Innocence Lost (Pokemon)

14. Downtown

Every second felt like torture sitting in the little jail cell with June, Noibat snuggled against my chest, being cradled in my arms. The officer that had thrown us in was on the phone with someone of higher authority, talking about what to do with us. I couldn't help but think about all of the Pokémon still in that building and what would happen to them if anyone walked in to discover them all running freely about.

He hung up, then, and turned in his chair to look at us. He grumbled with disgust and then swiveled around to face the telly hanging in the corner of the ceiling. The screen flicked on, showing the same familiar setting where the broadcast was before. He flipped through the channels, but they all showed the same three scenes - the broadcast, Christy's camera, and the previously recorded videos.

The phone rang, the man picked up, and somehow we ended up in a car, handcuffed. Everything was going by like pressing fast-forward on a television wrapped in plastic wrap. June was grinding her teeth and tapping her foot, face void of any expression, looking between the window and the front seat. Noibat was lying on my lap, napping. I wanted to lean my aching head back and close my eyes, which stung as if they were being fried, but I felt like it would be giving up. So, I stuck it out.

We were let out in front of an easily recognisable building: the Goldenrod National Broadcasting Company tower. I swallowed past the lump in my throat as we were forced in by two policemen.

"Take them to the newsroom." One man said, and the original officer took both of us by either arm. I was surprised that they hadn't taken Noibat, perched on my shoulder, away yet.

After a short elevator ride, we ended up in what looked like the place that they reported the news in - hence the term "newsroom." The man pushed us into the chairs behind the desk, and soon, more people began to flood in. They worked at the cameras, soundboard, and a control desk by the wall. Lights were flickering on. Screens on the wall showed the broadcasts, beginning to look a bit fuzzy. I assumed that the people who were clicking away at the keyboard were trying to hack into the broadcast.

June kicked my leg to get my attention. "Whatever you do, don't say anything important. If they try to get us to say something, don't. Got it?"

"Alright, girls," One woman with headphones around her neck and a clipboard in hand shouted, "When the cameras roll, we'll have people speaking over you - narrating, if you will. Please, don't interrupt them. You'll get a chance to talk and tell the world how sorry you are about your crimes. Then, maybe we'll shorten your sentence in prison. Remember - you're filthy criminals. You deserve this. You'll regret your decisions, or you'll regret not regretting them. Get ready!"

June shot me a glance as the woman held up fingers, counting down to when the cameras turned on.

"People of Goldenrod, these two young ladies have committed the most inhuman crime: attempting interaction with the vilest creatures on Earth. On the left is seventeen-year-old Olivia Richards, who went missing only twenty-four hours ago. If anyone has any more information on her, please call in now. On the right is eighteen-year-old Juniper Bywaters, granddaughter of Ulysses Bywaters, a teacher at Goldenrod High School."

I turned to her with shock - how could I have not recognised her, being a child of one of my favourite teachers? Not to mention that he was the school's Pokémon lover and had several other children and grandchildren who had been arrested for doing the same thing that June was doing.

"As most of you know, the Bywaters have a terrible reputation for doing these sorts of things. It's no surprise that yet another one turns out to be a criminal. After this incident, the police will have no choice but to take Ulysses into custody as well -"