Aki Ame Okami 03/03/2016
Krow's Story: His Past
"The time has come for you all to properly understand Krow. His past has 2 parts, this being the first.
After his past we will return to My (Souls) point of view. For those of you who are having trouble with this concept, Krow suffers severally with depression and self hate and I touch base a little more on that in the next chapter." ~Soul
Something has been wrong for a while. My little sister, who is also my best friend, has been pulling away from me. I am in my senior year of high school and she is just now getting there. I thought maybe that's why she became distant but I was looking through some of her stuff and found some disturbing things. She has been investigating some murders in and around the area. At first look they all seemed random but the more I stared at the horrifying images the more I understood why she had all of these articles. It was the same killer. These were pretty gruesome murders from a wide area so there is no way that the naked eye would pick up on it.
My sister has always been pretty insightful when it comes to these things though. I notice that her calendar has something written on todays date, it reads:
"He will strike again today. My guess is it will happen somewhere in Murkville after the sun sets. Most likely victim is a young female. Will investigate after club activities."
I check my watch. Crap. It is 7:30 which means she is more than likely already in Murkville looking for this guy. DANG IT!
I race to my room and grab my keys. I dash for my Jeep and get it started. I am on my way sis, hang on.
As soon as I get in town I turn on my "Buddy App" on my cell phone. It is an app that alerts you when you are near a buddy, obviously she is on my buddy list. I drive up and down the different roads getting a little farther from the main strip every time. I am at the run down part of time when my phone buzzes.
"Buddy near by!" It blinks at me. Perfect! I follow the buddy indicator to an old factory building. She really needs to stop being so reckless.
As I pick my way through the deserted factory I can't help think of this one time when Ani was about 7 years old and she tried to run away from home. Mom and Dad freaked out trying to find her but I knew where she went. I was 11 at the time and didn't rat her out because that's not what good brothers do.
As night time fell my parents got even more frantic in their search for her, they practically ignored me. I didn't understand why their concern was increasing so dramatically until one of the junior officers who pitied me sat down and explained the situation.
It was Spring time and a bad storm was supposed to move in later that night. I didn't know that. After that I snuck out of the house and went to my sisters favorite hiding spot. Across from our property their was a small church. Attached to the church was a small playground and on the other side of that was a cemetery. Past the cemetery deep in the woods was a small wooden shack that was abandoned sometime ago. We had found it over the summer and thought it was the coolest thing. Obviously it was ancient and must have been built by Indians or something.... That's what we imagined at least. As I crept through the cemetery I could hear the thunder rolling in the distance. Even now the thought of it sends a shiver up my spine. By the time I reached the shack Ani was in tears. She was curled up in a little ball crying her eyes out. I went over and pulled her into a hug. She was burning up. She had a fever. I scooped her into my arms and started carrying her back home. As I did that the rain started coming down in unrelenting little balls of freezing hell fire. I hesitated at the threshold. I couldn't make myself move. I sat down and held her in my arms.
All I could do for my sister was whisper that everything would be okay.
I realized then that what a good brother does is look out for what his sister needs not what she wants.
By the time morning came she had developed a horrible cough. My nerves were a wreck. I spent the whole night shuddering and wincing every time lightening struck or thunder rolled. I managed to carry Ani to the playground and not long after I collapsed the junior officer from yesterday spotted us. My parents flocked to Ani first though the paramedics told them that there was only enough room for one parent to be with them while they checked her. So my father came over to me. He slapped me and scolded me about how dangerous the situation was and how foolish I was. He wasn't a bad parent. I understand now that he was just scared.
I don't know what I was expecting at that time, did I want him to cry and tell me how worried he was? Did I want him to wrap me in his arms and apologize for ignoring me?
I can't really remember right now but I don't think it would have been the first one. I have always secretly been very selfish. I don't even know when I started having thoughts like that. Thoughts like:
"How come I come second...?" or "Why don't they love me more?".
It's truly ridiculous that I even think things remotely along that line.
I love my sister and would do anything for her. She is my best friend. Though I firmly believe that in order to hate someone you must have loved them first.
I am 18 and just started my last year of high school. Ani is 14 and just started her first. Naturally she pulled away from me. She was always the perfect little sister. Totally adorable, could never stay mad at her, frustratingly innocent and all your friends fell for her.
I sigh as I pick the lock on a door and go further into the factory.
What? Yes, I can pick locks. I am not as innocent as my sister....
"You're the?!-" I hear a scream from somewhere ahead. That was definitely Ani. Crap. I run towards the sound. I run into a large room, I think its the assembly room. I don't know exactly what this factory was for so I can't tell what used to be done in here. I see my sister leaning against the railing on the observation deck on the other side of the room. That railing has to be loose.
"ANI!?" I yell to her. She turns and looks at me with a mix of confusion and horror. I see a person walk up behind her. I run towards them as fast as I can but there still so far away. I don't think I will make it in time. I don't think I can....
"WAIT! HEAR ME OUT!" I yell to whom ever the attacker is. Its a hopeless plea but I have to stall while I try and get closer to them. I see the figure behind her stop.
"Who are you and what is this girl to you?" A female voice calls out and surprises me. Wasn't the person my sister was stalking a male? These thoughts make an unnecessary pause.
"Uh... She is my little sister." I respond to her. I am standing on the floor beneath the observation deck. There is no way that woman will let me climb the steps so my safest bet is to stay here.
"How do you feel about being an only child?" She asks as she takes a step closer to Ani.
"No! Don't! What do you want? I can get money! I will do whatever you want me to! Just please, let her go!" I beg without thinking. Yes, I could come up with money but not immediately.
"Do you mean that?" She asks. I hesitate. She pushes Ani against the railing and it breaks she is keeping Ani from falling.
"ZACK! Zack give her what she wants please! Please help me?!" Ani cries. I bite my lip. At this height even if I caught her, and that's a BIG if, I can't guarantee she would survive.
"Yes. Yes, I mean it. Let Ani go. I will give you what ever you want." I say admitting defeat. The lady ties Ani's wrists together and walks her down the stairs.
"Good boy. I didn't come hunting looking for this though I am satisfied with the results. There will be a penalty for you being late though." She says while descending the stairs. She stops about halfway and hovers over my sisters forehead.
"In about 5 minutes she will forget you even exist. I will take precious time to make sure that everyone you have ever know will forget about you. Not only that but the sight of you will put them on edge for no reason and they will never be able to trust you again.
This is your punishment for being late." She says this all with an evil grin on her face. Dang it. What the heck?!
"Zack, what she is saying can't be real right?!" Ani asks in a panic.
"I-...I don't know Anima..." I am honest with her. If this psycho really does erase me from her life I don't want my last words to be a lie. That would weigh really heavy on my conscious. DANG IT! There I go again with those selfish thoughts....
The lady lets Ani run over to me. I wrap her in my arms and hug her tightly. Now is the perfect time to run.
"Tick-Tock dear children. Only a minute left." The lady warns.
Ani looks up at me with tears in her eyes. I look down at her with a concerned expression.
"Zack, What's your middle name? I can't seem to remember anymore..." Ani says, her voice cracking at the end. My eyes widen in horror. It's real. This lady has that power. If whatever happens in this moment is the lasting impression she will have of me I don't want it to be one of happiness or comfort. Those are feelings someone should have everyday with someone they trust. If she trusts me but then forgets me it will leave a gap somewhere that won't be patched very easily... It's time to be a big brother. I push Ani away. I wont look her in the eyes. That will make this easier.
"This is a dream come true. I have always Hated having to be the doting brother. So do me a favor and forget about me. Move on. Make someone else care about you now cause I am DONE with that crap." I say to her, emphasizing the words that will hurt the most. I keep my head turned away from her. She comes over to me and tries to make me look at her. I refuse and continue to push her away.
"Zack?! No, please. You can't mean that." She pleads.
"Times up kiddies." The evil lady says. I take a last glance at my sister. Her eyes glaze over and she passes out. I look back at her and just now realize I am crying. I catch her and slide to the floor with her. I glare at the lady.
"What did you do?" I demand.
"She is just unconscious. She will wake up and go on with her daily life as if you never existed." She assures me. I bite my lip but fight my urge to lash out. What happens now? She walks over and wipes a tear off my cheek.
"Don't cry and glare. It's not cute. You are mine now. I own you." She says in a threatening voice. I stand up and leave my head hanging.
"Yeah, okay." I mumble. There is nothing left for me. I feel sick to my stomach. This is a lot to process. Its all so sudden. I don't get it.
I hear a sharp crack and sudden pain spreads across my back, I sink to my knees in pain. I look behind me and see the lady holding a whip. It has spikes on the end. They are dripping with blood, my blood. I see her hand go up and I wince automatically. She laughs.
"Ha! Very good! Now try something a little more obedient. Like "Yes, Ms. Val" Or, "Of course my queen." something like that will do." She says in a delighted voice. I seriously think that I might throw up now. What the heck?! I pull one knee up to my chest and brace myself against that. Technically I have already done one stupid thing so it can't get worse. Right?
"Never gonna happen. I might be yours but I won't play along. I still have my pride." I say faking confidence. My voice sounds like I am about to- oh wait. I am crying. I can feel heat rush to my face. Shame. This is visible shame.
All traces of her fake smile disappear. She raises the whip. My body shudders, anticipating the pain but I just look her in the eyes.
"You're going to regret this for eternity." She says with the slightest trace of pity. The whip comes down repeatedly. I bite my tongue to hold in my cries of pain. I feel the blood ooze down my back all warm and sticky. It sends a shiver up my spine which just makes it ache all the more. She continues with the whip.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
She stops. I drop to the floor, face first. I am gasping heavily. I don't know when but at some point I started holding my breath.
"The next lashings will go to your sister. Just because she doesn't remember you doesn't mean she can't feel pain." Val warns me.
I constantly gave my everything for her. Anima. The girl who won't even remember it. Why not give her all I have left?
"No, My Queen. Please don't. I was foolish.... I-" I hesitate as I murder my pride. Well, what's left.
"I'm sorry." I finish with a sigh of relief. She doesn't say anything but she doesn't attack either. I lay here crumpled on the floor, an absolute mess. I will fight back one day. She walks towards me. The sound her heals make on the concrete is disturbing. It echoes all around me making my head swim.
"Very good. Now sleep." She whispers as I slip into a cold black nightmare filled sleep.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3 years later*
Let me catch you up to date. For the past 3 years I have bounced from "owner" to "owner." I learned about the dynamics of all demons. I learned how things really worked. My deviser (person who turned me into a demon) Val, was of the Raptore variety. Means she was a bird lady. She turned me into a bird as well. She was an ugly vulture. I am a varlet(dishonest or unprincipled man) crow. In our society different species hold different ranks. Raptore sit somewhere in the middleclass. What we lack in strength we make up for in stealth. When we are owned by someone our job is to observe people and find good treasures. I am a rare Raptore breed. What is a crow better at than finding the shiny? I betrayed Val by catching the eye of a higher specie demon.
A Panthera, cat demon. This guy isn't just a house-cat though. He has Tiger roots. Tigers are faster, more aggressive and stronger than Lions pound for pound. Their coordination and fighting skills are superior as well. What I am saying is, I am currently owned by a beast that no matter how psycho Val is she would never challenge him. In a way he is protecting me. In a very sadistic way. Lately he has been getting more and more touchy. I do my best to stay on his good side. I stay away from him as much as possible but its really hard to do seeing how I am under house arrest. He gets paranoid that I am going to leave and spill his weaknesses. I am apparently the only living* pet that the great and powerful King Befoul has. I didn't ask what happened to the others. After all I conned him into taking me home so I am just getting what I asked for.
"KROW?! WHERE ARE YOU?!" Befoul calls for me from somewhere near the doorway. Usually I am waiting at the door when he gets home. I race down the hallway and meet him in the kitchen.
"Welcome home master." I say with a fake smile. I am a shell of a demon. I can kill, steal, haunt and torment all I want to but I can never be whole again. I will never feel pride or joy. I haven't cared about what has happened to me for 3 years and I am not about start now. Befoul grabs my throat and shoves me into the wall. I wince from the impact. He sneers from the pleasure it brought him.
"Why were you late?" He growls at me. A few owners ago this would be where I said something incredibly sarcastic. Maybe he will kill me this time.
"Oh just planning my palace revolution. How ya been?" I taunt. His grip tightens around my throat and his lips curl back. Heh. Oops.
He throws me to the floor. My back hits with a loud thud. My breath is knocked out of me. Befoul pins me down. This might sound awkward but its simply how Panthera fight. The movements are very cat-like. I stare into his feral eyes. To have such emotion in ones eyes... Mine have been a flat black for 3 years. They show nothing. There is just nothing inside of me. I don't resist and I don't fight back. That's when cats get the most violent. The fact that someone so dead inside could have such emotion really crests my anger. That's the only emotion I have left. Anger. It helps me hate myself everyday, today its going to kill me. I spit in his face.
"What happened that made you so twisted and dead inside? Where did your humanity go?" I ask him. All of my fake equanimity is gone. He stays perfectly still and actually thinks about what to do next.
"I will show you." He says with a genuine smile. Then he suddenly jerks my head to the side and bites down hard into my neck. I was not expecting that so I unwillingly let out a scream of agony which only makes him bite harder. Then his hand covers my mouth and I slowly start to suffocate. I resist every instinct to fight back. Black slowly devours my vision until I feel nothing. I pass out again.
~~~~
I slowly wake up. I open my eyes and sit up. Every inch of me aches. I can see my clothes are pretty much drenched in blood. Mine of course. I am sitting on the couch in the living room. I hear a noise upstairs and turn my head out of instinct. I instantly feel a searing pain radiate from my neck/collar bone. I remember the sound of Befouls fangs sinking into my skin. Bleh. I shudder.
None of my bones appear to be broken... I have all my limbs... He didn't cut my hair.. What torture does he have in mind? He certainly isn't the type to be satisfied with beating someone to near death when they aren't even awake to react. Then again I don't really react even when I am awake...
Befoul walks down the stairs. He spots me and freezes. I brace myself for whatever comes next.
Nothing. He is just staring at me.
"Get changed. You are going to learn how I became so twisted." Befoul instructs me. He turns and continues to the kitchen. Ah, for all that is impure and unholy why do I have such a sarcastic mouth?! An old emotion briefly flutters through me.
Fear.
Then it is gone. Things like that make me feel numb. I go and change my clothes, preparing for whatever trials and tribulations await me.
~~~~~~Part 2 Coming Soon!~~~~~~~~~~~
This is a visual of Befoul. Do you know how hard it is to find a picture of a possessive red head?
Glossary: (From here on out I am going to call this "Word me!")
Val for short valkry.
ANIMA (2) f English (Rare)
Means "soul, spirit" in Latin
. In Jungian psychology the anima is an individual's true inner self, or soul.
Varlet: Unprincipled or dishonest man
Raptore: Latin for Bird of Prey
Equanimity: mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation:
Crests: to reach the top of something. (I used this word because it also means a comb or tuft of feathers, fur, or skin on the head of a bird or other animal)
Panthera: Latin for Big Cat (Basically......)
Deviser: Creator, maker, author, ect.
Befoul: make dirty; pollute: (I chose this name mostly for the Foul part of it. Befoul gives the proper feel of the character where as if I made a character called Foul I would go a different route because it has a different feel to it. Does that make sense?)
Sadistic: deriving pleasure from inflicting pain, suffering, or humiliation on others
Tribulations: a cause of great trouble or suffering:
Foul: offensive to the senses, especially through having a disgusting smell or taste or being unpleasantly soiled: Meaning 2: Wicked or Immoral (doesn't that sound like an epic character that you just love to love/hate?)
