20.
chapter twenty
'til it's over

The gentle hum of the engine and the steady patters of the world outside crying for solace — these sounds stretched on for what seemed like a fleeting eternity.

Until he groaned, shifting the gears, that is. Then, words tumbled out, completely out of context, but somehow understandable. "When I was born, Gary's parents were murdered for their timeless lifeblood. But it wasn't enough for whatever ritual the head of The Void wanted. They wanted more blood — powerful and yielding. Something only born from my parents' bond.

"And so, they came after us. Dad could hold them off with his own lifeline, creating a circle of blood magic around our house in Sinnoh so that no one could enter. Ten years. Ten years of hiding with Gary and my parents, and they discovered us."

The car jerked subtly when it hit a speed bump. I gulped down the lump forming in my throat, forcing myself to look at Ash's pained face. He didn't realize how much his ache was reaching me.

"They fled. Left us to Gary's grandfather's — Oak — care in Kanto. I believe they did it to protect both of us and send us to an entirely different region that was large enough to span across for ten years in search of two pre-teens."

We turned into a junction, getting onto the highway connecting to the next town, Aquacorde. I briefly wondered the reason why we were leaving the city, but seeing Ash's grip on the wheel, I realized it was probably for the better to stay put.

"But a decade wasn't how much they needed. Just eight, because they realized the smart move. They weren't after my parents' blood — old and withering. Rather, behind us — young and yet to experience intimacy of the soul's bonds."

I nodded, non-verbally letting him know that I was listening intently.

"They wouldn't extract my blood wholly until we're together, and perhaps, till we have a kid. Because they need the line to continue. For the power to be inherited before they could afford depleting it. And there's also the fact that Gary hasn't found his match yet."

"Then what?" I asked, voice dropping to a low tone that was barely audible over the rain hitting the car's windows and metal. "The cycle continues?"

Ash paused, his knuckles growing paler on the wheel. He clenched his jaws, as if afraid that admitting it out loud would be a catalyst to the fact turning into a reality. But he did, anyway. He couldn't deny the truth. Nobody could.

"The cycle continues."

"Shouldn't we find a way to stop them, then?" I probed, my eyes flickering to the world outside. Raindrops chased each other down in a frenzy — reminding me of the somber fact that I would one day, or perhaps already, be in the same situation.

"If I had grown old, and still not found you."

I blinked, turning to look at the boy. But his concentration was solely on the road ahead, leaving the atmosphere to be filled with the sounds of the windshield wipers and the rain.

"I'm sorry?" I pressed, feeling panic surge through me. Ash was reckless. I knew that much. But to go so far as to give in to the bad cause? I didn't expect that. Not from him.

"Gary and I had it in our minds at some point or the other," he replied, running a hand through his hair and switching to one-hand driving. "Give up if we don't find a match by the time we turn twenty. What do we have anyway? Nothing worth fighting for. The good? It's always the good that suffers. Perhaps help a soothsayer or two to change the will of Fate, if it makes living better for someone or some two. Some three, even."

I couldn't exactly find the right words to argue, but one needn't fight for a good cause. "Did you both ever consider what would happen to your future soulmate if you were killed?"

Ash looked away from the road for once, turning his attention to the rearview mirror. The speed gradually decreased, but I wasn't done.

"That girl who's waiting for Gary would chip her life away." My voice broke, the very thought weighing me down. "Forget me. I've always dreamed of meeting someone, and it would have just been a cruel dream crushed because of selfishness."

"Do you think it makes it any easier to have you sacrificed along with me? Better nothing than something," he countered, but his voice didn't hold the conviction to convince me.

"I would rather die!" I argued, tone rising more than I intended. "With you, than waiting for you!"

He turned back to me, his lips up in a sad smile. "Serena, you seek love in your life," he said simply. For a heartbeat, the rain reminded us of where we were headed. "But I've lost all love and life without ever feeling it. Love held me captive until now. It still does. Do you know why I don't trust Gladion?"

I shook my head slowly. The talk was far from over, even if he changed the topic to this mystery, Gladion.

"Because we reached Kalos without a support, and all we had was this stranger woman, Lusamine, and her two kids who willingly provided us shelter. But we ran away. Why, you ask? Because Gladion betrayed us over his mother and sister."

"B-betrayed you?"

He nodded, glancing at his watch before his eyes flitted to the central mirror. I briefly looked out as he took a U-turn to return to Lumiose.

"One night, a month after staying at Lillie's, Gladion informed us that Gary's grandfather had finally mustered health to arrange something for us. A place to live. Once we reached the said space, we learned we had ventured into the cave of the lion, and into the hands of The Void itself."

I gasped, horrified. Lillie's brother? Was he working with The Void? But Lillie was one of the sweetest girls I ever knew! How could such an upbringing turn to sewers?

"We managed to make it out of it alive, thanks to another runaway’s — Paul’s — help. The three of us banded together to find a full-time job, away from the town where The Void last saw us, and enrolled here. It's been a year since. Gladion knows I go to college here, and does put in intel because of Lillie's pleads, but I don't pay an ear. Maybe Gary does, from time to time. But I don't."

"Is that why you reveal so little of yourself to everyone?" I whispered, clasping my hands. Ash nodded unsurely.

"I know that I can trust Lillie with my life. But I still wouldn't have revealed it so as to not hurt her feelings or accuse her brother to her face. Maybe... it was good that it turned out fine in the end."

I mirrored his nod, tearing my gaze away from him. The rainfall suddenly thickened, almost creating a mist that was hard to navigate through. The car's emergency lights flashed through the mirror as another one sped by the right. "This evening was a rollercoaster of things, huh?"

"Mhm," he hummed back.

"Say," I started, biting my lip. His previous statement of sacrifices still echoed in my mind, weighing me down like a rock on a scale. "Would you still sacrifice yourself if it meant The Void would leave you?"

Ash seemed to consider the question for too long. Far too long before any semblance of an answer left his lips. "I may still think freedom from life is better than being imprisoned for life. But now that I found someone I could share my soul with, I think I might as well not give up 'til it's over."

My breath hitched when his gaze bore into mine, the car temporarily slowing down. A small, heartfelt smile tugged at his lips, and so at mine as well.

The rain seemed to slacken, as if to hear our whispered promises. "'Til it's over."

— 🫧 —

Hey guys!
I'm back from
the irregular schedule
posting... for a
couple of days.
My sem exams
start mid-June
so I'll be
off again then.

I've noticed that
this story has
stirred up quite
the controversy
in the comments.
Y'all are theorizing
too much, omg.
It's not that
I don't appreciate
the curiosity and
fascination,
rather that
I hadn't even thought
of half of what
you guys are thinking.
TvT

So I've decided
to answer your
questions, if any,
in the next part.
As this act
closes, the next
part will be a
separation chapter,
and an introduction
to act three.
That said,
any questions? :]

Also, please pardon
me if I haven't replied
to your comments.
I came back to 99+
notifications and have
scrolled down as
much as I could
to answer. If
I missed anything,
kindly put it up
here, and I'll
definitely read!
Please don't think
I ignored you.
ToT

Thank you for 1k
reads and 100+
votes! Just twenty
chapters in and
a new milestone
is set into the ground.
Thank you!

See y'all in
the q/a session
in the next
chapter! There
might be
spoilers, but I'm
eagerly looking
forward to your
buzzing interest!

Miyoko x