59 Don't just swallow it

The 8 years old Rie is tied to the tree behind the school during lunchtime. Her mouth is stuffed with a sock. Her cheeks are wet because of tears.

"Knees." Chisa opens Rie's lunch box. Rice balls again. Rie's grandmother isn't creative at all.

Miwako beats Rie's knees with the iron stick that Chisa brought.

"Take off her stockings and that sweater." The weather is cold today. "We shouldn't make her clothes dirty. Don't hold back, but don't break her legs. She has to walk to the class after this."

Rie tries to resist, but her legs are also bound. Miwako pulls down the stockings. She picks up the stick again and slams it against Rie's knees. Nobody is there to stop them. Miwako sits down when she becomes tired.

"Miwako, don't you want new shoes?" Chisa wears gloves. She mixes the trash in the lunch box. "Don't stop."

Miwako is remotivated to continue beating the girl. Chisa walks to Rie with an angelic smile. "You like to eat healthily, isn't?"

Rie stares at the dirty food. There are even worms lingering in the rice. She furiously shakes her head.

Chisa feels delighted to see the fear in Rie's eyes. She looks like a rabbit who has seen a wolf. "Miwako, you know what to do."

Miwako takes the gloves. "We should call our classmates and put on a show."

"It will be you who will put on a show." Chisa hands over the gloves. "I like your brain. Beat her up more. It's fine if she can't even move. Then, you will bring them here."

Miwako doesn't hold back this time. She hammers the iron stick on Rie's body until she is barely conscious. She unties Rie and makes her sit in under the tree. She runs to call her classmate.

Chisa watches Rie from afar. The girl is red and blue all over. This Miwako has surpassed her expectations. Miwako returns with their classmates. Miwako wears gloves and takes some dirty food from the lunch box.

"Rie wants to show you how she can eat anything." She shoves it inside Rie's mouth.

Rie tries to spits it out, but Miwako covers her mouth until she swallows it. "Only trash can eat trash."

Some children point and laugh. A few of them are too afraid to say anything. Chisa watches it all with happiness surging in her heart.

"Don't just swallow it." Miwako slaps Rie's face. "You have to chew it slowly. Otherwise, you will get indigestion."

***

"Rie chan is at the hospital. She won't come to school for a few days." The teacher announces to the class. The entire class becomes quiet.

"Her grandfather complained that someone is bullying her." The teacher stares at them. "If anyone knows anything, meet me after class."

Some of them look guilty. Others look down and concentrate on the book. Chisa scans all of their faces. When the class is over and the teacher is gone, Miwako blocks the door before anyone can leave.

"Remember." Miwako smiles sweetly. "If any of you go to the teacher, that person will take Rie's place."

That warning is enough to keep them quiet. Rie's fate is sealed.

Chisa watches Takeuchi Rie and her grandmother in front of the school gate. Her grandmother is trying to push her inside. She is crying and shaking her head.

"Rie chan, it's only for some time. If you don't go, your father will dislike it a lot. Your grandfather also wants you to finish your studies." Her grandmother feels bad for the child, but nothing is in her hands. If she takes the child out of the school, her son would throw the child in the orphanage. "Be a good girl and go to school."

Rie lowers her head and cries silently. She turns her little back to her grandmother and takes a heavy step into the school.

Chisa clicks her tongue. "She will do anything for her family."

During lunchtime, Miwako drags Rie behind the school and ties her to the same tree.

"You have some guts. How dare you speak about us?"

"I didn't say anything." Rie cries when she sees the iron stick. "Don't hurt me."

"We shouldn't hurt her." Chisa takes the iron stick away. "What if someone hears her cries? The teacher would not ignore it. Stuff her mouth."

Rie's face becomes pale. "I was wrong. Don't hurt me, please."

"Miwako." Chisa ignores Rie. "If you want to stay by my side, you should be quick on your feet."

"Ah, yes." Miwako stuffs Rie's mouth with her sock. She begins slamming the iron stick on the girl. When she finishes, she is gasping for air.

"Give it to me."

"What?" Miwako looks at Chisa. "You shouldn't waste your energy on her."

"I will decide that." Chisa takes the stick. "Rie made me unhappy. She needs lessons."

Chisa knows where it hurts the most. She kicks Rie's stomach first. It's the peak of winter. It will hurt more if she hits the bone. The girl is already skinny. Rie sniffles and cries in misery. Miwako stares at them and swallows. Is that how she looks when she hits Rie?

If Rie is gone, will Chisa make her take her place? She shakes her head in fear. That can't happen. It will always be Takeuchi Rie.

***

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

Miwako is guarding the storeroom. Nobody will come inside at this time of the day. She flinches when she hears Rie's scream.

Rie tries to crawl away. She presses her foot on her wounds. "Do you know your wrongs?"

"Don't hurt me, please. I didn't say anything to anyone."

"Your voice is hoarse." Chisa throws a water bottle on her face. "Drink it."

Rie looks at her fearfully. She knows that worse things happen if she denies it. She drinks the water. Chisa kicks her face at that moment. The water is spilled on Chisa's shoes.

"Rie, you waste so much water. Don't you know that some countries are suffering water crisis?" Chisa puts her foot forward. "Lick it."

Rie stares at her blankly.

"It's time for your lessons. You know what will happen." Chisa smiles at her affectionately. "Kneel. Lick and rub your nose like a dog. If you do it, I will let you go for your mistakes."

"You will?" Rie's eyes turn hopeful. "You won't hurt me?"

"I promise." Chisa tells her with a sugary voice, "I will forgive you for skipping schools."

Rie kneels in front of Chisa and follows her instructions until she is satisfied. Chisa pats her head like she is a dog. "Good. If you do whatever I say, you will become my favorite toy. If you don't, you know what will happen to you."

She grabs her leg and nods her head vigorously. "I will do anything. Don't hurt me. Please."

***

"Chisa, other students are using her as a punching bag," Miwako reports to Chisa. "Someone blamed her for bullying the younger students."

"That's good. Tell her to accept the blame." Chisa is making notes. "If anything like that happens again, ask her to take the blame like a good pet."

Miwako grins. It seems that Chisa wants Rie to be isolated from everyone. "There is this. I heard that a senior boy likes Rie."

The pen stops on the paper.

"Boys from other classes also find her cute." Miwako sneers when she recalls her crush staring at Rie. "She is just like her mother. She easily seduces all the men."

Chisa's eyes turn cold. "It looks like our Rie is turning into a woman. We should do something about it."

***

Miwako comes running to Chisa. "She pushed him out of the window."

"He deserved it." Chisa chuckles. "The boy didn't put enough drug if she had enough sanity to push him out of the window."

"What should we do? What if he says something?" Miwako bites her nails. "The headmaster will throw us out of the school."

"That won't happen." Chisa looks at Miwako. "Tell Rie to take the blame. She is the one who drugged the boy."

"Then, she will be kicked out." Miwako furrows her brows.

"My mother is close to the headmaster's mistress." Her eyes gleam darkly/. "If she is kicked out, I will make sure that she returns."

Miwako takes a deep breath. "Chisa, you can resolve any problem."

"Spread rumors that she offers prostitution services. No good guy will come to her if they think that she does that kind of work." She sighs. "It was better if we could get some pictures. That would seal the deal. After all, rumors are only rumors."

***

It's the second year of high school. Chisa has to move away. Rie hasn't been coming to school. She is never home when she visits Rie's home. Miwako can't find her either.

Miwako sobs. "I will miss you."

Her stepfather is rich. They are moving to his big mansion. She will go to an elite school from now on. Her life will change.

Chisa waits outside Rie's home. "Did you hear something from your grandmother?"

"Rie doesn't tell her where she goes. After grandfather died, she comes late at home and leaves in the early morning." Miwako curses the girl. "How dare she make you wait for her?"

Chisa is upset that she can't play with her toy one last time. Under her stepfather's gaze, it will be difficult to come to the other side of the city. "Give my number to her if she appears in the school. I will wait for her call."

But, Takeuchi Rie avoids Miwako like a plague when she goes to school. Miwako also loses interest after Chisa is gone. Chisa never gets the call.