[Kana]
I've always lived in fear even since that incident when I was six.
I couldn't sleep peacefully at night, without the thoughts of intruders barging in and killing my whole family.
An awful fate that would end their lives, just like my mother's.
And when I did sleep...
Shadows that were casted from the pale moonlight would start moving and took the form of the two murderers and the dead body.
I would stare at the corpse of my mother covered in blood, grinning gruesomely at me.
Dark, inky hands would grasp me as I thrashed helplessly.
I would cry in Erika's arms after screaming from my constant nightmares.
So when I came to that night, knowing I have killed an entire gang...
It sickened me to the stomach; I felt nauseous for days.
I had broken my own vow... To not kill innocents.
But there was one thing...
"So you have seen me kill the traitor..." I said in amusement while watching my target scrambling away from me. "Thank you for making my job a double assassination."
Weeks passed from the Alder's gang massacre.
And a new feeling had rose since that incident.
I realised that when she had awakened, the fear in my heart disappeared.
My chest felt weightless, as if my terror was an anchor.
It made me feel confident...
It made me feel lighter...
It made me feel what I wanted to feel...
Killing gives me satisfaction.
I grew addicted to that feeling.
And I couldn't stop it.
"Don't take it personal...I just don't like witnesses." I smiled, positioning the dagger above his heart.
"S-spare my life...I-I won't-"
"Hm. 'Spare my life'. Sir, are you ordering me ?" I smirked.
"Please- S-spare my life...I won't tell anyone."
"You promise...?"
"Y-yes. O-of course."
The man let out a sigh of relief.
All of his stress, his fears, and his anxiousness seemed to dissolve in that breath.
"You seem relieved." I giggled. "But since when did I say I won't kill you ?"
The look of terror returned to his face; a look that made me strangely content.
"W-what...N-no please ! I-"
"You talk too much."
For a while, Kana found sheer delight in killing.
She was unable to stop.
She broke her own vow again and again, murdering both innocent and guilty people.
She became a heartless girl who would do anything to get what she wanted.
She didn't give a shit about anyone, except her small family.
Soon, word spread in the Takahashi Gang about Kana Koroshi, the adopted daughter of the boss.
She was no longer the shy, weak girl that was pushed around.
She became known as a killing machine that eliminated enemies in a blink of eye with nauseous joy, without hesitation.
Her strengths and stamina were unmatched.
Her skills with knives and guns were unbelievable.
She was a living legend.
Members believed she was horrible, cruel, disgusting, crazy...
They wondered in distasteful awe how she could become such a maniac at a young age.
Little did they know this was when her demonic abilities were growing.
When her murderous impulses only grew stronger.
16... When halves' supernatural abilities start to awaken.
1 year later // 2018...
"Heeeeeeyyyyyy, officers... What am I being arrested for, hm ?" Magnus asked.
"I'm sure you already know what you've-"
"But I have the right to know, don't I ? I'm just confused, officer. Do I need to get on my knees for you ?"
"Genocide. We received anonymous reporter that you and your sister killed the while gang on the other side of Oklahoma."
"Ah ah ah. Officers, I can tell you like it rough... But I'm a fragile little thing. Be more gentle, please."
"Is there a way to shut you up ?"
"Oooooohhh there is. My mouth around your di-"
"***WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS GUY ?***"
"Maggie !" Kana shouted.
"You can't take a joke, huh ?" Magnus sighed.
"Maggie !"
"Can I talk to my idiotic half sister alone ?"
"No-"
"Hey, hey, hey. Just for a few minutes. You and I can have the whole night-"
"Three minutes." The policeman uttered and walked away.
"Why are there police here ?" Kana shouted.
"Sore wa ore ga kikitai koto daze, kono baka. (That's what I want to ask, you idiot.)"
"Idiot ? I'm the idiot ? You're the one makin' stupid jokes and smilin' like a delinquent !"
"Delinquent ? Says the one who has killed countless people, even after Alder's gang, and framed Erika and me for it ! All at the of 17 ! Come on, that 'anonymous report' that the police was talking about, it was you, wasn't it ? Stop making that stupid face, Koroshi."
"Me ? Frame ? Erika ?" Kana scoffed. "I would never do that ! Where is she ?"
Magnus jutted his chin to his back, "You're making me wonder if you're blind. Come on ! You can tell me, Koroshi. I won't get-"
Kana rushed towards Erika.
"Heeeeeeeeeyyyy officers ! I'm done talking with the baka !"
"Erika Takahashi. You and your brother-"
"Wait ! Please !" Kana shouted.
"Would you like a minute-"
"No. I don't need a minute with her. Let's go." Erika uttered coldly.
"But isn't she your sis-"
"Not anymore."
"Alright."
"Wait...Ouch !" Kana tripped. "Wait ! Erika, please !"
"..."
"E-erika p-please... Hear me out ! The anonymous person, it wasn't me..."
"Open the door." Erika stared at the police car.
"But."
"***Open the door.***"
[Kana]
Erika... Maggie...
As my vision blurred with tears, I started seeing and hearing things…
Things that weren't there.
I saw my mother's corpse staring at me.
I saw Magnus, his eyes flashing with anger, yet still smiling, as if mocking me.
I saw Erika, her hands clenched so tightly her knuckles were white, a look of disappointment in her face.
No… this was fake.
This had to be fake.
Mom was buried.
She can't be here.
Erika and Magnus were taken away by the police.
No, no, no…
I haven't had a vision in so long, I thought it was over…
The sirens faded; I could barely hear my own thoughts as the sound of my heartbeat and deafening voices screamed at my head.
The hallucinations spoke with voices.
It's your fault.
Everything is your fault.
Even your mother's death.
Your siblings's arrest.
It's your fault.
Your whole family fell apart because of you.
It's all my fault.
Present…
[Jackson]
"Jackson, babe ?"
"Oh, fuck no." I growled. "Get out."
"Oh come on." Ava pouted as she sat on my bed in a flirtatious manner. "Your bed is as comfortable as ever-"
I dialled a phone number on my phone.
"What are you-"
"Hey, Simp. Do you have extra sheets ? Or blankets ?"
"Sheets ? Blankets ? Why would I have those ?" Alex snorted while munching on food.
"I dunno, you just have a lot or random shit in your room." I shrugged.
"Okay, just because there was a pineapple in my room once doesn't mean I have extra sheets or blankets. Why do you need them, anyway ?"
"Ava sat on my bed." I grunted.
"Oh, now that qualifies an emergency." Alex laughed. "I'll ask Phyu. Wait… Why is she in your room ?"
"I don't know, and it's really pissing me off !"
"Uh, well… I'm gonna look for sheets. Bye sweetie !"
"Don't call me- Ugh." I rolled my eyes and tossed my phone aside.
"I will say it again. Get. Out." I spatted.
"Relax, I just wanted to say a few things." Ava stated. "To finally settle things."
"What is it."
She teleported herself behind me and hugged my back, "I'm sorry, Jackson."
"I'm sorry things had to end this way… It's all my fault." She slid her hand down my chest. "But I still care so much about you… Do… you, Jackson ?"
"Stop." I muttered. "You're making it hard to resist."
"Resist what ?" She whispered, her lips touching my ear.
With a clap of thunder, my eyes turned violet.
"To kill the ones who hurt me in the past !" I laughed. "Like my father… Some others… And you, too ! Leave before I end up doing something… I won't regret."
I pushed Ava away from me and stared outside the window.
"You want to kill me ?" Ava screeched.
"Why do you sound surprised, doll ?" I smirked.
"I was the only one here who understood you ! And you want to kill me ? You're just as crazy and repulsive as the psychopath you brought in ! The same psychopath who drained my energy yesterday and made my hair permanently white !"
"To be honest, you deserved it." I smirked. "She had done a great job. And what's so bad about being crazy and repulsive about her ? At least love doesn't cheat like some bitch I know…"
I erupted into laughter.
Those weren't happy laughs.
They were pitiful.
Mournings for my pathetic life.
"Laugh all you want, Jackson." Ava shouted. "Eventually, everyone will see what you are. What you really are. You've always had trouble suppressing yourself in that mask ! You and Phyu keep having appointments so that she can delay it… But it'll be back. The real you will come back-"
I reached out to grab her neck but she disappeared.
"Tch. So close…" I murmured. "So close to snapping her neck… Like a twig."
Chuckle
"She's right though… Those murderous impulses… They're getting harder to control. But I gotta push it down… All the way down… So I can take it all out on my father. You hear me, Acheron…? I'll kill you and your followers in the most excruciating way possible… For forcing me to murder my own family."
I can't wait for that day.
Can't wait.
But I need to hold it in… just for a bit longer.
[Kana]
I stared at the photograph hung on the wall.
Were these here before…?
But Robert threw away all the pictures that had Mom in it…
And the others should be at Jiji and Baba's home.
This is impossible.
I'm hallucinating again, aren't I ?
"But it feels real…" I whispered.
"That's because it is."
"Jesus Christ ! " I gasped, clutching my chest. "Oh, it's you. Stop comin' to my room."
"Then don't leave the door hanging open." Jackson snorted.
"Why are you here ?" I asked.
He stared at me and I squared my shoulders, matching his gaze.
"Okay, okay." Jackson sighed. "I'm here to… apologise."
"For… what ?"
"For earlier." Jackson rubbed his neck. "I can… smell emotions, similar to Phyu's empathy. When I touched your arm earlier, I could feel your disgust and anger. I forgot you heavily despised physical contact… I'm sorry."
"You don't apologise much, do you ?" I tilted my head, observing his uncomfortable facial expression. "You suck."
He laughed and stepped closer to me.
Why can I sense… anger ?
"Are you… irritated ?" I asked.
"No…?" He raised his hands up defensively. "Well… maybe a little bit. I just ran into my ex again. She has a way of annoying me."
"Hey… You're starting to get the hang of your supernatural abilities, huh ?"
"I guess. I wasn't even tryin', though. I could just sense your emotions easily."
"That's a good sign." Jackson let out a small chuckle.
"Four-Eyes told me that I should try gettin' more comfortable with my powers."
"She's right." Jackson nodded. "You have to think that it's natural for you to do. Just like breathing."
"Are these your happy memories ?" He pointed to the photograph.
"Happy… what ?"
"The pictures on the walls. All the rooms in this haven have pictures that reflect your happiest memories. So it wouldn't matter if the pictures were destroyed, lost, or left at your old home."
Looking at my father's face…
I started remembering the dream when I saw him.
The dream before I woke up from my four-day-coma.
Use your powers. They are yours… and only yours.
The dream that helped me take back over; the one that helped me wake up.
I had no clue why, but I didn't remember the end of that vision.
Perhaps I zoned out and didn't listen to him.
Maybe he made sure I forgot about that part of the dream.
I didn't know…
But now, I remembered.
I remembered exactly what he said.
Tell the fox I said hi.
"Uh… love, what's wrong ?"
"I-it's just…" I stuttered. "Remember that demon we met a week ago at the garden ? Why did he call you fox ?"
"I'm half kitsune. It's-"
"A mythical fox in Japanese folklore."
"Hey, look at you. You know your myths pretty well."
"My mother liked reading Japanese folklore to me." I murmured.
It's only one of the memories I have of her.
I opened my palms and a dagger appeared on my left hand.
"Since when did you learn how to convert your energy to daggers ?" Jackson laughed.
"I don't know… I just really wanted a dagger. And I somehow summoned it."
"Wait. Why would you want a dagger in the first place…"
I pushed him and he fell on my bed.
I straddled on top of him and stuck the point of the blade under his chin.
"I wanted a dagger so I can slit your throat, Fox."
"Woah, woah, woah. We were literally just having a nice conversation, when suddenly, BAM ! Now you look so angry and your eyes seem more fiery than usual. Why are you doing this, love ? I haven't done anything. And can we change the position ? It's quite awkward."
"Answer my question truthfully."
"Depends on the question. Plus, I know you won't really hurt me… Right, love ?"
"Wrong." I snarled. "You don't mean anythin' to me, Jackson. You remember what I said, before killin' that bloodsucker ? A friend of Robert's is an enemy of mine."
"What does your father have to do with me ?"
"Before I woke up, I had a dream. Robert was in it. He said, 'Tell the fox I said hi.' So, before I cut your carotid artery, I'm givin' you the chance to convince me you are not a friend of Robert's…
Just remember, fox… I kill all my enemies.
So, tell me. What is your relationship with Robert Kurokage ?
The man who neglected me ever since I was a child...
My worst enemy ?"
He stared at me in silence.
I could see a flash of violet in his eyes, but his orbs returned icy blue once again.
"***ANSWER ME.***"
"Your father saved me a long time ago, I owe-"
"***SHUT UP. SHUT ! UP ! ANATA O FAKKU !***"
"Rude. You told me to answer you."
"***HE ISN'T MY FATHER. DON'T YOU DARE REFER THAT JACKASS AS MY 'FATHER' OR I WILL TEAR YOU LIMB BY LIMB.***"
"You may have a bad relationship with him. Robert saved my life twice. I owe him. We aren't friends or allies. He's my acquaintance."
"..." I dropped the dagger and walked away, frowning.
"What ? Not even an apology for threatening me ?" He huffed.
"Sorry. Now leave." I spatted.
"Are you-"
"Leave."
"You-"
"Oh my God ! Get the fuck out, Jackson !" I yelled.
He glared at me before teleporting himself elsewhere.
I snatched the photograph off the wall and smashed it against the wall.
Happy memories, my ass !
I need to take a shower.
"Ahhhhh..." I sighed blissfully as I feel the warm water soaking my hair. "I like this shower. This feels so nice."
Maybe I shouldn't have threatened Jackson like that.
I feel bad about it.
But knowing that he and Robert are 'acquaintances' made me strangely irritated.
I wonder how did they know each other ?
He did mention that he save his life twice.
Hard to see Robert helpin' anyone though.
And another thing...
Jackson mentioned that those pictures were my happiest memories.
It confused me.
Right now, looking at those memories didn't feel my with joy.
I only felt disappointment towards Robert for abandoning me, and overwhelming waves of fury and regret at myself for making wrong choices at life.
And the longing to be back together with the only people I loved.
My family.
Perhaps at the back of my head, I considered those as 'happy memories'.
Did that mean I covertly forgave Robert ?
Even forgave myself for ruining Magnus and Erika's lives ?
I hope not.
Two years ago, I vowed that I would never forgive myself until I make things right with my siblings.
I will rectify the damage I have done.
I need to.
I will see my family again.
I'm sorry, Jiji, Baba, Ethan, Erika, Maggie...
I can't even visit any of you.
I can't leave this stupid haven.
I can't even call...
I don't even have a fuckin' phone.
But I'll think of somethin'.
'Cause the reason I escaped prison is to see you guys again...
I will come back.