Chapter 8: Storm of Secrets

The rain pounded relentlessly, soaking through my red jacket, turning the ground beneath us into a thick, sticky mess. I wiped my face with the back of my hand, cold water dripping down my chin, but the discomfort didn't matter. The thrill of it all, the rain, the chill biting into my skin—it grounded me, reminded me that despite everything, I was alive. My chest heaved, adrenaline mixing with a strange sense of peace, even as the storm pressed down harder.

I wasn't just Punit Setia anymore. Not the adult from another world, nor the ten-year-old orphan I now occupied. I was both, and neither. A walking contradiction. But in that moment, under the dark sky, I embraced the chaos of it all.

A voice cut through the rain, sharp and suspicious. "Why do you know my name?"

I turned, and there she was—Misty. Her orange hair was plastered against her face, dripping water. Her eyes, though, burned through the gloom, narrowed with suspicion, arms crossed defensively. I knew this moment was coming. Hell, I'd seen it before. But that didn't stop my stomach from flipping over itself.

"I didn't tell you," she added, her voice even sharper.

I froze, mouth opening without any words following. I could feel my pulse quicken. How could I have been so careless? I cursed internally. I'd slipped up, referencing her name like it was something casual. I'd forgotten the most important rule of blending in: don't give away knowledge you shouldn't have.

Misty stepped closer, her eyes narrowing, scrutinizing me. "Well?"

My mind raced, but panic was a dangerous thing. I'd seen how it made others crumble, how desperation twisted their words. I couldn't let that happen. I had to stay composed, stay sharp.

"Uh..." I started, my voice sounding too unsure, even to my own ears. She wasn't buying it. Her frown deepened. Damn it.

Think, Punit. Think.

"I saw you at Cerulean City Gym. You were performing with your sisters." The words tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop them.

Misty's expression shifted from suspicion to something worse—anger. Her fists clenched at her sides, and for a moment, I thought she might slap me.

"You knew about me before we even met?" she demanded. Her voice was low, dangerous, as if she was daring me to lie again.

My heart pounded against my chest, but I couldn't afford to mess this up further. Misty was no joke—she wasn't just some random character from a show anymore. She was real, flesh and blood, and I could feel the heat radiating from her frustration.

"Look," I said, trying to sound calm despite the thunder of my thoughts. "It's not like I'm some creep stalking you. I heard about you when I passed through Cerulean City. Everyone knows who you are—Gym Leader Misty and her sisters, the famous performers. It's not exactly a secret."

She didn't seem convinced, her eyes narrowing further. "Don't talk about my past," she hissed, her voice low and full of warning, "or I'll make you regret it."

The air between us crackled, tense and thick. I could see the fire in her eyes, the same fire that I'd seen during gym battles—focused, deadly. But beyond the anger, there was something else, something more vulnerable, almost hidden behind the bravado.

I nodded, slowly. Pushing her any further wouldn't help me. "I get it," I said, careful to keep my voice neutral. "I won't bring it up again."

For a second, I thought that was it. She'd turn and walk away, leave me to deal with the mess I'd created. But instead, she took a step closer, eyes locked on mine.

"Give me your jacket," she demanded, holding out her hand. Her clothes were soaked through, clinging to her skin in the freezing rain. I could see her shivering, though she tried to hide it behind that sharp attitude of hers.

I hesitated, feeling the cold gnaw at me through my wet shirt. But arguing with her now was pointless. With a shrug, I peeled off the red jacket and handed it to her.

She didn't say thank you—didn't even acknowledge the gesture. She just wrapped herself in it, her sharp gaze still on me, as if waiting for me to mess up again.

I turned away, focusing on the path ahead. My mind was already shifting to more pressing matters. "My Bulbasaur and Pidgey are injured," I said, keeping my tone as casual as possible. "I need to get them to Viridian City's Pokémon Center. You headed there too?"

I started walking, not waiting for her answer. I didn't have time for more awkward conversations. Viridian City wasn't far, but every minute wasted was another minute closer to the Team Rocket mess I needed to handle.

Behind me, I heard Misty fall into step, though her suspicion hadn't lessened. "How'd you know I was going there?"

My muscles tensed. Another slip-up. I couldn't tell her I knew from the anime—couldn't admit that her whole life had played out in front of me on a screen back in my world. I needed an excuse, fast.

"It's the closest city," I said, glancing over my shoulder. "Where else would you go?"

Misty's frown deepened, but she didn't press further. We walked in silence, the rain still coming down in heavy sheets. Every step brought us closer to the city, but it also brought us closer to a confrontation with Team Rocket. I could feel the weight of that looming over me, the knowledge that I was playing a game with far higher stakes than I was used to.

Frustration bubbled in Misty's voice as she grabbed my arm, forcing me to stop. "Hey! I asked you a question!" Her voice cut through the rain, her grip tight on my arm.

I turned slowly, meeting her gaze, trying to think of the right words to diffuse the situation. "I just assumed," I repeated, shrugging off her grip. "Trainers usually head for the next city. It's not rocket science."

She didn't seem satisfied, but there wasn't much more she could say. With a huff, she let go, and we continued walking. I could feel the tension between us, thick as the storm clouds overhead, but for now, I'd managed to keep things from blowing up completely.

As the rain continued to pour, my thoughts shifted back to Viridian City. I needed to heal my Pokémon fast, but that wasn't the real issue. The real problem was Team Rocket. I had to prevent the chaos that was coming.

And I had to do it without Misty figuring out just how much I knew.