"Rika, wait up, wait up!" Sayo screamed as Rika quietly walked through the gardens
Rika, having just left the study, did not want anyone following her, but Sayo followed anyway.
"Rika, we need to talk about what went down there"
Rika's footsteps came to a halt before she turned to look back at Sayo.
"Am I really pulling everyone down?" Rika asked, facing Sayo directly
"I honestly don't know how to answer that" Sayo said with her head facing down.
"If you would excuse us, Sayo," a figure said as she stepped out of the shadows.
"Oh, okay Miss Rena" Sayo excused herself
"Came to bask in your glory?" Rika asked in a firm tone
"Of course not, but it would have been fun to do so" Rena said trying to hold back her laughter
"So, what do you want to tell me?"
"Oh, just to ask Rika: what is the reason for protection?" Rena asked
"Protection huh!"
10 Years Ago
Rika walking through the streets going home.
Her parents were still at work and Yumiko had forgotten to pick Rika up from school due to her busy schedule at her part-time job.
"They are always at work" Rika said sighing
"Guess I will have to go home and warm cold noodles again"
As Rika walked past an alley, two men caught her eye. They both smiled upon seeing her which sent shivers down young Rika spine
Her legs trembled with fear as her body screamed at her to run.
Rika sprinted as fast as she could, not thinking of looking back at the scary men chasing her
"Wait little girl, we just want to talk" one of the figures shouted.
As Rika sprinted, her leg kicked a stone which sent her falling face-first onto the pavement.
And like that, Rika fainted
2 Hours Later
Rika woke up under the blinding lights, the air was stiff and everyone was blurry. She felt blood dripping from her head, cut when she fell face-first onto the pavement.
She could hear distant voices but her mind needed time to get used to it
"She is awake" one of the figures tapped the other on the shoulder
"Oh" the figure responded before smiling devilishly
"Little girl, did you think you could run from us"
Rika remained silent, her body trembling as the only words escaping her mouth were
"Help me!"
"Help you, no one can help you here except yourself" the figure laughed hysterically
"Okay, you see what will happen: you are going to call mummy and daddy and you would tell them to send over a million yen"
"A fair bargain, right?" the figure asked smiling
"If you don't, we will cut you open and sell your organs for some hard cash"
Hearing those put Rika on the spot. Tears streamed down her face and sweat. Fear crept in as if it was sitting right besides her on that chair, laughing at her hysterically
"So, do we have a deal" the figure asked
Rika nodded in agreement
The phone was placed next to Rika ear as the phone rang
*Rika, Rika, honey are you there*
"I am here, mum. Dad" Rika answered holding back her tears
*We promise to get you out of there, you hear sweetie*
"Mum, Dad, we got to pay them"
"We need to pay a million yen or they would cut my organs open" Rika said sobbing quietly
*Okay sweetie, we will*
"Time's up folks" the figure said yanking the phone off Rika's hand
"Good day sir and ma, I hope you understand our intentions now more clearly"
"You have an hour to meet our demands or we will send a package of her in a gift box for you to see" the figure said laughing hysterically
Rika hoped, she prayed that the money would be paid on time
AN HOUR LATER
*Ding*
The tune of the phone just chimed across the room.
The figure smiled hysterically from across the room
"Guess dad paid the big bucks huh" the figure said looking at Rika
"So kid, you can go now"
They untied Rika as the figure spoke "Run and don't let us catch you"
"One more reminder, don't walk late at night"
Rika ran as fast as her legs could carry.
Tears streamed down her cheeks
'I am weak, weak'
'If I was strong, I could protect people. I would be able to protect myself, others'
Those thoughts screamed through young Rika's veins. A vow to protect and save people once weak like her
PRESENT
"Guess I am really pathetic" Rika said as her hair faced down
"Yeah, but I believe you should change that mindset" Rena said
"What do you mean?" Rika asked
"I am just trying to say, strap off that shackle you have carried for so long or carry them in a different light"
"I understand" Rika answered calmly
"I expect your answer in the near future" Rena answered as she left Rika in the garden
"Two choices huh, two pathways" Rika said as the wind blew her face calmly.