Chapter 2: Trauma
[[Time: night]]
[[Location: Village of Sakarame]]
Chris walked with his arms crossed, a mildly annoyed expression on his face.
"Why do we have to sleep so early tonight?" he grumbled.
It was him, Rena, Jessica, and Arisa walking together through the softly lit village paths.
"I thought I told you already," Rena sighed. "More than likely, Angel and Aika will return tomorrow. We need to rest early so we're ready."
She looked just as tired as her voice sounded.
"Besides, I let you guys play your little manhunt game for an extra hour."
Jessica let out a chuckle. "And this time, we beat the boys." She gave Arisa a smirk.
The two girls were walking hand in hand.
"You'd make a good D.O.P., Jessica," Arisa replied with a smile.
Jessica beamed. "Well, I learned from my dad. He used to be an investigator for them."
Arisa looked at her, wide eyed.
"You guys got lucky," Chris cut in. "Arisa might not have her awakening yet, but she held me and Shin down like it was nothing. She might as well have been on the boys' team with that strength."
Jessica stuck her tongue out at him. "You're just a sore loser."
Rena laughed at the banter.
"Alright, time to head home," she said, stopping in front of two wooden houses.
Jessica let out a reluctant sigh. "Alright, time to sleep." She turned to Arisa and gave her a long hug, still holding her hand as they pulled apart.
"If Aika and Angel don't come back tomorrow, let's visit the stars together just you and me," she said with a sweet smile.
Jessica held Arisa's hand a moment longer before finally letting go. Something about the moment felt off to Arisa, an odd wave of sadness she didn't understand, but she kept it to herself.
Jessica ran to her house, her parents opening the door to greet her with hugs.
"Thank you, Rena, you're the best!" Jessica's father called out as her mother gave a warm bow.
"Be up early tomorrow. We have big plans," Rena replied.
Her father nodded with a smile, pulling Jessica inside.
Before the door closed, Jessica popped her head out one last time. "Goodnight, you guys! I can't wait for tomorrow!" she said, blowing them a kiss. "Love you all!"
Rena and Arisa smiled, waving back. Chris blushed slightly, flustered but waving too.
"Love you too!" Arisa replied.
Jessica shut the door with a happy grin.
"Alright, Chris. We'll see you tomorrow," Rena said as she turned to him.
Chris's parents stepped out of the neighboring house. He and Jessica clearly lived right next to each other.
Chris jogged over, waving back. "Later, you guys! I'll get my revenge tomorrow, Arisa!"
He dashed inside, where the muffled voices of his siblings could already be heard arguing and playing.
"Alright! Big bro is home!" Chris yelled out as he ran inside.
His mother smiled at Rena and Arisa. "Thank you both!"
"Have a good night, Ella. Hate to be you right now," Rena joked.
"I should've stopped after Chris," Ella quipped back before closing the door.
Rena sighed softly, a hand still gently holding Arisa's.
"Alright, let's tuck you in," she said with a smile.
Arisa nodded as they walked. The world around them seemed to fall into a hushed stillness. Arisa looked up at the sky. Stars shimmering in her eyes. The quiet stirred her thoughts. She thought of her parents… the clan… and all the memories of the day, the good and the bad.
"Since your parents aren't home," Rena said suddenly, "Want to sleep at my place tonight?"
Arisa nodded again.
They arrived at Rena's home, it shared a similar design to Manko's cabin, though slightly smaller and more personal. A little garden sat in the backyard, clearly well cared for.
Inside, Arisa yawned. The warmth and familiarity of Rena's home brought her comfort. It had been like a second home all her life.
"Ohh, it's that time, huh?" Rena smiled, catching the yawn.
She led Arisa into a softly lit kids' room. Clearly made for a girl. It was cozy and warm. Photos decorated the walls, Rena with a little girl who looked just like her. Her daughter, no doubt. Yet the house was quiet… no sign of another child anymore.
"Alright, big day tomorrow, so you better rest," Rena said, gesturing for Arisa to get into bed.
Arisa climbed under the covers as Rena tucked her in.
"I'll be back," Rena said softly. "I have some cleaning to finish and preparations for tomorrow. We gotta be ready for your mom and dad."
"Will they come back?" Arisa asked quietly, a bit of doubt in her voice.
Rena gave her a warm smile.
"I can't say for sure, but we always prepare to welcome them home. I know they've been in and out of your life, Arisa, but they truly love you.. The reason we're safe… the reason we live like this… it's all because of them. I'd love to say it's for the Sakarame people but I know it's for you. So don't ever worry. You're always on their mind."
She brushed Arisa's hair gently, her voice full of certainty.
"And when they're not here… you've got me," she said with confidence.
Arisa smiled. "Yeah… you're like my second mom."
Rena's heart warmed at the words.
"Of course I am. I've never seen it any other way."
She leaned down and kissed Arisa's forehead before standing up.
"Which is why you better be asleep when I get back, or you'll see just how much of a mom I really am," she said with mock sternness.
Arisa giggled. "Okay, I will."
Rena began to leave, blowing out the candle as she did.
"I love you, Rena," Arisa said quietly.
Rena paused at the door and peeked her head back in.
"I love you too, baby. Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
Rena gently closed the door behind her.
Arisa's eyes fluttered open and shut as she heard the front door creak closed, Rena must have stepped out. She snuggled under the covers again, thinking about all the stories she would share with her parents when they returned tomorrow. The warm memories lulled her back toward sleep.
[[Time: Late night]]
[[Location: Village of Sakarame - Rena's home]]
But the peace didn't last.
A sharp crack pierced the silence.
Arisa jolted upright, breath caught in her throat. The room was pitch black, moonlight just barely slipping through the window slats. Another crack louder this time, made her flinch. Her heart began to pound.
Then came the screaming.
Voices, anguished, terrified, echoed from outside. Fists slamming. Bodies crashing. The sound of something tearing. The cries were everywhere now, as if the entire village was under siege.
Trembling, Arisa slid out of bed. She padded toward the bedroom door, her bare feet silent against the wooden floor. Each step was a struggle. The air felt thick, too still, too wrong. Another scream rang out, close enough that she swore it was just beyond the wall.
She opened the door slowly.
The living room was draped in shadow, but flashes of red and white light bled in through the windows, explosions. The booms echoed seconds later, rattling the walls.
Tears welled in her eyes.
She crept toward the front door, instinctively reaching for the handle until she heard it.
Panic. Pleading. A voice just outside, cracking with fear.
"Please—please stop! Why are you doing thi—AHHH!"
Blood sprayed under the door.
Arisa collapsed backward, hands covering her mouth to muffle the cry that almost escaped. Her eyes locked on the slow, crawling red pooling at her feet.
Then.
BANG.
Something struck the door.
A scuffle. A woman's voice. Was that?
"Rena?" Arisa whispered.
Another crash. The door bulged. Arisa's shaking hands reached for the lock.
"No no no," she muttered through trembling lips, unlocking it anyway.
The door flew open before she could brace for it, a body falling backwards, lifeless, eyes wide, mouth agape. Blood spilled from every opening. Arisa didn't recognize the man.
But the light behind him, flickering firelight, silhouetted a figure.
"P-please," Arisa whimpered, shielding her face, "I didn't do anything bad…"
"Arisa!" a voice snapped. The figure lunged inside.
It was Rena.
"Help me!" Rena screamed.
Rena slammed the door shut, her teeth clenched, dragging a cabinet across the floor. Arisa now saw the damage. Blood soaked through Rena's right pant leg, a gash so deep it exposed muscle. She slipped on her own blood, barely catching herself.
Arisa could only stare. Her voice was a whisper.
"R-Rena… your leg…"
"Don't worry about my leg," Rena growled, pain and urgency in her voice. She jammed the cabinet in place, then staggered toward Arisa, grabbing her arms with trembling hands. Her face was battered, one eye swelling shut, her lip torn.
"H-hey baby, it's okay. We're gonna make it out of this," she said, trying to force a smile.
Tears flowed down Arisa's face. She couldn't stop them. She felt like she was dreaming. No, trapped in a nightmare.
"Listen to me," Rena said through shallow breaths. "Aika told you if you need her, call out, right?"
Arisa nodded slowly. "B-but… I don't know how…"
"Maybe it's your awakening!" Rena snapped. "You have to try!"
"I-I don't have one!" Arisa cried.
"If you don't call her we're going to die!"
The words hit like a slap. Arisa froze, eyes wide.
Footsteps outside. Voices.
"I heard something, behind the door."
"They've killed at least three of ours. I'll go in," another replied, his voice low and chilling. "I'm not done playing yet."
Rena turned toward the door, then back to Arisa. She wiped the girl's tears quickly with bloodstained fingers.
"I'm sorry, baby. I didn't mean to scare you…" she said softly, brushing Arisa's hair behind her ear. "I'm going to use an illusion seal on you, okay? No matter what you hear or see, don't move. Don't make a sound."
"No!" Arisa protested, trying to hug her.
"Shhh!" Rena held her tight. "You're strong, Arisa. Stronger than you know. I don't care about Aika or Angel anymore. They left us. But you? You are the future of this clan."
A thundering crash cracked the top hinge of the door.
"I love you," Rena whispered, pulling Arisa into a hug before carrying her back to the nearest wall.
She pressed a palm to Arisa's chest and whispered ancient words. A black seal shimmered over Arisa's body, slowly merging her into the wall like mist. Her eyes widened in terror, but Rena covered her mouth gently.
"Shhh…" she whispered one last time, finger to her lips.
The door exploded inward, splinters flying. Firelight spilled into the room, roaring like a beast unleashed.
A towering figure stepped through the smoke.
"Rena… Rena… Rena," he cooed, his voice full of venomous joy. "Didn't think you still had it in you."
He was massive, bald with a long beard, eyepatch over one side, and a twisted scar running across his scalp. His black armor gleamed, trimmed in blue. Across his shoulders, one word was stitched in harsh, glowing letters:
COMMANDER.
Rena stood alone now, barely upright.
"I heard two voices in here," he said, scanning the room with a hungry grin. "A child's, even."
Rena spat blood at him.
He caught it in his hand… then licked it.
"I've been waiting for this."
"You won't make it out, you sick fuck," Rena growled, taking a battered stance.
"Oh, Rena… I love it when they fight," he said with a dark chuckle as he stepped forward, looming like a nightmare made flesh.
He halted abruptly. His gaze dropped to the large glowing seal etched into the floor beneath his boots. The moment he registered it, a smirk flickered across his face.
But before he could utter a word, Rena was already there. her fist slamming hard into his cheek, snapping his head to the side and knocking him backward out of the seal's radius.
He caught himself, regaining balance with a growl as blood dripped from his lip. But Rena was relentless. She threw a low, chopping kick aimed at his legs. He caught her by the shin with a grin, his eyes flashing when he spotted the open wound on her standing leg.
Without hesitation, he struck. Driving his own shin deep into the wound. Rena let out a scream of agony, collapsing as her leg buckled beneath her. She grit her teeth, bracing herself through the blinding pain, refusing to fall into unconsciousness.
He approached slowly, savoring her suffering. "Stop trying. In your state, you're no match for me," he said with venomous arrogance.
Rena grunted and swung an uppercut from below, hoping to catch him off guard. He dodged with practiced ease, grabbing her forearm mid-strike. With terrifying strength, he lifted her slightly off the ground, then drove his other palm into her chest, releasing a blast of fire that erupted around her.
From inside the wall, hidden within the illusion seal, Arisa watched. Her vision blurred and warped by the seal, but still horrifyingly clear enough. Her heart thundered in her chest, faster and heavier with each passing second. She wanted to scream, to cry out, but remembered Rena's words. She couldn't move. She couldn't speak.
She could only watch.
Rena screamed as fire engulfed her torso. Her body collapsed face first, skin charred and blackened, what little clothing remained clinging in scorched scraps. Her chest was blistered and raw, her back rising and falling in uneven, desperate gasps.
The man walked slowly toward her, towering over her crumpled form like a predator. "What a shame," he muttered before stomping down onto her back. Rena cried out, her body jerking violently. "My intel said you were everyone's mother here… Look at you now."
He kicked her ribs with brutal force, sending her sliding right in front of the hidden Arisa.
Rena coughed, blood spurting from her mouth as she lay sprawled and motionless, barely alive. The man approached her again, talking to her like she was nothing but a broken object. "You were supposed to be mine… we could've ruled a whole branch together. If you'd just said yes."
He crouched low, eyes gleaming with malicious hunger.
Rena's hand moved.
In one desperate motion, she pulled a small dagger from beneath what was left of her garment and thrust it toward his throat. But he caught her wrist mid-air, stopping it inches from his skin.
"That might've worked once," he hissed, "but not anymore."
Flames erupted from his grip, burning her wrist and forearm. Rena screamed again as the blade dropped from her hand. He snatched it before it hit the ground and examined it with cruel interest.
"This… this is Angel's craftsmanship."
As he admired the dagger, Rena turned, trembling, her eyes searching through the blurred seal finding Arisa.
Their eyes locked.
Arisa trembled, her breath shaky and broken as tears poured down her cheeks. Her whole world was collapsing in real time.
The man traced the dagger up Rena's spine, whispering, "You were fierce once… now you're just pitiful."
Then, without hesitation, he drove the dagger into her back.
Rena arched, mouth open in a silent scream. Her limbs convulsed once, then fell limp. He sat back up, leaving the blade buried in her.
"You were meant to carry my legacy," he murmured. "Not die on the floor like some failed martyr."
He looked at a nearby photo. Rena smiling with a child. "At least now you'll get to see her again."
He grabbed Rena by the hair and yanked her head up. With cold precision, he slid the blade from her back and rested it at her throat.
Rena's dying eyes full of pain, full of love. looked once more to Arisa.
In that moment, everything rushed into Arisa's heart. The warmth, the memories, the care, the laughter, the sacrifices.
She knew.
Rena wasn't just a guardian or caretaker.
Rena was her mother.
Then swiftly, cleanly, the blade moved.
A line of red slashed across Rena's throat. Blood exploded from her neck, painting the wall behind her… and hitting Arisa. Her body jerked violently before slumping, eyes frozen wide.
Arisa let out a guttural, broken scream. It echoed from somewhere deep in her soul.
The man whipped his head toward the wall. His expression sharpened.
With one brutal strike, he shattered the wall's surface and yanked Arisa out by her hair.
"Well, what do we have here?" he sang, voice dripping with menace.
Arisa thrashed as pain tore through her scalp, her hands desperately trying to pry him off. Her eyes darted to Rena's body. Lifeless, unrecognizable. She screamed again in terror and despair.
He growled. "Shut up!" and punched her squarely in the mouth. Arisa flew back, slamming into the wall, blood pouring from her lips.
She tried to breathe, but pain gripped her whole body. Her hands shook as she cupped her face, and a few teeth spilled into her palms.
The man approached slowly, unbothered. "Why was she hiding you?" he mused aloud.
He knelt beside her, gripping her jaw. Arisa didn't even resist this time. She simply coughed and whimpered, broken and terrified.
"You're not her daughter…" he muttered. "So who—"
A crash came from the window. Shards flew across the room as a figure burst in.
"L-leave her… alone," a voice rasped.
It was Chris, battered, bloodied, a shard of glass lodged in his shoulder, eyes blazing with tears and rage.
The man dropped Arisa with a thud and turned with a twisted grin. "Who's this little hero?"
Arisa's heart stuttered. "Chris… no…" she whispered hoarsely, her jaw slack, her mouth full of blood.
Chris saw her. Her broken face. The horror in her eyes. He clenched his fists.
"I'll protect you, Arisa," he said, voice trembling. "I've awakened now. I'll stop him. I promise."
Arisa shook her head desperately, trying to cry out. But her broken mouth made her words nearly inaudible.
The man chuckled darkly. "That's adorable. You two must have a little crush, huh?"
Then he stepped forward. "Let's see what you've got, hero."
Chris charged. He screamed as he threw a punch, but it was wild, desperate.
The man sidestepped effortlessly. A sickening crunch echoed through the room as his knee smashed into Chris's face. Chris dropped to the floor, sliding lifelessly.
"No!" Arisa tried to scream. Her voice barely made a sound.
Chris's body twitched. His face was mangled, blood pooling beneath him, but he was somehow still alive.
The man hovered over him. "Should've stayed down, kid."
Chris turned his head slowly toward Arisa. Through shattered vision, their eyes met.
"I…" he mouthed. He reached toward her.
Then…CRACK.
The man's heel crushed his skull.
The world stopped.
Arisa's screams tore through the burning room.
The man stomped again. And again.
Until Chris was gone.
Utterly gone.
Arisa wailed, her voice rasping from the pain and grief. She cried so hard it felt like her lungs would collapse.
The man turned back to her.
"I told you to shut up!"
A fireball erupted from his palm, blasting her directly. Her arms caught the brunt of it as she shielded her face. The explosion knocked her flat.
Before the light even faded, he was there lifting her by the throat.
"You must've been important to them. Shame they're all dead now."
He paused, his eyes narrowed.
"Wait a minute… those eyes…"
He studied her face. His grip tightened.
"No way… you're Angel's kid?"
He grinned wickedly. "Well, that changes things."
He dropped her again. Arisa hit the floor with a limp thud.
"What a shame," he said coldly. "You could've been something special."
His voice grew darker.
"I only wish I could see Angel's face… when he finds out what I did to you."
He stepped forward again, gaze still twisted, ominous intent written across his face.
He then suddenly unbuckled his pants, as it fell to the ground he spoke.
"Before I take you from this world..let me make you a women"
The man said coldly, a demonic grin across his face.
He stepped towards her, Arisa not fully understanding what was happening put her hands up in terror shaking her head as she cried out.
[[Location: Outside Rena's Home]]
Outside the burning cabin, a man approached. He wore the same dark armor as the Commander, across his back, the word Vice Commander was written in blue. He looked far younger, with short brown hair, clean shaven face, and rectangular glasses glinting in the firelight. Around him, the village continued to burn, screams and chaos echoing in every direction.
Several soldiers stood outside the cabin, stiff and uneasy. Inside, the sounds of low, guttural grunting and a child's screams echoed relentlessly. The Vice Commander scowled, stepping closer to the cabin.
"What the hell is he doing in there?" he asked, his voice tight and sharp. "We don't have time for this."
One soldier looked up nervously. "Rena ran in after a skirmish with us. He went in to handle her. But… we're pretty sure there was another child inside too. Might've been the girl he was looking for."
The Vice Commander paused, listening. The muffled cries continued, pained, weak, but still there. It made his stomach twist. Gritting his teeth, he stepped forward, but immediately stopped in his tracks.
His eyes widened in disbelief. Then, without another word, he turned his gaze away, jaw clenched.
The Commander turned around slowly, his armor partially undone, stained in blood. He looked completely unfazed, as if caught in the middle of something trivial. He let out a dry laugh.
"Found Angel's little brat," he muttered, licking his cracked lips. "Got a bit… excited."
He motioned to Arisa, barely alive on the ground behind him. Her limbs shook as she tried to crawl away, her face frozen in a silent scream. Her eyes, those vivid, haunting purple eyes, stared into nothingness. Her skin was pale, her small body slick with blood. She didn't cry anymore. She couldn't.
The Commander walked toward her, spinning the same dagger he'd used to kill Rena between his fingers. He grinned.
"She's tough. Still alive somehow. I've done enough to tear apart a grown adult, and she just keeps going." He laughed to himself. "Maybe she really is his kid after all."
Without warning, the dagger slashed across Arisa's leg. She didn't scream, she barely reacted. She simply kept crawling, her fingers dragging slowly across the wooden floor.
"She doesn't even care anymore," the Commander whispered, leaning down beside her. "She's ready to die. But not yet."
He yanked her up by one arm, blood dripping from the stump on her leg. Her mouth hung open, empty, blood trailing down her chin. Her gaze, however, was locked on him with an unnatural coldness.
The Commander paused. A sudden chill ran down his spine.
Her eyes… they were no longer just sad or scared. They were empty. Vast. Endless. They held no emotion, only silence. The room around him dimmed, shadows stretching unnaturally from the corners. For a brief moment, he felt weightless… like something ancient was staring back at him through her.
He blinked, stumbling. The illusion vanished. The room returned to normal. But his breath was heavy, and his heart pounded.
"The hell was that…?" he muttered. "You've got no right to look at me like that…"
He raised the dagger again, a cruel grin returning. "How about we finish this?"
With another slice below her elbow Arisa falls to the ground, as he holds her severed arm. Tossing it to the side he approaches her again. "Im gonna enjoy this"
Schlkt.
The sound of metal ripping through flesh silenced the room. The Commander froze, looking down.
A katana blade protruded from his stomach, its edge glinting with blood.
His eyes widened as the blade slid back out. He staggered forward, dropping the dagger. He turned to face the one who struck him.
The Vice Commander stood there, holding his katana. His face was stoic, expressionless. But his eyes were clouded with regret.
"You…" the Commander hissed. "You traitorous piece of sh—"
Before he could finish, the katana sliced clean through his neck. His head flew across the room and landed next to Rena's body, their lifeless eyes staring at each other for the last time. His body crumpled to the floor in a heavy thud, collapsing in front of Arisa.
The Vice Commander stepped forward and placed the katana gently beside Rena's side.
He looked at Arisa.
She was still. Barely breathing. Her gaze locked on the ceiling as if it were miles away. She was broken but alive.
The Vice Commander knelt down for a moment, then whispered quietly, "I'm sorry… It was you or us."
Heavy footsteps burst through the door behind him. Several soldiers rushed in.
"What the hell happened?!" one of them asked, horrified.
"Seems the Commander finally met his match," the Vice Commander replied coolly, standing.
One soldier eyed the body and hesitated. "B-but we heard him inside, right before you—"
"I'm your Commander now," the Vice Commander said, his tone sharp and final. "Anyone have a problem with that?"
No one spoke.
"Good. Gather the bodies."
The soldiers saluted quickly and rushed to follow orders. As they passed the dead Commander, one soldier paused.
"Should we take his body with us, sir?"
The former vice Commander stared at the broken corpse, then shook his head.
"No. We came here claiming to save humanity from an evil race… But what we've done here is no better than how the gods treated us. He deserves to rot here."
His eyes scanned the room one last time. Rena's broken body, Arisa's nearly lifeless form, the ruin all around.
"If anyone disagrees," he said, "speak now."
Again, silence.
"Good."
He turned his back on the cabin and walked into the fire lit night, his shoulders heavy.
[[Location: Village of Sakarame – Center Grounds]]
The flames had started to wither, retreating into soft embers that still smoldered within the hollowed ruins of the village. The air was thick with smoke and ash, the acrid scent of scorched wood and flesh clinging to everything. Soldiers moved quickly through the charred remains of the Sakarame, gathering the bodies. broken, burnt, disfigured. They hauled them into the center of the village, throwing them into a growing pile like discarded waste.
Among those lifeless forms, Arisa lay motionless, barely clinging to life. Her eyes fluttered open and shut, her breaths shallow and ragged. She slipped in and out of consciousness, unable to move, her body ruined and bloodied. But somehow, she was still alive.
Two soldiers dragging her body paused, exchanging a glance.
"She's still breathing…" one muttered, uneasily.
"The hell?" the other replied, voice low. "How is she not dead? She's missing a leg and an arm. That little girl should've bled out a while ago."
They dropped her beside Rena's mangled corpse, which rested at the top of the pile. Her empty eyes stared skyward, and her blood had dried black against her skin.
Another soldier walked past, shaking his head. "This clan was cursed anyway. Whole place gives me the creeps."
"I heard they had the blood of gods," another chimed in. "Whatever they were… they weren't normal."
Unnoticed among them, Arisa stirred her eyes wide, unblinking. There was no light left in them, no warmth. Her expression didn't change, even as she lay buried beneath the limbs of her clan, her mouth agape but voiceless. It was as if something had taken root inside her. A void replacing what had once been a child's soul.
Across the grounds, the new captain, formerly vice commander. Stood in the shadows of a burnt tree, speaking quietly into a communicator. His tone was calm, controlled, respectful.
"Yes, sir. The mission is complete… No, there were no surviving members. Only one… a girl. I believe she's the one."
He paused as one of his men approached.
"Captain," the soldier said carefully. "That girl—the one with the purple eyes. She's still alive."
The captain turned toward him, eyes narrowing.
"She hasn't said a word. She's not moving, but she's awake. And… her eyes, sir. Something about them feels wrong. When you look into them… it's like..I can't even explain it."
The captain hung up the call without a word and made his way toward the pile of bodies. Sparks still glimmered in the ash around him.
Several soldiers were already dousing the mound with gasoline. Two others stood nearby, preparing to unleash a blast of fire.
"Hold it!" the captain barked.
The men froze, startled.
"Sir?" one asked. "We're just following protocol. Mission said burn all traces. No burials."
The captain walked forward, voice calm but cold. "Look around you. You've already slaughtered their families, burned their homes, and left their children to rot in dirt. They were a clan, not monsters. Let their families bury what's left."
The soldiers exchanged uneasy glances, but none dared to argue. One by one, they backed away.
Another soldier stepped forward, hesitant. "But sir… what about the girl? She's not gonna survive that."
"I'll handle her myself," the captain replied, his voice flat. "The rest of you, return to the ship. Secure what intel you have. I'll be right behind you."
"Sir… are you going to—"
"I said I'll take care of her."
There was a final pause before the group complied. Soon, the last pair of boots faded into the dark.
The captain stood alone now. The wind whispered through the blackened bones of the village. He approached the pile of bodies slowly, his footsteps heavy, deliberate.
Arisa lay half buried under what was once her clan. Blood soaked into her skin, the shadows of firelight dancing over her mutilated frame. Her eyes were still open, impossibly wide. When the captain met her gaze, he felt a chill crawl up his spine, like something unspeakable was staring back.
He knelt beside her, not out of mercy, but something more complex, regret perhaps. Or guilt.
"…I'm sorry," he said softly. "You shouldn't have lived through this. Not like this."
His hand slowly reached for his weapon, fingers trembling as they closed around the hilt. With a quiet metallic whisper, he unsheathed the blade. Arisa's eyes still didn't meet his. She lay limp, broken, her chest barely rising with each breath. He held the weapon steady, angling the tip toward the soft spot at her temple.
"Please… forgive me," he whispered, voice heavy with guilt.
But just as he began to apply pressure
A small hand gripped his wrist.
It was Arisa's.
Her fingers, frail and bloodied, barely wrapped around his arm, but they stopped him. Her eyes finally moved, locking onto his. And for a moment, time froze.
He couldn't move. Not his hand, not his body. A chill ran through him. Was it her strength? Or something far greater?
As their eyes met, something incomprehensible stared back at him. Not from Arisa, but through her. As if the universe itself had opened its eye behind hers. A cold sweat formed on his brow. He felt small. Exposed. Judged.
Then, her hand let go.
His body jolted backward as if released from an invisible grip. The blade fell from his hand and clattered to the ground. He stood there, frozen, staring at her mutilated frame as her eyes gently closed again. The wind rolled through the ruins of the village, carrying ash and whispers on its breath. In that moment, it felt like only he and Arisa existed in the world.
He stood in silence.
He had seen something in her.
Something that changed him.
"It's not your time yet…" he murmured, almost as if in a trance.
He bent down, retrieved his sword, and sheathed it without a word. Turning, he cast one final glance back at the carnage, at the girl lying atop the dead, as if the last ember of a forgotten fire.
"Arisa Sakarame," he said under his breath, quietly etching her name into his memory.
Then he walked on, away from the massacre, away from the ruins, and away from the choice that may have just altered the fate of the world.
[[Time: Midnight]]
[[Date: Aprílios 29, 2025]]
[[Location: Village of Sakarame – Center Grounds]]
There was silence. A deafening, unnatural silence. The trees no longer whispered in the wind. The waves had stopped crashing against the shore. Even the animals, once vibrant and noisy, were gone. Where joy and laughter once filled the air, only death remained. The village of Sakarame, once full of life, now lay in ruin. Charred wood, ash, and blood scattered across the ground like forgotten memories.
The moon itself refused to bear witness, hiding behind thick clouds, cloaking the world in complete darkness.
And yet, from within the graveyard of her people, a faint breath stirred.
Arisa opened her eyes, barely. Her vision was blurred, but above her was only the empty, void like sky. She was still alive… but why?
She tried to remember something good. Her parents coming home. Rena's voice. Chris's laugh. But all she could see was Rena, lying with her throat slit. Chris, his head shattered like glass. Her family. Her people. Gone.
Her body was broken, her mind barely tethered to reality, but the pain kept her conscious. Even still, a new question began to rise. Not of survival, but of justice. Of why.
Why had this happened to her?
To them?
To Rena… to Chris…
To Jessica… where was Jessica?
That name sparked something. Arisa's head slowly lifted, her entire body screaming in protest. Her tear filled eyes scanned the pile of corpses. Her breath caught in her throat. Rena. Tommy. Enna. Her cousins. Her friends. Their faces were twisted in pain, their bodies ruined beyond recognition. Her lips quivered, and more tears spilled down her cheeks.
She silently prayed to whatever gods might be listening.
Please don't let me see Jessica.
But she did.
Face down. Hair just like Jessica's. Small. Still.
Something inside Arisa shattered.
Her scream tore through the air like a beast unchained. A raw, heart wrenching roar of agony that echoed across the island. The ground trembled beneath her as a violent surge of wind exploded outward, shaking the trees and flattening the grass in all directions. Waves surged violently from the shores of the island, crashing and withdrawing as if nature itself recoiled from her grief.
The clouds churned above her, twisting into a vortex of black and grey, forming a storm unlike any seen before. The blood that had poured from her wounds turned black, thick, sentient. It crawled from her limbs like living oil, seeping into the bodies beneath her, vanishing into their wounds, their mouths, their eyes.
The corpses began to wither and collapse, their skin clinging to brittle bones. The black ichor drank them in, consuming their essence, and feeding it back to Arisa.
She howled in pain. Her broken limbs began to pulse. Muscles, tendons, nerves, they were regrowing. Cell by cell, the limbs regenerated in grotesque, painful clarity. Her tears turned black, staining her cheeks. Her breath was ragged, animalistic, the line between girl and monster beginning to blur.
Above, lightning struck through the clouds, but it wasn't blue. It was purple. A violent, unnatural hue, crackling with fury. Thunder rolled across the ruined village like a death knell.
The black blood twisted back toward her, wrapping around her newly formed arms like living chains. It burned markings into her flesh. Ancient, cursed symbols that seared themselves into her from wrists to shoulders. Arisa screamed, her voice no longer that of a child.
The bodies beneath her crumbled into husks, nothing more than brittle, hollow shells.
Then her pain transformed. The sorrow twisted into rage. Her sobbing stopped. Her eyes snapped open, glowing with a deep violet light. Her mouth opened, and a pillar of blinding purple energy erupted from her core, launching skyward, tearing through the storm above like a lance of vengeance.
The entire sky lit up.
The light continued beyond the clouds, beyond the world, tearing into the stars themselves until it exploded far above, illuminating the night in a flash that could be seen from regions beyond.
The Sakarame clan was gone.
But something else had taken its place.
Chapter 2: Trauma
END