A group of nurses loiter outside of the patient’s room that is guarded by two buff hospital guards. The doctors finish making notes as the healers cast a light healing spell over her. An older nurse smoothly hooks the girl to an IV filled with healing serum, a combination of modern medicine and magic.
A young nurse brings in a tray of soft foods for the girl to eat as cameras are set up to record the interview. The two detectives are finally permitted to enter the room as a team of therapists follows, whilst the rest of the medical team leaves, leaving behind only Doctor Wang and Chief Nurse Mildred.
The detectives first impression of the missing girl is pitiful. Her green hospital gown makes her seem much younger than she should be. Her slim cheeks are gaunt as bruise like shadows hide under her brown eyes that are filled with abject, dull horror. Her damp dark hair barely reaches her chest. Her hair still wet is a clear sign of her physical weakness as the nurses had to help her bathe not to long ago.
The girl softly mutters thanks as she hesitantly grabs a spoon and fills it to the brim with tapioca pudding. She hesitates for a moment as she takes a bite and her eyes grow wide as tears fill her eyes. Chief Nurse Mildred rushes forward as the girl shakes her head and says, “It’s okay. It’s just-, I had forgotten how good pudding tastes like.”
Everyone faces are filled with sympathy as the detectives seated themselves before her. The scruffy detective lets the charming detective perform their introductions. “I’m Detective Myers and this is Detective Locke. We’re so sorry for disturbing you, but we need to speak to you regarding the events that transpired a year ago on April 1st.”
The girl slowly puts down her metal spoon and softly murmurs, “Okay.”
“Do you remember, the events that transpired on that day?” Detective Myers gravely asked.
“I don’t remember, how we were taken. But when we all came too, we were all in a room.”
“Okay, then who took you?”
“SHE did.”
“Whose she?”
“She called herself, the goddess of life.”
The therapists are frantically taking notes seeing a new paper being written before them. There would be fierce battles for writing rights, a bloodshed for credits and ambushes for the unwary. But in the end, only a few would remain supreme in the field of academics.
Detective Locke interjects, “What does SHE look like that?”
The girl stiffens as hatred glimmers in the depths of her eyes. “Blonde, blue eyes, an ethereal beauty,” the girl firmly answered.
“Are you sure it was a woman?” Detective Myers asked, but a gaze filled with hate clearly answers his question.
“And the rest of your classmates?” Detective Locke asked as everyone breaths are held in.
“Dead,” the girl matter-of-factly stated.
“But what about you?” Detective Locke firmly said as he studied the girl for any signs of lies or treachery.
The girl raises her eyes that were deep enough to drown to a frigid death. “I was the cursed one. I am the last,” she gravely said as the rest of the groups let out sighs of resignation. Their worst fears had just been confirmed.
The phone rings as Detective Locke glances at the caller. He apologetically says, “Sorry, I have to take this.”
“Hello, Sergeant?”
“Yes, she’s awake. We were just going to ask for the whereabouts of-.”
“I see. Alright, will do so.” Detective Locke turns off the phone and slides it into his pocket. “My apologies, but Detective Myers and I are needed,” Detective Locke steadily said as the groups suspected the reason why. The bodies of classroom 13 must have been found.
The two detectives rush away as Doctor Wang orders the immediate removal of the camera and the medical staff. The medical staff knows better than to protest as they collect their things and leave. Head Nurse Mildred pushes the food towards the poor poppet and says, “Eat love, your mum and dad will be here later in the afternoon. You’ll want your strength.”
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
The girl nods and begins to dutifully eat as she savors each bite slowly under Nurse’s Mildred careful watch and care. Doctor Wang returns tiredly towards his office. Taking a seat at his desk from his office window, Doctor Wang has a view to the entrance of the hospital that is suddenly being flooded by white vans that circle the front entrance like sharks scenting fresh blood in the water.
*
Izo munches on the food that brings tears to her eyes. She still felt embarrassed how she almost cried from merely taking a bite of tapioca pudding! But sweets were rare and expensive in a medieval setting. Worst of all, even if she had the coin to pay, no chef would serve the hero cursed by the goddess.
And thus, she was forced to survive by eating monster meat. Monster meat is generously poisonous to humans and often fatal but starvation was worse. The first several hundred meals gave her the runs as the meat poisoned her. What save her was chanting healing spells as she ate to ensure her survival.
After some time, Izo gained two rudimentary titles, Stomach of Steel that allowed her to safely consume monster meat and coincidentally granted her poison immunity. Whereas Iron Chef allowed her to accurately cut up monsters and cook them into a semblance of an edible meal. Monster meat is generally foul tasting and no amount of culinary talent or cooking spices would ever change that.
Thanks to the memory spell, Izo learned about the Izo of this world. The Mr. and Mrs. Lee of this Earth were rather wealthy and spoiled their daughter to death. Having been raised in the lap of luxury, it should come as no surprise that the Izo of this Earth’s character was rather lacking in the moral department. But what bothered Izo the most is that she didn’t feel any warm feelings towards the Mr. and Mrs. Lee of this Earth. Her parents are-, were teachers and earned enough money to be middle class. Despite being working parents, they spent plenty of time with their only child, Izo.
However, the Izo of this world despite having it all upon closer examination her parents were rather absentee. Too often, Izo had been left in the care of her nannies. Izo was no doctor, but she was rather certain that children who lacked attention from parental figures are often attention seekers as they grow older.
Although that wasn’t the worst of the issues. The real problem lay in the physical appearances of Mr. and Miss Lee of this Earth. This couple looked like the best version of Izo’s parents if they had undergone perfect plastic surgery. The Lee couple were gorgeous creatures, which honestly freaked the hell out of Izo. Perfection is a scary thing to behold and especially when it is a constant reminder of your hated foe.
The door suddenly slides open interrupting Izo’s thoughts as a woman with bright eyes in an expensive clothing enters the room being accompanied by a handsome man in a tailored suit. The elegantly, perfumed woman throws herself upon Izo and wails noisily. “Hush my baby, mama’s here. It’ll be alright, mama promises,” the woman whispered in Izo’s ears, while tears slide down the woman’s attractive face.
Izo stiffens and wrinkles her nose at the strong expensive perfume scent that causes her eyes to sting. The handsome man blinks back the moisture in his eyes and pats Izo on the head. Izo stiffens even further as her eyes are filled with disappointment. She couldn’t find it in herself to even embrace the plastic carbon copies of her parents.
Mrs. Lee dries her tears and says, “Sorry, honey, I know you don’t like to see me crying. Once, you’re released, we’ll go all your favorite stores and shop until our feet can’t walk. Does that sound good, love?”
Izo just blinks in silent response. “Dear, you’re overwhelming her,” Mr. Lee concernedly said.
Mrs. Lee grasps Izo’s hand and squeezes it tightly. Izo faintly squeezes back, before removing her hand from the bone breaking grasp. Before the mother can comment, Doctor Wang enters the room and saves Izo from their suffocating hold.
“Mr. and Mrs. Lee, a word if I may?” Doctor Wang pointedly said.
“Of course, Doctor,” Mr. Lee replied as his wife reluctantly follows in their wake.
Izo sighs in relief as she closes her eyes. She was certain the detectives had already found the bodies of classroom 13. Having learned as much as she could, at dawn, Izo sent a clone of herself to destroy the corpse of the former Izo. But she really had to destroy the original corpse of the original Izo of this Earth for her own safety. Feeling bad at doing so, Izo had made sure to promise the original Izo of this Earth to live a fulfilling life in her stead.
The original killer of Classroom 13 had hung himself to death a long time ago. His identity was unknown as he never told the students his real name. He was only to be called, “Jack.” From the fragmented memories of the original Izo of this world, Izo’s understanding was that the killer had a nullification type ability. The killer had plotted and successfully kidnapped an entire classroom full of students/victims. His motive to leave a lasting legacy behind.
Without any clues to his identity, Izo could only avenge the previous Izo and Classroom 13 in the best way she could. Izo would ensure that the murderous bastards legacy would remain nameless and unknown for all eternity. Izo first transfigured his body to match that wench’s appearance and had taken way too much pleasure in shoving a pair of scissors through the neck of the look-a-like goddess. After making sure, she had left a trail leading back to the shack, Izo returned to her hospital room and dispersed her clone.
Izo sighs to herself and casts another memory spell to learn more about the world. But she already knew the answer; she was not going to like it.