I enter my house, hearing crying and sniffling. Finding the source of the sound, I enter my sister's room, an expression that shows no emotion growing on my face.
I'm tired of this happening every. Single. Year.
Ruby is trying to comfort Lily but still isn't able to hold her tears. And I know why. It was September 11. The damn day our parents left us in. Of course, since it was such a heart-breaking day, the date stuck to our mind like glue. Ruby and Lily would always cry during that day like it was a funeral or something, but I don't judge.
At the age of 9 and 5, they are just kids. The fact that they didn't see our parents much is a lot, especially for Lily, since she saw them the least out of all of us and is also the most sensitive. I used to do the same but got over it after feeling childish.
I sit with Ruby and Lily, wrapping them with the comfort of my arms. Sighing, I say, "Don't worry, they will come back one day" This is obviously a failed attempt to give them some hope that we will see them again, since my expression shows the opposite. Ruby's answer tells me that she agrees with what she sees on my face, not what comes out of my mouth.
"You've been saying this for 5 years, yet no such thing has happened." "Well..... we still have aunt." "I love aunt very much, but don't you feel like you still want to meet our parents again?"
I do.
" It's not like we have a choice" Saying that in an unintentionally loud tone, I let out another sigh to comfort her before I continue speaking, my next words are said to change the subject "What would you like for lunch today?" Looking at me in an annoyed and teary face, her voice is low, almost silent. "Anything you'll do is fine. I won't eat much anyway."
Ruby continues comforting Lily while I make lunch. I've been seriously craving zucchini for a while, so that's what I try to cook. It's not an everyday dish, which makes it even more special besides how tasty I -Watched a tutorial- make it.
Lunch is... well it's calm. As we sit at the table, nobody makes eye contact with anyone or anything other than their food. I open my mouth, the food on the spoon inches away from reaching it, when it jumps out of the spoon instead as I do the same, startled by my aunt's sudden appearance behind me and her saying "Oh! We're having zucchini today! Smells awesome..."
I swear that crappy teleportation technique will make my heart stop one day. All thanks to her aquatic origin.
The same as my mom's.
I reply in a lifeless sound "yeah~ thanks aunt... Please don't do that again". And she doesn't give an answer to my request. Typical.
***
I've gotten only 4 hours of sleep. I should be thankful that my eyes aren't taped to each other till now. The math test in front of me is the reason for my late-night sleep. I studied for 7 hours, and if I don't get the full mark, I swear I'll burn the math book.
Why are the questions so easy? Don't tell me I studied for nothing.... And yes, I did.
I could see that no one was having trouble solving, which proves my point further. The questions are so easy, I have already finished them in 15 minutes. This is a short amount of time for 5 pages, and a 90-minute exam.
If I were to say the slowest thing on earth, it would probably be the speed of time right now. It's finally been 80 minutes since we started, which means only 10 minutes to go. But damn, time moves slow. I look at the ceiling for the next 10 minutes to waste time.
Bum. Bum.
2 heartbeats. 1 seconds of terror.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Now is definitely not the time for this. No time is.
I excuse myself to the bathroom, but for some reason, a dumb bastard was able to convince the principal that if we go to the bathroom, we might cheat. If I try to convince the teacher, she will think I'm acting childish and pitiful. She might also think that I'm lying, leading to a fantastic trip to the principal.
9 Minutes left.
I look at the clock, staring like my life depends on it, likely being the reason why I am.
8 Minutes.
Just be patient.
7 Minutes.
A little faster please.
6
Almost there.
5
Now we wait.
4
3
2
1
The bell rings.
My ticket to safety.
I run towards the bathroom; each step I take with precious time wasted. Entering, I see the window open, leading to a forest nearby. Jumping there for at least 5 minutes would be enough, so I do so.
And here it comes.
A burst of cursed, black energy leaves my body, seeming like black and purple electricity crawling out of me through my arms and neck.
I'm corrupted. Again.
I have no idea what is going on outside-or rather-in the real world. I'm in a pitch-black place, nothing but blood on the floor.
And a little girl.
A little girl with black hair and crimson eyes comes towards me. Watching her come closer feels like watching someone dear to me get murdered while I'm powerless to approach. She's wearing a black dress with one shoulder, yet it seems like she cut a very long skirt that was cut for her hand to fit. Its ends are as though red fire escapes her. Her lips twitch into a sly smirk before speaking, her voice like a dagger threatening to rip me.
"Oh, how I've longed for this. I've been waiting, you know. In fact, trying to get a chance to see you again. I think -no, I know you remember meeting me during your parents' departure. So, dreams really do come true! Oh~ how happy I am!"
I try to move my body in defense or even talk to tell her to back off. Nothing.
My body is failing me. Traitor.
"In case you don't recall, let me remind you of myself. I mean, you were only nine when I first introduced myself, so I doubt that you remember me."
How can I forget?
"Something you shouldn't have forgotten about me is my name. I'm quite sure it left a mark on you."
Well, Mirella, it did.
"Well, from your expression, it seems you have recalled. Hmm... Now that I look back at it, I don't think I told you everything. Aw man...I have to start from the beginning to continue since I forgot where I stopped. Let's start by saying what you are."
The walls start turning into cardboard, her storytelling coming to life, right before my eyes.
"You are a corrupt."
The cardboard shows a girl with hazel eyes and dark violet hair with power escaping her body. Me.
"A corrupt is a person chosen by no one other than me, Mirella Duskbane."
The cardboards switch to her. Lying on her stomach, both her fists meet her cheeks as she floats. She copies that pose, making that both the real and cardboard Miriella sitting that way.
"You are practically lucky to be one. I choose 1 person per-generation, which makes you pretty rare if you ask me. You are the 3rd strongest creature alive, and that makes you a target for many hunters."
Saying my rank in power, she shows me a ranking board with a little head of mine on it in third place. While she says what threatens to kill me, a large number of hunters appear before me.
"But don't worry. Being a corrupt makes you powerful, so they will most likely be nothing to you."
A mini me appears standing on many dead people while excreting power.
"You still need to pass 3 tests for your body to handle the power you will hold.
1. Blood loss."
Cardboard me seems to be losing blood. The sight is disgusting, yet I do not feel such emotion.
"You will lose a lot of blood during that time. This phase is for you to get used to random blood loss.
2. Blackouts"
Another me is shown, passed out.
"The blackouts will happen to help you prepare for the next test.
3. Rampage"
And here I am again. This time I'm-
A monster
A blood-thirsty demon, wanting nothing but gore, is what this thing she says to be me looks like. Attacking villages, killing people, and scaring children. I can practically feel my pupils shrink. I try to talk, but again, my body is beyond my control.
"The rampaging makes one of my pets control your body at random moments, while you black out. See! I told you the previous one helps! You won't know what happens to you during your rampage, but you will know what happened after you take your body back. What happens after you pass the 3 tests will be to your knowledge after it ends. Sadly, you are too young for the tests now, so you have to wait. The problem with patience will be mine, since I can't wait to-. Oh my. Seems I've said too much. That mouth of mine never shuts up."
Her back is now given to me as she walks away. Then she stops, her voice being heard again.
"Before I forget, I should tell you that you may be young, but you still need to have your ability to understand and train using them. So, you will have 3 power out bur-"
I see light. Bright, white light.
No, no, no. I need to know what she wanted to inform me about. I can't wake up now!
Jade, Tara, and Ammit are looking at me, worry consuming their eyes, along with tears. Jade squishes me in her embrace, then releases me to catch my breath.
Tara pulls my ear, which makes me cry "Owwww, Taarraa! That hurts!" She looks at me, fear stealing her voice "You idiot! You made me worry about you! You know I hate feeling like that!" "Tara Rivendose! Don't annoy Celestia!" Ammit's voice calling Tara hits hard. Terrified yet annoyed, Tara muffles "Ammit Dominic! Respect your elder!" "I'm 13 thousand years old! How does that make you my elder?" "In demon years, 13 thousand is almost exactly like 13. Meanwhile, I am 14."
Tara lets out a confident huff while Ammit lets out an irritated one. I laugh at the sight of them fight, telling them "You do know that I was unconscious just 2 seconds ago, right? Oh, and Ammit, Taz still fears you despite being-according to Tara- younger than her."
"C! That was a secret!" "Oh now, was it?" "Yeah!" I laugh again, probably louder than the previous one. I then calm down, curiosity creeping on my face, reaching my voice too. "What happened to me while I was unconscious?"
Hesitation and terror are 2 expressions that I spot easily. "Was it that horrible?" The question came out more miserable than intended. The sound of Jade talking matches her face "Your eyes were pitch black, dark aura surrounding you. You seemed like you were scared, horrified even." She looks at my cheeks. I touch it, sensing liquid pouring down.
She continues "You were crying blood, your screams accompanying it. We were sitting in the garden, when Ammit came panicked. After asking her what was wrong, she kept asking where you were. When we told her we had no idea, she just rushed to the bathroom and jumped out of the window.
That alarmed Tara and I that you were in danger, so we helped as much as we can. Finding you there, Ammit put a barrier around us as we tried to help you." Tara cuts in "We had no idea which spell to use, so we used the most reasonable. Jade here tried to turn you into a unicorn, since unicorns are always bright, never dark." She adds, "In the end, Ammit used a demonic spell, and boom, you are back to normal." I look at Ammit, who still appears to be hesitant. She then gathers up the courage to talk to me, her voice low and afraid "You're a corrupt, aren't you?"