We meet the end of the tunnel at around 7 PM and Xander is not too happy about it. The night has already fallen.

  The fresh air envelops me with the first step out of the tunnel, bringing at least some sort of relief to my aching body.

  Tilting my head towards the sky I find it covered in stars and devoided of clouds. It makes me feel at ease.

  My companions are too tired to speak, all except Xander, who's complaining that he won't get to train now, all because we have made a stop along the way to have lunch. I don't pay him much mind.

  All I can think of is dinner and bed that await me shortly.

  We make our way to the pokemon center quickly, with it being located only few minutes away from the tunnel.

  When Cassie called this place remote, she wasn't joking, I learn soon enough. The building is significantly smaller than the one in Verdanturf, similarly square shaped, with a pokeball sign above the doors, but it sported only two stories. For a second, I'm scared that that might mean I'll have to share a room with somone. That wouldn't bode well for me under current circumstances.

  As soon as we walk in, we learn that the place looks much homier than the pokemon center back in town. The foyer still feels somewhat like a hotel lobby, with sofa's placed all around and a counter where nurses were readily waiting, but the stale smell and dust on the walls had made the place feel much more lived in. It felt like a cheap mountain resort, in contrast to Verdanturf's 3 star hotel.

  Xander and Leo are quick to walk over to the counter to have their pokemon checked out. I have no need for such things, as I have kept Charmander in his pokeball all the way through the tunnel, save for letting him out to eat one time.

  I approach one of the counters, but instead of asking for my pokemon to be healed I immediately ask about the available rooms.

  "You kids are literally the only ones here", the nurse tells me with a soft smile, "do you want to share the room with your friends? You want a three bedroom one, or a two bedroom one, or you can have a single bed room, the choice is yours".

  A sense of relief washes over me when I find out they offer single rooms. That's literally a jackpot. "A single room please", I note quickly.

  "Alright", the nurse says, picking one of the keys from the drawer and handing it to me. "Have a nice stay", she says sweetly, "and if you or your pokemon need anything, feel free to ask".

  "Uh two things, where is the canteen?", I ask immediately.

  "End of the main hallway", she answers shortly, "the stairs lead to the rooms, walk past them and you'll get to the canteen".

  "Great", I nod, "and do you have a washing room, and where is it?".

  "Oh, those are shared", she says, "there's one at the end of each floor".

  "Great", I nod. I wished the room had a washing machine for itself, but I'm happy that there's a wahing room at all. With the size of this place, I was beginning to doubt it. "Thank you very much".

  "You're welcome", the woman offers a small nod, before I dart off.

  I check my key to learn that I've been assigned the room on the second floor.

  Placing myself behind Cassie, I tap her shoulder. "What floor did you get?", I ask quietly.

  "First", she says, "Xander and Leo as well, they're sharing a room".

  "I'm on second, sucks", I scoff, thinking to myself that things couldn't have played out more perfectly. If they are not on the same floor as I am, that makes my objective easier.

  "Well, it's not that important, we can hang out anyways", Cassie chirps.

  "Yeah, yeah", I say quickly, "not tonight, I feel like dying, again".

  "We'll all rest tonight", she sighs, "Xander made us basically run back in the tunnel".

  "Sure thing", I nod, "I'll be at the canteen, then I'll head to my room".

  "Deal", Cassie says, as I dash off towards where the food is.

  Once there, I'm quick to pick out my meal, another portion of strange looking meat, salad with some strange dressing and juice that tastes too sweet. I wolf it down before the rest of them ever walk in.

  However, I end up having to greet them, because Charmander is adamant on enjoying every bite he takes.

  Cassie slams down next to me, followed by Xander and Leo, but none of them seem too talkative. Even Xander only has enough energy left to promise his Rowlet they'll spend tomorrow training.

  Once Charmander is finally done eating, I leave, only quickly promising them that we'll see each other tomorrow. I note that I might end up sleeping in, and ask them not to wake me up.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  As soon as I reach the second floor, I head straight for the wash room. The place is small with two rows of washing machines placed neatly against the walls. It takes me 15 minutes to conclude that none of the machines have the drying option. That means I'll have a bed and a prayer to dry my stuff by the morning.

  Thankfully, they have the washing capsules at least. I open one of the drawers, and take my socks out of my pocket to throw them inside. Charmander follows what I'm doing with curious gaze, uncertain what the washing machines are.

  With a sigh, I decide to do the only thing I can do. I take my pants of, kicking them to the side. Then I quickly slide my underwear off and throw it into the machine. Capsule follows them immediately and I press the start button.

  I'd have to wash my stuff separately anyways because of the settings, I think to myself, but I had really hoped I could do it at once and have them dried. I really couldn't afford having notging on me though, so the best bet for me was to have this washed right now. I'll pick it up before I go to take a shower, and leave it to dry. After a shower, I'll wait for a bit until everyone's asleep, then I'll wash my pants and shirt as well. Then I'll sneak to get them during the night, and I'll say a prayer that I find them dry before breakfast.

  I leave the washing room, closely followed by Charmander. The room that was assigned to me was at the very beginning of the hallway, and it was much smaller than the one I had back in Verdanturf. I pass by the bed, not sure where my mind would take m if I laid down.

  My head was throbbing still, and the soreness seemed to spread from my chest to the rest of my body. I could just fall asleep. I could also end up thinking about people. My parents, bunk mates, Nina, everyone else. That was one thing I didn't want.

  I open the window, letting the evining wind roll in. It blows under my t-shirt, gliding over my upper body and making me shiver.

  The mid-September was approaching rapidly, I thought, and the days would only get colder from now on. And I had this t-shirt, the thought ran through my mind, all I had to face the cold of this world was this goodamn t-shirt.

  But it was just a mundane issue, at the end of the day. I'd need to get some sort of a hoodie as soon as possible. I add that to the growing list of things I need.

  For now, I don't mind these everyday issues. The cold is good in keeping my thoughts at bay. Thinking about bying a hoodie is much easier than thinking about if I'll wake up alive in the morning.

  Staring out of the window, there's a small forest behind the pokemon center, alive with sounds. Pokemon, I guess. The trees reach up into the mountains, where the terrain becomes too harsh for people, and I could only imagine what kind of creatures can be found there.

  Once I'm bored of the darkening view behind the window, I start pacing the room in silence. Not a lot of space for that, and Charmander looks at me, confused by my antics.

  Through the dizziness, names and faces start sharpening in my head. Nina and Cassie. I rember when my childhood best friend had eyes like Cassie's. Last time I've seen them we were 12. They changed after that.

  And although Cassie's been nothing but nice to me, a part of me can't help but hate her.

  I waste a whole hour trying not to make connections, not to think. Once I realise my clothes should be all washed, I feel relieved, almost excited.

  Not that I'm too keen on doing what I'm about to do, but it's much better than sinking into my own thoughts.

  Grabbing a towel from the bathroom, I peek outside into the hallway. It's as empty as I expected it. The rush of adrenalline makes my head feel a bit lighter. Somehow, this seems like something I'd do if I were back in the base.

  I exit the room, and even though there's no one there, I make sure my steps are quiet. Charmander decides to go along with me, and I have to turn around and shush him. Thankfully, he seems to understand the gesture, and does his best to remain quiet.

  We enter the washing room again, and I find the machine I used for my stuff. It had done it's job, and I take the clean stuff out. Making sure no one's at the doors, I strip down, throwing my pants and t-shirt in. In record time, I wrap myself in the towel, throw the capsule in, set the temperature and start the machine again.

  "We're on the move, soldier", I say firmly to Charmander, grabbing the door handle and making sure the hallway's still empty. Charmander gives me a confused look, but when I dash down the hallway half-naked, he's quick to follow.

  I slam the door of the room behind us, feeling relieved. Charmander, on the other hand looks as if this is all fun to him. I can't help but laugh at his cheerful screech.

  Running half-naked down hallways feels juvenile. It's more fun than trying to figure out if I'm dying or reincarnated or something third.

  "Mission accomplished", I even out my voice as I pick Charmander up, "next task, taking a shower, then we have to retrieve my clothes later".

  I quickly set up the socks and underwear to dry under the window and leave for the bathroom.

  The stream of water feels hot and rush, as I'm stubborn to make this shower as quick as possible. Last night had shown me that water can bring all sorts of thoughts to my head.

  Charmander pays no attention to me, instead I can see him curiously checking the drawers under the sink. For a moment I think that he could use a bath as well, but I'm not sure how to do it. Putting a fire lizard under the stream of water is probably not a good idea.

  Once I'm done with the shower I realise that I have no idea what to do next. I was officially butt naked again, and I didn't even care about keeping the towel on. The doors to my single bed room were firmly locked, and the only one in here with me was Charmander, who seemed completely uninterested in human anatomy, and had already seen me like this.

  Sleeping wasn't an option still, I had to waste another hour so I can go and get my stuff out of the washing machine. I really hoped it would dry in time. I stood by the window, checking for how the air was. It seemed arid enough against my skin, so I shouldn't be in too much trouble.

  That's as far as running into mundanity gets me.

  Once I conclude the air is how I want it to be, the star-filled sky immediately takes my attention.

  I instantly remember, and that's the worst thing.

  But I have no place to escape.

  With a heavy sigh, I do the stupid thing. I climb up on the window, swinging my legs over the wooden frame, letting then hang in the air.

  The wind crashes into me, in its entirety, once there's no glass in front of me to shield me. Somehow, this new cold feels like the sky itslef is trying to crash into me. I like it. That this world wants to come down right now.

  Nights, different than this one, flood my head, only worsening the ache.

  But I don't think about it. I just let myself float in all of that. That's safer.

  Charmander's screech gets me out of my head, and I look down to find the small creature stretching his hands towards me.

  Without much thinking, I bend down to pick him up, planting him on my hip while making sure his tail is nowhere near my skin. And I let him see the stars as well.

  He gazes up, letting out excited growls, and I think I understand what he's trying to say. I wanted to fly under the sky once as well.

  Such a shame neither of us ever stood a chance.