"You need to work on your disguise skills." I glare at Akia, even though she's right. All my disguise consists of is a hoodie to hide my face... I was pressed for time okay.

Valerie is with Akia and is holding Averie in her arms. "Have you ever thought about evolving her," she asks me. Personally, I don't feel that this is a major issue at the moment.

I answer anyway. "I have, but I'm not sure. If Averie does evolve, I'd like her to be an Espeon."

We're hiding out in the forest behind the Pokémon League castle. Normally people aren't allowed back here, but being with Valerie gives us a pass.

"Those 'friends' of yours," Akia begins. "Any of 'em challenging the league right now?"

"Of note, one. Well, Sage is too." She frowns.

"So that means the other three are probably watching them right now, right?"

"It's not them we need to be worried about." I want to take Averie back from Valerie. I realize that I squeeze her when I'm... pretty much anything. Tired, happy, upset. She's my comfort.

"What do you mean?" Akia is playing with her hair. She said she wants to cut it. Honestly, I think it'd suit her.

"Jasper is eight and has an I-couldn't-possibly-give-a-fuck-even-if-I-tried type attitude. Peridot is Peridot. I think he'd be too scared to do anything if he knew."

"Russet's the one you said was obsessed with you," Akia said, interrupting me. She smirks. "I think he's in love with you."

"I don't think I'm interested."

"You're not interested in anything." Akia takes Averie from Valerie and pets her. "Who's a good murderer? You are, precious little thing! Thank you so much." Averie looks uncomfortable. Well, I mean Akia is praising her for murdering our grandfather.

"Vera is the one we need to worry about," I say. "I think she already guessed I was related to Wulfric. She recognized me when I first saw her."

"Really," Akia says. "What's she look like?"

"A hex maniac." Valerie and Akia are both really quiet.

"A Hex Maniac? Those girls are insane!"

"Not much more than we are," Valerie says softly.

Akia and I scoff. We are not insane. Well I'm not. Akia can seem a little off some times, but me? No, I'm perfectly sane.

"Hmm," Akia begins. "It'll be a little hard to find her with just that info. Was she traveling with anyone?"

"Yeah, two of them are challenging the league right now. The other's a fairy tale girl."

"...You're kidding right?" I shake my head. "Alright, I'll do what I can to locate her. Meanwhile, I have another plan to put into action!"

"I'm listening."

She grins rather, um, creepily. "I need you to flirt with Russet."

I stare at her. "Excuse me?!"

"I need you to flirt with Russet. He's what, like eleven or twelve. It won't be hard to manipulate him."

"W-what?! I don't... I don't, um huh? Manipulate him to do what?"

"To trust you. Well actually we need him to not think you're a murderer. For the moment, that's your task."

"For the moment?"

"Yeah. I have, um, bigger plans for later." Knowing her that just means she's gonna pull a prank or something like that. "Right now, just make him fall in love with you. In about forty minutes, it'll all make sense."

I can't believe I'm doing this. Why do I let Akia talk me into stuff?

I find Russet watching Cerise's battle. She's on her last Pokémon, but it doesn't look like she's given up just yet. Well, here goes nothing.

"Um, hey Russet." I'm going to try to ignore the huge smile on his face.

"Hi Sienna! Where were you this morning?"

"I had to um, meet with someone this morning. My cousin actually."

"Oh. Hey, have you watched any of the battles?" I shake my head. "Canna and Adon are both on their second battle. Cerise was struggling, but I think she might just win her first. And Sage? Man, Sage is awesome! He's on his last battle, against Malva."

"Yeah. Sage is a great trainer." I've never seen him battle before this, but knowing he is, well was hopefully, going to inherit the gym, he'd have to be powerful. The Elite Four isn't holding back either. They aren't adhering to the level cap, they're just battling. They always do this when one if Wulfric's heirs is challenging. He's using the Zorua I caught. I'd always wondered what they did to my old Pokémon.

"You two know each other, right?"

"Well actually, I want to talk to you about something regarding that."

"Really? Um, okay."

Sorry Akia, but I'm just going to skip the flirting. "Russet, have you lived in Kalos your whole life?" He nods. "Do you remember any major events that happened about five years ago? You would've been around seven."

He closes his eyes for a second to think. "I remember Wulfric's daughter was killed. Yeah, she was killed along with her husband and daughter." Hmm, so Akia was right. "Her daughter's name was Sienna. Actually, she kinda looked like you- Wait."

I nod my head to encourage him. "Wait, wait, wait! Are you trying to tell me you're that Sienna?"

"Yep. Sage is my brother." He looks perplexed. I mean, I would be too.

"So, they lied about you guys dying?"

"Just me. My parents really are dead."

"But why would they lie about just you?"

Because I killed them. "Because I was very badly injured. I wouldn't have been able to inherit the gym."

He looks confused, shocked, awestruck. All of those things. "Wow... I can't believe it. Why are you telling me this?"

"Have you watched the news lately, Russet?" He shakes his head. "So you haven't heard. Wulfric is dead."

For some reason, Russet doesn't look surprised. Confused, but not shocked or anything. "He's dead?"

"Well, he was killed. And for some reason..." The reason being my Eevee killed him. "...I'm the main suspect."

That surprises him more than the death. "D-did you do it? You know, for revenge or, um, something?" Damn, he's smarter than I give him credit for.

"No! Arceus, no! I really don't know what happened."

"But if they want Kalos to think you're dead, why would they let that be known?"

"I don't know." I fake a look of desperation. "I need your help Russet." I scoot just a little closer to him. Okay, so maybe a little bit of flirting. What? I need him. Apparently.

"Of course! I'll do anything." I try not to smirk at that.

"They're going to question you, no doubt about that. I need you to be on my side. They might bring up Malachi. They might even try to pin that on me. I need someone who will stand by me no matter what. I think you're that person. I know it."

I'm just going to ignore the almost smug look on his face. It isn't threatening, he's just pleased with himself. "Don't worry, Sienna. I got your back. What ate you gonna do in the meantime."

"I'm going to be staying with my cousin for a while.' Not a lie. "At least until things calm down." I'm going to try and keep this as vague as possible.

Luckily, Russet is only twelve. Wait a second, I'm trusting a twelve year old boy to keep me out of jail. What the heck Akia?

"I need to leave now," I say. "I'm going to go talk with my cousin." I give him a hug. Not because I want to, but because I want to be able to tell Akia I at least tried to 'flirt.' "See you later."

He smiles brightly. "Yeah, see you." Akia has Averie and I need them both. I'm feeling extremely uncomfortable right now.

I have Averie in my arms now, so I'm not that uncomfortable. Still, I don't like Vera.

There's something not right about her.

Akia and Valerie are 'interrogating' Vera. It started off like that but then Akia got pissed at Vera's smugness. Right now we're in Vera and her groups' room. Vera sits on the bes across from the three of us. Valerie is trying to hold back Akia from Vera. Vera is staring at me. I hate this so much right now.

"Vera," Valerie begins once she subdued Akia. "You cannot say anything incriminating about Sienna..besides, there is no proof she has done anything."

I squeeze Averie a little tighter as Vera glares at me. "But I know she's done something. In fact, I know what she's done. It makes too much sense."

"What do you mean by that," Akia growls.

"I talked to Russet." Fuck Russet. "And my intuition is telling me to connect the dots." And her intuition.

"Why don't I connect the dots on you-"

"Akia Glaçon! Behave yourself." Valerie pulls her into a sitting position. "Now Vera, what dots are you connecting?"

Vera's glare hardens. "From what Russet told me, you didn't seem at all surprised when we found out he was murdered." Which he? Wulfric or Malachi? Since I just told Russet about Wulfric, I'm going to guess Malachi.

"I barely knew him." Besides, he tried to kill me. "Why would I?"

"Most people don't just stare off into space when someone they know is murdered."

I just look at her. "Well, as we can all tell, I'm not like most people."

"True that," I hear Akia and Valerie mumble under their breath. What's that supposed to mean.

Vera gets my attention back on her. "I think you killed him."

Saw that coming. "And why do you think that?"

"You were there last one to see him. Besides, you don't seem to have any qualms against murder. Especially from what I saw."

Akia, Valerie, and I all respond in unison. "What did you see?"

"The news." Akia jumps out of her seat. Valerie grabs her just before she can reach across the room.

"Yes. I saw in TV that you're the main suspect in the murder of gym leader Wulfric Glaçon." She looks pleased with herself. "I knew that I recognized you. You're Wulfric's granddaughter. I saw you on TV quite a lot. You've grown up."

She continues. "Though, there is one thing that befuddles me." Akia repeats 'befuddles' with a laugh. "Weren't you killed along with your mother and father? I assume you killed them too."

Akia looks ready to pounce. Honestly, I don't feel to well. Vera is going somewhere with this I don't think she understands.

She laughs. We all stare at her in disbelief.

"You seem confused so I'll answer your questions. Sienna, you hide your hands." Do I? "Look at how you have them tucked up under you Eevee. And the few times you don't, their in you pockets or balled up. You're hiding scars." Well yeah, but I'm not purposefully hiding my hand. Subconscious, I guess.

"I believe those scars are from a weapon. A Ferroseed. You know, the one that killed Malicai. My instincts tell me you did this and my instincts are never wrong."

Akia and Valerie nod to me. The jig is up. There's no way we'll convince her I didn't do it or keep her silent which was the back up plan.

I feign confidence. "And what are you going to do with this information?"

"I could tell someone. Turn you in to the police."

"Don't even dare."

"Maybe I could even deal with you myself."

"...Excuse me?"

"I could drag you to the police myself."

"Don't even think about that, sweetheart," Akia says not at all sweetly. "Touch Sienna and I'll touch you in ways you'll never forget." We all stare at Akia. "Damn, that came out wrong."

"I get the threat though, Akia-"

"Don't say my name."

"But shouldn't you be in an asylum?"

"Shouldn't you be in there with me." Akia is standing up and pacing. This isn't going to end well

"I don't have time for you, Akia. It's your cousin I'm concerned about. Turn yourself in our I will."

"Ooh, how threatening," I mutter.

"Or maybe I should take care of her myself."

"Drag her anywhere-"

"Oh shut up Akia." Vera's voice drops to a cold contralto. Averie shrinks into me and I guillotine hug her. "That's not what I mean."

"I-Is that a that," I manage.

"You're an idiot if you think that's a good idea," Valerie says.

"You don't know about me."

"I know more about you than you do yourself."

"That's what you think." Vera smiles. Averie whimpers. Three screams. And hitting. A lot of hitting that ends with a clanging sound.

Vera is on the ground. Akia is smiling over her. It's strange. I find myself smiling too.

And then it's over.

"Akia! What did you do?!" She just killed her. Wait! That's very bad. Especially now! Curse Akia bad her temper!

"Shit shit shit!"

"You need to get out of here now!"

"No Val. You take Sienna and leave. Head to Cyllage City. Here, take my Togekiss! Hurry up I'll handle this."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I've done this before and there were three more bodies. I can handle this. Go! Get Sienna outta here." Akia hugs me and Valerie. "I'll be right with you, Si-Si. Right with you." Valerie grabs my hand and we run out of the Center as fast as we can.

Running. I feel like I'll be doing this for a while.