image [https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczOAqwLlU41EJ2ND_u5KZDs8o-r0z9p2e0TiOO2Dlagih4NUoc_ABHtyCgYbbaIpNJOFbyo5YhPb7iCPAVZEwsdJH2nsEZ-J-z7EXPug6I0qa4XXnG927G70rwYCdWOOLsT9OmnUNUE1nSJQBNDsI2mp_V8khwcLlYEXBIlVmw2fOP6ddtP-P8GHTe6xY83OibO-fFuGdbRIQs9ut49_GNMrGGkcsl3GW-h8mAd5W_RSEJIJoS9deQOWrKcY67C9GxcgF90fmcct4cBR-gUUNrcsIw-tAQipFmJIgtClugZEzsUqUchk27knDSMnTcT20HqPui_DakmFfnLGwkq5swqqvop1EQ42O3CoZ2_aKgggZwWWPFCViNs1Vu0qgcAvGpENW7BqQnxMdS5HknBuWjOFGrVquti7ukRGMVrli_HlEWIa1v70U2QUxvPYUv5JUSlaMSNs_LUPTc7jwhmb-nERk2wqltNcO0F6cSTo5xjkrv_lcAweW2XlBObVPlHpzpqSUQs1KZab7ll_ZCEMkOCf0bsKp9Tu7lsWGL1uyKLxRAd2OO-76j0dT2csrla61ycaTPbyPXDUmTdM8ECxqcxCzbF8zrtJ824dua4Eow9x7FtlL4L444EHSv9sqId1wS1JE7YUW8hotLth3SmvPUZuD9C5kAwa_eZh3n1TAPbkGIcWpFBb-yzMurL3h_ri8T6mqG7wQrERCU0U_-CakMofBPeMAB34T9dbmjYP20mMatjRy5G4EOOmx-s0u2mzPATC2zZSX9sd8Bv3WhBdcDehEOIr93Q_ALHhYzAfcGxSFuicym6wW3dWAYtzvIyTAYhaA7TWgc5LjUYPOiJvhGfMtChCn92S0BXigh82Hp1NLusemLoWYiWGVAjexiX61b1d5zXTWUuFrfnqWokhvtKSwGNoc06B65AAdCLO6Y-gd1lyAWSM5zKADHD88_KG=s357-no?authuser=1]
(Concept of Katie as a child,
though realistically she and her sisters would be wearing battle suits everywhere they go, given how they were raised)
"Curse these wretched things...." Lilith muttered, sweat running down her brow. "Giving birth is the most cumbersome task one will ever perform."
Floating on the outskirts of the Earth's atmosphere was a colossal space colony named the Luna Base. Their mother gave birth to her children there in hopes they wouldn't be hindered by the dangers of the planet until they were strong. The problem was that strength was all she cared about..."
Lilith, a stern looking woman with short brown hair and green eyes, lay in one of the hospital beds, the darkness outside the window only illuminated by the Earth. It was a small room with cabinets and counters at the corners, several lights shining within it along panels and screens along the walls, displaying the systems of the colony.
The men and women in lab coats stood outside the glass, writing along notepads, as they studied the baby freshly pulled from the womb. One of them turned to Lilith, stating, "It's a girl. Congratulations!"
Curled up in Lilith's arms, baby Katie cried and wriggled, wrapped in a small, white blanket. "Ooh, is that our sister?" Isabella had asked, sharing her mother's hair color and eyes, hopping up to the edge of the bed. She was four at the time, wearing a tiny white lab coat.
Startled, Katie's tiny hand smacked into Isabella's nose. It shattered as she fell off the bed in a heap. Sparks erupted from her fingertips, the brilliant shade of green in Katie's eyes shifting to a violent yellow.
Tiny wings sprouted from her back as she stood on her own at the edge of the bed. She looked down at Isabella and whimpered. "Ba... baaa..." Katie tried to speak, tears swelling up in her puffy cheeks.
Isabella cried violently on the floor, howling over her broken nose, as an older little girl ran to her side. It was Cynthia. She was five, wearing a sleeveless black shirt. The tiny ponytail and her scowl made her distinguished amongst her sisters. "Stop movin'! Let me see it!" Cynthia snapped, trying to calm her down.
"Ow! It hurts, mommy! It hurts!" Isabella cried, writhing on the floor. Blood flowed from her nostrils, stinging her eyes as she accidentally rubbed it into them.
Lilith looked at Katie, her mouth agape. A tear fell down her cheek as she smiled. "Yes.... after years upon years of failure. Enough of your whining, you sniveling welp!" She snapped at Isabella. "Cynthia, take her outside!"
Cynthia looked at her furiously. "But her nose-"
Lilith locked eyes with her, ignoring Isabella's whimpers and squeals. "Don't make me say it again."
"I hate you!" Cynthia screamed, pulling Isabella with her. Her cries echoed throughout the halls.
"Hmph, good. Hate is stronger than love," Lilith said, looking at Katie.
She sat up and picked her up. Katie cried and wriggled, reaching out to where Cynthia and Isabella walked away. Turning her around, Lilith pressed Katie's mouth against her breast. "Feed. I can finally have the pride to call a true angel, my daughter... you will be known as Katherine Rose from this day forward. You will be my living legacy!"
That was the only day Lilith had ever been proud to be a mother... every day after that was met with ceaseless disappointment. Naturally, the older sisters weren't very happy to be pushed aside. Ever since that day, Isabella and Cynthia hated their younger sister.
For a long time, they hoped she would meet some horrible accident and die. That it would give them another chance to gain a mother's love they'd never receive. Eventually, Cynthia realized this, and her resentment towards Lilith only grew stronger with each passing day.
She pitied Katie and urged her to protect herself. Katie never listened, blindly taking the pain because she refused to fight.
At the age of four, Katie learned how to harness her wings and electricity, but she lacked control. Even at that tender age, she had a profound understanding of the concept of death. The fear of accidentally causing harm to her own family kept her from unleashing her true potential for many years.
Katie sat in a corner of the room, surrounded by towering bookshelves in one of the libraries their mother had allowed them to stay in within the colony. Dusty tomes filled the shelves, their pages yellowed with age.
She immersed herself in the words of a story, its vibrant illustrations contrasting sharply with her reality. It was called 'Our Reality'. The family in that tale had happiness, love, and harmony—a stark contrast to Katie's own shattered existence.
A lump formed in her throat as she yearned for a similar life, one that seemed forever out of reach. She longed for a father's presence, a mother's affection, and the bond of siblings who depended on each other, not sisters consumed by hate and envy.
They were a family that didn't resort to violence, but instead resolved their conflicts peacefully. In her heart, Katie knew she was meant for more than this life of being molded into a killer.
She couldn't bear her own weakness, her inability to defend herself, but it was her love for her family that kept her from raising a fist against them, even in self-defense.
The sound of tearing paper pierced the air, shattering Katie's fleeting moment of solace. Her eyes widened in horror as Lilith, her mother, stood before her, fury burning in her gaze. The torn remnants of the storybook fell like snowflakes into the roaring flames of the fireplace.
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
The flames mirrored the pain that engulfed Katie's heart as she watched her hopes and dreams turn to ashes before her very eyes. Her cries echoed through the room, a desperate plea for understanding and love, but all she received was the cold, harsh reality.
It was ridiculous. Taking such cruel abuse and never trying to fight back. Why am I alive? ...Did I do something wrong when I was born? ...Why does God hate me? Those merciless thoughts stayed in Katie's mind her entire life.
Time passed, and Katie grew older. At the age of seven, she remained ignorant of the world beyond the confines of the colony, her knowledge confined to the stories she devoured.
Life outside was a mystery, an unknown realm untouched by her fragile wings. But if Katie wasn't enduring the crushing weight of mindless training, her small hands grasping weapons, she sought refuge in the solace of books. Lilith demanded strength and intelligence from her, molding her into a formidable weapon against the world.
She taught Katie every fighting technique, every weapon she could fathom, and the language of creatures deemed significant enough to converse with. Yet, there was one skill Katie adamantly refused to learn—the art of physical combat against her own flesh and blood.
A sharp crack shattered the silence, followed by the sickening impact of Isabella's fist against Katie's delicate cheek. The force sent her spiraling, her small body crashing against the unforgiving metal floor.
Pain exploded within her, radiating through her being like a relentless inferno. The room they stood in was a grim battleground, a makeshift arena, with barricaded corners that hid remnants of their fractured family ties.
The hum of air conditioning provided an eerie backdrop to the brutal scene. Clad in black leather suits, their feet and hands exposed, the sisters engaged in a cruel dance of violence.
Cynthia, a silent observer beside Lilith, watched with a mix of impatience and disdain. Her arms remained tightly crossed, watching Katie impatiently.
She took up the communicator, shouting, "How long will you pretend to be weak? Stop being a pussy and give her what she wants! Just punch her in the face already!"
Katie's cheek throbbed, a crimson stream trickling down her pale skin, mixing with her silent tears. Desperation welled up within her as she struggled to push herself up, her trembling arms threatening to give way. But her pleas fell on deaf ears as Isabella's boot stomped down on her back. The agonizing cry of agony tore from her lips, a pitiful wail.
A final blow descended upon Katie, shattering her fragile hand, sending shockwaves of anguish through her entire being. The room spun around her as her vision blurred, her legs flailing helplessly beneath her broken body.
With a merciless grip on her hair, Isabella yanked Katie's head back, a cruel smirk etched across her face. "Want me to stop? Why don't you make me? Huh?" Isabella's words dripped with sadistic satisfaction as she slammed Katie's tear-stained face against the floor, knocking her out
Daily training was being beaten within an inch of her life. It was like this for almost every day. Being the host of Jalaiya's soul, the strongest angel in existence, granted or for better words cursed her with abilities that allowed her to recover the next day as good as new. Without them, she would've died a thousand times over. That didn't stop her from feeling the pain.
As night fell, Cynthia confronted her broken sister, smacking the wall. Katie flinched, shrinking into herself, her head buried in her knees. Cynthia cornered her, demanding answers. "Why do you keep holding back? Are you some sort of masochist, Katie?" she snapped, her voice edged with desperation.
Refusing to meet Cynthia's gaze, Katie's voice quivered as she spoke, her voice laced with determination. "I refuse to become a monster. I won't fight you, Cynthia. Stop trying to convince me otherwise!"
Cynthia groaned. She reached out, trying to pry Katie's arms away. "You talk about not becoming a monster, but you have the strength to defend yourself! It doesn't make you a monster to fight back, Katie! When will you understand that?" Cynthia pleaded, her voice tinged with desperation.
"Stop it! Let go!" Katie wriggled and struggled, her body growing limp, resigned to the relentless torment.
For five long years, Cynthia continued her efforts to persuade Katie to fight. Frustration consumed her, fueling her powers to spiral out of control. Any attack aimed at her would have proven fatal. Over time, Cynthia's hatred waned, replaced by a perplexing mix of boredom and a reluctant empathy for the mindless torture she inflicted upon Katie each day. The notion that Katie never harbored hatred toward her family became an illusion Cynthia refused to accept.
Nothing changed until one day, shortly after Katie's thirteenth birthday. It was within the confines of a holographic training room. Its projections could morph into any environment Lilith desired, each one feeling almost as tangible as the real world they once knew. The room now was manifested as a mansion.
Katie crashed against a table, desperately evading Cynthia's strikes. She refused to retaliate, choosing instead to endure and minimize the pain inflicted upon herself. But her attempts to avoid harm were always fleeting.
Cynthia seized Katie by the neck, halting her attempts to escape. Her hiss echoed in Katie's ear, an embodiment of her sister's torment. In an instant, the window shattered as Cynthia thrust Katie's head through it, the shards tearing at her flesh. "Fight already! She won't let us go until you do something!" Cynthia barked, thrusting Katie back onto the unforgiving marble floor. "Get up!"
Sparks crackled and subsided in Katie's trembling hands. Her body shook with fear and uncertainty. "Why... Why do you want me to fight so badly?" Katie whimpered, her voice barely audible as she rose to her knees, blood staining her face.
Cynthia's eyes burned with manic intensity. "WHY?" she shouted, driving her knee into Katie's vulnerable nose. "We suffer through hell every damn day because you refuse to fight back! If only you had learned to defend yourself, we could have escaped this nightmare and built a real family away from this tyrant! But you insist on being a tragic pacifist!"
Her fists flew mercilessly, striking Katie's gut, her jaw. Consciousness began to slip away as blood streamed from Katie's battered face. Cynthia's hands were now drenched in her sister's crimson life essence. "Why... why don't you ever fight back?" Cynthia croaked, towering over the crumpled form of Katie. "At least then... it would feel like all this suffering had some kind of purpose."
Unbeknownst to Cynthia, Jalaiya had been a silent witness to the torment endured by her vessel. She felt every blow, every excruciating second of pain. She was getting bored.
—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Water lapped against the endless lake, its gentle echoes reverberating in the distance. Young Katie's eyes flew open, her body jolting upright. Blood trickled into her eyes, stinging with a fiery intensity.
"Ughh, oww," she groaned, leaning against the water's edge, cupping handfuls of it to cleanse the blood from her face. Her hands trembled. As she peered at her own reflection, she paused, her gaze locked with her weary eyes.
Lowering her gaze, Katie sighed, her breath unsteady. "No matter how hard I try, I'm a failure... Why was I created? Why does my mother desire a monster? I despise monsters. Couldn't she have found a monster instead?" she muttered, her voice laced with a tinge of sorrow.
Her fingers combed through her hair, her grip tight and yearning for something to hold onto, someone to embrace. But in the end, her arms could only encircle herself, a feeble substitute for the connection she craved. "Why can't I be what she wants me to be? Why am I so weak?" Katie lamented. "Why was I born in this world?"
Suddenly, a towering figure loomed over her. Katie tried to move aside, but found herself blocked by a feathery wall—a wall composed of angel wings. Her eyes widened in astonishment as she looked up, a startled squeal escaping her lips.
Sinister yellow eyes stared down at her, belonging to a woman, older and draped in snowy white hair flowing down her hips. The woman's entire being was clad in chainmail and golden armor, gleaming ominously in the darkness of the room.
"Incredible... it took you years to find me, if you can even call it that. Was it ignorance or sheer stupidity that hindered you from delving into your own mind?" the woman, Jalaiya, spoke with an ethereal presence, levitating a few feet above Katie. A voice both lilting and intoxicating sent shivers down the little angel's spine.
A beam of light emerged from the surrounding darkness, casting an eerie glow upon Jalaiya's face. Katie squeezed her eyes shut, trembling, only to find the woman's horribly deformed visage inches from her own when she dared to peek. The woman wore a grotesquely stretched smile, her eyes glistening with malice. Gasping, Katie scrambled away in panic.
Jalaiya burst into hysterical laughter, clutching her cracked cheeks.
"Child... I am what your mother desires you to become. I am the trapped soul within your body, the angel who revels in darkness and tears asunder any who dare oppose me. I am Jalaiya... or, as you may know me, your great-grandmother, dear Katie. I am the reason your life is an infernal existence."