Chapter Nine: Alone in Ruin:

Kate stared at the empty sky above. All emotion drained from her soul. Her eyes couldn’t match the blankness in the sky. It hurt to move. She couldn’t even be sure if she was crying or not. The broken smile told everything to a passer-by.

Kill me.

She didn’t deserve this. Were all men in war this violent? No. Her beloved Ichiro was nothing but kind to her. He showed that he loved her. But where was he now? He promised to return to her.

All men lie.

No, that couldn’t be. Ichiro wasn’t a liar. But where was he? The buzzing of crickets did little to ease her suffering. Kate drew her eyes closed. Please come back to me. Her pain kept her down on the wet grass. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Kate only set out to find the man that she loved. Her mother tried to talk her out of her quest.

“There is a war going on,” she pleaded to her daughter. “Forget about him. He was bad news anyway. You will find a better man.” The girl refused to listen. She didn’t want a better man, she wanted her Ichiro. But where did he go?

He abandoned you.

No! He didn’t abandon her. Maybe, he got lost in the war. Things like that can happen, right? Right?

He’s a liar just like all men are! They should just die!

Kate grinded her teeth. Where was this voice coming from? Who are you?

I am you!

That couldn’t be. How could she be lying on the ground and hear that voice in her head at the same time? It had to be a trick. Please leave me alone.

I’m afraid I cannot do that.

But why not?

You are a victim.

A victim?

Yes! Those men violated you! They should pay for what they did to you! Stand up and kill them all!

But I can’t!

You must! Do it for you and all of the girls they violated!

How can I do that?

Just leave it all to me.

But…

I will help you get revenge. Leave it to me!

When Kate yanked open her eyes, that’s when the monster came to life.