The funeral parlor was cold, a great relief from the sweltering heat of the sun outside. Katherine on a bench, her brown hair had become unkempt and now clouded her vision. She shifted on her seat, a small padded bench situated right outside the visitation room, which held a casket. Her brother's casket.
She'd chosen to stay outside until the service started, she didn't want to stay in the same room as Charlie's corpse. The thought brought up a small sob, but her eyes refused to yield any more tears, these last few days had drained her eyes completely. She'd received the news just a week ago and here she was, attending her own brother's funeral. It wouldn't start for another two hours, though what little remained of her immediate family had decided to arrive early and make some finishing touches. Everyone was shaken, some more than others.
Katherine retrieved her phone out of its hiding place and thumbed mindlessly until she reached her brother's final message. It seemed so ridiculous now, almost like a suicide note; she'd immediately called her parents to check on him when it reached her. At a friend's house, they said. He just left, his friend said. An hour later, she called again. He still hadn't gotten home. A missing person report was filed shortly after that, and so they waited.
His body was found the next morning, and all hell broke loose. It was a painful memory for her, one that she avoided thinking about. Her finger hovered over the trashcan icon for a second, maybe it would be better to just forget about it completely. Just forget about her brother, his killer, and how she failed as a sister to pro-
As she deliberated, a voice spoke to her. The voice was muddled, almost incomprehensible, as if it was spoken from underwater.
"W--ld --u ---- to s-e y-- b--t-er ---in?"
She looked around and shuddered. Water and her didn't get along very well, thinking about someone trying to speak while underwater, possibly drowning, was disturbing. It distracted her from the cadaver in the next room, at least.
A minute passed, then another. Nothing.
"Would you like to see your brother again?
Katherine yelped in surprise and dropped her phone, causing the battery and back plate to separate themselves from the phone violently. The voice boomed inside her mind and seemed to bounce around in her head. Must be my nerves, she thought. Too much stress was bad for the mind, and now here she was, hearing voices.
I should just rest. Her eyelids were becoming heavy and her mind had become clouded with painful memories. It would take a while for the... event to start. She still had time before she had to say goodbye to Charlie for the last time.
Katherine shifted in her seat and laid down. The hard leather was uncomfortable and the bright summer light still shone through the windows, but she was so tired...
Katherine thought back at the words she had heard earlier. Did she want to see her brother again? Of course, she wanted to apologize for running off when he needed her, she wanted to talk with him about his relationships, she wanted to...
To see him again, alive with a goofy smile on his face. Just one more time.
She drifted off to sleep.
“Welcome! This is the portal that leads to the world of Pokemon!”
The voice had returned, but this time it came from a visible source. A man stood at the end of a void and had a sort of warm radiance about him. Behind him was a faint light that stood out among the darkness, the features of his face and body were impossible to discern. His voice was that of a kindly old grandfather, kind yet firm and authoritative at the same time.
"What is... where are we?" She rubbed her eyes, a thick fog seemed to cloud her vision and thinking. "I'm dreaming, aren't I?"
"No, this is as real as your own flesh and blood. Your brother is waiting for you just past here. You are to serve as his guardian and protector during these troubled times. Under normal circumstances, I'd ask you some questions before letting you through, but the portal grows weak. You will have to hurry along, but do not worry. I have something planned for you."
The man faded away and Katherine felt herself being drawn towards the light.
---