Persona BLEACHED 2: Part 5

Chapter 5: A Fortune of Guilt
August 16, 2028
"Sorry to rush you out of there, Natalia. I didn't like the looks those ruffians were giving us." Carrie and Natalia were walking through the streets of downtown Naruki City. It was late afternoon. "N-no, it's fine. I wasn't liking my burger that much anyway..." Natalia answered. "Hm. That look of satisfaction was telling me a much different story. That and how you're still eating it." Carrie cheekily noted. "Gah...! S-sorry..." Carrie giggled. "No need for apologies. You have a cute smile." Natalia blushed. "Now you're just trying to get me flustered on purpose!"
"...hey, Carrie?" Natalia piped up, nervousness in her voice. "Yes, Natalia?" "Th-thanks for hanging out with me." "Oh, is that all? You made it sound like it was some gigantic thing." "It's just...it's weird that someone who looks like you would want to be friends with someone like me." "Now don't be absurd, Natalia." "I'm serious! Your hair, your jewelry, your nails...everything about you screams 'rich girl from Monaco'. Meanwhile, I...don't exactly have a supermodel body." "Hush. You've brought this up several times now. You talk like you're obese, while having a perfectly healthy body. If there's anything you need to work on, it's your self esteem." "I know...I've always been kind of a wallflower, so--"
Carrie suddenly pulled Natalia into an alley. "Gah--! What's the big idea?!" Natalia protested. "Shush. Quiet. We're being followed." "F-f-followed?! How can you tell when there's so many people?" "Those three goons from the restaurant. They've been on our tail. Either they keep walking away, or..." Carrie looked to the opposite end of the alley to see three delinquent boys, one holding a bat, approaching. "...the more annoying option."
"Hey hey hey, ladies..." said the apparent ringleader, a tall boy with several ear piercings. "Ya got sum nerve, walkin' away when we're tryin' to talk to ya. Just needed a few minutes to clean the shit outta yer ears?" Carrie turned to Natalia. "Hold onto these for me." She took off her rings and bracelets and handed them to Natalia. "Wait, what are you--" "Just wait right there."
Carrie walked over and stood a few feet away from the delinquents. The ringleader was clearly ecstatic. "Woulja lookit this slice of heaven over here?" "The ladies really can't get enough of ya, Koba." the one with the bat added. "I'm going to give you all a warning." Carrie stated. The boys looked puzzled. "If, for whatever reason, you place value in the presumably scummy existences you hold, I would recommend turning around and leaving. It's the only guaranteed way for you all to escape with your lives. I would take it." The boys looked stunned, and then started laughing. "Holy shit! And she's got jokes!" The ringleader walked over to Carrie. "Alright, sweet cheeks, howzabout we ditch the badass act and we--" He moved his hand toward Carrie, who promptly grabbed his arm. 
"So you have chosen to suffer?"
Carrie twisted the leader's arm, bringing him to his knees, before promptly kneeing him in the nose. As he reeled, Carrie kicked him hard in the head, knocking him out. His two comrades looked at each other in shock. "Care to join him in the land of nightmares?" Carrie asked. The one with the bat charged at her. He swung, only for Carrie to parry it away, quickly punching him in the face, punching him in the side to bring him to his knees, then booting him in the face. Natalia looked on with a mixture of horror and amazement. 
The last goon charged Carrie, who grabbed him by the collar. "Because that worked so well for your companion. Simpleton." She slammed him against the wall, repeatedly punching him in the face, before tossing his limp body onto a nearby dumpster. With all three unconscious, Carrie closed her eyes, clasped her hands together, took a deep breath, and began reciting something.
"רוח ... מלח ... חול ...רוח ... מלח ... חול ..."
"C-Carrie...?" Natalia muttered, still in shock. Carrie opened her eyes. "I'm sorry you had to see that. I suppose we should call the police."
Someone had already notified the police. A small number of officers and paramedics arrived a short while later. Among the arriving officers was Jugo. "What's goin' on here, gentlemen?" he asked one officer. "These two ladies here got jumped by a few punks. Some witnesses saw the whole thing." "These two don't look too worse for wear. What about the punks?" "Beat to hell and back. They're awake and getting treatment right now." "Beat by who, exactly?" "Apparently? This one." He pointed at Carrie. Jugo looked surprised. "Lemme talk to 'em." he said, and the other officer walked away.
"I-i-is Carrie going to jail? She didn't do anything wrong--" Natalia panicked. "Calm down there, buttercup, she ain't goin' to jail for defending herself. You've got a few people saying they recorded the whole thing, you'll be alright. Gotta say, though...you really beat the stuffing outta all three of those guys? I don't even see a scratch on you..." "I beat them before they had a chance. Their technique was sloppy at best." Carrie answered. "Damn. Some confidence you've got there, kiddo...hang on a sec. That uniform...aren't you the Boss' kids?" "Um...we're not related, and I'm pretty sure we're not your boss' kids..." Natalia said. "Ah, beg your pardon. It's what I call Rin. You two are her students, yeah?" "Oh! Yeah, she's our professor." "Shoot, small world. Me and her go back to the ol' academy days. I was in the class above hers. Glad I don't gotta be the one to tell her that part of her flock got in some trouble."
An officer pulled Jugo aside. "One sec, ladies." The officer showed Jugo a phone. "Here's the video." After a couple minutes, he went back over to the girls. "Tell you ladies what. Just in case the Three Stooges had company, I'll drive ya back to the academy. I mean...clearly you can defend yourself, but the Boss probably wouldn't give me a nice look if I let you go by yourselves." "Oh, really? Thanks, Mr. Officer!" said Natalia. "Don't mention it." Jugo spoke to the other officers for a moment, then drove off with the girls in tow. 
Jugo glanced at his rearview mirror. "Real number you did on those guys, kiddo. That guy with the earrings was a head taller than you and you laid him out like nothin'." he said. "Stature has nothing to do with it. Even the strongest bull elephant can be brought down if you know where to hit." Carrie replied. "Heh. Well, I haven't punched too many elephants so I dunno about that one. Where'd you say you were from again?" "I'm from Monaco. In the very southern part of France." "French, huh? Hmmm..." Carrie looked suspiciously at Jugo. "Dois-je parler pour prouver que je ne suis pas un menteur?" she said. "Sweetheart, I have absolutely no clue what you just said. But it sounded French to me so we'll go with it." Jugo said.
The car arrived at the academy, and Jugo dropped the girls off. "Y'all tell the Boss I said howdy, alright? And I don't wanna hear her say nuthin' bad about y'all." Jugo said. "You've got it. Thanks again, Mr. Officer!" Natalia replied. The girls walked off. Jugo looked inquisitively at Carrie, before driving off.
A short while later, he drove over to Rin's house, and knocked on the door. Rose answered it. "Jugo! What a pleasant surprise. Come on in, we were just about to have dinner." Jugo walked in. He stared at one dish in particular containing blue-colored noodles. "What in the name of Tom Cruise's dull surprise is that?" he asked. "Oh! Hey Jugo. I'd like to introduce you to Tenko's newest food experiment. Cotton candy-flavored udon. Me and Rose got roped into being taste testers." Rin answered. "JeSUS. Four months and counting without a drink ain't doin' that girl any favors, huh?" "Trust us, we pray every night for that baby's soul." Rose added.
"So, what brings you to our humble abode? Was the fragrance of the udon too tempting?" Rin joked. "Nnnno. No I wanted to ask you something. See, I just got done taking a couple of your kids home after they got jumped." "Oh my God, are they alright?" "Oh, they're just fine. Van Damme and Blackthorne, I think their names were. They got out okay. The punks that jumped them, on the other hand, well..." He took out his phone. "Saved the vid on here. You tell me what you see." He began playing the video. Rin looked on in disbelief. "Oh my God..." "Yeah. Your little French heiress knows a few things someone like her probably shouldn't. Look at her movements. She goes right for the weak spots. Very precise, not a single move wasted. She doesn't quit wailing on one til she knows they're not a threat anymore. That fighting style...I've seen it before. But I wasn't sure until I heard this..."
He plays the part when Carrie begins chanting. "You hear that? I'm no expert, but that doesn't sound French to me. You're the prodigy, Boss. What's that sound like to you?" Rin puzzled over it for a moment. "Well, to me..." Rose began. "That sounds Hebrew. My father taught me many different languages, to prepare myself for the different entities I'd be encountering in the other world. It sounds like she's saying...'Wind, salt, sand'. Repeated in that order." "Bingo. And here's where the fighting technique comes in. It's a combat style used by one country in particular. It's krav maga. A fighting style built around targeting an enemy's weak points and ending a fight as quickly and aggressively as possible." Rin looked confused. "So...what does this all mean?"
"Boss...what do you know about this girl?" "Well...I know she's from Monte Carlo. She lives with her aunt and uncle. And...there was something else her file mentioned. It said that her parents and one of their drivers took her to the Middle East when she was ten. She was the only one who made it back." Jugo thought for a moment. "I think you and her need to have a one-on-one. Cuz why the hell is a 15-year old girl from Monaco speaking Hebrew and fighting like an Israeli soldier? Boss, I'm not saying she's trouble, I ain't saying that. I'm just saying she's got a few things to clarify." "Hmm. You're right. I'll talk to her after school tomorrow." "Good. I'd start with asking her about that driver you mentioned. That Middle East trip looks to be where you'd get your answers."
A short while later, Jugo went to leave. "Well, thanks for giving the girls a ride, Jugo. Really appreciate it." Rin said. "Don't mention it. Ain't the cowboy way to leave a lady in danger. Now, think I'll pop in and say hi to Tenko and ol' boy Jin while I'm here. Maybe...see if they have any more of those noodles." "Oh God, really?" "Hey, just sayin', think the crazy one might be crazy like a fox on this one." Rin playfully swiped at Jugo as he walked off, waving back at her.
---
Later that night, in the girls' dorms, Carrie sat on her bed, watching a video on her laptop. Her room had a distinctly purple hue, nightstands littered with an assortment of jewelry. She had a light smile on her face. The video was titled "Qatar 2023".
The footage showed a desert plain, shimmering under the intense sunlight. The people in the video spoke French. "See that, Caroline? That's called a salt flat. It's so hot in the desert that water gets taken back up faster than it comes down, and that shine you see is the salt." a woman's voice spoke. "Can we get some, Mama?" asked a young Carrie. "Well, amethyst, you might not be able to make a nice ring out of salt...but why don't we ask your father?" The camera panned over to a dark-haired man with a goatee talking on a cell phone. "Rodri~! Can you spare a second?" "No, Mari, I can't. It's the Emir. Very important." he answered. "Ooooh, how grandiose~." 
The camera panned over to a bald man wearing dark shades. "My, my, Boris, I almost thought you were a crystal ball with that glow on your scalp. You sure you don't need a hat?" Mari asked. "No, madame, I don't. I was forged in a desert. Nothing I can't handle." Boris responded, though his accent hinted that French was not his native language. The camera panned back to see 10-year old Carrie picking minerals from the sand. "Caroline! Don't be so hasty, it could be dangerous out there! Come on..." Carrie ran back, clutching several salt rocks. "See, Mama? They look like diamonds!" Carrie said excitedly. "Oh, amethyst. You really are too much like me..." her mother responded, patting Carrie on the head.
A knock on the door led Carrie to pause the video. She opened the door the find Natalia standing there. "H-hi. I'm interrupting something, aren't I? Sorry, I'll just go back to my room..." "Goodness, I haven't even said anything. No, I'm not in the middle of anything. What's on your mind?" "I, uh...thank you for today. That was...really crazy. You were like a soldier out there." "Oh, is that all? No thanks necessary. Anyone would have done the same to protect a friend." "I know, I know, but still...Merci beaucoup pour votre aide." Carrie looked surprised. "Natalia! You know French? I would've thought you were from the Dutch side of Belgium." "My dad is, my mom's from the French part. They always talk to me in their native languages, so I can speak both pretty good." "Goodness, you've been holding out on me. I might just talk to you only in French from now on."
"Hey, Natalia...are you close with your parents?" Carrie asked. "Huh? I, uh, I guess so. They help me get materials for my clothes, and they carry them in their store. They've been crazy supportive in everything." "I see. That's good. Having parents supporting your interests is a wonderful thing." "What's with the weird tone? Don't your parents support what you do?" "..." Carrie was silent for a moment. "My father...he was always so busy with meetings and the like. But my mother was very helpful with me. She was a mineralogist. My love of jewelry and stones came from her." "'Was'? Did something happen?" Carrie was silent again.
"My parents...they aren't here anymore. They died when I was ten." "Oh, oh Carrie, I'm so sorry. I didn't know...I'm sorry I asked..." "You're rather fond of apologies, aren't you? There's nothing to be sorry for. It's an innocent question with an unfortunate answer." "I guess, but...what happened to them?" "Well...my father was meeting with an important official in the Middle East over some plans for natural gas reserves. But those reserves were within contested lands. And so, the people opposing the deal...they..." Carrie stopped. "Y-you don't have to keep going, it's fine, really..." Natalia piped up. Carrie shook her head. "Sorry. It's not a pleasant thing to think back on, after all." 
"Hey, so...I wanted to ask, um...can I have your measurements?" Natalia asked suddenly. "Eh?! What's this now?" "N-no, it's nothing weird! I, uh...I wanted to make you something nice. A blouse, or maybe a jacket, y'know, for saving me, and for being my friend, and, y'know..." Natalia was fidgeting. "I-I mean, I don't know if I can make something as nice as what you already have, but--" Carrie put her hands on Natalia's shoulders. "I'm sure you'll make something wonderful. I'd love to help you out, but it's getting rather late. We can talk about it tomorrow, okay?" "Okay..." Carrie wrapped her in a hug. 
"Good night, Natalia." "Good night, Carrie...hey, one other thing." "Yes?" "Where'd you learn how to fight like that? Was it your parents?" "Oh, no. No, someone else taught me that. Someone I wouldn't be here without..." "Okay...I won't press for any more. I'm starting to sound like Barbara with all the questions." Carrie giggled. "I suppose you have a point. To bed with you, then." Natalia walked back to her room.
Carrie closed her door. She clasped her hands. "...רוח ... מלח ... חול ..." she recited. Visions of the salt flat passed through her head. She reopened her eyes. Calmly, she closed her laptop, put it on her nightstand, and went to bed.
"...why are you here?..."
Carrie's eyes bolted open. The voice sounded like her own. "Mama...Papa...Boris...they could be helping the world right now...but they're gone...so why are you here...?" Carrie looked confused. "Am I...dreaming?" She got up, turned on the lights, and looked in the mirror. She rubbed her eyes. When she opened them back up, her reflection's eyes were a striking shade of yellow. "How can you even look at yourself...?" Carrie reeled in surprise. "You're coming with me...time to realize how wrong your survival was...!" The reflection reached out, grabbed Carrie, and pulled her in.
Natalia, awakened by the noise, ran over. "Um, Carrie, is everything alri--huh?!" Inside, Carrie was nowhere to be seen. Natalia's gaze was fixated on the mirror. Where the glass once was, now there was a dark, swirling vortex leading to who-knows-where. She backed out of the room. "Nope, nope, I'm hallucinating. I'm clearly hallucinating." She peered back into the room, then quickly turned away. "No, no I'm not hallucinating. W-w-w-what am I supposed to do?!" she panicked. She ran back to her room and grabbed her phone. "Oh, c'mon, how are the police gonna help with this...?" She shook her head. "No, Natie, you need to get help. What if she's being attacked by a lion? Or Munchkins?! What other choice do I have?!"
Elsewhere, Jugo was sitting in his car. Country music was playing on his radio. "*sigh* Guess I gotta start headin' back..." Before he could drive away, his phone began to ring. He turned the radio off, and picked up his phone. "Hello?" "M-Mister Officer?!" Natalia was panicking. "Hold up, you're Natalia, right? Calm down, buttercup, what's the matter?" "C-C-Carrie is...g-gone..." "Gone? What do you mean?" "She's n-n-not in the dorm, and the light in her room's still on...and in her mirror there's a...a...a creepy swirling vortex thing..."
Jugo's eyes widened. "Creepy vortex thing...? Aww, hell. Not again." "I-I-I'm not joking around, I don't know what to--" "I never said you were lyin', hun. Wait right there. I'll be over in ten. And don't even think about goin' NEAR that mirror, ya hear?" "Y-y-yes sir." Jugo hung up. "Well, shit. No time to call Boss, either. Guess I'm playing Lone Ranger tonight..." He drove away quickly.
A few minutes later he was standing in front of the door to the girls' dorms. Natalia opened the door. She was now wearing a camo hoodie, jeans and boots. "You, uh...you always look like you're goin' on a hunting trip when you're goin' to bed?" he asked. "I-I'm coming with you!" she said, clearly shaking. "Hold up there, girlie. We ain't headin' on down to the ol' Barkley Ranch to see what's the matter, this is some serious business." "Please, I can't just sit here and let something happen to Carrie! N-n-not after she helped me out! Please..." "I understand you wantin' to help your friend out, really, I do. But you aren't gonna be helpin' while you're quakin' in your boots like that. And if the Boss finds out I put you in danger, she'll have my head. Nuh uh." 
Natalia took Jugo to Carrie's room. "Shit. Never thought I'd be gazin' at one of these suckers again." Jugo said. "Again? Y-you know what this, Mister Officer?" Natalia asked. "Unfortunately, yes. And I know that what's on the other side ain't nuthin' to mess around with. So just stay here, and let me sort it out." "But--"
"Pffft, what are you complaining about? You're getting permission to sit here where it's comfy and do nothing. Since when do you turn that down?"
Natalia perked up. "Huh? Was that...me?" Jugo quickly figured out what was happening. "Girlie, you need to get out of here RIGHT NOW. I mean it--" 
"Well if you're gonna just stand there, might as well--oh, I'm sorry. Let me say it in a language you'll understand. Y-y-y-you're c-c-c-coming with m-m-meeeee~!" the voice said mockingly. Suddenly, shadowy threads extended from the vortex, and wrapped themselves around Natalia's legs. She screamed as the threads quickly dragged her into the vortex. "Heeeeelp meeeeee!" "Aw, hell!" Jugo exclaimed, reacting too slowly to grab her. "Shit, SHIT! Always gotta be some complication! Ugggh, just peachy." He made a running start, then leapt into the portal.
---
Jugo landed on his feet, onto sandy ground. As he rose up, he realized he'd landed feet away from a large, pointed jewel. "Jeez. Almost wound up a shish kebab." He looked up at the massive structure before him: a skyscraper surrounded on all sides by jagged jewels. There was a large TV screen on the front. He approached the entrance. The TV came on.
"Testing! Testing! One two threeeeee~!" chimed a voice resembling Natalia's. The picture came into focus, revealing a figure sitting upon an ornate throne. She was wearing an elegant, purple dress lined with purple jewels. It was Carrie, eyes glowing yellow. "To the gentleman who so gallantly entered my world, I bid you welcome. Welcome to today's reenactment of the worst day of my life. The day my beloved family was unjustly taken away, leaving their unworthy scion behind..." the Shadow uttered in a morose tone. "If it is salvation you seek, then worry not. Those you are searching for are right here..." 
The camera panned over to the sight of Carrie and Natalia tied together by shadowy threads, unconscious and hanging from the ceiling. The source of the thread was made clear: on all fours, wearing a red cat-ear hood and gloves and boots styled after cat paws, was a yellow-eyed Natalia, threads extending from her left paw. "In the clutches of my super-cute ultra threads of dooooom~!" she said in an animated manner. "I will be waiting for you in the Emir's office...if you can survive...surely an officer as accomplished as you can, if one as worthless as I could..." Carrie's Shadow uttered. Shadow Natalia popped up behind her. "Aww, Care Bear, you're so adorbs when you're being so emo~! You make me wanna bite you so bad~!" she said cheerily, fussing around with Shadow Carrie's cheeks as the latter showed no reaction. 
Shadow Natalia popped up directly in front of the camera. "You heard the lady, cowboy~! Get your Shootout face on, cuz it's gonna get MESSY~!" she said in a faux-Southern accent. The feed cut out.
Jugo sighed, and placed his cowboy hat on his head. "Messy, huh? Well, when ya put it like that..." A pair of pistols appeared in a spurt of fire on each side of him. He opened his eyes, which briefly took on a yellow hue. "...I hate to break it to ya, ladies. This sheriff knows a thing or two about messy."
He entered the building. The main lobby was opulent, dotted with fountains and palm frans. Signs posted throughout were written in Arabic. There wasn't a soul to be found. "No welcoming committee, eh? See how long that lasts..." he mused. He approached the elevator. "Well, at least Mr. Emir was nice enough to have Roman Numerals on his buttons." He went to press one, and felt a presence behind him. He sighed. Behind him was a horde of robed figures, wielding blades and assault rifles. Their faces were obscured in shadow, their eyes glowing white. They exuded a shadowy aura. 
"Well, gentlemen--well, I ASSUME you're gentlemen--I suppose you're not in any mood to discuss this like adults?" he asked, reaching for his pistols. The figures readied their rifles. "Ah, course. Forgot this IS how adults discuss things. Fine by me." He opened fire, his bullets exploding into flames on impact. He blasted his way through to the receptionist's desk, taking cover behind it. The Shadows continued to fire endlessly. "Welp, guess it can't just be me with endless ammo. What a pain. Ugggh."
He rose from behind the cover and returned fire. "Y'all just--made me--quote--Shūjo. No--mercy." he said in between ducking. Soon enough, he cleared the room. He stepped out, and approached the elevator again. Suddenly, another Shadow manifested behind the desk, and shot Jugo through the shoulder. He reeled, and the Shadow jumped onto the desk, and leapt at Jugo, knife drawn. Before it could connect, it was impaled by a katana--one that emerged from Jugo's back. The spirit holding the blade, a green-hued, goateed man wearing a kimono, came into view. "Sanjuro. Slice it." The spirit swiped upward, bifurcating and destroying the Shadow.
The Persona faded away. Jugo checked his wound. "Guh. Not a whole lotta blood. No vital arteries." He looked around the room, and grabbed a nearby curtain, tearing off part of it to wrap around the wound. As he did this, TV screens around the room turned on. "Wowee~! We've got a badass over here~!" Shadow Natalia chimed. "You are clearly a highly skilled officer...perhaps if you had been there five years ago, my family may have avoided their meaningless demise..." Shadow Carrie uttered. The elevator doors opened, and Jugo stepped inside.
As the elevator rose, the TV broadcast continued. Shadow Natalia was poking at the now-conscious, but still tied-up, Carrie and Natalia. "C-could you cut it out?!" Natalia protested. "Shut your trap, fatty! No one gives a shit! Not when there's a real honest-to-goodness beauty queen in the room! You should feel honored to even be allowed to breathe the same oxygen!" her Shadow chided. "F-fatty?!" Natalia uttered, a tinge of hurt in her voice. Carrie looked unamused. "Untie me. So I can punish you properly." she ordered. "Oooooh, please do, milady~! Please dooooooo~!" Natalia's Shadow exclaimed, blushing madly. "Shoot me now." Jugo grumbled. 
Shadow Carrie slowly glided into frame. "Before I let you proceed further, officer, I must ask you to reconsider whether or not I am worth saving..." she said. "W-what's she talking about?" Natalia asked. "I said shut it, dipshit!" her Shadow snapped. "Tell him everything. How Mama and Papa and Boris were cut down, how meaningless their deaths were...how we should have perished with them..." Shadow Carrie muttered. Carrie said nothing. "Carrie...it's alright...you can tell me..." Natalia said. Her Shadow grabbed her by the neck. "Speak out of line again, fatso, and I'll gut you like a fish!" she growled. 
Suddenly, Shadow Natalia was sent flying by a hard punch. Carrie had forced her way out of the threads, and punched the duplicate away. She freed Natalia from her bonds. Shadow Carrie did nothing. "Ooooooh...I'm never cleaning this cheek again..." Shadow Natalia said longingly, gently caressing the cheek that had just been punched. Shortly after, the elevator doors opened. Jugo stepped out, clearly unnerved by the unfolding scene. "Your presence is appreciated, but no longer required, officer." Carrie said. 
She turned to her double. "If you have any other nonsense to spew, I'd suggest doing it now." "Berate me all you want...I deserve no less...but the more you reject what transpired, the stronger its hold over you..." her Shadow replied. Natalia grabbed Carrie's hand. "Carrie, please...just be honest. You don't have to be scared to tell me things." "Hey, don't go touching her like that--" Shadow Natalia griped. Jugo pointed his pistol at her. "Quiet, you. You'll get your turn." he said, annoyed.
Carrie thought for a moment, then took a deep breath. She recited her Hebrew. "Natalia. You're a good friend. I don't want to hide anything. I'll grant what you ask. I'll tell you about...the worst day of my life."
"When I was ten years old, my parents took me to Qatar on a business trip. My father was to speak to the Emir of Qatar about natural gas reserves that had recently been uncovered. I still remember that trip vividly...the day before, my parents took me to see some salt flats. Minerals were my mother's area of expertise, and she found no greater joy than sharing her knowledge with me. I still have video from that day saved on my laptop. The last time we ever had fun as a family..."
"The next day, my parents met with the Emir at his main office building. Much like this one. I was in a waiting room the entire time, with our driver Boris. Boris was a former Israeli soldier. He was the one who taught me Hebrew, and especially how to fight. My parents were pacifists, and weren't very fond of the idea, but Boris insisted. 'With your livelihoods, and your status, she needs to know how to defend herself.' he would tell them."
"I told you before about how people who lived near the gas reserves didn't want them tampered with. They had heard about my father's meeting, and so conscripted an armed militia to...to deal with him. I suppose they had scouted the building beforehand, because their takeover was swift. Most of the building's security team were incapacitated. When the gunfire broke out, Boris had me hide inside a storage room, and told me not to come out unless he signaled that it was safe. He...never sent out that signal."
"I was in that storage room for an hour, accompanied by the sounds of death and war throughout the building. Then, silence. Boris had taught me a breathing technique to calm myself down. Just think of your finest memory and recite it to yourself. I kept thinking about the day before. I recited the words 'wind, salt, sand' over and over again. Then, the door opened. A Qatari soldier clearing out the building found me, and got me out of there. They'd taken out the last of the militiamen."
"He tried to shield me from the bodies, as many as there were. I kept asking about my parents, about Boris. They had my aunt and uncle flown in from Monte Carlo to come get me. That was when I was finally told what had happened. That my parents were...were gone. I didn't ask for details. I didn't want to know. And Boris...he fought for as long as he could, to keep the militia from finding me. And he did. He was a fine soldier in his day. But he was getting on in years, and there were so many of them..."
"I keep asking myself why I was allowed to live, and so many others didn't. I would have gladly traded my life for their's. They had so much to offer the world, the environment. Oh, did I forget to mention that part? How my father was discussing ways to ensure the preservation of the environment around the gas reserves? My parents were environmentalists. They'd had countless meetings like this before, for the benefit of the people living closest to oil and gas reserves. The people who hired the militia clearly didn't hear about that part. And so, they had people looking out for them killed for no reason. My parents died for nothing."
"Carrie..." Natalia uttered. "I sat and cowered as the people I loved died for no good reason. Why was I allowed to live? Why didn't the militia come for me? Night after night I asked, please, just let me be with Mama and Papa again. Don't force me to go through life without them here with me. And the people would say, 'You have all the money you could ask for. It's not a big deal.' Every child needs their parents. Mama and Papa won't get to see me graduate, get married, flourish in a career, or anything. They had already done such good for the world in their time here. Why were they sacrificed instead of a child who might not amount to anything...?"
"Carrie...do you really want to die? Would it make your parents happy if that happened? If they were here, but you weren't?" Natalia asked. "No, they wouldn't want you to die. And...I don't, either." Carrie chuckled. "Oh, Natalia...why do you admire me so?" she asked. "Why...well, I guess that other me kinda mentioned it before. Meanly. I've...never felt confident around other girls. I've always been just a little bit bigger than girls around me, and in media terms that means I'm fat. I walk around town with Barbara and Kitty and you and I just feel so...inadequate. You're so beautiful, and fashionable and you even know kung fu!" "Yes, the legendary Israeli art of kung fu." Jugo said sarcastically. Carrie shot a look at him. "Sorry, sorry. Know you're havin' a moment. Ignore me." he uttered.
"All I'm saying is, I don't want to hear you talk like that. I really like calling you my friend. If you don't know why you're still here, I guess...I can help you find it...maybe?" Natalia said sheepishly. Carrie giggled. "I suppose you can. And in return, I'll help you improve that self esteem issue. How about this for an exchange...you make me that blouse you mentioned, and in return, I'll make you the loveliest necklace you've ever seen. Sound good?" Natalia began blushing madly. "Woah, I mean, you don't have to--" "Ahem." Her Shadow stared her down, pouting. "Uh, I mean. Yeah. I'd really like that."
Carrie approached her Shadow. "I've decided. I...I want to find my reason for living. Even if it means I can't see my parents for a while. They would want me to keep going. I wish to live." Her Shadow, satisfied, vanished. Carrie, feeling a headache coming, began clutching her head as her eyes turned yellow.
"So this is the path you have chosen. It is far too soon for you to join the ranks of the dead. If your resolve to live is firm, then I shall move forward with the contract. I am thou, thou art I. You, who has been cursed by fate...I, who have perceived the fate of all mankind...If your desire to persevere is genuine, then I will gladly lend you my power..."
Carrie let go of her head. "Skuld, is it...? Thank you..." She looked over at Natalia. "Oh, um. Guess I gotta do it now, huh? Okay..." She approached her Shadow. "I know I'm not the most confident girl out there...but I wanna be the best me I can be. So, um...let's be friends now?" Her Shadow let out an understanding sigh, then vanished. As before, Natalia clutched her head.
"Though your mouth struggles, your heart speaks its truth enough. Allow me to enact the contract. I am thou, thou art I. I will grant you my power. But I will not surrender it freely. You must swear to find a beauty that is your own, separate from the ideals forged deceitfully by the world of man. Do so, and my strength is yours..."
Natalia released her grip. "So, you're Lilith...I'll try my best. I hope that's good enough..."
The palace began to shake. "Now what's happening?!" Natalia asked. "That'd be our cue to mosey on out of here. Good job, ladies. Now let's get a move on. Y'all have had a long day, and I've got a truckload to explain to the Boss..." Jugo said. He pulled out his phone. "Now let's see if I remember how to do this..." He pressed a button, summoning forth a portal. "After you, ladies." "Such a gentleman." Carrie said. The three jumped through the portal.
---
The next day, after school, Carrie and Natalia met with Rin. "So, that's what happened. Well, I'm glad you two are okay." Rin said. "It's all thanks to Mr. Officer. If he hadn't shown up I don't think we would've made it out of there." Natalia replied. "That's Jugo for you. One of the most reliable people I know."
"In any case, thanks for being honest with me, Carrie. I...unfortunately I can understand your feelings perhaps better than anyone. When you lose someone you love so suddenly it stays with you. Clings to you like a curse. It becomes easy to focus on the horrible way their life ended, rather than all the good times you had when they were alive. In my experience, talking helps. If you're ever up for it, I'm always here. I'm the eternal life coach, after all." Rin joked. 
"Thank you, professor. I'll be sure to take you up on the offer. Some other time, though. For now...I have to give Natalia my measurements." Carrie said with a smirk. "W-wait, right now?!" Natalia protested. Rin chuckled. "Alright then. I'll leave you ladies to it. See you tomorrow." The girls left.
A short while later, as Rin got up to leave, a voice piped up.
"Always the therapist, never the patient. Not a very healthy lifestyle, 'professor'."
Rin's gaze jolted upward, and she saw, sitting in a desk, was a woman with long, dark hair, wearing red-and-white casual clothing. "Lady Amaterasu...?!" "What did I tell you about the formality? 'Ammy' is perfectly fine to use." "Sorry, I just can't get used to being so casual with the Imperial Goddess of the Sun." Amaterasu sighed. "Fine. As the Imperial Goddess of the Sun, and your benefactor, I order you to call me Ammy."
"So, Lady A--er, Ammy. To what do I owe this visit, aside from chastising my formality?" "Just something I felt you should be made aware of. You are aware of those rumors of a cult taking root in Karakura Town, yes?" "I thought it was just a few kids spraying graffiti on some walls." "Not so, apparently. Even with the delinquents incarcerated, their symbols have been popping up elsewhere. This..." Amaterasu produced a photo, showing a large, red handprint spray painted on an alley wall. "...was found on a wall in Naruki. Do you recognize that spot?"
Rin did recognize that spot. It was a place that had been burned into her memory. "That's...the alley where Tohru was killed." 
"Correct. Three other handprints have been found across Naruki. I would have chalked it up to pure coincidence, but these handprints started appearing about a year ago, right around the time your powers began manifesting in the real world. It could be grasping at straws, or something troubling may be brewing. I am just alerting you of potential danger. I know how volatile a time this is for you, especially now with your new charges being...indoctrinated into our world. Five within a span of a week, and you know it is only a matter of time before the other three also must face themselves. Please, guide them as only you can. If there is danger slithering in the darkness, we will need their strength. Promise me you will teach them well."
"Yes...of course, madame. I'll do everything I can." Rin proclaimed. "Very good. I will let you know if there is any more trouble." "Before you head home, though, could you pay Rose a visit? She hasn't seen you in a while." "Oh, yes, of course." "I mean it. I'm asking her later. I know the circumstances of her existence are...unique, but you are basically her mother. Please, Ammy." "Of course, of course. I am a goddess of my word." Amaterasu then vanished.
"Danger in the darkness...hmmm." Rin pondered. She gathered her things, and left.