Pokémon Bloodstone | An Orre Fanfiction

Chapter 86: The Lock Box

Finley, their dad, was as quiet as ever. Rustie wished he would speak more, but she knew he couldn't and that, eventually, she would accept that. She wasn't ready to accept Eldes and Leden yet. They didn't drop it on her on purpose. It was when an International Police officer told her she had to be protected because of who her biological parents were that she asked, without considering that she didn't necessarily want to know.

She did spend some time with Lumir – who was both her brother as Leden's son and cousin as Ardos' son – helping out at the wrecked Pokémon HQ Lab. In the end, she slept on Abbey and Leon's sofa. Dirk was there, too. He flew to Mt. Battle every day, training to succeed wheelchair-bound Arth as an Area Leader.

Zileh wasn't staying so much as she moved in. She trained with Leon so he could give her a glowing reference when she applied to join the International Police. It didn't bother her at all that she was adopted. Her parents – adoptive and biological – did what they thought they had to do to protect her from Dakim, who actually meant them no harm. She was pleased she had 'double moms,' because Trixie wanted to know her, but no-one could get hold of her biological dad, Burl. It didn't matter. Trixie's husband Darius treated her as his own daughter and she adored her dad, who was actually her great-uncle, Axel. He met his brother for the first time in over 40 years at Hexagon Coffee in Gateon Port, where Dakim moved in with Janie because, as they put it, 'everyone knows and we're about to drop dead anyway.'

'I... owe you an apology, Dakim. I kept your granddaughter from you because I thought...'

'I can hardly blame you. I brought it all on myself! I hate to say it, but I'm sorry, bro. Sorry about all of it.'

When Anabel arrived at the house, Alfie was awkwardly shaking hands with Dakim, who looked twice his size in width and height. He couldn't really judge Dakim for anything but his fashion sense. After all, he was once a Cipher Admin himself.

'I might be 5'6", but if you keep calling me "Alf," my Pokémon will whoop your bus-sized ass.'

'Dahahaha! You wish, Wurmple!'

Dakim was about to leave, but he waited for Janie. Anabel interviewed her. She was determined that this time, Ardos would be charged for Jude's murder. Janie didn't know much about the circumstances of his death, because they were already apart by then, but it all needed to go in the files in case the Mesquites were targeted again.

Alfie put off opening the lock box. He wasn't sure what he expected to find or, as he admitted only to Abbey and Chalcedony, if his mental health could actually cope with it. He knew Anabel wasn't there just to interview Janie, though. She was there to find out if anything in the lock box could prove Ardos indeed killed Jude. So, while Anabel listened to Janie's story, he nervously placed it on the desk in the spare room, which was unofficially his room now. Drilling and hammering thudded above, but he barely heard it.

The key was on the bedside table. Unlike the box, because it wasn't made of Steelix armour, it was rusty. When the lock clicked open and Alfie tried to pull the key out, it snapped. The box would never close again. Like Chalcedony when she left home, he insisted there were no 'signs' and that most things people dreamed of were fake, but he couldn't help feeling like that was symbolic.

Scattered baby photos were the first things he saw. Most were of Alfie. The only photos of baby Rui with her parents, before she was adopted, were from the hospital. Alfie couldn't imagine anyone enjoying looking at them. Both Janie and Jude looked utterly distraught on every one. Even Eagun cried as he cradled Rui. Beluh wasn't there.

She's not even my half-sister... she's my sister. No wonder I wanted to be a Trainer. My dad and grandpa were.

The photos were slightly stuck together. The basement was damp. Alfie carefully pulled them apart and laid them out on the bed to dry. Underneath was a letter. He felt sick when he saw his own name.