His Slave | ALICE IN BORDERLAND

Chapter 6 - canvas

When we are young we are completely and utterly blind to how terrifying the world is around us. We can not see the suffering, death and disease that plagues the world. The grey of the world is hidden underneath the bright splatters of colour in the canvas.

There is only light. That's how I imagine life after death looks like, beautiful, pure and selfless to the selfishness of those that retire there. That way when I think of leaving this world and going to the next, I am no longer scared. In fact, I can't wait because my canvas has lost its light and has dulled to grey. I'm reminded of this fact every time I see someone die because all I can think about is that fact or could be me. Why am I so different? What's special about me? Why haven't I died yet? Those are the questions that can never be answered or said aloud.

Happiness used to surround my life. I know for most people in borderland this wasn't long ago. For me the last time my canvas was colourful was years ago, in fact it was when I was six.

The sun would glow and the ground would light a welcoming path into each moment. After that day the path was filled with fear and terror for my own actions.

Warmth filled my heart and kisses would mend the scrapes and scratches on my young fragile knees. After that day no one was there to heal my broken heart or tend my wounds.

As I would sob a gentle comfort would promise to protect me from all the wrong in the world. After that day there was no one to protect me.

-Flashback-

I twirled, as the melodic sounds of string instruments filled my little ears. A large hand held mine softly as my dress expanded with my movement, showing the sky the small embroiled flowers.

"What's that one called mummy?" I giggled up at her, pointing towards a purple flower. She must have heard that question about a thousand times that day.

"It's a lily, my favourite flower," she replied a wide smile on her face.

"Well since it's your favourite it's my favourite too!" I said with a cheeky smile making her laugh too.

I skipped and ran around her jumping to the beat of the music. My dark hair blew everywhere almost as if it was dancing with me. I then ran up and jumped onto my mums back, laughing as she stumbled a little. She struck her revenge as she pulled me off her and began to tickle me.

"You cheeky little monkey, what do you think you doing?" I simply laughed louder at her dramatics.

"Stop. Stop!" I laughed out in between breathes, a large smile evident on my face. I couldn't take anymore it was torture.

She stopped giving me a kiss on the head before she tightly wrapped her arms around me. "I love you so much, you know that right?"

"Of course I do mummy, I love you too," I wrapped my arms tighter around her.

She suddenly pulled back and we began twirling together as we listened to the melody. Our laughter filled the air and the grass stained my clothes, I didn't care. I kept dancing to the song my mothers hands in mine.

That was the last day I ever saw her.

-

"Hey Akari! Are you coming or what?" Kai shouted over at me.

"Yeah I'm coming!" I shouted as we went looking for some food.

We walked through the store looking for a meal. We picked some noodles out, it was really the only food in stores that had survived whatever has happened.

"You know we have to play a game to tonight, it's been a couple days."

"I know, we'll find one after this," I responded, when I saw that he hadn't eaten his food I stopped. "You know... it's good to eat before a game, it gives you energy."

"I know, it's just that, I don't want to be here," he said.

"No one chose to be here, we all just magically appeared," he said.

"It's just that I don't think I am prepared to kill someone because of some stupid game," he explained himself, "what if I have to kill you?"

I dropped my chopsticks and instead reached into my pocket. "I want you to do something for me." I slid my gun across the table. "Turn off the safety here," I said pointing towards it before facing the gun at myself, "then pull the trigger."

"What are you crazy!?" He silently yelled at me immediately trying to pull the gun away but I held it still.

"Just pull the trigger," I drawled out as if it was a simple task. "People die everyday it not a big deal."

"Yes it is a big deal, I'll be killing someone," he said in a panic.

"How about this, you shoot me I die if you don't," I held up my knife before bringing it to his throat, "I'll kill you."

His eyes widened in fear and shock as he felt the knife press up against his Adams apple. He gulped before taking off the safety.

"Good job, now pull the trigger," I demanded pressing the knife harder into him, it was on the flat side. "Good boy," I said as his fingers moved towards it.

Two shots rang out.

Kai's hands shook in fear, he was in shock that he would shoot someone. He always thought that when it came down to it he wouldn't choose to murder someone no matter who it was. Clearly he was wrong.

"God, two shots was a bit excessive," I said referring to the two bullets he had just fired, "you just made that seriously personal."

"I just shot you, how are you alive?" He said in shock.

"You didn't even check if there were bullets in the barrel of the gun."

"Then why did you make me do that I thought you were like seriously suicidal just then or something," he cried out.

"No, I was testing you, to see if you could kill someone. It was really confusing that you were arrogant but couldn't commit a murder in this world." I said explaining my thoughts, "well if you can kill me out here in a game will be no different."

"Your crazy," he said although this time it was with a smile.

-

Death searched far and wide for my mother and when it found her it came quickly. The coroner said that she had a fast death, that much was obvious. A bullet to the head would be a fast death for anyone. That's all I hope for when I die a quick death.

I don't expect people to mourn for me, cry. In fact I'd be fine if no one thought of me at all because I don't know anyone who would think of me, cry for me like I cried for my mother.

I would sit for hours at her grave, I would sob and cry until no tears would fall from my eyes. My father never came with me, he found no reason to mourn for the dead. I understand now but it's different for someone you love. She was the first dead body I had ever seen, though I hoped it to be the last it wasn't. My young mind was tormented at such a and age in which death became something normal. My heart manipulated in such a way where I believed love made me weak, I never loved anyone again.

I still love her.

Even if I never get to speak to her. To hug her. Kiss her. Feel her love again. My love will never go away. Even if the lilies that lie upon her grace wilt and eventually die, I always bring new ones. Even if my father forbids me to se her, I find a way. Even if we are worlds apart now, my connection to her will never fade.

Because she is my mother.

And I am Akari Tachi, her cheeky little monkey.