Stolen Futures

The hospital equipment sounded softly in my ears as I sat outside my little sisters room. Not a day had gone by when me and my mother received the news that, she was in a deep coma due to the accident on her way home from a school trip.

I was a grade above hers as we attended the same high school, however, with all my many achievements, my anger was directed at first, the driver who slammed his big rig into tthe school bus she was on. Then, to the teachers, the school, then to the doctors and nurses. My tantrum ran for hours as I punch, kicked, and clawed at anyone around me, including my own mother as she took the front of my rage with a tight hug.

Having calmed down, I was given some pills to help with my temper and as a result, I had been still fired most the night as my mother held me in her brushed arms. Feeling her warm tears hit my cheek as I stood in place, my mind wandered through memories of the three of us as we were everyday.

Always making trouble for everyone, there was only one person whom I caved into and that was Hime, my little, fragile little sister. Many took it as a surprise whenever I would lose my temper and calm down the second she touched my cheek. I was weak, in truth, with all my heart and anger, I was not able to protect her.

Clenching my mother's long skirt, I felt her body shake as she had begun to weep once again.

"Um… Ms. Mirane. We would like you to verify some paperwork, please. "

Sniffing her nose, she stood me up a she went with the doctor. I stayed behind in an empty hallway as the sunset outside, burned red than with the usual yellow.

Sitting as I stared into an empty wall, I had broken my promise to my dad when he told me to take care both my mother and little sister. His death was confirmed after a gangster war broke out in the center of downtown. My father was not one who lost his temper, in fact, he married my mother specifically because he found her more beautiful when she spoke her mind.

"Such a sad expression for a man to bare… isnt it? "

Looking up and to my left, I saw the shadow if a tall man who wore a business suit as he held a wicked smile on his face. His eyes burned red with color as I instinctively felt malice coming from him.

"Which are you… "

"Excuse me? "

"Whos gang do you belong… What do you want with me. "

Even with my half dead responses, husband smile dances around his face until he took a seat right beside me.

"Let's just say… I'm with the big guy downstairs? "

Trying to identify what he meant, he then stood up and looked over into the room.

"I'll cut right to the chase… I can save your sister for you. In exchange, I want you to owe me a favor. "

Looking up at him and snapping, I held him by the collar until seconds later, he disappeared from my sight. Turning around and seeing the door open, I rushed inside where I found the man standing above Hime.

"No… stop! Don't-Dont, hurt her! "

As I stopped when he touched her hair, he looked t me and asked same the same proposal again.

"Well? What do you say, kid… do we have a deal? "

Flustered and feeling my anger swelling up, I told him what he wanted to hear and as I blinked, he disappeared.

"We have a deal. " Turning around, there as no one there. "I'll come collect that favor soon… hmm… "

Looking back at Hime, I rushed over to her side and as I looked at her neck, a black, mark hung over her chest in the form of a symbol that resembled a pentagram. Startled, I looked at Hime's fingers move and as I looked at her face, she opened her eyes. Shaking from relief as I collapsed beside her, my heart ached the moment she said my name.

"Miko… " Holding her hand as I burned my face into her chest, I only felt her soft hands stroke the back if my head.

~

Three days had passed as Hime was discharged from the hospital after undergoing several tests. Smiling and bashful as needed and Hime spoke about school and how I was behaving, my mother giggled with a soft smile as we headed home.

Not long after Hime settled back into her school life, did I begin having nightmares about that strange man who came to her room just before she woke up.

It began to get worse as I often felt I was being followed or watched. Having lived in my shoes made it a natural occurrence for fights and brawls to take place whenever. Two weeks passed and things began getting back to normal.

It waste until I walked home late one night from a fight with another school that I felt uneasy. Turning the corner into an alleyway, did I suddenly freeze in place as I saw the man from the hospital again. Holding my ground, I walked up to him and demands she tell me who he worked for.

"Well? Eh?! Aren't you gonna answer me? "

Ignoring me as if I was not even there, he then extended his hand as I jumped back ready to fight. Turning his hand over, he out out hid palm and spoke.

"I gave returned to pick up that favor you owe for saving your sisters life… Miko. "

Relaxing as I was somewhat expecting this, I asked what he wanted as every conclusion the doctors made when Hume woke up was, simply a miracle. I didn't buy tattoos and assumed this guy did something as the mark in her chest disappeared almost instantly.

"What is it you want? "

Turning his gaze to me, he smiled and said he came to collect my soul.

"What are you high? "

"And what if I am… a favor is only as good as the trade. After all, I did save your dear little sister from a life, trapped in a dream. "

"So, you want to kill me for saving my sisters life? Is that it? "

"You catch on quick. "

Closing my eyes, I set my bag and school shirt to the side as I walked up to him and got down to my knees.

"Oh… what is this? "

"I never back out if any deals or promises… since Hime is alive and well, I've kept my promise by my father, in exchange for my life… get it over with and dump my body somewhere where it wont show up in the news… please, spare my mom and sis from that torment. "

"Hmm… oh! How noble! Ah! I knew poaching you was a great choice! "

Looking up as I was confused, he then kicked me in the face and knocked me out. His wicked laugh, echoed through the darkness as if it was the devils laugh himself. Pleasure, greed, and pitiful all wound up intimate one, evil, wicked laugh. I was sure to remember it for as long as I lived.

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