Chapter 6 - Echoes Beneath the Veil

Riven stared at the injured Froakie, stunned by its sudden appearance. The small creature took afew shaky steps forward, and as it moved into the patchy sunlight breaking through the trees, itscondition became horrifyingly clear. Veins of sickly violet crawled across its pale blue skin, pulsatingunnaturally--as if something was trying to escape from within. Each step it took seemed to drainwhat little strength it had left, until finally, with a faint croak, it collapsed onto the forest floor.Alarmed, Riven rushed to the Froakie's side. He crouched low, inspecting the wounds and theunsettling color of its veins. There was something deeply wrong--this wasn't just an injured Pokmon.The Froakie's breath was ragged, and strange energy clung to its body like mist. A chill settled inRiven's chest, not from the cool forest air, but from a creeping dread he couldn't quite place.Why hadn't he been attacked yet? He was deep within the Dark Woods, a place known forunpredictable wild Pokmon and sudden ambushes. Even cautious trainers avoided venturing this farwithout backup. Yet the woods had been eerily quiet--too quiet. No rustling, no bird calls, nopredator's gaze. It didn't make sense.As the thought crossed his mind, realization struck him like lightning. The silence. The safety. TheFroakie. It was all connected. Whatever had happened to this creature was the reason for theunnatural stillness of the woods. He couldn't leave it here, not like this. With careful arms, hescooped up the trembling Froakie, feeling its shallow breathing against his chest.He turned to leave. He had to get out--now.But then he heard it.Voices. Distant at first, then growing louder. Four of them. Human.Riven froze. He ducked low behind a thick bush, Froakie still in his arms. Within moments, fourfigures came into view from the direction the Froakie had arrived. They moved with unsettlingcoordination, completely cloaked in heavy robes that masked every detail of their identity. Sameheight. Same silence. Same cold presence.The shadows around them twisted oddly, and Riven felt his breath catch. It was as if the forest itselfwas recoiling from their presence. A heavy chill crept up his spine, instinct screaming that thesepeople weren't just dangerous--they were wrong.Then he saw it. The symbol.Emblazoned on the back of each robe was a crimson eye, within which spiraled a black, reachinghand--like a void clawing from within. The moment he saw it, his stomach dropped. He knew thatsymbol. He had seen it once before.On the last letter from his brother, Varek.That same mark had been scrawled in black ink on the back of the envelope, alongside a warning:"Stay away from them. Promise me."Riven's mind went blank for a moment. He had buried that memory deep, refused to think about itsince Varek's disappearance. But now, staring at those four figures, the pieces began toconnect--and the implications were terrifying.The robed figures paused about fifty meters from him. They began speaking to one another in low,serious tones. Riven strained to listen, hiding behind the bush, heart pounding."We can't let that specimen escape," one voice said. "It's carrying the latest results from thehigher-ups.""Exactly," added a second. "That little shit could ruin everything if someone sees it."A third voice cut in sharply, "We have to find it before it leaves the woods. Today's experimentcleared the area of threats, but the Valerian family is sniffing too close. Last time they nearly foundthe southern lab."Riven's blood ran cold. Cleared the area? That explained the silence. These people had removed allwild Pokmon from the deeper woods just for this experiment. And now, they were hunting down theFroakie."What if someone's already seen it?" asked the first speaker.The third figure replied without hesitation. "Then we eliminate them. No risks. Not now."Riven's heart slammed in his chest. He crouched lower, every muscle locked in fear. His handstrembled around the Froakie. He couldn't be seen. If they found him, he wouldn't just be indanger--he'd be silenced. Just like Varek, perhaps.The Froakie stirred slightly in his arms, letting out a faint groan. Riven clamped his hand gently overits mouth, eyes wide. The figures hadn't noticed him yet. But they were getting closer.He had to make a decision.Stay hidden and hope they passed or run, and risk everything to save this strange, broken Pokmon.