Chapter Eleven: Being Related
Maru picked up the diary pages first, the first one read, "I don't know what day it is because I've been here for so long. I'm 17 years old now; when I first came here I was ten. I've been here for seven years, my so-called family comes in and out, and they say they're prepping me for the ritual. I'm tried I'll write later."
Then the next note, "Today someone new came into my cell, oh sorry room, I've never seen him before. He had a cute smile, great brown eyes, and he was nice to me. I don't know his name, but he was cute. I hope he comes back; he came today to write something for something. I'll find out more tomorrow."
Maru shook her head; she knew that the girl chosen for the ritual could not fall in love, that's why they put them away at a young age. Maru continued to read, "I asked my friend that comes here everyday about the cute boy, and she said his name is Ritsuki. He came here to write a story about the ritual, no one knows anything about it, but he was sent away when they found out he came and visit with me. I wonder who let him in, everyone is suppose to let no one in. I hope he's ok."
Maru's grandma told Maru she needed to read the last two pages of the diary. Maru took a breath and continued, "Today my friend was murdered, or she ran away according to my so-called family. She's the one that let the young Ritsuki here, now she's died. She knew I never grew up knowing love, and because she wanted to help me she died. I need to get out of here."
"No," Maru whispered.
Maru kept going because she only had one page left. This one was written with scribbles for writing, Namie must have been in a hurry, "Today is the day of the ritual, and no one can help me because no one knows about this. I have to write fast, I don't know when they'll be here, I hope not soon. My name is Namie, I'm 17, I fell in love, and my friend and the boy I like are dead. I shall bring revenge on those that helped my family and my family. I will come back, I have to…for Ritsuki."
"How could they do this?" Maru screamed.
"You should look at this photo album now, I'm not sure how longer we have until the night ends," Maru's grandma said.
Maru grabbed the photo album and started to look through it. There were pictures of every Suzuki and Tanaka. Family photos, none of the adults smiled, every few pictures you could see a child smiling big for the picture. Then there was Namie's picture; she was standing in front of her mom and her dad. This time her mom was smiling too, the dad looked angry. Maru turned the page, more family pictures, then the family friends, and…