Survival Game, Book 1: The Fool

Act Three: Chapter Twenty

The next day, Kris returned home since the fight with her parents. After the meeting, Azumi had requested she stayed in the infirmary overnight for observation, even when she'd tell her she'd felt fine after the AX drug. Azumi had warned her about the AX drug's after effects, that for the next week, she'd fall ill and have to fight it out. "The drug fuses with your blood before your powers can awaken. Naturally, your body doesn't accept such a thing and will try to fight it off. Eventually, they'll join together, but it takes about a week. That is what truly kills the users. If you need to stay here, it is understandable. I'm sure your families wouldn't wish to see such a horrific thing." Azumi had told them.
In the end, only Ryou Nakahara had stayed behind, wishing not to worry his family. Yuriko Shimamura had taken the drug long before any of them, while Kouji had left with Kris after the meeting. She recalled him saying he'd originally thought of staying, but thought better of it with Noguchi being around. "I'm not giving that bastard the satisfaction of thinking I died that easily." He'd told her as they'd left the building. "I'm not going to let him think I'm weak either, but I sure as hell don't want him burying me this early and starting his empire bullshit again." The two walked home together until they met a fork in the road and had to split up. "Hey, here's my number, by the way. My phone's dead so I'll have to write it down. If the after effects are as bad as Kimura said, and your parents are so far up the model bitch's ass that they don't care, you'll need somebody to help you if it gets to rough. Not like I'll be in any better shape, but I could call an ambulance for you or something." Kouji offered before they departed, hastily pulling out a small notebook and pen stored in his jacket pocket. He quickly wrote down the number and tore out the paper before handing it to Kris. "Or if it's urgent enough, Yui can come and help too. She's only specialized in animal care, but it'd be better than nothing."
"Yeah, thanks..." Kris took the paper from him, fighting back a wince as her left arm briefly throbbed from the bite marks to remind her once more of her injury. "If we survive this, we'll need some way to contact each other. Next time we see them, I'll ask Nakahara and Shimamura too. Like or not, we'll have to get along if we want to continue the Survival Game." And if I want to get more info for the blog... She added to herself, though the words seemed hollow now. It'd been nagging at her more than the sluggish feeling in her limbs and the constant churning in her stomach had been all day. She was sure she could write the blog at first, to exploit everything about it for the sake of peace. But, now, once it had begun, she wasn't sure. I've got to know Kouji somewhat and he's not at all what I imagined. And Nakahara-san isn't a bad student... not to mention it'd be rude to treat a superior like that. And Shimamura-san... I thought she'd be a cold blooded psychopath judging by the cases she caused. Yet, she didn't even seem to acknowledge her crimes for the brief time I saw her and if she's here, she may be trying to atone for them. If anything, my mentor fits my initial profile more than Shimamura-san does.
"Anyway," She folded the paper and placed it into her own pocket. "I should go, but I'll see you again sometime." She wanted to leave as soon as she could, hoping her newfound acquaintance wouldn't catch her becoming consumed by her own thoughts. She didn't want him to know about her blog yet. What he told me yesterday was pretty personal... it would be wrong if I exploited him and his mother like that. They've been through enough as it is... Besides, she'd wrote about the fraud case against Matsuo Kawakami once, though she had little to go by, and now she felt guilt at the thought. Maybe I'll delete that one. She decided, suddenly realizing she'd been standing in front of Kouji, idling the whole time. "Thanks again." She quickly turned away. "Bye, Kouji." She headed away afterwards, without another word.
When she returned home, she found herself standing in front of the door like a stranger, waiting to be invited in. A part of her even thought about pressing the doorbell and have one of her parents answer, but the sluggish feeling that'd been nagging at her had increased to where her legs would give out if she stood another second in front of the door. The churning in her stomach had also increased into a sharp pain, as if someone stabbed her multiple times and never stopped. It soon became unbearable and she instantly opened the door and staggered in. Slowly removing her shoes at the door, she announced, "I'm home." and headed down the hallway in front of her. Her bedroom door seemed far away with the small steps she was taking, and she had to lean against the wall for support by the time she was halfway there.
"Kristine?" Her mother's voice came from the living room, placing a hand on her daughter's shoulder to get her attention. "Where've you been? Are you alright?" Her tone came off more demanding than concerned. Kris didn't reply, continuing forward as if she never heard. She didn't want to explain herself nor did she have the energy to do so. She brushed her mother's hand off and went inside her room, closing the door behind her. She didn't know if Cierra had followed, but if she did, Kris didn't notice.
Once inside the privacy of her own room, she collapsed onto the bed, her legs no longer supporting her. Her eyes closed, yet the pain in her stomach kept her awake, jolting throughout her torso with every second. She found herself curling up into a fetal position, her legs and arms tightly cradling her torso in hopes it'd ease the pain. The stabbing agony spread from her stomach to her chest and she was certain anyone else would've already cried out by now, though she was fighting the urge to. She wanted to scream or cry or do something to release her misery. At one point, her eyes darted towards the desk adjacent to her closet. Next to the folded up laptop and container of various pencils were the sewing needles Kris would use for her piercings. I can use them... Though tiny and thin, her blurred mind thought out of desperation for her to stab herself with them. To keep stabbing and stabbing until she created a pain so severe that it'd take the focus off of her stomach. Yet she couldn't do it, fearing if she uncurled herself and got up from her bed, the pain would get worse and she'd have to go to her parents.
Instead, Kris remained on her bed, curled up like a ball and eyes shut tightly. She wasn't sure when or how she'd fallen asleep, but the next time she opened her eyes, the sky was dark and the sheets of her bed were turned up unnaturally and the pillows were thrown onto the floor. The pain from before had mostly eased by then, replaced by an irritating lump in her throat that made her go into a violent fit of coughing. She instinctively covered her mouth with both hands, her lungs burning from the suffocating strain. The lump in her throat retched up after a few violent coughs, and when she pulled her hands away, they came back covered in warm crimson liquid. Blood?! Her heart lurched from the sight. Why am I coughing up blood? This... this can't be normal, can it?! Azumi had told them the effects were different, but she never had said anything about what kind of things were "normal" or not. Is this what's killing people? Did something go wrong? She took out her phone from her left jacket pocket and instantly dialed the number Kouji had given her, smearing blood onto the plastic numbers. She knew it was a revolting thing to do, but her panic clouded her mind and she grew desperate.
"Kouji!" She breathed out the name in a panic, ignoring the coppery scent of blood from her hand. She wasn't sure how he'd even know the answer to her problems, but he was the only one she could call to ask over her problems. I should've asked Kakiuchi-sensei what to do... She was too focused on Satsuki and the blog to care at the time. Now, she was regretting such a decision. This isn't like me... even with the seriousness at hand, I'm panicking like some child... She wasn't sure why she was even so bothered by it. She chose the drug, she should live with the consequences, whatever they may be. And yet... The nonstop coughing, the burning in her lungs and throat, the sheer terror as she gasped for breath... The last time I felt like that...
"Kris? What is it? You need me to call the ambulance now or something?" Kouji's answer prevented the thoughts of her past from forming into her mind. She wanted to hang up or tell him she was calling to make sure the number was correct, but it'd be too late now. Placing the phone against her shoulder, she took a few deep breaths to calm herself before picking up the phone once more. "How are you? Did you find anything about the after effects?" She asked, forcing her voice to sound as casual as she could manage.
"Yukimura had said the same thing Kimura did when I'd ask her. But, she said it was hell, in basic terms. For me, my whole body feels like it's on fire and I've had some fever all morning that won't go away. Yui hasn't took notice yet, thankfully. I've been trying to play it off as nothing, but it's kinda hard when you feel like you'll die of dehydration before the week is over and you can't drink anything without throwing it back up immediately after. It's no wonder 10 people died from this crap already... Anyway, what about you? You sound as bad as I feel." Kouji asked, his voice coming out in a forced casualness like hers, though more edged with exhaustion.
"I've been having pains in my stomach, but that's as major as it got... before I called you, I'd coughed up blood from how bad it was." Kris replied hoarsely. "I thought I'd die." She forced herself to not show the extent of the last sentence, while the horrific imagining of blood filling her lungs and strangling her as if it were water in an ocean continued to flash through her mind. That was what she'd feared more than the blood, than the thought of dying even. To be honest, she never even cared about how or when she'd die, as long as it wasn't by drowning.
"It's in our bloodstreams, so I figure something like that is bound to happen. Worst part is, Yukimura said we can't take any medicine for it. Something about it disrupting the process. If I didn't know these powers existed, I sure as hell wouldn't be going through all of this for nothing. She said we should live though, if we don't act like dumbasses. Then, once this week is over, we'll get our powers." Kouji explained to her with some bit of reassurance. "And once we do, let's meet up at the headquarters next week. I'm sure the others will be there as well to inform Kimura. I want to start getting used to everything as soon as I can for... well, you can guess. Anyway, if we're not dead by the morning, I'll text you. I'll see if I can get in contact with Nakahara too. I'm sure the three of us won't be at school this week and summer break starts of the 30th. With that said, I should go now before Yui comes and pesters me about what's wrong, and I really don't wanna deal with that. Bye, Kristine!" He hung up after that, possibly to avoid her annoyance.
"He better hope that's his fever talking for him... but, at least he said it right this time." Kris muttered to herself, closing her blood stained phone and placing it on the bedside table. I'll clean it off later... She didn't want to have to leave her room for now. Her parents would confront her the moment she came out and demand answers. She didn't want to tell them she was sick, and even if she did, how could she? They'd be even more furious than they currently were. Maybe I shouldn't even come out and just avoid them forever. They wouldn't be complaining, I'm sure. I'll stay in here and live the life of a hikikomori. I never have any friends to see as it is, so I'm a step close to it anyway. Unless Kouji counts now, but I barely know him outside of the Survival Game. That was another thing she'd have to explain to her parents, which she would prefer not to. While their perfect older daughter had several friends during high school and was always hanging out with them, their younger daughter withdrew from people and now when she had the potential of befriending someone, she chose the rumored delinquent boy that sent Daiki Maruyama to the hospital for a broken nose and shattered jawbone. Though that asshole deserved it. She added, and she was sure her classmates would've agreed if it wasn't Kouji responsible for the attack.
Kris laid back onto the bed, relief washing over her at the ability to breathe once more. It's been years and I still can't get over my fear. She inwardly cursed herself. All because I was trying to be better than Satsuki. Now I'm trying the same thing, risking my life to upstage her with my blog. Maybe I should listen to Kakiuchi-sensei and Kouji and stop it all together. I should use this program to make my own name instead, to show them I'm not just Satsuki's sister and call her out for the worthless bitch she truly is. She wasn't too confident about it and she was certain her illness was causing the sudden burst of ideas. I'll do as Kakiuchi-sensei said. I'll become as vicious as a snake and carve my name into the remains of Satsuki's fame. If I truly have the powers of light, then that's enough to get me out of her shadow. I'll become my own person for once. I won't be known as Satsuki's sister no longer... and I sure as hell won't be known as Kristine.