7 Troubling Past: The Incident

"Hello! Ms. Somen!?" Shirohana yelled while knocking on the door.

After a few moments, a slender short-haired woman opened the door.

"Why! It's little Shirohana! Have you seen Josh? He's - OH NO MY BABY!" the woman screamed when she realized who Shirohana was carrying. "What happened to my baby?!"

"Don't worry. He's okay. He just needs some rest," Shirohana assured Josh's mom. Shirohana and Josh's mom carried Josh to his room. They laid Josh down on his bed and closed the lights.

"Would you mind telling me what happened?" Josh's mom asked, furious and upset.

"Um...It's nothing really. You don't have to worry, I won't let Josh get hurt like that again. I promise," Shirohana replied. Despite her words, she was shaking.

"Is he being bullied?" Josh's mom asked. "I am going to report the school of their improper conduct!"

Shirohana opened her mouth, but no sound came out. Josh's mother was right. Contacting the school would be the best course of action. Not only would the girls not bother Shirohana again, but they also won't hurt Josh because he's her friend. Shirohana decided to let Josh's mother handle it. She looked forward to returning to the peaceful school days she always wanted.

That's what she hoped. The reality, as it always is, wasn't that nice.

The next day...

"Hey, come here you," a girl said. Shirohana turned around but before she could see who was calling her, she felt a fist hit her in the face. She fell down, holding her face in pain.

"You ratted us out, didn't you?!" the girl said. The girl was the girl from before, Hanna. Two other girls strolled and stood on each side of the girl. They were Rise and Mary.

"Yeah, you did didn't you?!" Rise said as she kicked Shirohana in the stomach. Shirohana felt the pain course through her body. That sudden impact made her throw up.

"Ewww! She barfed! For someone who had the guts to call on us, you sure are a little bitch!" Hanna said, laughing.

The three girls continued to kick her. All Shirohana could do was hold her head. No one helped her. They were all too scared. The three girls were from influential families. They had the power to ruin any lives that they see as a threat to their interests.

"Stop!" a boy shouted. Everyone turned to the door. There, stood the boy that helped Shirohana yesterday.

Karma.

"Stop hurting her! What is wrong with you!" Karma shouted, rushing over to Shirohana. "Are you alright?"

"Y-Yes..." Shirohana mumbled through her pain.

Karma turned to the girls.

"What is wrong with you people?" Karma said. "You think picking on the weak is fun? You three are fucked up to the core."

"Wha-!" Hanna said, taken back. "Who do you think you are? You think you can get away with insulting us like that?"

"I don't give a shit who you are," Karma said, picking up Shirohana. "I am going to take her to the nurse's office."

"You put her down!" Hanna said, grabbing Karma's shoulder. "We aren't done with her yet!"

Karma glared at her. Hanna pulled her hand away in fear. Karma walked out of the classroom, carrying Shirohana.

As Karma took her out of the classroom, Shirohana felt a sense of ease. Being held like this gave her a feeling of serenity. Tired and hurt, Shirohana fell into a deep sleep.

She dreamt of floating in the sky, carried by the wind. It was a calm feeling. No mean girls to hurt her. No burdens to bear.

Accompaning her were a flock of beautiful birds. She didn't know what kind of birds they were, but they were beautiful being words.

Then the wind stopped and she stopped moving. She looked down to be met by a dark void. Laughter could be heard. It was a very familiar sound.

Before she knew who it was, she fell, sinking into the deep void of the unknown.

"Gasp!"

Shirohana quickly got up. Breathing heavily, she examined her surroundings. She was in a bed in the nurse's office. Then, footsteps were quickly approaching her bed. The curtains flew open and in stepped the nurse.

"What's wrong?!" the nurse asked in surprise. "Do your injuries still hurt?"

"I..." Shirohana began, but stopped due to an intense headache. She held her head and winced. Then the pain kicked in. Her whole body was filled with pain.

"Lie down," the nurse ordered. "You haven't fully recovered. You need rest to heal the injuries. I can't believe students in this school would try to harm others."

The nurse shook her head as she left Shirohana's bed. Shirohana obliged to the nurse's order and laid down again. The pain was still there, but it felt a lot better now that she was relaxed on the bed.

Then she remembered Karma carrying her.  She covered her face in embrassment.

*He was so warm... * Shirohana thought to herself, as she tried to think back when she was being carried. A soothing feeling filled her body and the pain slowly went away.

After a while of thinking about Karma, the bell that signaled for lunch break rang. A little while after, Shirohana heard footsteps approaching her bed.

You're awake, " the person said when he opened the curtains.

It was Karma. He was carrying two bentos with him.

'Oh, Karma!" Shirohana said, surprised and slightly embrassed for thinking about him all this time. " I-I heard you carried me here. Thank you again."

"No problem," Karma replied, smiling. "I did what I had to do. How are you now?"

"I'm better now. My body still aches, but I think I can at least stand ," Shirohana replied.

"That's great," Karma said. "I brought your lunch. Mind if I sit next to you?"

"Oh! Thank you!" Not at all, " Shirohana replied.

Karma pulled a chair next to the bed Shirohana was on and sat down. The two ate lunch and chatted. It was a peaceful time for them both.

Then chaos struck.

After they finished their lunch and talked for a while longer, the bell rang. Both bid each other farewell and Karma left the nurse's office.

Shirohana, feeling a bit tired, decided to take a nap since her injuries still prevented her from attending class. She laid down and within minutes, she fell fast asleep.

After about 2 hours, the bell rang, signaling the end of class. Shirohana slowly opened her eyes. As she started to get up, she heard someone rush in the nurse's office.

"Karma?" Shirohana asked, happy he was coming back again.

But it wasn't him. The person quickly pulled opened the curtains and pinned Shirohana onto the bed.

"Who are you?!" Shirohana asked, struggling to free herself. But the man didn't answer and put a cloth over her mouth.

It was chloroform.

Shirohana tried to take the cloth from her mouth but the chloroform had already seeped into her body.

*No... I'm slipping... * Shirohana thought as her consciousness slowly faded.

Then all was black.

Shirohana awoke to a boy screaming. She felt unusually cold. When she fully regained consciousness, she saw a man kneeled in front of her. He had black spiky hair and wore a black coat.

"Wha..?" Shirohana asked, confused of her situation. Then she realized the man was undressing her.

"What are you doing?!" Shirohana shouted. "Let me go!" She tried to push the high schooler away, but her hands and legs were tied up.

"Stop struggling, bitch," the high schooler shouted. "You are going to pay for what you have done."

"What did I do?!" Shirohana asked, tears dripping. "Why are you doing this?

"You should know why," the high schooler said. "Embarrassing my precious sister and trying to ruin our family name."

"I never did that!" Shirohana screamed, still struggling.

"It doesn't matter what you say," the high schooler said. "I only trust my sister. Now your life will be ruined."

"No!" Shirohana screamed. "Help!"

"Shirohana!" Karma screamed. He slammed his head on the ground.

Shirohana continued to struggle, but the high schooler's hold was much stronger. Tears rained down Shirohana's eyes.

*Why is this happening to me?! I just wanted a normal school life where I would be able to make friends and have fun.* Shirohana thought as she was being violated.

Then Karma started screaming.

"AHHHH," Karma screamed in pain.

"Man, would you be quiet?" the high schooler said after taking off Shirohana's bra. "He got up and walked over to Karma.

"No! Leave him alone!" Shirohana shouted, trying to get up. But the ropes restrained her and she fell down again.

Then the high schooler fell over.

"Huh?" the high schooler said before slamming onto the ground. Karma had landed a fist into his face.

"AHH!" the high schooler screamed in pain, blooding dripping from his nose. "You fucker!"

"Heh," Karma laughed. "HAHAHA."

"How fucking dare you! Why the fuck are you laughing?!" the high schooler asked angrily. He got up and threw a punch. Karma caught it fairly easily.

"Why am I laughing?" Karma said, snickering. "I'm laughing because I am going to kill you." And with that, hell broke loose. Karma destroyed the high schooler.

Shirohana stared in horror as Karma beat the high schooler into a bloody mess. She could not believe the kind boy that helped her became like this.

The high schooler could not do anything. His sister, Hanna, just stood in horror. After beating up the high schooler into a bloody pulp, Karma smiled evilly and turned to Hanna.

"No...Don't... STAY AWAY!" Hanna screamed, trying to run away. But Karma, in his current state, caught up to her and grabbed her hair. He pulled her down and punch her in the gut.

"Ack!" the girl screamed. That impact so strong it made her barf.

"HAHAHA!" Karma laughed. "Now who's barfing? Huh, bitch?!"

"You piece of shit! How dare you hurt my sister!" the high schooler got up and charged at Karma. He punched Karma in the face. Karma smiled.

"You still have some fight left in you! Good! GOOD!" Karma said, laughing. Blood ran down his chin. Instead of feeling pain, Karma felt excited. He punches the high schooler back, sending him crashing into a wall. The high schooler screamed.

"Yes! Yes!" Karma said excitedly. "Scream more! That's what I want to hear. Your suffering, your pain, let me hear all of it!" Karma then proceeded to punch the living hell out of the high schooler. By the time Karma was done, the high schooler's face was a bloody mess.

But Karma wasn't done.

From the corner of his eye, he spotted two girls trying to slowly carry Hanna away. They were Rise and Mary.

*It's those bitches* Karma thought, smiling viciously. He dashes at them and grabbed them. Without a moment of hesitation, he threw them down to the ground, face first.

"AHHH! It hurts!" the girls screamed, holding their face.

"Yes! Cry more! There's more to come!" Karma shouted.

"No...Please! We won't hurt her anymore. We will leave Shirohana, her friend, and you alone. Please spare us!" the girls said, trembling.

"You think you deserve mercy?" Karma said. "Laughable! Pathetic! Others might be lenient with you, but you won't get any mercy from me!" Karma started to throw a punch but stopped when he heard Shirohana.

"That's enough! They have learned their lesson... please stop...! " Shirohana said. Karma walked over to Shirohana and smacked her. He grabbed her face.

"I don't think you have any say in this," Karma said smiling. "I feel really fucking good. When I'm done with them, you're next."

"Please stop! You were such a nice boy. You helped Josh and me. I don't want you to ruin your life like this!" Shirohana said, weeping. "Please... "

"You don't know me," Karma said. "I love this kind of stuff. It's exhilarating!

"No! This isn't who you are! Please, I know you are trying to help me, but please turn back!" Shirohana screamed.

"I don't like that tone..." Karma said. "You ought to be taught a lesson..." He raised a fist, beginning to throw a full power punch.

Shirohana stared without fear into Karma's eyes. She could sort of sense a small essence within this monster that stood in front of her.

Then a miracle happened.

Karma's left hand stopped his punch.

"Don't interfere! You are mine now!" Karma shouted, struggling to free his right hand.

Then, in a swift movement, Karma's left hand punched him in the face. He fell back, blood spurting out his nose. 

"AHH!" Karma screamed in pain.

Then, the evil was gone.

Karma was breathing hard. It took all his strength to surpass the thing that had now awoken.

"Karma? Are you alright?" Shirohana asked worryingly.

"I'm sorry," Karma said, after gathering his breath. "I wasn't sane. All I was thinking about was getting revenge."

"It's alright," Shirohana said, weeping tears of joy. "You are back now, that's all that matters."

Karma untied Shirohana's ropes and she slowly got up.

"Oh no! Josh!" Shirohana shouted suddenly, realizing Josh had taken a beating. She rushed over and felt his chest.

"Thank god. He's breathing," Shirohana said with relief. "Josh...thank you."

She hugged Josh, crying.

"S-Shiro..." Josh said weakly, with a small smile on his face.

"Don't talk," Shirohana said. "We'll get you fixed up. Just rest, alright?"

Josh nodded and dozed off. Shirohana tried to carry Josh but she was very tired. Karma swooped in and put his shirt on Shirohana.

"You will catch a cold," Karma said. "I'll help you. "You can hold on to me if you need to balance." Karma put Josh on his back and stood up.

"Thanks again," Shirohana said, smiling warmly.

"It's nothing," Karma replied, embarrassed. "I'm just glad this ordeal is over."

"Let me call for help," Shirohana said. "As bad as they were, they deserve help."

*You're way too kind, Shirohana.* Karma thought. After Shirohana made the call, they walked off, looking back every few moments to make sure help arrived. When they saw some police cars, they quickly walked to be out of sight.

~Back to the present~

Shirohana thought of the events that transpired during the incident. It was a terrible incident and didn't really get solved in the best way. She thought of the boy that saved her.

*That boy really seems like Karma. Even their names and the strange entity inside their bodies are the same...* Shirohana thought to herself. As she was walking, she heard screaming coming from a small warehouse. Curious, she walked to a window. What she saw made her jump.

Inside, Karma was beating up men in black suits. The room was dimly lit, with a single lightbulb. Karma was laughing, punching all the men. The men were no match for Karma. Then, Karma grabbed a knife and held it above one of the man's eye. Shirohana gasped and quickly opened the door to stop Karma from doing something that will ruin his life.