Chapter 2- Chained
I couldn't believe what just happened. I just can't accept that my life was over. And it was all thanks to that monster, that thing that only I saw. What was it? It looked like a bear mixed with a Minotaur. Only it had that strange white mask over its face.
Then…everything became visible again. Except the only problem was that it was a huge blur. I still felt the pain I felt before, but it wasn't as painful. I unstrapped myself from the booster seat, wondering if I were still alive, and used all the strength I had left to pry the car door open. When I finally got out, I found a women who was panicking and screaming for help. There was another women with her, who was on the phone, probably calling the emergency number that I can't seem to remember.
"Hey, miss…uh what just happened?" I asked in a horrified voice. There was no answer. I waved my hand in front of her face. She didn't even make a reaction. Yet again I was confused. Can she not see me? I tried walking over to the other women, and felt a slight tug on my chest and the sound of a chain being pulled along the street. I turned around to find no one behind me, only to see our wrecked car and the rest of my family, sitting motionless in their seats. The monster was nowhere to be seen.
Next, I started to cry but felt like I had to fight the tears. I knew that my family was gone forever. Suzaku, the one brother that I loved, and my dad, who was the best dad a daughter could have. Then there was mom. She was the sweetest, most caring mother I wished I could be like when I grew up. I loved her the most of all. All of them…gone. But if I'm here, then where are they? Why aren't they with me?
I looked down to where I felt the tug on my chest and found a chain, like the ones used to hold wooden boxes together, or the ones you see on a semi-truck. What was it doing connected to my chest? I yanked at it for at least ten minutes trying to get it off. I finally decided to give up and sat on the ground, alone. Then it hit me. I knew how to get the chain off. I managed to open the trunk of the car and pulled out my dad's toolbox (he was a construction worker). It was extremely heavy so I dropped it on the street and the items inside it scattered across the ground. I found an axe, which I didn't have a clue how to use it, and swung away at the chain connected to my chest. I felt a slight pinch and I was free.
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Hours passed ever since I started wandering my way back to my house in Karakura Town. I was certain I would be locked out, since no one was home and I was only but a lonely soul. There had to be miles more to travel until I got there. Moments later I felt this strange sensation. It was like I was being overpowered by the air itself.
I looked up and there in front of me, was another monster. It was different than the one I saw before, with a white mask and those scary red eyes. This one looked like a mosquito, but much larger in size. I heard a voice crawl out of its mouth from behind its mask.
"Such a large power is coming from this small package? This can't be right…" it groaned. "But I'll eat it anyway."
Panic rose within in me. What am I supposed to do? It wants to eat me! I bolted from my spot and felt my feet dig into the ground as I ran underneath this monster. I looked back and saw the mosquito thing flying at me at the speed of light. I pushed myself to run faster and faster, until my legs couldn't stand it anymore. I tripped on the street and layed there with my eyes shut, prepared for the end. The end of me.
I waited for the moment that I was going to get eaten, but it never came. I heard a voice. One I have never heard before in my life. And the voice was aimed at me. Who can talk to me? I'm a ghost! Then I slowly opened my eyes…and saw…a man. I felt his gaze go through to my eyes. It was powerful. I couldn't manage to creep a word from my mouth.
"Hey, kid" he said, "you're safe now." He picked me up and set me back up on my feet. I stared at the man for a while. Looking amazed at what he was wearing. The man was dressed in a black kimono. No, it wasn't a kimono, but it was close to being one. "What're you staring at?" he hissed.
"S-sorry sir!" I mumbled, "I didn't mean to." I looked down, feeling ashamed for staring at him. "Wh-who are you?" I kicked my feet at the ground.
"I'm a soul reaper. You don't need to know my name, kid," he explained. "Now in return, what's your name?" He placed his hand under my chin and pushed my head up so he can look into my eyes, which made me kind of uncomfortable.
"I'm…..Izume. Izume Shiba, s-sir," I said shyly. "And…what is a soul reaper? And what was that monster that was chasing me?" I searched behind the soul reaper and the monster was gone without a trace.
"Why that's such a nice name you have. A soul reaper is a person who protects souls, like you, from those monsters. So we're kinda like guardians, or gods even. And that "monster" is known as a hollow" he explained. "And soul reapers carry around weapons, called zanpakutou, and use them to cleanse those hollows from their sins. Got that?"
"I guess so. So hollows eat souls? And does every soul reaper have the same power?" I asked, thinking I shouldn't be asking so many questions. I saw him sigh and he started answering my questions.
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I learned a lot about my new life. Like how I was dead, about hollows and soul reapers, and many other things. I just wish I knew this guy's name. Calling him sir is getting quite annoying. I sighed as he finished explaining what a konso is, and that he's gonna use it to send me to this place called "Soul Society".
"It's a nice place over there. You'll make a lot of new friends, and maybe someday you can become a soul reaper like me if you want," he told me as I saw him unsheathe his zanpakutou.
"But what about my family? They all died with me!" I screamed. "I want them to come with me!"
"I'm sorry, kiddo, but I don't know where they are or what they look like. There's a possibility a hollow could've already gotten to them," he looked at me with an "it's-gonna-be-alright" expression. I frowned and felt as if I were the saddest person in the world.
"It's okay. You don't have to apologize. It's not your fault they died…it's cuz I was the only one who saw that hollow before we crashed into it and faced death. It's my fault cuz I couldn't save them!" I yelled. "Why couldn't I be older? Why couldn't I save them? Tell me!" I started crying again.
He sighed. "Look kid, I can't answer those questions for you. And I'm sorry that you couldn't save them. You just got to face the fact that you're the only one left. You have to learn that there was no way for you to save them. You're better off in the Soul Society anyways!" he tried to convince me. It was hard to believe that he was right.
"I'm sorry. Thanks for making me feel the tiniest bit better. And you're right. They're gone. And I'm all alone. So go ahead and send me to this place you call "Soul Society"!" I crossed my arms and gave him the look I have whenever I'm angry. I felt my eyes water.
The soul reaper smiled as he wished me good luck and I was on my way to a new world. A place where things were supposed to be better, and where I can make new friends. I want to grow up. And become a soul reaper…so I can protect those from facing tragic ends like I did. I knew that from now on, I will live a whole new life.
