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Pokemon: Way of Life Chapter 3
🕑 Added 2022-09-22 20:27:44 +0000 UTCDisclaimer: I do not own Pokemon. It belongs to Nintendo and Gamefreak.
WARNING: There's a graphic scene at the end of the chapter that may disturb some people. I will mark the beginning of the scene if you want to avoid it.
The Memory Shard shattered, and the surroundings disappeared before he reappeared outside a rundown trailer park—one from his childhood.
Lucas realised he was now within his memory, except he was watching from an outside perspective and not through his younger self.
“Mother, why are we here?”
A woman was walking quickly down the sidewalk, dragging a boy behind her as he struggled to keep up. The woman looked like she had lost a lot of weight. The skirt she wore hung off her body like a sack. She was attractive enough, but it was the kind that, if you looked closer, was extremely brittle. Her dark hair was dull and unwashed, and she had painted an excess of makeup on her face.
“Quiet, Lucas. We are going to see your Grandma,” the woman said.
“But I don't like Grandma. She's mean,” Lucas complained.
They stopped outside the entrance leading into the trailer park. Audrey grabbed the boy by the shoulders and shook him roughly.
“Listen, I need you to be on your best behaviour. Do you hear me?”
The little boy would hardly disagree when he was being shaken so aggressively. He nodded rapidly, and the woman let him go. They stepped inside the trailer park and followed the broken path down a row of old derelict trailers. The ground was completely bare of grass, and scattered around the place were piles of rubbish. After passing a burned-out car frame, they approached a dirty trailer.
The woman banged on the door, and shouting could be heard from inside. An older woman opened the door; her face pinched with annoyance. “Audrey, what the hell are you doing here?”
“Lovely to see you too, mother.”
“When did I say you could call me that? It's Sharon.”
Audrey presented Lucas, who had been hiding behind her skirt. “I need you to look after him for a few days.”
“Are you kidding me? Do I look like I want to babysit this piece of trash? Just look at his parents. A slut and a convict. He may as well be the devil’s child.”
The older woman looked unhinged and mean. The boy was terrified, and he looked up at his mother in a silent plea.
“Please, Sharon. I’m in a tough spot. It's too dangerous for him to be with me at the moment. All I need is a week to settle some business.”
“What trouble are you in now?”
“I can’t say. But I'm getting some money in the end. I can share half with you.”
“How much money,” Sharon demanded.
Audrey hesitated. “Five thousand.”
“Deal,” Sharon said, grabbing the boy and pushing him inside. “I don't care what business you're involved in, but make sure to get my money.” She slammed the door in her daughter’s face.
Lucas still stood outside, watching his mother. He didn't know how he could be there when his younger self was inside but soon was distracted by Audrey’s strange actions.
Audrey attempted to leave a few times, but she only managed a few steps before she turned around. She looked indecisive as if she was going to change her mind. Finally, she seemed to have come to a decision.
“Forgive me, Lucas. I will be back soon. And we are going to start a new life together. I promise. ” Audrey turned around and left.
Lucas was stunned. She looked completely genuine. He always thought that she had abandoned him without a care. Now he realised that maybe there was more to the story. He turned back to the trailer and spotted his younger self peeking out the window.
The memory blurred, and Lucas found himself back at the Tower.
‘[The next floor is now accessible.]’
Lucas sat there in silence, trying to gather his disordered thoughts. While he could admit that what he watched had surprised him, it didn't suddenly change his opinion of her. Irrespective of her intentions, she still could not be called a good mother.
Audrey was a drug addict. She would do anything to score the next fix, and he remembered many times as a kid seeing strange men enter their apartment and following her into her room. The first time he heard loud noises from the room, he had run in, concerned that his mother was being hurt. He only had a glimpse of the naked couple on the bed before his mother screamed for him to get out. Whenever it happened again, he turned on the television to drown out the sounds.
Lucas virtually cared for himself because she spent a lot of time high or sleeping the day away. Though she never hit or verbally abused him, it was still not an ideal environment for a child.
Was she going to return? Why did she break her promise? Did something bad happen to her?
Lucas shook himself out of his thoughts and stood. Maybe if he continued, he would find the answers. Though the memory had stirred up his emotions, he was suddenly looking forward to where it led him. Not something he thought he would say before.
He climbed the stairs to the next floor. It was an identical layout to the previous floor, so he didn't waste any time and approached the terminal.
The selection was the same, except there was no Pidgey. Lucas considered for a moment. Assuming that they were all at level five, then choosing Charmander would probably be the best option. As far as he could recall, Charmander learned his ‘{Ember}’ attack early on. He should know; he had used the Pokemon many times in playthroughs.
However, another safe assumption was that the battles would get more challenging, then if his selections remained the same for higher floors, saving Charmander would be the best choice. He looked at the two bug pokemon briefly, but he wasn't confident in utilising them in battle.
Lucas finally decided on Ekans. He retrieved the Pokeball and released the Pokemon onto the ground.
“Ekans.” The word came out in a hiss.
The snake pokemon rose on its tail and flicked its tongue at him.
“Hello, Ekans. Want to inflict some pain on your opponent?”
Ekans raised its mouth in the parody of a smirk.
‘{Observation}’
=====
Pokemon: Ekans Age: 1 Type: Poison. Potential: E
Description: The older it gets, the longer it grows. At night, it wraps its long body around tree branches to rest.
Affection: 20 Favourite Foods:?
Moves:
Leer: (Physical/Normal) [Power: --] [Cost: 3]
Wrap (Physical/Normal) [Power: 15] [Cost: 5]
Poison Sting (Physical/Poison) [Power: 15] [Cost: 5]
Stats
Level:5 AP:0
HP: 85/85 Aura:100/100
Attack:65 Defence:48 Sp Att:40 Sp Def:54 Speed:58
Special Ability: Shed Skin (shed skin to cure status effects).
=====
“Maybe I should test your {Moves} before I enter the ring?”
Ekans had more than enough {Aura} to test each {Move} once. Should he have Ekans use it on himself? He was in his Mind Palace, so he wouldn't feel any pain, right?
‘The Narrator breaks out the popcorn and prepares for a good show.’
Ignoring the voice, Lucas sat down in front of Ekans.
“Okay, buddy, I need you to use {Leer}. I need to test it out.”
Ekans tilted his head and looked at him as if he was crazy. When Lucas repeated the command, Ekans eyes glowed, and an intense bout of bloodlust hit him. Lucas froze a second, and suddenly he was somewhere else. Lucas looked up as a giant Ekans rushed him with fangs bared, looking to swallow him whole. Lucas lunged to the side, but it was late, and the mouth enveloped him; he felt the fangs pierce him, and he screamed in agony.
Lucas broke out of the illusion and panted. Everything was back to normal, and Lucas groaned. Who said he couldn't feel pain? That certainly felt painful enough. Was it because {Leer} attacked the mind?
“Ekans,” the Pokemon said, drawing it out in mockery.
“Yes, I was foolish.” He decided that was enough and stood up. At least he understood how {Leer} worked. It didn't lower the defence of the Pokemon like in the game. Instead, it was an illusion, and it could paralyse an opponent, making them completely helpless. He wondered how the success rate was determined. It had to have a defence, or else why would it only cost three {Aura}? That would be overpowered. He would have to research it later.
Lucas entered the ring with Ekans.
Opposite him, the opponent appeared and threw out a pokemon.
‘{Observe}’
=====
Pokemon: Rattata Age: 1 Type: Normal
Description: Bites anything when it attacks. Small and quick, it is a common sight in many places.
=====
‘[This is a one-on-one battle. The battle is determined when one or both Pokemon faints. In the result of a draw, the win goes to the trainer belonging to the Resolution Tower. Now….Start the Battle!]
Ekans slithered into the ring, but Rattata was already halfway across the ring. The little pokemon was much smaller than Ekans, but it made up for its speed. It's here where some of his theories on Pokemon came into play. Because Ekans was using his body to slither across the ground, there was no way it could match Rattata’s {Speed}, even if the {Stat} were identical.
Lucas had a plan. “Ekans, balance on your tail to make a smaller target of yourself. Use your flexibility to dodge attacks.”
Rattata used {Tackle}, its momentum raising it in the air slightly. Ekans twisted and barely dodged the attack.
“Ekans, use {Poison Sting}.”
Ekans opened its mouth, and purple needles coalesced in its mouth. Rattata landed and turned around just as a half dozen needles fired straight at Rattata.
Rattata shot forward with a [Quick Attack] beneath the {Poison Sting} and barreled into Ekans, who couldn't avoid in time.
Rattata has used {Quick Attack} on Ekans.
Ekans has taken 21 damage.
[HP: 64/85]
Lucus cursed but remained calm. The problem he faced was not only that it was quick, but because it was so small, it made it hard even to land an attack. If this continued, the fight would soon be over
Rattata landed on its feet as Ekans landed a few metres away. It was then that fortune smiled on him; Ekans had managed to twist its limber body around while it was falling and was now facing Rattata just as the little rodent was gearing up for another attack.
“Ekans, use {Leer}.”
Just as Rattata was about to land another attack, Ekans eyes lit up golden, and Rattata froze.
Ekans has used {Leer}. Rattata is paralysed.
“Ekans, quickly {Wrap} it up,” Lucas shouted, then quickly shook his head at the unintentional pun.
Ekans wrapped its body around Rattata and began to squeeze the life out of the Pokemon.
Ekans used {Wrap}.
Rattata has taken 8 damage.
Rattata has taken 9 damage.
………
There was no need to watch anymore. Rattata was not going to escape. It may be quick and has a strong attack, but its defence and small body meant that once it was constrained, it was utterly helpless.
However, there was something he didn't anticipate.
Rattata’s special ability {Run Away} has been activated.
His jaw dropped as Rattata seemed to dematerialise and appear at the edge of the ring. Ekans looked surprised that its prey had escaped. Rattata still had half of its health remaining. Lucas was confused; if it had such an ability, why did it wait so long to escape? Maybe it took time to activate? Still, it seemed like a very useful ability to escape any situation.
The battle came to a standstill as both trainers considered their next moves. Lucas knew that if he could catch Rattata again, then the match would be over. The problem was that last time; it was all Ekans instinct. What could he do?
Lucas tried to think about a snake's characteristics from his world. Would there be anything applicable that crossed over?
Suddenly, he got an idea. “Ekans, coil up and be ready.”
Ekans coiled up in a tight spiral with only its head raised.
Rattata used {Quick Attack} to run circles around the Ekans, trying to disorient Ekans as it slowly tightened the circle. It seemed that the opponent had been intimidated and now was avoiding a direct attack.
Ekans watched the Rattata carefully; its natural shape allowed it to twist its body and have a full view of the ring. Lucas waited as Rattata got closer and closer. He silently judged in his mind just how much reach Ekans had with its two-metre length body.
Rattata pounced, turning sharply from its circuit and aiming for Ekans.
Lucas shouted quickly. “Ekans, use your body to lunge at it and attack freely.”
Ekans exploded, uncoiling and lunging with its powerful muscles. In an incredible display of speed, Ekans seemed to almost teleport as it flew forward, its entire body length extended horizontally. The move startled Rattata, and it hesitated briefly, allowing Ekans to bite down on the rodent.
Ratatta has taken 10 damage.
Rattata has taken 8 damage.
…….
This time the battle was truly over. Ekans had clamped down with its powerful jaws and wasn't letting go. Rattata didn't have time to use its ability again.
Rattata has fainted.
[You have discovered Ekans hidden trait!]
=====
[Coiled Strike: Using its natural advantages, the Pokemon coils up and uses its powerful muscles to strike, instantly doubling its speed for a short duration. Learnable by all snake-like Pokemon.]
=====
“Interesting. I will have to try to unlock traits with all my Pokemon. It's another ace up my sleeve.”
‘[Trainer Lucas has won the battle. Congratulations! Here are your rewards.].’
=====
[You have received Memory Shard 02: Heartless.]
[You have received 6 Shop Points.]
[You have won two consecutive battles. Bonus 3 Shop Points
awarded.]
=====
That meant he only had to win the next fight to have enough Shop Points to buy {Meditation}.
“Thanks, Ekans. Great fight.” Lucas waved goodbye to Ekans and sat down.
Lucas judged himself on his performance. Overall, it was a good performance. But, as soon as Ekans entered the ring, he should have commanded Ekans to use {Leer}. Rattata had been running at them in a straight line. The advantage of {Leer} was it didn't have to be so precise. As long as Ekans caught its gaze, it would have taken effect. Of course, he couldn't be sure that Rattata would resist the attack.
He had simply misjudged Rattata’s speed. Some luck was involved, but he thought he adjusted well enough. Plus, he unlocked a new feature.
Lucas opened his inventory and took out the next Memory Shard. It was a pitch-black crystal shaped like a heart. What was in store for him next? He threw the shard, smashing it on the ground.
0(((())))0
Lucas found himself in the trailer park again, but this time he was in for a rude awakening as his perspective had changed to that of his younger self.
The door opened, and Lucas came sprawling out into the dirt. Sharon stood behind him, looking at him with indifference. “Go make yourself scarce, boy. I'm meeting someone, and I don't want a brat underfoot.” The door shut behind her.
Lucas climbed up, wiping tears from his face. He shivered as the cold wind chilled him, with only a t-shirt to protect him. He moved around to the back of the trailer and huddled against it for protection from the wind. Here, he couldn't be seen by his grandmother. It was already getting dark, and he was scared.
He stayed huddled there for a few minutes when raised voices caused him to raise his head. Curious, Lucas crept towards the window and noticed it was open slightly. The voices became clearer, and the boy leaned closer to listen.
“It’s like I said, my daughter is coming into some cash. She called me and said she is returning tonight.” Sharon's voice.
“Are you sure it's more than five grand? How can you be sure?”
“Audrey could never lie worth a damn. That bitch was trying to lowball me, her own mother!”
The man laughed. “Why would she even leave the boy with such a heartless bitch like you.”
“As if she has a choice. She doesn't have any friends or anyone else she can trust.”
“We can use the boy to threaten her into giving up the cash. No need for it to get messy.”
“You think she will care for the brat more than money? More than her next fix?” Sharon let out a grating laugh. “Like mother, like daughter, I say.”
“Alright, we will leave the boy as a backup plan. If we threaten her, she should cave easily. I’ll stay nearby until she returns.”
Sharon muttered something, but it had become inaudible. The boy was confused by the conversation, not mature enough to grasp the situation entirely. He understood that his mother was returning tonight, though, so he was excited.
The older Lucas, who had become an unwilling passenger, was shocked. His grandmother was talking about robbing her daughter, even threatening violence. Suddenly, he could feel a little sympathy for his mother if this was the only example of parenting the woman had.
“Lucas, get your ass back here now,” Sharon shouted.
The memory dissolved.
Lucas was confused. He knew he couldn't expect to remember everything as a child, but that had been such a pivotal moment in his life when he thought his mother had abandoned him. Why doesn't he remember that conversation? What had happened that night? Lucas felt awful as he imagined where the next memory was going.
Lucas felt raw, and he considered leaving and coming back another time. There was a year to complete this task anyhow. He took a step towards the elevator but then paused.
Was he going to leave like this? Leaving was another excuse in procrastination to avoid something painful. Lucas had been doing it his entire life, and now he was repeating the same mistakes. He had been given a fantastic gift. Was he going to throw it away because he couldn't deal? Why had he been given this gift if he was so unworthy? Not everything in this new life was a privilege to be handed to him. He had only to see one more memory, and then he could take a break.
Lucas turned around and made his way up the stairs, determined to finish quickly before he lost his nerve.
Lucas picked Charmander and released him on the floor.
“Char,” the Pokemon raised its head and sent a gout of flame into the air.
“Well, you look eager. How about a pokemon battle?”
Charmander grinned, showing off its fangs.
‘{Observation}’
=====
Pokemon: Charmander Age: 1 Type: Fire Potential: E
Description: The flame on its tail shows the strength of its life force. If it is weak, the flame also burns weakly.
Affection: 20 Favourite Foods:?
Moves:
Scratch: (Physical/Normal) [Power: 40] [Cost: 5]
Growl: (Physical/Normal) [Power: --] [Cost: 3]
Ember: (Special/Fire) [Power: 40] [Cost: 6]
Stats
Level:5 AP:0
HP: 103/103 Aura:100/100
Attack:57 Defence:43 Sp Att:65 Sp Def:50 Speed: 65
Special Ability: Blaze (boosts fire-type attack moves by 50% when its {HP} falls below one-third.)
=====
Observation has levelled up!
Observation Lv.2 > Lv.3
=====
Another level. Lucas decided to check the skill to see if anything had changed.
=====
[Observation] (Active) [Lv:3] (Next:15%) [Cost: 2]
Description: Knowledge is power. Observe an object or living entity and learn its secrets. The higher the skill level, the more information is revealed.
- Reveals a moderate amount of information on special objects.
- Reveals most information on owned Pokemon
- Reveals a moderate amount of information on Pokemon not owned, up to six levels above the player's level.
=====
Now he would receive more information on Pokemon, which would be helpful. Once was levelled the skill high enough, he would be able to read an opponent completely and devise a strategy even before the battle started. He considered the first line and wondered what was considered a special object. Possibly, his pokemon egg, for example?
Lucas checked out Charmander’s parameters. {Blaze} was broken. This is why starter Pokemon was considered strong. At lower levels, it was overpowered when the Pokemon was at low health.
Lucas walked into the ring, and his opponent appeared. They sent out their pokemon. His luck wasn't any good. Squirtle was his opponent.
‘{Observe}’
=====
Pokemon: Squirtle Age: 1 Type: Water
Description: Shoots water at the prey while it is in the water. It withdraws into its shell when in danger.
Moves:
Tackle: (Physical/Normal) [Power: 40] [Cost: 5]
Tail Whip: (Physical/Normal) [Power:--] [Cost: 3]
Water Gun: (Special/Water) [Power: 40] [Cost:6]
=====
{Water Gun} was going to be a considerable problem; not only was it a type advantage, which deals double damage, but it most likely had the ability {Torrent}, which boosted its water attacks further at low health.
Both pokemon stepped into the ring.
‘[This is a one-on-one battle. The battle is determined when one or both Pokemon faints. In the result of a draw, the win goes to the trainer belonging to the Resolution Tower. Now….Start the Battle!]
Squirtle immediately fired {Water Gun} from its mouth. The force and quantity of water that was released was immense.
“Dodge it, and keep moving,” Lucas called.
Charmander avoided the attack and then began running around the ring. Its tiny arms were held behind its back as it ran, making for a comical scene. Was it a ninja? If he weren't so focused, Lucas would have laughed.
“You need to get close, Charmander. Use your speed.”
Squirtle didn't move. It knew it couldn't compare to Charmander in speed, but it didn't need to as it was in the dominant position. The opposition knew that Charmander had to get close. With its type advantage and defence, it was better for its opponent to do all the work while it conserved its energy.
Charmander got within striking range.
“Be patient. Wait for the best moment. Don't aim for its shell.“
Charmander struck Squirtle blindspot, as the pokemon couldn't turn in time. “Use {Scratch}.”
Charmander’s claws glinted, and he brought them down at the back of Squirtle’s head. Squirtle crouched, and the claws raked the shell, making a horrible screeching noise.
Charmander has used {Scratch}.
Squirtle takes 4 damage.
The opportunity should have ended there. But Charmander used its other claw to grab the back of Squirtles shell and clung to its back.
“Good. Use {Scratch} again.”
Just before Charmander’s {Scratch} landed, Squirtle withdrew into its shell.
Charmander has used {Scratch}.
Squirtle takes 6 damage.
They both fell forward. Charmander was now crouched on an empty shell. Lucas clicked his tongue in frustration. “Use {Growl}.”
Charmander opened its mouth and roared into the shell.
Charmander used {Growl}.
Squirtle suffers from {Growl}.
Squirtle is disorientated.
{Growl} was a sound-based attack that seemed to affect the Pokemon’s brain and confuse them, but it had a minimal range. It was visible to the naked eye with tiny air disturbances, but it only reached half a metre in front of the Pokemon. But since Squirtle was hiding in its shell, it couldn't move. It also acted like an echo chamber, further enhancing the effect.
“Charmander, use {Ember} inside the shell. Multiple times!”
Charmander shot a stream of fire inside the shell.
Charmander used {Ember}.
Squirtle takes 9 Damage.
It's not very effective.
Charmander used {Ember}.
Squirtle takes 8 Damage.
It's not very effective.
………
Just as Squirtles {HP} lost two-thirds of its health, Squirtle exploded from the shell, knocking Charmander off onto the ground. Charmander stood up as Squirtle released {Water Gun} point blank into its face.
Squirtle has used {Water Gun}.
Squirtle’s special ability {Torrent} has been activated.
Charmander takes 50 damage. It's super effective!
[HP: 53/103]
Charmander cried out as it was blasted back a few metres. Half of his health was depleted in an instant.
“Charmander, are you okay?” Lucas shouted.
Charmander stood up shakily, nodding its head. It didn't have long to recover as Squirtle fired another {Water Gun}.
“Dodge it,” Lucas shouted. Charmander dropped on all fours, and the attack passed over its head.
The opponent seemed to be relying on spamming ‘{Water Gun}’ as Squirtle fired another shot, but Charmander leapt over the attack and pounced on Squirtle.
“{Scratch}, Charmander.”
Squirtle suddenly cancelled its {Water Gun} and turned its back, and started to wag its tail.
Squirtle has used {Tail Whip}.
Charmander has been confused.
“It's similar to {Growl},” Lucas muttered. “Except it works on line of sight. It must be manipulating {Aura} to disrupt their brain waves or something.” He decided not to issue any commands because it would be useless.
Charmander had dropped to the ground, but now it raises its claws like it would do a hand sign. Charmander fired another {Ember} into Squirtles face.
“What the fuck,” Lucas exclaimed. Bloody Pokemon believed he was some emo Uchiha or something.
Charmander has used {Ember}.
Squirtle takes 8 damage.
It's not very effective.
Squirtle flinched as its head suddenly started to burn.
“Finish him. Naruto is in front of you. Believe it!”
The Charmanders flame on its tail flared, and it rushed forward.
Charmander has used {Scratch}.
Critical Hit! Squirtle takes 32 damage.
Squirtle has fainted.
“Yes!” Lucas pumped his fist.
“Char,” Charmander copied Lucas, raising its fist in the air.
“Thanks for the help,” Lucas waved as it disappeared.
‘[Trainer Lucas has won the battle. Congratulations! Here are your rewards.].’
=====
[You have received Memory Shard 03: Stay Buried.]
[You have received 7 Shop Points.]
[You have won three consecutive battles. Bonus 4 Shop Points awarded.]
=====
That had been a hard fight. If he were brutally honest, he probably wouldn't have won if he didn't have such an awesome Charmander.
The little ninja certainly had some attitude. He wished he could have kept it but rolled his eyes when he remembered that these pokemon were not real. He didn't know exactly how this place worked. Where did this place exist? In his mind? In another dimension? Was that possible with the Gamer Ability?
Lucas shook his head at his errant thoughts. He was trying to distract himself from the task at hand. He didn't know why he felt such terror at viewing the memory.
He took out the Memory Shard. It was the colour of the earth, shaped into a heart. He held it for a moment before throwing it down.
(WARNING: Graphic scene ahead that may disturb some people. Skip the rest of the chapter to avoid it).
Lucas found himself in the body of his younger self again. He was lying on the small couch in his grandmother's trailer.
He had just woken to a sound. Lucas searched the darkness, terrified as he tried to identify the source of the noise. A faint shout could be heard coming from outside. Rubbing the sleep from his face, he fumbled around to find the lamp and turned it on.
Getting off the couch, Lucas approached the bed where his grandmother slept. The bed was empty, and Lucas looked at the door, confused. Has his grandmother gone outside for a smoke?
He approached the door and opened it slightly. Peeking outside, he noticed the chair where his grandmother usually sat was empty. However, he could hear the shouting clearer now, and it was coming from the woods that bordered the trailer park. It so happened that this trailer was the closest to the woods.
Lucas crept out and made his way toward the noise. He made his way through the edge of the trees and spotted a clearing where he could see two people talking. One of them held a spade as they dug a deep hole in the ground. Lucas, feeling scared but a little curious, crept closer, hiding behind a tree.
The more petite figure standing by the hole was revealed to be his grandmother. She held a torch in her hand and pointed it at the hole in the ground where a man was digging. The torchlight bounced from the hole to something lying next to the hole.
Lucas gasped when he saw his mother lying there, not moving. Not even considering his actions, he ran from behind the tree and screamed her name. His mother was hurt. He barely noticed the other two people as he hugged his mother, who was not responding.
“Mother,” he screamed, touching her cold face. She looked at him with empty eyes, and Lucas felt his stomach churn, threatening to throw up the cold pasta he had eaten for dinner.
Rough hands grabbed him from behind. Lucas screamed and writhed in the grip of the hands of his grandmother.
“You stupid boy,” she swore. “Now look at what you've done.” Sharon slapped him.
She turned toward the man. “That's deep enough. Throw her body in the hole. We have to add another one to bury.”
“Hey, I'm not killing some kid,” the man protested.
“Then do you want to go to jail for murder,” she snapped. Still trying to control the resisting boy, she threw him roughly to the ground. She snatched the spade from the man's hands and brought it down on Lucas’s head.
It went dark for a few moments, leaving the older Lucas to come to terms with what he had seen. The sheer horror of what he had experienced completely shut him down as he stared blankly into the darkness.
Then, the darkness cleared, and it revealed something even more horrifying. Lucas slowly stirred awake to realise that he now lay in the hole, on top of his dead mother. He cried out in pain as he raised his head to see a pile of dirt land on him. Something of it landed in his mouth, and he choked on the taste of dirt.
“The boy’s still alive!” The voice of the man.
“Keep filling in the hole. The boy needs to stay buried.”
Lucas screamed as more dirt filled the hole, and both boy and the older witness could feel their mind begin to break as they were slowly buried alive.
