POV: Misaki Sato
The city never sleeps, but tonight, it feels like it's holding its breath.
I step out of the revolving doors of Ren Law Firm, the cold night air hitting me like a slap. My grey heels click against the pavement, each step echoing the exhaustion that's settled deep into my bones. It's past working hours, way past. I told my assistant to go home hours ago. "There's no need for both of us to suffer," I'd said, forcing a smile I didn't feel.
The firm's towering glass building looms behind me, its reflective surface catching the city's neon lights. It's a symbol of power, of prestige. Ren Law Firm is one of the top organizations in the country, and I've clawed my way to where I am today. But tonight, it feels less like a fortress and more like a cage.
I take a deep breath, trying to shake off the weight of the day. The case files, the endless meetings, the pressure to perform, it's all suffocating. My father's face flashes in my mind, his voice echoing in my ears. "Never give up, Misaki. No matter what." He said that to me the night before he took his own life. I've carried those words like a mantra, like a curse.
I'm halfway to the curb when it happens.
A sound, sharp, sudden, and horrifying, shatters the night. Glass explodes, raining down like jagged rain. I freeze, my heart pounding in my chest. Time slows, and for a moment, I can't comprehend what I'm seeing.
A body.
It lands just feet away from me, the impact sending a spray of blood and glass in every direction. I feel something warm and wet hit my face, my arms, my clothes. My breath catches in my throat, and I can't move. Can't think. Can't scream.
The woman's body lies twisted and broken on the pavement, her eyes wide and unseeing. Blood pools around her, seeping into the cracks of the sidewalk. My stomach churns, and I feel bile rise in my throat.
I know her.
It's her. "Sakura Kenta" The client I met earlier today. She came to me desperate, her voice trembling as she begged for help. "They're going to kill me," she'd said. I'd dismissed it as paranoia, told her we'd handle it in the morning. I didn't listen. I didn't believe her.
And now she's dead.
People are shouting, running toward the scene. Sirens wail in the distance, growing louder with each passing second. But I can't move. I'm rooted to the spot, my body trembling, my mind racing.
"This can't be real. This can't be happening."
I stumble backward, my heels slipping on the blood-slick pavement. My hands are shaking so badly I can barely grip my bag. I need to get out of here. I need to -------
-----The bathroom-----
I don't remember how I get there, but suddenly I'm inside the firm's restroom, the fluorescent lights blinding me. I lock the door behind me and lean against it, my legs giving out. I slide to the floor, my breath coming in ragged gasps.
The mirror across from me reflects a stranger. My face is pale, my eyes wide and haunted. Blood streaks my cheeks, my neck, my hands. I stare at it, unable to process what I'm seeing.
"This isn't me. This isn't real."
I crawl to the sink, my knees scraping against the cold tile. The water runs red as I scrub at my skin, the blood mixing with the soap and swirling down the drain. But no matter how hard I scrub, I can't get it off. It's like it's seeped into me, staining me from the inside out.
Why did this happen? Why her? Why me?
My mind races, trying to make sense of it all. She was scared. She came to me for help, and I failed her. I failed her just like I failed my father.
"Never give up, Misaki."
His voice echoes in my head, louder this time. I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to block it out, but it's no use. The guilt is crushing me, pressing down on my chest until I can't breathe.
I look at my reflection again. The blood is gone, but the fear remains. The doubt. The shame.
What if I'm not strong enough? What if I can't do this?
The questions swirl in my mind, each one more suffocating than the last. I've spent my life chasing justice, chasing redemption. But tonight, it feels like the world is laughing at me.
I take a deep breath, forcing myself to stand. My legs are still shaky, but I can't stay here. I can't hide.
"Never give up."
I repeat the words like a prayer, clinging to them like a lifeline. I don't know what's going to happen next. I don't know how I'm going to face this.
But I have to try
TBC####