Three days later after Koroshi's escape...
[Jackson]
Don't.
He's not worth thinking about.
I stared outside the window.
He's a fucking liar.
I can't believe I'm related to a murderer...
4 years ago // 2016
"My son, listen to me." My father grabbed my shoulders and pressed my against the wall.
"If I were you, I would change my mind, A-"
"Don't call me son. I'm no son of yours."
"Do you know whose blood is running through your veins right now ?" My father slammed his fist into the wall, creating a dent.
"Do you know where you got your powers from ? Where you got your strength ?"
I stayed silent, not looking at him.
"That's right. All. Me. I AM your father, you fool !"
"Family isn't about blood. It's about who you loves you. Olivia and Noah are my family. You and Vixxi aren't. You want me to kill innocents for your pleasure. Even if you hurt me, I won't do it. It's wrong."
"Fine, then," My father snorted.
"You love your 'family' so much, son ? The next time you betray me...
The next time you disobey me...
The next time you even disrespect me...
I'll make sure your 'family' pays, got it ?"
"No...Please..." I stuttered.
"I will kill your younger brother and Olivia in the most painful and slowest way possible.
I'll make sure their souls will never make it to heaven.
I'll make sure their souls haunt you till the day you die.
Because their deaths will be your fault.
Do you get it now, son ?"
"Yes, father..."
"Good."
One year later // 2017
We weren't allowed to be in the crime scene.
But the cops didn't pay attention to us, as if we were invisible.
"You see what happens, son ? Look. Look at what you've done."
"I-I can't..." I turned away from the bodies.
My father spun me around forcefully to face my dead family.
"Only weak men turns away from the dear. This is a lesson, my son. A lesson for you to become strong."
His gaze lingered on my face as if he was trying to see me reaction.
His voice was tinged with disappointment.
This only proved what I suspected.
Olivia and Noah's death was my fault.
He had warned me again and again.
He took everything away from me.
He took my family.
He took the only people who cared about me in the world.
The people who loved me.
And here they were...
Lifeless.
Just another carcass for me to bury.
And their deaths were my fault.
I didn't deserve to live.
I didn't deserve a real family.
A real mother.
I wasn't worthy of all that.
I kneeled in front of my father in defeat.
Was I even worthy to live ?
Present...
I did everything he asked for.
But he still killed them anyway.
My life is nothing but lies and betrayal.
I took a deep breath and thunder crashed in the sky, lightning erupting from my hands.
My pupils dilated, turning blue to purple.
Watch out, Archeon.
I'm coming to kill you, father.
I chuckled and closed my fists, making the window shatter.
"Dude."
I turned around and sighed, "Gross. It's Alex. What are you doing here ?"
"Are you having an episode again ?"
"No ! What makes you say that ?" I raised my hands defensively.
"...Other than the fact that you're laughing hysterically for no reason ? You're not using your true powers, yet your eyes are purple. And... you broke the poor, innocent window. Is...is it getting worse ?"
I clenched my jaw, "It's not ! It won't-"
"Yup, getting worse. Ever since you and Ava-"
"Mention her again and I'm tossing you off the balcony."
"Sorry," Alex grinned sheepishly.
"Maybe you should start seeing Phyu again. She helped delay it before. Speaking of Phyu,"
Alex tapped his finger on his lips, "She wanted to see you. It's about the new girl you brought in a few days back. She didn't seem happy about it."
He walked away and slammed the door shut.
He's right...
It's getting worse.
Maybe I should see Phyu again...
Ugh.
[Koroshi]
I've seen darkness before : the kind that makes everything covered in a shade of grey, the streets appearing like an old- fashioned photograph.
But this was different.
This was the kind of darkness that washed away all rational thought, all your bravery, courage and strength, replacing it with paralysing fear.
In that darkness I laid in, my muscles cramped, making me unable to move.
I couldn't hear, taste, or even smell.
But I could feel the excruciating pain in my arms... my legs and my back.
Especially my back.
Maybe I'm dead ?
Perhaps this is my eternal punishment for all the messed up shit I made others go through.
But then I could feel my senses slowly start to work again...
I opened my eyes slowly and blinked in confusion.
I expected to wake up to the sound of cops yelling in the distance, prisoners shuffling around hastily as they got ready to start another day.
I didn't expect to wake up to the sound of beeping... the unmistakable sound of a... hospital ?
Where the hell am I ?
"What the...?" I groaned quietly and shifted in pain.
I gotta get up.
Ugh.
My back throbbed in pain, but I managed to stand up.
"Ow."
Is that... cupcake ?
I sniffed the air, a whiff of the delicious aroma of cupcake filling my nose.
"Cupcake !" I grinned in delight, reaching for the food beside my bed.
I picked up the memo stuck next to it, "Please do not eat. It's Phyu's ?"
I rolled my eyes and took a big bite of the dessert.
Yum.
Oh my god.
Did I get kidnapped ?
"Oh, uh-uh. No one messes with me like that."
Next time I see that blonde dude, I'm gonna shoot his-
WHERE IS MY GUN ?
I searched the room frantically but there was no sight of my gun.
"Oh no, you didn't." I cursed.
"We can't help her. Do you even know who she is ?"
I heard voices arguing outside the room.
I jiggled the doorknob in frustration.
It's locked ?
"Let me out !"
[Phyu]
"Why… Why would you bring her, out of everyone ?" I sighed.
"What's so bad about her ? She doesn't look much honestly." Jackson argued.
"Didn't you watch the news yesterday ? That's the girl who single-handedly murdered a dozen of cops- And escaped a high security prison !"
"Oh… Oops. My bad," Jackson grinned sheepishly.
I glared at him.
"Look, Phyu. I'm sorry. But I can feel it. She's a half. We can't leave a half to mortals !"
I took a deep breath and adjusted my glasses, "I understand why you've brought her here. I would've done the same thing in your position. But she's all over the news right now. If you really think Angelica is going to approve of a criminal in her haven."
I paused to look at Jackson's face.
He had a scowl on his face that sent chills down my spine.
"She's probably not going to care whether she's one of us or not. She'll think of her as a problem."
"I'll try to talk to her. And if she doesn't allow it… Then I'll just force her. It's not a big deal."
Jackson's eyes started flickering from blue to purple.
"A-are you feeling alright ?" I took his hands in mine.
"I can sense your… you know. It's um… It's traveling faster than before. You know you can always come here for help, right ?"
"Phyu, no…"
"Yes, it drains some of my energy… But I can't bare to see you like this.. I still owe you."
"We can talk about this later, now isn't the time. Are you coming with me or what ?"
Ah.
He is changing the subject again.
"We are NOT forcing her." I protested.
"Why can't you be more violent, bestie ?"
"Well, bestie, are you forgetting I'm a natural spirit ? Violence goes against everything I've been taught."
"Right. Let's go." Jackson chuckled.
We walked away from the door but we heard a loud crash behind us.
"What the…"
"One of you better tell me what's goin' on-" Koroshi growled while trying to stand up.
"Or I'm goin' to stick a knife up your ass !"
"How did she break a locked door while still recovering ?" Jackson muttered.
"I don't know whether to be impressed or concerned," I uttered.
"I'd go with concerned." I glanced at Koroshi, blood dripping from her knuckles.
Her upper body was bandaged, with dry blood and bruises scattered across her torso.
Despite how tall Jackson was, Koroshi seemed to be standing the tallest.
Her head held high, face stoic, shoulders stiff.
From her low growl, I could tell she wasn't going down without a fight.
"Bloody hell…" I sighed.
I raised my right hand and Koroshi fell unconscious on the floor.
"Can you carry her back to the room ?" I turned to Jackson.
"Are you serious ? I carried her all the way from Phoenix. Of course I can carry her back to her room."