. She froze in the middle of her gathering her bag together. "I have to find him." she stated flatly.

"Sanja Andrea, you are not leaving this house. It's dangerous out there!" Sanja twitched. "Are you listening to me? You are not going, that is final." Darling tensed...Viktor had never used that tone with his daughter, and Sanja had never felt that insanely out of whack before. Sanja silently continued to prep her bag. Viktor, panicked that his daughter wouldn't listen to him, grabbed her arm to stop her. That was when more of hell broke loose.

Sanja snapped, fighting her father, kicking and screaming in the most literal sense. Andrew forced his way in, and by the end of it, it took Darling's powerful psychic energy to break them up. She stood by Viktor, physically holding him back. Shade and Sly had come free from their Pokeballs, also holding their respective masters back. Sanja was reduced to emotionally and physically pained sobbing, gripping onto Sly. Shade ushered Andrew out of the room, disliking being in the same room as Darling. Darling slowly walked Viktor out of the room, telepathically comforting him.
[/flashback]

Hours seemed like decades. The pain of not knowing was killing her. She knew Saturday was Mikey's shopping day...She could feel herself wanting to cry again, but her eyes had run out of tears. She'd tried his cell, only to find that he wouldn't--or couldn't--pick up. She refused to eat now, since the last thing she ate came right back up. She felt so cold and numb and scared...Sly carefully slid into Sanja's arms, cuddling the girl and allowing her to once again cling to him. He licked her forehead, ears back. He wasn't usually this sentimental...But to see Sanja so far gone, so destroyed...

Another hour, and Sanja was up again. Pacing. The curling up and pacing was an alternating pattern for her. "Sly...I have to get out of here." The Furret canted his head, looking worried. Without much warning, she returned the ferret Pokemon and hoisted her small backpack onto her shoulder. "Drogo, I need you." She let out the small ghost. Drogo cringed a bit when he was released into the light, but he put aside his discomfort. Even in his 'Ball, the albino Yamask could feel the distress of his mistress. As a Ghost, he naturally fed on those feelings, but he took no pleasure in knowing it was Sanja who was feeding him.

"Help me, Drogo. Help me get out of here...I need to find him...Please..." Drogo blinked his large eyes, floating up to gently touch her arm. He would help, of course. He liked Mikey; he liked anyone that was laid back and made Sanja so happy. "Thank you..." The pair quietly came to her window. Drogo phased outside and unlocked it, silently opening the door-like window. Sanja bit her lip as it squeaked, praying that no one heard. Quickly, she slipped outside. Sadly, her room was on the second floor. She stood on the balcony, shuddering slightly. She was sore, aching from the three-way fight she'd had with her family.

Drogo floating in front of her, motioning his little hands in a 'come on' fashion. Sanja crawled over the railing of her balcony, sliding down and handing from the bottom part of it. Saying a prayer, she dropped. Drogo wrapped his arms around her middle to slow her fall, but he was not strong enough to float with her. Sanja landed with a solid thump to the roof of the porch overhang. She rolled and jumped from there, Drogo again doing his best to soften her fall to the ground. She rolled with her fall and was quickly up on her feet once again, running hard.

"Drogo, good. Return. Indigo, Sly, Stitch, you're up!" She swapped Pokemon while running. The two weasels took their positions on either side of Sanja, and Indigo stayed poking out of the girl's backpack as behind support. It was a formation they used in case a stealing job got hairy...So they were pretty well practiced at it. Only, now, they had to keep watch for a much stronger foe; Darling. Sanja kept going as fast as her legs would take her, heart pounding, breathing rapid. She didn't pause until they were outside of the manor gates. She was panting, but she had no time to lose. Sanja pushed herself harder, continuing to run. She and her Pokemon kept an eye out for Mikey, just in case...But the main thing in the girl's mind was to get to the Capital, find Mikey...

Her eyes stung as new tears threatened to spill. She could not understand it, for she knew he'd not hear her...But her foolish, desperate mind still wanted to scream out for him.

"MIKEY!!"

I break tradition, sometimes my tries, are outside the lines
We've been conditioned to not make mistakes, but I can't live that way

[KARP KARP!]

Mikey continued flying, his stomach tied in knots as tears stung his face. He had to find her...he just had to. She had to be okay; know he was okay. But as Lila flew, he saw nothing. Even the Flygon didn't seem to see anything. But they'd been flying for hours. They were more over a residential area now, and Lila was getting tired, so she began to land. When her feet hit the ground, so did Mikey.

The man pulled at his blond hair, crying and slouching on the ground.He buried his face in his palms, crying relentlessly. "Sanja....No...."

[Inkythulhu]

I am unwritten, can't read my mind, I'm undefined
I'm just beginning, the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned

Time was torture. Worse than any physical pain she'd ever endured, was the time it was taking to find him. Sanja was crying again, but couldn't let up her search. She would never stop looking. Ignoring her burning lungs, her legs that felt like led weights. She ignored how bad her shoulder hurt, how she couldn't see very well anymore from her swollen and teared up eye. She just ran and looked, searching, hoping, praying even...

Stitch and Sly broadened their search, and Indigo kept watch over Sanja's back. Sanja's mind was in over drive, but her body was beginning to give out. She let out a shrill yelp when she tripped and fell, screaming as she rumbled down a rise. She frantically trying to grab onto anything to stop her fall, but it was no use. Indigo was flung from Sanja's bag, squeaking when she finally came to a stop. She got up quickly, shaking the dirt and dust out of her feathers. <Sanja...?> She looked around, then spotted the unconscious teen..She was bleeding from a cut on her forehead, and from her mouth, and from numerous more scrapes...

<Sanja!!> Indigo panicked. <SLY!! STITCH!! SANJA'S HURT!!> Sly came bursting around a corner, eyes huge in panic. <I'll look for help!!> That was Stitch's call, the dark weasel pelting off faster. Sly could hear the panic in the Sneasel's voice, but his own panic pushed him to go for Sanja. Both he and Indigo huddled close to Sanja, keeping her warm, trying and failing to wake her...

Stitch continued to run, continued to push herself despite the ache in her muscles. She barreled around a corner, bursting through a decorative shrub. Her feathered ear twitched...That voice...Hope stabbed through her, and she darted for the voice she'd heard. She froze but a few yards from Mikey. She'd...She'd found him! <Mikey!!> She knew the blond male couldn't understand her, but she hoped she could grab his attention. Throwing her tough gal persona away and letting her fear show for the first time, Stitch ran and flung herself at Mikey, hugging him tight. <Mikey, you have to come! Sanja's hurt!>

I break tradition, sometimes my tries, are outside the lines
We've been conditioned to not make mistakes, but I can't live that way

[KARP KARP!]

Mikey snapped to attention when he saw the Sneasel; he thought it might be Stitch, but another part of him thought it was just some other Sneasel... Lila however, understood perfectly. The Flygon nudged Mikey. "FLY. GON!" she practically yelled, motioning for Mikey to get on her back.

Without a word, he hopped on. <Hop on, Stitch. Take me to her. We've got no time to waste,> she instructed. Once the two were on, Lila took flight. Once in the air, the Flygon saw the girl rather easily. She dove down, and Mikey leaped off before the Dragon could even land good.

Mikey ran over to Sanja, his lungs burning, eyes filling with tears again. "SANJA!" He scooped her up in his arms, cradling her like one would a child. He kissed her forehead. "Sanja...please be okay...."

[Inkythulhu]

I am unwritten, can't read my mind, I'm undefined
I'm just beginning, the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned

Stitch hopped up on Lila's back, no questions asked. That in itself spoke of her worry and urgency. The Sneasel gripped onto Mikey for the whole flight, gritting her teeth. Once they landed, Stitch was off the dragoness's back and beside Sanja with lightning speed. Sanja's three Pokemon, Sly, Stitch, and Indigo, all seemed relieved to see Mikey. But there was a deep worry in their eyes for their mistress and friend. Sanja looked bad...Bruises from her fight with her father and brother, then the scrapes and blood from her tumble...

She was missing her eye patch, her good eye blackened and swollen. Her clothes were torn and disheveled. The cut on her forehead and lip had stopped bleeding, along with the numerous scrapes on her arms, legs, back and belly, but they still looked gruesome. Sanja whimpered softly, cringing at being moved. That hinted that she hurt on the inside too, prolly from her dislocated shoulder and bruised ribs. She coughed roughly, gasping at the pain in her ribs. This was enough to jolt her awake. On instinct, she clung close to whoever was holding her...So warm...

Sanja looked up, vision blurry. "M-Mikey...?" Her swollen eye stretched open as wide as it would go. She ignored her pain and muscled down a scream as she threw her arms around the blond's neck, hugging him tightly. "Mikey!! You're okay! Oh Arceus above, thank God you're okay!" Fresh tears spilled from her eye, and hurt so bad to cry, but she couldn't stop it...

I break tradition, sometimes my tries, are outside the lines
We've been conditioned to not make mistakes, but I can't live that way

[KARP KARP!]

Mikey cradled Sanja gently, wary of her many wounds. Tears fell from his face onto her as he looked down at her. Carefully, he hugged her back. "I'm fine....I was just worried about you....what...what happened? Are you okay?" he asked, worry in his voice as he held onto her gently. He wasn't letting her go. He couldn't bare to lose her like he thought he might have....

[Inkythulhu]

I am unwritten, can't read my mind, I'm undefined
I'm just beginning, the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned

Sanja kissed Mikey's neck, crying still even though her eye stung from it. "I saw what happened on the news...I panicked, because I thought you might have been there...Oh Mikey, I'm so glad you're okay..." She sniffled a bit before continuing. "Father wouldn't let me go, and I got into a fight with him and Andrew...They looked about as bad as me, I swear..." She coughed out a laugh, trying to make a joke of it. "I escaped...Went looking for you, but I fell...And now..." She coughed, curling up in his arms and cringing with a gasp, whimpering as her whole body seized in pain from that one cough. Afterward, she went limp in Mikey's arms, nuzzling her face into his chest. Stitch and Indigo returned themselves, but Sly stubbornly remained out. He looked to Lila. <Can you carry us a little further? To a healing center?> He sounded worried, and it was unusual for him to ask favors...

I break tradition, sometimes my tries, are outside the lines
We've been conditioned to not make mistakes, but I can't live that way

[KARP KARP!]

Mikey listened, still holding her protectively. He looked away, threatening to cry again. "I was going to go shopping....because it's my shopping day. Lila wouldn't fly...I got mad at the time, but....that coulda been me..."

Lila nodded at Sly. <I can. She needs help,> the Flygon said, going over to Mikey and motioning to him. "They shouldn't have hurt you like that," he muttered softly. "Let's go take care of those wounds. You need help." He started toward Lila, hopping on her back.

[Inkythulhu]

I am unwritten, can't read my mind, I'm undefined
I'm just beginning, the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned

Sly, if the Flygon fae would let him, would've jumped to her back and wrapped himself loosely around her shoulders like a living boa. Sanja simply clung to Mikey, shuddering with every breath. She was crying freely again, and each breath hurt..."I-I'm just so glad you're okay...I owe Lila so much now, because she kept you safe..." She never wanted to let him go, not ever. She never wanted to be away from him again. Sanja cringed some, gritting her teeth. "Mikey...I hurt..." she whimpered out, sounds so small and frail.

I break tradition, sometimes my tries, are outside the lines
We've been conditioned to not make mistakes, but I can't live that way

[KARP KARP!]

Lila let the Furret become her living boa; she really didn't mind having the furry guy wrapped around her neck. Mikey nodded as Lila took flight. "I know, Love...I know...I'm going to take care of you. Lila, take us to a healing center; the nearest one if you can."

Lila nodded, not needing to be asked twice. Heck, she didn't need to be asked once. She flew overhead, soon landing. Climbing off, Mikey returned the Flygon and began to escort Sanja inside.

[Inkythulhu]

I am unwritten, can't read my mind, I'm undefined
I'm just beginning, the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned

Once they landed, Sly slipping down from Lila's neck. <Thank you.> He actually sounded very sincere. A light blush was hidden by his fur, his ears wiggling as he looked away. He waited for Mikey to get off with Sanja, following the two like a fretting brother. Still, he shuddered once inside the healing center and returned himself. Looks like the stoic, tough love Furret did have a weakness, that being his slight fear of doctors.

Sanja gave out a shuddering sigh, staying nuzzled into Mikey. She hurt, just being touched hurt...But she didn't want to part from Mikey. "Stay with me, please...Don't let them take me from you..." she quietly begged, the pleading in her voice unmistakeable.

I break tradition, sometimes my tries, are outside the lines
We've been conditioned to not make mistakes, but I can't live that way

[KARP KARP!]

Mikey led her inside, holding onto her. "I'm not leaving you. Especially not now," he whispered softly. He'd just gotten her back...they'd just been reunited. No WAY he was leaving her side. "They won't take me away from you. I'm not losing you again..."

[Inkythulhu]

I am unwritten, can't read my mind, I'm undefined
I'm just beginning, the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned

Sanja clung to Mikey with all her might, shivering and shaking. Each breath came with a shudder, sometimes even a small whimper. She wasn't trying to look so pathetic, but...She couldn't help it. For the first time, pain was overriding her desire to act all grown up. Pain was forcing her to be exactly what she was; a child. She glanced around as best she could without moving her head, eye still glazed over. The clinical smell of the healing center threatened to make her sick. The hustle and bustle hurt her head, making her bury her face into Mikey's chest again. She didn't want to be here, but she had little choice....

I break tradition, sometimes my tries, are outside the lines
We've been conditioned to not make mistakes, but I can't live that way

[KARP KARP!]

"It's going to be okay," Mikey comforted, rubbing her back. At this moment and time he'd look more like a caring older brother than her boyfriend. "I'm here. It's fine." He led her farther in, trying to ignore the smell and the crowd as he walked to the front desk.

"She's hurt. Needs help...now." He didn't have much experience with this, obviously.

[Inkythulhu]

I am unwritten, can't read my mind, I'm undefined
I'm just beginning, the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned

Sanja simply clung to Mikey tightly, as if her very life depended upon her grip on him. On of the nurses seemed to finally take notice of the blond holding the teenager, her eyes growing wide. "Oh my, what happened to her? Oh, please come this way!" The nurse seemed young and flighty, but rather intent on being helpful, leading Mikey to a quieter room. There seemed to be one other patient there, but it would seem this was a busy time for the healing center. The other person was young and had some form of small, canine Pokemon in his lap. He looked rather curious as to what was going on, but kept to himself. The nurse, however, motioned for Mikey to lay Sanja down on the empty bed while she called for other nurses and a doctor. "Oh dear, is that eye wound fresh?" she seemed to be talking about her missing eye, not her blackened and swollen eye. "Are you her brother? Have you notified the rest of her family?" she seemed to be just trying to fill the quiet and get some basic information. Sanja poked at Mikey gently with her good arm/hand. "My backpack...Has my ID..." she whispered to him, shaking still.

I break tradition, sometimes my tries, are outside the lines
We've been conditioned to not make mistakes, but I can't live that way

[KARP KARP!]

Mikey obeyed, laying her on the bed as instructed. Then, he went through Sanja's backpack, looking for her ID. "No, she's had that one for years," he said in response as he pulled out her ID. His jaw threatened to drop at the sight; she was....16?!?

Then, he again got mistaken for her brother. Only this time, he lied. "Yeah; I'm her brother. Haven't seen the rest of our family since the bombing." He wasn't usually a liar, but he'd panicked. After all...there was a ten year difference. They were bound to judge him...

[Inkythulhu]

I am unwritten, can't read my mind, I'm undefined
I'm just beginning, the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned

The nurse nodded, writing these things down along with the info from Sanja's ID. She hooked Sanja up to an IV, administering a light painkiller for now until a doctor came. She chewed her lip when Sanja whimpered and shuddered. "I'm sorry, dear. I know needles suck, but the medicine will help with the pain." The nurse tried to give a sympathetic smile, but she seemed shaken. Her hand shook a bit when she went to a computer monitor, putting in Sanja's information. "Ah, I knew the Zupan name sounded familiar. The Zupans have a bit of a record here, and being nobles, they are known to most in Scorch City." She looked to Mikey, placing a hand on his arm. "But, sadly, you do not look like her elder brother, Andrew. Wrong eyes, wrong hair, wrong height. I won't report you this time; she is obviously very important to you. But don't expect to be allowed to stay with her next time, should there be a next time."

In the bed, Sanja wanted to curl up and whither away. She hurt, she was embarrassed, and worse yet, Mikey had lied...Why did he hide their relationship? Was he ashamed of her? She sobbed quietly, forcing herself to stay quiet so not to let Mikey know she was cry again. A short time after this, an older looking lady walked in. Her short hair was gray and styled back, and her gaze was shockingly cold. "I apologize for the wait. There seems to be a shortage of my staff today of all days...I'll see to Sanja myself." The nurse seemed to straighten herself immediately and hurried about her duties as the doctor drew in closer. She eyed Sanja, then Mikey, then back for Sanja. With out looking to Mikey, she addressed him, "How did this happen?" The doctor checked over Sanja, her entire being and attitude expressing no nonsense. Sanja squirmed and tried to pull away several times, and didn't stop struggling until the doctor threatened to tie down her arms and legs.

I break tradition, sometimes my tries, are outside the lines
We've been conditioned to not make mistakes, but I can't live that way

[KARP KARP!]

Mikey's stomach turned. Not only did he lie--about the one person in his life he cared about, even--but it just backfired. His face turned beet red, and he looked at the ground. "I do care about her. I'm not leaving her. I promised that much." His voice was shaky, like he was about to cry, but it was adamant. Despite how low he felt right now, his tone said they'd have to throw him out if they didn't want him there.

At the question of how...Mikey half-lied again, but this time for her own safety. After all, the doctor didn't need to know Sanja lived under abusive conditions. "She fell down a steep hill. I didnt see it, but that's what she told me.[/color.]"

[Inkythulhu]

I am unwritten, can't read my mind, I'm undefined
I'm just beginning, the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned

The doctor raised a quizzical brow to Mikey. Still she administered care to Sanja. Sanja stopped her for a moment, whispering something to the woman. The doctor nodded, pulling somethign from a drawer and helping Sanja put it on. A medical eye patch...After that, she seemed to calm, more so after the doctor gave her more pain killers. The doctor walked away a moment, leaving the two alone. Sanja was looking away, looking numb and somber.

"Why...Why did you want them to think you were my brother?" she asked softly, voice trembling. "I don't know what hurts more...You wanting to hide what we are, or you wanting to hide as the man I fear the most...." There was hardly any time for answers to be given. The doctor came back...With a strong looking male nurse. Sanja instantly sat up, looking scared again. "It's for your own good..." they both said, the doctor grabbing hold of Sanja, who looked like she'd go all ninja and jump away. The male nurse went to her right side, firmly gripping her arm...Before Sanja could yell 'NO', a loud, sick POP rang out, followed by a whimper from Sanja and the soft fwump of her passing out and going limp on the bed. The male nurse walked away, shaking his head, while the doctor continued her work. "Had to abduct him from the mental health care wing, just for this...Sadly, he cannot stay; he was quite useful. Oh well, time to make YOU useful, sir. Can you hold her up and keep her shirt out of the way? I need to wrap her ribs until one of our healing Pokemon can see her." The doctor's cold gaze was solidly settled on Mikey, as if to tell him 'you have no choice'.

I break tradition, sometimes my tries, are outside the lines
We've been conditioned to not make mistakes, but I can't live that way