Darkness… I'm surrounded by darkness.

The girl couldn't see anything but pitch blackness. It was as if she was trapped in a world where no one could see her; an encasement of suspicion and fear. The girl was alone in this vast universe, where no one could hear her screams, her cries for someone to save her. She longed for a rescuer; a savior that would take her hand and free her from this suffocating darkness.

I don't want this.

Everyone just walked by her. Some of them feeling pity for the girl; others just mocking her, their looks of scorn and malice burning into her mind, clinging to her thoughts like fire. She could feel it; the darkness growing stronger, thicker, the walls that enclosed her in this empty world narrowing with each passing second.

Some people just ignored her; they couldn't care less. They looked on with indifference, pretending she wasn't there. She was beginning to lose hope. She could feel herself melting into this world; she would become as dark and empty as the air around her. There was no rescuer, no hero. Nobody would bother to save her.

I don't deserve this.

Voices, whispering, the sound getting louder, crowding and crushing her, she couldn't breath, she couldn't see a thing. But she couldn't do anything about it, as she was trapped in a glass barrier. She longed to crush this barrier; to release herself into the world that existed beyond this dismal place. However, the girl knew that if she broke the barrier, the noises would only get louder, harsher, crueler.

Like the deafening noise of glass shattering into pieces.

Please save me from this hell.

"Psst. Takara."

The little light purple-haired girl was trying to wake up her older sister, Takara. She had forgotten to set up her alarm clock at seven this morning. The little girl poked her face repeatedly, but softly so that she wouldn't be mad when she woke up.

"Sis. It's time to get up."

Takara still wouldn't get up. She turned away from her little sister in an attempt to shut her out. She didn't have much sleep last night.

Her little sister knew that there was still one more option. She moved her mouth closer to Takara's ear.

"WAKE UP!"

Takara shot up in an instant after hearing her sister shriek in her ear. She turned to Saki, annoyed with her.

"Saki! I told you not to do that anymore," Takara scolded, "Next time, just let me sleep for an extra five minutes if I'm that tired."

"You wouldn't have woken up either way!" Saki pouted. "I was doing you a favor by waking you up! You should be proud." Takara just rolled her eyes.

"Whatever. Where's Mom?"

"Asleep, again." Saki didn't sound too happy with that statement. Neither of them should be. They knew if she was asleep in the morning, she was either depressed or hungover, which was never a good sign. If they tried to wake her up, she would just yell at them to go away and shut the door.

That's how Mom always was after her husband left them.

After Saki was born, the DNA tests from the hospital said that her husband wasn't her biological father. The doctors said that Saki's real father was their mom's boss.

She had cheated on him.

After that, they got in a huge fight. They were throwing plates at each other in anger, the sound of it crashing and breaking ringing in her ears. They yelled and cursed, the clatter resonating through the entire house. Takara, who was only four at the time, couldn't understand why they were fighting. Their parents filed a divorce, her Dad packed his bags, and he was never heard from again.

That was the first sign that things were never going to be the same.

Mom quit her job so that she wouldn't have to see her boss again. She started drinking. Heavily. It seemed to drown out her problems at the time, but it only brought more. She grew neglectful of her kids, which mentally scarred them as much as the divorce scarred their mother.

Takara took on a motherly instinct for Saki. It was more like she was her guardian. Either way, Takara was still her big sister.

"Let's go eat breakfast, Saki." Takara said, leaving the room, knowing that Saki would follow her.

Every morning, Takara and Saki would make themselves breakfast, mostly miso soup. When they were done, they would get dressed in their school uniforms. Takara put parts of her dark purple hair in pigtails, while the rest of her hair was free. She would put Saki's hair into a braid, leaving her shaggy bangs in front.

They walked to school together for the last time.

Takara went to her first class, where she sat at the front of the room. She hated it there; she'd rather be in the back of the room, where there was no one behind her to put their feet on her chair. It didn't matter where she'd rather be, she was still there anyway.

While Takara was getting settled, two girls walked into class. Specifically, Yuna and Keiko. Yuna has a reputation of being the toughest girl in the class, she could get away with pretty much anything she wanted. When Keiko first arrived at that school as a new kid, the teacher told Yuna to show her around the school. After they got to know each other, those two became best friends.

Yuna sat behind Takara in class, Keiko sat behind Yuna.

Takara reached for her little pouch of pencils and opened it, only to find a sharpener with no pencils. Great, now I have to beg people for supplies, she thought, as she turned to the boy on her left. She tapped on his shoulder, yet he didn't turn his head. Takara tried again, but still no response.

"He's never going to notice you, Takara," said Yuna in her usually bold voice, "You're too much of a quiet little nut job for that to happen." Her voice caught the attention of a few kids in the class. Takara could feel the other kids staring at her, but she decided to ignore it.

"No one even likes her enough to pay attention anyway," said Keiko, talking to herself. Yuna turned to her and giggled.

"Good point." said Yuna. Takara could hear them talking behind her, which made her a little ticked off. She turned around, violently, and gave a mean look to Yuna. The sudden movement made her jump, but she refused to look intimidated by Takara.

"For your information," Takara started with a stern voice, "I was just asking him for a pencil…."

"Oh, you need a pencil?" Yuna asked with a fake nice tone.

"Yeah."

"Well I don't have an extra for you. Maybe try buying your own materials next time?"

There was a couple of "ooohhh"s from the other kids who were listening. It was humorous for them to watch Takara be humiliated. She was obviously embarrassed; you could see it in her face. You could also see the annoyance in her eyes. She turned back around, taking out her notes to distract herself from Yuna and all the kids staring at her.

"Maybe if you would mind your own business once in a while…" Takara muttered to herself.

"What did you say?" Yuna shouted.

Takara rolled her eyes and continued reading her notes. Even if she was used to this kind of behavior from her classmates, it wasn't exactly welcomed.

"Thought so." Yuna had a cocky smirk on her face.

Yuna always tried to act tough; that was only because she knew what power she had. Rumor had it that she had gotten expelled from her last school for getting in a fight with one of her teachers and knocking them out. She doesn't show that much regret for it either. Of course, it was just a rumor; Yuna never confirmed to it being true. She wanted to remain mysterious.

Keiko, on the other hand, is more verbally aggressive. She mostly fights with sarcastic remarks and blatant judgements. Everyone always called her "Yuna's little pet," since she seems to always take her side in arguments. In this case, Yuna would be very defensive of her.

Takara felt very awkward and hyperconscious of her actions at that point. She had always hated everyone in that class, but mostly Yuna and Keiko, since they're the ones who turned everyone against her. Since she was always so quiet and she sat alone at lunch, everyone thought she was hiding something.

There was an ongoing rumour at that school that Takara had schizophrenia. People either pitied her or they made fun of her for it. She told them repeatedly that the rumour wasn't true, but they didn't listen. Everyone would call her crazy and weird; it was no wonder people always avoided her.

After all, who cares about poor little Takara?

There it was. Lunch time.

Takara had walked into the cafeteria and put her bag down in her normal spot. She pulled out her identification card to go get her food. As she was about to get food, a crowd of people rushed to be first in line, pushing Takara out of the way, leaving her in the back of the line. Like she needed to feel more embarrassment than she did earlier.

The cafeteria was booming with the noise of children talking, running around to find their seats. Not one table was ever left empty in that room, everyone was crowded by their friends.

All of their smiling faces just pissed her off; the only people who were allowed to laugh and smile were the ones who deserved it the least. There was no time to feel loved and accepted when almost everyone she's ever known had a disliking towards her since they met her. All the bad people got what Takara so rightfully deserved. The feeling that she had longed for all this time. The feeling of unconditional love.

After a while of waiting in line, she had finally gotten her food. Since her first class, she had been agitated. She wasn't exactly paying attention to where she was going. She picked up her tray and made her way to her seat.

And then the worst thing happened.

"Ugh! You little shit!"

Takara had bumped into Yuna and Keiko and spilled her orange juice on them. Mostly Yuna, but a fair amount had spilled on Keiko as well.

They were standing face to face. Yuna's anger was building up each second they stood in silence and it felt like it was going to explode at any moment.

"This...was a new...uniform." Yuna's eye was twitching with fury.

"I…" Takara was just as stunned as Yuna was agitated. She felt as if she couldn't breathe or speak. It felt as if time had stood still and one second felt like forever. She didn't know what was going to happen next or what consequences were to come. Keiko felt the tension of the moment and decided to intervene.

"Yuna, please calm down," said Keiko, "She's not worth it! Remember what happened last time you lost your temper."

Yuna looked at Keiko and then looked back at Takara. Yuna, knowing that Keiko was probably right, decided to let it go. For now, at least.

"I'll deal with you later, pest." Yuna walked away, signaling Keiko to follow her. Takara sighed in relief; it seemed as if she was somehow saved from some huge disaster.

There was still some fear left in her after what she said though. "I'll deal with you later." Later? What did she mean by "later?"

I guess I'll find out. Later.

She had finally reached the end of the day. They both did.

Takara and Saki were walking home from school. Saki was telling a story about what happened that day. Takara was only half listening, nodding her head and saying a few "uh-huh"s at the end of every other sentence, trying to match her emotions as best as she can.

"And so the guy walked in and my friend is like 'That's the guy with the tomatoes!' and I was like 'What are you talking about?' and then- hey, I'm not annoying you, am I? With the stories, I mean." Saki paused. That last sentence caught Takara's attention.

"No, no, your stories don't annoy me," Takara reassured, "Talk all you want, I love listening to your stories." She never let Saki know that she was only half listening. Takara didn't want Saki to feel like no one cared; she knew how that felt all too well.

The air was cool as it flowed through their hair. It was always so quiet on that street that they could hear the crisp sound of their own footsteps against the concrete sidewalk. It felt to them that they were the only people there.

Until now.

"Well, looks like the nut job has a little sister."

That was Yuna's voice.

The two sisters turned around simultaneously in one swift movement to see Yuna and Keiko, who seemed to be amused at the sight of Takara having a little sister.

"I guess it's true what they say," said Keiko, "Freaks travel in packs. They must be the abandoned offspring." The two bullies cackled at that comment. Takara's hands clenched into fists as her entire body tensed up, her heart rate going faster. Saki looked up at her, seeing how upset she looked. She wanted to say something, but she was afraid.

"A-And who might you be?" said Saki, trying to be polite, despite their nastiness towards them. The girls looked surprised that she actually said anything to begin with, unlike her older sister.

"Hey, this one actually talks back," said Yuna, amused by how intimidated she was of her. Yuna stepped a little closer to them in order to get a better look at Saki. "I suggest you stop doing that, unless you wanna get hit. Is that what you want, little brat?"

Takara couldn't just stand there while her sister was getting talked down like that. She needed to do something, but what could she do? She was just as weak as her, she couldn't do anything.

"N-No, but-"

"You're probably just as crazy and weird as your sister, right? I bet she sniffs glue all the time at home and that's why she's so stupid, huh?" Yuna was basically tormenting them at this point. She loved that there were two of them to mess around with.

To the two bullies, it was hilarious; all just a fun game. They have been mentally and physically torturing Takara since middle school as a way to feel powerful. They enjoyed having that sense of power.

"My sister is not stupid!" Saki shouted, her voice boasting defiance. "Why are you saying these things?"

"Because they're all true! Face it, kid, she's a crazy nut job."

Takara was going to lose it. She could feel herself about to snap and she couldn't stop it now.

"Just like you."

"THAT IS ENOUGH!"

All three of them turned to look at Takara, her face smoldering with bitter determination. Saki was all she had; the only person in the world who cared for her, the only person who didn't ignore her or laugh at her. To her, Saki was everything. Those two could do all they wanted with her, but she would not let them get near her little sister. It was her job to protect Saki, and she would not step down, no matter what happened.

Her body, her mind, her soul was being enclosed, imprisoned in the moment, falling victim to the burning sensation in her chest. Nothing existed but her pulsating, ever-ringing heartbeat, the sound enveloping her and sinking into the corners of her mind. She stared at the two girls, her two tormentors.

Those disgusting people… No, I wouldn't even call them human. Those creatures… Who do they think they are to govern my life?

Her blood turning to ice, Takara was ready to confront them, her red eyes locked on the two smiling girls. She stepped up and got in their faces.

"You always act like you can treat people how you want just because you have a reputation! Because you pretend like you're better than everyone else! You always pick on me and I always have to take it, but no matter what, you do NOT pick on my little sister! Do you understand me?!"

It was silent. No one knew how to respond to that outburst. Not even Takara herself. This was the angriest she had ever gotten with them. You don't mess with family.

"...You just made the biggest damn mistake of your life." Yuna had the most intense expression on her face. Keiko grabbed Takara and had her in a chokehold.

"Let go of her!" Saki tried to save her, but Yuna clenched her right fist and swung it, making a critical hit in Saki's skull. She dropped to the ground, clutching her head in pain.

"SAKI!"

"You should be more concerned about what we're gonna do to you!" After Yuna said that, the two girls held her down and beat her violently, punching her face in and kicking at her ribcage every chance they got. Saki was on the ground, forced to be a bystander. She couldn't do anything when she was suffering massive head trauma at the moment.

This isn't happening, she said to herself, This isn't happening, this isn't happening, this isn't happening, this isn't real!

This isn't real. It can't be.

After what seemed like forever, they left Takara on the cold ground, bruised and broken, emotionally and physically. They did it. They finally broke her.

"Think about that next time you wanna try us again!"

Takara felt like she could barely get up. She was crying; right there, she wanted to give up on life. Then she remembered someone.

"Saki….."

She pushed herself to sit up and looked over at Saki, who was hugging her knees and crying to herself. It seemed as if she was having a mental breakdown. Takara rushed over to her, limping a bit. She kneeled down and held her close.

"I-I'm sorry...I couldn't protect you…I'm a terrible person…" Takara was still crying. The worst feeling is not being able to protect the person that you care about the most. Saki hugged her tightly.

"None of this was ever your fault, sis." Saki whispered into Takara's ear, which made her tears flow even faster. How could I let this happen? She felt cold inside, the emptiness beginning to fill her again. Why am I so helpless?

"You could change all of this."

Startled by the sudden the sudden intrusion, Takara looked to see a small, white-furred creature with red, beady eyes. It seemed to appear out of nowhere, but Takara was too emotionally broken to care at that moment. None of this could be real. It's just a dream. She didn't say anything.

"If you have a wish that you would die for, I could grant that wish. The possibilities are vast for you, Takara Shibata."

Takara said the first thing that entered her mind, a thought that had always been there, a thought that she had been too afraid to acknowledge. But now, after everything that had happened, she didn't fear that thought anymore. She embraced it.

"...I would wish for them to die."

"W-What?" Saki was shocked at the sudden dark tone of her sister.

"Would you trade your soul for that wish? Would you become a magical girl to grant that wish?"

"I don't care what I become," said Takara, who was now standing up, furious. "I just want them dead by my hands. If I have to become a magical girl for that to happen, then fine! Make me a magical girl, then!"

"As you wish."

Takara let out a horrible scream as her body was jolted with agonizing pain; something was being torn from of her chest. The feeling shook and resonated throughout her entire body, before it ended as suddenly as it had begun. She opened her eyes, a glimmer of light shining in the air before her. Takara grabbed the tiny glowing sphere, and her eyes widened as she watched it transform into a tiny silver ring.

Now it's my turn.

Her head turning ominously, Takara's eyes fell on the two girls in front of her. The anger was gone now, the candle in her mind had burned so brightly that it had given out. Her consciousness was frozen over, the jumble of burning thoughts that filled her mind had been erased, her mind was blank, focused, barren. She felt nothing at all.

Following an instinct she had never felt before, her clothing, her body began to change. Her school uniform fading away into a purple mist, her body now covered in something else; it looked almost like a costume. She felt something in her hands, too. Something cold. A weapon. She stared in awe at what she had clutched in her hands; a massive, curving scythe.

She was ready.

Takara ran full speed ahead at her tormentors, the sound of her footsteps racing in her ears, and as the wind rushed past her she began to feel invigorated, powerful, bracing herself for revenge. With one flick of her wrist, it was all over, the scythe moving through the air faster than her eyes could follow. Takara didn't think; she didn't feel. In what felt like a split second, Yuna and Keiko had collapsed to the concrete floor, their blood staining the sidewalk and draining from their crumpled bodies.

And then the strangest thing happened.

The girls were on fire, their bodies exploding in orange and gold. Takara felt more alive than ever; the look on their faces, the excruciating fear and pain. This is what she had been waiting for all her life.

As she watched the life begin to fall from their eyes, Takara felt a smile creep across her face. She had never remembered being this happy before.

"T-Takara?!"

Takara turned around to see Saki, her eyes wide with horror. For the first time in her life, she was terrified of her older sister. Takara was a murderer.

The glass barrier had finally been broken.