3 years ago // 2017
[Phyu]
My eyelids felt extremely heavy as I opened them.
My whole body was covered in bruises, the clothes on me were in tatters.
Yet, I barely felt the pain.
My mind was too busy trying to grasp any memory.
Because my mind was blank.
"Alright, it's done." Someone said.
"I still don't understand why this was necessary ?" Another one asked.
"She's been a prisoner here for a week. I'm tired of seeing her kick everyone's ass when they try to give her food. I'm tired of her going completely psycho and screaming bloody murder because of her family.
"You know, it would've been much easier if you just kill her. It would've been less time consuming !"
"Nah killing takes way too much work. This is clearly the better way. Less boring. More interesting. A more unique way to get rid of witnesses. Plus, I need to see if the injection worked. And it did !"
"What are you doing over there ?"
"Getting info about her. Here it is. Age : 16. Species : Half mortal, half unknown. Height : 5 foot 3. And name. Her name is Phyu Sein Kyi."
11 years ago // 2009 // Streets of Oklahoma
[Kana]
It's been hours since I sat on the cold streets.
I shivered as the chilly winds swept around me.
I need to eat.
It's been five days since I have eaten.
"Is that who Jiji and Baba were talking about ?" I heard a girl whispering.
"Yeah." a boy confirmed.
"How do you know ?"
"She has mom's eyes. She just... she looks like a mini version of mom."
"Well, well, well. Looks like you're right for once, Magnus."
A girl with black hair wearing leather jacket and black jeans approached me. A boy also with black hair wearing a beanie hid behind her.
"Are you two here to mock me like the other kids ?" I asked. "Trust me, a broken nose is something you don't want to experience."
"What the... People made fun of you ?" the girl asked.
Her voice... She sounds just like mom.
She kneeled down next to me, "That's horrible. I'm sorry you have to go through that."
I closed my eyes and leaned my head on the wall.
"How old are you ?" she asked. "And... how did you get that ?" she pointed at the cut on my hand.
"Some dude slashed me with a knife, because I tried to take his sandwich. I stole some stuff from the pharmacy, and stitched the wound myself. And, I'm eight."
I glared at them, "You two obviously aren't here to pity me. What do you want ?"
"Well, are you the little girl on the streets everyone's talking about these days ? We heard you're a skilled pickpocket."
"Mmhmm. That's me." I muttered.
"My name is Erika. This is my younger brother, Maggie." she pointed to the boy behind her.
"IT IS MAGNUS, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD !"
"Your name is Kana Koroshi Kurokage, right ? Robert and Akimi's daughter ?"
"... And you think I'll tell two strangers my name ? You're dumb."
"Oh my. Well, we're not strangers, you see..." She took a deep breath. "D-do you recognise my necklace ?"
I stared at her necklace and widened my eyes, "W-why do you have my mom's necklace ?"
"Your mom's is actually silver. This one is my grandma's. Or... our grandma.."
Our grandma ?
Who is she ?
Could she be my sis-
No.
I can't let my hopes up.
"Bullshit. You really expected me to believe that ? Get the hell away from me before I beat the crap out of you two."
"We need to wash her mouth with soap." Magnus uttered.
"Alright... How long have you been on the streets for ?"
"Almost a year since my- It's been a year."
"A year ?" Erika gasped. "It must be tiring to keep running around for food. There's an awesome pizza place right where our grandparents and we live ! We were just about to head there... Wanna come with us ?" She put her hand on my shoulders.
"We know what you've been through, Koroshi. And we understand if you don't trust us. And I know it's hard to believe, but just remember that we're your siblings. We're your family. You can trust us. But it's alright if you don't wanna come. We won't force you."
Family.
They are my family.
A slow grin crept on my face, "How far ?"
"Five minutes walk." Erika smiled. "Come on, I'll carry you."
"Okay." I giggled and stood up.
"Here, take this." Erika took off her leather jacket and draped it on my shoulders. "You must be cold."
"What ? No ! Then you're gonna freeze !" I protested.
"Trust me, I'll be fine." She smiled kindly at me. "You need it more than me."
She helped me put on the leather jacket, "Aw, it looks cute on you ! A little too big, though. Tell you what, I'll let you keep it."
"No-"
"We're not arguing about this, Koroshi. It looks better on you, anyways." She picked me up effortlessly and carried me in her arms.
"Alright, let's go !"
And that day, I realised something.
Even though mom died...
And dad left me...
I still had a family.
I wasn't alone.
It was almost like a dream come true.
"Maggie ! Get your lil ass here ! Koroshi's hungry." Erika called.
"Shut up !"
8 years later // 2017
"Jiji ? Baba ? I'm back !" I shouted.
Silence.
"Jiji ? Baba ? Erika ? Maggie ?" I frowned.
I switched on the lights and discovered a horrible scene.
"W-wha..."
Jiji and Baba were clutching each other tightly, whimpering.
"Jiji... Baba...? W-what's wrong ?"
"Koroshi... Mou kaetta ta no ? ( Koroshi... you came back early ? )" Baba forced a smile on her lips. "How was your date ?"
"M-my date ? Fuck my date ! We're not talking about me right now ! What happened while I was gone ?" I rushed towards my grandparents and engulfed their trembling bodies into my arms.
"What happened ? Please, tell me." I begged.
"Koroshi, you've already been through so much. Please, go to-" Baba started.
"A gang took our safe." Jiji uttered.
"Your... Are you talking about the safe ?"
Jiji nodded, "They threatened to kill you, Magnus, and Erika. We had no choice. After they left, they drew on the walls."
"Drew... on the...?"
And then, I saw it.
Right above my beloved grandparent's heads.
A gang sign.
That sign filled me with anger and disgust.
In that moment, I only had one question.
How dare they ?
How dare they barge into my innocent grandparent's home ?
How dare they even had the audacity to threaten them and make a permanent sign that they were there ?
I knew, right then and there...
They deserved to be put in the most agonising pain possible.
Oh, no. Not just pain.
They deserved more.
So. Much. More.
I stared at the gang sign.
P....A....
They shouldn't have left their sign.
"Where's Maggie and Erika ?" I asked, my nails digging into my palms.
"Erika is probably spending time with her girlfriend. And Magnus... Who knows where he is ? Probably out drinking with his friends again." Jiji murmured weakly.
"I'm goin' out." I uttered walking upstairs to my room.
I slipped off the black silk dress I was wearing and picked up the leather jacket Erika gave me.
Eight years later, and it's still my favourite jacket.
I love Erika.
I changed into my fighting attire and tied my hair into a bun.
I walked downstairs quietly, hoping my grandparents wouldn't notice.
"And where do you think you're going, young lady ?" Jiji questioned.
Ah. Busted.
"You know I'm 16, right ? You don't have to watch over me 24/7. But if you really wanna know... I'm going on a walk. Why ?"
"Koroshi... Those are your fighting clothes. Tell us the truth." Baba sighed.
"I thought it was pretty obvious." I stated. "All that hard work you two put in. I'm gonna go get it."
"That is very dangerous, Koroshi. You are not going out that door." Jiji scolded.
"I don't care if it's dangerous." I frowned. "You two deserve and need that money ! I'm getting it for you, no matter what you say."
"You don't even know who-"
"Don't you dare finish that sentence." I cut Baba off. "You think I'm stupid, Baba ? You think i'm goin' to waste my time and search the whole state ? I already know where it is. I already know who stole your money. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm goin' out."
I seat myself on the hood of the car, with my feet dangled off slightly. The sun giving me a glow and shining against my olive skin, making me look more lively.
I took out my phone and pressed the dial button.
"Maggie. Wanna help your little sister out ? I'd appreciate it !"
"What are you going to do ?" Magnus hiccuped on the receiver end. "Drink it, Magnus. Finish it !" someone cheered.
"What am I going to do ? Well. Goin' on a little walk to one of your father's rivals and killin' them all."
"I'm busy."
"'I'm busy' ? Oh, come on, Magnus ! I think you and I both know that's not true." I retorted.
"I don't want to go..." Magnus muttered.
"But I will be so proud of you ! Pretty plllleeeeeeaaaaassssssseeeeee ?"
"Which gang ?" He sighed, giving up.
"Which gang ? Use that big head of yours. It's pretty obvious. We're goin' to slaughter Peter Alder's gang. All of them."
Present...
[Alex]
"Phyu ! Jackson ! Where-" I ran into the house panting, only to see them arguing.
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT, LOPEZ ?" they screamed at me.
"Where is Koroshi ?" I asked frantically. "Ava's gonna kill her !"
"What ?" Phyu gasped, her face turning white.
"***AHHHHHHHHHH !***" we heard a chilling scream coming from upstairs.
"Alex, come with me, now !" Phyu shouted as she rushed upstairs.
Meanwhile...
"B-but..." Ava trembled as a hand gripped her wrists, stopping her from stabbing Kana.
The hand belonged to Kana's.
"Ava...Ava... Ava. When will you ever learn ? You can't get rid of me that easily. I'm not Kana. I'm Voice ! But thank you for returning my knife !"
Voice opened her eyes, her eyes silver.
"Did you miss me ?"
[Jackson]
"Oh my god..." Phyu muttered.
Ava was held captive by Kana, a blade stuck to her throat.
No.
That's not Kana.
It is Voice.
"H-help..." Ava cried weakly.
"Here's what's going to happen." Voice sneered. "I'm going to drain this pathetic demon's energy. It should put her through some pain... But sadly, since that's not going to kill... I'm gonna slit her throat. Just like what she did to my right eye."
A bright red scar was on the eyelid of Kana's right eye, making her olive skin stand out in the sunlight.
(Yes, Kana. The body is still hers.)
"Take one step closer, or call for help... And I'll make sure she goes to hell the faster way. Got it, dears ?"
"Oh, and don't think I forgot about you, healer." She smirked at Phyu. "You're next."
Let her die... Let her die...
What's a little death gonna cause, anyway ?
What the fuck, Jackson !
Don't let your emotions control you.
"No ! You can't kill her." I blurted out.
I stepped forward.
"Jackson, what the hell are you doing ?" Alex grabbed my arm.
"Go ahead." I told Voice. "Kill her."
"Hm." Voice hummed. "I was expecting a little more fun, but..." she raised the dagger.
"I guess this will do."
[Kana]
"Have a nice time facing your fears... Kana." Voice cackled and disappeared.
Fears...?
A hand clamped over mouth and I heard a voice singsonging, "Ka~naaaaaaaa.... My dear..."
Dear breathes.
Deep breathes.
I tugged free and walked forward, trying to find a way out.
"My dear, is that you ?" My mother appeared in front of me and squeezed my cheeks harshly.
"The little girl I knew... now such a beautiful woman ! I remember... Beauty. I remember when I was beautiful- Just like you, Kana."
My mother's eyes were bloodshot, her pristine white dress drenched in blood. The smell of blood seeped into my nose.
"Just like you, Kana. I remember... I was alive. You had such extraordinary strength, even in your youth. You were powerful. ***SO WHY COULDN'T YOU SAVE ME ?***" My mother howled like a banshee, blood dripping from her mouth.
"***WHY COULDN'T YOU SAVE ME ?***" She howled, her eyeballs twitching. "It's your fault I'm like this... Your fault ! You killed me !"
"N-no..." I whimpered faintly. "I-it wasn't... I... I didn't."
"***IT WAS YOUR FAULT ! YOUR FAULT !***" my mother shook me while crying hysterically.
"And now... you're going to pay... I will haunt you... forever... You will constantly live in fear... Trying to run from your own mind... Because of the death of your own mother."
"S-stop ! Y-you're not real ! You're just a hallucination ! Something Voice created to scare me ! G-get out ! Y-you're not mom !"
The grip on my face loosened and the figure faded.
Freak...
Hah... What a mess...
Worthless...
No... Those voices...
"***AHHHHHHHHH ! STOP, STOP, STOP !!!!!***" I screamed, covering my ears.
Hey look ! It's the freak !
Who knew the 'bad bitch' of the school-
The 'psycho siblings' own sister...
WOULD BE IN SUCH A PATHETIC SITUATION ?
What a worthless bitch !
No wonder your father left you !
You're a fucking monster !
'I'm not monster..."
They're not real, Kana. They're not real.
The voices faded and I sighed in relief.
Your fault...
Why did you do this to us ?
"A-again ? N-no, please..."
No, no, no, no...
Don't scream... don't scream... you can't scream...
E-erika...
And Magnus...
W-why are they here...?
"Why are you so damn selfish ?" Erika yelled at me, her eyes burning with anger. "Your actions caused this !"
"N -no... I-it wasn't my fault ! I... I did what I had to do !"
"If it weren't for you, my own sister wouldn't be living in hell right now ! I wouldn't constantly be on the run ! You're pathetic !" Magnus shouted into my face.
"***STOP ! I-IT WASN'T MY FAULT ! NONE OF THIS IS MY FAULT ! GET OUT ! NONE OF YOU ARE REAL !***"
The voices eventually faded, and only sound that could be heard was my desperate cries for help.
How long has it been... ?
I can't take this anymore.
"God fuckin' damn it, Voice. Let me out ! VOICE !!!!!!"
"P-please... Just let me out... Please..."
I laid on the cold floor as I felt myself fading away.
"Hello, Kana." Someone called.
Ugh Voice. Why can't she just leave me alone ?
"Lemme guess, Voice. You set the whole world on fire, and killed everyone on Earth. And you're here to tell me you tap danced on dead corpses."
"Actually, I think you have the wrong person."
Son of a bitch.
That voice...
A familiar voice, just like all of them.
But it didn't overwhelm me with fear and guilt like the rest.
Only anger.
And his voice...
That anger filled me with newfound energy.
"You." I spatted.
"YOU !" I stood up and shouted.
"***YOU SON OF A BITCH !***" I grabbed him by the collar, my fists clenching.
A long reddish trail erupted from the tip of my fingers and tangled his neck.
"***WHY ARE YOU HERE, ROBERT ?***"
"Is that how you greet your own father, Kana ?" Robert grunted in disapproval.
"Shut up, shut up, shut up ! I don't have a father ! A father actually cares about his daughter ! ***I DON'T THINK A FATHER WOULD THROW HER OWN DAUGHTER OUT LIKE A BAG OF TRASH !!!!!***"
"You're making a big deal out of this." Robert sighed, unaffected by the ribbon tied tightly around his neck.
"Are you sh-?"
Robert clapped his hands and I was throw backwards by the impact, hitting my head in the process.
"Oh, man." I touched my bruised forehead gently. "You really shouldn't have done that, Robert. You're gonna die for that."
I was so outraged, my eyes turned red and blood in my veins turned black. I raised my palms, a bright scarlet light blasting from them.
"That's enough. Stop being immature, Kana !" Robert snapped. "All that talk from mortals, calling you 'The Silent Killer'-" he was hit by the light blasted from my palms.
"What the hell is wrong with you ? Start acting like you're 19 !"
"THEN START ACTING LIKE AN ACTUAL FATHER FOR ONCE IN YOUR PATHETIC LIFE, DIPSHIT !" I screamed. "WE MAY BE RELATED, BUT YOU ARE NOT MY FATHER ! YOU WILL NEVER BE MY FATHER ! SO GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY- How are you even here ?"
"Enough. I'm here because you obviously need help."
"Ahahahahaha..." I roared in laughter. "O-oh man... BUA-HA-HA-HA-HA ! No." I crossed my arms, "I don't want or need any help from you."
"For fuck's sake. I knew you would say this..." Robert sighed. "Don't leave the haven. Just... Just trust me."
"What ? No ! I need to see Jiji and Baba ! I need to see Magnus and Erika ! Unlike you, they're my family."
"This is your life we're talking about." Robert said sternly. "You'll be safe here."
"Since when have you ever cared about me ?" I scoffed. "Since when have you even thought about me ? YOU DON'T GET THE RIGHT TO DO THAT ! You literally threw me away, Robert ! How the hell am I supposed to trust you ? I now find out you're not even human ! Isn't that somethin' you should've told me ? What- Is your real name even Robert ?"
"No." My father rubbed his neck. "It isn't."
"Wow. That just proves how sketchy you are ! Stay away from me." I walked away but he appeared in front of me and blocked my way.
"Just so you know, I don't give a shit whether or not you trust me. I don't give a shit about you, either." Robert spatted.
I don't give a shit about you, either...
Wow, really ?
Does he hate me that much ?
"I am not doing this to help you. This is for the sake of the world. Some things I need to tell you before you go-"
"Uh, last time I checked. I'm stuck here, Robert." I retorted.
"Use your powers. They are yours... and only yours."
"Great." I rolled my eyes in exasperation. "First, I see you. The thing I hate the most. And now, you're speakin' in riddles- Something I also hate !"
"I'm glad I abandoned you." Robert muttered. "13 years without you. Oh, man ! I would kill myself if I wasn't immortal."
Not if I kill you, first, jackass.
"Tell the fox I said hi."
"What-"
He clamped his hand over my mouth, "Goodbye, Kana. I hope you trust me, or the world will be overwhelmed with chaos and destruction. And I don't think anyone would want that... Except for our kind."