Early Autumn, 2016
Japan, Central Island, Ame Village
She writhed in pain from the nightmare, like a wounded snake. She cast a flickering glance at her digital clock; it was 5:45 AM. She rolled over, wrapping the blanket tighter around her trembling, freezing body. The thought of falling asleep again terrified her. A cool autumn breeze wove through the white window, gently caressing the variegated pothos leaves. The shivering girl slowly sat up, rubbing her tired, ugly face. Beside her white bed stood a simple console table, holding only a digital clock and an old, two-person photo frame. With a sorrowful gaze, she looked at the photo of her and her mother. Her full, red lips pressed together tightly as her heart felt ready to burst from anguish. Clutching the white blanket, she freed herself from the bed's grasp.
For a moment, she shivered from the cold autumn wind that swept through the forest village. As her feet touched the parquet floor, the chill spread through her. Last night, exhausted from her dojo training, she had forgotten to close her window. She opened the wooden door to her bathroom, flicking the plastic switch. Soon, a white light revealed the clean, shiny bathroom. She slowly approached the tub, mechanically adjusting the hot and cold water. She slipped out of her white and black top and shorts before stepping into the platform tub.
She momentarily lost her balance, gripping the tub's edge for support. Warm water cascaded over her head, plastering her black hair to her bruised, tired body. Kneeling in the tub, she stared blankly at the rippling water, watching the tiny and large waves come and go. With a small frown, she hugged her arms, feeling the old, healed scars on her delicate skin. The water beat down on her head, drowning her in a devastating tsunami of dreadful memories. She closed her eyes, her full red lips trembling as they pressed together. Her breaths broke the eerie silence of the bathroom with quiet sobs, hot tears mixing with the lukewarm water in the tub. She submerged her head under water, weeping. Bubbles erupted violently on the surface. All the young girl wished for was death, nothing more.
When she ran out of breath, she emerged slowly, her high-pitched gasp accompanied by painful coughs. Blindly, she reached out to turn off the water. Leaning against the tub's wall, she extended her legs halfway. Her body had lost its chill, now borrowing warmth from the water. Her hollow, dark eyes moved in their hopeless sockets, scanning her slim body marked with burns and whip scars. She could count her protruding ribs. A bitter smile twisted her lips downwards. As she tried to push her wet hair back, her fingers accidentally brushed against the vile scar from those bites. Her fingers froze in the air. Startled by the nightmare, she clumsily escaped the tub, slipping onto the tiled bathroom floor.
She struggled to regain her balance, wrapping herself in a white toweling robe, and staggered out of the bathroom. Silent tears choked her breath. This had been her state for seven years. With a pitiful expression, she collapsed onto her bed. The cold wind stung her flushed, hot face. She lifted her head slightly, hoping the cool air would soothe her hellish dream-scorched body. Minutes passed; she slowly opened her eyes. The clock was stuck on six. No matter how many times she blinked, the cursed time didn't change. She moved quietly to her wardrobe, opening the brown door to retrieve her traditional black dojo attire.
Under the black dojo clothes, she wore a grey tank top. As always, she tied her hair back loosely, letting the front hang free to cover the ugly scar on her face. She grabbed her small gym bag and left her simple room. No one else in her family was awake yet. She moved blindly through the dark house. The second-floor hallway had no windows, so darkness ruled there. Carefully, she descended the wooden stairs and turned towards the kitchen. She placed her black bag in a corner by the glossy black cabinets. With the faint light coming from the kitchen window, she filled the electric kettle and set it on its white stand. Opening the fridge, she took out milk, cheese, and butter to prepare breakfast for her family. A soft, gentle voice startled her:
- "Good morning, Akame!"