Red Eyes

[There are multiple Pokémon that can do that, from Pichu to even myself, Skyla,] Rotom said.

I joined the conversation. "You think this is the work of a Pokémon?"

Skyla scratched her head. "I mean, yeah. Why else would our flashlights stop working for no reason and work again?"

I thought about it for a moment. "Then that means it must be working together with the Zubats," I said, dropping my bag to ground.

[Why do you think that, Alex Carter?] Rotom asked, tilting slightly in curiosity.

"Just think, Rotom. The moment our flashlights stopped working, the Zubats appeared and attacked us. And it didn't just happen to us. Remember? Sammy said the exact same thing—the second his light died, the Zubats started attacking him, too."

I pulled a bottle of water from my bag and tossed it to Skyla. She caught it, taking a quick sip.

"Thanks! So… we're thinking the same thing, then," she said.

I nodded. "Let's get out of here—"

"Let's find that Pokémon!"

We both froze, staring at each other in shock. Oddy and Aria looked between us like they were watching a movie.

"Wait, you want to go looking for it!? We need to get out of here before another swarm attacks us!" I argued.

Skyla clenched her fists. "Alex, if we don't find that Pokémon, just think about how many more people could be attacked… or even die!"

I turned to Rotom, subtly gesturing for it to say something to calm her down.

[Miss Skyla, I understand that you want to help, but wouldn't it be better to call the authorities and let the officers handle it?]

Skyla shook her head. "Rotom, don't you think it could hurt someone before we even reach Cerulean City?" she countered, taking another step forward.

Just then, another red screen appeared in front of me.

[MISSION: HELP SKYLA FIND THE ELECTRIC-TYPE POKÉMON]

[REWARD: LEECH SEED TM (ONE-TIME USE)]

I stood there, watching as Rotom and Skyla continued their debate. Meanwhile, Oddy and Aria sat off to the side, watching the scene unfold while casually snacking on berries.

Is it even worth it for just a TM? I thought, rubbing my head. And since when did Leech Seed even become a TM?

After a long sigh, I finally groaned, "Okay!"

Skyla and Rotom immediately turned to me, surprised.

[Alex Carter, are you sure?] Rotom asked, floating closer.

I gave it a deadpan look. "Do you think you can change her mind?"

Rotom turned to Skyla, who stood there with a proud, determined expression.

I sighed. "Then do you have any idea how we're supposed to find this Pokémon?"

Skyla simply smiled, then turned her gaze toward Me and Oddy, who were still lazily munching on his berry.

"Yeah, I guess ı do," she said.

"So, we need to set up a trap!" she declared confidently.

I raised an eyebrow, taking a sip from my water bottle. "And how exactly are we going to do that? We don't even know where exactly that Pokémon is."

"Just trust me, I have an idea. But first, I need to know what moves these three know," she said, pointing at Rotom, Oddy, and Aria.

I sighed and listed them off. "Aria knows Hex, Teleport, Double Team, and Draining Kiss."

"Oddy knows Giga Drain, Bite, Stun Spore, and Sleep Powder," I continued before turning to Rotom.

But before I could speak, Rotom buzzed in, cutting me off.

[I know THUNDER, Will-O-Wisp, Thunder Wave, and Shadow Ball!] it announced proudly.

Skyla clapped her hands. "Okay, now we need bait!"

She immediately turned to look at me and Oddy. I stared back at her. "Wait. Us!? It's your plan, you should be the bait!" I argued.

Oddy let out a nervous cry in agreement.

"That's exactly why I'm not the bait! If I were, who would give you instructions?" she reasoned.

She then glanced at Aria, reaching out to pat her. "And Aria here is cute but... well, dead." Her hand passed straight through her .

"Rotom doesn't have blood, meat, or leaves in its body either!" she added, crossing her arms.

I groaned. "Ah okey then.... so what now? Are we just going to sit here and wait, or—"

"Of course not! Rotom, can you check the upper floor? See if the Zubats are still there, or if you feel weaker, let us know immediately!" Skyla instructed.

Rotom turned to me and muttered, [Looks like I have a new leader to follow.]

I shot it a glare. "I HEARD THAT!"

Ignoring me, Rotom floated back up to the upper floor.

A minute later, it returned, looking strangely confused.

"How is it?" Skyla asked.

[The Zubats were gone… but there was some blood.]

"Wait, what!?" My body tensed as I quickly climbed up the ladder, flicking my flashlight on.

Just as Rotom said, the knocked-out Zubats were gone. The only thing left was splattered blood on the rocky ground.

I scanned the area, my stomach twisting. Something had dragged them away.

Climbing back down, I met Skyla's gaze. She looked calm, but there was a flicker of concern in her expression.

"Is it like Rotom said?" she asked.

I exhaled sharply. "Yeah. There's nothing left up there—just some blood."

She frowned. "Did your flashlight flicker at all?"

I shook my head. "No, not even a twitch. Are we seriously going to go after this thing?"

Skyla thought for a moment before nodding. "We've been here for maybe thirty minutes at most. If that thing managed to gather all the Zubats and make them bleed, it must still be close."

I didn't even think before pointing my flashlight toward the hole, I saw them.

A black head with two glowing red eyes staring right into mine.

I froze.

My entire body locked up as a heavy, suffocating feeling settled in my chest.

The eyes vanished in an instant with the sound of some wing flapping. but the image was burned into my brain. I was left standing there, breathing heavily, my heart pounding in my ears.

I turned to Skyla, who looked just as shaken as I was.

"Skyla!" I called out.

She snapped her gaze to me, her face pale.

"L-Let's go after it?" Her voice wavered before she suddenly dropped to her knees. "That was scary as fuck!"

I turned to Rotom, my voice lower now. "Can you identify what that was?"

[No, Alex Carter… it was too fast.]

I let out a slow, shaky breath before collapsing back onto the ground, still pointing my flashlight toward the hole.

The atmosphere in the cave was heavy, the dim glow from our flashs barely illuminating the damp rock walls.

"It had wings," Skyla muttered, still kneeling on the ground, her breathing uneven.

I tore my gaze from the dark hole ahead and turned to her. "How do you know?"

She swallowed her salvia. "I heard wings flapping. Right before it disappeared."

Before I could respond, Rotom zipped in front of me, its electric body crackling with urgency.

[Alex Carter could it be—!!]

I blinked, confused for a second before realization crashed over me.

"Wait… You mean that fossil!?" I nearly shouted, my mind racing as the pieces started to click into place.

Wings. Red eyes. And when I shined the flashlight at it It was still completely black.

Dark skin…

My stomach twisted.

"We're screwed. Big time."

Skyla frowned, her hands clenching into fists. "What fossil are you two even talking about?" she asked, eyeing me and Rotom as we panicked.

I turned to her, exhaling sharply. "It's an Aerodactyl… but not a normal one."

Her brows furrowed. "What do you mean 'not normal'?"

I ran a hand through my hair, trying to push away the growing dread. "It's an Adapted Aerodactyl ı saw and Rotom fighted against. It was a Dragon-type, and maybe Flying… I don't know what else, but we thought it was turned to dust after that attack at museum. But if it's here…" I trailed off, my jaw tightening.

Skyla's expression darkened. "Wait. Are you saying that Aerodactyl is the same one from the failed experiment at the museum? The one that destroyed the lab!?"

I hesitated before nodding.

She shook her head, disbelief flashing across her face. "But the news said it was taken care of!"

I blinked. "Wait, it made the news?"

"Yeah! I watched it yesterday."

[Dıd they mention us?] Rotom buzzed, spinning in the air around Skyla.

She rolled her eyes, catching it mid-spin. "No, Rotom, they didn't mention you two! They only said it was a failed expreiment and it was taken cared" she said, holding it up to her face before letting go.

I pushed myself to my feet, shaking my head. "If we're really up against that thing, then I'm sorry, Skyla, but we're out."

Skyla stood up as well, fixing me with a determined stare. "Alex, does that thing control electricity?" she asked, pointing at me.

I hesitated. "I… I don't know."

Her lips curled into a small smile. "Then we might be dealing with something else entirely."

My stomach dropped. "Skyla… that's worse. That means we could be up against two different monsters!"

She ignored me, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a small coin.

"Then let's flip for it."

I stared at her, incredulous. "You're joking."

She grinned. "If it's heads, we follow my plan. If it's tails, we do what you want."

Did it even matter anymore?

With a sigh, I shook her hand.

[Then get ready you two!] Rotom crackled as it grabbed the coin in its electric hands and tossed it into the air.

The five of us stood in tense silence, eyes locked on the coin as it spun, flickering under the dim glow of Rotom's light our eyes locked into it while Aria and Oddy bet one who was going to win.