It had been quiet for a couple of days now. It was…worrying, to say the least. While standing outside the Opelucid Pokemon Center, Miles proceeded and placed a hand on the door. The blue-haired rival grunted. Typically it was pretty easy to open the doors and just walk in. He was hoping for the best…but given the state of the city so far and the other cities. Miles hung his head.
Miles forcibly opened the doors and noted how the lights flickered on and of inside. He also distinguished the blood that caked some of the walls and shuddered. He had a suspicion of who to blame for this but he couldn’t be sure. He needed to see it to believe it. Still, Miles found no signs of anybody here. No items. Nothing useful here.
He quietly exited the building and trudged along the silent and empty city. Things were…ominous. But he didn’t think it’d hurt to check the small homes just to be sure nobody was home. He entered one and viewed the partial mess. It wasn’t a large mess by any means. There also didn’t appear to be any blood. It looked as if the family who lived here just suddenly left. There were still unfinished dishes in the sink.
It was so strange viewing this. Miles gently reached out and pulled up a photo frame of a family. He didn’t know these people but it still didn’t mean he couldn’t feel something for them. He understood how it felt to lose someone important. He curled his fist tightly, eyes narrowing. He recalled his sister’s kidnapped Purrloin. He shakily placed the picture frame down as tears formed and he quickly wiped them away.
Miles exited the home and decided to keep on forward, he couldn’t stand being in this city any longer. He ventured out from the city and to route 11. There was a bridge beyond this route and it might be nice to just try and enjoy the view. Try and have some peaceful time despite everything being so scary lately. Just for a moment.
The Village Bridge came into view and Miles noted there was a figure already on it. It had been a long time since the rival had actually seen another person. He jogged up and paused. The backside of somebody familiar met him. Caramel? He also appeared to be kneeling over something. A Serperior stood next to the boy, black holes for eyes with small red irises glinting as it turned to look at Miles.
The brown-haired boy’s head tilted upwards and he turned to face his rival. His eyes appeared blank and hollow and he had…blood coating his mouth and the front of his jacket. It was strange. Caramel’s face appeared to be shadowed over, it was hard to make out a facial expression. But it was clear the boy was staring straight at him. It sent chills down his spine to see his former friend and rival like this. The boy who assisted him in taking down Team Plasma to help Miles retrieve his lost Purrloin.
Caramel seemed to grin, fangs glistening with blood.
“Miles! How are you? I haven’t seen you in so long…I was worried something happened to you.” Caramel chuckled, standing up to his full height. The corpse he was previously munching on lay dormant on the stone floor of the bridge. A pool of thick blood surrounds the mangled body. Miles’ eyes widened and he held back vomit as he covered his mouth.
“C-Caramel…what the HELL are you d-doing?!”
Miles growled at the brunette, whose eyes narrowed slightly at the question.
“I’m eating. I’m very…very hungry, Miles. I’ve been hungry for so long, and I’m done with trying to hold it back. I’ve done my part to help others. I think I’m owed a little something in return.”
Caramel uttered, staring down his old blue-haired rival. A red glint in the cannibal’s eyes. Caramel took a small step forward, lifting a hand to wipe his mouth. Caramel’s Serperior kept a close eye on the rival as well. Awaiting orders if Caramel needed it.
Miles took a cautious step back, hand shakily and slowly lowering to his bag. Caramel’s eyes never strayed from Miles, lowering to eye Miles’ shaky hand.
“...A-are you ev-even human?! How can you just…sit there and eat…?” Miles mumbled, eyes wide with horror. Caramel neglected to not answer the question and instead placed his hands in his shorts pockets. Caramel sighs softly.
“I’ve explained it already, Miles. I’m hungry. There’s this unending hunger in me and I’m trying to sedate it. I’m sorry.” Caramel shrugs.
“I’m not quite full, in fact.” The brunette mumbled out the last part, curious but locked on the rival. Miles felt some sweat forming on his back, trembling.
“Y-you can’t eat me! C-caramel I thought we we-were friends!! Y-you..” Miles cried out, face covered in horror and pure fear. Caramel let out a hearty laugh, placing a hand on his chest.
“That’s a good one! But, no Miles…it doesn’t have to be this way. Don’t you think you owe me, in fact? A debt…perhaps? I helped get your Purrloin back.”
“W-wha..? A d-debt?” Miles stuttered out, eyes wide.
“Yessir! A debt, what do you say? Do you accept?” Caramel grinned wide, baring his fangs at the other. He held his claws out as if asking for a handshake. Miles’ eyes peered downwards. He knew what this meant. Could he possibly accept such a deal? …What other choice did Miles have? Miles relented and with a quivering hand, he took Caramel’s hand in his own.
“I knew you cared! Then all I ask is you bring me some fresh meat. Dead…or alive. It matters not. Just bring me, somebody. Meet me back at the bridge when you do.” Caramel turned to finish off the rest of the corpse he had currently. Miles shivered. Shakily taking steps backward, Caramel lifted his head.
“Oh, and if you run away…I will find you. I promise you this.”
It only took an hour or so until Miles found another living person. It was an older woman who appeared scared and had taken refuge originally in the Undella Town Pokemon Center. The woman appeared frightened but unharmed. She seemed relieved to see Miles and clung to him almost instantly. It made Miles feel more awful for what he had to do to the poor woman. She didn’t deserve this. Nobody did.
The trek back to the Village Bridge felt like ages. The entire time the woman seemed to ramble about her old life. The talking made everything feel much slower and murkier. Miles bit his lip.
“-thought it was over…I couldn’t contact my family. Or even my boyfriend…I was so scared…I don’t know what all happened…” she continued on, the knot in Miles’ stomach twisting further and further. The sun had begun to set, enveloping the Village Bridge in a nice warm glow. It was pretty. But not at all fitting for what the next scene had in mind for the woman.
A figure stood there, having cleaned up the previous mess, and was gently brushing his Serperior’s head with a small brush. Miles might call that cute if he didn’t know any better. The lady seemed to eye Caramel with a nervous but relieved grin.
“I-is this your friend? M-Miles?”
Miles flinched but kept a steady and neutral expression. He couldn’t bare to face the woman and eyed over at his old friend. Caramel continued to brush his Pokemon for a moment. He placed the brush away after a couple of moments and faced the strange woman. He smiled.
“Hello! I’m Caramel, me and Miles are great friends. He owed me greatly in fact.” Caramel walked forward, keen eyes watching the woman carefully. The smile slowly wiped off the lady’s face as she seemed to realize the predatory glint in the brunette’s eyes. She backed up, wide and fearful-filled eyes swapped between the two boys. With an unsteady hand, she pointed her index finger at Miles.
“Y-you TRICKED ME!!!?!? I…I-I TR-TRUSTED YOU!” The woman screamed, before bolting and attempting to escape from her would-be murderer.
“Serperior! Vine whip her!”
It didn’t last long as Serperior’s vines quickly wrapped around the woman’s body, successfully restraining her. She let out a loud and quick scream, but it didn’t last for long as Caramel pounced on her and quickly cleanly sliced her head off.
Miles was horrified by what he witnessed, he couldn’t believe he just…allowed this. It was inhumane. It was awful, it was…it was too much. Holy Arceus. Tears formed and Miles began to quietly weep as he fell to his knees. Caramel took a small bite out of the woman’s hand and chuckled.
“I knew you were a good guy, Miles. You stuck to your word and really brought back more fresh meat. I appreciate it.” Caramel gently pats Miles back and resumed fiddling with the corpse.
That’s right…Miles assisted in this killing. He took another life. He was just as bad…as Caramel. He quickly and roughly gripped Caramel’s jacket, shaking him. Caramel hardly reacted, eyeing him carefully.
“KILL ME! I…I CAN’T DO THIS…k-knowing..I….I….” Miles hysterically cries out, eyes desperate and wide. Tears and snot running down his face. Caramel narrows his eyes, considering it. A smirk crosses his features.
“Fine, there’s no point in keeping one alive if they don’t desire it. If I don’t, I know you’ll take your own life. No need to waste fresh meat.”
It was the last thing Miles heard before the pain overtook him, but only for a moment. Miles was gone within the moment, the same fate as the woman before. Caramel stood up and sighed, facing Serperior.
“Some people are just so weak-willed, huh? Oh well, more to eat. What say we make soup? I’m sure you’re hungry too, partner.”