Her lone silhouette wandered in the back alleyway in the bitter cold weather. Her face was shadowed by a bulky hat. She wore a tattered, rough cloak over her tawny clothes. She rubbed her soft palms together, vigorously, to keep herself from freezing in this weather. She could only hear the gritting of her teeth, bracing oneself for the onset of chilly, bitter cold nights. Though the sun was present, it hid behind the thick clouds as if to prevent itself from the cold.
"I can't believe this"
"I should have known"
"We were fooled"
Some familiar voices echo the alleyway, coming from the street center. She ran to see the commotion in the early afternoon. To her surprise, a fat crowd of people garnished the center of the street. 'The elections ended months ago, then what's with the crowd' she mumbled, joining the crowd. Their attention was fixed on a small, run-down building. And in that building, they were focused on the murky flat. Confused as she was, 'My flat?' she questioned to herself 'what are the-' she was beginning to question herself when her gaze fell upon the poster.
'Murderer'
Her eyes doubled in size, a feeling, very familiar to her was taking hold in her heart. Disturbed at it, she quickly turned away from the direction. When she clearly looked at the other side, she spotted many more of such posters.
'Criminal on loose'
'Go away, killer'
'two-faced wench'
'Kill yourself, or be killed'
Familiar memories flashed before her eyes. She felt her stomach churn in many ways, nausea hitting her hard. A devastated feeling engulfed her. Her head felt dizzy, her surroundings getting blurry by every passing minute. She could pass out any minute, until a voice caught her attention.
"I'm ashamed of being the same blood as that devil" a recognizable docile yet conceited girlish voice complained. Reika sprung her gaze at the voice and knew she was right. It was none other than her own blood-related elder sister, Hana.
"I'm sorry to make you go through this, Dear" another familiar voice, filled with sadness, called out. It was an elderly man now. He was comforting Hana, a face full of compassion and tenderness.
'Father' Reika wanted to call out to her father, who was busy consoling his elder daughter. She wished to scream his name, yet she didn't find her voice. She knew her throat was scorching up, it was utterly dry. Shortly, her eyes began to fill up with tears.
"She was always a spawn of the devil. I knew she was fooling us and yet..." A heated and spiteful voice said. Reika knew who it was. It was her 'Mom'. Her 'mom' was never fond of Reika. No, Her 'mom' was never fond of anything beside money and luxury. She tirelessly purred around Hana, because Hana would clear out most of her problems. Also because, "birds of a feather, flock together"
"That's right" her father spoke. Her only hope in the twisted household "I should have known" he continued, in a grim tone. His indifference in attitude whenever he talked about Reika, now turned into a regretful wreck. "25 years ago too"
Strings of pain engulfed her heart, as if her heart was torn to pieces, but maybe that was less than being betrayed by your own blood. '25 years ago' she repeated, her whole body trembling, tears rolled down her cheeks. She clenched hard at the shabby end of the tattered cloak.
'I quickly need to get away from here' she decided.
"My fiancé is hospitalized because of her" Hana yelled, with frequent sobs
Reika turned to her, alarmed, her eyes ready to pop out if they were opened any wider. Yesterday's memory replayed in her brain.
*******************
"Hana is not here" Reika said, appearing indifferent, despite the turmoil of feelings inside her.
"I'll wait here" he replied, almost instantly "I don't hate it here"
"My time is already booked an-" Reika confirmed, adamant on making him leave.
"I'm not here for you" he replied, his cold glare freezing Reika on her spot.
"This is my home!" She thundered, slamming the tray on the table.
In response, he looked away. He had a pained expression, but that was for a split second and it disappeared soon.
Seconds of stuffy silence passed, when Reika finally decided to go away from him. She picked up the tray from the table and gave him a side glance.
His eyes were trembling, his hands pressing hard over his chest. He took in sharp deep breaths, and continued to do so.
"What the-?" she questioned, but instantly realized the state he was in. Because that's how many patients came, in the ER ward. The tray slipped from her hand as she ran to the man. It seemed like he had different plans, not him, but his body had.
When she neared him, prepared to take his pulse rate, she yet witnessed him cough up a pool of bright blood. The occurrence was so familiar to Reika, that's why, rather than screaming or yelling, she hastily took him to the nearest hospital.
***********
As soon as they reached the hospital, the man lost his consciousness. He'd been coughing blood repeatedly, and now, he was taken into emergency ward.
Running footsteps echoed the grim hallway. Speeding towards Reika, the footsteps stopped.
"Ibuki!! What happened?!" the owner of the hurried footsteps yelled.
Reika turned back, to answer the question. She saw her sister, Hana, wearing a knee-length one piece half shoulder dress, panting as she spoke. Mascara or eyeliner was smeared around her eyes. Her hair, which were done beautifully, were disheveled now. Her voice was quivering, tears rolling down her eyes. But all that never mattered to Reika.
She turned to Hana, trying to steady herself and praying not to lose herself. 'Hana needs attention right now' she repeatedly convinced herself, trying to ignore her anxious emotions.
"I served him black coffee, he drank it and the next moment, he coughed up all this blood" She replied, hesitant. She pointed to all the blood on her clothes. She got Ibuki's blood on her clothes, when she was bringing him here.
Their parents came in rushing. Her father was wholly anxious, he was in his office clothes, professional brown suit with matching shoes. Her step-mother was in her evening attire. She sat beside Hana and started consoling the crying Hana. She glared daggers at the blood clothed Reika.
"It was you!" Hana screamed "the doctor said Ibuki was poisoned" staring angrily at Reika "And you were the last one with him!" she put her every bit of strength into the last sentence.
Reika was taken aback at her sister's dumb essence. Deciding Hana had a big impact by Ibuki's sudden incident, she could only mutter "I'm sorry" looking guilty, though she wasn't, because she was aware she wasn't wrong. But if it helped in calming the situation, she was ready.
"Sorry!?" Hana gawked. Doing the guilty look made the situation even more out of control. "Are y-" Hana was about to spit venom, when a nurse came in and asked "Be quite please, this is a hospital. You can take this drama elsewhere for all I care" before turning away, she gave a brief glimpse at Reika.
In exchange, Reika received a scowl from both her dad and step-mom. She couldn't care less, given the situation. "Get out" Hana said, sharply. Her voice was no longer quivering or shuddering. Her continuous tears took a break. She looked sternly at Reika, who was bewildered at her sudden tantrum.
"Get out of this hospital...." she repeated, this time, she lowered her voice "I don't want to see you anywhere near my Fiancé" she ordered, stressing the word 'Fiancé'. Reika was reluctant on leaving, but Hana was adamantly making her leave. In the end, Hana prevailed for she got supporters on her side.
************************
"She poisoned him!" Hana wailed, garnished the crowd's attention on herself "just because...." she took a sniff, looking pitiful "just because he rejected her and accepted me-"
"You're wrong!!" Reika yelled, cutting Hana's words. 'You're wrong! There's no way I would ever harm Ibuki. After all, he is... ' Reika mumbled under her breath.
The crowd was silent. Everyone had their eyes glued on the girl, who just shouted. The one, who was trying to defend Reika, the Murderer. And now, Reika knew she did something wrong for herself. To the crowd, the bedraggled girl became another victim. The public was convinced to hear the 'truth', that had spice to it. And this bedraggled girl was now openly opposing them. Of course, this enraged the crowd. Shouts were thrown at Reika for defending herself.
"You-" Hana extended her hand towards Reika. But Hana was farther from her. Reika knew it was time for her to get away from here. The atmosphere only gave her ominous signs. She was about to mingle with the crowd and soon dissappear from there, when her gaze fell upon the incoming stone, directed at her. The aim was crappy, and it wasn't going to hit her. Instead, the stone would have hit the little girl on her head, if Reika didn't yank the girl from the spot.
"Be careful! This is not a place for kids" she yelled with all her force to the girl
The girl started crying. "Mama" she cried, loudly "this person is scolding me", her frequent sobs, never leaving her. The girl pushed away Reika and ran to a lady beside Reika.
"My goodness!" the middle-aged lady gasped "what are you doing to my daughter?" she questioned angrily.
"Ah.... Wait.... You.." the lady gulped, after giving attention to Reika.
Just then, Reika realized the thin, warm trail of blood dripping from her head. But that didn't shock her much. Rather, when she felt the cold air touch her nape, she was wholly frightened. The stone was successful in pushing her hat down, on the ground. Now everyone was able to see her face and finally meet the one they have been slandering.
Reika stood up from her crouching position, lamenting her rotten break. She turned around to face Hana and her so-called family. And certainly, everyone in the crowd either gasped or cursed her. Her step-mom, expectedly, had a big scowl on her face. Hana didn't cease her continuous crying, rather she smiled in a condemning manner at Reika. She was careful enough to keep up her act. Her father, he didn't have a scowl or was happy at the turn of events. Rather, his face was filled with regret. Regretful for choosing Reika over his wife, 25 years ago.
"Are you ready for your retribution, Reika?" asked Hana, glowering
"What are you talking about, Shinomiya?" replied Reika to Hana
"How dare you show yourself here?" you sickening killer" a shrill voice yelled
"Yes, yes how dar-"
"That is my apartment?" Reika cut in between. She was pointing to her murky flat with an obvious look of questioning.
"Talking back to your elders?" the owner of the nearby store yelled "Don't you have manners!"
"You don't deserve a place in our lives, get away from here you devil!" A pudgy, stout man, well over his 40's shouted
Reika looked over all the crowd, from shop owners to housewives to office workers. Everyone was present. Including the fact of her own 'supposed' family. She had thoughts of her own when she saw a pebble hit her. She was engrossed in figuring out what happened, when another pebble hit her.
"Get away from here"
"Murderer"
"You don't deserve to live"
Soon the shouts grew, and soon Reika saw a pebble rain.
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
When she came to, Reika felt no sensation in her whole body. All she could feel was the bitter freezing cold. And the crispy, icy wind around her, which sting whenever it touched her. Her body grew numb, lying on the cold, frozen ground. A bright, red pool of blood encircled her.
'Click, clack' sounds of footsteps came close to her. She looked at the person, without moving an inch, with much difficulty. The person wore a thick, fluffy knee-length coat, long boots starting from where the coat finished, the hands were covered with gloves.
"How are you surviving in this wintry weather with that thin piece of clothing?" Hana asked with a smug smile "and also, after that storm of pebbles"
Reika only looked at her devious smile, she couldn't say anything, because nothing could come out her mouth.
"I never planned on getting Ibuki into the hospital" Hana confirmed, acting guilty "but you know" she continued after a sigh "if I hadn't, he would definitely spoil my plans for you. Saying 'Reika is not like this or that'" her sorry face changing to an irritated one "Ugh! He was so cringy" another sigh "anyway, I don't think he can survive this, you know, his heart was never good to begin with" she went on rambling, pissed "Serves you right for trying to take my place"
Hana, who was always nice in front of others, now showed her true colors. The colors of a devil. For always, she tried to make herself look better than Reika, and make Reika's life miserable. Now, she achieved her life long goal, so she felt nothing, but happy and proud of herself. She gave off a conceited look, together with her arrogant smile.
"Maybe I should apply for the role of the pure and naive little sister, 'Misaki' in that new movie" Hana said, acting aloof "I'd get a rise from a model to an actress real quick" a haughty smile plastered on her face.
At this, Reika had something to say, she gave a wry smile. Which caught Hana's attention, she looked closely at Reika's lips, mouthing something.
"You may get a Japanese academy award...."
"of course"
"Just that.... I'd get an Oscar, you lame bitch"
Hana staggered backwards, boogled at the puzzling revelation by her "innocent" and pure sister. The one who only knew 'words of kindness', someone who would not even harm a fly. To think someone like that could utter such words, astonished Hana. "Wh-what do you mean you...." Hana thundered at the near-to-death Reika.
"Wait and watch" Reika's lips read
"As if!" Hana roared as she came forward to Reika
"Reikaaa!" a not-so-distant voice called out. It was a voice Reika heard almost every day. It was Mirai. Reika's best friend. She was like the sugar to Reika's coffee. Excluding the fact, Reika never drank coffee.
"Damn that annoying runt" Hana cursed, exasperated. She fixed her attention to Reika now. "You are done for either way" she scoffed
Even though Reika's face was covered with blood, anyone could figure out the mocking expression she had.
"You'll see soon" Hana read Reika's lips.
"You littl-" Hana was about to curse again
'ding' a notification sound came. Hana disregarded that notification but not for long.
'ding' 'ding' 'ding' 'ding' 'ding'
The sound became more and more irritating to her, she took out her phone, ready to curse the sender. But, instead, she was too shocked to reply.
'We would like to ask you some questions and details about your contract'
The message was from her modeling agency. Her eyes doubled in size, as she read the other messages, panicked.
'We are sorry to inform you about the cancelation of tomorrow's project' 'We want some clarification on yesterday's case of poisoning' 'This is police' 'We request your attendance at the meet with Reika Ito' 'Please inform us about the status of Reika Ito' 'Reika Ito....'
"Why... What is happening..... What does this freaking mean!!" Hana shrieked, her expression changing from scared 5 year old to an angry adolescent to a yanky nanny. She was ready to blast off anytime. And at the same time, she squat down and started weird whisperings.
Reika maintained her cool until Hana succumbed to her fears. Now, Reika focused on herself. She couldn't see from her right eye, and most of her left eye had blood over it. She couldn't feel her limbs, nor could she feel any other part. In her observations, she felt a sharp sting from her head, the area where she first got hit, when she yanked the little girl aside and herself got hit.
"Reikaaaaa!" Mirai's scream got Reika out of her observations. Mirai dropped down beside the red pool. She was small, her stature was small. She wore a big, furry over-coat, accompanied with padded gloves and a wooven muffler.
"What happened!!" she wailed. Her tears continued without fail. "L-let's go...." she whimpered "to the ER". Even though she knew Reika won't be able to survive due to her blood loss.
Reika smiled at Mirai. Her eye losing its light. Herself, losing consciousness. She finally closed her eyes and never opened again....