Government Project X: Bolvangar chapter four
Seki was sitting on the edge of the roof, his body was wrapped in white, but still he was transparent, and a set of soft feathery wings extended from his back and reflected the full moons light. He starred up at the stars and seemed to be caught in a web of dreams. He was oblivious that I was starring right at him, but he then shifted his head to face me, his eyes were so glassy that I could see the Aurora Borealis starting to appear against the dark blue sky. His face didn't express that happy child that I met today he seemed so lost. Like he was between two worlds, the world of the living and the world of the dead. "S-Seki?" I finally stuttered after a few long minutes. He remained silent, and turned his attention back to the Northern Lights. I think Nagataka was just as surprised as I was, but he nudged me forward. So, I slowly approached him, and then sat down next to him. Tonight was colder than most, and goose bumps shot up my arms and spine, turning my skin slightly cool. "You can't kill what's already dead." Seki said calmly. I was confused by that comment, but I kept quiet. "I was severed the night you came in Courtney. You and Taylor were in the cafeteria playing some sort of card game. I was in the athletic class, causing havoc like always. Mrs. Coulter came in and saw what was happening, screeching at me, she dragged me past you two, I stayed silent, knowing my death had finally arrived. But before that over sized paper cutter ended my life, I told Mrs. Coulter harshly that I would come back and help these children escape from this hell, and you know what that damn bitch did? She laughed at me. Her lips curled upwards and her voiced cracked and broke the steal table I was strapped to. She then grasped that lever and tugged down on it with all her strength, instantly I felt the cold slice through my heart, and I looked over to see Yoshiko's small white body fade away, a clear tears fall from the corner of her eyes. Slowly, my breath shortened, my vision blurred, and I gasped for air, next think I know, I was dead." Seki was silent after that. His words sank into my head, and the snow around me, it was hard to swallow that at once. Here I was sitting next to an..angel, whom just explained how he died to me. I got up and gave a glance down at Seki, to see small water droplets slide off of him. "Oh dear god." I whispered to myself. This poor boy was torn away from his family, and the last thing he saw was Mrs. Coulters horrible laughing face.
I fell to my knees next to Seki and wrapped my arms around his clear body, feeling nothing but a cold mist. But through his spirit shell there was a heartbeat; I could feel it. It was faint, but defiantly there. His tears fell onto my navy blue shirt, and froze immediately. I closed my eyes tight to stop all the pain that was welling up inside, because I knew what he was experiencing, in a way. I felt like I was already dead, and really wished it, but I could see through Seki that it's not worth it. I grasped onto to him tightly and hugged him, and actual hug, something I hadn't experienced in years.
"You and Tay where the last two friends I saw before I died, you and Stella will be the first ever to escape from Bolvangar." Seki said, being muffled by my shirt. He finally let go and turned away, closing his eyes and becoming silent once more. I stood up and looked over the endless snowy plains and sighed. How could this place be so cruel? How could a place kill helpless innocent children? How? "After I died, I tried so hard to return home, but after many failures, I learned that I had forgotten what home was to me. I had lived in Bolvangar for so long, that it had become my home." Seki said quietly. "This place. my home. Bolvangar. The over sized killing machine. How could I forget my home Courtney? How could I forget the grassy plains, with the neat little shops and a sweet little lake? How could I forget my parents, my sister, and my younger sister? How could I forget the same guys I hung out with every day? HOW?!" He yelled out in desperation. It was so hard hearing all of that, and what made it worse; I couldn't answer those questions for him. "Now I learn that my only home, the only place I ever got to know, is Bolvangar." Seki said, his words hanging in the air like a dead bird. I hadn't realized it, but this whole time Nagataka had wrapped himself around my neck as an ermine, and Yoshiko was no where in sight. After a long pause, my nose started tickling and a loud "ACHOO!" echoed across the snow. Seki turned to me with a weak smile on his face and said: "I forgot, you're still alive and well. I guess we should get you back inside, huh?" He got up after that, making sure I was all right and walked me back to my room in silence. I had no questions to ask him, nor did I want to. "Courtney." He said quietly, helping me into bed. "Please don't tell Stella about. this. She'll never believe you anyway, and things might get a little weird if the word is spread." He continued quietly, tucking the blankets around me. He smiled softly and brushed my bangs out of my eyes, leaving my room, but stopping in the doorway. "You remind me a lot of my twin sister, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you are her." Seki said, and then left my room to return to his own. I turned over slightly to see the red lights of my clock flicker 2:00 am over and over, and after that I dozed off into a heavy sleep.
"Buzz.. Buzz.. Buzz.." The low dull sound of my alarm clock, the only thing that wakes me up into this hell of a nightmare world I live in. I groaned and then let out a heavy sigh, hitting the large black button on it. I sat up stiffly and dangled my feet a little above the floor. The sun was peaking out over the horizon, as I could see the Aurora Borealis slowly fading away, along with the moon and stars, but quickly the memories of Seki and his story of death flooded back into my mind. "So, it wasn't a dream?" I asked Nagataka softly. "Nope, it wasn't." A strong male voice said. I turned my back to the window to see Seki leaning against the doorframe. "Hey there stranger." I said, with a huge yawn. "Good Morning Courtney! Are you alright?" He asked taking a seat on my bed. "Yeah, I'm fine. But last night.?" I asked. "Last night? I suppose you have questions now." He said. "Yeah, last night. You're really an. an-" "An angel? Yes. I really am nothing more than a spirit, and yes, I really am here, standing in front of you." He said softly, but with confidence. I was silent after that. Think about it, an actual angel, right here, right in Bolvangar, going to help Stella and myself escape. What are the odds? "But Courtney, I know that you are some what fearful of me. I can sense it, I can feel it in your presence, and if it bothers you, I can.leave." Seki said weakly. I looked at him worried, and shook my head. "You can't leave. If you leave now, everything will continue like nothing ever happened. Besides, maybe you can return to your real home if you help destroy this place." I said with some comfort. But all I saw in his eyes was hope and life (as hard as that may to believe.) I couldn't say no to him, so I did the best to tell him everything will be fine. "Is that what you want? Do you want to see child after child die? Do you want to never be able to return home and see your family?" I asked in a serious tone. "No. That's not what should happen, and I do want to return home to my family, although I have made contact with them." He said, a small smile on his face. "But I thought you couldn't return home.and uh." I said in pure confusion. Seki looked at me with a smile and exited out of my room. "Why don't you get ready now?" He asked, shutting the door behind him. "Uh. Ok." I said, still confused. I walked over to my water stained cheap brown dresser and pulled on the bottom drawer, my dark blue pants exposed to the light. I shoved them aside and pulled out a picture of a family I once knew. My dad stood tall, his dull brown hair running ragged over his eyes, my mom had her curly brown golden hair falling softly onto her shoulder, and my brother. His dull blonde hair brushed neatly back around his ears, vibrant green eyes, almost glowing in the afternoon light, and me, similar in height to him and only a few minutes behind him in birth. Yes, we were twins.
I had a perfect life! So why was I here? "Are you done yet?!" Seki called out. I looked up and realized I had only pulled a fresh shirt over my head. Good enough for me. "Yeah! I'm ready! Just don't wake up the others!" I yelled from behind the door. "Can I at least come in?" He said quietly. I looked down at the doorknob and turned it, letting the door open itself. Seki stepped in with a bright smile and plopped himself on my bed. "So, why can't I see through you now? And where's your wings?" I asked, brushing out my hair. "You can only see me as a spirit when I'm in the moonlight. In any other type of artificial light, I look just as solid as you or anyone else." He responded. "What about Yoshiko? Where is she?" I asked with curiosity growing within me. "Pretty much the same. In any other type of light besides the moonlight she's by my side in spirit." Seki replied, pulling the white snow fox onto his lap. "But. shouldn't you be a mindless zombie, unable to think beyond what others tell you?" I asked half-worried, half joking. "I should, but I'm not!! How great is that?!" He asked bubbling up with joy. I just shook my head giggling, and brushed my teeth. What puzzled me the most was, why isn't this bothering me? Ghosts, and spirits, and death has always scared me to wits end, but why, all the sudden was it totally a free subject to talk to me about? Maybe because Seki was so easy to talk to about it, or maybe I just became so cold that nothing effected me anymore. Either possibility is fine with me. "Well, I'm ready, are you going back to bed?" I asked plainly. "No, I'd rather stay and do you're morning rounds with you." He said cheerfully. "Whatever, it's your world of hell, not mine." I said, pushing him out the door. But all he did was take my hand, and pulled me to his side, smiling very sweetly.
The more I thought about it, the more I knew I was right. Seki had the weirdest effect on me. All the sudden, I wasn't that depressed, angry little girl. I was transformed into any other hyperactive, happy and bubbly girl. "Courtney, you don't think you're falling for him? Do you?" Nagataka asked in a worried whisper. Seki turned to me, like he just heard what Nagataka just asked me. "It wouldn't be so bad Courtney, people might actually like you, believe it or not." He said calmly. I stopped and stepped back at his comment. "Y-You heard that?!" I stammered loudly. He pointed to his ears, with a sly smile. "Angels hear all, my dear." He said, pulling me down the hallway. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. maybe it could actually happen.. Wait a minute! Scratch that! I'm Courtney Divine! I don't care about anyone! Not even myself! .So, why am I getting so soft.? Seki continued to enjoy his walk through the endless hallways, and how is he always happy? Maybe getting another chance at life does that to people. As we approached Stella's door, it flung open and Stella greeted us with a huge smile. Seki and I knew immediately something was up just by the way she was looking at us. "You guys!! Get in here!!" She yelled excitedly. As Seki and I stepped in, our hearts stopped at the same moment to see one of the floor tiles lifted up and leaning against the side of her bed. "Stella, you. you don't think. it could possibly-" "I already checked it out!! It's a passage way to the outside! Right behind the shed!" She busted out with joy. My face instantly lit up like a Christmas tree, and I had to stop myself from jumping down the musty black hold and returning home. But then, a sharp, quick pain pierced my stomach, and my vision became blurry and suddenly blacked out. Me head felt like a balloon spinning in all directions, and my legs were being eaten by the cackling floor tiles, finding pure pleasure out of my pain. Then something heavy hit my chest, causing me tighten up and become incoherent. As much as I wanted to go home, as much as I needed to go home, I couldn't. I forgot where I live, and with that, I felt my face smash into the emotionless floor.
"Courtney.? Courtney dear, wake up sweetie." That voice. haunting my every thought, my every word, my every move. "Courtney? Come on, we know you aren't dead, so stop pretending. Wake up! Please! For me!" .That voice. I knew that one. Kind, gentle, sweet, caring. And then there was a soft pressure on my shoulder, but instead of soothing warmth, it was a bone chilling coldness. "S-Seki." I muffled. I heard sighs of relief from all over, and I forced my eyes to open, only to see Mrs. Coulter. A fake plastered worried look that was nothing but artificial, Seki was above me, a small smile buttoned upon his lips, and Stella was there, hot chocolate in hand, her worried face nothing but real. "It's alright guys, I'm fine." I answered to all their faces. Seki sat beside me, helping me up into a sitting position, but his touch sent shivers down my spine. "Courtney honey, what happened?" Mrs. Coulter's bittersweet voice asked. So to play it safe, I acted like I didn't know. "I-I'm not sure, I think I just got a little light headed." "It was more than that! You completely passed out!" She practically shouted away. I gave a short laugh and eased my way off the bed in the medical center. "Courtney, I don't think you should do morning and evening rounds today. I'll have Stella and Seki do them." Mrs. Coulter said in a mother tone. "Don't worry Courtney, we'll make sure the Brineston twins stay out of trouble." Stella said playfully. "Sure." I said, a heavy sigh escaping my body. As I walked back to my room I heard Stella as "What's her problem?" and Seki replied with a sound of confusion. I couldn't believe that I passed out. I mean, has my desperation for home actually turned into a physical state of pain? No. That's wrong. It has to be. It just sounds lame thinking about it. I approached my room at last, stopping outside the door, sliding my back down it.
Right now, the world has crashed and crumbled before me. Here I was, almost enjoying my friends and Bolvangar and then the thought of home brought me to my knees. "How pathetic..." I murmured out loud. "You got scared.," Nagataka said, looking me the face as a Jaguar. "No I didn't! That's a lie!" I said defensively. "Courtney, you know why you passed out, and it wasn't only because you forgot where we live." Nagataka replied, sounding almost angry. "Then what was it? If you're such a know-it-all, why did I pass out then? Hhhmmm?" I said. "I told you, you got scared to go back." He said in that same tone. I didn't reply to him this time, but he was right. I only remembered my home as a beautiful place. But every six months a war would break out between our country and a country over seas. My father would have to quit his job, and go fight for us. That picture that I looked at this morning was before a huge war, and the last I heard is that my mother fell ill, my father had lost his left arm, and my twin brother was missing. Wait!! Twin Brother?! "Twin Brother?!" I repeated out loud. Nagataka starred at me, a little light bulb almost forming over his head. "Twin Sister." He said lightly. "SEKI!!!" I yelled out.
Seki was sitting on the edge of the roof, his body was wrapped in white, but still he was transparent, and a set of soft feathery wings extended from his back and reflected the full moons light. He starred up at the stars and seemed to be caught in a web of dreams. He was oblivious that I was starring right at him, but he then shifted his head to face me, his eyes were so glassy that I could see the Aurora Borealis starting to appear against the dark blue sky. His face didn't express that happy child that I met today he seemed so lost. Like he was between two worlds, the world of the living and the world of the dead. "S-Seki?" I finally stuttered after a few long minutes. He remained silent, and turned his attention back to the Northern Lights. I think Nagataka was just as surprised as I was, but he nudged me forward. So, I slowly approached him, and then sat down next to him. Tonight was colder than most, and goose bumps shot up my arms and spine, turning my skin slightly cool. "You can't kill what's already dead." Seki said calmly. I was confused by that comment, but I kept quiet. "I was severed the night you came in Courtney. You and Taylor were in the cafeteria playing some sort of card game. I was in the athletic class, causing havoc like always. Mrs. Coulter came in and saw what was happening, screeching at me, she dragged me past you two, I stayed silent, knowing my death had finally arrived. But before that over sized paper cutter ended my life, I told Mrs. Coulter harshly that I would come back and help these children escape from this hell, and you know what that damn bitch did? She laughed at me. Her lips curled upwards and her voiced cracked and broke the steal table I was strapped to. She then grasped that lever and tugged down on it with all her strength, instantly I felt the cold slice through my heart, and I looked over to see Yoshiko's small white body fade away, a clear tears fall from the corner of her eyes. Slowly, my breath shortened, my vision blurred, and I gasped for air, next think I know, I was dead." Seki was silent after that. His words sank into my head, and the snow around me, it was hard to swallow that at once. Here I was sitting next to an..angel, whom just explained how he died to me. I got up and gave a glance down at Seki, to see small water droplets slide off of him. "Oh dear god." I whispered to myself. This poor boy was torn away from his family, and the last thing he saw was Mrs. Coulters horrible laughing face.
I fell to my knees next to Seki and wrapped my arms around his clear body, feeling nothing but a cold mist. But through his spirit shell there was a heartbeat; I could feel it. It was faint, but defiantly there. His tears fell onto my navy blue shirt, and froze immediately. I closed my eyes tight to stop all the pain that was welling up inside, because I knew what he was experiencing, in a way. I felt like I was already dead, and really wished it, but I could see through Seki that it's not worth it. I grasped onto to him tightly and hugged him, and actual hug, something I hadn't experienced in years.
"You and Tay where the last two friends I saw before I died, you and Stella will be the first ever to escape from Bolvangar." Seki said, being muffled by my shirt. He finally let go and turned away, closing his eyes and becoming silent once more. I stood up and looked over the endless snowy plains and sighed. How could this place be so cruel? How could a place kill helpless innocent children? How? "After I died, I tried so hard to return home, but after many failures, I learned that I had forgotten what home was to me. I had lived in Bolvangar for so long, that it had become my home." Seki said quietly. "This place. my home. Bolvangar. The over sized killing machine. How could I forget my home Courtney? How could I forget the grassy plains, with the neat little shops and a sweet little lake? How could I forget my parents, my sister, and my younger sister? How could I forget the same guys I hung out with every day? HOW?!" He yelled out in desperation. It was so hard hearing all of that, and what made it worse; I couldn't answer those questions for him. "Now I learn that my only home, the only place I ever got to know, is Bolvangar." Seki said, his words hanging in the air like a dead bird. I hadn't realized it, but this whole time Nagataka had wrapped himself around my neck as an ermine, and Yoshiko was no where in sight. After a long pause, my nose started tickling and a loud "ACHOO!" echoed across the snow. Seki turned to me with a weak smile on his face and said: "I forgot, you're still alive and well. I guess we should get you back inside, huh?" He got up after that, making sure I was all right and walked me back to my room in silence. I had no questions to ask him, nor did I want to. "Courtney." He said quietly, helping me into bed. "Please don't tell Stella about. this. She'll never believe you anyway, and things might get a little weird if the word is spread." He continued quietly, tucking the blankets around me. He smiled softly and brushed my bangs out of my eyes, leaving my room, but stopping in the doorway. "You remind me a lot of my twin sister, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you are her." Seki said, and then left my room to return to his own. I turned over slightly to see the red lights of my clock flicker 2:00 am over and over, and after that I dozed off into a heavy sleep.
"Buzz.. Buzz.. Buzz.." The low dull sound of my alarm clock, the only thing that wakes me up into this hell of a nightmare world I live in. I groaned and then let out a heavy sigh, hitting the large black button on it. I sat up stiffly and dangled my feet a little above the floor. The sun was peaking out over the horizon, as I could see the Aurora Borealis slowly fading away, along with the moon and stars, but quickly the memories of Seki and his story of death flooded back into my mind. "So, it wasn't a dream?" I asked Nagataka softly. "Nope, it wasn't." A strong male voice said. I turned my back to the window to see Seki leaning against the doorframe. "Hey there stranger." I said, with a huge yawn. "Good Morning Courtney! Are you alright?" He asked taking a seat on my bed. "Yeah, I'm fine. But last night.?" I asked. "Last night? I suppose you have questions now." He said. "Yeah, last night. You're really an. an-" "An angel? Yes. I really am nothing more than a spirit, and yes, I really am here, standing in front of you." He said softly, but with confidence. I was silent after that. Think about it, an actual angel, right here, right in Bolvangar, going to help Stella and myself escape. What are the odds? "But Courtney, I know that you are some what fearful of me. I can sense it, I can feel it in your presence, and if it bothers you, I can.leave." Seki said weakly. I looked at him worried, and shook my head. "You can't leave. If you leave now, everything will continue like nothing ever happened. Besides, maybe you can return to your real home if you help destroy this place." I said with some comfort. But all I saw in his eyes was hope and life (as hard as that may to believe.) I couldn't say no to him, so I did the best to tell him everything will be fine. "Is that what you want? Do you want to see child after child die? Do you want to never be able to return home and see your family?" I asked in a serious tone. "No. That's not what should happen, and I do want to return home to my family, although I have made contact with them." He said, a small smile on his face. "But I thought you couldn't return home.and uh." I said in pure confusion. Seki looked at me with a smile and exited out of my room. "Why don't you get ready now?" He asked, shutting the door behind him. "Uh. Ok." I said, still confused. I walked over to my water stained cheap brown dresser and pulled on the bottom drawer, my dark blue pants exposed to the light. I shoved them aside and pulled out a picture of a family I once knew. My dad stood tall, his dull brown hair running ragged over his eyes, my mom had her curly brown golden hair falling softly onto her shoulder, and my brother. His dull blonde hair brushed neatly back around his ears, vibrant green eyes, almost glowing in the afternoon light, and me, similar in height to him and only a few minutes behind him in birth. Yes, we were twins.
I had a perfect life! So why was I here? "Are you done yet?!" Seki called out. I looked up and realized I had only pulled a fresh shirt over my head. Good enough for me. "Yeah! I'm ready! Just don't wake up the others!" I yelled from behind the door. "Can I at least come in?" He said quietly. I looked down at the doorknob and turned it, letting the door open itself. Seki stepped in with a bright smile and plopped himself on my bed. "So, why can't I see through you now? And where's your wings?" I asked, brushing out my hair. "You can only see me as a spirit when I'm in the moonlight. In any other type of artificial light, I look just as solid as you or anyone else." He responded. "What about Yoshiko? Where is she?" I asked with curiosity growing within me. "Pretty much the same. In any other type of light besides the moonlight she's by my side in spirit." Seki replied, pulling the white snow fox onto his lap. "But. shouldn't you be a mindless zombie, unable to think beyond what others tell you?" I asked half-worried, half joking. "I should, but I'm not!! How great is that?!" He asked bubbling up with joy. I just shook my head giggling, and brushed my teeth. What puzzled me the most was, why isn't this bothering me? Ghosts, and spirits, and death has always scared me to wits end, but why, all the sudden was it totally a free subject to talk to me about? Maybe because Seki was so easy to talk to about it, or maybe I just became so cold that nothing effected me anymore. Either possibility is fine with me. "Well, I'm ready, are you going back to bed?" I asked plainly. "No, I'd rather stay and do you're morning rounds with you." He said cheerfully. "Whatever, it's your world of hell, not mine." I said, pushing him out the door. But all he did was take my hand, and pulled me to his side, smiling very sweetly.
The more I thought about it, the more I knew I was right. Seki had the weirdest effect on me. All the sudden, I wasn't that depressed, angry little girl. I was transformed into any other hyperactive, happy and bubbly girl. "Courtney, you don't think you're falling for him? Do you?" Nagataka asked in a worried whisper. Seki turned to me, like he just heard what Nagataka just asked me. "It wouldn't be so bad Courtney, people might actually like you, believe it or not." He said calmly. I stopped and stepped back at his comment. "Y-You heard that?!" I stammered loudly. He pointed to his ears, with a sly smile. "Angels hear all, my dear." He said, pulling me down the hallway. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. maybe it could actually happen.. Wait a minute! Scratch that! I'm Courtney Divine! I don't care about anyone! Not even myself! .So, why am I getting so soft.? Seki continued to enjoy his walk through the endless hallways, and how is he always happy? Maybe getting another chance at life does that to people. As we approached Stella's door, it flung open and Stella greeted us with a huge smile. Seki and I knew immediately something was up just by the way she was looking at us. "You guys!! Get in here!!" She yelled excitedly. As Seki and I stepped in, our hearts stopped at the same moment to see one of the floor tiles lifted up and leaning against the side of her bed. "Stella, you. you don't think. it could possibly-" "I already checked it out!! It's a passage way to the outside! Right behind the shed!" She busted out with joy. My face instantly lit up like a Christmas tree, and I had to stop myself from jumping down the musty black hold and returning home. But then, a sharp, quick pain pierced my stomach, and my vision became blurry and suddenly blacked out. Me head felt like a balloon spinning in all directions, and my legs were being eaten by the cackling floor tiles, finding pure pleasure out of my pain. Then something heavy hit my chest, causing me tighten up and become incoherent. As much as I wanted to go home, as much as I needed to go home, I couldn't. I forgot where I live, and with that, I felt my face smash into the emotionless floor.
"Courtney.? Courtney dear, wake up sweetie." That voice. haunting my every thought, my every word, my every move. "Courtney? Come on, we know you aren't dead, so stop pretending. Wake up! Please! For me!" .That voice. I knew that one. Kind, gentle, sweet, caring. And then there was a soft pressure on my shoulder, but instead of soothing warmth, it was a bone chilling coldness. "S-Seki." I muffled. I heard sighs of relief from all over, and I forced my eyes to open, only to see Mrs. Coulter. A fake plastered worried look that was nothing but artificial, Seki was above me, a small smile buttoned upon his lips, and Stella was there, hot chocolate in hand, her worried face nothing but real. "It's alright guys, I'm fine." I answered to all their faces. Seki sat beside me, helping me up into a sitting position, but his touch sent shivers down my spine. "Courtney honey, what happened?" Mrs. Coulter's bittersweet voice asked. So to play it safe, I acted like I didn't know. "I-I'm not sure, I think I just got a little light headed." "It was more than that! You completely passed out!" She practically shouted away. I gave a short laugh and eased my way off the bed in the medical center. "Courtney, I don't think you should do morning and evening rounds today. I'll have Stella and Seki do them." Mrs. Coulter said in a mother tone. "Don't worry Courtney, we'll make sure the Brineston twins stay out of trouble." Stella said playfully. "Sure." I said, a heavy sigh escaping my body. As I walked back to my room I heard Stella as "What's her problem?" and Seki replied with a sound of confusion. I couldn't believe that I passed out. I mean, has my desperation for home actually turned into a physical state of pain? No. That's wrong. It has to be. It just sounds lame thinking about it. I approached my room at last, stopping outside the door, sliding my back down it.
Right now, the world has crashed and crumbled before me. Here I was, almost enjoying my friends and Bolvangar and then the thought of home brought me to my knees. "How pathetic..." I murmured out loud. "You got scared.," Nagataka said, looking me the face as a Jaguar. "No I didn't! That's a lie!" I said defensively. "Courtney, you know why you passed out, and it wasn't only because you forgot where we live." Nagataka replied, sounding almost angry. "Then what was it? If you're such a know-it-all, why did I pass out then? Hhhmmm?" I said. "I told you, you got scared to go back." He said in that same tone. I didn't reply to him this time, but he was right. I only remembered my home as a beautiful place. But every six months a war would break out between our country and a country over seas. My father would have to quit his job, and go fight for us. That picture that I looked at this morning was before a huge war, and the last I heard is that my mother fell ill, my father had lost his left arm, and my twin brother was missing. Wait!! Twin Brother?! "Twin Brother?!" I repeated out loud. Nagataka starred at me, a little light bulb almost forming over his head. "Twin Sister." He said lightly. "SEKI!!!" I yelled out.