JMIT Chapter 2

"Where are you going?" Mike asked. A day had passed, and I had decided to go out and meet Dolly again. Of course, I had refrained from talking to Mike about it; something I would soon regret.

"I'm going to talk to Dolly again." I said coolly, shrugging. "She invited me over."

"Why are you wasting time with her?" Mike asked. "You are wasting your time! Unless...you want to be serviced my her, don't you?"

"No!" I said quickly, "She gave me a note..."

"I thought we were supposed to talk about things like that?!" Mike growled, "But fine. If you must leave me for your slutty girlfriend, I will be investigating the streets again. That Sally might have information. At least I will get somewhere...and you will end up with cocks on your face again!" He snorted and stomped off outside, leaving me feeling quite guilty and confused.

~~~~
Marvin was waiting for me outside Dolly's house. His green eyes shone sharply at me as I walked towards her house as confidently as possible. To be honest, it was a dump, a strange collection of bricks and rotten wood. The Ferrothorn stomped in front of the house protectively, his thick hands blocking the way to the door.

"How dare you." He hissed. "How dare you come back?"

"I'm only here to see Dolly." I said, feeling my confidence fall a little.

"I know you are." He growled, "You men are all the same...I know your type. Haven't you already had your fun yesterday?"

"I...didn't..." I stammered.

"Lies!" He yelled, stomping his hands on the ground, dirt flying off the ground. "She may be a prostitute, but I won't let you just frolic into her home just for her to get ravaged again."

"Please." I begged, "She has something to tell me, something about my investigation."

"What could she possibly know that you need?" He asked, his eyes narrowing.

"She might be able to tell me who the killer is." I whispered.

He recoiled, his arms flailing. "No..." He gasped, his eyes wide. "Don't do that...leave her alone! That monster will kill her!"

"What do you care?" I frowned, "You don't even like her."

"I do like her." He said. "She's all I've got. You men with your penises might not understand, but there is more to love than kind words and hot fucking. I love her...and will protect her with my life..."

"Marvin!" Dolly opened the door behind him, her woolly face filled with a grim concentration. "I have invited him. Let him in."

"Yes, my lady." Marvin muttered. "Look at me, the brain the size...oh...I can't even pretend that I don't care." He turned to me. "Keep her safe." He whispered, "Or I will find you, and kill you."

I walked into the smelly and old looking house, just to see a small room with a bed and fridge in it. Dolly looked at me with sad eyes.

"This is how I live." She said, her tail twitching. "This is how we all live. How do you live on the surface?"

"I...I need you to tell me what you know about the killings." I faltered, trying not to be distracted by Dolly's thin body.

"I will be next if I tell you." She said, looking grim. "But, if it is to end what is happening in this world..."

She paused, and turned towards her fridge. She took a can of old beer from the fridge and slugged it down.

"There is a legend in this world." She mused, nursing her drink. "The shadows of the earth shall come and take down the evil doers. Evil doers can be anything now, anyone. You step out of line, and some great shadowy being takes you from this life." Her ears twitched, electricity flowing around her body. "I wish I was one of those sometimes, maybe this is why I am telling you."

"Why?" I asked.

"I didn't choose to be what I am." She said, taking another gulp of her drink. The can, emptied, ended up on the floor. "We have no choice these days. All the money has gone. Somebody is draining the economy. Prostitution and murder is the way this place goes. Sure, the government owned businesses still work..." She pointed to the can, "But the pokemon who do those jobs come from elsewhere. We are just scrounging a living...life is hard and horrible...but I have never lived in any other way."

I moved towards her, my arms reaching out for a hug. She accepted the hug, letting a few tears fall from her eyes. She looked up at me with misty eyes, and pecked me on the cheek. Suddenly, we were on the floor, kissing and hugging out of desperation and panic and fear. I didn't know why, but she needed me. And that would hit me when I woke up several hours later.

~~~~~

"I think I love you." Dolly said afterwards, looking at me with still wet eyes. I looked into her eyes, and suddenly my body filled with dread. I was supposed to be making her feel better, not taking advantage of her fragile state!

"I think...I think you are confused." I said suddenly, pushing her off. "What have I done?" I turned off the bed, holding my head in my arms.

"John..." She said softly, "I chose to do this, remember."

"No, I'm supposed to be investigating...not mating...oh Arceus..." I turned to leave, quickly moving, when the Flaaffy's hand caught my shoulder.

"Come back some other time, when you can think." She said softly. "We can just be friends."

My cheeks burned, but I nodded. I opened the wooden door, walked past a glaring Marvin, and walked as far away from the shame that I could.