Earth, Nov. 19th 2016 @8:15 AM. Back on Earth, Alyssa was surrounded by day to day life in the city. People rushing by without a care for others, traffic backed several streets down, and the sun shining down as gracefully as ever. Truthfully, she fitted right in on her treacherous journey to the store.
Stupid Katrina. Why did she leave me all alone to get groceries?! She's the one that used them all!
Her internal monologuing was drowned out when she passed by a crazed man who looked on the brink of death, but still shouted with life.
"Judgment will pass! Judgment will pass! We who bear sins will face Judgement! Their hatred and resentment will erupt with the rage of a volcano, and crash down on us like a tidal wave! Judgment will pass! Judgment will pass!"
Talk about insane. But he's right, someday I'll pass it on to these people.
Alyssa continued on her walk, pushing and squeezing past people to hurry and get her errand over with. She stood in front of the sliding doors of the supermarket and went through. It wasn't anything special to her, there's virtually no difference between Earth and Hell markets.
Let's see, she pulled a small piece of paper from her pocket and skimmed down the list, milk, assorted fruits, eggs, cheese, bread, bacon, and whatever else I think is important...Ugh.
She walked down the aisles, passing human after human on her way to the eggs. After a while, some small and dormant feeling began to rise with so many people around.
I...I killed someone just the other day...and I was willing to wipe out all of these people...to kill him, Alyssa observed the eggs, grabbing the 12-egg carton, It's not like I care about humans, I haven't lost any sleep over that photographer...but still, did he have to die? Those were all attempts to get into his head and break him and I failed...so did I make his death meaningless?
Alyssa grabbed another carton for safe measures and placed them in the basket and went on for the bread.
No, it doesn't have to be meaningless. Just because I've lost twice and have been reduced to an errand-girl doesn't mean I can't fight him again and win...but how many lives will that cost? Huh, I'm treating their lives as if they were, Alyssa paused in front of the grand shelf of breads, varying from white, wheat, sourdough, etc, a currency to be traded away at a supermarket...an exchange of goods. Dozens, potentially hundreds of human lives for one, measly demon boy. It almost sounds like a scam.
Alyssa grabbed loaf after loaf, not caring for type or brand. She would just chalk it up to Katrina's fault for not specifying.
I would scam so many families from their loved ones, and ruin this city and world by killing the Ōkami. So much hurt in the world would spread like a plague, and I would be the root of it all, Alyssa went down to the fridges for the cheeses, but stopped before grabbing any, being the cause of so much pain...that wouldn't make me any different from a man, would it? No, that's not true at all, I could never match a man's cruelty. Everywhere you look, there's an evil in them.
To prove her philosophy, Alyssa looked around for a guy. To her right was a team member of the market. Rather than witnessing what she believes in, her faith was being flipped around bit by bit. He was helping an elderly woman walk around, assisting her with her grocery shopping.
...Huh?
She looked behind, hoping for something different, but instead it was a man helping a shorter woman reach the top shelf for paper towels.
...N-No...
She looked over to her left and saw a butcher offer a free cut of meat to a large family shopping for tonight's dinner.
No!! What's going on here?! This isn't how it's supposed to go!
Her mind begged to reject this reality, a world where men aren't a wicked force of evil. Unfortunately for her, she was reminded of that world in a terrible way. Glimpses of her childhood blurred her vision and rang in her ears. The deafening screams and discolored skin, and if she focused hard enough, she could still feel the stinging sensation and the taste of coins.
No more, leave us alone! Please!
Unaware of her movements, Alyssa balled up on the floor shaking while she held her head together, fearing it would fall apart into dozens of tiny pieces like beer bottles under the wrath of a stressed parent.
Her memories swarmed her head and blocked her senses, but a concerned hand reached out and brought her back into the light. It started out as a muffle, but with enough attempts, their voice came through.
"Miss...Miss!"
A sharp gasp and her eyes opened back to the gray tile floors. Still trembling, she faced the source of the voice. It was the same worker who was helping the elderly woman.
"G...Genji?" Her voice cracked up and her vision was still watery, but somewhere inside, there was relief.
"I'm sorry, but my name is Dylan. Are you okay, though? Had an episode?" He asked, offering his hand.
Upon further inspection, it wasn't Genji, but her mind perceived it was. She could only wonder why. Maybe a piece of her was hoping Genji would save her, or maybe her mind is trying to tell her something.
She looked at the man's hand, but stood up on her own, "I-I'm fine...thank you, though..."
"Yeah, it's no problem. Do you need help finding anything?"
Alyssa shook her head, her throat was becoming sore.
Dylan just smiled, "take care of yourself, miss. Have a good day." He said before returning to the elderly woman.
She watched Dylan walk away, and just kept staring. Anyone on the outside would have assumed she was in love from how much she stared, but it was all curiosity.
"Not all men are douches..." that's what you said, right? Alyssa recalled last night, only picturing Genji's face, "I'm sorry...One of these days, I would like to hear your story," Alyssa remembered his last words to her before promptly knocking out.
She took a deep breath and grabbed a mix of cheese flavors. The note specified blocks, so that's what she grabbed. She walked a few feet down before coming across the meat. She looked up and down for the specific brand Katrina labeled out.
Wow...maybe I am the monster. He was right, this is a personal matter...so why drag others into it? Now that I've gotten older and stronger I could just kill him and end this nightmare...yeah. That's an idea. But what would mom think?
She grabbed the last remaining items on the list and went to the self checkout. She mindlessly slid the barcodes over the scanner, lost in the rhythmic beeps.
Is mom...still alive? I want to see her so badly, but I was never taught how to transport to and from Hell. I know! I'll get Amber to take me, she's smart.
With a newfound pep in her step, she left the supermarket with bags swinging around.
I'll go home, see mom, and tell her she was right about guys, not all men are-?
Off in front of her was a familiar face, one she's seen on TV and parent-teacher conferences.
Is that really him?
The man, who was looking up at the sign of the market, looked back down at the doors to see Alyssa staring back. There was also a strange woman beside him who stuck out like a sore thumb, but she didn't seem to care.
"Hm? Hey, I think I recognize you." The man said to himself, walking forwards for a better look.
That really is him. But what is he doi-
Without warning, the man disappeared from her view, leaving just the woman.
A crushing force gripped on the back of her head, and pushed her into the concrete below. Her ears rang as blood filled her throat. She sunk into the ground as she's done times before.
"Ah, yes. You're Alyssa Hajime, correct? Say, do you know where Genji is?" The man asked, digging her face in further down.
Guys are the absolute worst...
YOU ARE READING
Okami: Hero's Shortcomings
Fantasy(Book 1 of 5) Watch the journey of the loveable, playful, hyper-but-lax, and entirely unhinged Genji unfold as a disaster shakes his peaceful life into one of heroism. He strives to become the Ōkami, the protector of the world, to help save and prot...
