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despair-parade · 7 years

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CHAPTER ONE: Tropical Snapshot by the Bay: (Ab)normal Days {2}

I wanted to wake up and think everything was a dream. Logan would be waiting for me with breakfast prepared. Jane lecturing me about sleeping in late and how we now had to run to school to get there on time.

For a minute I thought I was, this place looked so much like my room at home I mistaken it for the real deal, but that was an impossible fantasy because I was still on this ship. The window over the couch and table showed nothing but the dark inky sea that lulled the ship back and forth. I recline back into my bed and stare up at the ceiling with a blank face. I cover my eyes and press the palm of my hand against my eyelids causing me to make spots.

I sigh deeply and let my hands fall to my sides with a loud flump sound.

Slowly, I rise from bed clad in nothing but my boxers and kick the dirty clothes from yesterday into a corner for the time being. A moment later I decide to collect my jacket and head over to the closet to get clean clothes for the day. Clean clothes in hand, I enter the bathroom beyond the frosted glass walls and door.

Standing under a stream of hot water, I stare at the showerhead and slowly, my vision begins to blur, and there’s a strange sound echoing all around me. . . and that’s when I realize. . . It’s me. I’m crying. Crying like a goddamn baby. But, I couldn't stop myself from crying and whimpering.

I sit in the tub, pulling my knees to my chest in my pitiful state. I just hoped so much that it was all a dream. A cruel and terrible dream. I hope that this was a dream so much.. . . that even my parents death was a dream. I hoped everything was.

I’m so terrified. . .

I want to be home. I want to go home where all of my siblings are . . . to where I’m safe.

As Monoko said, Theodore woke up this morning without memories of what happened prior to today. Thankfully -- if that’s even the right word for this situation-- on Yuuki’s advice, he pre-wrote a note to himself in his notebook about the events going on right now.

At first he took it as a joke so others tried to reason with him and explain the situation but it seemed only Yuuki’s words reached him. The reality of the situation was a heavy blow for him. Yuuki gazed upon him with kind warm eyes that made him flush once more and invited him into her room for breakfast à la carte.

Speaking of breakfast, I began to make way to the dining hall but I ran right into Kaydena. Face first into her neck and torso. I jump away, red in the face.

“S-Sorry. I wasn’t looking!” Her face is completely blank, her purple eyes staring directly at me. Guessing she’s trying to stare at me so I would run off. I swallow a lump, slowly sliding along the wall to get past her, but, to my surprise, she suddenly grabs my face. I feel my face heating up and try to look away but she returns my gaze back to her’s.

“You were crying.” It wasn’t a question but, surprisingly, her voice was soft. I glance down to my feet when she releases my face.

“Y-Yeah.” She places a hand on my shoulder and I lift my head, confused. Her face is still void of emotions but her voice is still soft.

“Understandable. Many of us here would have faced odd experiences or trials in the past but your ID made it clear you came from a normal average life. This quite a change from what you consider to be normal. So, don’t feel bad to embrace your feelings, it’s healthy but you must remember not to drown in them.”

“O-Oh. Alright. Thank you Kaydena. . .” I laugh a little as I scratch at my cheek. She nods her head and turns away to exit. I awkwardly, and quickly, follow after her. “Y-You know. You’re way nicer than I thought you would be. . .” She stops and gives me a curious look.

“Oh? Really now?” I sweat a little.

“I-I mean, it’s a good thing. Y-You really know how to keep a leveled head and, like, you’ve been really nice and everything. And super understanding. You even do a good job of taking the role of a team leader. When we first met, I just. . . wasn't sure how to react when you said you were an assassin. It sure was a surprise.” Kaydena laughs a little.

“I see, but truth be told, I haven’t changed much from who I was before I became an assassin.”

“Really? Well, that sounds good. Like, its good that you didn’t lose yourself to the power?” She smiles, a bit melcoholy.

“I suppose so. Others are not that lucky it seems.”

Others aren't lucky. . . I wonder did Kaydena lose someone as an assassin? Maybe that’s why she seems standoffish?

Well, I figure I won't get any answers any time soon as we head to the dining hall in silence. There seemed to be some sort of commotion going on at one of the tables. It turned out it wasn’t a fight as I thought first. But, instead, it was Caine with a . . .bird. I guess a hawk judging by appearance.

“Canie, where did you get this bird from?” Kaydena asks with a puzzled expression. The bird couldn't have flown onto the ship, we’ve already established there was some shield around this ship or something.

“Surprisingly, I found Lucy in my room!” Caine smiles, petting the bird lightly. She nuzzled against his hand and relaxed.

“. . .Lucy?”

“Yes. She’s a Northern Goshawk I took care off when she was young. Every time I tried to release her she would come back to me. She became my constant companion while hunting. I didn't think she would be here too, so I was worried for a while. I’m just glad my old companion is safe.”

“I see. Well, at least she is tamed so we won’t have to w-”

“Birds are cool.”

The words came out faster than I could think or even will myself to stop. I can feel all eyes on me, wondering why I just blurted that out, and my face glows a violently bright red color.

Why did I say that?

That’s so dumb to say. Dumb to just. . . yell it! I even interrupted Kaydena to say something so stupid as that.

I am just getting worst and worst at making good first impressions on the others.

After that, we didn't see Monoko that often. It was more like rare chances, like if you skipped out on dinner or something. She was still there to collect trash or laundry. I caught her in the act of performing her job once, she ended up staring at me with that one golden eye until I exited the area.

It was very unsettling.

Seeing Monoko was still just a chance. I happened to come to the library to pass time to walk in on the scene of Suki and Monoko talking. From my spot at the bottom of the staircase I could see that Suki looked terrified of something, probably relating to whatever Monoko said to her, but the Margay didn't seem to care at all. She just gleefully trotted down the stairs and out of the library, quietly closing the door after her.

I walked up the stairs to the second floor landing to find that Suki had changed locations so she was now sitting in an armchair, shaking and trembling with wide eyes. By the looks of things whatever Monoko said really got to her.

“Suki?” At first she finches at the sound of my voice. She looks up to me. It seems to take her a moment to register who I am and then a smile spreads across her weary features.

“Oh, Crimson-kun. . .” She lets out a shaky breath and color seems to return to her face. She jumps up to her feet and starts to sway in her spot. “What brings you here?”

“I, uh, wanted to look at the books here. I never got a chance to look at them before.” I glance and point over my shoulder for a moment. My arm returns to my side and I sigh. “Are you okay?”

“Hmm?”

“I mean,” I awkwardly rub the back of my neck. “you looked. . . bothered and you were talking to Monoko. Did she. . . say something to you?”

“No, no. Everything is fine Crimson-kun! Monoko surprised me. That’s all!” She seems to have that usual cheer and enthusiasm but. . . there’s still something off.

In the end I chose not to ask. After all, I don't think it’s my place to push it out of her and force her to talk. I decide to shift subjects. I’ve been wondering why she keeps adding on these words to names and referring some of us by our last names.

“Uhm, Suki,”

“Yes?”

“Why do, uh, do that thing where you call some of us by our last names and add on words to our names?” She smiles and reaches over to pat the armrest of the chair next to her. Understanding the meaning behind her actions I take a seat.

“In Japan surnames are important, so it's usually proper to refer to someone by their last name to show them proper respect.” Suki begins to explain. “The titles added at the end of a person’s name is called a honorific. In Japan we have many of these and they’re used to refer or to address a person. There is ‘-san’ which is like the English ‘Mr.’, ‘Ms.’ or ‘Mrs.’.”

“I see. That’s interesting.” I beam. “I always wondered what those titles would sound if they were spoken elsewhere in the world.” I pause for a moment. “What does ‘-kun’ mean although?” Suki giggles.

“‘-kun’ has many uses and meanings. A person with a senior status can use it to refer to a someone who is a junior. ‘-kun’ is also used among boys and girls when addressing their friends, mostly male friends although. It can be used for girls too! ”

“I see. That’s very interesting.” Suki smiles once more.

“I’m glad to know you think that.” Suki gets to her feet and brushes the wrinkles out of her skirt. She runs down the stairs, waving over her shoulder and winking goodbye. “Maybe I can tell you more in the future.☆ Bye.☆”

That event left me worried. Suki was clearly worried aboutsomething. . . but I couldn't do anything for her. It didn't feel right to force it out of her. . .

Still, Monoko was scarcely seen for days. It was a comfort but also a frightening thing. Where was she? What did she do when she wasn't bothering us or serving us food?

Monoko was a frightening entity all together. . .

The air of peace around us all was thin and it remained that way until we reached day three of our imprisonment. One afternoon Monoko called us all to the dining hall with the threat of punishment if someone was late and so, everyone reluctantly gathered in the dining hall within ten minutes as she demanded.

It eerily felt the very first day all over again. Everyone uneasily sitting at the tables, waiting for something to happen but the worst part was, we had a vague idea of what would happen.

Monoko.

And as if she was waiting for a cue, she suddenly walked out on stage and did a split, causing the spotlights to shine on her and confetti to fly. Just like the first time she appeared before us.

“Good evening my passengers!” She greets. No one speaks, too uneasy and afraid to do so. Monoko furrows her brows and repeats herself, in a booming voice. Everyone manages to spit out a greeting this time around, though it was clear a number of them were reluctant. “What a poor crowd. . . you all sound so gloomy! I guess it’s a good thing I brought your motives today!”

“. . .Motive?” Ophelia softly repeats.

“The show is boring.” Monoko shrugs, somehow. “I would have expected someone to die by now! So, to get things rolling here’s the very first motive for our despairing cruise!” Monoko walks off stage and returns in a matter of minutes with a stack of white paper envelopes. She proceeds to rip one right open and removes a neatly folded sheet of paper.

“The Varis Times,”

Monoko has no smile but I can tell she’s smirking as my body goes rigid with fear and I begin to tremble.

That’s the local paper. . .

Why does she have that. . . What kind of motive could this possible be. . .?

“Tragedy after tragedy strikes the Crimson family yet again!

It began with the senseless and horrific murder of Varisbellum’s most beloved and hardworking officer, Aaron Crimson, and his beloved wife, Marissa. The couple was sharing dinner together before they were horrifically maimed and disfigured to the point no one could recognize who they once were.

Somehow, despite their neighbors being home at the estimated time frame of death, not a soul could hear their horrific screams as they were tortured to death. Ultimately the scene of the crime was discovered by the couple’s younger son, Pierce, who arrived home early that day and unleashed a terrible scream that finally alerted the neighbors of the crime that occurred under their nose.

However, when a neighbor rushed to the family home to investigate the sounds, Pierce was nowhere to be found but there were clear signs of a struggle as his school bag and supplies were found strewn on the floor, implying he was taken captive by his parents murderers.

Things for the family took a turn for the worse, yet again, when the body of Jane Crimson, the twin sister of the missing Peirce, was found in the forest behind the Saint Christine Church. Thankfully, the young woman was found alive and rushed to the hospital where it was discovered she suffered a variety of abuse and has suffered enough physical abuse that would prevent any chance of her regaining any mobility on her own, ever again.

Up until yesterday, the older brother of the two siblings, Logan, was on the case of their parents -- which reportedly has hit a dead end with no plausible explanation for how or why it occurred in the first place -- has remained at her side in the hospital since then. The Varis Police has found a potential suspect in the case of Jane’s assault but they have yet to be arrested.

The city of Varisbellum offers prayers the family, many individuals offering donations and a helping hands to the family in need.”

The dining hall was dead silent. It almost felt suffocating because I was so aware that I was surrounded with all sorts of expression -- pity, sympathy, shock, horror, disgust and utter rage -- but, I wasn't even sure what was on my own face.

I . . . I never saw the full extend of the injuries done to my parents. All I remember was screaming and the world going black. . . then, waking up here on this ship. It feels like salt in the wound now because of Monoko reading a news article, telling me exactly what’s happening to my family right now.

God.

I know I wanted to know what was going on . . .! But, all of that was too much! Logan is probably crying and utterly torn up, not only are our parents dead, Jane is in the hospital and I’m on this hellish ship.

How would we afford the bill? And even the bills for therapy? Could insurance even cover all of this? How was he supposed to care for her at a time like this? Would she need a live-in maid or something? Would he even trust anyone to be near her now?

There’s a sudden loud bang on the table I’m sitting at, snapping me out of my internal turmoil.

“That shit isn't real!” To my shock, it’s Alen. He’s glaring at Monoko, as if challenging her to prove him wrong. . . She stares at him for several seconds before jumping across table tops to reach our table. She looks him dead in the eye as she places a photo, face down, on the table’s surface.

My fingers tremble as I carefully pick it up. Immediately, I clutch my chest and squeeze my eyes shut, desperately trying to erase the image from my mind. . . but, it fails. It’s a photo of Jane laying in a hospital bed, wires and tubes attached to her, and her face all bandaged up. She looks horrible and Logan looks no better. . . He’s sitting at her bedside, looking tired and haggard, tears trailing down his face as he holds onto her hand, pressing it to his forehead in a prayer, begging for her to wake up.

“. . .Why?” I find myself asking, trying my hardest to prevent tears from spilling. “Why would you show this to me?”

“You’re not special.” Monoko spits. Disgust and amusement is so clear in her tone and it makes me cringe. “I have something special for everyone. I just wanted to read yours out loud so everyone could understand the motive.”

“What’s the fuckin’ motive then?!” Sherry demands furiously. Rosaline’s attempts to calm her has failed rather horribly. “‘Cause all I’m seeing is you acting like a little bitch!” Monoko effortlessly flips into the air, the spotlights follow her the entire time, and lands on the table the couple shared.

“Family and friends.” Monoko explains rather simply, poking Sherry’s nose like she’s talking to a child. “Everyone has an envelope containing something that tells the current situation about their friends and-slash-or family. Is it true? Is it false? Who knows. The only way you’ll know is if you ‘Return to Main Land’.”

. . . Return to Main Land.

The only way that is possible is if. . . you kill and outsmart everyone else . ..

So, she was tempting us with information about terrible things, that just may be true, about the people we cared about the most.

One after another, Monoko hands out the envelopes and I can see the fear and horror sink into people’s faces and anger flicker on some faces. . . But when Monoko finally approaches Yuuki, she has no other envelopes to hand out. Yuuki gently smiles but Monoko simply stares at her. It’s a bit unnerving.

“Given how your own family does not care, it seems the world is a more appropriate hostage for you.” For a moment, pain flickered in Yuuki’s eyes but she quickly steels her resolved and smiles.

“Yes, I suppose so. We are all children under the protection of the Kamikaze. . . but I exist to help remind those in need.”

“. . .Gross.”

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