Eri Kamei
Flight 707 Wreckage, Unknown
October 8, 7:45 PM
“ Sayumi! Hit him now! “
Eri was scared, but still managed to say the words.
Sayumi stutters something, and starts to move, but hesitates. Her eyes widen with awe, as the deep grunts of the man, screech in the background.
“ Sayumi!? “
Her eyes blink, staring on and focuses on Eri. “ Eri, I-I ca- “
Sayumi stops, interrupted, as the man violently throws himself backwards, falling just a few feet in front of Kusumi- slamming Hitomi into the ground. Debris and broken boxes scathed in all directions. The pure blunt force of the impact forces Hitomi to let go. He was free.
No- No, no, no!!
Hitomi moans. Her teeth clenched as her eyes wrinkle shut. Having the wind knocked out of her, she closes her fists, hoping to ease the burning sensation in her lungs.
Eri couldn’t believe it. The moment, the opportunity, the minute, the passing second; they’d been waiting for it- anxiously desiring it with dreaded anticipation-
-Only to have it pass us by, like a falling leaf.
The man quickly regains himself, clutching his throat as he comes to a kneel, just a few feet in front of Kusumi. He quickly grabs the rifle, hoisted at his side and abruptly brings it to an aim, pointing it towards Eri’s group.
“ Don’t even fucking think about it! “
She freezes at the sight of the metallic barrel. Eri stares, waiting for the man’s next sentence- when she suddenly catches glimpse of a figure to her upper right.
Eri hadn’t noticed before, but some of the girls, seeing the passing opportunity, had already mounted into action.
…Reina-
- stood still, just in front of Sayumi; her posture frozen in mid-run. Her face, tensed up, careful not to make any sudden movements. To Eri’s left-
-Ai…
- also frozen, stood alongside a slumped Kusumi, probably stopped in the middle of helping her… Eri thought. That’s everyone… but-
“ Miki. “ Eri hums under her breath. She turns her head just enough to catch glimpse of her, and, there she stood, sweating profusely. With her eyes shut tight, her hand shivering against her arm, the back of her head leaned against the wall, her mouth gaped open for air.
She’s struggling to stay awake… Eri thought, remembering her own dire situation earlier.
“ On the goddamn floor- next to her, NOW! “ He alternates the pointed weapon between Ai and Reina, the sound of his voice alone made them jump. With no hesitation, they quickly obey, scuffling to sit next to a distraught Hitomi. In the background, Eri hears Miki begin to move, but the man points at her, making her stop.
“ Don’t fucking move. “
By now the man has fully recovered himself, and makes it clear by standing up with ease. As he angrily looms over them, his back, unexpectedly turns towards Eri.
A chance! Eri thought. I- I have to do something!
She squeezes Sayumi’s moist hand.
“ Eh…? “ Sayumi mouths.
Without saying a word, Eri starts to prod Sayumi, nodding her head at the pole; silently gesturing to give it to her quietly.
“ On your goddamn bellies! “ He demands, shouting at Ai and Reina, practically screaming at the top of his lungs. Interrupted, Sayumi and Eri look on. The exaggerated scream alone was enough to make Eri forget about her newly-formed opportunity. There was something different about his voice. Something wicked. Something-
-insane.
Eri bites her lip, understanding what is about to happen.
Oh- god, no…
Hitomi coughs violently, still deranged on her back. Through her rasp breathings, Eri could practically feel Hitomi’s lungs withered from the shock, gasping for oxygen. She moans, a softer moan this time, but-
As if on cue by the mere sound of Hitomi’s voice, the man violently stomps his booted heel into Hitomi’s left shoulder, and holds it in place. The debris beneath her, cracks and pops, unable to maintain its’ already broken form under the increased pressure.
She screams. Not by shock, or pain- but by anguish, and misery. Her right hand tries to push his rough boot away, but gives up. Her deafening cries made the hair on back of Eri’s neck stand.
“ That’s right… “ The man says with demonic pleasure. He presses the tip of the rifle against Hitomi’s forehead, firmly holding it in place. “ Scream… SCREAM!! “
He buries his heel against her shoulder even more. Tears of angst riddle down the side of Hitomi’s face. A crack bewilders into Eri’s ears, only, the crack didn’t derive from the debris-
-It came from her. Her shoulder.
“ Fuck the money. Having my way with you all is enough satisfaction I can handle. “
Drool runs down his mouth as he stands over Hitomi. She was his slave, mounted in place by a world of pain.
Have to do something before-
Without thinking, Eri opens her mouth to scream in opposition when suddenly-
Sayumi shrieks, thrusting the pole and her body towards the man, yanking Eri along with her.
Time seemed to stop. Everything jumbled into slow motion. Eri gazes at the pole, held firmly in Sayumi’s hand, slam down against the back of the man’s head.
Eri gawks, staring intently. A silent pause ensues. A pause Eri wished wouldn’t have happened.
He doesn’t budge.
“ Ah…ah…. “ Sayumi utters uncontrollably, dropping the pole. It implodes a deafening smash as it plummets to the ground, more so however, in Eri's mind; the plummeting pole alone was a symbol of their failure.
Her failure.
Eri feels her knees become weak. “ It… It didn’t even… “
Before she could finish her sentence, the man slowly turns, and faces them. His feet start to pace towards Sayumi. Without saying a word, he smiles.
“ Tickles. “
Eri ogles in horror as he brings the rifle to an aim, straight at Sayumi’s quivering face.
No, this dream- can’t be happening do something!!
As the inner voice inside Eri clutters her mind with frantic words, Eri kicks the man across the shin. A sharp pain shoots up her big toe, making her cringe, shutting her eyes. It felt like she kicked a block of metal.
That had to have stopped him- if it hurt me, it really, really hurt him!
Eri opens her eyes, expecting to see some sort of painful response.
She freezes. Her eyes entangled with his.
The man hadn’t budged.
I-I kicked him as hard as I could!
“ Tickles. “ He repeats himself.
Kusumi starts to sob.
Eri braces herself, expecting some kind of physical hit- but it was too late. The man swiftly slaps Eri across the face, the imprint of his hand cluttering up the blood flow in her cheek, causing an intense prickly pain. She falls to her knees, slumping over; her hands still tied within’ the human chain, giving her a ‘crucified’ posture.
“ No- No, stop it! Stop it!! “ Sayumi frantically screams out, bracing her arms around Eri’s body.
The man snorts. A mischievous laugh follows as he kicks Sayumi on her side, thrusting her away from Eri. He hoists the rifle back onto his side, as if it were a symbol of victory, power.
“ Sayu-mi… “ Eri says grimly. She feels something warm on top of her head. Something refined. Eri shuts her eyes as she realizes it’s-
-his hand, oh god it’s his hand.
The man grips a handful of Eri’s hair; each additional strand offered some sort of satisfaction to him. His breathing increased to exaggerated rasping, almost as if watching pain gave him a sense of joy.
He pulls.
At first, a faint prickly sensation fills her ears.
Then, he pulls harder, with enough force to begin lifting Eri up from the ground.
The faint sensation grows into an intense spiky pain. She clenches her teeth as the agony overcomes her- her ears, her head, even her arms; her body begging for Eri to stop the pain, but she couldn’t.
She wanted to scream, to remind herself that she was still alive, but restrains herself-
-I won’t let this b-bastard have it his way- his sick pleasure…
“ Drop her! “ Reina screams at the top of her lungs, interrupting Eri’s grim thought. Almost immediately, the man lets go. Eri looks up, her eyes, sore from the pressure, but the pain was worth it. A relieved gasp escapes her as she spots-
-Reina! With- With a gun! I… I don’t believe it!
Reina stood, just a few feet away, aiming a small handgun at the man. He slowly turns. The man just stares. He begins to walk towards her, slowly, but steadily.
“ Stay where you are! “ Reina reiterates, using the same drastic tone.
No response. The man ignores her.
Seeing her chance, Sayumi quickly crawls to Eri and grasps her. Eri returns the favor, but still keeps an intent gaze on the situation.
“ Pull the trigger. “ He smiles.
With no hesitation, Reina pulls the trigger-
-only to have a small flag pop out, with huge cartoony letterings that read, “ BANG! “
“ Oh no… “ Eri murmurs. Sayumi turns her head away, not wanting to look.
Reina backs up, still pulling the trigger; the realization hasn’t sunk in for her yet.
Her hand begins to tremble, making the toy gun rattle erratically.
“ You think I’d be stupid enough to give you a real gun? “ The man scoffs as Reina backs into a nearby pole, stopping her in place. She throws the toy gun at him, but misses entirely.
“ Auh! “ Reina whimpers as he reaches her.
The man abruptly lifts Reina by her shirt, pushing her against the pole. Sounds of rips and tears arise from Reina’s purple blousse- barely able to support her weight.
“ Fake gun, love. Too bad. “
He sticks out his slimy tongue, encased in shiny saliva, and leans in towards Reina’s face.
Oh god I can’t watch!
Eri begins to glimpse away as a loud mechanical click from above, startles her. Expecting the worst of surprises, she starts to look upward, when-
“ Yep. “ Miki suddenly says, a little out of breath. “ Too bad for you- THIS gun is real. “
The man freezes. His breathing comes to a complete stop- realizing his dreaded mistake.
“ Gotcha. “ Reina winks as she portrays a small peace sign with her petite fingers.
While the man drops Reina to turn around, Miki waits and pulls the trigger- just enough time to see the mans’ disguised shock; the last emotion he’ll ever portray as the bullet rips through his head.