Chapter Text
Arven clutched his bleeding arm tightly, gritting his teeth to stifle any sound that might escape his lips. The pain was excruciating, like a thousand needles piercing his flesh, but he knew he had to stay silent. He couldn't risk drawing the attention of the creature, the one that had just attacked him.
As he surveyed the wreckage of the lab, Arven's eyes darted around the room, looking for anything he could use as a weapon or a means of escape. His gaze fell upon a discarded scalpel, its blade glinting in the dim light. With his uninjured hand, he reached for it, his fingers closing around the cool metal handle.
He gripped the scalpel, feeling a small measure of relief. At least now he had something to defend himself with, should the creature return. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves, and began to carefully make his way towards the door, keeping his movements as quiet as possible.
Suddenly, a noise from the hallway caught his attention. Arven froze, his heart pounding in his chest. Was it the creature? Or someone else? He strained his ears, listening intently, but the noise didn't come again. He took another step towards the door, his grip on the scalpel tightening. He knew he had to get out of here, but he also knew that he couldn't afford to make a mistake.
One wrong move could mean the difference between life and death.
He reached for the door handle, feeling a surge of adrenaline course through his veins. He was moments away from escaping this nightmare, from finding safety and help. He just had to stay focused, stay alert, and stay alive.
His body hit the rocky floor with a thud, the scalpel digging into his leg as he rolled out of the lab. The pain from his arm and now his leg was overwhelming, and he could feel the warmth of his blood seeping through his clothes. He gritted his teeth, trying to ignore the agony that threatened to consume him.
As he lay there, Arven took a moment to assess his situation. He was still in Area Zero, but at least he was out of the lab and away from the Pokemon. He needed to find a place to hide, to tend to his wounds, and to figure out his next move, with great effort, hepushed himself to his feet, using the wall for support. He limped forward, leaving a trail of blood behind him. His vision was starting to blur, and he knew he needed to act fast before he lost consciousness.
Arven spotted a small alcove in the wall, partially hidden by a cluster of rocks. He made his way towards it, using the last of his strength to push aside the rocks and slip inside.
Once he was hidden, he leaned against the wall and took a few deep breaths, trying to calm his racing heart. His right arm was badly mangled, and his left leg was bleeding profusely from the scalpel wound. He knew he needed to stop the bleeding, but he had nothing to use as a tourniquet. He looked around the alcove, searching for anything that might help, but came up empty-handed. With a sigh of resignation, Arven reached for the scalpel embedded in his leg. He gritted his teeth and pulled it out, hissing in pain as he did so. He then used the blade to cut a strip of fabric from his shirt, which he wrapped tightly around his arm to stem the bleeding. It wasn't a perfect solution, but it would have to do for now.
Arven's heart raced as he heard the quick footsteps approaching the exit. His body tensed, and he tried to move, but the pain was too much. He could only let out a terrified whimper as he watched Koraidon come into view.
The creature paused for a moment, its eyes scanning the area before locking onto Arven's hiding spot. Arven's breath caught in his throat, and he braced himself for the worst. He knew he was defenseless, with no way to fight back or escape. All he could do was hope that Koraidon would show mercy.
To Arven's surprise, Koraidon didn't attack. Instead, it approached him slowly, its head tilted to one side as if studying him. Arven held his breath, his entire body trembling with fear and pain.
Koraidon licked his face, Arven felt a wave of relief wash over him. This wasn't the Koraidon that had caused all the chaos and destruction in the lab. This one seemed gentle and curious, almost as if it was trying to comfort him.
Arven's body relaxed slightly, and he let out a shaky breath. He reached out with his uninjured hand, gently stroking Koraidon's fur. "Thank you.” he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I thought... I thought you were going to hurt me too."
Koraidon nuzzled against his hand, its warm breath tickling his skin. Arven couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards the creature. In this moment of vulnerability, Koraidon had shown him kindness and compassion.
As he sat there, Arven realized that he needed help. His injuries were severe, and he couldn't do this alone. He looked up at Koraidon, his eyes filled with determination. "I need your help." he said, his voice growing stronger. "Can you lead me to safety? I can't stay here any longer."
Koraidon tilted its head, as if considering his request. Then, it nodded and turned towards the exit, its tail swishing behind it. Arven knew he had to follow, even if it meant pushing through the pain. He took a deep breath and pushed himself to his feet, leaning heavily on the wall for support.
With Koraidon leading the way, Arven began the slow and painful journey towards safety. Each step was agony, but he knew he had to keep going. He had to survive this.
Arven collapsed to the ground, his strength finally giving out, Koraidon quickly moved to his side. The creature nuzzled him gently, as if sensing his desperation. Arven reached out, clutching onto Koraidon's fur with his remaining strength.
Koraidon seemed to understand his predicament and, without hesitation, crouched down to allow Arven to climb onto its back. With a grunt of pain, Arven managed to pull himself up and wrap his arms around Koraidon's neck. The creature stood up. They began to move, Arven felt a sense of relief wash over him. He knew he was in good hands, or rather, on a good back. Koraidon's steady gait helped to minimize the pain from his injuries, and the warmth of its body provided some comfort against the chill of Area Zero.
Arven leaned his head against Koraidon's neck, his eyes fluttering closed as exhaustion took hold. He knew he needed to stay awake, to keep an eye out for any potential dangers, but the pain and fatigue were becoming overwhelming.