I’m My Own High School Rival: Rika’s Arc: Of Fate and Future.

  I ran out of the front office, bat in hand. I was going to bring Antwon Carter back to his home, to Christina Tetsusen.

  I climbed the stairs to the second floor, pacing myself. If I had to fight, I couldn’t go in winded. I counted the doors down from twenty-one onward. I slowed my pace as I approached room twenty-seven, key in hand, and bat lowered so as not to alarm anyone. If I could talk it out, I would.

  I ducked under the window so as not to be seen. My heart raced. Fighting a Daughter of Ash was no simple task. They lived for conflict and were always ready to die for their matriarch. On top of that, she’s already showcased her strength with the vending machine.

  I made my way to the door and slipped the key into the lock.

  My pulse raced, and my hand gripped the bat so tightly I thought I would get splinters.

  I twisted the key and swiftly opened the door with the same hand.

  The world became a blur, my body went numb, but I could feel the air rushing past me, and sounds sharpened.

  The world returned to focus moments later, but I could see everything: motes of dust and particles from the world around me. Tastes and smells that were no longer present were as clear as the empty room before me.

  I looked around at the empty bed and the open bathroom door. They could be hiding in the bathroom, but I don’t hear breathing. I stepped closer, clutching the brown wooden bat. The bathroom wasn’t big, so I angled myself to see beyond the door without going in.

  I turned to the bed. I doubt they’re hiding under it, but I slid the bed back and found nothing.

  I lowered the bat, disappointed in myself. I was ready to kill her without talking.

  I was out of breath and hadn’t even done anything.

  I sat down on the bed; it was still warm. They had left minutes ago, but I needed to recenter myself.

  I lay the bat on the bed and shook my arms and legs, trying to shake off the adrenaline. Once done, I sighed because the chase would continue on, and each step into depravity brought me closer to—

  “Are you done sitting around, Rika?”

  I stared off into the empty bathroom, not wanting to respond, not wanting to relapse, and not wanting to die, but I wouldn’t die because I’m not chasing the killer. Tiffany said that I died chasing them.

  “I’m done sitting around, your grace.” I stood and walked to the door, unsure where I would search next. I wonder what became of the fake janitor pushing the mop bucket. I wondered if the love hotel had working cameras, and I wondered if they would let me use them without calling in favors.

  I walked out of the empty room and continued toward room twenty-nine, peeking through the rooms’ windows to locate the woman I crossed paths with earlier, but no luck. So, I went to the first floor and did the same, considering the reasons she would lie about being a janitor.

  Clearly, she was hiding from someone, but who? The call ended without warning when Trish typically stages a dramatic exit. I shook my head, shaking off the issues surrounding her motives.

  As I approached room fourteen, I noticed that the blinds were closed, but the door wasn’t fully shut. Curiosity became me, and I slowly opened the door. The room was freezing, but it wasn’t hot outside. I opened the door more, and a faint odor became apparent. I couldn’t quite figure out what it was, but I knew it; I’ve smelled it before.

  The room was darker than usual with the closed blinds, but I didn’t need light to see how clean the floor was. I crouched down and clutched the bat. I moved into the room, turned around, and slowly closed the door as I found it. The smell was stronger now, causing the hair on my neck to stand.

  I stood up straight, bat at the ready, and darted for the light because that smell, that pungent odor could only be one thing.

  Lights on, I turned to the bed, and there lay a body… a boy; with nasty gashes… he had been sanguanated. But it wasn’t Antwon.

  I backed away slowly, not wanting to touch anything else. My fingerprints were all over the damn door, which will mark me as a suspect if I don’t get ahead of this.

  Once out of the room, I ran to the front desk to inform the clerk of my discovery.

  ***

  My lungs filled with air that burned like cinders as we ran down the street, catching stray eyes. Kami was ahead of me, carrying both our belongings and still outpacing me with ease. If I were watching us from a distance, it would look like Kami had robbed me, and I was chasing her.

  “K-Kami, you…need a break,” I said, gasping for air. She gradually slowed her pace to a halt. She turned to look at me, clutching two duffel bags in both arms while more hung from each arm. I didn’t struggle to carry mine, but I’m not used to running this hard.

  “I need a break?” she said, barely winded. “If I didn’t know better, I need to toss your ass up here, too, Cross.” I scoffed between breaths, wanting to snap back but unwilling to waste my reprieve.

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  I slowly walked to Kami, not wanting her to run again. “Let’s… walk for a bit, Kami.”

  “Walk?” she whispered as I drew closer, “I tell you that someone is chasing you, and you want to walk?”

  “If we keep running, and you continue to outpace me, someone's going to alert a patrol. Besides, don’t you want help carrying some of the bags?” If she lets me help, I can walk a little longer… If men were as strong as women, I wouldn’t need to walk.

  “Don’t be stupid, Cross,” she said, turning around and walking beside me. “What kind of older sister symbol would I be if I made you carry anything, breathing all hard and shit?”

  “Older sister symbol?” I said. “Since when… were you this, Kami?”

  She balled her face up and looked away. “Since sex symbol is off the fucking table, Cross.” Well, in another life, Kami would… not be my type; she’s too much like Knox if I were born into status.

  “Quick, kid, hug me.”

  “What…” I positioned myself between Kami and the swinging bag beneath her right arm, hugging her. “More love and less awkward,” she said, so I hugged her as I would Sakura, even faking a smile.

  “What’s this for, Kami?” I whispered, holding my composure.

  Just then, a flock of motorcycles rushed down the street past us, past everyone. I could barely make them out, but it was clear that they were carrying weapons. Once they had passed, I looked at Kami, who looked at me.

  “Well, shit, walking was a good call.”

  ***

  “Listen to what I’m telling you. I came across the body while looking for the fake janitor.” I said to the woman interrogating me, who was clad in armor, slightly covered by a modified kimono.

  “It doesn’t add up, and when they finish dusting for prints, you’re done. You’ll be executed for your transgressions!”

  I sighed, confused and pissed because I’m the one who had them called.

  “Now, we did confirm with the clerk that you mentioned another janitor,” she said, leaning forward in her chair, interlocking fingers. “We’re also checking the cameras to confirm your interactions with this ‘other janitor.”

  “Good, the sooner the better—”

  She drew her sword, holding its blade to my neck. “You can play it cool as much as you’d like, but we’ve got you dead to rights.” The stress from not catching the killer must be eating away at their ethos… but I can’t go down for—

  My phone rang, and the inspector smiled. “Looks like the goddess is smiling on me today,” she said, extending her hand. I took my phone out of the front-left pocket of my jacket and placed it in the interrogator's hand.

  She answered the call and held the phone to her ear without saying anything. Depending on who it was, the fallout of not greeting would differ.

  Seconds felt like hours as she waited for the person on the other end to say something. My phone defaults to speaker, so…

  “Yes, your grace,” I said loud enough for it to be heard. The interrogator scowled at me.

  “It’s about fucking time, bitch. Did running around the slums make you forget your place? Must I remind you?”

  “Who is this?” the interrogator said.

  “Who the fuck is this!” Trish screamed.

  “I am the district inspector for Gifu, and your buddy here is in the hotseat for murder. So—”

  “Good job, Rika! I knew you could do it—”

  “I didn’t kill that girl; she’s talking about a dead boy!”

  “So you were planning on—”

  “You’re a fucking disappointment, Rika! She was questionable. The Veil would have thanked you! Now, what boy was it? Did you find Carter dead? I’ll let Christina know that her toy is gone. Christina!” She wouldn’t.

  “Christina… as in Tetsusen?”

  “I’ve got bad news. Rika found a dead boy at a love hotel…” Tell her everything, Trish!

  A blood-curdling scream came through the phone and slowly trailed off.

  “Why would you do that, your grace?”

  “Fuck her. I haven’t had a moment of peace since he went missing. Let’s let her believe he's gone, maybe she’ll call Jade and get me a free pass into the Veil to hunt the killer myself.”

  “Are you… Trish Tetsusen?”

  “Oh, I forgot that you were there… give Rika back her phone. Are you interrogating her?” The blood in her face went cold.

  “Just asking a few questions about—”

  “She didn’t do it. It was that Ash bitch.” I… I’m unsure of that.

  “Ash… in the Veil!?”

  ***

  I ran down the hall, voice echoing my uncontained fury. How can he be dead? How did this happen, and how many must die before I’m satisfied? I turned the corner and ran down the hall to the double doors at the end.

  The doors opened, and my father stood before me with open arms. I slowed my pace so as not to hurt him on impact. We embraced, and he smothered my weeping with his warmth.

  “What’s wrong, Christina? What did your mother do this time?” he squeezed me, reassuring me that I was safe with him.

  I wanted to say that he was gone: the boy I fought for was taken by a killer hiding in the Veil, but muffled screams were all I could manage. He guided me to their room, and I heard the door gently close.

  ***

  “Now, take a deep breath and tell me what is wrong, my love.” I took a deep breath and opened my eyes. My father’s short sun-kissed hair and blue eyes helped calm my wrath because he was always the symbol of hope in my life.

  I took another breath, “ Father…the boy I’ve won…” sniffles escaped me. “He was killed in the Veil.” My eyes started to water, but he remained calm.

  “The foreign boy that you told me about?”

  “Yes. Some fucking bitch…people are calling ‘The Knife Killer’ took him to a love hotel and butchered him.” He placed a hand to the side of his face. “And now I feel… I don’t know what I feel, but I want blood.”

  “I’m so sorry, love. Who told you that he was dead, so we can reward them for bringing us closure?”

  I wiped my eyes with my sleeve, “Mom said that—” my father sighed.

  “Your mother told you that he was dead?”

  “Yes.”

  “What were her exact words, hun?” I grabbed the side of my head, confused. Why did it matter? “I don’t…remember the exact words, father.”

  “Do me a favor and call your friend and ask her if there is a body. I’m sure that she won’t know who you're talking about because there are many incidents within the Veil, but give it a try.”

  I reached into the pocket of my skirt and retrieved my cell phone. Unlocking the screen took a while because the tears landing on the screen messed with the sensitivity. Once unlocked, I called Jade, and the phone rang. But what could I say to her that wouldn’t make me look like a fool?

  “Jade speaking, what do you need, Christina?” I placed my fingers in my mouth, not wanting to sound weak. “Christina?” My eyes started to water at the thought of her confirming Antwon’s corpse. “Hello…” I brought my hand up to my eyes, hiding shame.

  “Hi, sweety. It’s Mr. Tetsusen, calling on Christina’s behalf.”

  “Oh, um, Good afternoon, sir.”

  “Hi, I have a question only you can answer.”

  “Well, I’ll do my best.”

  My father got up and sat next to me, wrestling the phone from my weak fingers. “Well, someone has informed us that a body was found at a love hotel in your territory.”

  “I see. I’ve not been informed about it, but we do have a situation in the Veil; however, I’m sure that it will be resolved soon.”

  “I’m certain. But, can you look into it for me?”

  “Sure thing, Mr. Tetsusen. I’ll get back to you when I have more information.”

  The call ended, and my father stroked my hair as I leaned on him, pressing my head into his chest.

  “I should have brought him home…I could have protected him.”

  “Dwelling in hypotheticals will do nothing but steep you in self-doubt, so please, my love, keep your spirits up.”