Right before the school bell rang there was an announcement from the classroom speaker, "Karai, please come to the Head Office, Karai."
Everyone's heads turned to the back of the class to a girl sitting in the corner, all by herself with pitch black hair that reached her waist and striking blue eyes that would pierce your soul with just one glare, pale skin and nude lips with two black snakebite piercings on her lower lip on each side & a nose ring. This was quite odd as Karai was always on a 'down low', she never spoke, had been spoken to nor was the center of attention by any means.
Karai got up and looked at the teacher. "You may go." the teacher said politely and Karai maneuvered swiftly through all the school bags to the front of the class and out of the door.
Her heart pounding so fast she could swear anyone that would walk past her or even stand near her would hear it beating as thoughts raced through her mind, searching for a reason for the sudden disruption of her class. *Why would anyone come to my school to see me? This never happened in the past 18 years except when dad...* her thoughts cut off as her emotions started to rise up. Karai's eyes glistened with tears then she shook her head and carried on walking.
As Karai entered the doors of the Head Office and her eyes opened wide and went from glistening to shimmering as she smiled from ear to ear when she faced a tall figure about just under two meters clothed in a black ninja suit covering his full body except the eye sockets. It was Head Master Ryuu a.k.a. Lone Wolf from the Seigi No Academy. Her Idol, she knew almost everything about him, his missions and accomplishments and to think that he's merely 22years of age. She stood before him in awe but yet formal and addressed him with a slight bow and he bowed back respectfully as he handed her an envelope.
Her heart pounded profusely as she had an idea what this is about, she held the letter with both hands against her chest and gave a respectful bow once again, awaited one in return from Ryuu before the bell rang for lunch break and they went their separate ways.
Returning to her classroom, Karai picked up her school bag and placed the envelope inside it put the bag by the door of her next classroom, took her lunch money and headed towards the cafeteria.
One year ago
/"What will you be having Karai?" her best friend, Summer, asked. Summer was a ginger with shoulder length auburn hair and jade green eyes. She had freckles covering her body moderately from head to toe, wore glasses with a golden frame and almost always had a book in her hand. "I'm thinking of a chicken mayo sandwich with rye bread. Did you know rye bread tastes just like a biscuit once it's toasted?" Karai replied.
"That sounds too healthy for me, I'd rather have a beef burger and coke." Summer Replied shifting her glasses higher up her nose bridge.
"I'm with Summer on that one and I'll add cheesy fries to my order as well." Jessie, her other best friend since 6th grade, replied sarcastically. Jessie had dark brown hair that reached right beneath her collar bone but it was mostly tied up in a pigtail with cognac brown eyes, tanned skin and quite skinny, built like a model./
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"The usual Karai?" The cafeteria lady asked as Karai snapped back out of memory lane then nodded politely and handed the lady her money and went to sit in her usual corner *I can't believe it's been a year..* Karai thought to herself with her smile fading.
"Chicken Mayo on rye bread with coconut juice?!" The lady yelled out as she placed the order on the counter. Karai got up and went to fetch her order as she bumped into Caleb. "Excuse m- oh, it's just you." he turned around and walked on. Karai let out a sigh, took her order and went to sit in the corner again, eating it abstemiously.
___
"Next year we will be matriculants, can you believe it?! Jessie exclaimed with excitement.
Summer just smiled and Karai replied "We will finally be full on women entering adulthood, what lies ahead? Who knows?"
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"I want to travel the world and be a psychiatrist and help as many emotionally broken kids as possible." Jessie said blissfully.
"I want to pursue a career as -"
"A journalist, we know." both Jessie and Karai said simultaneously.
Summer snorted.
The school bell rang and after school the trio said their goodbyes for the school holidays.
"I love you guys so much, I can't wait to see you again next year." Karai said sorrowful.
"Where are you going this holiday, we had plans, dude." Jessie asked.
"Family trip, I know it just sprung upon my dad to take us to the beach near Somerset." Karai replied.
"I heard they're busy with construction on a bridge over the main highway leading towards Somerset as they want to connect the two hills and farmlands for faster transportation of goods. But we'll miss you so be safe. I hope it gets your mind off of Caleb, damn prick that won't say "I love you" unless you have sex with him." Summer said in disgust.
"No wait. Hold on I’m not done here!" -retorted Jessie. “Do you have any idea how many events I missed just to save up money for this holiday all just to blow up in the end?! Karai couldn’t you have persuaded your dad?” Jessies voice starting to get increasingly loud. Karai glanced downward to the floor in guilt, trying to avoid eye contact. “No, he was persistent. You know how his work is, travelling consi-” Jessie retorted with a colloquilism. “Ugh, I don’t even want to hear about it!” and stormed off pulling Summer by the arm leaving Karai stranded between the rest of the scholars. Friendship severed over something so stupid.
"All packed and ready to go!" Karai yelled from her room.
"Alright gang, luggage in the car, let’s get moving." Her mom called out to everyone.
Their dad locked up the house as everyone secured their bags in the car and got in. 3 hours later they pulled off at a gas station to stretch their legs and get refreshments as thunderstorm clouds drew over them.
"Karai, Kiara please come here, I have something for you." their dad called out. With everyone standing by the car, and their mothers’ graceful smile and dads loving aura he handed the twins each a long vertical box, smaller than a necklace box but larger than a ring box.
Both opened up their gifts and their eyes lit up. Karai received a red string chocker with a golden bell and Kiara had received a black velvet choker with silver studs.
Jumping up and down with excitement they hugged their dad and put it on.
"I won't be here for your birthdays so I thought I'd give it now so you guys can wear it for the holidays forward as I'm going on a business trip the day after New Years."
"Thanks dad, I love you guys." Karai replied hugging everyone again. "I can see the bridge that they are constructing from here, it looks so small. Summer mentioned that they’re doing construction on it." Karai pointed as she got in the car.
"It's quite big, but since we're far it seems so small. But we better get a move on before the rain starts falling heavily." Her mom gestured.
"Why don't you women take a nap while I drive the last few hours, honey lay back your seat and the girls will lay flat under your seat?" Their dad said as he kissed their mom.
The girls thought it was a brilliant idea so Karai lay back down with her head behind her mother's seat as their mother set back her chair to lay comfortable in the vehicle.
"I'll just sit behind you dad, I'm not tired yet so I'll help watch the road with this rain." Kiara said lifting her sister feet onto her lap. Their dad nodded and drove off.
After what felt like thirty minutes or so they reached the construction bridge but traffic was monitored by traffic cops in rain suites, telling drivers whether they may pass and which lane may pass if it was safe to do so.
Karai's father was the last person they let pass with the oncoming section of traffic when they heard a loud crackling sound and followed by what sounded like an explosion. Karai and her mother were in for a rude awakening as the car was at an abrupt halt and it felt as if they were on a rough and bumpy road as the car bounced twice with a loud crashing sound and the horn hooting non-stop. People screamed and you could hear cars slam on their breaks. The next thing Karai heard was her mother shriek in horror but she couldn’t move as her mother's chair was leaned backwards over her head and her sister was in the way of her crawling out the side of the seat. Karais thoughts went crazy thinking why isn’t her sister moving out the way, maybe she’s unconscious? Maybe it was a mere car accident and her mother was upset due to obtaining wounds and her dad may also have been hurt along with the possible damage to the car and what the costs to repair everything when suddenly her thoughts stopped in their tracks as her door was opened and a stranger pulled her out. She had no idea what horror was bestowed upon her as she looked at her mother who seemed fine with a few grazes of cut glass on her face and forearms but her eyes were bloodshot and filled with terror. When Karai turned around to look for her father and sister as well as to look at what her mother was staring at and Karai’s knees gave in from under her, collapsing. The right hand of their car was crushed halfway by a cement block that abutted on a pillar. The lightening had struck precisely on the weakest point resorting to part of the cinder block to break off. Both her father and sisters' upper bodies were mutilated.
After the incident everything was hazy and all she could think of was her last words that echoed in the back of her mind, "I love you guys." as the blood crept to her feet from under the car dissolving with the pouring rain.
Karai had realized the words "I love you" was nothing but a curse and after going for trauma counseling she vowed to never say those words, let alone ANY word ever again.
Presently
The bell rang and it was time to get back to class, and luckily it was the second last class for the day and once this week was over it would be the last term of school and then Holidays followed by adulthood.